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!
THE AWAKENED WAY by Suzanne Giesemann is a transforming book that combines practical spiritual exercises with inspiring personal stories to help readers reconnect with their real nature. It invites people to break free from restrictive human notions and enjoy a state of heightened consciousness and inner serenity. The book’s creative combination of ancient wisdom and current ideas makes it an important resource for anybody looking to turn life’s obstacles into opportunities for spiritual growth.
DIVINE IN ESSENCE is a disturbingly clever collection of ten grotesque horror tales. Author Yarrow Paisley reflects unsettlingly on the tangled depravity of the human condition through a nightmarish, distorted world of dark, hallucinatory surrealism and gorgeously ornamented prose charged with latent eroticism and whimsical humor. With such entertaining freakery, as the tale of a boy trapped in his lascivious stepmother’s glass eye, Paisley draws the reader deep into his bizarre imaginings, which veer wildly from the Gothic to the psychedelic. Challenging, subversive, and provocative, DIVINE IN ESSENCE is not for the faint-hearted, but for fans of twisted speculative fiction, it’s a rare treat.
LIMELIGHT by Joshua Crosson is a gripping exploration of fame’s dark underbelly, showcasing the high stakes and emotional costs of living under constant scrutiny. Through the story of a pop star facing a haunting secret, Crosson skillfully combines suspense, emotional depth, and the allure of the music industry. Readers will be captivated by its twists, moral dilemmas, and raw portrayal of celebrity life.
Dr. George M. Ackerman’s touching memoir, A SON’S JOURNEY: FROM PARKINSON’S DISEASE CAREGIVER TO ADVOCATE , serves as a manual for caregivers navigating the difficulties associated with Parkinson’s. The author discusses his activism and journey with unvarnished honesty and compassion, offering tools and ideas for those facing comparable circumstances. This book serves as a moving ode to the unbreakable love between a son and his mother while providing readers with motivation and useful advice.
DELPHI by Karen Martin is a captivating exploration of Greek mythology interwoven with compelling narratives of resilience and transformation that offers readers a highly detailed trip through time and mythology by skillfully fusing historical and mythical themes. Readers who enjoy ancient knowledge and vivid storytelling will enjoy this book.
THE SOWER OF BLACK FIELD by Katherine Koch is a deeply engaging historical novel set in Nazi Germany that follows Fr. Viktor Koch (an American priest) as he struggles with faith and moral dilemmas while protecting his parishioners from both Nazi oppression and harsh consequences from American liberators after the discovery of a mass grave in their village. Rich in historical detail and deeply rooted in true events, this novel offers readers a gripping exploration of faith, moral dilemmas, and the resilience of the human spirit during one of history’s darkest periods. Koch’s ability to weave emotional depth with meticulously researched history makes this a thought-provoking and powerful read for anyone interested in the moral complexities of war and human nature.
DELAWARE FROM FREEWAYS TO E-WAYS by Dave Tabler is an insightful chronicle of Delaware’s transformation through the 20th century. It uniquely blends the state’s technological progress with its rich cultural heritage, offering readers a nuanced perspective on local history, from infrastructure innovations to the enduring legacy of its communities. This book serves as a compelling reflection on Delaware’s contributions to both the regional and national landscapes, making it a valuable read for those interested in the intersections of history, technology, and social change.
William Doonan, best known for his Henry Graves mysteries takes a slightly different direction in his latest novel, THE COMMISSARY. Conrad Abbott’s app Porchlight has housed over 20,000 people, through monthly sponsorships and spare rooms. Mike Walpole’s life crashed and burned; he is now homeless, looking after a small group of comrades as best he can. When homeless people involved in the Porchlight program start dying, Mike has to pull himself together and get answers. Doonan’s writing is strong, and the story is told in a variety of viewpoints: each strong and unique which add pieces to the puzzle and a layer to the various social, emotional, and ethical issues involved with homelessness. The book is intricately plotted and well-paced. THE COMMISSARY is a page turner that also takes a thoughtful look at a relevant crisis.
In this exhilarating third installment of James Bultema’s SEA OF RED series, domestic terrorists acting for Iran destroy Independence Hall in Philadelphia, an atrocity that cannot go unpunished. As the US military brings its full force to bear in the Middle East, hardware and manpower capabilities will need to push beyond their limits to stop the Iranians from bringing the threat of nuclear war into reality. Sharp, precisely plotted, and explosive, RED LINES takes the reader alongside its characters deep into the combat zones and tactics behind the life-or-death missions. From cyber warfare to naval strategies and aerial dogfights, Bultema’s impeccable research, blistering pace, and gripping narrative ensure that RED LINES is an absolute must-read for military thriller fans.
Being the new kid in school is always a challenge for pre-teens, especially when you have to learn how to fit in. DODGING CUPCAKES by Laura Pashley introduces readers to 12-year-old Mindy, a transplant from Chicago to her dad’s rural Illinois hometown. Learning more about one’s own abilities, how to make new friends without intimidating others, and directing classmates to higher ambitions are good lessons for kids this age—and adults, too.
THE SOMETHING MORE is the new romance novel by HK Jacobs, known for her Alex Wilde romances. Quinn is an equine vet on the East Coast who loves her job and is engaged to a decent man. But when her father is seriously injured, she returns to the small Texas town where she grew up to help him and handle his vet practice until he recovers, which is when she runs into Will, the man who broke her heart and is now a bestselling author in town for a book event. Quinn has to face the past in order to have a future; as she learns to be truthful with herself, she also uncovers the truth of what happened with Will. Quinn’s passion and talent for her work are well-integrated into the story, and provide both a strong backdrop and another intriguing layer. The way Quinn and Will try to reconcile their past, present, and future, as the old feeling surface and grow even stronger, is handled with delicacy and vulnerability. With surprises, warmth and poignancy, THE SOMETHING MORE is a lovely, loving read.
Living in a city without truly appreciating its charm and beauty seems like a wasted opportunity. In TOKYO TEMPOS, author Michael Pronko continues his series as an American living and working in Japan. Descriptive passages bring the reader into each segment, as this “travelogue” offers a more personal experience of daily life for would-be visitors and those living—or wanting to live—in Japan. TOKYO TEMPOS is the fourth installment of Pronko’s Tokyo Moments series, continuing a love affair with this beautiful Japanese city.
Judy Haveson’s candid and witty book, OLDEST MOM ON THE PLAYGROUND, encapsulates the special pleasures and difficulties of becoming a mother later in life. As she navigates parenthood in her forties, Haveson’s realistic storytelling, which is laced with wit and resiliency, offers both insight and fun. Her frank observations provide readers who are juggling motherhood and the challenges of midlife with a reassuring viewpoint.
THE LYCAN PRINCESS & THE LETHAL POTIONS WIZ by Stina’s Pen brings readers into a vibrant fantasy world, where royal lycans, wraiths, and wizards interact amidst compelling political intrigue, magic, and lore. The narrative excels in its vivid world-building, with uniquely imagined creatures and a touch of humor that enriches the interactions among diverse species. This fantastical journey of destiny and prophecy is sure to captivate readers drawn to supernatural adventures.
Aubrey Birch’s poetry collection VESICAPISCIS looks simple on the page, but is layered and multi-faceted. Birch’s performance experience translates well to the poems, and several pieces could serve double duty as either prose poems or monologues standing on their own. The piece, as a whole, could be an evening’s performance. There are some beautifully memorable lines such as “Each photo is a voice” that are meditations within and without the rest of their poem. Loss, gain, ease, silence, fame, the body, questions, and most importantly, the meaning of the self and that power are all explored and prodded from multiple angles. There’s often a wry humor underneath the word arrangement. It appears as stream of consciousness, but there’s very much a sense of the artist being in control and guiding the reader on the journey, provoking the reader to think and dig deeper.
THE AVATAR MURDERS by Jim Rowson is a gritty detective novel that plunges readers into a futuristic world where augmented reality and digital avatars collide with murder. With a compelling protagonist grappling with personal loss, the book masterfully blends high-tech intrigue with emotional depth, making it a gripping read for fans of both sci-fi and noir.
Gustaf Berger’s THE PAPERBOY AND THE SPINSTER is a thoughtful exploration of the complexities of masculine identity in a recognizable – but hardly idyllic – 1950s America. On the cusp of manhood at 12 years old, its eponymous protagonist sometimes reflects the biases and failings of his time; but his surprising tenderness for plants, animals, and other human beings lends his story a deep, satisfying fullness.
An entertaining and complex read, Stephen J. Wallace’s debut novel HAZARDOUS LIES is a combination mystery/thriller centered around an explosion at a chemical plant. Jon Barrett, depressed after a scandal in his previous job, gets assigned the investigation on his first day in his new government job, for an agency fighting to keep its funding. The company is more interested in optics than the fact that three men died, and an intern (a politician’s son) is missing. How far will they go to protect themselves? How much political and legal power do they have to flex? While the answer is unsurprising, the way Jon uncovers doggedly uncovers each piece of the puzzle while struggling with his own depression is a good read. Wallace’s knowledge of engineering and how these types of plants work add texture to a profession few people understand and many fear. The external challenges provoke internal revelations that force Jon to make difficult decisions that will affect his future.