Fawkes - by Nadine Brandes

Title: Fawkes

Author: Nadine Brandes

Published: 10 July 2018

Series: -

Rating: 4 stars

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. 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.

Have you no honor to stand for your beliefs?

Standing for my beliefs isn't always the same as standing for truth.

I received this book as an ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My favourite thing about this book is probably that Emma was a strong character who could look after herself and beat half the boys at their own game.

I really loved the idea of how the colour masks and Colour Test worked. The book is set in 1604, but doesn't have the 'ye olde english' feel to the words. Plus I adore this cover as it's so pretty.

There being a White Light as one of the colours was an interesting point to include in the book and how every colour apparently stemmed from it. I also loved its sass and how it sounded like a best friend would a couple of times. A couple of times I guessed that Guy Fawkes or Emma may have been White Light users too, but we do find out whether they actually are or not.

If someone, somewhere, somehow, can also make a Lady's Ball like how it was described in Fawkes then I will be very grateful as it sounded beautiful and definitely makes me want to go. Well, maybe make it without a few of the pieces we're told about.

I also cringed pretty hard at the end though when we find out how they attach the mask to the Gunpowder Plot plotter's faces. Plus the information we find out at the end of the book about the true story behind the book is pretty fascinating stuff too.

There has always been fear. There will always be fear. It's up to us to stand tall, even when the fear demands we bow to it.

Spoilers!

Norwood's death wasn't as sad as I sort of hoped it would be, but I still felt bad for Thomas.

I also guessed that Emma was black when my White Light idea didn't pan out, but it still surprised me.

Big question here though: How and why did Dee learn about and spread the Stone Plague?

But I loved that Thomas' mask was made from the same Stone Plague that had haunted him and been connected to him for years after he was freed from it.

End Spoilers!