Fawkes - by Nadine Brandes (Paperback)

About the Book

Brandes thrusts listeners back to 17th-century England, where Thomas Fawkes, son of anarchist Guy Fawkes, is infected with the Stone Plague. The only cure is to join his father's Gunpowder Plot to assassinate the king of England.

Book Synopsis

A magical retelling of the Gunpowder Plot that will sweep you back in time to a divided England where plagues turn victims to stone.

In seventeenth-century London two forces rule the people: the color powers and the Stone Plague. Brown masks can manipulate wood. Black masks control the night. And red masks . . . Well, red is the color of blood.

Young Thomas Fawkes's Color Test has finally arrived, and he's sure his father, the infamous Guy Fawkes, will present him with a mask and Thomas will finally bond with a color. He desperately hopes for a gray mask so he can remove the stone that has invaded his body and will ultimately take his life.

But when Guy refuses to give Thomas his mask or even his presence, Thomas has no place in school or society. His only hope is to track down his father and demand a mask. His father has bigger plans: to kill the king.

Thomas must join forces with Guy if he wants to save his own life. When his errands for the cause bring him time and again to Emma Areben, a former classmate, Thomas is exposed to a whole new brand of magic. And Emma doesn't control just one color--she controls them all.

Emma wants to show Thomas the full power of color magic, but it goes against everything his father is fighting for. If Thomas sides with his father, he could save his own life--which would destroy Emma and her family. To save one, he must sacrifice 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.

• Full-length young adult historical fantasy
• For fans of And I Darken and My Lady Jane
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs
• Also by Nadine Brandes: Romanov and Wishtress

Review Quotes

A brilliant book that fulfills every expectation. I highly recommend this gripping and beautifully crafted book to all. It will leave you both entertained and pondering matters raised in the storyline long after you've finished reading.--Jill Williamson, Christy Award-winning author

An imaginative, colorful tale about choosing for yourself between what's right and what others insist is the truth.--Cynthia Hand, New York Times bestselling author of My Lady Jane

Brandes successfully blends magic into history, and one can easily see both sides of the conflict as Thomas struggles with his choice.--School Library Journal

Fawkes is a tale full of spiritual depth, tragedy, and hope. A beautifully written allegory for the magic of faith, with an achingly relatable hero who pulls you into his world heart and soul. A must-read for all fantasy fans!--Lorie Langdon, author of Olivia Twist

Historical facts, along with captivating characters and quick dialogue, make for an extremely enjoyable novel. A great read for fans of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, Fawkes brings new life to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.--Shelf Awareness

Hold on to your heart as this slow burning adventure quickly escalates into an explosion of magic, love, and the truth about loyalty.--Mary Weber, bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy and To Best the Boys