The Pretender by Jo Harkin was an impressive historical read—I really enjoyed how vividly Harkin brought the story of Lambert Simnel to life. It was fascinating to follow Lambert’s journey as he transforms from an ordinary farm boy into a pawn in England’s messy political games. Harkin's writing blends humor, history, and authenticity in a way that's both smart and engaging. Although it can feel dense at times and requires some patience, the payoff is absolutely worth it. If you’re into historical fiction with richly drawn characters and clever storytelling, this one's definitely worth picking up.

Historical fiction loosely based on the life of Lambert Simnel who was snatched from obscurity at the age of ten and presented to the world as the heir to the throne of England. In the author’s capable hands a little known figure from history is brought back to life. It was a tough time to be a king or an heir having to constantly be on the alert for treachery. Filled with loads of political intrigue and generous sprinklings of archaic words this is a story historical fiction lovers won’t want to miss. 4 stars

This book reads like a Monty Python screenplay; swinging wildly from sesquipedalian old-English into, oddly modern language.

I really had to make an effort to stay committed in my reading as it was a little dry in places. When I first started I was put off by the tone and language, but was pulled into the story the more I read and was able to adjust to the style. I'm glad I stuck with it.

There were quite a few genuinely funny moments that made me have to stifle laughter reading at night and I learned quite a bit about Tudor England and the politics around the line of succession. Very cutthroat! The fate of the Duke of Clarence was the first instance -of many- where I had to look up something in this book to see if that actually happened. (Not concretely proven in the Duke's case, but honestly I'd believe it)

I like our main character Lambert. He adjusted quickly to his ever changing life and was generally good natured and level headed for being so young throughout the story. I'm happy his story didn't end in too much tragedy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the Advanced Copy.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Historical Fiction

When The Pretender was made available for advanced reading on NetGalley, I couldn’t resist requesting it. This historical novel is set at the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the Tudor reign. The story reimagines the life of Lambert Simnel, who was used for the Yorkist rebellion against King Henry VII.

It starts with Lambert being known as John, the twelve-year-old peasant boy, who one day is taken away by a stranger claiming he is the son of George, the Duke of Clarence (killed by his brother King Edward IV). The stranger says the boy’s identity was hidden to protect him from threats.

Lambert is then sent to Oxford to get the education he needs as a royal heir. Through his eyes, we follow his journey that is filled with danger, obstacles, political intrigue, self-discovery, and hunger for power.

The worldbuilding in this novel is so rich and vivid. The author did a terrific job drawing a clear picture of all the aspects of this world, whether it is the court, social structures, the nobility, or the medieval feel of it. Everything is well explained and described. The book is also beautifully written, like literary fiction.

Being told during a turbulent period of England’s history ensures the story has lots of deception, backstabbing, uncertainty, and twists that complement the political ambitions of the involved characters. The characters are complex and multilayered, making them perfect for the story.

I enjoyed reading the story because I have enough background about many of the characters in this book. Those unfamiliar with the Plantagenet and Tudor eras should read about their conflict and the War of the Roses before reading this story. I don’t know how much I would have liked this book or understood the events if I had no idea about the characters and their historical background. If you are a big fan of historical fiction of that era, you should not skip this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

This was an absolute delight to read. Jo Harkin has taken a footnote of English history and turned it into a wonderful historical tale; often funny and sometimes tragic, and totally full of heart. Lambert Simnel leaps off the page, and watching him grow from boy to man you can't help but love him. His story can be gut-wrenching at times, but there's a final note of hope at the end that warmed my heart. I was so glad to spend time with this book and sad to see it end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What a brilliant, but heartbreaking, novel about a would-be king-who becomes a means to an end, and has no choice on who he will become.

This story follows a young boy given various names-John, Simnel, Edward-and is told that he is the true heir to the throne. He becomes a pawn in the game of politics and war, and is required to learn the rules of etiquette, decorum, and what is expected of him as the future king-all while he wrestles with whether or not he truly wants to rule. What he learns the hard way, by learning to love someone he can never be with, is how little control he has of his destiny. And little by little, he becomes harden, bitter, hateful, and a shell of a man.

Inspired by the real, but little known, figure of King Henry VII’s court, The Pretender brings to life Simnel’s story in a fictionalized, but plausible, way. It also highlights the dangers of monarchical power grabs, and the expendability of people who no longer serve a purpose, or who try to thwart the plans of conquest. Simnel ultimately ends up as a spy for Henry VII, and turns into a man who will do anything to achieve his goal. What Simnel has to go through, what he loses, and how he changes becomes a story of hope to emptiness, and it is hard to witness. Simnel becomes a casualty of politics, and it, in turn, makes him ruthless and calculating. He becomes the man he hates.

Harkin does a magnificent job of weaving together a complex tale of the British monarchy, war strategies, desperation, cruelty, and devastation. She gives us memorable heroes and despised villains; feisty sub-characters and loyal friends; betrayals and kindness killed with a smile. Her story kept me engaged and gripped. And despite the story ending the way it did, there was a spark of hope for Simnel to maybe, just maybe, find his humanity again.

I greatly enjoyed this story, and would recommend it to any historical fiction fans-especially ones who enjoy stories in the British Monarchy. 4.5 stars.

I absolutely love historical fiction/re-imagining and this was no exception! I had a challenging time digging in, but once I read a few pages, I was hooked. I am familiar with the history of this character, so I was not totally in suspense, but even with advance knowledge, it was still an engaging and enjoyable read. This author is very skilled in this type of genre in my opinion and it shows! I would absolutely recommend this book to fellow readers and history buffs.

"The Pretender" starts out slow—slow enough that I considered just skimming it or even not finishing it at all. But my patience was rewarded. Not only does the pace pick up, but you also get to see the growth of the title character, who I'll call Lambert for simplicity (he's given several names and identities over the course of the story). He begins as a fairly typical, content peasant boy, only to be told that he is actually the son of the late Duke of Clarence and a claimant to the English throne. He's sent from his English village to Oxford to Belgium to Ireland and back to England, gaining in sophistication and maturing but losing agency along the way. And when he does try to take control of his own life...

I'm not going to spoil things, though if you know your British history you've a good ideal of Lambert's fate. Except in many ways his story does not hew to real-life events, at least that we know of, so there are several surprises along the way.

For me, though, the best surprise was in watching the innocent boy's disillusionment over time—not because I take pleasure in the loss of innocence, but because of Jo Harkin's skill and grace in showing Lambert's growth. (Despite a few jarring anachronisms—such as a character referencing "teenagers" and another discussing "doorknobs"—that disrupted the flow.)

Thank you, Knopf and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book for its historical content and imagined point of view of the "Pretender". The author does a great job of capturing the thoughts and feeling that must of gone through the mind of this person as he tried to make sense of the political world around him.

The Pretender is an imaginative historical fiction novel based on a little-known historical footnote. Set in the 1400s at the rise of the Tudors, it follows the life of a man claiming to be a Plantagenet heir to the throne. Beautifully written and packed with information about this period in English history, The Pretender is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.

John Collan is plucked from his life on the family farm by a mysterious stranger who claims he is Edward, Earl of Warwick, who was switched at birth with a peasant to protect him from Richard III, who has a propensity for killing his nephews. It was time to begin his education and secure his right to the throne from the usurper, Henry VII. Needing to keep his existence quiet until it is time to overthrow Henry, John is moved to Oxford, assumes the name Lambert Simons, and begins his tutelage. He eventually lands in Ireland, where the Earl of Kildare is heading the rebellion against Henry. Here, Edward, as he is now known, falls in love with the Earl's daughter Joan, a relationship that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Edward now thinks fate controls his destiny.

This captivating story is packed with historical facts and an intimate look at life in the 1400s. At first, I was rooting for John/Lambert/Edward, but as his life choices became increasingly vengeful, I fell out of love with the character. I highly recommend this book. 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 22, 2025.

The Pretender tells the story of a young boy named John, raised on a farm in the late 1400s, who is told his name is actually Edward, and he is the heir to the throne who was hidden away at birth. Through the course of the book, John is thrust into new situations and identities, and meets many different allies and foes.
I loved this book, it was superbly written with engaging characters, and wildly funny. Told entirely from John's POV, the reader grows and learns with him as he navigates the perils of medieval nobility. Each new iteration of John brings new friends, new enemies, and more confusion as John tries to figure out who he truly is. While I cannot comment on the historical accuracy of the events of the book, it was highly entertaining.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Pretender in exchange for my honest review.

I love the story about the missing princes of the tower and all the speculation of what happened to them. To be able to read a perspective of one of many pawns used to bring the princes back from the dead?? And the chaos and struggles this caused especially with his supposed sister sitting on his throne… It was a great read and highly recommend to people intrigued in this part of history.

An interesting, yet sad, presentation of the possible human side of a small overlooked event in British history.

The Pretender is an interesting historical fiction read. Very interesting characters, with great descriptions. The settings were well thought out and took me back in time. A must read for historical fiction fans!

I like to read historical fiction, but some of it can be a little dry. I didn’t expect this story to be as witty & entertaining as it is. The writing style is unique, & it kept my dictionary busy.
John’s childhood perspective, & descriptions of his life, are charming & funny. I found his frequent battle w/a farm nemesis & his banter w/his playmates hilarious.
This is more than a coming of age tale. It’s coming of age in spite of worries, betrayals, & identities that are constantly in flux. He shoulders more responsibility than a young man should. He explains his own circumstances & feelings so honestly, restricted only by his current worldview & development. In between, there are interesting snippets of background, & what other members of the populace have to say about current affairs.
It really is impossible to not like the young Earl as he tries to find his footing & live up to expectations. That being said, Joan almost steals the show. She is an absolute force in person, or later in his thoughts. All that happens in his young life, almost seems a villain’s origin story as he enters adulthood focused on revenge. Or justice in some cases.
My heart broke for John over & over again. I kept thinking what a waste a brilliant brain & kind heart were in such turbulent times. I (& John) never quite get all the answers. Thank goodness for Beatrice & her genuine care for him as he finds his way. The book ending feels a bit like a new chapter starting off the page. Is it funny to want to wish a fictional character well?
Thanks to the author & publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy via NetGalley.

The setting: "A sweeping historical novel..." Set in the 15th century, "John is not John Collan, not the son of Will Collan, but the son of the long-deceased Duke of Clarence, hidden in the countryside after a brotherly rift over the crown, and because Richard III has a habit of disappearing his nephews. Removed from his humble origins, sent to Oxford to be educated in a manner befitting the throne’s rightful heir, John [the Pretender] is put into play by his masters, learning the rules of etiquette in Burgundy and the machinations of the court in Ireland, where he encounters the intractable Joan. Joan has two paths available her—marry, or become a nun. John’s choices are similar he will either become King, or die in battle." John has many guises: also, Lambert, Edward, Simnel.

"Inspired by a footnote to history—the true story of the little known Lambert Simnel, who was a figurehead of the 1487 Yorkist rebellion and ended up working as a spy in the court of King Henry VII.." Phew.

And so it begins--with a HUGE cast of characters.

I found this book overly long, but...
I admired the detailed research and the author's mimicking of the writing of the time. Kudos for this. Loved the cover.

There were many words I did not know and had to look up--the overwhelming majority were of the time and place. i.e., not commonly used now] or settings not familiar to me.
For example,
ague = illness involving shivering fever
reredos = ornamental screen covering wall at back of an altar
caparison = ornamental covering spread over a horses's saddle or harness
hennin = cone-shaped headdress
puissant = powerfuland many more.

Images I enjoyed:
"violent sheets of water"
"He's nearly sixty and looks like a cliff collapes: a great height, fallen partly in"
But not enough to overide the plodding of the plot.

My new favorite word: orgulous -- haughty.

Sometimes bawdy, often sad, some humor, coming of age, betrayal, and more, but mostly back and forth plotting, plotting, plotting.

Certainly intriguing but I liked the first half [?] much better; for me it bogged down in the second half of the book; It should have been shorter!

3.5, but rounding up because of the scholarship and the writing, but not necessarily recommending; it was often a chore to return to reading.

Studying history in college and graduate school, I was aware of Lambert Simnel and his role in the reign of Henry VII. What I loved about this novel is the author's portrayal of a little known person. We know bare facts about Lambert and he was so young when he was put forth as the true heir to the throne of England. What was he like? Did he want to be King? Or was he a convenient candidate?

Jo Harkin does a beautiful job of submerging the reader into the world of the War of the Roses. Yorks, Lancasters, Tudors - it is all there. She breathes life and soul into Lambert (aka John, aka Simnel, aka Edward) and makes the reader care about the outcome of what happens to him. I loved the portrayal of all the characters and the language used made one feel they were back in 15th century England. A good read that I will definitely pass along!

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and Netgallery for and advanced copy of The Pretender in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: John Collan is an unsuspecting son of farmer Will Collan, or so he thinks. John is dealing with normal concerns, you know...like dealing with a wicked goat. Until someone comes to his village, and he learns his true identity: he is Edward, Duke of Warwick, alleged heir to the throne. This throne, however, is currently occupied by reigning king, Henry VII. Henry, who has a knack for murdering those that threaten his reign (enter the Princes in the Tower). This story follows Edward through the phases of his life and is packed full of intrigue, conspiracies, love, loss, friendship, and the constant search for identity.

What I liked: Historical fiction is not one of my usual genres, but I have been wanting to branch out. What I appreciated about this work is that although the protagonist gets put through the wringer, there is an overall humor to his perspective and the writing. I also appreciate that this was based around a real person (i.e., Simnel) and the book appeared to be well-researched. I cannot speak to the historical accuracy but also feel like it's not necessary since this is historical fiction.

Overall: Would definitely recommend for people who are fans of the Tudors and historical fiction.

Rating: 4/5

I would like to thank Net Galley and Knopf Publishing for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.I love historical fiction and was excited to read this. I was not as excited when I finished it. It was long, slow moving and difficult to read. The writing style was ponderous and florid. It just wasn't for me.

I had only read 1/10th of this book and in that span I had laughed out loud multiple times and also cried actual tears. So I knew pretty early on that this was going to be an absolute banger. I love being right.

This is the story of Lambert Simnel, a lesser known figure in 15th century British history. He was a Plantagenet pretender who actually briefly held the throne as “King Edward VI” in 1487. Very little is known about this man, other than that he succeeded in duping the British nobility and of course the fallout afterwards, but where did he come from and why and HOW on earth did he do it?

The Pretender is one very detailed and entertaining theory that answers those questions, following Simnel from boyhood to his kingship, including a colorful cast of characters who “help” and handle him on his bumbling course to the throne. My favorites were the women who played a pivotal role in this grand scheme, and the many other clever, dramatic plots that unfolded along the way. This is a rare book that manages to be authentic, irreverent, and bawdy but also so very wise and heartfelt.

Before this triumph, Jo Harkin was more known for her literary sci-fi. It’s always so impressive and exciting to me when an author branches out like this and absolutely crushes it. If you love learning about history, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel or Matrix by Lauren Groff, or just reading about people who call others things like “cheese-headed doorposts”, I think you’ll love this book as much as I did.