I was not yet ready to turn to stone.
Title: Fawkes
Author: Nadine Brandes
Series:
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Page Count: 500
Publishing: Thomas Nelson
Type of Book: ARC, Netgalley Read, Kindle Ebook
Review Word Count: 500
Rated: 5/5 stars
Notes: THE HYPE IS DESERVED!
Fawkes starts off with a bang, instantly capturing my attention and having me read a 500 page book in less than a day!
{Look, I did art! For a review!}
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.
-As Described on Goodreads
Then I read the first sentence: I was not ready to turn to stone, and I was HOOKED. From the very first sentence, this book was a true treasure to read. Thomas Fawkes was an easily identifiable character, the book was filled with twists and turns that I did not see coming, the world-building was unique and well written. I adore this book, and am putting it on my ‘to-buy-immediately’ list, because it’s well worth sitting on my shelves for when I want a re-read.
This book ripped my emotions apart several times. There’s a violent plague going on in this book, and the main character is affected, but with only one eye so that he wears an eyepatch most of the time. He hopes to get a mask from his father after passing a test in order to make it so that people don’t see his affliction and so that he can have the power to help change things. When his father doesn’t show up as he’s promised to do, Thomas Fawkes takes matters into his own hands and goes out to find him.
This book was a delicious read, from beginning to end, and I can’t give you enough reasons why you should read it, only that it needs to be added to your TBR post-haste! It’s got thieves and spies and London and plagues and magic and….what more could you want?
Giving this book a very well deserved 5/5 stars for it’s beautiful voice and unique world-building skills!
Until next time,
-Pass Me That Book
Pass Me That Book 