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 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.

Great review! I love the cover and your picture!
Thank you Amanda! 💖
The photo really is lovely 💖
Thank you!
This sounds like a lovely tale
It is 🙂 I loved it!
The cover is so pretty!
Yes, I agree Heidi!
This book sounds interesting.
Yes, it is Veronica. You should definitely give it a chance 🙂
Great review and lovely cover
Thank you Ayushi!
Great review, I’ve looked at this book a few times and thought about reading it. One day I’ll get to it.
Yay! Let me know when you do, I’d love to chat about it
This is not my typical read, but you sold it so well! I may have to consider it one day.
Your review read nicely and I love the format you chose – that cover photographs very well too.
Thank you very much! I hope you like it! 💖
Love the book cover!
Thank you Jo!
Great review! You made me want to read it. 🙂
Thank you Jessica!
I’ve seen this book on IG a couple times now and every time I see it I can’t help but adore the cover. The story sounds right up my alley as well
You should definitely give it a chance 😀
Great review! I could only skim it though because I plan on reading this one and didn’t want any spoilers. Love your picture of it though 😍
Hi Christine! I look forward to see what you think about it! There aren’t any spoilers in the review, but a bit of the plot is revealed – so you did the right thing 😀 Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I would sell my soul for a copy of this xD
Hehehe, it is out now, you can have a copy 😀
Book worlds that stuck you in and wrap you up in their magic are the best. Wonderful cover and review!
Thank you!
Great review!
Thank you Allie
Great review, I absolutely love the gorgeous cover as well, and this book looks and sounds my kind of book I might need to check this book out one day. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post and for putting this book on my radar.
Thank you for the wonderful comment, Katiria! <3
Great review! Love the pics and quotes! Can’t wait to finish this book myself as well, hopefully soon!
I hope you enjoy it! <3