IndieReader Discovery Awards 2026 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2026 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
TALI NOHKATI: The Great Crossing by Koza Belleli , translated by Dorine Heller takes readers on an epic, story-rich adventure, combining Indigenous-referencing folklore, striking scenes from nature, and a constant thread of survival and the search for belonging. With its lyrical tone and allegorical sweep, the book will especially appeal to readers who enjoy spiritual adventure tales and oral-storytelling-style narratives.
Spiritual and celestial beings unite to narrate the legend of human life on earth across different eons in this short yet profoundly moving tale. Koza Bellili’s TALI NOHKATI: A Piece of Earth Under the Stars offers the readers poignant reflections of two cosmic beings, the Moon and the Coyote, on the strength of human spirit as shaped by sacrifice, love and resilience. What shines through this brief adventure novel is its speculative, poetic prose which will transport readers to ancient, cosmic realms yet unexplored.
A story of homecoming and haunting. THE WATCHWOOD INHERITANCE by Ann Huchingson explores how family trauma can linger like a ghost—shaping memory, disrupting relationships and leaving scars. This is a young adult novel that takes its readers seriously and assumes they can handle large emotional beats delivered in well crafted story. The resulting book is both eerie and tender—its impact will linger long after the novel is closed, and will sustain as new generations of readers discover it.
In this stylish debut set in Venice, renowned, enigmatic chef Federico Dal Sotto serves a taste of the taboo to the Venetian elite during private dining evenings at his opulent establishment, Il Tricolore di Venezia. When the restaurant’s unobtrusive Portuguese cleaner, Angela, discovers the horrifying truth, she turns detective, determined to expose Federico as the morally degenerate monster he truly is.
V.J. Ravens flickers between past and present to unfold a twisted, darkly compelling tale of cannibalism and consumption that uses Venice’s sinister, secretive qualities to chilling effect. Written in beautifully precise, elegant prose and featuring layered, intriguing characters, THE FLAVOR OF SIN is a seductively good psychological thriller.
A beautiful blend of pastels serves as a lovely backdrop to Juan Reynoso's touching words to his wife and son in I LOVE YOU. The pages are mostly devoid of script or images, but hearts will swell as the artistic heart slowly grows on the page.
Nathaniel M. Wrey brings World War II-era Europe to life in this three-part historical thrill ride, tackling trauma, captivity, and wartime with striking aplomb. IN THE FACE OF THE FOE is paced much like war—long stretches of tension interspersed with moments of high-octane action. With a main character as dogged as military men come, this novel is perfect for lovers of classic historical thrillers.
Theresa Janson’s romantic thriller RESERVATIONS is the first book in her Samantha Wright crime series. FBI profiler Samantha Wright can’t even mourn the loss of her mentor when her sometime lover and full-time boss Charlie Falken head for Montana to stop the brutal serial killings of Native American boys. Sam hires tracker Will Little Bear, who found the latest victim, to help navigate the landscape. Sam and Will’s relationship is the heart of the book: the chances they are willing to take for each other, the sacrifices they are willing to make to keep their promises, and the sabotage that others try to wreak on them is even more central to the plot than the murders. RESERVATIONS collides personal and professional worlds, contrasts settling with true love, and keeps the reader turning the pages until the end.
Paul Coyne's collection of poems, THE WISDOM I CAN'T TEACH, reveals a mind shaped by religion, a love of life, and high morality—the exact themes he touches on throughout this book. Through poetry characterized by simple rhymes and short passages, Coyne leaves deep messages, teaching readers his worldviews, and hopefully, passing on those positive messages as he does so.
The third book in the Davia Glenn mystery series by Laura Akers, POSH AND PERILOUS, is a thrill ride of juxtapositions. As a condition of her inheritance from an aunt, Delta Forces operative Davia Glenn has to live in an upscale California community and, even worse, get involved in it, while juggling attentions of three attractive men. Davia tries to please the will’s conditions by helping to organize a house tour, but soon gets drawn into a web of burglaries and immigrant and child sex trafficking.
Davia is a terrific central protagonist with strength, intelligence, not always perfect, but always passionate and capable of strong connection. Her trio of admirers have their attractions and flaws, but all are smart and strong potential partners for her. The tension builds relentlessly, and the action is well-choreographed and often surprising. POSH AND PERILOUS is a terrific page-turner, and makes the reader eager for the next book in the series.
Faith, relationships and the love of cross country running underscore William Roushey Jr.’s inspirational story of growth in THE RACE AGAINST TIME. Carson stands as a beacon of resilience and a relentless thirst for improvement, and his story seems tailored for the overachievers in life, proving that it’s never too late to achieve lofty goals.
With THE SYLVAN HOTEL, Frannie James delivers a cozy, heartfelt tale of a young woman’s early 20s where she navigates heartbreaks, betrayals, shifting friendships, urban pomp and her scary professional life in a “good ol’ motel” in Seattle. The ins and outs of a hotel life claim centerstage in this intricately built novel, developing the Sylvan Hotel as the most poignant character in this short beautiful American tale. It’s a rewarding read for fans of nostalgic tales from the 90s, with a sweet and resonant character-driven plot.
Family, young love, and finding a sense of belonging take center stage in this heartfelt young adult novel. Natalie has an adolescent, almost bumbling charm to her that makes her character attractive to teen readers. Connie Richardson's RAPID CITY SUMMER is a heartfelt exploration of young love and new beginnings written for a teenage audience.
Stephen Maitland-Lewis' compelling historical thriller THE UNLIKELY HUNTRESS weaves espionage, family loyalty, and World War II's legacy. Through a fiercely devoted mother who is reintroduced into peril, the novel delves into the themes of courage and moral conviction, drawing on vivid period detail and high-stakes intrigue. Fans of intelligent, character-driven suspense will find it especially compelling.
CREED OF LEGENDS by A.K. Kubica unfolds a carefully layered epic where war, legacy, and ambition are shaped as much by politics and tradition as by steel and sorcery. Its slow-burn worldbuilding and intersecting character arcs create a grounded, immersive experience well suited to adult fantasy readers who value depth and tension over haste.
SEVEN DAYS OF MERCY FOR THE APOSTATIC PRIEST by Z. Bennett Lorimer fuses religious intrigue with visceral imagination, crafting a gorgeously imagined desert epic. The story explores themes of faith, sacrifice, and rebellion through the eyes of a strong heroine caught between her responsibilities and her fate, and it does it with beautiful language and complex world-building. Those who enjoy expansive, philosophically driven dark fantasy will love it.
Steven Cary creates a cruel, dystopian world populated by characters who remain fiercely human. NEXTGEN is both an allegory for our AI-dominated future and a story of liberation—perfect for readers who enjoy sci-fi and dystopian adventures.
FÜR ELISE: A Novel by Mark Splitstone is a beautiful and fragile story of love, war and the lasting legacy both leave on us. This story is held together with delicate threads—if even one were missing, the whole thing would unravel. Luckily, Splitstone’s story holds together, offering a rare balance of tragedy and hope.
Born from the Girl Scouts of Alaska BioGlitter initiative, student author Emily Rose Brubaker’s socially conscious yet playful tale, ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD, follows Willow, a glitter-obsessed girl who discovers the dangers of and solutions to microplastic pollution. Colorful artwork softens the message, making a serious environmental issue accessible to 4–8-year-olds. The story covers the basics, but back matter thoughtfully includes teacher resources and an action plan inviting readers to “…be like Willow!”