What an amazing debut from this author! You are immediately immersed in the highs and lows of Tibb’s life and mediaeval England. As the book progressed I was less and less able to put it down, the final night staying up until 2am to finish it. That doesn’t often happen to me. This is a 4.5 start book for me. Only because I was put off by the liberal use of foul language in the beginning and this nearly stopped me reading the book, otherwise would have been a straight 5 star. I understand some bad language is part of Tibet andMa’s character but the excessive use distracted me from the story. I look forward to hearing more from this extremely talented writer.

A fun, charming caper that makes for a refreshing addition to the genre. Tibb is a wonderful heroine!

Absolutely loved Tibb and her unique voice and how she navigates life as a vagabond in medieval England. Yes her Ma dies on her but she picks up some great friends along the way and dodges some not so nice people. Always looking for ways to stay alive and get cash, they join those who exploit the religious believers with their very own little trickerie.

I absolutely loved this unusual piece of historic fiction. Tibb is a young vagrant in Tudor England, living on her own wits after her mother dies in childbirth. I was completely drawn into her world, and the difficulties of life at the time for a poor young girl. She was a really vibrant presence, and the book was surprisingly positive and enjoyable, although having to deal with terrible circumstances. Once she finds a group of entertainers to live with, things seem to be looking up, but she ends up having to use her skills to fake a miracle, and then live with the fear of being found out. I couldn't put it down!

This book was a lot of fun. Completely immersive historical fiction with a voice that'll stay with you for long after reading. Tibb Ingleby sneaks, curses, and deceives her way around the fields and forests of medieval England and works her way into your heart en route. One of the best historical fiction books of 2024 so far (and with a gorgeous cover, too).

A dizzyingly brilliant story about stories, reinvention, and the power of found families, A Little Trickerie manages to pull off the feat of its complex language and tale of fake angels and real demons. Uplifting and buoyant, A Little Trickerie is all but a Tudor era Hustle adaptation, with oodles of charm and chosen family warmth.

A story about Toby and her fight against the laws against vagrancy and against the demons in her head. The narrative has twin tracks, one in the present and one ahead of time, which combine in the end in an unexpected way.

A vagrant's journey across Tudor England searching for a roof to call home. An interesting dive into a much overlooked section of Tudor society, with a unique voice and beguiling writing style. I really wanted to like it but as with many character driven literary novels it is very slow and is fairly repetitive in everything Tibb does and says. Not one for me.

Captivating and innovative, this is a really fresh take on historical fiction. Tibb's narrative perspective is amusing and insightful, bringing something different to a genre I often find stale.

I can see how this may not be for everyone given it's humour, which is often crude, but think this will be a great word of mouth hit this year.

Well, Tibb Ingleby and your trickeries, but you do tick all my boxes. ‘For these are the days and I should say…’that your readers will love you.
Tibb’s voice remains loud and clear long after finishing ‘A Little Trickerie.’ Rosanna Pike has created a uniquely memorable character in her vagabond teenager. Orphaned, with a new-born baby to care for, Tibb has only herself to rely on in a medieval England living by punitive Church laws and steeped in superstition. No wonder she has no time for the ‘big-man-God’.
We follow Tibb along the coasts of Norfolk and then Suffolk before heading inland. As she travels, she makes dear friends in Ivo and Maria, to name but two, but they both seem to let her down. Is there anyone she can trust? In a world where a belief in God seems more important than life itself, she learns that God is very unforgiving of difference and she sees for herself that the religious are both fearful and cruel.
In contrast, Tibb is curious, generous and warm-hearted. She wants her eccentric family to be happy. Is it really so wrong to use her talents to secure an earthly paradise?
This is a highly engaging read. The author uses her research wisely; we are steeped in the mire and sweat of medieval life whilst identifying with human desires that connect us across the centuries. Funny, fascinating and, ultimately, very moving. Highly recommended. What a wonderful discovery!
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I’m not sure I’ve really read anything quite like this. It’s brilliant historical fiction with an unforgeattable central caracter in Tibb

Orphaned and alone Tibb Ingleby must find a place in the world. As she travels through medieval England she meets a fantastic cast of characters. From Ivo to Ambrose all are brilliantly drawn and I wanted to spend time with them all - well excepting Father Brian and Signor Peroro - them I wanted to punch!

A Little Trickerie is an imaginative, often funny and always brilliant story. Love and friendship pitted against bigotry and greed

It’s foul mouthed and fabulous and one I’ll definitely be recommending to all

Thanks to Fig Tree/Penguin & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy

A Little Trickerie is a captivating story set in Tudor England. It follows Tibb Ingleby, a resourceful vagrant who forms unexpected friendships with a really diverse cast of characters; which makes for a really compelling read.
A remarkable debut that offers a fresh perspective on Tudor England and the resilience of the human spirit. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Life in Tudor England is fraught with danger. Deceit and drama abound in this addictive story. I enjoyed the book immensely. A real page turner.

Tibb's voice is warm, funny, profound, mischievous and powerful. In a time when it is illegal to be a Vagrant or to deviate from Tudor England's restrictive church or King laws, homeless, unforgettable Tibb is quick witted, audacious and brave . A series of heart-stopping events kept me gripped until the end and left me wondering why Tibb and her friends can't just be allowed to live and love without judgement or persecution? This debut by Pike is so dazzlingly good that I will definitely reread and recommend to everyone I care about.

Mix Tudor England, tricks and gambles, characters with heart and soul and a will to survive and what do you have? This fine read that's what. It's very unusual compared to other historical books read recently but that's a good thing as this is as fresh as a daisy. Written in a very new way with vignettes and scenes, this is a reading moment you will never forget.

“Superstition is born of ignorance and fear, and thrives the most when reason is asleep.”— Zarathushtra

Coarse, uneducated and foul-mouthed Tibb Ingelby grows up as a vagrant, but finds friendship after two horrible events that catapult her into the hostile world that was Tudor England. Self-doubt, her past and her ever-present Ma’s wisdom shapes Tibb and often the distinction between friend and foe eludes her. She is streetwise to a degree, but longs to belong, to have a roof over her head.
I was utterly smitten by Tibb and her posse of misfits. Tudor England in all its superstition, bigotry and religious dogma is brought to glaring life in this story.
Friendships, whether incidental and short or a lasting bond over decades are at the core of this karma-led plot. And you will be hovering on the edge of your seat and cheering Tibb and company on.
Astounding story-telling clout for a debut - will definitely keep an eye out for Pike’s next adventure!

Born an itinerant, Tibb Ingleby has never had a place to call her own. However, her mother imparted the wisdom that if societal norms don't overly constrain one, there are numerous ways for a woman to find shelter in this world. Sadly, her mother meets an untimely demise in a failed deception, leaving young Tibb orphaned and solitary.

As she traverses the fields and woodlands of medieval England, Tibb will encounter individuals who will provide care and support, particularly Ivo, as well as those who intend to harm her. Additionally, there exists a multitude of people who are willing to believe virtually anything.

Consequently, when an opportunity arises to liberate themselves from the restraints imposed by society, Tibb and her newfound companions devise an audacious plan: their most daring deceit yet. However, their ruse takes on a life of its own, attracting attention and unrelenting adversaries.

Tibb possesses a distinctive, bold voice and is unafraid to employ it. Life proves arduous in Tudor England for impoverished girls without families, relying solely on ingenuity and trickery for survival. Tibb must learn to fend for herself and ultimately, with the assistance of unexpected allies, to do more than merely exist. This tale is redemptive, inclusive, and astutely crafted, deftly navigating the medieval world while maintaining authenticity.

Featuring well-developed characters and a resplendent imagination, this captivating narrative will provoke a whirlwind of emotions, with Tibb leaving an indelible impression. The atmosphere is vividly and evocatively described, and the climactic deception perfectly balances humor and heart-pounding tension.

A Little Trickerie is remarkably innovative, playfully amusing, and profoundly affecting. Offering a glimpse into a rarely depicted facet of Tudor England, it explores themes of belief and superstition, kinship and fortitude, all anchored by an eccentric cast of characters and an unforgettable, refreshingly imperfect heroine.

And besides, home can be a person as much as a place.

Tibb beguiled me I couldn't put down A Little Trickerie until I knew how things ended for her (happily, I hoped!).
Tibb as a character was fully formed and leapt off the page with her charm and wit; I followed her journey and her own made family and was utterly gripped. The way that the characters, locations and time period was written felt so self assured and confident for a debut novel and long after I put down the novel Tibb's wit and character have me smiling. This is a novel that I will gladly re read, and, a bold statement but this is currently my favourite book of the year and one that will take a lot to knock off the top spot; a must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely incredible. I don’t usually go for books in this period, but Tibb’s original, witty and devastating voice had me from the start. This novel is unlike anything I have ever read, and I actually find it impossible to sum up my thoughts. I’ve already been recommending the book to everyone I know, and there’s no doubt I’ll purchase a print copy when it’s published. Pike is clearly an astounding talent to have created such a funny and raw debut, and reading this was an absolute privilege.

Many thanks to NetGalley and FigTree for this remarkable, remarkable work.

Tibb has a unique, audacious voice and isn’t scared to use it. Life is hard in Tudor England for girls with no money, no family and only cunning and trickery to get by on. This glorious tale will put you through the wringer and Tibb will stay with you for a long time!