Thank you Netgalley, JustReads tour, the publisher and the author for this free review copy!

I didn’t realize this was a historical fiction novel until after I requested it but I thought I’ll just give it a chance anyway and boy, am I glad I did! I’m glad I stepped away from my confort zone a bit and I’ve always wanted to be able to read historical fictions. This wasn’t just any ordinary historical fiction as it had a fantasy twist to it which I loved since I love fantasy. It was also quite a sad book which I did not expect. Very expertly executed.

Also, the cover is gorgeous! I would buy this book for the cover alone 😍

Would def recommend this book to all historical fiction and fantasy lovers.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

The story of Fawkes is narrated by Thomas Fawkes, the 16-year old son of the famous Guy Fakwes. Thomas is a student at the magical Color Academy and on the day of his color test he is supposed to get a mask from his father. Getting a mask and doing the color test will make him in control of one color. His father doesn’t show up and instead Thomas gets a note saying his father will not be gifting him a mask. This means Thomas isn’t allowed to take his color test and he is send from school. He leaves on a mission; Find his father in London and get his mask. His journey isn’t easy. He is maskless and he is affected with the plague, which turns his face into stone.

Historical fiction is mixed with fantasy and magic in this wonderful novel.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

Fawkes is a Historical Fiction based novel with a magic twist thrown in. I know people want to call this a fantasy novel but it is not, read the author's note at the end and she explains how she kept things historically accurate for the most part and then decided to throw in some magical aspects.

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone and he believes his only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father's assassination plot against the king of England.

In this magical world people speak to colors and when they come of age the parent of there gender makes a mask and that color is now able to be used for that person. Each person is only linked to there mask and if they break or lose there mask, it's gone. However, Thomas' father is not present in his life and when the father is requested to provide his mask, Thomas is refused. In his anger he makes his way to London to confront his father and he is thrown into an intense world that he did not expect.

When people bond with the colors the purists are called Keepers and only bond with one color, whereas Igniters bond with multiple colors and the White which changes their blood. Because of these different color bonding and the plague going on Keepers think it is the Igniters fault, and of course, Igniters think it is Keepers fault.

Thomas finds his father and decides to join Guy Fawkes' plot to assassinate the Igniter King who keeps rounding up and slaughtering Keepers. Thomas thinks this will help to cure him until he begins to fall for a girl who is opening his eyes to so many different things. As it comes down to it, no matter the decision Thomas makes someone will get hurt.

This fun historical fiction novel takes history and twists it from the religious issues in the early 1600s in England to magic issues, however, maintains a lot of the proper historical information. I would HIGHLY recommend reading the author's note at the end where she explains what she did keep, change and fudge. A wonderful unique novel that was highly enjoyed!

Initial Thoughts:

I'll admit, I'd never even heard of the Gunpowder Plot until I came across this book and became curious enough to go look it up. Then I sort of wished I didn't because, obviously, spoilers. So then my next thought was, "Okay, well maybe this story doesn't completely follow the Gunpowder Plot and there might be a twist at the end." I also thought the concepts of a Stone Plague and "color power" sounded unique, so I really wanted to find out how everything played out. Not to mention I'm a sucker for a gorgeous cover.

Things I Liked:

The magic system in Fawkes was really interesting and different than anything I've ever read about before. It seems that everyone in this 17th century London is able to manipulate elements in the world - both organic and inorganic - with the use of a mask that their parent creates for them. Whichever color they bond with is the one they're most skilled at utilizing and is the color their mask ends up becoming, and elements in that color are what they are most skilled at controlling. Considering that only certain colors were used by people in this world, I'm not sure if that means only certain colors are considered color powers (i.e., red, yellow, brown, black, green) or if the other colors and various shades were just omitted for focused storytelling purposes. Either way, despite the slew of questions I had regarding this magic system, I still thought it was pretty cool and made me think about all the colors we see around us in the world.

When I thought The Stone Plague, I thought of a combination of Medusa and King Midas - something instantaneous and confined to one small area - but it was actually more akin to a virus and was way creepier, especially with how Thomas described the symptoms of how it feels to have parts of you turn into stone. It was equal parts disturbing and fascinating discovering the origins of it and I really liked how it was all explained.

I loved the variety of characters we encounter on Thomas' journey, but my favorite dynamic was definitely Thomas and his father, Guy Fawkes. Their father-son relationship was strained (at best) but I really enjoyed seeing how it developed throughout the story. It wasn't the typical relationship one would expect from a father and son, and there was a lot of conflict along the way, but that just made it even more heartwarming to see how much Guy's character was influenced by Thomas; to see his heart thaw and subtly change from this cold soldier to a man trying to figure out how to best be a father to a teenager, but also proceed with the assassination plot.

There were several prominent themes that I greatly enjoyed seeing explored in this book because I think they're so important, such as anti-racism, feminism, discovering one's own identity, seeking truth, and thinking for oneself. I liked how these topics were perfectly woven into Thomas' internal and external journey, and displayed how progressive his character was. I also liked how Thomas was constantly changing and developing as a character, and was comfortable enough to adapt, change, and admit when he was being stubborn and influenced by ideas and morals he didn't necessarily agree with.

Things I Disliked:

I almost DNF'd this despite already being 50% - 60% the way through because of all the time skips. I understand that certain events happened days, weeks, or months from each other but all the time skipping started to bore me and caused this feeling of separation from the story. It started to feel hallow, like a history book almost, where you read a date, then the significant event that occurred that day, then fast forward to the next significant event at a later date. However, there were also other dates mixed in where their only significance was for character development and, while I understood their purpose, I was mostly uninterested.

There is a bit of romance in the book but I honestly didn't feel any chemistry between the two characters. I loved the message their relationship displayed, but didn't feel any emotional investment in it whatsoever. Yes, they complemented each other's character really well and both benefited from their decision to be together, but most of the time I felt that they would have been better as best friends rather than being involved romantically.

The writing was alright, but there were several times where I felt certain sentences were useless and could have been omitted. I also wish the magic system could have been more thoroughly explained because I had a lot of questions about it.

Final Thoughts:

Although there were some aspects of the book that I wish were elaborated, the magic system was really unique, the Stone Plague simultaneously disturbed and intrigued me, and I felt compelled to keep reading by the Gunpowder Plot alone. I kept wondering how far the conspirators would get before getting caught, what their fates would be, and how it would all end. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with an interesting cast of characters and an interesting plot that just needed a better execution.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November ...

Fawkes begins in 1604, not long after King James I has ascended the throne of England and joined the thrones of England and Scotland. The country is filled with tension as two factions fight to rule.

The history books has this fight as being Roman Catholic vs. Protestant, with King James (and Queen Elizabeth before him) being firmly of the reformed Protestant faith. But Fawkes twists this into a fight between Keepers and Igniters, both blaming the other for the plague of stone that is at risk of taking over the land.

Fawkes begins with Thomas Fawkes, the narrator, at boarding school on the eve of his Color Test. Yes, there are echoes of Harry Potter and Divergent here, in that every adult has a Color which they can control to a greater or lesser extent. Keepers believe each person can and should only control one Color. Igniters believe the Keepers have been hiding the White Light from the public for centuries. Both sides believe the other caused the plague which kills by turning its victims to stone.

Thomas Fawkes is the son of Guy Fawkes, the most famous of the thirteen men who plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament to kill King James I and restore a Catholic king to the throne (I live in New Zealand. We still "celebrate" Guy Fawkes with fireworks on 5 November every year). Those who know history (and know history is written by the victors) know the plot was foiled and Guy Fawkes has gone down in history as the bad guy.

Fawkes places us in the mind of Thomas. While he and his father have been estranged for years, both are Keepers. At least, Thomas thinks he's a Keeper ... except he keeps hearing the voice of the White Light. He has been raised to believe Keepers are right, and he has no reason to doubt that.

But he's never actually stopped to consider what is true. And that's an unexpectedly modern theme—that what we believe to be right and true isn't necessarily so. Instead, we need to search for truth. Find truth. And fight for truth.

All of which are difficult in this modern era of #FakeNews.

Anyway, students of history will understand that while Fawkes is trying to persuade us that Thomas Fawkes (and the thirteen conspirators) are the "good guys", history tells us they are not. That makes the early chapters an uncomfortable read. But students of history will be pleased to know the story does run true to history. Well. Kind of. History doesn't have Keepers and Igniters and the Stone Plague. Fawkes does not have Roman Catholics and Protestants at loggerheads. But the parallels are there for those who know or care to look.

I'm not a big fantasy reader. But Fawkes worked for me, perhaps because it was a Harry Potter-esque twist on truth that allowed the reader to consider Truth. It got me thinking without taking me out of the story, and that's high praise.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Fawkes, by Nadine Brandes, is a well written novel in a world set in an age of knights and kings where those with power in fact wield the power of Color. Blue, brown, grey, etc. There is also a plague that is besieging the world that turns you to stone.

Again, this is a well written novel. However it just didn't hold my attention. The characters had depth, but the story line and the over all idea of Colors having power just didn't interest me. It wasn't terribly hard to follow, it was just odd. Masks, and how they worked, just made me think of the medicine masks of the medieval ages. Those medicine men who would wear giant bird-like masks.

That was it. Out side of that, I honestly mostly thought the masks were a very odd wait to approach how to handle power of the colors.

Our main character did grow, but nothing was really memorable, for me, in this novel.

If you want something that has a different magic/power basis, that does have some action in it and a father-son dynamic that is interesting, sure. Give this a shot. The writing, again, was good. Just that the premise and plot didn't hold me.

I was given a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this with low estimations as I'm not usually a fan of historical fantasy especially during this time period but I read an extract in Buzz Books and gave it a go!
It took awhile to get into it as it is a slow burning with setting up the world, characters etc. Once the Thomas got to London the story got going and it was much more pacey! I loved the magic system with the colours and how they were divided into groups with the plotters being linked historically to Catholics as the suppressed group. Thomas was a great character who was flawed and realistic, he was unsure of what was right and wrong but fundamentally a solid character who made the right choices.
A fantastic standalone- I look forward to more from Nadine!

“Do you understand what I’m asking, Thomas?”

His fingers bored into the muscles of my shoulders.

“I understand.”

And at last, I did. My father was asking if I wanted to stop the plague. He was asking me to join the cause. To these I could answer yes!

But there was another side. He was also asking me to be part of a plot to kill the king. I’d most certainly be hung for treason if I were caught. It was a lot to think about.

Still . . . doing this might stop the plague. I’d be cured— or at least not dead. Then I’d have my mask. I looked at Father’s mask. Did he want me to join?

“The decision is yours alone to make, Thomas.”

He released my shoulder. Mine alone . . . a man’s decision. I wanted to be healed. I wanted England to be healed. I wanted to be part of something great. I breathed deep through my nose. No matter my answer, there was no going back. I was committing to either treason or cowardice. I’d been a coward once already that day. No longer. I clasped Father’s shoulder with the firmest grip I could muster.

“I’m in.”

First impressions: Gorgeous cover, isn’t it? It gave me Venetian Carnevale vibes and would definitely be a cover that I would pick up in a bookshop for that reason. I recently read Black Powder by Ally Sherrick, a middle-grade re-imagining of the Gunpowder Plot and find this historical period fascinating so I was really excited to pick this up.

We start the story with our protagonist, Thomas, son of the soon-to-be infamous Guy Fawkes. He is about to graduate from his school and choose or be chosen by his ‘colour’ of magic.

I found this idea intriguing, with each colour representing especial power in one particular area of magic e.g. brown=earth, blue=water, red=blood, etc.

In this story, the Keepers believe that one should choose and use only one colour of magic, whilst the Igniters believe that using white light means you can utilise each of the colours as needed. At first, I found this system a little confusing, particularly as ‘white light’ seems to have a mind and voice of its own.

As the story continued I began to understand the system better but there were still aspects of it left unexplained. To be ‘claimed’ by a colour of magic, each student must bond to a mask which takes on the colour of their dominant magic. This mask must be created by a family member and is usually passed on from parent to child.

Our story begins when Thomas’s father fails to turn up at his graduation, meaning he must leave without the ability to call on colour magic at all. Guy has given up on his son after hearing that he is infected by the Stone Plague, the illness that took his wife.
Thomas decides to hide the stigmatised plague and travel to London to demand his mask, believing that strong enough colour magic could cure his illness before it spreads any further.

When he arrives, he discovers that his father is part of a plot to change the world as they know it…

I thought this was a fascinating and creative alternative history and I loved the way the author’s notes at the back revealed some of the real-life inspiration behind characters and events. It seems that mankind doesn’t need much of an excuse to take sides and start fighting each other, and in this book the opposing political stances are reflected in the use of magic.

Read my interview with the author, Nadine Brandes to find out more!

“You’re not ready.”

Anger closed my throat. He didn’t even know me— nor was he bothering to try. He asked me not to meddle with White Light, yet he wouldn’t give me my color power or a mask. Did he not realize he was the only one who could?

If the Gunpowder Plot was exposed, Father could be captured and killed. I’d never have a chance to try to heal my plague , nor have any profession higher than a caddy. I would die. My chest heaved. The anger reached a peak where it transformed into a silent iron, encasing my heart and chilling my tone.

“What must I do to be ready?”

“You need to commit, Thomas.”

Father tossed his half-eaten pasty back onto the table and lay down again.

“You can’t ride both sides.”

“I am part of the plot,” I said. What more did he want?

“But it is not yet your plot.” He crossed his hands over his chest.

“You are too curious about the Igniters.”

“I just want to know the truth.”

“I’ve given it to you.”

I shook my head , though I suspected his eyes were closed.

“You’ve given me your truth. I have to find it for myself for it to become mine. And curiosity is the first step.”

What I liked: The colour magic – this was creative!, the historical setting – it is a fascinating time to set a story, the storyline with Anna, Thomas’s relationship development with his father and my personal favourite in historical fiction, the historically-accurate tidbits which are often more interesting and stranger than you could imagine.

Even better if: I would have liked more explanation about the colour magic and how they’re used. Can anyone learn to use them or is it in certain bloodlines? What do they study at school if they get access to magic on graduation? How can they use their power before getting a mask? It says that colour powers can be unpredictable so do graduating pupils have to serve an apprenticeship or practise period? The details for why the Keepers and Igniters are at odds also seem muddled – the Keepers want to protect white light yet won’t listen to it, whereas Igniters listen and use it, yet are seen as those in the wrong. Cover niggle, but the masks described in the text are full face, sometimes even covering the neck too.

How you could use it in your classroom: This would be a great text to read alongside a historical study of the period, particularly if you can pull out the real-life events and characters who inspired those in the story and analyse what has changed for the sake of this story. It would also be great to spark a discussion about equality and power, especially with Thomas’s quest to get his mask and the storyline with Anna and her struggles.

Paperback Princess Blurb
Fawkes by Nadine Brandes is a unique story and retelling of 17th century England, with a world of magic and masks, an exciting rebellion brewing, two magic forces to be reckoned with, it's exciting and a page turner.

Review
Fawkes by Nadine Brandes has an interesting plot line and world building, but I found the main character, Thomas, boring, indecisive and selfish. I could not relate to this kid in any way! I did enjoy Emma and Guy Fawkes (Thomas' Dad) grew on me. This book would have been so much more enjoyable, if we had a different main character.

At age 16 children are gifted a mask from their parents, once worn you bond with a colour; each colour has a different type of magic from each other. Unfortunately for Thomas, his Father, Guy Fawkes, had refused him a mask. Ridiculed from school and expelled in theory, as it's a school for kids with masks, Thomas goes in search for his Father...and finds him in the thick of a rebellion plot.

There were two opposing groups, The Keepers and The Igniters. The former believes that each mask and person should only be bonded with ONE colour and that the White colour/power should never be acknowledged or used.

The Igniters, the current ruling party however, believe that speaking to the "white" is a necessity, and by doing so they are able to bond with more than one colour, hence more types of magic.

Who's right? Who's in the side that will seek out change for the better? As with all rebellions and political parties, they always think they're in the right, and the other side are villains, but as we read on, we find, that sometimes it's simply not just black & white (excuse the pun).

I was so excited to read Fawkes, I had seen it everywhere in the blogosphere, and let's face it, I do judge books by it's cover and this book is stunning. Fawkes had so much potential, and it hurts, as I type this, to know it just did not reach it.

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes is still a gripping YA Fantasy, and somehow, despite the lacking of a likeable and relatable character, it was still an enjoyable read.

The story is unique, I haven't read a book with such a different take on magic, the mask and colour magic is very interesting. It's always wonderful when an Author is imaginative enough to think of something new, that'd be hard work considering nearly everything has already been done before, but Nadine definitely does a brilliant job in restructuring and finding balance; just enough similarities and just enough uniqueness to make this story her own.

The plot was my favourite part of this book; enjoyable and gripping, there was enough unknown and excitement to keep me turning the pages. Along with the unique story, and different world, recreating 17th century England, was definitely my favourite parts.

Writing style was vivid and descriptive, and I found I could imagine the setting well enough through her descriptions.

I am still interested to read the sequel to this story, just to know how it progresses, but I do hope it gets told from someone else's point of view. The main character, Thomas, really was the downfall of this novel. I found it hard to really get into the story because he was so unlikable and downright stupid at times.

I also wished we had received more information on how the world became the way it was, when the masks and magic came about, what had happened to make Igniters and Keepers turn from each other, and last but not least, when and how did this plague begin, and why turning into a stone? Those are just some of the questions I have for this book.

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes is a unique story and retelling of 17th century England, with a new world of magic and masks, an exciting rebellion brewing, two magic forces to be reckoned with, it's exciting and a page turner. It's downfall was it's main character, and the lack of world building, but these questions may very well be answered in the sequel.

3.5 Stars

I’d seen/heard Nadine Brandes’s name before, but not yet read any of her books. When Fawkes showed up on Thomas Nelson’s summer release list, I made Brandes an author to read (how could I not with that gorgeous cover?).

Fawkes is a mix of historical fiction (set around England’s Gun Powder Rebellion) and fantasy (color masks, color magic, and a stone plague).

Thomas Fawkes is the son of the historical figure Guy Fawkes and wants nothing more than his color mask. But the colors don’t speak to him and the stone plague is slowly taking over his body.

I didn’t know much about this period of English history and had to look it up as I was reading because Brandes brings the time and people to life.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really connect to Thomas. He’s so focused on that color mask, he leans toward whiny with that poor-me attitude. And let’s talk about those masks and the color magic. What, exactly did they do? I understood each color gave a person a specific magic but couldn’t tell you any specifics of any one color.

Those things aside, the story is interesting and entertaining. And then there’s Emma who was my absolute favorite character in the book. She’s on the opposite side of the fight as Thomas but her openness and strength in the face of opposition draw him (and me) in.

All in all, a so-so read that means more to the enjoyable side than the other. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more read from Brandes to see what she’s got in store next.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley and blog tour companies. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Thomas Fawkes, the son of Guy Fawkes, longs to receive his mask and color power so that he can stop the plague that is slowly turning him to stone.



This fantastical new read reimagines the story of Guy Fawkes and the infamous gunpowder plot, in a world of masks, colors, secrets, and truths, through the eyes of his son, Thomas. Thomas longs for his mask so that he can receive his powers, but color powers are passed from father to son, so when his father fails to make him a mask and show up on the day of his color testing, Thomas decides to seek out his father himself. On his journey he must decide who to trust, and with whom he will cast his lot, his friendship with the powerful and mysterious Emma, an Igniter, makes him question everything The Keepers have told him about White.



I was drawn to this book as I am something of an Anglophile, and have always wondered what the big deal was about Guy Fawkes day. I can't claim to understand it after reading this book, but I found this to be a fascinating retelling of historical events, with an element of fantasy melds surprisingly into the history and politics of the tumultuous tension between the Protestant Reformers and the Catholic church. An original plotline with many unexpected turns make this a truly unique read, especially as much of the book's audience will likely be American and Guy Fawkes is much more obscure stateside.



I liked how the story unwound from Thomas's point of view, we learned things as he did. I liked the friendship between him and Emma, and looked forward to their scene together. Emma is a beautiful young woman with powerful color power, she sees Thomas beyond his plagued eye.



An imaginative adventure set in King James's England, full of adventure, secrets and mystery. I loved how this book dealt with color in a wide sense, with powers and also race. I also really liked how unpredictable it was, as I learned things as Thomas did, and while I did see some things coming, there are quite a few good reveals. Plenty of action, and intrigue, but there were times when I thought that the pace slowed.



A great book for fans of historical fantasy, with brave heroes, that reimagines the gunpowder plot in a war of colors, in a fight for faith.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

"Remember, Remember, the 5th of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot..." Honestly, I was drawn to this book by more than just the intriguing cover and fascinating description; I am a fan of V for Vendetta, and hence was interested in fiction regarding the Gunpowder Plot. From the first line, author Nadine Brandes had me hooked -- "I didn't want to turn to stone." Enter a fantasy world where masks give their wielders the ability to control objects depending on their color, and a mysterious plague is slowly turning its victims to stone.

Thomas Fawkes wants his mask, doesn't want to die of the stone plague which has already infected him, and wants his father, heroic soldier Guy Fawkes, to notice him. It seems his only way to achieve any of this is to join his father's Gunpowder Plot to kill the king, and in doing so, hopefully end the plague before it ends him. In the midst of all of this White Light keeps trying to seduce him with its dangerous power, but Keepers like Thomas must control one color only -- or so he has been raised to believe. Is White Light as dangerous as everyone says? And how can Thomas go through with the plot when it will harm the family of the girl he has come to care deeply about?

This book kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning, always wanting to know what would happen next, and how Thomas would get out of the peril he so often found himself in. I loved this book, and loved how Thomas searched for his own answers, needing to know the truth instead of just believing everything he heard. The ending was so poignant that I had tears in my eyes, but a smile on my face. Fawkes is a great read, and I will definitely be looking for other books by Nadine Brandes. The story was complete on its own, but I hope she writes a sequel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Overall this was a good book. I enjoyed reading it and it was easy to get sucked in. I thought the idea of "color magic" was something different in the YA fantasy/historical fiction genre. Also interesting to read about Guy Fawkes.

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes explores the era of early 1600s England just before the failed “gunpowder plot”. But, the son of the infamous Guy Fawkes is the main character – Thomas. The added innovative use of magic to portray faith and beliefs adds a hint of fantasy to the story and makes for an allegorical tale of truth.

The twists in this story and the variations on the real-life historical account make for an exciting and intriguing time. On the surface, this story is an adventure and coming-of-age tale. But, upon closer consideration, its revelations and lessons depict the challenge of faith and the importance of choice, freedom, and surrender.

The characters and setting are all equally vivid. I especially loved Emma and the way Brandes used her character to show selfless love and teach Thomas so much about life and about himself. Through Thomas’s eyes, readers see the contrast between beliefs and blind allegiance, and the consequences of choices that have far-reaching effects. His story is one that will stick in my mind as an example of surrender and seeing beyond the surface of a person to the heart.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and BookLook Bloggers program for the review copy. This is my honest review.

This alternate telling of the Gunpowder Plot with magic wound up being a rather confusing mess because of the substitutions made. I felt like the book didn't go full-bore where it needed to, and a lot of the implications of the changes made were...either not thought through or not explored in-text.


But let's start with Thomas, because the book starts with him and that's where I first got let down. Thomas never really felt real to me throughout the book, and that might be because he had very strong goals but I didn't get a strong sense of his motivations. He was a character comprised purely of "I want X", but without a reason for wanting X, without his need for X impacting or displaying his personality at all. So he wound up feeling like a cannonball being rolled through the story, just knocking things around without rhyme or reason. He very enthusiastically jumps on the bandwagon of whoever offers him his X, and it makes him pretty wishy-washy without that wishy-washy quality every being addressed or used.


I also had problems with Emma's portrayal as (I guess technically a spoiler but also that's part of the problem) an African-English woman in 1600's England. Or, rather, not with Emma herself as she's a fine character and has a cool history and a lot of interesting personal conflict going on. She was far better than Thomas as a character, but the book wanted to have Things To Say about being a black character in 1600's England that it just...didn't do well, I don't think. Having Emma's race constantly compared to this made-up plague as if both things were on the same level of oppression just really bothered me, because 1) flattening all axis of marginalization to being treated as the same thing is problematic and 2) the author...thinks her made up thing is on the same level as racism? I can't even parse why that bothers me, but it does. (Also Emma was fetishized like woah by Thomas, this lady really deserved a better book.)


But now for the world. So there's a plague that turns people to stone, there's magic that's based on colors, and there's this big divide between Igniters and Keepers which is supposed to stand in for Catholic/Protestant tensions. Just...so much here.

Thomas, a guy who lives in this world, has no idea what the beliefs of Ignites and Keepers are. Just, none. Says he's a Keeper and then has to have that position explained to him. It's like saying you're a Catholic and then have to have the idea that God exists explained to you, we're talking that level of ignorance.
...where are Catholics and Protestants in this story? Does religion not exist? Kind of...weird, especially given the huge role the Catholic church plays in English history. White magic stands in for God in this story, but there's nothing to replace the power vacuum of the Church, so...????
Oh, yeah, God very definitely exists in this story, it's just called magic because reasons. It even talks to people. Directly. With words. How tf you going to have a Catholic/Protestant fight in a world where God can literally just pop into your mind and go "uh, no, this is what I'm about"?
No one involved in this plot seems to have really good reasons or beliefs for what they do? There's just no religious fervor going on, no strongly held beliefs (that I could tell), no sense of tradition even. Literally everyone who's in the Keeper plot is there because someone they knew died and they want revenge. Even Thomas. And outside of the plotters...well, we don't see much outside of the plotters, so we don't understand the depths of this position or what's attracting people to either side. There's a very bare bones explanation of "this group says one color per person, this group says all the colors" and that just doesn't seem like it would inspire religion-levels of social conflict.

So, yeah, I was underwhelmed or just confused by the 'alternate' part of this alternate history, and since that was a huge part of the book...


You might be wondering, is there anything good about this book? Well, yes! Literally change out 'magic' for 'god' and it's very close to the Gunpowder Plot, which I thought was really cool and interesting. The antagonist for the book had a nice reveal; I didn't even realize until late in the book that there was a mystery around the antagonist but once it came up I could retrospectively see how the book was leading up to that. I love surprises like that, where all the clues were slipped to me on the sly and I didn't even know it. The writing was pretty decent. Emma kicked ass. So there was good stuff. It was just isolated good stuff all couched in a bunch mediocre stuff. :/
(to be posted 8/24)

Masks and magic and mayhem. In a society that drew power from hiding behind masks given to them by their parents, Thomas Fawkes desired nothing more than to receive his mask and the color magic that would come from it.

Fawkes is a fascinating blend of historical fiction and fantasy. The author took the details of the Gunpowder Plot and made them into an allegorical story where the conflict isn’t over religion but over color magic and light.

I really loved the analogy of God being the pure color from which all other colors get their being. I also appreciated the way that everyone knew that the White Light talked to everyone, attempting to woo them in the way that God woos us to Himself. There were no specific references to God or religion, yet the parallel drawn was evident to me. Non-Christians would not be offended by anything in the book.

Thomas was an interesting hero. He was wonderfully flawed and weak, not even having received the mask that would provide him with power. His Spiritual journey as he sought the love and approval of his father was touching.

Emma was wonderful! She was feisty, strong and wholly committed to following the White Light. Her relationship with it allowed her to accomplish amazing things. Her mask completely hid her face yet she radiated a beauty that was unmistakable.

While I did enjoy the story and the way the allegory was handled, there were places that things seemed to move slowly and I didn’t find myself riveted to the book.

If you read this book, be sure to see the author’s notes at the back to see what parts are based on history and which are entirely fantasy. I found that interesting as well.

I am currently on chapter 17 and I may DNF (Did Not Finish) this one. Its not a bad book by any means but its also not keeping my attention at all. Its been a struggle to even make it this far.

I like the idea of the color masks and I'm curious to see if Thomas even gets his but I also feel like I could skip a few chapters and not really miss anything.

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

I have received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a debut book by Nadine Brandes which is a historical fantasy inspired YA book based on the Gunpowder Plot that occurred in 1605. In this book we follow Guy Fawkes (who was actually a member of the actually plot) but his son Thomas on his journey.

Thomas is the son of Guy Fawkes, a well-known soldier of King James I. During this period there is a war between the Keepers and the Igniters who have very different view on the White colour. In this world the magic system is based on colour- that everyone gets a mask to control one colour. Igniters use White Colour to control all other power, but the Keepers avoid White Colour because it makes people go crazy for power.

The Keepers and the Igniters are metaphors for the tension between Catholics and Protestants during this period.


Back to Thomas, on the day that he should have obtained his mask from his father, he gets a letter that the old man isn’t coming. This means that Thomas doesn’t get his magic ability, gets kicked out of school but more importantly is suffering from the plague. This plague is slowly turning him into stone. He decides that he is getting his mask one way or another and tracks down his father. Arriving in London, he finds his father, Guy Fawkes, a Keeper that is involved in a Gunpowder plot. His father and his conspirators are actively planning the assassination of King James I (who is an Igniter) and they plan to replace him with a Keeper. Thomas is offered to join, knowing that this is the last chance for him to survive the plague! If the king is dead, the plague would be gone. From here our story truly begins.

<b> Character Development </b>

I really liked the concept of the book; the fact is was a historical fantasy and it was interesting to see how the author linked the Gunpowder Plot in her story. However, I just found Thomas really dull, boring and quite a whinny. Because I didn’t like Thomas so much, I just couldn’t connect with the story. Thomas was constantly unsure of what he believed in, made immature decisions, was always complaining and that made me like him less and less.

I really wished we saw more between the father and son (Fawkes and Thomas). There was so much potential in exploring the dynamic between these two, as obviously they had so much to deal with. Thomas with his anger towards his father for leaving him and really being there and Fawkes with his guilt.

I did like the character of Emma, I liked how she was the opposite of Thomas almost. She was strong, smart, beautiful, feminine and determined. She wasn’t strong in terms of those typical YA female characters who can kill anyone and have no emotions. She was quite well developed as a character and refreshing.

<b> Magic System </b>

The Magic system in this book was quite interesting. When you finish school (I believe) you get these masks and people can call our to colours to obtained certain abilities. The Igniters and Keepers have very different opinions on White Colour, which means you can control more than one colour at a time. Keepers believe that you should ignore the White Colour while Igniters disagree.

Overall, I am going to give this book 3.5 stars because I did enjoy reading it. There is an issue with the pace, so the start of the book is a bit slow, it does pace up and get slow again before it goes back to fast. It is a well written YA historical fantasy.

Honestly this book was underwhelming. The magical element was underdeveloped and the MC, Thomas, is not relatable/likable. The plot was too slow in the middle and the story overall was too long. I loved the premise though!

Thomas Fawkes has been living under his father’s reputation for too long, now it’s time to make a name for himself as his own man. When the time comes for Thomas to prove himself and claim his mask for his Colour Test, his father, Guy Fawkes, is no where to be seen. Without a mask made by his father, Thomas cannot continue with his studies and so is expelled from St. Peter’s school. With nothing left, he has no choice but to travel to London to find and confront his father.
On top of it all, for the past year, Thomas has kept it secret that he’s plagued. Luckily the stone plague in his eye has been dormant and is easy to hid under his eye patch. Thomas believes that the colour magic can heal him once and for all which is why he’s determined to get his colour mask. If he can control grey, he can control the stone plague.
When Thomas finally discovers his father, he’s thrown into a dangerous plot that will change the world around them forever. If he is to prove to his father he’s capable of bearing the responsibility of a colour mask, he needs to put his trust in his father and the other men in the plot that Keepers are on the right side of the war.

‘Keepers were loyal to one colour, and had been for thousands of years. Whereas Igniters wanted to control all colours. Igniters broke the laws of colour magic to bind with multiple colours. Apparently monarchs loved power, because both Queen Elizabeth and King James were Igniters. Consequently all Keepers were exiled, hunted, and executed for “resisting progress”‘

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Fawkes, but the perspective of Guy Fawkes’s son was something I was definitely intrigued by. I was not, however, expecting the colour magic aspect with masks, which was an interesting concept.
It took me a while to get my head around the colour abilities and what ‘white light’ was because there wasn’t enough examples at first to understand what it was all about, only brief mentions of it;

‘A masked man in a white shirt with a russet doublet and jerkin refilled the men’s ale and stoked the fire… all with colour speech. His mask was composed of plaited brown cords, but I knew he was an Igniter because he controlled two colours at once. The ale pitcher hovered in the air, pouring its contents into the empty tankards, while his hands served chunks of bread.’

Thomas is determined to control grey so he can get rid of his stone plague forever. People all around him can hide behind a mask and are able to control colours which is frustrating for Thomas as he believes that he’s got more of a reason to hide his face than others and there is nothing he can do about it. It’s completely understandable why he reacts the way he does in most situations. He’s conflicted with wanting the power to remove the plague from himself and doing what’s right with his father’s intentions. It’s annoying that his father just refuses to make the mask when he knows how important it is. He’s a hypocrite testing Thomas for loyalty to the plot but is keeping him helpless. I didn’t expect to dislike Guy Fawkes so much in this book, the fact that he left Thomas alone in the world when he discovered he had the plague and tried walking away from the pain rather than be there for his son. Even when you discover the reasons why his abandonment, you still can’t help but hate him a little.

‘I spun from the window. “Our paths are not so dissimilar?” I sneered. “I am plagued and maskless. Tell me, can you relate to those?” I gestured to his stoic black mask. “Try taking that off for a day. See how it changes you.”
Father straightened. “A man’s mask is his honour. His identity.”
“Your mask is your pride.”‘

Thomas just wants the plague gone to find a place in the world as his own person without being treated differently. We discover that the stone plague is a curse that started many years ago when the war between the Igniters and Keepers began. In most cases it’s contagious so many people are afraid of it but for the lucky few, like Thomas, the plague can remain dormant which bides them time.
When Thomas finds his father, he needs to decide on which path to take. The war between the Keepers and the Igniters is getting worse and something must be done to avoid more innocent people from being killed. Thomas is sure he’s on the Keeper side, after all, he only wishes to speak to grey and have a grey mask. But when white light starts talking to him and proves to be trustworthy when Thomas needs help, he realises that white light isn’t the problem after all.

My favourite character was definitely Emma, a strong Igniter who hides her own secrets behind a mask. When Thomas discovers Emma in danger, he attempts to rescue her only to quickly realise that she is more than capable of taking care of herself. With her ability to control a lot of colours, she is a force to be reckoned with, however she would much prefer to use her ability to create beautiful paintings that capture the emotion of her subject. Blackmailed by a wealthy family, from the outsider’s perspective she could want for nothing, but she is trapped in a secret that will ruin any chance of freedom and prospects of an artist apprentice. Even though Thomas and Emma are on the wrong side of the war, they learn more from each other than anywhere else. Thomas shows Emma the real arrogance of the war whilst Emma who’s Thomas that white light can change his world for the better.

I really enjoyed this story, it had a great storyline, well written characters, unique fantasy colour magic and a bit of romance.