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!
Reenita M. Hora’s VERMILION HARVEST skillfully blends romance and history, giving readers a poignant glimpse of young love amidst the intricacies of India’s freedom movement. Hora portrays the ambiance of early 20th-century India and the tenacity of its people with detailed accounts of cultural customs and complex characters. During difficult times, this moving story offers a distinctive viewpoint on identity and patriotism.
In JOURNEY OF THE BROKEN VESSELS, a unique and unputdownable novel, author Ashten Duncan draws on his personal experiences woven with subtle allegorical and literary allusion to unfold the moving experiences of four young physicians selected to train on a three-year family medicine residency program in the scenic environs of the East Coast town, Frieden Bay. Within a short while, heartbreak, loss, and self-doubt plague the trainees who have formed an unbreakable friendship group. But will their profound bond be enough to overcome the psychological demons each begins to experience? JOURNEY OF THE BROKEN VESSELS is a forensic yet deeply human, emotive story written in beautifully precise and beguiling prose that lingers long after the final page.
Anyone wishing to expand their understanding of nonfiction writing will find Anne Janzer’s THE CURIOUS READER’S FIELD GUIDE TO NONFICTION to be an interesting and perceptive companion. By breaking down storytelling techniques, curiosity hooks, and attention-earning techniques, Janzer enables readers to recognize and appreciate the skill that goes into nonfiction writing. For those who wish to become more astute and knowledgeable genre readers, it is a must-read.
OUR GLOBAL CRISIS by Brian D. McLean offers an incisive examination of the vulnerabilities of modern society by drawing parallels with past civilizations, such as the Incas and the Rapanui. Through compelling analysis and detailed examples, the book explores humanity’s impact on the environment and presents actionable solutions in its final chapters, making it a thought-provoking read for those concerned about the sustainability of our global future.
A modern detective novel with retro noir undertones, Delvin Chatterson’s BAD BOYS IN BOSTON follows two unorthodox partners reuniting to rescue a girl that’s fallen into the clutches of human traffickers. The depth of the characters’ background is artfully interspersed with the thrill of pursuit as the partners leverage classified technology and mafia connections while attempting to stay on the right side of the law.
High school can be tough, especially when teens are in their senior year, getting ready for “adulthood,” and learning about their own family histories. BECAUSE OF YOU by Fiona Brands travels in different directions of reality and what seems like fantasy—or is it? Trauma, drama, confusion, and life-altering decisions come together in this gentle introduction to what could be classified as friend-based science fiction.
Dr. Davis K. Brimberg’s memoir, TEACHINGS FROM THE GATEKEEPER, explores parapsychology through a blend of personal experiences with the paranormal and scientific research. Brimberg’s narrative not only captures the struggles of academic and personal growth but also underscores the importance of introspection and empathy in navigating life’s complexities. The engaging writing and wealth of information make it a valuable resource for those curious about the paranormal and human potential.
L.R. O’Brien’s 2028 TOMORROW IS THE DAY is a gripping science fiction thriller that expertly blends a high-stakes story with significant ethical themes about technology and humans. Dr. Ray Stone, the story’s central character, is a smart but troubled protagonist who uncovers the Hydrans’ terrible secrets while dealing with his estranged sister Deanna’s commitment to their enigmatic leader, Jordan Taylor. O’Brien’s intriguing investigation of alien AI, the appeal of utopian promises, and the emotional weight of familial relationships make this a thought-provoking book for speculative fiction enthusiasts.
Sandra Tyler’s THE NIGHT GARDEN: OF MY MOTHER is a heartfelt memoir that touches on the complex relationship between mother and daughter through the lenses of caregiving, bereavement, and perseverance. Tyler’s evocative writing style offers a very personal yet approachable story, capturing profound moments of love and frustration. The memoir is a poignant ode to a life well-lived and enduring relationships via contemplations on memory, art, and family dynamics.
Patrick Garvey’s novel, THE HEIR TO ACHILLES, mixes political thriller with mythological and fantastical elements in unique and intriguing ways. In 2022, when Russian soldiers overcame the defiant Ukrainians on Snake Island, they discovered relics tied to Achilles that give them enormous power, but with enormous consequences. Back in the US, CIA analyst Noa Banks gets a call from her ex-boyfriend, an archaeologist, that ties current worldwide political strife with ancient myth. How they unravel fact from fiction is an engaging and often surprising web of intrigue, suspense, science, myth, and history. The characters are strong and engaging, the plot keeps twisting as new layers are revealed, going not just to Achilles and Troy, but to Alexander the Great and ancient Egypt. The heightening stakes and tightening net are paced well to ratchet up the tension. The meticulous research is well integrated into the story and the Garvey includes some of his sources and research at the end, giving interested readers a foundation to go deeper into the elements they found most intriguing. Fans of history, myth, and archaeological suspense will enjoy THE HEIR TO ACHILLES.
PROGNOSIS: GUARDED by Alan B. Hollingsworth, blends the thrill of medical suspense with a reflective look at the origins of the genre. Through Hollingsworth’s engaging storytelling and personal insight, readers are taken on a journey that is equal parts introspective and gripping. This unique blend of memoir and fiction captures the challenges of writing and the medical world, making it a thought-provoking experience for fans of both genres.
Announcing the PTA President’s death in Chapter one of J.A. St. Thomas’ POT LUCK will shock readers, since the question of whodunit will hover over the rest of the story. It will be difficult to pick out the villain because, to be honest, each of the PTA moms deserves the title. Even the narrator, cannabis coffee seller Stephanie Bero, is under scrutiny. Though the killer is nabbed at the end, readers who admire smart sassy women will be intrigued by the end note ‘to be continued’ and the quick dialogue-heavy pace of the story.
A QUEST FOR GOD AND SPICES is a lavish historical drama. Drawing on finely detailed historical research, Dean Cynon conjures a heady, vivid portrayal of thirteenth-century Europe in a narrative that foregrounds the complex interplay between its disparate characters, out for money, influence, and authority, and played out against the backdrop of Pope Innocent III’s papacy and the clash between Christianity and the varied cultures to Europe’s east.
A fantastically conceptualized science-fiction tale that draws forth philosophical tones of morality through the depth of its characters and detailed world building, Ian Patterson’s TRANSFERENCE follows a young man undertaking extreme measures to infiltrate higher society in hopes of bringing down the technology that allows the wealthy to pass their diseases to the lower class for a price.
A heartfelt tale of destiny and intrinsic connections, Thomas De Tore’s THE GOLDMINE shares the story of a middle-aged man, down on his luck who stumbles into the lives of people that lead him on a path of self-discovery while showing him the true meaning of fellowship.
In LAST I SAW HIM: AN AMORET NOVEL, the award-winning author Arthur Herbert delivers a suspenseful and intricately woven tale of intrigue, conspiracy, and dark secrets set against the stark, haunting beauty of the West Texas desert. When celebrated writer Rulo Gatlin is discovered dead in an apparent suicide, his agent, Abby Huxford, begins to unravel a far more sinister story buried in the shadows of the desert town. With well-developed characters, gripping twists, and vivid imagery, this fresh and compelling mystery keeps readers hooked until its shocking conclusion.
Tara Pyfrom’s THE OCEAN IN OUR BLOOD is a moving story of resiliency, identity, and the unbreakable bond with the sea that deftly blends the beauty and danger of Bahamas life. The islands’ rich culture, inner conflicts, and environmental difficulties are vividly depicted in Pyfrom’s expressive prose. An uplifting read and poignant tale of bravery, camaraderie, survival and family.
Erudite, abrasive, funny, and sad, Joshua Gidding’s OLD WHITE MAN WRITING is an artfully-rendered self-portrait of white moral schizophrenia. Drawing on both the traditional Western canon and a lifetime of cringe-worthy experiences, the text remains both cleared-eyed about, and sympathetic to, the struggle of white liberals to use the master’s tools – and anything else at hand – to dismantle the master’s house.