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!
If the stance taken by well-known climate change activist, Greta Thunberg, when she was 16, took you by surprise and made you cheer, you will enjoy SAVING COTTONWOOD by Lisa Page. This novel will have you believing in magic as it convinces you that “that everything is alive and connected across space and time” and that all nature, the trees, the birds, the land and rivers can and do communicate with us if we open our minds and are receptive to what we hear and sense. A beautiful story beautifully told.
THORNS OF FATE by Miranda Howman, the chilling first installment of the Thornforged Chronicles, plunges readers into a brutal world of alchemical power and ruthless ambition, where Elora’s sheltered life at the Miros Institute shatters into a fight for her very soul. Howman’s richly imagined magic system and her gut-wrenching portrayal of Elora’s descent from privileged student to captive weapon create a tension that never lets up, yet it is the bond between Elora and her protector, Tehvan, that is the heart of this dark saga. A harrowing, beautifully written tale of survival and sacrifice, this book is essential reading for fans of morally complex fantasy willing to confront its darkest corners.
SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF by Martin Tiongson is a candid and insightful memoir that chronicles the author’s 14-year journey through the highs and lows of small business ownership in America. Spanning from 2011 to 2024, Tiongson shares his experiences operating three distinct food-service ventures—a gelato shop, a bagel store, and a French bakery—offering readers a year-by-year account of the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. Beyond detailing the operational aspects of running a business, the memoir delves into broader themes such as negotiation strategies, customer psychology, management philosophies, and adapting to macroeconomic shifts, including the COVID-19 pandemic . Tiongson’s narrative is refreshingly honest, often challenging conventional business wisdom and providing practical insights into problem-solving and resilience . His storytelling is both accessible and engaging, making complex business concepts relatable to aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals alike. While the memoir is deeply rooted in the food-service industry, its overarching messages about passion, perseverance, and personal growth resonate universally.
GLOW UP! SELF-LOVE AND SPIRITUALITY FOR TEENS by Charlotte Swift is a thoughtful and empowering read for teen girls navigating the pressures of modern life. Swift shares real-world insights and practical strategies to help young women overcome self-doubt and nurture resilience, body acceptance, and emotional balance. An invaluable resource for teens and the parents who support them, this book makes the journey to confidence and inner peace feel both achievable and deeply personal.
Dan Gold’s GAME CHANGERS takes legendary athletes’ triumphs and trials—from Tom Brady’s underdog rise to Serena Williams’s record-shattering poise—and turns them into a dynamic playbook for teens learning to overcome doubt and push past “no.” With concise, engaging storytelling and end-of-chapter reflections, Dan Gold not only inspires but also equips readers with the mindset and tools to build resilience, set ambitious goals, and lead with character. Whether you are a young athlete or just trying to find your path, this book pushes you to believe in yourself, rise from setbacks, and become a force for good in the world.
Joan M. Kop’s THE SPY FROM BEIJING is a riveting, high-stakes thriller that plunges readers into the murky world of covert operations and global power struggles. With a sharp lens on US-China tensions and the dark potential of biotech espionage, the novel follows FBI agent Jenny as she confronts not only a cunning traitor but also a shattering revelation about her own origins. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, this story captivates with sharp twists while highlighting the precarious balance of modern global power struggles.
Emmanuel M. Arriaga’s FIRST ELITE delivers a gripping sci-fi saga where intense action meets profound emotional struggle, as Neven Kenk’s relentless quest for justice unfolds across a richly imagined galaxy. With complex characters, immersive world-building, and a narrative that balances thrilling battles with moments of heartfelt reflection, this installment elevates the Foundra series to a powerful conclusion. Fans of thoughtful space operas will appreciate the seamless blend of loyalty, loss, and resilience woven into a high-stakes adventure.
With DEADLY VISION, T.D. Severin catapults readers into a razor-tight medical-tech thriller where Dr. Taylor Abrahms’s Virtual Heart Project—an AI-driven, VR microsurgery breakthrough—becomes a lightning rod for corporate and political sabotage. With vivid detail and emotional intensity, Severin crafts a world where innovation becomes a deadly gamble and one doctor’s fight for progress puts him in the crosshairs of powerful enemies. Packed with ethical dilemmas, betrayals, and nonstop twists, this electrifying tale proves that groundbreaking innovation can be as deadly as the diseases it seeks to cure.
Ray Blackburn’s A DOZEN PALMS is a finely interwoven depiction of one family’s past recounted in thirteen linked chapters that read like retrieved recollections. Blackburn grasps the strange, sensitive rhythm of growing up and growing older with warmth, humor, and profound emotional clarity. It’s a quiet, resonant book, but that only adds to its force.
HEAD FAKE, the first Dan Travers novel by Jason Rexell, is a contemporary techno thriller covering the blurred lines of corrupted so-called “intelligence” agencies and cartels. Dan Travers is a cyber ethics professor. He experiments on himself with nano particles, and built an AI partner named Athena to hack information worldwide. Chris Sanders is a gifted science graduate student, mistakenly kidnapped by an intelligence agency trying to regain a missing asset. To cover the mistake, she is disappeared into a web of intelligence labs until she’s sold to a human trafficking cartel. The book does not skimp on the action or the brutality or on the intelligence community’s position that everyone is expendable. The ethics (or lack thereof) of the various factions are one of the strong themes in the piece. There’s a hint at the end of the book of where the second book in the series is headed, to whet the reader’s appetite. HEAD FAKE is a modern thriller that disturbs and engages.
THE REAL DREAMWALKER PRESENTS: EL NIÑO by Ashlyn Jacobs transforms the quiet Tucson neighborhood of SOMEWHERE into a furnace of fear, where a communal nightmare grips the residents and a sinister being known as the Real Dreamwalker preys on their deepest insecurities. What begins as a strange shared dream among young boys soon spirals into a bloody subversive game where nightmares and reality blur and survival hinges on choices no child should have to make. With its haunting imagery and relentless suspense, Jacobs crafts a bone-chilling horror tale that will keep you awake long after the last page.
BLACK GLOVE by M.A.N. is a gripping superhero thriller that fuses raw emotion with relentless action. The story centers on Leroy Black, a man whose life is shattered after witnessing the murders of his father and brother. Fueled by grief and a thirst for justice, he embraces a vigilante persona powered by cutting-edge gear provided by genius scientist Tamara Jones. The novel excels in pacing and suspense, with fight scenes rendered in vivid, cinematic detail and a rhythm that keeps readers hooked from one pulse-pounding moment to the next. The villains are equally well-defined, adding real stakes and tension. M.A.N. strikes a compelling balance between comic-book flair and gritty realism, tackling the ethical grey zone of vigilantism without glorifying violence. Black Glove is a fierce, fast-paced read with heart and a strong recommendation for fans of superhero narratives that don’t shy away from complexity.
Susan Knecht’s debut novel, THE ART COLLECTOR’S WIFE weaves multiple elements into a fascinating story about protection, survival, cruelty, and both physical and emotional displacement. The novel unfolds like peeling layers off an onion, with aspects of family saga, displacement, mystery, and thriller all skillfully woven into it. Choices have consequences and Knecht doesn’t allow easy answers or let her characters off the hook. How they face constantly mounting obstacles and betrayals is one of the core elements of the book. THE ART COLLECTOR’S WIFE is a nuanced page turner, with a cast of deeply realized characters and constant surprises.
THE END OF PRIM by Michelle Tocher is a fearless and richly imaginative exploration of reinvention, aging, and mother-daughter ties. Told with humor, vulnerability, and poetic depth, the story follows Prim’s quiet unraveling as she sheds the layers of a life defined by restraint and embraces the wild unknown of becoming. Tocher’s voice is bold and tender, crafting a journey that is both intimate and universal in its search for meaning beyond the familiar.
C.B. Heinemann’s FORTRESS OF DREAMS is a razor-sharp political thriller that fuses historical mystery, dark humor, and edge-of-your-seat suspense into an unforgettable ride across a destabilized Europe. Amnesiac Ian Sinclair awakens bloodied in rural France—unwittingly caught between a power-hungry Swiss regime and an underground resistance desperate to harness his life-upending secret, racing against closed borders, a smallpox outbreak, and a newly armed dictator. Ian must lean on the unlikeliest ally, a resourceful trucker named Claude Monet, to navigate betrayals, recover buried memories, and avert a looming nuclear showdown in this literary fiction that entertains as much as it challenges.
BEING BROKEN: by Geoffrey R. Jonas is a searingly intimate look at the scars of growing up under the weight of family dysfunction and substance abuse. By piecing together letters, emails, and memories, Jonas exposes how childhood trauma can spiral into cycles of substance dependence and mental illness and how confronting these truths becomes the first step toward healing. While often wrenching, Jonas’s raw honesty and determination to heal make this a profoundly moving testament to resilience and the possibility of breaking the cycle.
SPINNAKER by Sabato diVincenti is a riveting World War II historical romance that beautifully combines espionage, suspense, and forbidden love. The narrative centers on Karl Schellenberg, a young American pilot whose mission over Nazi Germany ends in disaster when his aircraft malfunctions, leading to a perilous descent into enemy territory. Gravely injured, Karl is rescued by Katarina, a compassionate German farm girl whose father opposes the Nazi regime. As Katarina nurses him back to health, their bond deepens into a passionate romance, set against the backdrop of war and the looming threat posed by Katarina’s brother, a high-ranking officer determined to capture Karl. DiVincenti’s storytelling is rich with historical detail and emotional depth, capturing the complexities of love and loyalty in a time of widespread turmoil. The novel’s blend of factual events and imaginative fiction creates a narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.
Memorable characters and unexpected narratives bring this adventurous journey together in a refreshing way. THE TALE OF THE ORPHAN MAGICIAN by Dr. Bill Senyard meshes maritime history and basic themes of good versus evil with faith, drama, and ultimate redemption. THE TALE OF THE ORPHAN MAGICIAN is noted for ages 9 to 16, but ages beyond these may get caught up in the action, too.