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.

The post Review: The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira by Lou Diamond Phillips appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

In this interview, I chat with Lou Diamond Phillips. You loved him as Ritchie Valens in La Bamba, and more recently in shows like Longmire and the current hit Prodigal Son. Lou has written and directed a number of projects for the screen and now he is releasing his first novel, The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira. You may be surprised to learn that Lou is a lifelong avid reader as well. Listen below to hear us discuss his amazing new novel, what the lengthy writing process was like, and Lou’s reading interests and influences from Lewis Carroll to Stephen King!

You can listen through Spotify below or on any platform where podcasts are available!

• 1:10 – Lou discusses the strange year that is 2020
• 5:50 – A filming update on Season 2 of Prodigal Son
• 6:45 – The creation & evolution of The Tinderbox; the influence of Lou’s wife on this process
• 15:57 – The various elements & themes of the book
• 22:08 – An examination of how the book defies genres
• 26:24 – Lou shares lessons learned from writing
• 30:33 – Worldbuilding in The Tinderbox
• 34:12 – Lou’s writing processes
• 37:50 – Lou’s reading interests & influences
• 45:48 – Will there be more books to follow The Tinderbox?!

Books/authors mentioned:

• The Tinderbox by Hans Christian Andersen
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
• Charles Dickens
• Stardust by Neil Gaiman, illustrations by: Charles Vess
• Watership Down by Richard Adams
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Ernest Hemingway
• The Kingsbridge series by Ken Follett
• The Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith
• The Red Lotus and Water Witches by Chris Bohjalian
• The Longmire Mysteries by Craig Johnson
• Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
• The Odyssey by Homer
• The Stand by Stephen King
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• Freedom, Purity, and The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

Where to find Lou Diamond Phillips on social media:

• Twitter: @LouDPhillips

Will you be picking up The Tinderbox? Are you a fan of Lou Diamond Phillips? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Conversations With Unexpected Book Nerds: Lou Diamond Phillips appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be picking any of them up!

The Lives of Saints by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Dive into the epic world of international bestselling author Leigh Bardugo with this beautifully illustrated replica of The Lives of Saints, the Istorii Sankt’ya, featuring tales of saints drawn from the beloved novels and beyond. Out of the pages of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, from the hands of Alina Starkov to yours, the Istorii Sankt’ya is a magical keepsake from the Grishaverse.

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gyen Jebi isn’t a fighter or a subversive. They just want to paint. One day they’re jobless and desperate; the next, Jebi finds themself recruited by the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers. But when Jebi discovers the depths of the Razanei government’s horrifying crimes—and the awful source of the magical pigments they use—they find they can no longer stay out of politics. What they can do is steal Arazi, the ministry’s mighty dragon automaton, and find a way to fight…

Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira by Lou Diamond Phillips
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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. 

The Tower of Fools by Andrzej Sapkowski
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of the legendary Witcher series–the books that inspired the Netflix show and the hit video games–comes the first in an epic new trilogy.

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

 In a similar vein to G.L. Carriger’s San Andreas Shifters series and Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series, David R. Slayton blends darkness, comedy, and the importance of family bonds into an #OwnVoices contemporary fantasy that will leave readers wanting more.  

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the visionary, New York Times bestselling author of New York 2140 comes a near-future novel that is a gripping exploration of climate change, technology, politics, and the human behaviors that drive these forces. 

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the beloved World Fantasy Award-winning author of Witchmark comes a sweeping, romantic new fantasy set in a world reminiscent of Regency England, where women’s magic is taken from them when they marry. A sorceress must balance her desire to become the first great female magician against her duty to her family.

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

How to Train Your Dragon meets Quidditch through the Ages in this debut fantasy, set in an alternate contemporary world, in which dragons and their riders compete in an international sports tournament

Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick by David Wong
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author David Wong’s Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick is the latest―and arguably greatest―sci-fi thriller in the Zoey Ashe Series.

A Wild Winter Swan by Gregory Maguire
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After brilliantly reimagining the worlds of Oz, Wonderland, Dickensian London, and the Nutcracker, the New York Times bestselling author of Wicked turns his unconventional genius to Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans,” transforming this classic tale into an Italian-American girl’s poignant coming-of-age story, set amid the magic of Christmas in 1960s New York.

Gatekeeper by Alison Levy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Rachel Wilde comes from a dimension that exists adjacent to ours. The people there have structured their society around daemon collecting: they locate, catch, and repair malfunctioning daemons (creatures out of phase with our world that tempt people to do good or evil). Now Rachel has been given two unusual assignments: 1) find a person who has been trying to break down dimensional barriers, and 2) track down a missing line of gatekeepers, human placeholders for a daemon that was too badly damaged to repair.

The Archive of the Forgotten by A.J. Hackwith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the second installment of this richly imagined fantasy adventure series, a new threat from within the Library could destroy those who depend upon it the most.

What fantasy and sci-fi releases will you be picking up this month? Tell us in the comments below!

The post October 2020 Book Releases: Fantasy & Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.