I have recently become more interested in the sci-fi genre, and have been reading the popular books of the past, and this really reminded me of those classics! The Tinderbox Soldier is a really well written book that creates an entirely new world! Looking forward to reading more of Lou Diamond Phillips’ books in the future

First off.... Yes the author of this book is THAT Lou Diamond Phillips of La Bamba and Young Guns fame. When I was offered the chance to review his new book I was curious and said sure.

Tinderbox is a retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name....but IN SPACE! Its got a healthy dose of both sci-fi and fantasy. Generations ago, a planet shattered in two due to a mining incident. Now the two separate planets of Mano and Indira orbit together in view of two suns. These two planets are in near constant war with each other. The King of Mano fears a prophecy about the end of his reign that involves a soldier marrying his daughter, Allegra. Of course, there are members of the king's court who are working covertly to make sure the prophecy comes true. When Prince Everson from Indira is left for dead on planet Mano after a clash between the two planet's armies, a Mano's seer recruits him for a quest to get a Tinderbox...and so it begins.

This was a fun ride, though I do admit I had to really push myself through the first 15-20% of the book, but once I got into the story and had a grip on what was going on, I just went with it. It definitely had that fairy tale (IN SPACE!) feel with a bit of a Romeo and Juliet love story thrown into the mix. In my personal opinion the book could have used a bit more editing to trim the fat and make it flow better, but I see that most others seem to have been fine with this, so probably just my personal preference.

I'd rate it somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.

What to read while listening...
Prophecy by Son Lux
Cities in Dust by Siouxsie and the Banshee
Splitting the Atom by Massive Attack
The Seer's Tower by Sufjan Stevens
Wandering Star by Portishead
Alberto Balsalm by Aphex Twin
The Night We Met by Lord Huron
Daddy Issues by The Neighborhood

The story caught my attention right away. The world building was excellent and the characters were developed well. Lots of minor characters with well developed plot lines. The writing reminded me of Frank Herbert. Fans will enjoy the technology and the weaving of prophecy and emotion worked very well. The contrast of color was an interesting concept that worked well. I hope the author will write more books. He put it all in the book. A good book

A king, a father who has lost his way through self-indulgence, and fear of his daughter, foretold in a prophecy, that if she should ever marry a soldier, it would be the end of his reign. Allegra and Everson were the catalyst of the end of one era and the dawn of another. Although he was forced to be a soldier by his father, the king Raza, Everson found his true calling and a love that defies all odds. A surprising electrifying book with a great storyline, it takes you on a journey, an adventurous space odyssey, it was entertaining and truly captivating.

Long ago the planets of Indira and Mano were a single planet. Environmental catastrophe led to the single planet splitting into two, each uninhabitable for generations. Survivors orbited what was left of the planet in Astral Repatriation Communities until the planets were able to sustain civilization again. They returned to the now-two planets and that is when the real trouble began.   
This debut novel by Lou Diamond Phillips is a complex, layered, and funny YA novel. The story seems straightforward enough—two warring families, generations of slaughter, and then the prince of one falls in love with the princess of the other. Marriage follows and then everyone lives happily ever after. But.
The book deals with race, inequality, privilege, the willingness to learn and admit mistakes, forgiveness, family, and new beginnings all within the framework of an ancient prophecy. 
Indiran Prince Everson Raza is in a tough spot. He’s been left behind on the enemy planet Mano. Eventually captured, he’s given a task. He must go to the TREE and retrieve the Tinderbox, which is guarded by three DOGS. Failure means instant death. Success means death is a little longer in coming. (He is an enemy soldier on a hostile planet, remember.) Through his trials in the TREE, he learns of Allegra, Princess of Mano. 
Allegra learns of Everson at the same time and from that point their futures are intertwined. As the time for the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy draws near, so does a final battle and the winner will take all. 
My Thoughts
This is a fantastic book. Usually I have a hard time reading sci-fi. Usually, I just can’t get into the storyworld the author has built. But in this case, LDP has constructed a layered world that remains accessible. Humor is present throughout the book as well as hope. I was drawn in early on and had trouble putting the book down once I started. I highly recommend this book. 
Copy provided by NetGalley

Of course I got this because I love the author as an actor. As a writer, I like his just as much! I was amazed at how much I liked this book, as it is not the typical genre that I read. But I do like it. HIs writing is very good, which does appeal to me. The storyline was well-built as was the society that he built. The characters were well designed. and came off as real. It was easy and interesting to read. I highly recommend this book.

A war romance that was foretold amongst the stars. This is a gorgeous book. A scifi epic with a romantic twist. Two worlds torn apart that once were one. A prophesy that tells of the fall of a King. A princess and a soldier destined to meet and fall in love. In the middle of a war lives will change forever. This is a beautiful story told with a storyteller’s eye.

A Romeo and Juliet story, a mad king, a magical tinderbox and two houses that must come together to save everyone. The worldbuilding is exotic and glorious. The dry landscape of Mano with its tiered palaces, the ancient yet futuristic battle machines, the wildlife, the farmers, servants, and the technology give this scifi a detailed lens through which to view the story.

There is so much to unpack and enjoy in this layered tale. The prophesy and the hints to an advanced futuristic past long forgotten tell an interesting story of past and present brutality, cruelty, war and racism, deftly wielded on the battleground, a long trek, and in a dangerous adventure through a boobytrapped science lab. It also tells of kindness, ethics and morality, of the good that one man or one woman can do to change a world for everyone.

I enjoyed this story a great deal.

The fable-like structure of this story appeals to me, and it was more fun than I expected to realize how much of their technological knowledge from before the cataclysm was lost, and the new stories that have grown around what new interpretations of those writings and machines have become.

In my interview with Lou, the author, and his wife Yvonne, the illustrator, it was a treat to discover how this story influenced him refining the types of stories he wants to tell, and how that kept him writing it while continuing to work as an actor. They dropped hints at a sequel, and I am interested in reading it when it arrives!

“Two worlds at war will bring them together...or tear them apart...”

Everson is no warrior, and yet he has been forced to fight in a war he doesn’t really believe in.  When things don’t go as planned, he is left behind in enemy territory.  When Everson is found, he is offered a bargain- he can keep his life if he is able to retrieve the Tinderbox from the TREE- something no other man has accomplished.   Everson soon discovers this could be the very thing that saves the two planets from impending doom.  

This was a promising story that meshes sci-fi and fantasy together,  while also throwing in elements of romance and family drama.  To me however, the writing lacked the excitement to draw me in, giving me the ability to lose myself in the book.  The writing is very straightforward, with a lot of information thrown at the reader to establish the world.  I felt very overwhelmed at first.  

One of the driving forces of the plot is a prophecy about a common soldier.  It’s mentioned over and over again-however the one the prophecy is about is not a common soldier, and this kept bothering me.  

Along Everson’s journey he makes a number of friends.  Two that stand out are Taj (a bird like animal), and Tobias.  Both are judged in their world for being simple minded.  Tobias especially ends up having great depth, strength, and smarts.  I love how Everson never thinks of anyone beneath him, and there is even a moment when he catches himself judging someone, and changes how he thinks.  Such a great lesson! 

While I didn’t end up loving this book, it was still a fun and interesting story to read, with some feel good lessons thrown in.  

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and voluntary review

The Tinderbox is an exhilarating young adult science fiction book by actor Lou Diamond Phillips.

Once the two worlds of Indira and Mano were one planet. But a schism broke them into two. Of course, being populated with humans, the two new worlds quickly devolved into mortal enemies of one another. The worlds have a common prophecy of reuniting when an Indiran Prince and a Manoan Princess fall in love. The Indirans believe the prophecy is only a myth. However, the King of Mano believes in it so much that he keeps his only daughter, Allegra, trapped in his palace.

With the world-building of Star Wars and the plot of a fairy tale, this book of two warring worlds definitely kept my interest. In fact, I read it a single day. While I would have appreciated a bit more backstory and personality in Princess Allegra, overall The Tinderbox is a rousing tale that teens and pre-teens will love. 4 stars!

Thanks to Aethon Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

The differing worlds and communities in THE TINDERBOX are swell defined that I can see them as the battles and intrigue rage.  The characters are so well developed I have to believe they have lived in the author's head for awhile as he worked through their stories.  From their families' pressure to become warriors in a battle that they were unsure of, to their realization that their battles revolved around their own ideas and prophecies, the emotional journey of the main characters is defined by their will to save each of their own family from the deception that surrounds each opposing side's core.  This was an excellent read.  The story jumps off quickly and maintains that pace throughout.  Start reading early in the day....you will not want to set this one down.

An unlikely hero, a princess imprisoned in the palace, a war between two planets that are mortal enemies, a prophecy that dooms a kingdom. This is a scifi fairy tale in space based on a Hans Christian Anderson tale with a forbidden love, epics battles and fueled with machiavellian intrigue. What's not to love?

Phillips clearly has a fertile imagination and a tremendous amount of creativity. The attention to detail is beyond noteworthy, like a scalpel, cutting precisely where needed, with the author's descriptions bringing this world to life.

I love Everson is a realistic hero. He isn't suddenly all knowing, the man with the plan. With a beautiful respect for human life, he fumbles in his attempt to do the right thing, what is suddenly expected of him.

The author obviously has a dry witty humor that a truly enjoyed. He believes in honor and has a deep sense of the futility of war and the absurdity of prejudice. He contemplates our basic urge to 'amount to something' and the need to take matters in our own hands.

The twist on the Hans Christian Anderson tale is immeasurably clever, how the 'ingredients' from the original are taken and mixed into a recipe for a compelling adventure. The narrative is no way predictable. The author touches the subject of the gap between the have and the have nots and through his characters makes us think about the unevenness in society and what can be done about it.

Amidst all the betrayal and double-crosses and hunger for power, people given the chance rise to the occasion, may actually surprise you. Hope springs eternal.

Absolutely cinematic, there were wonder scenes that I read with glee, feeling childlike wonder take over. Intricate and exciting action scenes make the suspense nail-biting, especially as you near the end. Gifting us with a glorious and harmonious ending that made me smile till my cheeks hurt.

"Recently, we were given the opportunity to read The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira before its release. It’s a breathtaking, prodigious, and astonishing journey worth sharing. Below is our review of the book by writing, directing, and actor extraordinaire, Lou Diamond Phillips. 

All in all, this novel went above and beyond our expectations. We applaud Lou Diamond Phillips, his wife Yvonne, Aethon Books, and so many others that made this fantastical world come to life and fall into the hands of eager readers. This story had love, loss, selflessness, determination, character growth and development, diversity, courage, and more that allows the reader to embark on a journey in this life and the lives of generations to come.

Make sure to grab your copy of The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira, available now for purchase. Trust us and take the journey to Indira and Mano."

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Review courtesy of Kailey from Nerds and Beyond

Lou Diamond Phillips creates a captivating retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen tale. The sci-fi/fantasy leans into a plethora of action, intrigue and romance with ease. Despite a prophecy being part of the story, you never once feel as though you know what will happen next as you read. Phillips did a great job at making sure there were plenty of twists and turns throughout, making the Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira quite the page-turner. It is the kind of book that once you start reading, it’s very difficult to put it down. Not only are you anticipating all the excitement of what’s to come, there are many unexpected happenings that keep you wanting more. This is a testament to Phillips’ writing. 

In addition to the great writing, the novel is filled to the brim with intriguing characters, especially the two leads in the story: Everson and Allegra. Each of them brings something different and entertaining to the book. Everson and Allegra work well with one another and as they interact with various friends and foe throughout the book. The pair make quite the dynamic duo and while I do wish we’d spent some more time with some of the other characters introduced in the book, however, it wasn’t something that I would consider a deal-breaker.

Smartly paced with well-written action sequences, great world-building, compelling characters and a story you won’t be able to get enough of, The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira is a worthy ready for any sci-fi fan looking for a great standalone novel to add to their collection.

I was looking forward to reading this, a science fiction novel from the acclaimed actor, Lou Diamond Phillips. The premise sounded intriguing, two warring nations from a planet that had been split into two planets and a prophecy that would see the downfall of a king. A science fiction reworking of  The Tinderbox by Hans Christian Anderson.

Unfortunately, the story is rather pedestrian and predictable with a real lack of character development. And the mix of sci-fi and fantasy does not really mesh. The motivations leave much to be desired. and the prophecy does not really work. The prophecy says that when a constellation aligns, a common soldier will bring about the downfall of the king.  Well, Everson is not a common soldier, he is a prince of the opposing forces, even though he is a soldier who is left behind for dead, it does not change the fact that he is, in reality a prince.  The writing is rather plain and did not excite me. It is a passable tale but I was expecting much more from an actor of his stature.

this was a really good read, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the use of the fairy tale elements with the scifi elements. It was a great read and I look forward to more from Mr. Phillips.

I don't even know where to start with this book except it is a must buy.  I got this because the blurb sounded interesting...the book leaves you thinking well after you finished.  And, that is what you want in a book.

It's not very often you see someone who's mostly known as an actor that can also add good sci-fi author to their resume. For every William Shatner and Claudia Christian, both of who's books I love, there's ten others that took a swing based on their fame and missed. I'm glad to say that Mr. Phillips' skills developed acting, directing and screenwriting are obvious throughout the book, and he uses them to finely craft a page turner of a sci-fi adventure.

PLOT SUMMARY

Everson didn't want to be a soldier. His parents forced him to serve, as all good Indiran men should. The only problem? His first battle against their mortal enemies goes horribly wrong and he winds up stranded on the enemy planet.

Now, Everson has to survive in this strange new land where everyone is out to get him. Not to mention, the planet Mano is covered in unforgiving desert. And he's the target of traitors who want to use him in a dastardly plot to overthrow their mad king, Xander the Firm, by having him retrieve a piece of mysterious and powerful ancient technology known as the Tinderbox.

But everything changes during a chance encounter with the king's daughter, Allegra. Despite her station, she's in as grave of danger from her own people as Everson is. And though their peoples have been at odds for centuries, an unlikely spark forms between them.

As their worlds come crashing down around them, their forbidden love might be the only chance to end this war forever. Or, it might just be the doom of everyone...

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

While the plot and story are tightly paced, well thought out, and keep you turning pages wanting to know what's going to happen next, I think the characters and world building really shine brightly throughout. Everson especially is such a good character, and I mean that in multiple ways.  We see he was a callow youth, struggling to get out from under the yoke of expectation and tradition his position, when he is suddenly thrust into a wholly new life as an unknown enlisted recruit in the Indiran Army, with the real possibility of combat down the road. He must sink or swim in a crucible he feels unprepared for, and it is this trial by fire that tempers him into the man he was meant to be. 

Allegra is also an interesting character. Sequestered by her father King Xander of Mano due to a prophecy that she potentially spells his doom, she has lived a sheltered life, longing to be free of what basically amounts to a sumptuous prison. Her story proceeds in some fascinating directions, and we get to see the true strength she has, strengths of character, intelligence, courage and will to do what she feels is right, even in the most trying of circumstances. She and Everson are actually likable, sympathetic characters, trying to deal with destiny thrust upon them. 

The secondary characters are also fully fleshed out, whether it be a simple farmer that helps the alien-to-him Everson to find an ally on Mano, to Queen Nor of Mano, seeing the potential for ruin to all that she loves, and willing to make almost any sacrifice to ensure the planets survival. The antagonists are actually quite well thought out, with more than just the usual lust for power aspirations so many villains get stuck with today. They have realistic rationales for their actions, even if they may be misguided. Definitely not the usual evil overlords laughing maniacally in their tower.

I think that the world building is incredibly creative, with a backstory that leads to the current situation in such a logical fashion. The destruction and reformation of the planet from one into two livable, but very different planets, and the disparities in technology, wealth and knowledge between the two are stark. The underlying hatred of each other based on who got to go on which of the escape ships that later returned to the two new planets set up the inevitable conflict, which only grew more heated over the years. Mano and Indira are so different, and the legends and stories try to separate the fact that they were once the same planet and the same people. Its such a good use of making the opposing side that "other" that seeks to destroy what you hold dear, with only a superficial difference between them making them the other.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I got my  review copy through Netgalley, so I have to thank the fine people there for providing it. Aethon usually has a good eye for storytellers, and in this case, its another win for them. I think this book will appeal to such a wide range of sci-fi fans, and even just to people looking for a well crafted story with characters that aren't all grimdark and shades of grey, but are sympathetic and relatable. I highly recommend you give this one a read, you won't regret it. I hope to see many more books by Mr. Phillips in the near future.

The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira starts with war, which is appropriate because the two neighboring planets of Mano and Indira have been at war for a long time. Mano and Indira were once one planet that split apart. When that happened, ships were used to save citizens. Those who remained on the surface burrowed underground for decades to survive. All of this background is relevant as the story progresses.

We soon learn the protagonist, Everson, isn’t just a soldier. He’s a prince, sent to war to learn some discipline.

We also learn the king of Mano is obsessed with a prophecy that hints at his ruin.

How could a young prince, stranded on an enemy planet, a prophecy, and a beautiful princess intersect? That’s what lies at the heart of the plot, but within the subtext, The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira is saying a lot more, about a lot of issues.

Everson’s journey is really a journey of self discovery. Early on, he seems to be whipped about by the whims of fate, and he has the self-awareness to realize he’s stumbling or being pulled into situations, rather than taking charge of his life and making conscious choices. Just at the point where he realizes he should be considering his actions and decisions carefully, he starts to realize he may be destined to fulfill a prophecy.

The same prophecy Mano’s king is obsessed with.

Everson is relatable and feels real for his age. It also becomes clear that he was entitled and he needed to learn about responsibility. His experience opens his eyes to the suffering of people around him, and his self-examination causes him to center in on his values. Those values play a key role in the development of the plot.

The story itself has a lot of twists and turns, and despite a prophecy at work that is driving the narrative, it does not feel at all predictable. There are some interesting developments related to the division of the planets and the people who inhabited them. One of the obvious issues the author is tackling is racism and segregation. The Indirans are dark skinned. The people of Mano are fair. Racial segregation happened as a result of the splitting of the planets. Something else happened, though. The people who were left behind adapted to their environment. And once Mano was settled again, the people who remained became known as Leftists. Leftists are treated like an inferior group of people and do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as the other citizens. Tobias, who is a Leftist, educates Everson and helps shape Everson’s thinking and actions.

Ultimately, how we treat others and how we treat those who are perceived as lesser beings, are crucial aspects of this story. This book combines elements of sci fi with a quest structure, although Everson’s goal isn’t immediately clear to him. And although the relationship that’s destined moves swiftly, it feels earned under the circumstances.

I really appreciated the fact that Everson had a strong character arc, as well as a strong plot arc, and grew believably. This is a rich story that underscores the fact that people are stronger together than when divided by petty differences, that leadership is service, that our actions demonstrate our character, and that there are always those who are willing to do the right thing, even if it means taking big risks. These are the heroes we need right now. Not perfect and flawless, but humble, learning, growing heroes who hold on to their belief in doing what’s right.

Even if it means standing up to their parents and the established order.

4.5 stars out of 5.

I chose to read Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira primarily because the author is Lou Diamond Phillips ( La Bamba, Longmire and Prodigal Son) and ended up loving this retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's story set in space.  After the Great Schism splits a planet into two, war breaks out in the resettled colonies known as Mano and Indira. There is a prophecy that Princess Allegra, the daughter of Mano's king Xander the Firm, will marry a common soldier and end the king's reign.  He does everything he can to thwart the prophecy, including imprisoning Allegra.  Meanwhile, Everson, the prince from Indira, poses as a common soldier and gets stranded on Mano in a failed military operation.  He gets duped into retrieving ancient technology known as the Tinderbox.  Many young men have died trying to retrieve it, but Everson was clearly meant to be the one who succeeds. He is being used by traitors who are trying to overthrow Mano's king.  The Tinderbox allows him to communicate with Allegra, and although their people are at odds, they are immediately attracted to each other.  Their forbidden love could be the key to end the war and reunite their worlds.