Seen this and knew I had to check it out! Love a good historical fiction!

After the arrival of a well-dressed stranger, John's life is forever changed. He finds out he is the son of the long-deceased Duke of Clarence. He was hidden out in the country to protect him because Richard III has a nasty habit of removing his nephews. He is sent to Oxford to be trained and prepared to be the heir of the throne and is then sent to Ireland and he meets Joan. They form an alliance that will forever change the fate of the English monarchy.

What an interesting take and viewpoint to read from. This is based off the true story of Simnel who was the figurehead of the Yorkist rebellion. I honestly don't recall the name personally, so I'll have to do some googling after writing this to freshen up my 15th century knowledge.

The 1/3 and last 3rd were great! I was addicted and couldn't stop reading. I stayed up WAY too late finishing the book. The middle 3rd.....was a little rougher. It took me a while to get through it. I wanted to skim so badly, but I felt like I would miss some important stuff if I did. TBF - there was some trimming that could be done throughout. Some scenes went on for far too long.

But yes, the detail and the writing style was refreshing and really made this story come to life. I'm now itching for more. I might have to try out the other novel by this author.

There is a HUGE list of characters running amuck here, but the author did a good job keeping everything straight and keeping the reader in the know. We got the reminders we needed but yes, just keep that in mind that there is a big cast and you need to pay attention. Thus another reason why I didn't skim the middle bit.

Ugh Joan. Not sure why, but she really rubbed me the wrong way.

I adored John!! He was a gem. I loved watching him grow and try to find his way and his identity.

All-in-all, I did enjoy this. The writing style was great and the author just sucks you into the story. I felt like I was there! Sure there needs to be some trimming (especially in the middle 3rd), but I did appreciate the attention to detail. If you like historical fiction, keep your eyes out for this one when it releases! I'll give this 3 stars.


- Favorite Character(s): John
- Least Favorite Character(s): Joan and Richard III

**To be published on blog 1/7/2025 @ 230 PM est

As a reader of historical fiction, I was thoroughly engaged in this story by Jo Hardin. The writing was spot on for the times presented and I felt transported to the setting and situations. The overall story as well is completely believable as to whether a royal would have one or multiple heirs that are hidden in plain sight to avoid potential palace intrigues. In this case, whether or not the main character is a true son and heir became less important than what kind of life he could be expected to live once the idea is introduced to him. I highly recommend the book based on the excellent research and writing.

Who was Lambert Simnel? According to Britannica, Lambert was a commoner born in 1475 who came out of nowhere and claimed to be the true king of England.

Though history denies his claim, could Lambert really have been hidden for years to avoid his murderous uncle King Richard III who imprisoned and murdered his young cousins, true heirs to the throne? Could Simnel have gone to Ireland to be crowned as King Edward VI, the first step in the House of York’s plan to defeat the House of Lancaster usurper King Henry VII and his followers?

Harkin works judiciously to take scales of doubt off our eyes and make us question history’s version of Lambert Simnel because isn’t history filled with falsehoods? Everyone knows the victor gets the spoils, but don’t victors also get to write their own histories? Since Lambert wasn’t the victor, could King Henry VII have reduced him to a mere footnote in the annals of English kings?

“The Pretender” is filled with action, murder, blasphemy, cruelty, sex, love, adultery, scheming, and much, much more. As Lambert Simnel’s story is told, readers will have a new and far more expansive view of his time and place in history before and after The Wars of the Roses. Who will you stand for? Lambert, and the White Rose of York, or Henry and the Red Rose of Lancaster?

Recommended for Adults.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this as I was expecting a slow historical fiction book, and this turned out to be rather fast paced and suspenseful while still holding on to its literary merit and not falling pray to the typical historical fiction chick dramas the writing was intelligent and concise And the characters were realistic and endearing, flawed but yet still lovable and relatable.

This actually had excellent pacing and hooked me from the very beginning and did not let go of me till the very end, I was delighted by the twist and surprises that I got from this while still getting the feel of a literary novel. Highly recommend!

Very Meet!

In this engaging historical coming-of-age tale, Harkin transforms an audacious premise – a farm boy discovered to be England's legitimate heir – into an intimate exploration of identity and power. While the early chapters move slowly through an 11-year-old's limited perspective, the narrative soon hits its stride, blossoming into a sharp and witty adventure. The novel reaches its peak during a brilliant sojourn in Ireland, where vibrant characters and sparkling dialogue showcase Harkin's talent for breathing life into historical fiction and introducing the reader to Old English slang with fevor.

Though the deliberate pacing of the opening chapters might test some readers' patience, those who persist will find a remarkably rich story that balances political intrigue with genuine heart. Harkin proves particularly skilled at capturing a child's gradual awakening to the adult world, making "The Pretender" a refreshing addition to historical fiction.

intriguing book filled with great twists and discussing a very interesting historical figure. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

At the outset, the Pretender's name is John Collan, a young boy on a farm, until he is taken away and given a new name, Lambert Simons, as he was sent to Oxford and trained to be a gentleman, until his next name was revealed to be Edward Earl of Warwick and his destiny the throne! But captured as king languishes in obscurity as Lambert Simnel, and then John Crossey at story's end. The great mystery pursued throughout is, what was the name of the Pretender at birth; was he royalty or was he nobody?

I love historical fiction, whether it's the plodding kind that adheres to historical record, full of citations and footnotes evidencing righteous rigorous research; or the speculative kind playing fast and loose with artistic license yielding a rip-roaring rollicking read full of action and drama with the occasional historical touchstone. For me this Advanced Readers Copy of The Pretender was confusing, I hope the final version will have an Author's Forward or Afterward. Another factor was that the dialogue seemed somewhat authentic to the period (late 1400s), but not consistently and it seemed to become more profane as the book progressed. This book is long at nearly 500 pages, and aside from all the twists and turns of history covered, there are masses of major and minor characters from each of the Pretender's various phases plus foreign royal lineages to boot. I think too many for me to keep track of, for such a long time. I did love the plot and premise: a farm boy learning to become a prince, how much splendor is too much splendor, and the very embodiment of loss.

I took a little reading break after I had my baby and this was an ambitious first book back, but I really loved it! I love the short chapters and point of view from the main character who is a child, which I usually don’t like. The concept of this felt very cool and like I was reading true historical fiction.

This book was quite an undertaking. It is heavy with Middle English words, some not available on my Kindle dictionary, but I eventually gave up trying to find meanings and just floated along with the story. If you love English history, I guarantee you will love this. I am giving five stars because I enjoyed my e-copy enough to look forward to buying the hardbound when it comes out to reread, perhaps with a Middle English glossary and cast of characters at my side.

The story involves a young boy, Lambert Simnel (a true character in English history), who was taken from his country home and trained to pass as the secretly hidden son of Clarence, the brother of slain Richard III, in a claim to the throne. Not a whole lot is actually known about the real Lambert (one of the names he was given during the deception) but many of the peripheral players are well-known in history, and it all comes together in an intriguing read. Props to the author for bringing life to this boy in a very well-written book. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

How does one live when nothing is certain, with no firm ground?

History, Edward realized, is not what happened, but what some historians lied or guessed about, “and now nobody knows what’s true.” Edward has the same questions about the truth of his own identity and history. Is he a farmer’s son? Or heir to the throne?

He was ten years old when several splendid men came to the farm and took him away to be educated. His name went from John Collan to Lambert Simons. Then, he became Edward, Duke of Clarence, rightful heir to the throne. After the failed Yorkist takeover, he became Simnel, a servant in King Henry’s court. And finally, be was John Crossley, hopefully a world traveler.

It was a hard and lonely life, constantly losing his identity and family. He learned to live in high society by error and imitation. He enjoyed books and a Classical education, but learning who to trust was harder than Latin. He had no control over his own life, and when he fell in love, it brought only separation and loss.

When the Yorkist plot to put him on the throne failed, he was forgiven by the king who knew he was a helpless pawn, and put to work in the kitchen. He rose in favor and was elevated–to be a spy for the king, reporting those who plotted against him.

In the end, the young man had lost everything but his desire for revenge, determined to punish those who had lied to him, used him, took away his identity, and separated him from those he loved.

What a fantastic novel! The transformation of the boy into a young man meting out justice is expertly handled. There is humor and darkness, history and fiction, a splendid innocent encountering the treacherous world of politics and court intrigue. And eternal love, even if built on an uncertain foundation.

This is a must-read for readers of the highest order of historical fiction.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book.

The Pretender is a historical fiction novel that delves into the intriguing life of Lambert Simnel, a young boy thrust into a tumultuous political landscape. Raised as a commoner, Simnel is unexpectedly revealed as the rightful heir to the English throne, a claim that sets him on a perilous path.

As the story unfolds, we follow Simnel's journey from obscurity to a pawn in a dangerous political game. He grapples with his newfound identity, torn between his humble beginnings and his royal destiny. The novel explores themes of ambition, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of power.

With vivid characters and a rich historical backdrop, "The Pretender" offers a captivating tale of a young man caught in the whirlwind of a turbulent era.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley and thank them very much. This book is one of the best works of historical fiction I’ve read in years. It’s sweeping in scope and beautifully written in keeping with the times of Henry VII, 1480s England. Our protagonist, Lambert Simnel, is someone I came to love over the course of reading this book. I adored the author’s prose, imbued with so much humor and honesty. Simnel goes through many iterations and evolutions in the course of his life portrayed in this book, beginning with his humble beginnings and following him through the years. He’s used as a pawn but manages to keep his core self true, albeit with sacrifices along the way. I definitely recommend.

I first want to thank Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, as well as NetGalley for providing me a copy of The Pretender for review.

I’m not going to beat around the bush. This is a phenomenal piece of historical fiction. The Pretender is a fictionalized account of Lambert Simnel, a pretender to the English throne. While the Simnel Rebellion is a well-enough known historical event during which the House of York attempted to regain power after Henry VII (House of Lancaster) assumed power, the actual life of Lambert Simnel is not a story that is often brought to light.

I think that there are many things about this work to applaud, but I will begin with how utterly detailed this text is. Aside from a plethora of references to medieval texts and obscurity from the 15th century, the language itself draws on a number of phrases that originate in Chaucer, Margery Kempe, Langland, and Ovid. It is the small textual details like this that really place the reader in that good ol’ fashion 15th-century mindset.

I also think that the style of writing is quite unique in that it combines deeply political, societal, and social issues with a very modern sense of humor. Let it be known that this book is deeply funny in an oblique way. If the sort of wry humor intrinsic to BBC originals isn’t your thing, this book might also not be your thing.

The one thing that I would possibly complain about is the fact that there were a few sections that *felt* long to me. I think that might just be a necessity of the book because it tries to encapsulate like 60 years of political turmoil in England and needs the context. That being said, I am fully aware of the irony of me loving how detailed this book is while also commenting that it felt long in some places. There is also a real possibility that it felt long at times because I would pick up the book before going to bed which resulted in me rereading multiple passages as I was staving off sleep. I will also warn you that there are a lot of characters, so if you happen to struggle with following along with upwards of 20 characters, you might get lost.

As for The Pretender’s place within the historical fiction canon, I think that this far exceeds my expectations. While the narrative takes liberties, the subject, Lambert Simnel, is not a figure who has too much information readily available about him (like, for a TOTALLY random example, Shakespeare) which makes the storytelling feasible and not super reparative or conspiratorial (once again, this is a completely chance and not at all deliberate choice of words).

Overall, I think that this is a great narrative of John, Lambert, Edward, and Simnel, and I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is invested in the eras of the Houses of York and Tudor. I am very excited to see the reviews of this book before its publication in April 2025!

5/5

After a school trip to the British Isles during the previous summer, I thought this might be interesting reading for students willing to learn more about England. For me personally, I think this title, about a Yorkist plot to keep a Plantagenet on the throne, is spectacular, very close to a 5-star book. I though the writing was well done and the story kept me interested. However, for my high school students, I think this is a 3-star book at best. I think there are parts of the story that are a bit slow. I also think the use of period language will hamper the interest of young readers. I am afraid those two factors would result in DNFs for most young readers. As a result, I will split the difference and call this a 4-star read: great for some and average for others.

Special thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

What a great historical read. If you are into historical fiction, please read this book. Its fantastic! A young child is thrown into a life not yet ready for filled with betrayal and vengeance and we are there every step of the way with him.

If you love books rich with history, I would pick this one up.

Oh my lord, what a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. I had such a great time reading this novel. It was a bit of a dizzying start, but it was phenomenal once I got settled into the voice. I look forward to talking this novel up to customers when it's published.

Lambert Simnel really gets the worst of it. We follow a young boy from the trenches of boyhood, where he's thrust into the role of the Pretender to the throne. Does he ever have a real claim to it? We may never know -- he may never know, and that's the best part. We're always on an uneven playing field with him, and we experience every heartache with him. There's this tug on the heartstrings that reminds me of when I fell in love with Dickens' Sydney Carton, and it drove me to devour this book.

Jo Harkin crafts such a wildly relatable character for someone who is so out of reach and actually unrelatable, and we love him all the more for it. If you love historical fiction, please give this a try. I can't express how much fun this was.

I flew through this book! I really enjoyed this story! It was funny at times and you fall in love with the main character. Great novel!

The Pretender by Jo Harkin is an enthralling historical novel that reimagines the story of Lambert Simnel, one of the lesser-known figures in England’s tumultuous history. The book takes you on a journey through the intricacies of royal power plays, betrayal, and the personal struggle of a young man thrust into a world where his identity is constantly questioned. Harkin does an excellent job of blending historical events with a gripping narrative, making the complex politics of the time accessible and engaging.

What I loved most was the character depth—Simnel isn’t just a pawn in a historical drama; he’s a fully fleshed-out character with real emotional struggles. The writing is rich, though it can be slow in some places, but it’s totally worth it for anyone who loves historical fiction with lots of heart. Overall, a captivating and immersive read that left me thinking long after I finished. Rating: 4 stars.

The Pretender imagines the story of Lambert Simnel, a pretender to the throne of England and a threat to the newly established reign of Henry VII. He was the figurehead of a Yorkist rebellion against the House of Tudor.

The story begins in 1480s England with John growing up in a village, believing that his father is Will Collan, but everything changes when he is told that a rich man wants to pay for him to study.

When the rich man arrives, he’s accompanied by a younger man and introduced as Maister Richard Simons, a scholar and priest, who is to take over John’s education. Not only that, Maister Richard informs John that he was John Collan, and now, he is Lambert Simnel – something that, of course, makes no sense to John. It is then explained that he is actually the son of George, the Duke of Clarence. By title, he is the earl of Warwick, meaning next in line to the throne. Nothing makes sense to the boy who thinks of himself as a peasant.

Oxford becomes his new home, but it’s far from feeling like the house he knew and misses. In exchange for this new life, he is told that he has a larger purpose.

Maister Richard is responsible for teaching the boy about history and courtly manners. Alongside his studies, he learns about the current situation involving the Tudor pretender to the throne, Breton Henry, as the unpopular King Richard faces pressure from those who wish to replace him. The boy may not understand all the scheming, but he does understand that he doesn’t want to be the next in line to be struck down from the throne. So he prays for Richard to stay long on the throne.

As power shifts like the wind amid political machinations, Lambert struggles with his identity and destiny. Is he a peasant boy or son of a duke? The changes in his name to protect him only create further confusion.

Written poignantly with literary prose, The Pretender explores the struggle of a young man whose identity becomes a pawn in the hands of ambitious men. These men, driven by political intrigues, tensions, constant scheming, and chaos, make it even harder for Lambert to find his footing. When he finally finds love, giving him a sense of stability, it, too, is shaken. Thus, The Pretender portrays a man who constantly questions his own identity.

The Pretender masterfully captures the mysterious figure of a peasant boy who claimed to be an heir to the throne, weaving a narrative filled with heartache, humor, conflicting loyalties, and the struggle of self-identity.

The story is written with such style that it takes a moment to get into it. There is crass humor and sexual escapades. The story has some slow moments and some highly engaging.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Pretender by Jo Harkin is a sweeping, rich piece of historical fiction that spans the social hierarchy from peasant farmers to kings. Following a little-remembered historical figure of Lambert Simnel, the rumored pretender son of the Earl of Warwick. His real life is somewhat brushed over, remembered in passing, and Harkin fills in the gap with vibrant details, intrigue, and a cast or characters that propel the story along.

Something that was particularly masterful about this was that for historical fiction, the book never veered into the glaring anachronism. There was never a weird reference to a technology that didn’t exist or a totally socially inappropriate engagement. The usage of 1480s terminology blended seamlessly with modern English and created a readable but atmospheric language.

The thing that I personally enjoyed the most was that although the narration was in third person, it was privy to Lambert/John/Edward’s personal thoughts and was able to make wonderful asides. The side comments were excellent in giving emotion and injections of humor into the narrative.

The whole story, while a detailed historical fiction, is not as much just a retelling of a historical moment in time as it is a story of agency, happiness, and letting revenge motivate you. The through theming of identity and whether it’s shaped by actions or by the people who are around you was masterfully woven into the plot. I think this very elegantly wraps up in the final few chapters, in which the story ties itself into a a neat but still open-ended bow.

I think if you’ve enjoyed O’Farrell in the past then this novel would tick all of your boxes. For me it was the perfect amount of beautiful and compelling writing, a historical story that hasn’t been overdone to death, and dialogue that seems like a real human would possibly have said it.

A resounding 5/5 from me!