"Remember, Remember, the 5th of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot . . ." Honestly, I was drawn to this book by more than just the intriguing cover and fascinating description; I am a fan of V for Vendetta, and hence was interested in fiction regarding the Gunpowder Plot. From the first line, author Nadine Brandes had me hooked—“I didn't want to turn to stone." Enter a fantasy world where masks give their wielders the ability to control objects depending on their color, and a mysterious plague is slowly turning its victims to stone.

Thomas Fawkes wants his mask, doesn't want to die of the stone plague which has already infected him, and wants his father, heroic soldier Guy Fawkes, to notice him. It seems his only way to achieve any of this is to join his father's Gunpowder Plot to kill the king, and in doing so, hopefully end the plague before it ends him. In the midst of all of this, White Light keeps trying to seduce him with its dangerous power, but Keepers like Thomas must control one color only—or so he has been raised to believe. Is White Light as dangerous as everyone says? And how can Thomas go through with the plot when it will harm the family of the girl he has come to care deeply about?

This book kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning, always wanting to know what would happen next, and how Thomas would get out of the peril he so often found himself in. I loved this book, and loved how Thomas searched for his own answers, needing to know the truth instead of just believing everything he heard. The ending was so poignant that I had tears in my eyes, but a smile on my face. Fawkes is a great read, and I will definitely be looking for other books by Nadine Brandes. The story was complete on its own, but I hope she writes a sequel.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own.