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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.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.2 / 5.0
David Bassano’s ALTIPLANO AND OTHER SHORT STORIES evokes a very modern malaise with well-imagined scenarios rendered in muscular prose.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
Rebecca Wolf’s debut novel ALIVE AND BEATING is an insightful, humorous, and soul-stirring harmonization of seven stories into one piercing tale of sacrifice, pain, and...
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
In Margaret Gardiner’s novel DAMAGED BEAUTY: Joey Superstar, authentic, evocative prose paints an absorbing portrait of a brazen, intelligent young woman.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
Though some of the plot feels perfunctory at times, Panayotis Cacoyannis’s THE FONDLING OF DETAILS is clear in its scenic evocation of London, its disdain...
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
Gripping, moving, and thoughtful, Lilly Stewart’s THE BEAUTIFUL NAME hits hard with gut-wrenching and recognizable depictions of human relationships breaking down under the strain of...
Rating:
3.3 / 5.0
Despite its narrative flaws, David Joiner’s LOTUSLAND still comes across as a heartfelt, accessible, and smoothly written tribute to Vietnam.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
John K. Danenbarger's ENTANGLEMENT: QUANTUM AND OTHERWISE is likely to frustrate as many readers as it intrigues, but those attuned to its uncompromising sensibility may...
IR Approved
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0
Balancing historical events with drama and romance, Reenita M. Hora’s VERMILION HARVEST is a gripping tale of India's gruesome and heartrending history amid her struggle...
IR Approved
Rating:
4.6 / 5.0
Gregory Grosvenor's SECOND POCKET FIRST succeeds as picaresque entertainment with an interesting protagonist.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
Jack Hammond Jr.’s NEVER ENOUGH WORDS is a beautifully told and harrowing tale of the confrontation between humanity and hate.
Rating:
3.0 / 5.0
Denise Haynes’s TALENT SHOW offers an interesting glimpse of both the culture of Trinidad in the 20th century and the dynamics of a large family.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.4 / 5.0
For readers seeking a more contemplative take on end-of-the-world scenarios, Susan E. Sage’s SILVER LADY offers a thoughtful, beautifully written exploration of human resilience and...