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.

I've heard a lot of great things about this book (especially from colleagues) but didn't find myself enjoying it, so I DNF'ed.

It took me several months to get through this book, which, as a lover of historical fiction, was not a good sign. I have a degree in medieval history, and I found myself getting bogged down in the details, so I can't imagine what someone with no familiarity with this subject would feel. I think the Hilary Mantel comparison is aspirational, but not entirely inaccurate. Maybe I need to give this another try.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
Not sure if they author was going for the same mentality as Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy, but it reminded me a lot of that. The events are fascinating; a king trying to keep a firm grasp on his meager claim to the throne following years of fighting and an up and coming with the right money and backing to take on that king. A good book for those who liked Mantel's trilogy, or those who like this time period but prefer a fiction novel over a non fiction monograph.

The dialogue. The characters. The politics. The humor!! I loved every second of this book! I love historical fiction, and this has become a favorite!

If you imagine that a historical novel about a little-known imposter to the English throne might be boring, the cover of this book should clue you in to ints contents: clever, funny, irreverent, and beautifully written, The Pretender is a delight. I am recommending it to all of my friends who also have a book hangover after reading Hilary Mantel and are hoping for some luscious prose and dry wit. Brava to Jo Harkin! Please write us another historical.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

The Pretender is one of those books that you can’t judge by its cover! Irreverent, clever and witty, Harkin tells a story based on Lambert Simnel, an imposter who claimed to be the 17th Earl of Warwick. This takes place during the War of the Roses and is more entertaining than anything we ever covered in history class. An original read for sure!
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this ARC.

I've not read anything quite like this before--I guess the Hilary Mantel comparison is most apt? The pacing lags in the middle of the book, and the bawdy talk gets boring after a while, but Simnel's development and the hilarious-yet-dark dialogue make this a compelling read.

I was so impressed with this novel, I could not put it down. Harkin has taken a blip in history and crafted an incredible work of historical fiction out of it. The character development was top notch, which is saying something because of the sheer amount of characters that populate the story - understandable as John/Simnel travels to different locales in hopes of taking the throne from Henry VII. And while he may be trying to take the throne, he is at all times endearing and the reader cannot help but love him and root for him.

What really did this for me was the writing style and dialogue. It was top notch and I look forward to anything Harkin writes again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title!

The Pretender  by Jo Harkin is abit if a coming of age historical fiction novel that tells a highly fictionalized version of the life of thr boy history knows as Lambert Simnel, who was claimed to really be Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick at thr beginning of the Tudor Era.

Simnel, who begins the book as John Collan, grows from a naive boy to a mature and calculated young man out for revenge as he ultimately struggles with his identity his developing morality, and his lack of faith in god in a highly religious and dangerous era.

Is he John, Simnel, or Edward? Is he a peasant, a pretender, or an earl? Does god exist when his intentions are unclear and his words silent?

The Pretender is very good and imaginative historical fiction.

The Pretender is a brilliant historical fiction novel based on the true story of Lambert Simnel, an impersonator of Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick. Simnel was a young peasant boy when he was taken away by a noble and groomed for the English throne. We follow Simnel as he is educated in courtly manners and etiquette, comes of age, grapples with his identity, falls in love, and becomes deeply tangled in a web of political schemes. The Pretender has an intriguing plot, a cast of unforgettable characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and will sweep you away to the turbulent time of the Tudors’ ascent. Highly recommend.