IndieReader Discovery Awards 2025 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
THE CONSPIRACY OF THE CHRIST by Michael LaFond is a thought-provoking memoir that intertwines personal spiritual experiences with historical analysis to explore the true story of Jesus Christ. LaFond delves into ancient sources, such as the works of historian Flavius Josephus, to present a fresh perspective on early Christianity, tracing its connections from Platonic philosophy to the teachings of Carlos Castaneda. The narrative offers readers a blend of historical revelations and introspective accounts, inviting them to question conventional narratives and discover new interpretations of faith and history. Overall, the book provides an enlightening journey into the intersections of history, theology, and personal spirituality.
Ana María López Jimeno’s thorough reference book VADEMECUM OF ENGLISH condenses important features of the English language into understandable, navigable graphs. This handbook is a great tool for advanced students as well as teachers with parts on phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, and etymology. It is an essential aid for mastering English, as it presents complex linguistic concepts in an accessible and structured manner by incorporating insights from over 50 dictionaries and grammar books.
SUMMERS AWAY by Kara DeMaio follows Ayla as a chance encounter with Ryan Gematti leads her to spend summers with his family—where she forms a deep bond with his brother (Tate), a friendship overshadowed by a secret he desperately tries to keep. When a hidden relationship threatens to unravel everything, Ayla is torn between protecting her friend and revealing the truth, setting off a chain of events that ends in tragedy. With compelling prose and deeply relatable characters, DeMaio crafts a poignant story of love, loyalty, and the life-altering weight of choices, delivering an ending that will move readers to tears.
Dr. Annise Mabry’s EDUCATIONAL DISOBEDIENCE tells the story of a mom who, when faced with children who were being bullied and failed at school in Georgia, created a successful homeschooling cooperative. Part memoir, part guide to a flawed education system, Mabry writes movingly on her own background and struggles in a system designed to fit the many, not the few, and offers profound insights on how to create educational experiences that serve all those who learn.
THE PITS is a harrowing account of one woman’s endurance of an attack by pit bulls, and the aftermath. Realtor and author Cheryl Edwards writes with a mixture of forensic detail and quirky wit of her experience feeding three dogs while her friend was on vacation, only to find herself set upon. Her frank, shocking account offers many startling insights into the survival instinct and the ongoing repercussions survivors feel after having gone through traumatic experiences.
THE SAPIEN EMPIRE by Nathan Ogloff is a compelling post-apocalyptic novel that follows Shindo Dacan, a socially awkward yet brilliant engineer whose inventions have been co-opted by the tyrannical ruler Vibrun Magrite to dominate the Domain’s four city-states. When Magrite’s cruelty turns personal, Shindo, with the unexpected alliance of Jarim Alsaedon, orchestrates a daring coup to overthrow the despot. As they attempt to rebuild society, they face internal and external threats that challenge their vision for a better world. Ogloff’s storytelling is magical, deserving praise for its vivid world-building and complex character development. The initial chapters present a dense array of details, making the beginning challenging yet gripping. Despite this, the novel’s intricate plot and exploration of themes like power, trust, and societal reconstruction make it a noteworthy addition to the genre.
THE FORGOTTEN TALE: A TRAGEDY IN PASEA by Lewis McDonald is an engaging fantasy mystery that plunges readers into a coastal village shrouded in secrets and dark omens. A band of heroes—Ludwig, Elroven, Nadarr, and Lutras—venture into Pasea to probe vague rumors linked to the Djofull (gods), only to uncover a conspiracy and danger far beyond their wildest expectations. With engaging writing, a well-paced narrative, and an intriguing plot, this installment in the Forgotten Tale series delivers a thrilling and immersive reading experience.
ROLO THE PET EARTHLING by Hans Ness is a charming and imaginative story that transports readers to the whimsical world of Blorx, where a young girl named Zira dreams of having her very own pet earthling. With delightful illustrations by Sofia Komarenko, this book captivates the hearts of children and adults alike, showcasing the importance of responsibility and the joy of companionship.
Leslie A. Rasmussen’s third novel, WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE, deals with the aftereffects of a mother’s suicide on her three grown daughters. Each daughter deals with their own issues, but they all knew their mother loved them, and believed their father was dead. Now, they uncover secrets their mother hid from them all their lives. Morgan struggles with her sobriety, Charlie is in a dead-end relationship stretching eleven years, and Abby’s trying to deal with four young children, married to her childhood sweetheart, and worried that she always makes safe choices. The story is told through multiple points of view of each sister, and through their mother’s, ratcheting up the tension as the story unravels. A trip to New York and discovering their mother’s roots in Brooklyn, along with Morgan’s and Charlie’s early years, complicates things even further. The sisters are driven to unravel the mystery of their mother’s past because of the effect it has on their own futures. WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE is often sad, sometimes funny, and very, very human, with the sisters’ relationship central to the piece.
AIR AND ASHES by Margaret Mantor pulls readers into an interesting world where genetically engineered elemental warriors control air, water, fire, and earth while being locked in a brutal war against the ruthless Clinic. Originally sure of her past, seventeen-year-old Emma discovers her mother was murdered, not lost to cancer, and that she herself is a rare Halfbreed now being hunted. With rich world-building, heart-pounding action and a slow-burn romance that keeps readers hooked, AIR AND ASHES is a must-read for YA fantasy lovers.
Historical timelines collide in BLACK CLIFF CHRONICLES as author Steve Sterling explores the complex concept of how individual choices can alter multiple paths, sensationally displayed through eccentric characters and the adventurous science-fiction element of time travel.
THE AYEEE TO Z ADULTING GUIDE: How To Navigate Adulthood Like A Boss! is an easy-to-digest guide about everything from filling in tax returns to checking tire pressure. Author E. Z. Grace succeeds in crafting a likable, accessible handbook crammed full of useful advice on all those things that, as an adult, you don’t know, but feel too embarrassed to ask about.
Tracy Daigrepont’s RELENTLESS transports readers to Acadianville, Louisiana—where recent Tulane Law graduate Savannah Brannon returns home, only to find herself trapped between her domineering father’s expectations and the weight of her own grief. As she struggles to carve out her own path, her connection with the reserved yet compelling oil rig supervisor Dallas Redding is tested by family conflicts and buried secrets, while those around her—her steadfast best friend, Bennett, and the dangerously volatile Knox—are drawn into a whirlwind of passion, betrayal, and danger. Blending steamy romance, gripping suspense, and a richly immersive depiction of Louisiana culture, this emotionally charged novel is a powerful story of love, loss, and the unyielding fight for a fresh start.
In TWO THOUSAND MILES FROM OMAHA, S.D. Goldman delivers a poignant tale of Ryan Collins struggling to outrun the shadows of his past and the pain of lost love. Through vivid storytelling and authentic, deeply human characters, readers are drawn into Ryan’s turbulent journey of self-reflection, redemption, and unexpected connection. With finely crafted writing and moments of both vulnerability and hope, this novel reminds us that personal growth and true companionship often come when we finally face what we have been running from.
LEAD LIKE AN EDITOR by Victor Maze is an engaging and insightful guide that blends storytelling with practical leadership strategies. Through the MY STAMP Method, Maze offers actionable steps to help leaders build passionate teams, craft compelling narratives, and create brands that resonate with audiences. With its energetic tone and real-world examples, this book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to lead with vision and creativity.
OUR DESPERATE HOUR by John F. Andrews immerses readers in the brutal realities of World War I through the eyes of Ab Johnson, a father searching for his son on the front lines of France. The novel masterfully intertwines the journeys of various soldiers, each facing their own struggles amid the chaos of battle, while highlighting the intense challenges of wartime medical care. Richly detailed and emotionally charged, this historical fiction offers a poignant exploration of sacrifice, courage, and the human cost of war.
Lust is in the air. So is intrigue – and danger. In Melody Grace Hicks’ HIDDEN, the first book in her Triquetra Prophecy trilogy, Vancouver professor Shannon Murphy is literally swept up in a romance with Tod Corvus, a god masquerading as a rock star. She fights the entanglement, yet soon realizes that love (and baby-to-be) triumph. The ups and downs of their relationship make for an easy and absorbing read, up to the ‘to be continued’ after the last chapter.
WORSE THAN YOU THINK is a visceral and at times irreverent account of the unsuccessful candidacy of progressive schoolteacher Todd Allen for the 2018 Democratic primary in Texas’ 24th congressional district. Allen and his friend and campaign guru Heath Hamrick craft a narrative that is heavy on can-do grassroots activism, but also dishes the dirt on the maneuverings and goings-on in local politics in a post-truth society.