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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
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
Thank you to the author and the publisher for the review copy!
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
Thank you to the author and the publisher for the review copy!
perilous1's review against another edition
3.0
A sci-fantasy fairytale (heavy on the fantasy in feel), apparently inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen story of the same name.
Two alien planets at war. One young soldier with a destiny to fulfill. And a whole lot of prophecy for a story taking place in some distant future.
This book comes off a little wobbly in the pacing--slow for much of the first half, and then going full burn the last three chapters. The descriptions are solid, and the characterizations are consistent... But the telling seemed aimed at a YA audience a bit younger than the actual main character. The foretold romance, while apparently inevitable, still felt like more of a contrived plot device than truly believable.
The writing itself is quite competent and serviceable. Yet, I found myself setting this down numerous times and having to make myself pick it back up.
Perhaps it would have helped to be familiar with its namesake fairytale beforehand.
Two alien planets at war. One young soldier with a destiny to fulfill. And a whole lot of prophecy for a story taking place in some distant future.
This book comes off a little wobbly in the pacing--slow for much of the first half, and then going full burn the last three chapters. The descriptions are solid, and the characterizations are consistent... But the telling seemed aimed at a YA audience a bit younger than the actual main character. The foretold romance, while apparently inevitable, still felt like more of a contrived plot device than truly believable.
The writing itself is quite competent and serviceable. Yet, I found myself setting this down numerous times and having to make myself pick it back up.
Perhaps it would have helped to be familiar with its namesake fairytale beforehand.
deethereader's review against another edition
4.0
I have to be honest that I chose it because of the author more than anything else. It took me. While to get into it and I found myself struggling at time with the world and characters but I don’t this this is a reflection on the author or the storyline but rather on me and getting into this type of story.
The romance was a bit distracting and took away from some of the other main characters which I thought could have been a bit more in the story as they were interesting. The story flowed well and was not too fast or slow and it kept me interested enough to continue on even when I started to feel some frustration with understanding.
I look forward to the hopefully being another instalment of this storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review
The romance was a bit distracting and took away from some of the other main characters which I thought could have been a bit more in the story as they were interesting. The story flowed well and was not too fast or slow and it kept me interested enough to continue on even when I started to feel some frustration with understanding.
I look forward to the hopefully being another instalment of this storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review
deethereader's review
4.0
I have to be honest that I chose it because of the author more than anything else. It took me. While to get into it and I found myself struggling at time with the world and characters but I don’t this this is a reflection on the author or the storyline but rather on me and getting into this type of story.
The romance was a bit distracting and took away from some of the other main characters which I thought could have been a bit more in the story as they were interesting. The story flowed well and was not too fast or slow and it kept me interested enough to continue on even when I started to feel some frustration with understanding.
I look forward to the hopefully being another instalment of this storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review
The romance was a bit distracting and took away from some of the other main characters which I thought could have been a bit more in the story as they were interesting. The story flowed well and was not too fast or slow and it kept me interested enough to continue on even when I started to feel some frustration with understanding.
I look forward to the hopefully being another instalment of this storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review
git_r_read's review
4.0
Thank goodness for Audible and 'Since this is in your library, you might like this' [words to that effect] feature or I might not have found this to listen to. I probably would have eventually since it's written by a favorite 'one of my boyfriends' Lou Diamond Phillips. I didn't know he authored books as well as acted.
It's a good story, a space opera, based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen's book, The Tinderbox. It's a bit loosey-goosey in the telling, but I enjoyed myself. It took me a bit to like the main character, Everson, but he grew on me. It's a growth tale, watching him go from reluctant soldier and spoiled brat to being a much better person. There's evil to fight, warring kingdoms, reluctant prince, a princess in need of rescue, prejudice..plenty to keep the reader/listener going.
I can recommend this book and this author.
It's a good story, a space opera, based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen's book, The Tinderbox. It's a bit loosey-goosey in the telling, but I enjoyed myself. It took me a bit to like the main character, Everson, but he grew on me. It's a growth tale, watching him go from reluctant soldier and spoiled brat to being a much better person. There's evil to fight, warring kingdoms, reluctant prince, a princess in need of rescue, prejudice..plenty to keep the reader/listener going.
I can recommend this book and this author.
teaturtlesandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Probably more like a 2.5 rounded up. I wanted to love this book, but it just didn't happen. It took about 100 pages before I even felt like I was even engaged, and I almost DNF'd it at that point. I picked up enough interest shortly after that to at least finish it. I appreciated the effort in the retelling but it just fell flat.
bibliokarin's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ccbowman4284's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
reader_cheryl's review
5.0
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.
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.