Indie book reviews

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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.

October 3, 2025

LOVEVORTEX AND THE DRAKOR’S CURSE

By Pekka Harju-Autti
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Pekka Harju-Autti’s LOVE VORTEX AND THE DRAKOR’S CURSE is a historical, philosophical fantasy that's best when it examines how knowing the day you die could...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.4 / 5.0

With warmth, wisdom, and some unforgettable visuals, Elizabeth Lett's DULA, FIG, AND THE WISDOM OF OLD SYCAMORE invites readers of all ages to reflect on...

October 1, 2025

BURDEN OF SHE

By G.W. Darcie
Rating:
3.0 / 5.0

In spite of its inconsistent voice and irregular pacing, G.W. Darcie’s BURDEN OF SHE is a unique, character-driven science fiction novel.

Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Michele Volpi’s THE CAREER REMIX: Build a Future That Fits You. Pivot. Grow. Thrive. offers a system of useful tools and references, although their applicability...

IR Approved
October 1, 2025

CHRONICLES OF FOUR ESTATES

By Benjamin Kwakye
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

CHRONICLES OF FOUR ESTATES is an ambitious political thriller that uses the framework of detective fiction to examine geopolitical forces in contemporary Ghana. Benjamin Kwakye's...

Rating:
2.8 / 5.0

Malou Beauvoir's OUR VODOU: A Vodou Bedtime Tale (Book 1) seeks to engage and educate young readers about Haitian cultural traditions, but it's hampered by...

Rating:
3.9 / 5.0

Oliver Libby’s STRONG FLOOR, NO CEILING outlines an enthusiastic, optimistic vision for righting American civic life, though it’s unclear that the book addresses the underlying...

September 29, 2025

SEVEN BLACKBIRDS

By Helen Winslow Black
Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

Helen Winslow Black paints a compellingly grim picture of divorce and the importance of caution when choosing a spouse in SEVEN BLACKBIRDS.

IR Approved
September 26, 2025

THERE ARE NO STARS HERE

By J.S. Thompson
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

THERE ARE NO STARS HERE by J.S. Thompson offers psychological dystopian fiction that prioritizes character development over action, examining how ordinary people rationalize complicity with...

September 26, 2025

ACROSS THE PRESSING DARK

By Veronica Wolff
Rating:
3.9 / 5.0

Veronica Wolff’s ACROSS THE PRESSING DARK isn’t breaking the mold, but it’s a solid and simmering take on the Scottish historical romantasy.

IR Approved
September 26, 2025

TREE OF EYES: Book Two of Eyes of Awakening

By Ann Yihyang Kim
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

In TREE OF EYES, Ann Yihyang Kim thrusts James Mun and Crew Blue deeper into the perilous dream-realm of the Flowering. This leg of the...

September 24, 2025

JOURNEY

By Shannon Phillips, German Yanovsky
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

A sturdy fictional universe feels lived-in and populated by rich, emotionally vibrant characters in Shannon Phillips's and German Yanovsky's JOURNEY, an enjoyable space opera that...

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