The Pretender by Jo Harkin tells the story of a young boy who was raised on a farm in obscurity until he was thrust into the role of contender for the throne of king Henry VII. There is little known to history of the actual Lambert Simnel, who this novel is loosely based on other than the simple facts that after the 1487 Yorkist rebellion, Henry VII had mercy on Simnel for his youth and innocence in the matter, and set him to work in the royal household in a few different positions.

Because of the scarcity of information on Simnel, Harkin could have filled in his story in all manner of ways from logical conclusions based on 15th century history, culture and religious/social mores to something more fantastical. Instead, Simnel is infatuated with Joan who at best is a shrew and at worst is vicious and abusive. Because they cannot be together, he lives a life of debauchery where he indulges in sordid sexual encounters that frankly demean him and his incorrupt personality. The sex scenes do nothing to further the story other than to humiliate Simnel which is unpleasant to the reader who is rooting for him to have success in a meaningful life after being manipulated by his social superiors in their quest for power.

Set in the 1400s, this book is the story of a peasant boy who is heir to the English throne.
There are many characters to keep track of, but the author does a wonderful job of taking the reader back in time and living through the court and all the drama, back-stabbing, intrigue, etc. that goes along with the Tudor times.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Pretender by Jo Harkin is a third person-POV historical novel following Lambert Simnel, a pretender to the throne of England in the fifteenth century. As a child, Lambert Simnel is told that he is Edward VI of England, the Earl of Warwick, and is taken to be raised by a priest to be educated and be prepared to take the throne if need be if his cousin is murdered. Only, Lambert isn’t nobility and the adults around him are manipulating him.

Lambert goes by multiple names throughout the course of the narrative: Lambert, Simnel, Edward, and John. What his actual name was is a mystery that has been lost to time, though Jo Harkin chooses ‘John’ as that appears to be the most likely. I was unaware of who Lambert Simnel was prior to reading this though I have vague recollections of hearing about a child who was a threat to the rule of Henry VII. I’m very curious to learn more about how this plan even came about given that it looks like Edward VI was still alive in 1499.

Most of the language and social norms followed what I know about the time period, including how casually things like sexual assault were discussed. It is a bit uncomfortable at times, but I actually prefer it when historical novels are unafraid to showcase what was considered normal in the time period even if it’s horrific by our current standards. It’s important for us to see where we were so we can see what has changed and what hasn’t or has just taken a new form. The influence of The Canterbury Tales can be seen throughout the text and how bawdy some of the stories are, which essentially reflects the impact of pop culture on how people tell stories through a historical lens.

I did feel really bad for Lambert throughout most of the book. It was obvious that he was being yanked around by a bunch of adults who didn’t actually care about and were using him for their own personal ambitions, but since he was a child, there wasn’t a lot that he could do if he did see it. That he liked learning and wanted more books was a great detail that made me like him more even if I didn’t like all of his characteristics. I especially felt bad for him when he had his first love because it was just so unfair and yet there was no other possible conclusion. I can understand why a reader might not like him or even actively dislike him, but all I saw was a child being constantly fed a lie.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and depictions of sexual content

I would recommend this to fans of historical narratives following child characters and readers of political intrigue looking for a slower-paced historical

Set in the late 1400s, a peasant boy is revealed to be the true heir to the throne. But there are at least 2 others making the same claim. Thus ensues the adventure of turning an unschooled 11-year-old into a scholar and a soldier and a leader. Along the way he loses his innocence and compassionate nature, falls in love, is filled with self-doubt, and learns to survive in a dishonest and vengeful world.

I loved the thoroughness of the author in recreating the communities of the time, from the rural farms to the overly bejeweled castles of the kings and upper classes. The language used gave the feeling of authenticity but an occasional word or phrase snuck in that seemed misplaced. Still, the main thrust seems to be not just self-identity but the struggle to hold on to one’s values when lies and murder and revenge are the norm. There is a huge cast of characters which prevents a thorough knowledge of any except the main character.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

The Pretender by Jo Harkin was an impressive historical read—I really enjoyed how vividly Harkin brought the story of Lambert Simnel to life. It was fascinating to follow Lambert’s journey as he transforms from an ordinary farm boy into a pawn in England’s messy political games. Harkin's writing blends humor, history, and authenticity in a way that's both smart and engaging. Although it can feel dense at times and requires some patience, the payoff is absolutely worth it. If you’re into historical fiction with richly drawn characters and clever storytelling, this one's definitely worth picking up.

Historical fiction loosely based on the life of Lambert Simnel who was snatched from obscurity at the age of ten and presented to the world as the heir to the throne of England. In the author’s capable hands a little known figure from history is brought back to life. It was a tough time to be a king or an heir having to constantly be on the alert for treachery. Filled with loads of political intrigue and generous sprinklings of archaic words this is a story historical fiction lovers won’t want to miss. 4 stars

This book reads like a Monty Python screenplay; swinging wildly from sesquipedalian old-English into, oddly modern language.

I really had to make an effort to stay committed in my reading as it was a little dry in places. When I first started I was put off by the tone and language, but was pulled into the story the more I read and was able to adjust to the style. I'm glad I stuck with it.

There were quite a few genuinely funny moments that made me have to stifle laughter reading at night and I learned quite a bit about Tudor England and the politics around the line of succession. Very cutthroat! The fate of the Duke of Clarence was the first instance -of many- where I had to look up something in this book to see if that actually happened. (Not concretely proven in the Duke's case, but honestly I'd believe it)

I like our main character Lambert. He adjusted quickly to his ever changing life and was generally good natured and level headed for being so young throughout the story. I'm happy his story didn't end in too much tragedy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the Advanced Copy.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Historical Fiction

When The Pretender was made available for advanced reading on NetGalley, I couldn’t resist requesting it. This historical novel is set at the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the Tudor reign. The story reimagines the life of Lambert Simnel, who was used for the Yorkist rebellion against King Henry VII.

It starts with Lambert being known as John, the twelve-year-old peasant boy, who one day is taken away by a stranger claiming he is the son of George, the Duke of Clarence (killed by his brother King Edward IV). The stranger says the boy’s identity was hidden to protect him from threats.

Lambert is then sent to Oxford to get the education he needs as a royal heir. Through his eyes, we follow his journey that is filled with danger, obstacles, political intrigue, self-discovery, and hunger for power.

The worldbuilding in this novel is so rich and vivid. The author did a terrific job drawing a clear picture of all the aspects of this world, whether it is the court, social structures, the nobility, or the medieval feel of it. Everything is well explained and described. The book is also beautifully written, like literary fiction.

Being told during a turbulent period of England’s history ensures the story has lots of deception, backstabbing, uncertainty, and twists that complement the political ambitions of the involved characters. The characters are complex and multilayered, making them perfect for the story.

I enjoyed reading the story because I have enough background about many of the characters in this book. Those unfamiliar with the Plantagenet and Tudor eras should read about their conflict and the War of the Roses before reading this story. I don’t know how much I would have liked this book or understood the events if I had no idea about the characters and their historical background. If you are a big fan of historical fiction of that era, you should not skip this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

This was an absolute delight to read. Jo Harkin has taken a footnote of English history and turned it into a wonderful historical tale; often funny and sometimes tragic, and totally full of heart. Lambert Simnel leaps off the page, and watching him grow from boy to man you can't help but love him. His story can be gut-wrenching at times, but there's a final note of hope at the end that warmed my heart. I was so glad to spend time with this book and sad to see it end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What a brilliant, but heartbreaking, novel about a would-be king-who becomes a means to an end, and has no choice on who he will become.

This story follows a young boy given various names-John, Simnel, Edward-and is told that he is the true heir to the throne. He becomes a pawn in the game of politics and war, and is required to learn the rules of etiquette, decorum, and what is expected of him as the future king-all while he wrestles with whether or not he truly wants to rule. What he learns the hard way, by learning to love someone he can never be with, is how little control he has of his destiny. And little by little, he becomes harden, bitter, hateful, and a shell of a man.

Inspired by the real, but little known, figure of King Henry VII’s court, The Pretender brings to life Simnel’s story in a fictionalized, but plausible, way. It also highlights the dangers of monarchical power grabs, and the expendability of people who no longer serve a purpose, or who try to thwart the plans of conquest. Simnel ultimately ends up as a spy for Henry VII, and turns into a man who will do anything to achieve his goal. What Simnel has to go through, what he loses, and how he changes becomes a story of hope to emptiness, and it is hard to witness. Simnel becomes a casualty of politics, and it, in turn, makes him ruthless and calculating. He becomes the man he hates.

Harkin does a magnificent job of weaving together a complex tale of the British monarchy, war strategies, desperation, cruelty, and devastation. She gives us memorable heroes and despised villains; feisty sub-characters and loyal friends; betrayals and kindness killed with a smile. Her story kept me engaged and gripped. And despite the story ending the way it did, there was a spark of hope for Simnel to maybe, just maybe, find his humanity again.

I greatly enjoyed this story, and would recommend it to any historical fiction fans-especially ones who enjoy stories in the British Monarchy. 4.5 stars.

I absolutely love historical fiction/re-imagining and this was no exception! I had a challenging time digging in, but once I read a few pages, I was hooked. I am familiar with the history of this character, so I was not totally in suspense, but even with advance knowledge, it was still an engaging and enjoyable read. This author is very skilled in this type of genre in my opinion and it shows! I would absolutely recommend this book to fellow readers and history buffs.

"The Pretender" starts out slow—slow enough that I considered just skimming it or even not finishing it at all. But my patience was rewarded. Not only does the pace pick up, but you also get to see the growth of the title character, who I'll call Lambert for simplicity (he's given several names and identities over the course of the story). He begins as a fairly typical, content peasant boy, only to be told that he is actually the son of the late Duke of Clarence and a claimant to the English throne. He's sent from his English village to Oxford to Belgium to Ireland and back to England, gaining in sophistication and maturing but losing agency along the way. And when he does try to take control of his own life...

I'm not going to spoil things, though if you know your British history you've a good ideal of Lambert's fate. Except in many ways his story does not hew to real-life events, at least that we know of, so there are several surprises along the way.

For me, though, the best surprise was in watching the innocent boy's disillusionment over time—not because I take pleasure in the loss of innocence, but because of Jo Harkin's skill and grace in showing Lambert's growth. (Despite a few jarring anachronisms—such as a character referencing "teenagers" and another discussing "doorknobs"—that disrupted the flow.)

Thank you, Knopf and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book for its historical content and imagined point of view of the "Pretender". The author does a great job of capturing the thoughts and feeling that must of gone through the mind of this person as he tried to make sense of the political world around him.

The Pretender is an imaginative historical fiction novel based on a little-known historical footnote. Set in the 1400s at the rise of the Tudors, it follows the life of a man claiming to be a Plantagenet heir to the throne. Beautifully written and packed with information about this period in English history, The Pretender is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.

John Collan is plucked from his life on the family farm by a mysterious stranger who claims he is Edward, Earl of Warwick, who was switched at birth with a peasant to protect him from Richard III, who has a propensity for killing his nephews. It was time to begin his education and secure his right to the throne from the usurper, Henry VII. Needing to keep his existence quiet until it is time to overthrow Henry, John is moved to Oxford, assumes the name Lambert Simons, and begins his tutelage. He eventually lands in Ireland, where the Earl of Kildare is heading the rebellion against Henry. Here, Edward, as he is now known, falls in love with the Earl's daughter Joan, a relationship that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Edward now thinks fate controls his destiny.

This captivating story is packed with historical facts and an intimate look at life in the 1400s. At first, I was rooting for John/Lambert/Edward, but as his life choices became increasingly vengeful, I fell out of love with the character. I highly recommend this book. 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 22, 2025.

The Pretender tells the story of a young boy named John, raised on a farm in the late 1400s, who is told his name is actually Edward, and he is the heir to the throne who was hidden away at birth. Through the course of the book, John is thrust into new situations and identities, and meets many different allies and foes.
I loved this book, it was superbly written with engaging characters, and wildly funny. Told entirely from John's POV, the reader grows and learns with him as he navigates the perils of medieval nobility. Each new iteration of John brings new friends, new enemies, and more confusion as John tries to figure out who he truly is. While I cannot comment on the historical accuracy of the events of the book, it was highly entertaining.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Pretender in exchange for my honest review.

I love the story about the missing princes of the tower and all the speculation of what happened to them. To be able to read a perspective of one of many pawns used to bring the princes back from the dead?? And the chaos and struggles this caused especially with his supposed sister sitting on his throne… It was a great read and highly recommend to people intrigued in this part of history.

An interesting, yet sad, presentation of the possible human side of a small overlooked event in British history.

The Pretender is an interesting historical fiction read. Very interesting characters, with great descriptions. The settings were well thought out and took me back in time. A must read for historical fiction fans!

I like to read historical fiction, but some of it can be a little dry. I didn’t expect this story to be as witty & entertaining as it is. The writing style is unique, & it kept my dictionary busy.
John’s childhood perspective, & descriptions of his life, are charming & funny. I found his frequent battle w/a farm nemesis & his banter w/his playmates hilarious.
This is more than a coming of age tale. It’s coming of age in spite of worries, betrayals, & identities that are constantly in flux. He shoulders more responsibility than a young man should. He explains his own circumstances & feelings so honestly, restricted only by his current worldview & development. In between, there are interesting snippets of background, & what other members of the populace have to say about current affairs.
It really is impossible to not like the young Earl as he tries to find his footing & live up to expectations. That being said, Joan almost steals the show. She is an absolute force in person, or later in his thoughts. All that happens in his young life, almost seems a villain’s origin story as he enters adulthood focused on revenge. Or justice in some cases.
My heart broke for John over & over again. I kept thinking what a waste a brilliant brain & kind heart were in such turbulent times. I (& John) never quite get all the answers. Thank goodness for Beatrice & her genuine care for him as he finds his way. The book ending feels a bit like a new chapter starting off the page. Is it funny to want to wish a fictional character well?
Thanks to the author & publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy via NetGalley.

The setting: "A sweeping historical novel..." Set in the 15th century, "John is not John Collan, not the son of Will Collan, but the son of the long-deceased Duke of Clarence, 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 [the Pretender] 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. Joan has two paths available her—marry, or become a nun. John’s choices are similar he will either become King, or die in battle." John has many guises: also, Lambert, Edward, Simnel.

"Inspired by a footnote to history—the true story of the little known Lambert Simnel, who was a figurehead of the 1487 Yorkist rebellion and ended up working as a spy in the court of King Henry VII.." Phew.

And so it begins--with a HUGE cast of characters.

I found this book overly long, but...
I admired the detailed research and the author's mimicking of the writing of the time. Kudos for this. Loved the cover.

There were many words I did not know and had to look up--the overwhelming majority were of the time and place. i.e., not commonly used now] or settings not familiar to me.
For example,
ague = illness involving shivering fever
reredos = ornamental screen covering wall at back of an altar
caparison = ornamental covering spread over a horses's saddle or harness
hennin = cone-shaped headdress
puissant = powerfuland many more.

Images I enjoyed:
"violent sheets of water"
"He's nearly sixty and looks like a cliff collapes: a great height, fallen partly in"
But not enough to overide the plodding of the plot.

My new favorite word: orgulous -- haughty.

Sometimes bawdy, often sad, some humor, coming of age, betrayal, and more, but mostly back and forth plotting, plotting, plotting.

Certainly intriguing but I liked the first half [?] much better; for me it bogged down in the second half of the book; It should have been shorter!

3.5, but rounding up because of the scholarship and the writing, but not necessarily recommending; it was often a chore to return to reading.