About the Book ~
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 it. 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.
For more information about Nadine Brandes and her books, check out her website here!
My Thoughts ~
"Fawkes rocks! Fawkes rocks! Fawkes rocks!"
Sorry, that's the multitude in my head cheering for Fawkes by Nadine Brandes. They're good people, but they must have overtaken my fingers for a moment. ;-)
But seriously, Fawkes does rock!
The author did an amazing job of creating a new world within the confines of history. The era felt so vivid but not stilted. And I loved the magical color system!! I also loved how representative of God it was, God's playful and loving side that craves a relationship with us!!
Sorry, that's the multitude in my head cheering for Fawkes by Nadine Brandes. They're good people, but they must have overtaken my fingers for a moment. ;-)
But seriously, Fawkes does rock!
The author did an amazing job of creating a new world within the confines of history. The era felt so vivid but not stilted. And I loved the magical color system!! I also loved how representative of God it was, God's playful and loving side that craves a relationship with us!!
Did I mention that Fawkes was written for the general market? That's right! This story has a huge crossover appeal, but that God stuff is still ingrained into the story in a subtle way that is sure to leave readers hungry for more.
There are so many amazingly layered truths in Fawkes! Nadine Brandes truly wrote a story that showed the reader that there are multiple points of view on any given subject - especially the difficult subjects! Thomas was so relatable to me. He wanted his father's love, but he needed to discover what truth was for himself. Emma was one of my favorite parts, and I loved the truth she represented. I also loved the natural way the main characters were convicted. Even Emma realized that she had been looking at something with a skewed viewpoint, and that is so powerful. Seeking the truth by going to the source rings loud and clear throughout the story!
There are so many amazingly layered truths in Fawkes! Nadine Brandes truly wrote a story that showed the reader that there are multiple points of view on any given subject - especially the difficult subjects! Thomas was so relatable to me. He wanted his father's love, but he needed to discover what truth was for himself. Emma was one of my favorite parts, and I loved the truth she represented. I also loved the natural way the main characters were convicted. Even Emma realized that she had been looking at something with a skewed viewpoint, and that is so powerful. Seeking the truth by going to the source rings loud and clear throughout the story!
I sobbed so hard through the entire last chapter - and not just because the book was ending! It didn't take a lot of wondering (or a lengthy Google search) to determine what would happen to Thomas' father, Guy Fawkes. But the story ended with a hope so profound that my only option was to cry it out. Powerful!!!
Five Stars ~ Fawkes reaches a new level of awesome that needs its own awesome name because saying "awesome" doesn't do it justice. Highly recommended!!! Fawkes is a standalone novel. I am sooo looking forward to reading Nadine Brandes' next historical fantasy, Romanov - a retelling of Anastasia! But what am I going to do with my life until May 2019??? *wails and gnashes teeth*
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
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See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!
Hugs!
~V. Joy Palmer
V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.
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Awesome review, Joy!
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