Jo Harkin’s The Pretender is a richly immersive historical novel that reimagines the life of Lambert Simnel, a peasant boy plucked into royal intrigue during the Wars of the Roses, bringing emotional depth and philosophical insight to a lesser-known footnote in English history. The narrative follows young John—later known as Lambert or Edward—as he navigates Oxford, Burgundy, and Ireland, forging a memorable and complex bond with Joan, whose cunning and fierce intelligence match his own, offering a compelling interplay of ambition and loyalty. Harkin’s prose is vivid and witty, injecting the dusty historical past with bawdy humor, literary references, and a deep sense of curiosity that both enlightens and entertains. Critics have lauded the novel’s psychological acuity and literary ambition, comparing it favorably to esteemed historical works like Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall for its sharp narrative and immersive courtly drama. The Pretender is both a thrilling adventure and a stirring meditation on identity, power, and the stories we inherit—marking Harkin as a bold new voice in historical fiction.

4.5 stars rounded up
Wow, this is excellent historical fiction! I love reading anything about the Tudor era, but this comes at it in a different way. The entire book is narrated by the boy who was told he was the true Earl of Warwick, and purported to be the rightful king instead of Henry VII. This piece of the War of The Roses is not one I’m super familiar with so it was doubly fascinating for me.
While there is a lot of history here, the heart of the book is following John/Simnel/Edward in his search for identity, love, companionship, and self as he grows up and is forced to make his own way. This is truly a beautiful story, but also sad and funny. There are many laugh out loud moments in this book and truly excellent character development. The author did an amazing job here. I can’t wait to read Harkin again.

Thank you to Net Galley and Knopf for the ARC!

Wow! This was my first book to read by this author but definitely not my last! This book will leave you wanting for more and the characters and storyline stick with you long after you finish it. Do yourself a favor and pick up this page-turner!

This whole story—being a kid suddenly thrown into royal politics—felt wild and stressful in a way that kept me turning pages. I liked how messy and human he felt, not some flawless historical hero, though some of the political back-and-forth lost me at times. By the end, I was impressed by how much Harkin made me care about a guy who, honestly, could’ve just been a footnote in history.

A real person, Lambert Simnel was. A pretender to a throne, back the days when being royal meant one could be easily offed and another put up in your place as long as the resemblance was close enough to eye, ear and community in support.

The author tells a long and twisty tale, filled with many characters and IDs applied and reapplied to Lambert who was given so many other aliases as he grew into a sad master spy one needed to keep notes. Only his love for a very few people kept him going (the body count is high in this book). Simnel's story interested me enough to start digging for more. As with so many Named-Non-Royals-in-History with only a few snippets in the official record, it leaves the door wide open for a storyteller to come up with something new. Jo Harkin has done exactly that in this tale of a man desperately looking to find himself in a world he must leave to do it.

I became very invested in John Collan / Lambert Simnel / all the others, and felt all his faces drove him a little more mad (in the insane sense) as time goes by, he's harder and less the wonder-filled boy whose biggest goal is to ride his family goat (which is not the best ultimate goal, I'll grant you). Harkin's story makes one consider that real life human and how was it to engage in such risky plays foisted on him by others - he's a pawn that has to grow up into his maturity and reconcile all that others gave up to make a chance for him to climb a pedestal, but he didn't get there. How was it for him? That's the best part of this read. . .it becomes very clear that in 1480 life was a different battle entire.

*A sincere thank you to Jo Harkin, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #ThePretender #NetGalley

The Pretender was a gripping and thought-provoking read that kept me hooked with its clever twists and psychological tension. I really appreciated how the characters were flawed and complex, which made their decisions feel real and engaging. The story moved at a good pace, though a few moments felt slightly predictable to me. Overall, it was a smart, entertaining read that I genuinely enjoyed and would recommend to fans of suspenseful, character-driven thrillers.

What makes "The Pretender" so engaging is its main character, who begins life as John Collan and whose name is changed constantly throughout the novel. A happy kid on a rural farm, ten-year-old John is swept away by strangers who tell him that he is actually the son of the Duke of Clarence and next in line to the throne, of special importance since his Uncle Richard (III) has killed his brothers in the Tower of London. The clever Duke, knowing that his children were in danger, sent John to live in the country as a baby, and now it's time for him to come forth to take up his role in the War of the Roses!

John is just a little boy, and his main feeling about this is that he is lonely, and that he misses home. Even when he has been moved from the most recent place he is being held, he misses it and often wants to write thank you notes even though the people he would write them to are usually dead. This sweetness makes him an unusual pawn in Tudor-period power plays. Will he survive? When so many around him have not? Jo Harkin has indicated that The Pretender is a play on the life of Lambert Simnel, a pretender to the English throne. Simnel came to a fiery end; will John, or whatever he is currently called?

The Pretender is an unusual sort historical novel which makes it especially appealing. Harkin is a fine writer and this novel is definitely worth your time.

Thanks to Knopf and Netgalley for a digital review copy of The Pretender in exchangefor my honest review.

Relentless and distracting crudity that I just could not get past. The story dragged and the writing felt juvenile and a bit desperate. I couldn’t finish this book. It’s sad, because on paper this should have been a favorite.

Thank you Net Galley for this advance reader copy.

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, 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. Fascinating, humorous, overall good read.

A masterful telling of a little known character from history. Well balanced with character development and interesting plot, and one that kept me unsure how it would turn out until the very end. I loved the exploration of themes of identity and the question of who gets to decide who we are—ourselves or other people. And that life and emotions can be complicated—we can both love and hate people at the same time. All the while the book was really funny, too. The plot points of passionate love followed by imprisonment and revenge reminded me a bit of the Count of Monte Cristo..

Prior to Henry VIII and VII, there is a period where I know little of English history other than words like House York - War of Roses- Etc. The pretender follows Lambert Simnel,, a child who claimed to be Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick. He is told he is the rightful heir to the English thrown. I loved John as a main character and Joan

Remarkable, literary, heartbreaking imagining of the life of Lambert Simnel, possible heir to the crown and definite pawn of other, more ambitious men. The writing is gorgeous and the inner life and confusion of John/Lambert/Edward, throughout the many and drastic changes in his life, vividly and realistically rendered.

This is a very interesting historical novel about a period of history I knew very little about. The author is very good and the characters engaging.

In this fascinating and complex historical fiction novel, readers discover the true story of Lambert Simnel -- the son of the dead Duke of Clarence, an heir to the throne of England, a figurehead of the 1487 Yorkist rebellion, and a spy in Henry VII’s court. Actually the son of a farmer, John Collan is sent to Oxford and transformed into a false royal, working the court in Burgundy and stirring up rebellion in Ireland where he meets Joan, a strong-willed and manipulative woman, and forms a world-shaking alliance with her. Told in installments that reflect his different roles, locations, and experiences, this book is a fascinating study of the malleability of identity in a complicated and dangerous time period, and Tudor fans (particularly ones who like Hilary Mantel’s books) will really enjoy this complex and intricate new book. The characters are absolutely fascinating and the stars of the book, and their interactions are particularly interesting because the interactions are so complex and layered. With high stakes and complex characters, Jo Harkin has packed this book with a ton of historical and fictional details, and readers will love the depth of information and the tension between the characters in this intense and unique new historical fiction novel.

The Pretender is a witty, well-written historical fiction novel based on the little-known story of Lambert Simnel, who was a figurehead of the 1487 Yorkist rebellion who later becomes a spy in Henry VII’s court.

The language is a treat—rich with old-fashioned words like “astonied” and “affray”; I haven’t heard “affray” used outside of legal pleadings and courtrooms these days. Simnel is a charming, naïve narrator, and his scenes with Joan are the highlight of the story.

The audiobook is excellent, with great accents and delivery. I switched between formats and couldn’t stop until I was finished. This is a work of historical fiction, but I was a little disappointed that there weren’t any author’s notes or historical notes to give historical context to the story.

I recommend this clever and compelling read to historical fiction lovers. If you enjoyed Hamnet or A Tip for the Hangman, give The Pretender a try.

One of my best reads of 2025 so far - The Pretender immediately draws you into the world of Lambert Simnel - or is it John Collan? Or is he Edward Plantagenet? Pulled from humble origins, John Collan is taken from the family farm and told that all along, he has been the son of the Duke of Clarence, hidden from his uncles - Kings Edward and subsequently, Richard - during a rebellion against the crown. Is he the King rightly returned to his throne, or a poor boy sold off by his family to opportunists? Our protagonist's name and true origins remain murky, but his personality leaps off every page, as he journeys from peasant to royal pawn to prisoner to spy. The Pretender is like Wolf Hall's unruly younger brother - with court intrigue to navigate and peril always hovering in the background, but also humor and love. Cannot recommend enough.

This book was an entertaining new point of view on a time period that I know so well. Though he ends up going by many names throughout the book, protagonist John Collan witnesses or at least is influenced by the end of the War of the Roses as he makes his ascent from local farm boy to pretender to the throne.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is obsessed with that period of time as it highlights a lesser known side of things and gives insight into the day to day people's perspectives on the Plantagenet clash of kings.

The Pretender tells the little-known true story of (John) Lambert Simnel. Simnel is living as a farmer's boy when 2 men suddenly take him from the only life he has known. They inform him that he is really Edward Plantagenet, the Earl of Warwick and will rightfully be put on the throne as King of England.
The subsequent rebellion is not successful, and King Henry VII eventually imprisons or executes all those involved. However, due to Simnel's young age, he is pardoned and made to work in the royal kitchens. He later becomes a falconer. Very little is known about his life during and after this time. The Pretender grants us a glimpse into the reimagining of Simnels life. The author does a great job of highlighting Simnels many transformations, his search for who he really is and how to live within the constant power struggle of court politics. I loved this book and was riveted from beginning to end! I received a complimentary e-book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved reading this book. Historical fiction centred around the Yorkist attempt to prop up the long-lost son of the Duke of Clarence against Henry Tudor. There is no dearth of novels written about the War of the Roses and the Tudors. What sets this apart is the fresh plot angle I hadn't read much about earlier. I absolutely loved the author's writing style. The candid, witty dialogue was hilarious in parts. Reminded me a lot about Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall. This is also a coming of age story poignantly told as also a story of unrequited love. Totally recommend for fans of historical fiction.

Thank You Knopf Publishing Group for the ARC

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book. Unfortunately, it took a long time to get through with all of the little details. I would have to go back to reread sections as I thought I missed something. I unfortunately dnf this book as it was not as enjoyable as it seemed through the description.