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.

December 2, 2024

WAIRAKA POINT: The Paradox of Truth

By Trevor Watkin
Rating:
2.9 / 5.0

WAIRAKA POINT: The Paradox of Truth by Trevor Watkin covers an extraordinary amount of ground, including romantic drama, travelogue, and low-key thriller, but suffers from...

Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

An atmospheric tale of star-crossed love and Spain's postwar reckoning, Peter J. Meehan's RETURN TO PAMPLONA: A Lover's Quest in Post-War Spain offers an immersive...

Rating:
3.0 / 5.0

Col. David J. Mason’s THE SELF-LIBERATION OF PARSON SYKES: Enlistment in the Union Army isn’t really the “novel” it claims to be, but it is...

November 22, 2024

THE FERNS

By Meridith Mckinnon
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Set in late-19th-century rural Australia, Meridith Mckinnon’s THE FERNS provides an interesting setting, a fast-moving story, rich characters, and multiple timeframes that add complexity and...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0

Ian Crouch’s A PYRRHIC VICTORY: Volume III—Fate offers readers a window into a pivotal moment in ancient history, bringing to life a historical figure whose...

Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

Kevin Geise’s NO BOUNDARIES: When Two Worlds Collide successfully combines its coming-of-age narrative with adult storylines to create a panoramic view of social change in...

November 13, 2024

TANGLES

By Kay Smith-Blum
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

TANGLES by Kay Smith-Blum is an emotionally resonant mystery combined with a compelling conspiracy story.

November 6, 2024

FALL OF THE MIGHTY

By Larry Forcey
Rating:
2.5 / 5.0

Thoroughly well-researched and carefully crafted, Larry Forcey’s FALL OF THE MIGHTY still doesn’t successfully braid its narrative threads into an emotionally compelling story.

November 1, 2024

ANJA, AGAINST THE ODDS

By Daniel Jakacic
Rating:
3.9 / 5.0

Daniel Jakacic’s ANJA, AGAINST THE ODDS is a compelling exploration of an under-appreciated pocket of history.

IR Approved
October 30, 2024

SEA TIGERS AND MERCHANTS

By Sandra Wagner-Wright
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Sandra Wagner-Wright’s SEA TIGERS AND MERCHANTS is an enjoyable historical novel with compelling characters and details that bring its late-18th century setting to life.

IR Approved
October 25, 2024

PRIDE AND PERJURY

By Alice McVeigh
Rating:
4.9 / 5.0

Absorbing, delightful, and loyally Austenian, PRIDE AND PERJURY by Alice McVeigh will win over Jane Austen fans and newbies alike with its germane prose and...

IR Approved
October 11, 2024

SLEEPING IN THE SUN

By Joanne Howard
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

Joanne Howard's SLEEPING IN THE SUN tells the story of an American missionary family in British India with style and poise.

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