Fawkes: A Novel

Welcome to yet another edition of "Lissa writes a book review while super stoned because she lives in Colorado and LIFE IS AMAZING HERE." Also, I must admit, that I'm feeling a bit blasphemous writing this review while stoned (for reasons that will become obvious in the review), but whatever, honey badger don't care.

It became pretty clear as soon as I picked up this book that I was most definitely NOT part of the intended audience. I got this book as part of a book subscription box, so it wasn't like I saw the book in the store (or online) and chose to buy it - it was a surprise. And I wouldn't have purchased this book on my own, honestly, once I'd discovered that it was published by Thomas Nelson (a Christian publishing house).

But show more still, hey, I'd "bought" the book as part of my subscription; might as well read it, right? And the cover is GORGEOUS and totally called my name, and I liked the basic plot of the story, although I must say that historical England is so not my bag. But I knew a bit about Guy Fawkes, mostly because I was curious once I read V for Vendetta about the history of the Gunpowder Plot and why V chose Guy Fawkes as his mask. I think coming into this book with a bit of an awareness about Plot is a good idea, to be honest.

Anyway, it became pretty obvious pretty fast that this was mostly historical fiction with a dash of fantasy slapped into it. The Keepers are quite clearly Catholics, while the Igniters are Protestants. The events of the book, for a good portion at least, are actually drawn from real history. The author has thrown in some color magic, but I wasn't particularly sold on this device and found it to be rather weak.

I think that the author tried to do a good job of being sympathetic to the CatholicsKeepers, although it was quite obvious that she favored those scrappy ProtestantIgniter upstarts, who were pretty busy trying to hang as many CatholicsKeepers as possible, but the results were mixed. The ProtestantsIgniters were in the right, while the CatholicsKeepers were in the wrong - or, at least, that is how it was portrayed in the book. And the descriptions of the groups got weirdly and heavily religious fast.

The preachiness only escalated with the introduction of White Light, which is like...the Holy Spirit, I think, but also Jesus. Or something. Anyway, like Jesus in evangelical circles, the White Light talks to everyone but has to be invited in to take a real hold. Then, once "salvation" occurs, the person's life is changed by White Light/Jesus for the better. This is where the religiousness got overbearing, in my view. The CatholicsKeepers believed in White Light (Jesus), but that it wasn't for man to experience in a personal way; White Light (Jesus) had to be guarded and protected. The ProtestantsIgniters believed that White Light (Jesus) should be experienced on a personal level and available to everyone without an intercessor. The author made it ABUNDANTLY clear that we were supposed to draw these parallels between Catholics/Keepers and Protestants/Igniters, by the way - Martin Luther was mentioned as a corrupted Keeper who was one of the first Igniters. I mean, it doesn't get any clearer than that if you have a basic grasp of the Protestant Reformation.

Anyway, ultimately, the CatholicsKeepers are WRONG and the ProtestantsIgniters are RIGHT about White Light (Jesus). True salvation, only available through White Light (Jesus), is only available to those who convert and become ProtestantsIgniters. You can see how this feels very icky very quickly for those of us who aren't Protestant, or Christian, or even believers in religion of any type ("hello!" says the atheist Jew named Lissa).

So yeah, that really ruined a lot of the book for me.

Another problem I had was that I really didn't like the narrator, Thomas Fawkes, son of Guy Fawkes. He was boring and rather self-absorbed for the first part of the book; he matured some in the second part of the book, although he remained boring. And for the book being full of intrigue and magic and mystery, there really wasn't a lot of tension on the pages. The author's writing was fine, but I didn't really feel all that invested in turning the page, if that makes sense. But then I got super baked and the book was better. I mean, thinking about controlling colors is pretty damned cool when you're high. And while the author tried to give the tone to the book a "historical" feel, there were some very modern sayings from Thomas ("as if" being one of the most jarring to me).

I gave the book two stars (instead of one) for a few reasons:

1) Emma is a fucking kickass character, and I would have liked the book so much if it had been told from her point of view, or if she'd just been around more often. She kicked ass and took names and did what she wanted, and I love that she was a POC, and I kind of wanted her to ditch Henry and Thomas and just find a badass lesbian lover and just paint the shit out of everyone and go around having adventures together. Alas, since this book was so steeped in religion, I knew that was not going to be (but the book would have been way better if that had happened, just saying ;) ).

2) The author really does not make 17th century London a glamorous place, which I appreciated. I mean, the Thames is flowing with raw sewage and people are just dumping their shit and piss on the streets. The author mentions repeatedly how gross it was to live back then, which I found highly realistic and quite refreshing, actually, since most books set in this time frame seem to gloss over this and make the city more "romantic" or whatever.

3) I believe that the author did an impressive amount of research for this book, and as a huge history nerd, I always appreciate this.

4) White Light (Jesus) is kind of a dick, and this felt deliciously blasphemous. I'm sure that this wasn't the intended result of the author, but I don't care - it's still totally there, and my heathen soul took immense pleasure in this. show less

I loved this book and I’m sure it will remain my best read of 2018. Bam, I said it.

This is a fantasy/ historical fiction story set in 17th century England. The plague has claimed a lot of victims, turning them to stone. Thomas Fawkes has the plague but it is dormant and has only claimed one of his eyes, which he hides from the rest of the world behind an eyepatch. When, at his coming-of-age ceremony at St. Peter’s Color School, his father doesn’t show up to give him a carved mask that would grant him color power, Fawkes resolves to go find him and get his mask. He traveled to London where he found his father, Guy Fawkes (and those who know history will have a good idea of what was about to happen), together with a group of men who show more where plotting to kill the King of England. What started as a simple quest to get his mask and place in society, turned into a journey of conspiracies, power, self-discovery and the seek for truth.

This story revolves around the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, with a fantasy twist. In this world, people can choose to command seven different colors after they get their mask. For example, brown can command brown things such as dirt, wood and anything else of that color, sort of like magic. There are two factions; Keepers and Igniters. Those who stick to using one color and those who made use of several. The differences between the two factions is what fuels most of the events of the story and ultimately the plot to kill King James. Whether you know the historical facts or not, this story is enthralling, complex and full of unexpected turns. The characters and their relationships are very organic and realistic. They change and grow and so does their bonds. Thomas was a great main character but Emma was just as great, she is wise and have guts.

I’m specially fond of fiction that can offer more than just entertainment and this title gave me a lot of food for thought. It also gave me feels, like, tons of them. I hated some characters, I wanted to slap others on the face, I cheered for their success and I shed tears, not like “awww sad” but more like “dammit!!! nooo!”. They really grew on me. At the end of the book, Nadine Brandes shares with us which parts of the story are true facts (heads up: most of the characters are based on real people) and 7 questions that can help you relate to the feelings and actions of the characters. I did that throughout the entire book anyway, but this list ensures that anyone can find some food for thought and something to relate to.

Already said how much I love this story; the setting, the action and fights, character growth, their relationships, many plot twists, potential for reflexion and existential questions… oh! and also, it might make you want to read History books!. *I got an eArc (but on the hunt for a signed copy) show less

Once I started Fawkes, it was really hard to put down (unless I got to a part about decapitation or execution, of which there were...a fair few, enough that i contemplated setting the book aside). So don’t read it right before bed!

I found the writing style engaging and the storyline fascinating.

I would agree with some of the lower-star reviews about questions left open, and wished more could have been addressed regarding magic and color choice. And yes, White Light spoke like a 21st-century millennial more than a 17th-century magic voice. Lol. I may have chuckled a fair bit at that.

Still...I really did like the book. I defo want to do my own research now on Guy Fawkes! And it’s a good read leading up to Halloween and (le gasp) Guy show more Fawkes Day! What were the odds? Ha! show less

Choices determine our fate, but passion puts the life into it. Thomas has many decisions to make as he is thrust into society and adulthood, ready or not. With a plot to engage, and friends to support, things turn personal and Thomas finds the passion he needs to seek the source, seek the truth and become the man he’s meant to be.
Formidable and interesting characters drive this fantasy laced, historical fiction plot. Intelligently written, with undertones of racism, sacrifice, faith and religious history, Fawkes is a different type of historical fiction. It will have you pondering how one person can wreak havoc on an entire people, and how others often blindly follow those who are out only for themselves...when really all you need to show more do is seek the truth, regardless of the beliefs society has pressed upon you. Fawkes is thought provoking and really quite fantastic.
*I received an arc from the publisher for an honest review show less

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes is one of those books that draws you into a world, enlightens you with its magic, and then sends you back to reality, so you can enlighten others while you glow!

Nadine used the history of Guy Fawkes and the failed attempt to blow the parliament as a base to her story, that follows Guy Fawkes’s son, Thomas, into an incredible magical journey.

‘’A foundation of truth represents what life was intended to be.’’

Thomas is about to get his mask, that is supposed to make him control one colour. He also happens to be affected with the plague, that turns his face into stone. His family are all Keepers, and he, by default is a keeper too. But things are never that simple. What will happen when he might not get show more his mask, and the plague is about to kill him?

We follow the journey of Thomas through a first - person perspective. He feels incomplete when he has the plague, and all his life he is waiting to get his mask, and to be able to control a colour. Any colour, even though he prefers Grey.

Only with my mask could I bond with a color.

But on the day when he is about to receive his mask from his dad, he learns that his father is in London, and is not willing to come.

Scared for his life, and angry at his father, he goes into an adventure to find him. His father is Guy Fawkes, a Keeper that is involved in a Gunpowder plot, which will kill the whole parliament, and most importantly, the king of England, who is the cause of the plague!

Thomas joins the plot, knowing that this is the last chance for him to survive the plague! If the king is dead, the plague would be gone. But will it?

I never imagined a single moment of acceptance could reverse a year of bitterness and prejudice.

Through Thomas’s eyes, we see a war between the Keepers and the Igniters. It might be a metaphor for the Catholics and Protestants, but I won’t go into this now. The Keepers were loyal to one color only, and Igniters wanted to control all colors. Igniters used the White Colour as a source to control all power. But White Color doesn’t obey like other colours do - the White Color makes people go crazy for power and glory. Something similar to the ring in Lord of The Rings.

‘’Igniters believe that for each Keeper that dies, one person is cured of the plague’’.

We see Thomas caught between two sides - the keepers want to be free of oppression, and the Igniters want to be free to use color speech as they wanted. On such a crossroad, Thomas wants to find the truth for himself. But there is no time, and not many people that he can trust.

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

On his journey, his relationship with Emma becomes stronger. She is an Igniter, and they share different beliefs, and she also knows he has the plague. But she is still around, and she accepts his as he is. And Thomas, taught to always hide his face, because otherwise he would be killed by the Igniters, is able to relax around Emma. This will teach him to accept Emma as she is, once she tells him her secret.

I loved the character of Emma. She is a strong person, but unable to show her true self due to the fact that she is not like the others, that she is not the same. In this book it is also shown quite well how women were underestimated in the 17th century. How they were thought to be unworthy. The only bit I didn’t like about Emma is that, even though such strong character, she would have never fought for herself if Thomas wasn’t there to ‘’save’’ her.

This book is a lovely story about Thomas, and how he finds his true self, how he is not afraid to stand up for the things he believes in, how he learns that he shouldn't be hiding his true self anymore and embrace his fears, as they might turn out to be the best things that ever happened in his life.

‘’Take a breath, Thomas. 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.’’

So yes, my lovely readers, I loved this book so much! I loved the magical moments, I loved how it turned out to be an amazing plot, based on real history events. I loved Thomas’s character, and I loved Emma. I loved Guy Fawkes as well, especially in the end of the book.

If you happen to love these types of books, please get your copy as soon as you can. You won’t regret it at all!

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

In a mix of historical fiction and fantasy, Thomas, son of Guy Fawkes suffers from a plague ravaging England that turns its victims to stone. He’s managed to conceal the sickness behind an eyepatch, but when his absentee father fails to send the mask he needs to complete his magical ceremony, he is tossed out of boarding school before his powers can manifest.

But when he arrives in London and finds his father, he becomes mixed up in the Gunpowder Plot. I found the historical fiction aspect of this absolutely fascinating, as well as the relationship between Thomas and Emma and Henry. The magical system and how exactly it functioned remained a bit murky for me, even by the end, although that didn’t diminish my overall enjoyment of the show more tale as a historical. Will definitely be checking out “Romanov” when it releases!

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

Ever since I heard about Nadine Brandes and the Out of Time series, I have wanted to read them. Well, I haven't read that trilogy yet because some country's (*coughCanadacough*) shipping is ridiculous, but I just got a review copy of Fawkes--Nadine's latest novel. And, oh my goodness, it's beautiful. The cover is captivating and intriguing, and I really didn't read anything about the book before plunging in. After reading the book, I just sat back and marveled at the way Nadine placed history and fantasy in the same book and how skillfully they were woven together. And yes, there is a deeper meaning to this story, than just the Keeper-Igniter war.

Thomas character was special. He struggles with the Stone Plague, but even more so with his show more purpose, mission, and loyalties. He seeks to love his father and be worthy of him even though he's been hurt badly by him. And when he finally makes his own decisions about right and wrong, he realizes that it may cost some people their lives.

I love the idea of color masks as a way of showing people's unique gifts and talents. The characters of England each have a color power, granted to them only by the color test and by a individual mask created and formed by a parent. The child is raised to learn to mold with his mask and use the colors he/she has bonded with to bring peace (and war where necessary) in the world. Thomas doesn't have a mask yet, and to gain one will take more courage, risk, and sacrifice than he imagined. But he has the strange advice of the White light, along with Emma's counsel and his father's experience to guide him.

I love the relationship between Thomas and Emma. It's definitely not forced and it grows and strengthens because of challenges. And in the end, both Thomas and Emma see that being vulnerable and honest with each other leads to love in a way they didn't expect.

This book is packed with meaning for the Christian, and is captivating and full of history. But looking back at history, we can also learn something for today and for our futures.

Thank you, Nadine! Now I really want to read the Out of Time series. ;) show less