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!
Rebecca A. Cathey's CAME A GENTLE WHISPER discovers the melancholic beauty of carrying on when hope feels like a crumbling spectre in the mind. A coming-of-age story set during the devastating years of World War I, the novel weaves together the tragic lives of three characters forced to adapt to a rapidly changing world and their own heartache. What sets this book apart is the finesse of Cathey’s prose, which focuses on the intimate lives of her ordinary American folks caught in the despondency of a global war, and thus reads like a heart-warming, poetic rendering of one of the most soul-crushing chapters in American history.
ALL THROUGH THE CROWN by Rachel Glowacki introduces kids to chakras using clever lyrics sung to the familiar, catchy beat of "Wheels on the Bus" and a color-coded illustration. The fun, new lyrics and outstanding artwork promote movement, inner peace, love, and color and body recognition. Whether 3 or 103, this brilliantly scripted book will energize listeners before teaching them how to calm their minds through mental visualization and subtle movements.
M. E. Torrey’s FOX CREEK is a tense, character-driven story that unfolds in a small, tightly knit town where everyone seems to know each other and everyone seems to be hiding something. The story draws readers into Fox Creek through everyday routines and familiar relationships before slowly revealing the cracks beneath the surface. As Monette grows up on the plantation alongside the planter’s children while Cyrus (once her closest companion) is sent to the fields, the contrast between privilege and powerlessness becomes impossible to ignore. Torrey handles these shifting relationships with care, showing how love, memory, and identity endure even under systems designed to erase them.
DESCARTES' DEMON by Ross Hightower and Deb Heim is a fast-paced cyber mystery that combines cutting wit with relevant questions about AI, perception, and identity. Its engaging language, original idea, and modern setting make it an excellent choice for those who love intelligent, technological thrillers with a light philosophical edge.
THE MACH-10 PM: AI-Powered Product Management at Hypersonic Speed by Jason M. Riggs is an essential guide for product leaders of today and tomorrow. The book clearly explains how to leverage AI in today’s rapidly evolving, AI-driven market, emphasizing accelerated product development and marketing without sacrificing strategic focus. It is a practical and insightful resource for seasoned professionals seeking to sharpen their edge, as well as for young practitioners just entering the field.
KAISA by Samuel Thawley transports the reader across international borders and into C-Suite boardrooms in pursuit of the truth of what happened to Ivan Asimov. Secrets abound in this richly constructed tale, leaving the reader to question allegiances and discern whose hand is truly orchestrating events. The narrative’s frantic pace and shifting sands will compel readers to race toward its gripping conclusion.
THEN THE NIGHT GOT WEIRD by Reggie Tennison and Greg Neeley presents a lively and imaginative tale that balances humor with unexpected twists. Its energetic pacing and distinctive voice make it an entertaining choice for readers who enjoy offbeat storytelling and narratives that take bold creative turns. What begins as a seemingly ordinary evening quickly spirals into a string of increasingly bizarre and comedic situations, with sharp dialogue and escalating absurdity driving the momentum. The authors lean into the surreal elements of the night’s events, layering surprise after surprise while keeping the tone playful and fast-moving throughout.
THE FLAME AND THE SWORD is not your average romantic fantasy—Sandra Gharabaghli does not redo the princess-and-warrior dynamic often seen in fantasy novels. Instead, Gharabaghli depicts a main character that's as strong as nails, forged from the flames of her burnt castle, and a love interest just as sturdy. THE FLAME AND THE SWORD is a wonderful love story exploring themes of loss, duty, and family.
C.V. Vobh blurs the line between dreams and lived experiences, seamlessly intertwining reality and imagination in this entertaining sequel to Somnus' Palace. MERCUNE'S DREAM explores friendship and camaraderie while delivering a high-stakes fantasy adventure that will keep fans of magic and wonder glued to its pages.
Scott Fertick, within a short yet meticulously well-researched book, takes us on a delightful journey exploring the history, appeal and purpose of the figure of our dear old Santa Claus. Probing into his grandfather’s role as a Santa Claus-cum-social rights activist for his local American town for well over 35 years, the book takes swift turns to be informative, endearing, and specifically inspirational. Taking the readers back to the generous nostalgic spirit of Christmas in 20th century America, WHEN SANTA LIVED IN IOWA beckons the human spirit to seek joy in passionately spreading it amongst one’s people, particularly the needy and the destitute.
John DeGuire courts monsters, werewolves, and all things bizarre in this follow-up to his original book. DESTROY ALL MONSTERS is a horror tale that, at times, reads more like an action movie, exploring our favourite horror villains- from Dracula to Frankenstein- in ways we've never seen, and this time, they aren't the bad guys! DESTROY ALL MONSTERS is perfect for readers who are ready to explore our favourite mythical monsters from a new perspective.
John DeGuire created a wonderfully malignant tale of witchcraft and sorcery, scary enough to excite, but fun enough to be accessible to younger readers. Set against the backdrop of everyone's favorite spooky holiday with a main character that's as imposing as she is evil, HOLIDAY SPIRIT is a perfect Halloween read, and DeGuire never forgets to maintain that spirit throughout the book.
Built on friendship, loyalty, and the strange bonds that can bind victims of a shared struggle, CRABBE AND THE KING'S GAMBIT is a humorous, action-filled adventure across Victorian Europe. E. Atkinson delivers a struggling main character that's easy to support and full of hope, a cast that's vibrant and humorous, and real historical figures and tensions—with these, Atkinson takes readers on a thrill ride that will make readers laugh, cry, and keep turning each page.
At times, Thomas Kudla's verses carry an unpolished edge expected of a fledging author. At other times, they flow as though written by an expert with decades of experience. However, VERSES OF A POET WHO DIDN'T KNOW IT constantly remains thought-provoking, examining religion, life, and human emotion without fear of leaving controversial commentary.
Religion, academia, and the attempted indoctrination of a young boy are on full display in this gripping dark thriller. MORTAL VENGEANCE: A Grim Tale explores the weight of expectation and how it could negatively affect a child, and Alejandro Torres De la Rocha writes with the beauty and power of a church choir singing their final hymn—perfect for teenage readers.
An imaginative travelogue in poetry (specifically, hybrid haiku) that paints a lovely picture of several experiences in the Yucatan: turtles in Tulum, exotic foodstuffs, differences between hostels and hotels, just to name a few. Though having a Spanish-English dictionary in hand would help, I MISS GETTING LOST by Julio Lucero captures well the ups and downs of road trips, from kid-dom to adulthood.
In REDEMPTION POST MORTEM, Emil Buchman crafts a thought-provoking narrative that grapples with accountability, consequence, and the possibility of grace beyond life’s final threshold. Blending philosophical depth with a compelling premise, the novel will engage readers drawn to morally complex storytelling and introspective themes.
Anthony Lange’s BIRDS IN A LAND OF NO TREES is such a quietly clever and unexpected read. It begins with an almost documentary-style “field report” about humans, then slowly shifts into the story of Quentin, an astrophysicist who gets roped into a bizarre off-world assignment by an alien visitor. What follows with Quentin and his friends transferring their consciousness into new bodies on another planet, complete with shoulder-perched “minders” whispering guidance, is imaginative but also gently funny and thoughtful. Beneath the sci-fi setup, the book keeps circling back to very human questions about awareness, purpose, and why we’re always searching for something we can’t quite name. It’s strange in a good way, playful on the surface, but surprisingly reflective underneath.