Fawkes By: Nadine Brandes Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fantasy Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publication Year: 2018 Series: Stand Alone Synopsis:
"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." ~Taken from Nadine Brandes website: nadinebrandes.com/product/fawkes/ Characters: This time around I am just going to introduce the two main characters, because if I introduced one or two of the sub-characters I would feel the need to introduce them all...and there just isn't time for that! Thomas Fawkes: A young man in search of his father to claim his mask so he can feel like he fits in with everyone else. Upon finding his father he is pulled into a scheme of rebellion and murder. While pledging his support to the rebellion he begins to question their motives and the truth behind their beliefs. He begins a journey to find the truth for himself. Emma: A young lady who has an air of mystery surrounding her from the beginning. She challenges Thomas' beliefs and his views throughout the book. She is a spitfire, who stands up for herself with a measure of grace and dignity. She fights for what she believes is right. My Thoughts: First off, can we just stop and stare at the cover for a minutes? I mean look at it! Before I even read the inside flap I was interested! Of course that could be attributed to my love of masks and masquerades. But really, the cover is gorgeous and if you get your hands on a copy, being able to run your fingers over the raised mask is really where the magic is at. Now, let's dive into the book. This story held me captivated. As in didn't want to put it down, took it to my husband's softball game, could have stayed up all night reading it, kind of story. The twists and turns, the characters and the gunpowder plot. Give me history and then mix in a bit of fantasy with it - these are the kind of stories I love. I believe I have mentioned my love of first lines, well this one did not disappoint. "I wasn't ready to turn to stone." How can you not want to read more and figure out what is going on! Thomas is a very relatable character. He struggles trying to make his father proud of him while also digging for the truth behind the deep seeded hatred between the Keepers and Igniters. I love how Thomas is relentless in his search for the truth. He could just listen to what his father and other adult figures tell him is truth and just accept that, but he continually tests it and doesn't settle for their easy answers. Emma is a beautiful character. I love how the author made her sweet and kind, but also a force to be reckoned with. I loved all the mystery that surrounds her and why she wears her mask all the time. When the reason is finally revealed it made perfect sense and I loved how it happened. Emma complements Thomas' character. She is steadfast in what she believes. She doesn't avoid Thomas or his questions, she welcomes them and then challenges him through her answers. This is the first novel I have read by Nadine Brandes and it did not disappoint. It was artfully woven together from the first line to the last and throughly captivated this reader. Recommend? If you enjoy history with a fantasy twist then this would be a good read for you. Nadine weaves a story of intrigue that you will not want to put down. Let me know your thoughts and if this book sounds interesting to you! Cheers, Rebecca
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Welcome!My name is Rebecca and this blog is dedicated to my thoughts and opinions of the books I read. I hope you enjoy reading through my reviews. And hopefully you will find a good one to get lost in! Archives
November 2019
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