You know Lou Diamond Phillips from his roles on screens both large and small, from La Bamba to Longmire, and most recently in his current role as Gil Arroyo on the hit television show Prodigal Son. What you may not know, however, is this actor and director is also a writer and he is releasing his very first novel!
The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira is a passion project which has been over a decade in the making. And with so many years of work put into it, you might imagine this novel has a very unique inception story. The initial idea was the brainchild of Phillips’ wife, Yvonne, an artist who created a series of drawings inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale “The Tinderbox.” Phillips ran with the idea from there, initially drafting the work as a screenplay, but ultimately transforming it into a full-length novel which has Yvonne’s artwork embedded within!
The final product is a wonderful genre-bending tale of a young soldier by the name of Everson. Once upon a time, Indira and Mano were forged together as one planet; however centuries ago that planet was split in two. As son of the king and queen of Indira, Everson’s privilege has done little to help him grow up. Disheartened by his immature behaviour, Everson’s parents force him to learn responsibility by signing up to serve and defend their planet. His first battle, however, does not go as planned. Outnumbered, the Indiran forces are quickly driven to retreat … and Everson is left behind on the planet of Mano, presumed to be dead.
As he struggles to find his way in this foreign place, Everson meets kind strangers, dangerous foes, and intriguing new life forms. He runs across a pair of conspirators who want to use him as a pawn in their plan to overthrow the king of Mano. And he meets the daughter of the king, Allegra, with whom he feels a sudden, overpowering connection. Although he is a stranger in a strange land, Everson sees the value in a planet and people who are different than his own. But can he find a way to end the ongoing wars and bring these two planets back together, at least in spirit?
Heavily favouring the stylings of both science fiction and fantasy, The Tinderbox contains no shortage of action and adventure, thrills and twists, and even a love story. Underneath this enticing plot, however, are some very serious themes. Phillips explores racism and otherness, as well as how divided a people can become over time because of such issues. Through the unlikely hero of Everson, he considers the age-old dilemma of growing up and attempting to find one’s place in the world. There are even elements of destiny vs. free will at play within the narrative.
In The Tinderbox, Phillips has skilfully woven together a fantastical story with realistic touchstones, feelings and experiences readers will both recognise and relate to. The plot is driving, the characters are memorable, and the writing is satisfying. Enhanced by the striking drawings, Phillips has built a world here which readers will undoubtedly wish to visit again.
The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore. Many thanks to Aethon Books, LLC and Sparkpoint Studio for providing me with an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Will you be picking up The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
From the imagination of actor Lou Diamond Phillips (La Bamba, Prodigal Son) comes an epic and unforgettable Science Fiction Fantasy tale.
Two worlds at war will bring them together… or tear them apart…
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…
Imagine the intrigue of Game of Thrones mixed with the star-crossed romance of Romeo and Juliet… but in space! Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale of the same name, Soldier of Indira is perfect for fans of Dune, Aurora Rising, and Stardust.
