I haven’t finished the book yet, but I only have 15 days left to read it and I’m at about 30% which is chapter 3 of part two.

I never really heard of the legend of Lambert, but I thought the idea of this story sounded interesting. I did like the first few chapters, so I guess I could say The story started off good. Unfortunately, after that, the story started to Drag and I started to lose interest which is why it’s taking me so long to read.

Since I haven’t finished it, I really don’t want to rate it but you can’t submit a review without a star rating. I liked the beginning but not much after. I think the story needs to be reevaluated, revamped, and edited because I would love to read the story that I thought it was going to be.

🩸 I received this book in exchange for a truthful review from @netgalley .
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The legend of Lambert Simnel is one that has persisted over hundreds of years. It's the NOT knowing. What this book does a good job of is the psychological study of a young boy named John Collan who is plucked from his life and told he is the long lost Earl of Warwick - the son the Duke of Clarence purported to hide from his brother, Edward IV. Off John goes to become Lambert, then Edward, then Simnel then...well, who is he really?
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What the book does less well is brevity. At times I caught my eyes scanning the page, lost in The Pale and Irish mists. Several scenes I felt went overlong and I could have done without the 🍆🍆🍆 being pulled out (literally) more and more as the pages wore on.
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Overall, the book shows the shadowy world in which these characters lived, never quite sure which side they were on, until a sword through the gut decided for them. A valiant work about an elusive character in perilous times, but sometimes, a work that lingered a bit too long, much like Lambert Simnel himself, whoever he was...

Review copy provided by the publisher.

This is so good, and many of you will want to read it when it comes out.

What it is: a very close third-person POV story of the pretender to the throne of Henry VII best known to posterity as Lambert Simnel, who in his life had many other names. And it does such a good job of that tight perspective. It starts with him as a little boy on a farm, with the perspective on world history that a little boy on a 15th century farm would have, without making him twee or precious or stupid. What it does with his perspective moving through the tumultuous events of his life, with the fall of Richard III and the rise of Henry VII, the uprising for which he was the figurehead and its aftermath, is a development of intimate character voice as good as any I've ever seen, and with lots of eventful historical material rather than just interior ponderings.

In the hands of a lesser prose stylist and character observer, this could have been the kind of rote historical fiction you often find in the late 19th century: here is an historical figure, his life and times, hurrah, the end. But a really good writer has always been able to make a book of that pattern into something more, and Harkin does as well as, say, Naomi Mitchison at the job. Which is high praise indeed.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm trying to venture into more historical fiction, so I was thrilled to receive this ARC.
John lives on a farm with his family outside of Oxford and soon his life is completely turned upside down when he is told he's actually an Earl in line for the throne of England, and is taken away on an excruciatingly long journey where he has many names and many caretakers.
This book was such an in-depth character study of John/Lambert/Edward/Simnel and how reinventing yourself so many times at the behest of others for a cause you may or may not believe in...…wears you down until you don't even recognize your true self any longer.

John morphs into a innocent child, a willing usurper, a lovesick fool, a prisoner, a spy, a murderer, and an explorer by the time we finish with him. You can't help but fall in love with this character and mourn with him as you see the path his life takes.
Jo Harkin is incredible at creating a character you just feel for!
Four stars.

I’d give it 4 1/2 if I could, an excellent read. Obviously comparisons to the likes of Hilary Mantel are top of mind, as mentioned in the blurb; it’s an earned comparison for sure but the writing styles and language were quite different. Simnel is no Cromwell, no one would accuse him of having an unquenchable thirst for power, but a beast of a man is borne of a tender-hearted boy nevertheless.

Switching “characters” but not POV is a very interesting approach and it helps to break up the slower-paced parts of the story. These slower sections are what keeps it from being 5 stars, near the end I found myself missing Joan nearly as much as the main character.

Overall, fairly exquisite and now I must wait patiently while ‘wroth’ and ‘dole’ fade from my vocabulary.

I was concerned about the "baudy" in the description, but it was Shakespearian/Chaucer baudiness, which somehow was not so in my face. What a tragedy this was (Shakespearian again?) for the main character. A fun read with well-developed characters and lots of twists...no one truly knew who anyone really was. I found it a bit long.

Thank you, Alfred A. Knopf for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. In the vein of the great historical epics, Harkin’s novel immerses the reader in the story of one of the more ambiguous royal figures: Lambert Simnel, Earl of Warwick. The book begins with multiple strengths, from evocative settings and beautifully written descriptions to vibrant characters and surprising twists, but it grows slower toward the middle of the novel. Some of the royal court sections can fall redundant or lengthy, and some of the characters, while likable, acquire some of this same redundancy. On the surface, the novel is masterfully written, and it is clear ample research went into its creation. I particularly enjoyed the fluctuation of the Earl’s character; his journey is one that will surprise most readers, and his multiple personas are evocative of our modern world and the many selves we become throughout our lives. Full of impassioned wisdom in the most unlikely of places, this is a master work of a novel. Thus, though the novel was not the most entertaining to me, the effort and knowledge it surely took to write such a novel has driven me to give it a perfect five stars.

4.5 stars

I am an absolute fiend for anything having to do with the War of the Roses/Tudors/British monarchy. Combine my love for historical fiction books and The Pretender had me at first glance!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Set in one of the most tumultuous times in England's history, The Pretenders gives us a well researched historical fiction of a boy who may be an heir to the throne of England and how he used to try to supplant the Tudor line. The Yorks and Plantagenets are constantly at war for power. This book gives us all the intrigue, peril, and debauchery that happens behind the throne of one of the greatest countries of the time.

The writing is beautiful and engaging from the beginning. I will most definitely be buying a physical copy when it is released.

The history nerd in me was really excited to dive into this and I was not disappointed. The plot was strong and kept me entertained throughout the novel.

A compelling story as we follow John’s search for identity amidst the backdrop of greed.

While the family lines were helpful at the beginning of the book, I wish there had been an explanation of the true story at the end of the book.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Lifted out of a hardscrabble existence and dropped into the bewildering life of a pawn in the chessboard of royal intrigue, John is in over his head. His evolution from farm boy to touted heir to the throne of England makes for a convincing tale of bloody machinations and revolution sweeping him along in a political torrent.
John’s education in reality usurps his former mean, but tranquil life, and his necessary transformation reflects the sharp edged steel finality of his circumstances. From prosperity to pilgrim, this well written novel limns the sad truth of a soul whose naivety and innocence are spent in search of wealth and prestige only to discover an empty result, offering only hope for his hard earned resilience.

Stoney Compton, Author of Whalesong

I read 20% of this book before I gave up. The challenges: archaic language and endlessly confusing British and European royalty relationships and subterfuge. The plot involves a young boy, a likely heir to the British throne, who is taken as a tot to live with a farming family, the only home he remembers. He has no idea he is not their natural son. Since other heirs are routinely imprisoned/and or killed, he is thought to be safe away from the court. When a gentleman and a tutor come for him to reveal his true identity, he is taken to Oxford to become educated in preparation for the throne he may someday occupy which is dependent upon other heirs surviving battles and back-stabbers.

The premise was promising but I just couldn’t slog through this one.. If you love this time period you may better appreciate this novel of royal subterfuge, rough manners, genteel manners and musical chairs among European blue bloods.

The premise is fun and fascinating, especially when you look up the time period and the characters it is based on! As usually it feels like the young male protagonist's development is completely enveloped in his maturing interest in the opposite sex. It overwhelms the story at times, when I'd love to know a little more detail about the training our secret king is receiving from his tutors. It was a fun read with an unexpected and satisfying ending. I would recommend it for fans of Hillary Mantel.

Wow... I want to write this review upon immediate completion of this story in order to convey the heaviness my heart feels. While the writing and story took a little bit for me to get into, the character arc and depth this book gave me more than makes up for that. The writing I actually grew to love as it started to feel unique and cohesive the more the story progressed. And let me be clear, there is not much plot in this book. That normally means I will not like it, but the rich inner world and heavy themes of different selves and the feeling of being lost while not knowing oneself really kept me engaged. This story pained me but felt good in a way because it can be relatable. And what might you ask is relatable about a peasant boy turned maybe king? The inner dilogue conveying his loneliness and detachment from different selves because he is lost is what makes him so relatable. If you love sad stories, a rich main character who does through every humanly possible emotion and Tudor era politics and environment, this book is for you! Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing this eARC for me to enjoy~

The Pretender
by Jo Harkin
Pub Date: Apr 22 2025

In 1480 John Collan’s greatest anxiety is how to circumvent the village’s devil goat on his way to collect water. But the arrival of a well-dressed stranger from London upends his life forever: John is not John Collan, not the son of Will Collan but the son of the long-deceased Duke of Clarence, and has been 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 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, the delightfully strong-willed and manipulative daughter of his Irish patrons, a girl imbued with both extraordinary political savvy and occasional murderous tendencies. Joan has two paths available her—marry or become a nun. Lambert’s choices are similarly stark: he will either become king or die in battle. Together they form an alliance that will change the fate of the English monarchy.

Inspired by a footnote to history—the true story of the little-known Simnel, who was a figurehead of the 1487 Yorkist rebellion and ended up working as a spy in the court of King Henry VII—The Pretender is historical fiction at its finest, a gripping, exuberant, rollicking portrait of British monarchy and life within the court, with a cast of unforgettable heroes and villains drawn from fifteenth-century England. A masterful new work from a major new author.

Very well written overall, but I did struggle to stay engaged with this book, especially in the middle. The end of the book was very engaging and my favorite part, but just think this wasn’t the story for me, and other people would like it a lot more.

I have always been fascinated by this story. In 1483 King Richard III of the House of York is the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty. Did he or did he not have something to do with ordering the death of his young nephews, the two princes being held in the tower, or did they escape? This question remains one of the greatest mysteries in British history. The author does a masterful job fictionalizing the true story of Lambert Simnel, a boy who was used as a pawn by Yorkists to keep a Plantagenet on the throne. Was he one of the York princes or just a peasant boy? The story delves into the machinations of both the Tudors and the Yorks to remain in power, and the very dangerous consequences for those not currently in favor.

All in all I enjoyed the book. At 496 pages, it is long and slow at points. The historically correct use of the language of the time took me a minute to get used to, but is interesting. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great read! The novel was advertised as in the vein of Maggie O’Farrell or Hilary Mantel so I requested it immediately. I was swept along with the story of a real life challenger to Henry VII, who may have been a peasant masquerading as royalty—or who may have been a long lost Plantagenet heir. It seems that historians don’t actually know all that much about him, and the author did a great job filling in the details of his life, the plots around him, and various people who supported rebellion in his name. The places and characters were beautifully fleshed out; the author clearly did meticulous research yet kept the novel from being dry and dense by writing her characters to be so human and believable.

This period of history so lends itself to novelization— the pendulum of power swinging back and forth, the political machinations, etc. The author did a great job distinguishing this work from others. It was so fascinating to follow the journey of “Lambert” (or was he really Edward Plantagenet?) as he moves from a 15th century English village, to Oxford, to Burgundy, to Ireland (a high point in the novel), to London— moving back and forth between peasantry and nobility as the winds shift. Lambert struggles with his identity and his supposed destiny; he reads the works of great philosophers and historians and wonders about his place in history. He also struggles with the study of history itself, realizing that history is, of course, written by the winners. (Reader take note here that of course the rebellion was not successful—Henry VII established the Tudor dynasty. So was real Lambert fake? Would contemporary historians even tell us if he was real?) Other than those hefty questions, there are so many funny lines and so much showing the humanity of the characters. It was also just nice to read about common people; so many novels of this time have all of their focus on the nobility.

My one complaint is that I wanted an afterword from the author about what her research showed, what we do and don’t know, and where she deviated from the record. I spent a fair amount of time googling the characters to find out more about their real life counterparts!

I highly recommend this work. Thank you for the ARC.

I would love to give this book more than 5-stars! "The Pretender" by Jo Harkin is a brilliantly written historical fiction novel that transports readers back to a tumultuous period in English history set in 1487. It focuses on the intriguing story of young Lambert Simnel. He was thrust into the center of a conspiracy as a pretender to the English throne, whose royal family claimed him to be the rightful heir during the reign of Richard III. Simnel, a boy of humble origins, is taken under the wing of powerful figures who groom him to be the lost Earl of Warwick, heir to Richard III's throne. Harkin’s portrayal of Simnel is both compelling and complex—he is not merely a pawn in the hands of ambitious men but a boy trying to navigate his identity amidst the lies and manipulations of those around him.

Hidden away his entire life and raised as a peasant farm boy (named John), he is suddenly plucked from his “family,” kept in secrecy, given a new identity (Lambert Simnel), and educated in royal life as he is transported to Ireland. It is there that he meets his love and one of my favorite characters, Joan, and where he is crowned King Edward VI. There are several problems, though - Joan herself is a problem, and King Henry VII is still in power and hunting the heads of all who claim allegiance to Edward (Lambert).

Harkin's storytelling prowess brings to life the tumultuous and complex political landscape of 15th-century England, Ireland, and Scotland with vivid imagery, meticulous attention to historical detail, and the most fantastic sense of laugh-out-loud humor throughout the book! This compelling narrative skillfully weaves together the personal struggles of the protagonist with the grandeur of royal court intrigue, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of historical fiction. I found myself fully embedded in Lambert's emotions over and over again.

The author's meticulous research is evident in historical details but she also includes so many surrounding descriptive bits that make the setting truly come alive. The characters are multidimensional, each with their own aspirations, dilemmas, colorful personalities, and faults, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative (and again - at times so funny while staying true to the time!). Harkin's prose is evocative and eloquent, effortlessly transporting the reader to a bygone era filled with political machinations, royal ambitions, and personal tribulations.

"The Pretender" is an immersive and captivating exploration of power, identity, and the human desire for belonging as you watch Lambert struggle with who he is and where he belongs. Harkin deftly explores the psychological complexities of her characters, drawing the reader into a world of conflicting loyalties, moral quandaries, and the timeless quest for truth and justice. Lambert has lived so many lives in such a short amount of time that he realizes he yearns for love and freedom to be himself, whomever he chooses to be.

Overall, "The Pretender" is a masterful work of historical fiction that will delight both history enthusiasts and lovers of engaging storytelling. Jo Harkin's skillful blend of fact and fiction creates a gripping narrative that is both intellectually stimulating, humorous, and emotionally resonant. This book is a must-read for anyone with an appreciation for richly detailed historical fiction and the enduring allure of royal intrigue.

A huge thank you to #NetGalley, #JoHarkin, #BorzoiBooks, and #AlfredAKnopf for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. I truly look forward to the release of this book to add a hard copy to my collection!