Indie book reviews

IndieReader’s reviewers are tough, but fair

Our Reviewers won’t judge your book as compared to other self-published titles, but against other books, period. Our ratings are based on the following criteria, although reviewers are able to award partial stars (i.e. a 1.3 or a 4.7), rather than rounding up or down to a whole or half number.

1/5

Really bad 
Work on it.

2/5

Mediocre
1-2 bright spots.

3/5

Good
Worth reading.

4/5

Very Good
1-2 spots that need work

5/5

Excellent!
Must-read.

* IndieReader receives compensation for most of the books it reviews, along with copies of those books.

May 12, 2025

LUCKY NUMBER 6

By Julia Shraybman
Rating:
3.0 / 5.0

Awkward plotting and some rushed character work prevent Julia Shraybman’s LUCKY NUMBER 6 from thrilling or chilling as it needs to, but it may scratch...

May 12, 2025

CINNAMON SOUL

By Quinn Lawrence
Rating:
3.7 / 5.0

Quinn Lawrence’s CINNAMON SOUL is a balanced, character-driven fantasy novel where secrets, subterfuge, and magic collide.

IR Approved
May 12, 2025

WINTER

By Rhya Tenney
Rating:
4.2 / 5.0

Rhya Tenney's WINTER is an eerie but ultimately enthralling and introspective blend of supernatural elements and fantasy, with compelling displays of tension, emotion, and chills....

IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Skillfully written by R.L. Florez and M.L. Florez, DON'T BE AFRAID OF SIRENS: SOMEONE NEEDS HELP is a well-illustrated book with an important message about...

IR Approved
May 9, 2025

JIGSAW & JANE

By Jane Howatt
Rating:
4.2 / 5.0

Warm, witty, and refreshingly self-deprecating, Jane Howatt's JIGSAW & JANE: Thirteen Years of Murder and Mayhem with Badge Number One is a true-crime memoir that...

May 9, 2025

CLEAVE THE SPARROW

By Jonathan Katz
Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

Though a surfeit of ideas can make for choppy reading, the wicked satire of Jonathan Katz’s CLEAVE THE SPARROW is biting and memorable.

IR Approved
May 7, 2025

SAVING UTOPIA

By Stefano Teatini
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

Stefano Teatini's SAVING UTOPIA is a unique entry in the realm of dystopian sci-fi. Rather than simply presenting a takedown of the harmful ideas that...

IR Approved
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

Perfectly paced and full of genuine laughs, Brian Silbert’s BERTICUS: How I Survived School! And Bullies! And Farley Finnigan! will remind readers of all ages...

May 7, 2025

DELIVERANCE: A Road Trip to Die For

By Emory John Michael
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Emory John Michael’s DELIVERANCE: A Road Trip to Die For is an enjoyable novel that attempts to combine New Age mysticism with the crime thriller. 

IR Approved
May 7, 2025

ELDRYAN ELDERS

By S.G. Blaise
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0

S.G. Blaise’s ELDRYAN ELDERS serves another delicious helping of cosmic chaos as Lilla levels up from "reluctant divine spokesperson" to "portal-protecting powerhouse." With snarky one-liners...

IR Approved
May 5, 2025

ASH & FEATHER

By Sharon Frances
Rating:
4.2 / 5.0

Sharon Frances’s ASH & FEATHER soars on its powerful emotions, playful language, and evocative black-and-white art.

IR Approved
May 5, 2025

PEARLY GATES

By Bonnie Solomon
Rating:
4.2 / 5.0

Bonnie Solomon’s PEARLY GATES spins a playful, zany conceit into a moving story of community-building and love.

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