Must Read Indie Published Books for 2025

By Ashley Rands, Marketing

Get ready to dive into a captivating year of reading! 2025 promises a diverse array of literary experiences, with something to tantalize every bookworm. We have located just a few must read indie published books for 2025 across various genres. Get your TBR list ready because you will want to add these to your list. 

Indie Published Books for Horror and Mystery

Swine Mountain By Thomas Stewart

Mystery and horror shroud the mountains in a small North Carolina town, where tales of a creature known as the “Pig Man” haunt the area. Roy, who grew up hearing these terrifying legends, returns to the mountains when a young girl goes missing. Struggling with his conscience, Roy feels compelled to investigate despite the dangers. He joins his cousin Stacy on a dangerous journey into the mountains, hoping to uncover the truth. Together, they must confront whether the “Pig Man” is real or just a myth. First book in the series released in 2023 but the second book in the series is releasing in 2025.

The Puppet Hunter by Trish Arrowsmith

In the small town of Dunmeyer, a teen girl disappears without a trace, leaving the community grieving and desperate for answers. Sheriff Rex Walker, unable to handle the case, watches as more teens go missing, and panic spreads through the town. As suspicion mounts, the townspeople begin to turn on Rex, eventually blaming him until his own daughter disappears. Amid the chaos, one person secretly takes pleasure in the town’s unraveling, watching their carefully planned scheme unfold. “The Puppet Hunter” unfolds through alternating viewpoints, keeping readers on edge until the thrilling conclusion. Releasing in April 2025.

The Naming of the Birds by Paraic O’Donnell

Inspector Henry Cutter, troubled and withdrawn, is thrown into a mysterious series of murders when elderly Sir Aneurin Considine is found dead in a bizarre and carefully executed manner. More victims follow, each death meticulously orchestrated, but with little evidence or clear motive. As the investigation deepens, Cutter becomes more obsessed with dusty archives, while Sergeant Gideon Bliss struggles to understand his superior’s cryptic behavior. As secrets of Cutter’s past begin to surface, Bliss teams up with journalist Octavia Hillingdon to uncover the truth behind the crimes. Together, they search for clues that may reveal the inspector’s hidden guilt and the identity of the elusive murderer. The investigation forces Bliss to question everything he believed and step out of Cutter’s shadow. Publishing in January 2025.

Death Takes Me by Cristina Rivera Garza

Professor Cristina Rivera Garza discovers a mutilated man in an alley, with a chilling message written on the wall beside him in coral nail polish: “Beware of me, my love / beware of the silent woman in the desert.” She becomes the key informant in the case, which is investigated by a detective with a growing obsession with poetry, as more castrated bodies are discovered with verses beside them. The detective struggles to decipher the meaning behind the poems while the violence spreads throughout the city. Book releasing in February 2025. 

YA Published Fiction

Letters from Hadley by Cassidy Bryant 

Parker, overwhelmed with grief and confusion from Hadley’s accidental death disrupts his plans for college and senior year. When Hadley’s parents find a box of letters she wrote to him, Parker is reluctant to read them, knowing their strained relationship. Despite his fears, he begins reading the letters, driven by the belief that Hadley’s story deserves to be heard. Things become more complicated when Parker shares the letters with Hadley’s best friend, Kenzie, threatening his current relationship. As Parker begins to understand Hadley’s perspective, he faces a growing uncertainty about whether the letters will provide healing or cause more harm. There is a current kickstarter for this book during the month of January. Published date releasing later this year. 

Taking Flight by Kelly Scriven

Sira, a top student at the Academy, is shot down during her practical exam and stranded in the Bellever forest with James Hawk, a mage she doesn’t trust. Forced to work together to survive, they are pursued by mercenaries and seek refuge in a hidden Fae village. Sira soon realizes their attack wasn’t random; someone powerful wants to stop them from completing their journey. As they continue their dangerous trek home, Sira grapples with who she can trust and what sacrifices she must make to survive. With a target on her back, she must navigate the dangerous forces against her to return safely. Publication date set for the end of February 2025.

Fantasy Recommendations

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

Sixteen-year-old Jun dreams of proving himself in the Guardian’s Tournament to restore his family’s honor and win back his father’s pride. However, his father forbids him from participating, believing Jun’s lack of special abilities makes him unworthy. Undeterred, Jun sneaks away with performers Chang and Ren to the capital, where the tournament is held. As Jun competes, he discovers that his fight is not only for personal glory but for the survival of the country and the people he loves. The stakes grow higher as Jun realizes the true power of the tournament and the responsibility it carries. Publication date January 2025. 

Witchfolk by Renae L. Moore

Eighteen-year-old Amber, a witch with shapeshifting powers, hides her abilities to avoid punishment from her uncle, the mad king, who enforces harsh laws on witches. Determined to break free from the curse that restrains her magic, she seeks the lost witchblade, an ancient weapon that could defeat the curse, with help from her mother’s rebel society. When she accidentally reveals her secret to Gavin, her mission becomes even more dangerous. To make matters worse, the king arranges a marriage between them, turning Gavin into her mortal enemy. As Amber races to find the witchblade and confront Gavin, she taps into her darkest instincts, vowing to make him regret their betrothal. Publication date January 2025.

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

Liyen, the young heir to a mortal kingdom, ascends the throne after her grandfather’s death. She vows to end her kingdom’s ties to the immortals and seek revenge against those responsible. Summoned to the Immortal Realm, she forms a fragile alliance with the God of War, the very being she should fear and distrust. As they work together, a forbidden attraction begins to grow between them, which Liyen must resist to protect her kingdom. With dark forces threatening her people, Liyen must risk everything to save them. Even if it means forming a dangerous bond with the immortal god. In the process, she may lose not only her kingdom but also her heart. Releasing in January 2025.

Hopefully you’ve added a few more titles to your to be read lists which include indie published books. Of course, many more indie publishers are releasing books this year that haven’t been included in this list. Time to go out and find great new reads and new adventures from indie published books.