IndieReader • October 2024

IndieReader Book Review: Pride and Perjury

In this collection of short stories inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Emma, author Alice McVeigh confidently and commendably adds her voice to the Austen-verse with interpretations of well-known characters, minor characters, well-trod events, and those Austen only hinted at.

IndieReader • April 2024

IndieReader Book Review: Dreams of a Dragon Girl

With a distinct take on dragons, lush world-building, and great characterization, DREAMS OF A DRAGON GIRL enthralls with adventure, emotionally adept prose, and a vivid ensemble cast.

IndieReader • March 2024

IndieReader Book Review: Price of Vengeance

Kurt D. Springs's PRICE OF VENGEANCE boasts military sci-fi elements galore and thought-provoking details that will sate devoted genre readers.

IndieReader • October 2023

IndieReader Book Review: The Raven Key

The first in a series, this story follows a high-schooler as an eldritch horror wreaks havoc on his life.

IndieReader • October 2023

IndieReader Book Review: Thin Places

When a powerful supernatural figure from another world unleashes Lovecraftian creatures on her college town, Miskatonic University undergrad Ellen Logan must find a way to stop him—even if it means sacrificing herself.

IndieReader • July 2023

IndieReader Book Review: Cleopatra's Tomb and the Regit Tigers of Egypt

J.W.S. Getty's Cleopatra's Tomb and the Regit Tigers of Egypt is a delightful land-and-sea adventure thanks to a creative plot, a contemporary “save the world” drive, and talking animal friends galore.

IndieReader • June 2023

IndieReader Book Review: Arrogance, Ambition & Pride

Sandra Wagner-Wright's 's ARROGANCE, AMBITION & PRIDE details the rise of the Crowninshield and Derby merchant families in 18th-century New England with meticulous research and writing that falls a bit short on action and plot.

IndieReader • June 2023

IndieReader Book Review: Grace's Law

GRACE’S LAW is author Ashley Norman's well-written, fast-paced and timely novel of the prejudice and struggle survivors of sexual violence face in the pursuit of justice, even in the #MeToo era.

IndieReader • October 2021

IndieReader Book Review: Fedor

FEDOR has all the building blocks for a unique historical YA novel of the traveling-circus heydey, but proves more compelling in theory than in execution due to a dearth of narrative action and breadth.

IndieReader • March 2021

IndieReader Book Review: The Tree of Knowledge

Exploring the possibilities of perfect foresight and the many shades of ambition, THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE is an engaging, modern action-thriller filled with logic puzzles, secret societies, and political machinations.

IndieReader • March 2021

IndieReader Book Review: Beyond The Pale Blue Sun

Unique world-building, myriad characters, and themes of natural balance versus technological advancement make Kip Koelsch's BEYOND THE PALE BLUE SUN an engaging second-in-a-series novel.

IndieReader • December 2020

IndieReader Book Review: Orthicon

A satire turned farce of a Republican-controlled US government, ORTHICON’s poor pacing and sloppy characterization makes for a ludicrous, confusing novel.

IndieReader • September 2020

IndieReader Book Review: Summer's End

SUMMER’S END is a sweet and satisfying conclusion to Jill Sanders’ Wildflowers series. Full of heart, emotion, and a bit of heat, this low-stakes contemporary romance about two people learning to trust and to love is both delightful and engaging.

IndieReader • September 2020

IndieReader Book Review: Piercing The Celestial Ocean

An ensemble cast plus inventive worldbuilding makes Kip Koelsch's PIERCING THE CELESTIAL OCEAN an engaging, memorable start to a sweeping space epic of the struggle between religion and science, ambition and the collective good.

IndieReader • July 2020

IndieReader Book Review: Hirana's War

With unique magic and familiar characters facing new dangers, HIRANA’S WAR deftly continues the young adult space fantasy begun in ELOIA BORN, ably building on favorite themes established in the first installment of the duet.

IndieReader • June 2020

IndieReader Book Review: Taking Time

Character-driven though somewhat light on world-building, TAKING TIME handily navigates the corporate, ethical, and practical ripple effects of time travel without skimping on entertainment.

IndieReader • May 2020

IndieReader Book Review: Snatch 2&20

Luke Fellows' SNATCH 2&20 falls short of its satirical Wolf of Wall Street promise, providing instead a zany story of the debauchery of Big Finance. The hijinks, scattered plot, and weak dialogue make for a novel both bewildering and entertaining.

IndieReader • December 2019

IndieReader Book Review: This Day Is Ours

THIS DAY IS OURS is the rare realistic historical romance, blessedly devoid of insta-love, though Gretchen Jeannette’s historical details and American Revolutionary battle scenes sometimes overshadow the romance.