2025 INDIE BOOK REVIEW NOMINEES, WEEK 1

Here's the first-ever batch of indie review candidates on Rule One. These candidates are competing for the 1 August Book Review.  Between now and August I plan to post several "special reviews" to fill the content gap until the monthly "normal" candidates can make their way through the selection and reading process. Did I mention I am a slow reader?

If you need a reminder, here's how Reader One Book Reviews works. 

All of this week's candidates fall into the speculative fiction or horror genres. Under "GENRE(S)" I list the overall genre, then in parentheses I list all the sub-genres Amazon lists on the product page. I do this to be fair to the book, though I think whomever classifies the books for Amazon is on hard drugs. 

I discovered all these authors on X. I would really like to find a more diverse book selection to round out these lists. If you are an author on X  get my attention (but not with a DM!). I post the next five candidates next Sunday.

INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #001

TITLE: Bastards of Liberty
PUBLISHER: Raccoon County Press (small indie publisher)
AUTHOR: Matthew Zorich
GENRE(S): Fantasy (Alternative History/Alternative History Science Fiction/Historical Fantasy).
PUBLICATION DATE: February 20, 2023
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: 20/4.5 Star Average
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT DISCOVERY: #255,627 
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
The X algorithm served this one up on my X feed several times. Come to find out, this author and follow each other, though I am not familiar with his work. The title is excellent, and when combined with the cover compelled me to click on the Amazon link. There, the novel's pitch dug the hook in a little deeper. It was tight, well-written and broadly appealing to a wide range of speculative fiction fans (like me). The novel's premise is highly original, striking a "Tolkien meets Turtledove" vibe.  The writing sample, while a tad lukewarm, would have kept me reading. 
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 1 June 2025
​STATUS: Inactive

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INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #002

TITLE: Dragons In The Dungeon
PUBLISHER: Quarter Castle Publishing (small indie publisher)
AUTHOR: Diane McGyver
GENRE(S): Fantasy (Mythology and Folk Tales/Fairytale Fantasy Folklore).
PUBLICATION DATE: March 31,  2023 
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: 2/5.0 Star Average.
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT  DISCOVERY: #2,402,659
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
This one popped up to my X feed once, which resulted in me following the author. The title is adequate, the cover isn't bad and completely fits the genre and the pitch. The novel's Amazon pitch felt watered-down and didn't grab my attention until I read the last paragraph, where it directly appealed to Gen-X D&D nerds. If I had not been an old geek, I may have kept scrolling.  What puts this novel on the candidate list is the sample. The first few pages were full of action, compelling characters, and good dialogue. I'm interested. 
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 1 June 2025
STATUS: Selected for August 2025 Review

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INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #003

TITLE: The Clatter Man
PUBLISHER: None Listed
AUTHOR: Janelle Schiecke
GENRE(S): Horror (Horror Literature & Fiction)
PUBLICATION DATE: May 6, 2025
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT  DISCOVERY: 28/4.7 Star Average.
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT  DISCOVERY: ​#140,078
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
The X algorithm served this one up to my X feed multiple times, and it led to me following the author. It has a solid title supported by a cover that hits at the heart of the horror genre. The Amazon pitch was short, effective and also completely appropriate to the genre, which made me eager for the sample. This novel's total presentation felt highly professional and appealing to horror fans. The writing sample was adequate, if a bit stiff, but kept me engaged. 
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 1 June 2025
STATUS: Inactive

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INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #004

TITLE: The Europan Deception
PUBLISHER: None Listed
AUTHOR: Ryan M. Patrick
GENRE(S): Science Fiction (Hard Science Fiction, Space Opera Science Fiction)
PUBLICATION DATE: May 6, 2025
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: 7/5.0 Star Average.
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT  DISCOVERY: #876,795
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
The author and I follow one another, and that's how it popped up on my X feed. The pitch sells the novel as straight-up sci-fi action thriller, and does it effectively. The cover doesn't hurt the sales job, either. There should be no doubt about where this novel belongs on the shelf. When I explored the sample, the book opens with an adequate "a man comes to town" opening. 
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 1 June 2025
STATUS: Inactive

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INDIE BOOK REVIEW CANDIDATE #005

TITLE: Shattered Skies
PUBLISHER: None Listed
AUTHOR: Kenny Soward
GENRE(S): Technothriller (Technothrillers, Dystopian Science Fiction).
PUBLICATION DATE: October 9, 2024
AMAZON REVIEWS/RATINGS AT DISCOVERY: 602/4.5 Star Average.
AMAZON KINDLE RANKING AT  DISCOVERY: #14,657
WHY IT GOT MY ATTENTION:
The author and I follow one another, and that's how it popped up on my X feed, though I am not familiar with his work. The pitch was boilerplate for the genre, and did its job to communicate the genre and basic plot. The cover was adequate. The sample was what sold me on putting this on the candidate list. The writing was crisp, lean and flowed smoothly in and out of dialogue. It quickly set up a character and a situation without over-description. 
DATE PLACED ON CANDIDATE LIST: 1 June 2025
STATUS: Active

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