Fawkes by Nadine BrandesMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
More of a 3.5, this ARC, but I'll give it a nice, generous 4. It's a little hard to follow this book sometimes because of the weird color-based magic system, which feels a lot like Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey but even more enigmatic, and with no plans for sequels (not that Fforde's much better in that regard, since he's pretty well stalled out on all his series), it's a little maddening that there's not much explanation for the mechanics of the magic. But there's enough explanation, and enough political subtext - borrowing not only from the Catholic vs. Protestant fighting of 1600s England, but eerily reflecting today's left-right split as well - that the book still works, and works very well, especially when we're given a semi-anti-hero as desperate as Thomas Fawkes. Desperate, but also willing to consider other solutions than what he's been told and taught.
For sure, I'll be taking a peek at other books by Nadine Brandes - as soon as I can find them!
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