Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

Rating
Five stars

Blurb
Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

Review
It took me a little bit to get into this book but once I did, there was no return! All you have to do is read the back of the book to know that this is a very intriguing story! Thomas Fawkes is turning into stone and the only way to stop the deadly disease is to kill the king of England. That premise alone promises for many twists, turns, and surprises which it definitely delivered!

Thomas made for a very interesting main character as he struggled to decipher right from wrong and what the right path for him was. He was stuck at the stage where he’s more than a boy but not quite a man and made the struggle all the more difficult when he knows what he wants but doesn’t know how to get it. I loved following him on his journey as he charted his own path through life and learned to fight for what he wanted – and even who he wanted.

This book was emotional and thought provoking, one that I would definitely return to for a reread. I loved the historical elements mixed in with the fantasy and it made for an all the more interesting read! It was ingenious and beautiful!

“But perhaps bravery meant entering into a storm you already knew would destroy you.”

― Nadine Brandes, Fawkes

Your turn!

Have you read Fawkes? What were your thoughts on it? Who was your favorite character?

Blessings, Allyson

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