Alas, this is one of the those books that takes a very long time to get interesting. The idea of a child being hidden away with another family and raised feeling like they are nothing, until they are sent to become who they always were meant to be definitely is inter.eating to those of us who like historical fiction.
Overall, a very long but compelling story.
3..5/5 stars for me. Rounded up to 4.
I received an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishing for an early copy of The Pretender by Jo Harkin

The time is the end of the Plantagenet reign in England and Henry VIII fighting his way to the throne. No easy task as enemies and traitors are everywhere. Intrigue, back stabbing, war all in the name of who is to rule Britain.

The Pretender revolves around a young farm boy, John Callan, who learns he is the hidden Earl of Warwick. When the Plantagenet's claim him, he becomes Edward, Earl of Warwick. Under this guise he becomes a spy to save his own life. Along the way he falls in love with Joan, an outspoken, common woman who has a real hold over Edward.

The Pretender can be bawdy, funny, serious and tragic. Author Jo Harkin did well in helping keep the political characters of the time straight as well as the fictional additions to the tale.

This novel will be of particular interest to anyone who seeks background on how the Tudors came to rule in England, leading the way for Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth.

Jo Harkin’s The Pretender is a richly imagined and delightfully witty work of historical fiction that revives one of England’s most obscure and fascinating footnotes: Lambert Simnel, the boy who dared to claim the crown during the turbulent rise of the Tudors. With elegance and flair, Harkin breathes life into this little-known figure, offering a novel that is both deeply entertaining and surprisingly moving.

From his unassuming origins as a village peasant named John Collan, Lambert’s life takes a dramatic turn when he is declared the long-lost son of the Duke of Clarence. Thrust into a world of political manipulation, royal intrigue, and dangerous ambition, the boy is reshaped into a symbol for the Yorkist rebellion. Harkin handles this transformation with nuance, capturing both the absurdity and poignancy of a child caught in a game far beyond his understanding.

What sets The Pretender apart is its tone—irreverent yet historically grounded, humorous without sacrificing depth. The dialogue crackles with wit, and the novel's cast—particularly Joan, Lambert’s sharp, scheming Irish counterpart—is vivid and memorable. Joan’s partnership with Lambert is one of the book’s highlights: their alliance is unpredictable, charged with tension, and layered with political commentary.

Harkin’s writing is confident and engaging, offering a narrative that feels both fresh and classic. Fans of Wolf Hall will appreciate the sharp psychological insight and meticulous period detail, while readers who enjoyed Glorious Exploits will find similar irreverent charm.

In all, The Pretender is a masterful debut—a smart, gripping, and surprisingly relevant exploration of identity, power, and survival in a world governed by shifting loyalties and ruthless ambition. A must-read for lovers of historical fiction that dares to be both clever and bold.

I was so excited about this book, but was ultimately rather disappointed. This is the story of a young boy who is taken from the home he's always known and told that he is secretly a prince. The setting is 15th century England during the brief and chaotic reign of Richard III--a time period I'm infinitely fascinated by. I like the concept of giving us more of a day-to-day story of a child outside the fray of war and court intrigue, but having him be both a political player and not getting to see more of the political play felt frustrating as a reader. Additionally, this book is written in present tense and while that worked in Wolf Hall to bring readers right into the historical period, here it leads to a plodding, tell-rather-than-show feeling that I could never quite settle into.

Jo Harkin's THE PRETENDER is a sweeping and immersive triumph of the historical fiction genre, which tells a fictionalised account of the life of Lambert Simnel, a pretender to the English throne during the reign of Henry VII. I was drawn to this by the blurb's comparisons to Maggie O'Farrell and Hilary Mantel, which are not at all misplaced; Harkin's attention to detail is exquisite, I was continually captivated by the humour and "bawdy" language (which is a phrase that I haven't had cause to use since my earliest days in literary academia, dissecting the sentences of writers like Chaucer and Margery Kempe, so truly, many thanks), and I will never not love a book that aims to reclaim the lost life and story of a person that history has all but forgotten.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jo Harkin, Knopf, and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this novel!

The Pretender is the first historical fiction that I’ve read in recent years, and I’m a little heartbroken seeing it come to an end. The story revolves around a boy, Lampert Simnel, who is plucked from his life as a peasant and raised to become an Earl, and a successor to the British throne.

Although the first half felt a little slow, I was really locked in to the second half — seeing John’s character development, losing his innocence and naivety, and finally his quest for revenge. His fleeting romance with Joan surprised me, but I found myself looking forward to their interactions together and eventually root for them. Seeing John finally have to face his grief and loss was an emotional experience and very well-written. I also found his relationship with faith and God interesting, as he was raised a devout Christian but slowly begins to question his faith, and he even turn his back on it at some points.

I’m not very familiar with the history of the British Royal family, so I didn’t quite understand many discussions of the figureheads and rules of successions.

Overall, I did find The Pretender an engaging read and am sad to see it end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Pretender tells us the story of Lambert Simnel, a symbol of Yorkist rebellion. Allegedly raised in obscurity for his own protection, to one day take back the throne of England as the Earl of Warwick.

Jo Harkin does phenomenal character work in this novel. There are compelling, complex characters. Even the side characters are in depth and well written. This is also an incredibly well researched historical fiction.

My issues with the book are solely my own I think. And that being I have read entirely too much about this time period, so I find myself bored with certain details other people may not. Overall this is a solid book and would be for anyone who enjoys the War of the Roses, or well researched historical fiction in general.

Wow. This book was a lot. Did quite a lot of it go over my head? Yes. I’m terrible with royal history and keeping track of titles and relationships and the nitty gritty of it all.
This book was hilarious and dense and twisty- a really unique take on Tudor history that I may not be the ideal reader for, unfortunately. The number of characters was a lot to keep track of and the profanity seemed a little over the top. But at the same time, I can recognize and respect the amount work that went into the creation of this incredible piece of historical fiction.

Take a little known tidbit of Tudor history, blend it with a bit of humor, and an endlessly endearing protagonist, and what you’ve got is a totally unique take on historical dramas.

The Pretender follows timid farm boy John Collan aka Lambert Simnel (whose greatest nemesis is the village goat) who turns out to (maybe) be the hidden away son of the long-dead Duke of Clarence, and who has the potential to be King Edward VI of England, one of the last of the Plantagenets. Much to his surprise and chagrin.

This is no boring, historical tome. Harkin weaves in humor and such vivid, human-based world-building, that you’d be hard-pressed to be bored for even a moment of this story.

Whether you’re a current or former or potential Tudor history nerd, this should 100% make it onto your TBR.

The star of the book is John/Lambert/Edward, who is one of the most endearing protagonists I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. He’s eager to please, eager to learn, and perpetually soft in a world that demands he be conniving and ambitious. Yes, his name does change throughout the book, and yes, it is a wonder he can even remember what he’s supposed to be called. But he truly feels so beautifully human throughout. The side characters are fascinating (particularly his brilliant, murderous love interest Joan), but it’s Lambert that I have a feeling will stick with me for a long, long time.

Thank you to Knopf and Netgalley for the gifted e-arc for review!

Inspired by true events, Jo Harkin’s sophomore effort, “The Pretender,” is set in the 15th century, at the tail end of England’s Middle Ages and during the reign of King Richard III. When the tale opens, it is 1483 and we are introduced to ten-year-old John Collan who lives on a farm with his widowed father. John misses his two older brothers who have left the farm to begin their apprenticeships, and he is terrified of Gaspard, the unruly goat. His life is upended when his father tells him that a wealthy benefactor has hired a tutor for John so that he can become a scholar and attend university.

John is collected by this mysterious benefactor and Maister Richard, a scholar and a priest (who is enamored of his own reflection in the mirror), who will oversee John’s education. John, now referred to as Lambert, is told that he is the son of the late Duke of Clarence, one of King Richard’s brothers. One of Clarence’s schemes was to send away his infant son to live as a common boy, so Clarence’s men brought the baby to the Collan’s farm in the hopes that he will survive King Richard’s propensity to murder potential rivals for the throne. Lambert is told that he is actually Edward Plantagenet, the Earl of Warwick, and is in line to the throne after the current king and his progeny.

When a Yorkist revolt against Richard’s successor, Henry VII, fails, Edward’s life is spared because of his tender years. He is given a job in the king’s kitchen where he becomes involved in various court intrigues. “The Pretender” brings to life the tumultuous period of the Tudor’s ascent, and Harkin skillfully creates and conveys that she knows this world. Her tale of a boy whose life is shaped by the whim and caprice of others is serious stuff, but it is laced with ribald humor and the whimsy of a boy whose life has been turned upside down. “The Pretender” is bawdy, irreverent, witty, and surprisingly moving. It is a first rate historical novel that will appeal to fans of Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” and Maggie O’Farrell’s “Hamnet.” Thank you Knopf and Net Galley for this remarkable feat of storytelling.

The Pretender seemed like something I would be into, but I had a difficult time getting into it. I might come back to it another time, though. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I took a class about the Tudors this semester where I first learnt about Lambert Simnel and his life, so this book was so good. I loved the atmosphere, the historical background and the precusor to the Tudor dynasty. This was a masterpiece of a book.

Oh what a dream it would be to wake up and find that you are not a peasant with low income and no ability to rise in society as you thought, but are a future king and ruler of a nation. In Tudor England, the dream is more probably a nightmare. The Pretender by Jo Harkin is historical fiction showing just how that situation can happen, utilizing the case of Edward Plantagenet. Despite a slow first few chapters, there is no worry of the reader not grasping the feeling of the time period or those who are important in it. Harkin begins George as a youth and continues with his metamorphosis through a total of four different lives, different names, different locations in order to take him to the king’s palace. With the homes he lives in and the fellow characters within them, we get an idea of the mind frame belonging to the servant, rural elite, courtiers and royalty. In addition we learn of the literature, vocabulary and paranoia in all of England and elsewhere in Europe. Because of the first person nature of Edward’s thoughts and actions, I easily learned so much detail of this time period and the rule of Henry VII. In addition to being somewhat rags to riches, this novel is an overview for those wishing to learn more about one of the Tudor eras and the players and skirmishes within it. Harkin’s writing reminded me why I love historical fiction!

I really enjoy historical novels especially those set during this time period. This book just didn’t resonate for me like I wanted it to. I felt horrible for John and how he went from being a farm boy to learn that he is actually royalty and was hidden away till the time was right for him to possibly take over the throne. His relationship with Joan was just tragic, but realistic. Two people who loved and cared for each other but due to their bloodlines could never be together. This book also followed a couple other characters in their endeavors to help John reclaim his rightful throne, yet the way in which the stories were entwined just got to be to tangled for me as a reader and many times I found myself lost.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Knopf for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars

This book was incredibly well written, researched, and planned.
It reminded me a lot of the pace of 'The Great' television series about Catherine the Great, how spitting and crude it could be, while also extremely smart and conniving.

It took me a bit to get into, sometimes books about young boys can be frustrating for me, but as the boy grew up and the language got more familiar I really got invested.

A Tudor-era historical fiction from a perspective I've never even heard of before, let alone read about. I have no idea how much of the history is fictionalized and how much comes from facts but I had a great time reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me access to the ARC!

A historical fiction that I think was a first for me to like. At times I hated the writing style, but upon reflection it really worked and I enjoyed it.

I adored Jo Harkin's Tell Me an Ending so I was incredibly excited for the chance to read her newest title, The Pretender, before I knew anything about it.

The Pretender is a very different book from Tell Me an Ending, something I applaud Harkin for because I don't know how she manages to write so well yet so differently in her newest work. The Pretender is straightforward historical fiction, telling the story of a little boy called John, who lives in an English village none the wiser that he is the heir to the throne. One day, a visitor to the village changes all of that and John's life is turned on its head.

Perfectly paced and with incredibly written characters, Harkin manages to put the reader right in the middle of the political machinations and identity crises of the 15th century nobility.

What a captivating read! I chose this book with the intention of diving more into historical fiction, and though it pushed me well beyond my comfort zone, I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. Admittedly, it took me a little while to get into the rhythm of this book. The writing is crafted in a way that mirrors the mindset of the protagonist, John, starting from his childhood. His thoughts and actions are conveyed through simple, child-like prose, and as he grows older and grapples with his right to the throne amidst a tumultuous series of events, the writing shifts to reflect his changing age and the chaos surrounding his life. It’s truly masterful writing that I really came to appreciate.

The plot itself is quite compelling. We watch “John”, continually caught in the political games of allies and rivals alike, each trying to use him for their own gain figure out a potential new life he knows nothing of. It’s a lot for a young boy, only just learning he’s destined for the throne, to handle. As John evolves into Lambert, and later his true identity of Edward, the story unfolds into a rich coming-of-age tale, filled with love, loss, confusion, passion, sorrow, and revenge.

This book is the very definition of a “sweeping saga,” and its bold ambition absolutely pays off. I think anyone who loves historical fiction will enjoy this one!

When your King (Richard III) is slain and you, his supporters, are looking for a way to make the Plantagenet dynasty and House of York last so you can keep all your lands and honors and powers, it's nice to have a mysterious York heir up your sleeve. No matter that there's already one York heir by the same name, held captive for his own good by Henry VII, the Lancastrian Tudor who deposed Richard III. (If this is enough to make your head spin, you may want to brush up on the Wars of the Roses history.)

The Pretender is the story of John Collan/Lambert Simnel/Edward V, the boy who would try to be king as the gears of court grind on. The machinations of the houses of York and Lancaster have already moved the crown back and forth between the two houses, caused lots of bloodshed, imprisonment, seen leaders switch sides, and have engineered the infamous disappearance of the two princes, Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York.

In the newest plot to regain York control, the true nephew of Richard III is not the Edward held by Henry VII in the tower, it's the boy who was placed in hiding by his father, George the Duke of Clarence, when he was very young. The boy, John Collan, is pulled from his surrogate father's house to be taught how to be a true prince in everything but name. Instead, his keepers call him Lambert Simnel. He will only ever take the name Edward when the time is ripe.

As with any of the best historical fiction, this reader enters Lambert's world, helping the reader see the lengths to which the Yorkists extended their reach to retain power, and its effects on those caught up in the web. Lambert's journey takes us from the 15th century farm where he lived his tender years to Oxford, where he quickly learns that his schooling is more torture than pleasure, then to royal houses where he, as Edward, brushes up against the famous and notorious, learning all the while that he is neither farm lad nor royalty -- he exists as a boy in a limbo, faced with deceit and uncertainty no matter which way he turns. I appreciated Jo Harkin's ability to handle John/Lambert/Edward's struggles with identity.

When the pretender plot to seize control of the crown fails, it's no surprise that Lambert takes the brunt of the punishment. It's also not surprising that Henry VII uses the captured boy to weed out Yorkist dissenters. While we readers can sympathize with the boy kitchen boy who is relegated to turning the spit in the royal kitchen's fires, it's harder to do so as he plots revenge on those who took away the few good things in his sorry life.

If you've read the Game of Thrones books, you'll know that George R.R. Martin plucked plot lines from English history. Martin fans will also know that GOT is notorious for unhappy endings, so gird your loins for The Pretender.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for access to the ARC. I am not compensated for my review.

Thanks to Knopf for the gifted copy. All opinions below are my own.

I love British royal history, particularly the Plantagenet and Tudor eras. This story takes place during the virulent transition between the two ruling families. John is a young boy living on a farm with no idea who he really is, the son of a Duke spirited away as a baby to save his chance at the line of succession. We follow him as he transitions through several identities as he is hidden from the King.

His life goes through so much upheaval and we're with him every step as he immerses himself in literature and history and learns the harsh realities of what it means to be a monarch. He has such innocence and naivety learning time and again the manipulations and guile of those around him. He fears having to go to war and have people die in his name for a cause he's not even sure he believes in. He wonders how it's possible God has chosen him as the rightful king when he himself has not heard those calls. I also really loved the Joan character who went from his foil to his love to the devil on his shoulder.

I really loved having a protagonist at the center of a political novel focused on power who had no real desire for that which was thrust upon him. I actually wonder how different the world would have been had he had a real reign. Would a king with an open, trusting heart have done great things for the country or would he easily have been usurped? We see the world slowly turn him into a bit of a revenge monster and then a worthless footnote.