So I started Fawkes at the end of December and finished it in the beginning of January. I don't know what took me so long to read this book! Like I heard so many great things about it and it was all over bookstagram (a big indication that a book is good), but I guess I just was too busy reading other books to get into that one. I wish I'd read it sooner because I seriously loved it so much!
One of the reasons I got so into it and loved it so much is because I've never read a book like it before. Sure, I've read historical fiction and time travel books that mixes scifi or fantasy with history, but never anything like this. It blew me away! The best way I can think to explain the setting and where the book is held as a whole is like an alternate England in the early 1600's. Nadine Brandes was (and is) a genius in the fact that she took a real life event and turned into a fantastical reality. I had no idea Guy Fawkes was a real person until I looked into the book a little more and then Googled Guy Fawkes. Turned out there was a plan (called the Gunpowder Plot) to blow up all of parliament in the early 1600's England. Guy Fawkes was the one in charge of blowing the explosives but before he could authorities got an anonymous tip that someone was going to try and blow up parliament. He was arrested and I believe the page I read said he killed himself in his cell before he could be hung and quartered.
Fawkes takes that real world event and turns it into a magical, intense battle between two peoples. I have a hard time explaining this part of the world but it is by far the most interesting and complex part of the world building in the book. I don't want to spoil anything but there are two different groups of people who believe in using Color power in different ways: the Igniters and the Keepers. In Nadine Brandes world everyone can control a different color and they wear masks that allows them to do so. It's very intricate and complicated so I suggest you read the book to fully appreciate her immense world-building skills. But anyways, the Keepers believes everyone should only use the color they are born with. It kind of reminds me of Avatar the Last Airbender where people are born able to control the different elements, only in this world the people also have the potential to use all the colors not just the one they were born with an affinity for. The Igniters believe that you should be able to control and use every color if you want. Her world building is just spectacular and I was blown away by the rules of the world and the political war going on between the two different people.
The story starts out with Thomas Fawkes. At first I thought it would be about Guy Fawkes since he was an actual historical figure, but Nadine Brandes decided to give him a fictional son which was pretty much the best thing ever. I love Thomas so much. His character arc and journey was just beautiful. Like a true masterpiece. To understand his arc though, you have to know about the White Light which was probably my favorite part of the entire book. This is what got me the most and the White Light was what truly inspired me as I read the book. In the fictional world of Fawkes like I said, everyone is born with an affinity for a certain color. The one group of people believe no one should have control over all the colors and since White Light is where all color comes from they don't believe in talking to it or having anything to do with it at all. The other group however believe that its right and natural to use all the colors and they openly converse and speak with White Light. Thomas grew up believing White Light was bad, that it corrupted but as the story goes on he begins to realize that the White Light isn't something to be feared but something to trust and to allow within himself. Emma, a girl who went to the same school as her and the girl the White Light led him to helps him to see that.
Before I get into my long rant about White Light, I also have to say all the characters are amazing too. Characters are the heart and souls of books. The things that bring a story to life and Thomas and Emma and the supporting characters brought life into this story. They were so complex and amazing not only individually but in their relationship too. I seriously loved reading their relationship and their stories as they evolved and changed. At first I wasn't so sure about Emma. I liked her but she wasn't my favorite, but by the middle of the story when you learn more about her, her past and her talents and her dreams in life she won me over completely.
Now, back to White Light. Out of all the themes and everything in the book, this idea of White Light and Thomas's journey with it touched me so much. Following Nadine Brandes on Instagram, I know she's a Christian and as a Christian myself I saw White Light for what it was: a symbol for God or more specifically the Holy Spirit. The Igniters invite the White Light into themselves, let it speak to them, guide them and they trust it with their lives. Much like we as Christians do when we accept Jesus Christ as our savior. The Holy Spirit is invited into us and dwells within us. It nudges and guides and convicts us. I only wish the Holy Spirit could be as talkative as the White Light. Wouldn't that be awesome? To have him talk to us so plainly and just tell us what we need to do? I read the acknowledgements and Nadine Brandes even mentions God there, saying how writing the book made her see a different side of Him. A more playful, intimate side of Him. I thought that was really cool because she made me feel the same way. Fawkes made me think about Him and my faith in Him as I read it and drew me closer to Him.
Getting to read and watch as Thomas went on this journey from Keeper to Igniter and opening his eyes to the truth of what the White Light truly is, was just amazing. A thing called the Stone plague is also a big thing in the story and is another marvel of her world building. At one point in the book the White Light saves Thomas from the plague and just a few weeks ago in church the pastor talked about a verse in Ezekiel. I believe it was Ezekiel 36:26: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I don't know if that was a verse that inspired Nadine but it sure reminded me of Thomas and his Stone plague and what the White Light did to help him.
Yes, the other themes are important too. Themes of race and reconciliation, love and doing the right thing even if it means sacrifice. But to me, this theme, this symbol of the White Light was the most important part of the whole book. It spoke to me in ways no other book ever has because it not only filled me with hope and love and drew me closer to God as a reader and Christian, but it opened my eyes to a new way to use my writing as a way to spread my faith in God. I'm going to go off on a tangent a little bit because this book wasn't just fun to read, it totally changed my perspective. I think I've talked about it in an earlier post but I want to talk about it again because it totally blew my mind. It did for me what I'm sure C.S. Lewis' Narnia did for other Christian writers. Made me realize that my books don't have to be explicitly about church goers and Christians. God and my faith and my hope and love for Him can be interwoven in every story I write. Not by talking about Him by name but by using themes and symbolism and metaphors. I could make my own White Light, my own interpretation of the spirit or God in my own stories that can touch and change my characters as much as He has touched and changed me.
Fawkes opened my eyes to the importance of theme. To how theme can make a story so powerful and so rich. I want my books to touch and inspire people as much as this book has me. That's why I've been so much more attentive to the message I want to speak about in my books. Not in a preachy or hit you over the head with it sort of way, but in a subtle, this book has meaning sort of way. I don't want to just tell a good, fun story. I want to tell a meaningful one too.
On a different note, her world-building was crazy amazing and totally inspired me too. Not to mention it ignited a love for historical fantasy within me. I have an idea for one but I'm still mulling over thoughts and plot pieces, but after reading Fawkes it renewed my love for this new idea and I am determined to one day write it and make it the best it can be.
So, what I'm saying is, you should read this book. Like right now. If you haven't already go get it from the store or the library. I was lucky enough to find it in Barnes and Nobles and on a whim decided to pick it up. Best book buy I ever made haha What spoke to me most were the Christian elements, but there's so much more to the book than just that. To me personally, that's the most important part of the book and Thomas' journey is just stunning, but others might have taken away something different and that's perfectly fine. So whether you're Christian or not, you should still read it. I pretty much guarantee that you'll love it! Or at least come away from it having enjoyed a good read.
Fawkes has made me a complete Nadine Brandes follower and I can't wait to see what she has in store for her newest book coming out this year: Romanov. I seriously can't wait to get that book and read another one of her historical fantasies, especially since this one is about (of course) Anastasia Romanov! It's going to be so good!!
One of the reasons I got so into it and loved it so much is because I've never read a book like it before. Sure, I've read historical fiction and time travel books that mixes scifi or fantasy with history, but never anything like this. It blew me away! The best way I can think to explain the setting and where the book is held as a whole is like an alternate England in the early 1600's. Nadine Brandes was (and is) a genius in the fact that she took a real life event and turned into a fantastical reality. I had no idea Guy Fawkes was a real person until I looked into the book a little more and then Googled Guy Fawkes. Turned out there was a plan (called the Gunpowder Plot) to blow up all of parliament in the early 1600's England. Guy Fawkes was the one in charge of blowing the explosives but before he could authorities got an anonymous tip that someone was going to try and blow up parliament. He was arrested and I believe the page I read said he killed himself in his cell before he could be hung and quartered.
Fawkes takes that real world event and turns it into a magical, intense battle between two peoples. I have a hard time explaining this part of the world but it is by far the most interesting and complex part of the world building in the book. I don't want to spoil anything but there are two different groups of people who believe in using Color power in different ways: the Igniters and the Keepers. In Nadine Brandes world everyone can control a different color and they wear masks that allows them to do so. It's very intricate and complicated so I suggest you read the book to fully appreciate her immense world-building skills. But anyways, the Keepers believes everyone should only use the color they are born with. It kind of reminds me of Avatar the Last Airbender where people are born able to control the different elements, only in this world the people also have the potential to use all the colors not just the one they were born with an affinity for. The Igniters believe that you should be able to control and use every color if you want. Her world building is just spectacular and I was blown away by the rules of the world and the political war going on between the two different people.
The story starts out with Thomas Fawkes. At first I thought it would be about Guy Fawkes since he was an actual historical figure, but Nadine Brandes decided to give him a fictional son which was pretty much the best thing ever. I love Thomas so much. His character arc and journey was just beautiful. Like a true masterpiece. To understand his arc though, you have to know about the White Light which was probably my favorite part of the entire book. This is what got me the most and the White Light was what truly inspired me as I read the book. In the fictional world of Fawkes like I said, everyone is born with an affinity for a certain color. The one group of people believe no one should have control over all the colors and since White Light is where all color comes from they don't believe in talking to it or having anything to do with it at all. The other group however believe that its right and natural to use all the colors and they openly converse and speak with White Light. Thomas grew up believing White Light was bad, that it corrupted but as the story goes on he begins to realize that the White Light isn't something to be feared but something to trust and to allow within himself. Emma, a girl who went to the same school as her and the girl the White Light led him to helps him to see that.
Before I get into my long rant about White Light, I also have to say all the characters are amazing too. Characters are the heart and souls of books. The things that bring a story to life and Thomas and Emma and the supporting characters brought life into this story. They were so complex and amazing not only individually but in their relationship too. I seriously loved reading their relationship and their stories as they evolved and changed. At first I wasn't so sure about Emma. I liked her but she wasn't my favorite, but by the middle of the story when you learn more about her, her past and her talents and her dreams in life she won me over completely.
Now, back to White Light. Out of all the themes and everything in the book, this idea of White Light and Thomas's journey with it touched me so much. Following Nadine Brandes on Instagram, I know she's a Christian and as a Christian myself I saw White Light for what it was: a symbol for God or more specifically the Holy Spirit. The Igniters invite the White Light into themselves, let it speak to them, guide them and they trust it with their lives. Much like we as Christians do when we accept Jesus Christ as our savior. The Holy Spirit is invited into us and dwells within us. It nudges and guides and convicts us. I only wish the Holy Spirit could be as talkative as the White Light. Wouldn't that be awesome? To have him talk to us so plainly and just tell us what we need to do? I read the acknowledgements and Nadine Brandes even mentions God there, saying how writing the book made her see a different side of Him. A more playful, intimate side of Him. I thought that was really cool because she made me feel the same way. Fawkes made me think about Him and my faith in Him as I read it and drew me closer to Him.
Getting to read and watch as Thomas went on this journey from Keeper to Igniter and opening his eyes to the truth of what the White Light truly is, was just amazing. A thing called the Stone plague is also a big thing in the story and is another marvel of her world building. At one point in the book the White Light saves Thomas from the plague and just a few weeks ago in church the pastor talked about a verse in Ezekiel. I believe it was Ezekiel 36:26: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I don't know if that was a verse that inspired Nadine but it sure reminded me of Thomas and his Stone plague and what the White Light did to help him.
Yes, the other themes are important too. Themes of race and reconciliation, love and doing the right thing even if it means sacrifice. But to me, this theme, this symbol of the White Light was the most important part of the whole book. It spoke to me in ways no other book ever has because it not only filled me with hope and love and drew me closer to God as a reader and Christian, but it opened my eyes to a new way to use my writing as a way to spread my faith in God. I'm going to go off on a tangent a little bit because this book wasn't just fun to read, it totally changed my perspective. I think I've talked about it in an earlier post but I want to talk about it again because it totally blew my mind. It did for me what I'm sure C.S. Lewis' Narnia did for other Christian writers. Made me realize that my books don't have to be explicitly about church goers and Christians. God and my faith and my hope and love for Him can be interwoven in every story I write. Not by talking about Him by name but by using themes and symbolism and metaphors. I could make my own White Light, my own interpretation of the spirit or God in my own stories that can touch and change my characters as much as He has touched and changed me.
Fawkes opened my eyes to the importance of theme. To how theme can make a story so powerful and so rich. I want my books to touch and inspire people as much as this book has me. That's why I've been so much more attentive to the message I want to speak about in my books. Not in a preachy or hit you over the head with it sort of way, but in a subtle, this book has meaning sort of way. I don't want to just tell a good, fun story. I want to tell a meaningful one too.
On a different note, her world-building was crazy amazing and totally inspired me too. Not to mention it ignited a love for historical fantasy within me. I have an idea for one but I'm still mulling over thoughts and plot pieces, but after reading Fawkes it renewed my love for this new idea and I am determined to one day write it and make it the best it can be.
So, what I'm saying is, you should read this book. Like right now. If you haven't already go get it from the store or the library. I was lucky enough to find it in Barnes and Nobles and on a whim decided to pick it up. Best book buy I ever made haha What spoke to me most were the Christian elements, but there's so much more to the book than just that. To me personally, that's the most important part of the book and Thomas' journey is just stunning, but others might have taken away something different and that's perfectly fine. So whether you're Christian or not, you should still read it. I pretty much guarantee that you'll love it! Or at least come away from it having enjoyed a good read.
Fawkes has made me a complete Nadine Brandes follower and I can't wait to see what she has in store for her newest book coming out this year: Romanov. I seriously can't wait to get that book and read another one of her historical fantasies, especially since this one is about (of course) Anastasia Romanov! It's going to be so good!!
Have a great weekend everyone!
What did you think of Fawkes?:)
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