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 NINTH INCARNATION by Amanjot Kaur is a captivating tale that blends adventure, culture, and spiritual growth. Seal, a seemingly ordinary cat, embarks on an extraordinary journey across Asia to save her dearest friend, learning transformative lessons in meditation, music, and ancient practices along the way. The story’s rich narrative is further elevated by beautifully expressive illustrations, making this a meaningful and unforgettable read for all ages.
Sacramento is an ominous town with an apocalyptic vibe in the gruesome, psychological horror, Stephen Rhoades’ THE CALIFORNIA BUTCHER, which explores torture and cannibalism through a disturbing collection of vulnerable, dysfunctional individuals searching for grisly salvation in their troubled lives. Fueled by an extreme fetish site and manipulated by an unearthly serial killer known as “The Butcher”, Rhoades’ characters descend into a violent, fiendish hellscape of their own creation. Raw, dark, and compelling, THE CALIFORNIA BUTCHER is a terrifyingly twisty read offering much more than just a gore-soaked horror-fest.
Patrick Oster’s sixth novel, THE MAN WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS WIFE, is a mix of comedy, action, suspense, and romance. While going through his wife’s things after her unexpected death, Duncan MacEwan finds several false passports, a gun, and a half a million dollars in cash. The retired firefighter, now a photographer, wonders who his wife was, and if she had a secret life. Oster’s writing is precise, provocative, and a lot of fun. The characters are well-developed, engaging, and sometimes infuriating. Duncan’s newfound sense of purpose, and his determination to get answers at all costs for himself, not for a greater good (or less than good) are relatable and fun. The negotiations and compromises on what make a strong marriage are used in fresh ways. A high stakes page turner that doesn’t neglect the love.
Three years after an asteroid hits the West coast – and demolishes 95 percent of California – life continues. Lena Gibson’s AFTERMATHzeroes in on Robin Wilson and her ‘savior,’ Kory, who escape from Idaho’s motorcycle gang and then fall into the Slains’ cult. Their second escape’s a charm. Weighted more to the romance genre than science fiction, the second book in Gibson’s the Love and Survival series captivates with its gripping dialogue and real-to-life characters.
LET THERE BE LIGHT by Siva K. C. Penamakuru is a delightful Diwali tale that artfully blends vibrant cultural traditions with a creative fictional universe. Set in a magical world inhabited by animal-like characters called pasumans, it celebrates the essence of the festival through themes of community, kindness, and reflection. With its engaging storytelling and vivid illustrations by Sara Kuba, this book brings to life the warmth and spirit of the Festival of Lights.
GONE MIA: DEADLY DECEPTION by Tess Raynes is brimming with suspense that will keep readers on the edge with a story of a blossoming romance that takes a chilling twist when a lonely young woman struggling through a slew of seemingly unlucky events discovers her new boyfriend may have had a nefarious part to play in all her misfortune.
THE LEGEND OF CHRIS MOOSE by Allen Northcutt is a heartwarming tale that brings the spirit of Christmas alive through themes of kindness, inclusion, and selflessness. With charming rhymes and vibrant illustrations, it captures the joy of friendship and the true meaning of the season, making it a delightful read for children and families alike.
After an Asteroid hit Earth more than 200 years ago, the world was divided between the Mainland and New Atlantis. New Atlantians Parker and Genna escape their government’s White Shepherds to experience the other side. What they found? A life to be desired until… NEW ATLANTIS by I. Mannien is a well-written mesmerizing read.
Many tour guides tout deep know-how and on-tap experts. Yet few might be able to rival Michael C. Higgins’ EXPLORING WINE REGIONS series, this focusing on Mexico. Abundant color photographs, charts, maps, and individual narratives on 48 wineries and area restaurants contribute to making this a must-have reference when journeying to Guadalupe, Guanajuato, and Querétaro. Narratives are heavy on superlatives; on the other hand, be comforted by the fact that the author spent ten weeks researching the subject.
Every state has its own unique history, and in Delaware, being “first” is part of the charm. DELAWARE: FROM FREEWAYS TO E-WAYS by Dave Tabler recaps the history of America’s first established state (in 1790). Well-researched with photographs and illustrations, the book expands on the author’s first two compilations by reviewing the state’s achievements from the year 1900 to the present.
Terry L. Harmon’s meticulously researched true crime book CONVOLUTED, dissects a murder that took 50 years to resolve. In 1972, Bryce Durham, his wife Virginia, and their teenage son Bobby were brutally murdered in their North Carolina home. The married daughter, Ginny, was not in the house at the time, and it was her husband and their neighbor who discovered the bodies. Was it a random attack by home invaders? Was it a hit? After 50 years, authorities believed that they knew who had committed the murders, but were still unsure of who ordered them. But were they correct? Harmon sets out the details of the case through photographs, transcripts, articles, interviews, and other research (including over 2700 end notes). For aficionados of true crime, CONVOLUTED offers diligent, exacting detail into a complex and fascinating case.
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.