IndieReader Discovery Awards 2025 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
ARE YOU MY MENTOR? by Markeith and Irma Porter, beautifully illustrated by Sabrina Arciniega, cleverly conveys the significance of mentorship through an imaginative journey. With its endearing characters and playful narrative, the book encourages young readers to recognize the value of seeking guidance and wisdom from others. It’s positive message about the transformative power of mentorship makes it an essential read for children navigating their path to success.
DEMON’S SONG ( by Julie Boglisch immerses readers in a unique and fascinating world where Alex, a slave in the Underlands, embarks on a perilous journey to find freedom after being framed for murder. Along the way, he faces both allies and adversaries, including a relentless demon hunter and an ambitious witch, as he navigates the treacherous beauty of the Underlands. This gripping tale, filled with humor, danger, and mystery, makes for a compelling fantasy adventure.
When twenty-five-year-old unemployed Rudy Hodgens is evicted from his step-parent’s house, he takes one of his stepfather’s firearms in a fit of temper. The stolen pistol begins to create serious consequences which Rudy, having got his life on track, desperately tries to avoid. However, when his world comes crashing down, the theft of the gun is not the only startling revelation. THE REVENGE PARADOX starts as a tense domestic drama that evolves into a highly readable thriller eventually ending in a rush of cinematic violence. Author Regina Buttner unfolds her narrative through alternating first-person perspectives that connect and collide in this fast-paced, fluent, and suspenseful novel.
Everrette Hall’s GNATS, HUMIDITY AND MURDER immerses readers into 1970s Southern Georgia with its vivid descriptions of scenery and idiosyncratic personalities as a young lawyer charged with defending an accused widow must parse through the small town gossip to discover the truth behind the husband’s murder.
INSPIRATIONAL LOVE is a set of heartfelt vignettes penned by Vernon John Sinnott, with themes related to lasting affection, lost adoration, emotions connected to love, and the love for family. Composed with wisdom, the poetic entries muse through various situations and experiences, evoking a keen awareness and emotional response in their audience through discourse. The intimacy with which the poems are written feels like readers are leafing through the poet’s journal, an aspect that many poetry fans are likely to welcome with relish.
In HEMINGWAY, Nate Cleveland intricately weaves together multiple character perspectives and seemingly unconnected stories within an overarching emotional tale about a high school whose students are forever changed by the suicide of a troubled, loner student; prompting deep self-reflection that transcends the pages.
Douglas A. Burton’s THE HEROINE’S LABYRINTH offers a groundbreaking perspective on storytelling, unveiling the hidden treasures of the female Hero’s Journey. The book’s deep dive into the nature of the soul through archetypal wisdom and its innovative framework for understanding heroine-centric narratives make it a valuable read for writers seeking to explore the feminine perspective in storytelling.
Sera Maddox Drake’s ANCILLA weaves a spellbinding tale of a shy librarian and a university scholar whose meeting sparks a soul-deep connection and a journey into the magical and erotic arts. Their relationship, steeped in longing and chemistry, captivates the reader with its literary and academic allure, making this a must-read for those seeking a magical and engaging exploration of love and desire.
RAGING FIRE OF LOVE by Dr. Kelly James Clark is a thought-provoking exploration of love and compassion within the Abrahamic traditions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The author’s personal journey and insights into the centrality of love and neighbor-care in these faiths make for an engaging and informative read.
BEYOND HATE by Michael Mcgrath presents a gripping narrative that delves into the complexities of a murder case, offering a compelling exploration of human psychology and the criminal justice system.The book’s intricate storytelling and character development make it a worthwhile read for those interested in legal dramas and psychological thrillers.
Filled with high-school drama and the cyber pitfalls today’s teens have to navigate, FAKE OUT keeps the reader’s attention to figure out the mystery. Author Felicia Farber creates a delicate web of bullies, authorities on power trips, and a judgmental, fickle society within the school hierarchy, yet balances it by giving the main characters a support system of friends and parents that rally around them. It is a treatise set in a fictional setting, educating readers of the dangers of deep fake media manipulation.
Michael McGrath’s high-stakes novel, NEVER SAID I LOVE YOU, centers on Michael Callahan, a former police officer studying medicine in Israel, who becomes entangled in a murder case after accepting a CIA assignment to assist a group of Palestinians in the West Bank actively pursuing a peaceful resolution with Israel. Given Michael’s background as an undercover agent, his dependability, and his capacity to perform under duress, the US government is willing to use him to provide covert assistance to the Palestinian group, which is in desperate need of direction, protection, and support to gain the political momentum needed to stand on its own. This story seamlessly blends romance, mystery, and action with themes of profound deceit make it an intriguing read. McGrath’s work is sure to captivate fans of international thrillers.
Ten-year-old Sally Fowler thinks the old man is sleeping when she finds him in the forest surrounding the quaint town of Brevard in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But the elderly gentleman has been murdered, shocking the residents and puzzling the police force. When the Brevard Tuesday Night Book Club, who have a fondness for Agatha Christie, begin sleuthing, they discover a fascinating story with good and bad repercussions for the Brevard community. THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE BREVARD RECLUSE is a mysterious, atmospheric, and folksy tale set within the slightly eldritch town of Brevard. Vivid with details and descriptions that lend the narrative a visual quality, author W. M. J. Kreucher has written a captivating murder mystery with a raft of quirky characters who entertain and intrigue.
HUMAN JUSTICE by Human and the Lights is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the complex interplay between human values and corporate interests in the legal system. The book offers a rare insider’s perspective on the challenges faced by those fighting for justice on behalf of marginalized individuals, providing valuable insights into the need for reform to prioritize human dignity over profit motives.
Mythical creatures come to life with well crafted detail in Victor Marrow’s EVERGREEN DREAD when a young woman is tasked with investigating unexplained tragedies in the Pacific Northwest. The action-packed stories of her adventures will have readers on the edge of their seats while she faces both gruesome creatures and threats to her honor from those attempting to discredit her to avoid the truth coming to light.
A full-throttle tale of rebellion, peer adulation, and adolescent expression, Michael Mohr’s THE CREW follows sixteen-year-old Jack “Dog” Donnigan into Southern California’s punk rock scene and a clique of anti-conformists. With its close first-person narrative, the novel effectively conveys the protagonist’s dizzying search for self and belonging.
Leslie Kain paints a story rich in psychological drama in WHAT LIES BURIED where readers learn about complex-PTSD. Adding in Italian mob ties, dysfunctional family generational wounds, and a thriller plot gives readers a peek inside the devastating mind of a victim of PTSD and how it affects everyone around him. Expertly crafted, Kain writes with authority and creativity, giving readers quite the experience.
With some well disguised twists and turns, THE KILLER CHORUS is a gripping, noir-ish mystery set in and around the music scene in Nashville. In Detective Jed Hatcher, Jack Conlan has created a character with enough depth to warrant future outings, and by the end of the novel, readers will already be eager to meet him again.