Bookseller Reviews
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A gripping voyage into the Middle Ages!
A wonderfully vivid recreation of medieval Britain, packed full of memorable characters, intrigue and bawdy humour. Brilliantly faithful to the spirit of m... READ MORE
An enthralling historical fiction of early Tudor England, epic in scope and fantastically told.
This unique coming-of-age novel follows young boy John Collan as he is swept away from his childhood home to the risk-laden life of a pretender to the thro... READ MORE
A GOODLY COINED YARN
I had to read this the moment I read the blurb and saw that it was set during the Wars of the Roses and was billed as 'Demon Copperhead meets Wolf Hall' - ... READ MORE
Take a trip back to early Tudor times
The hidden York heir to the English throne, or a peasant boy and pawn of the power-hungry nobility? This beautifully researched and immersive story takes u... READ MORE
Highly readable historical fiction at its finest
Fiction based on historical happenings can, in the wrong hands feel detached from the people involved in the world around them, however in Jo Harkin's hand... READ MORE
Unexpectedly witty!
As someone with a (relative) interest in the Wars of the Roses, I was super interested to see in which direction Jo Harkin would take this book. But I was ... READ MORE
Roistering Romp Through Medieval England
This isa a glorious rambunctious, Chaucerian romp through fifteenth century England. Loosely based on the story of Lambert Simnel a pretender to the Englis... READ MORE
Synopsis
Wolf Hall meets Demon Copperhead in a sharply ambitious, brilliantly imagined and hugely entertaining story of intrigue, deceit, revenge and ambition
1483.
The English throne is in peril.
Peasant boy and pretender John Collan is faced with two options.
a) Become king
b) Die trying
What could possibly go wrong?
Seething with revenge and machination, sparkling with wit and humanity, and roaring with adventure and bravado, The Pretender is the captivating true story of a young man tossed into the chaos of history as it happens.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- ISBN: 9781526678362
- Number of pages: 464
- Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 32 mm
- Weight: 369g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allFive stars!
The Pretender by Jo Harkin is a captivating and imaginative historical fiction novel that reimagines the life of Lambert Simnel, a young boy who was raised... READ MORE
A brilliant book
A brilliant book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Gripping , the story begins with the tender-hearted loveable John, peasant son, whose only enemy is a goat. Up... READ MORE
Cracking read
Bawdy, funny, poignant with quite a few murders!!
If you want an in depth review, read some of the others - I'll just say this is a favourite so far thi... READ MORE
Historical fiction in its finest
A book that made me laugh and cry from the beginning to the very end, I felt like a part of this world, of the political schemes, of treasons and betrayals... READ MORE
A boy, a king, a pawn: the tragic brilliance of The Pretender
Jo Harkin’s The Pretender is historical fiction at its finest: a masterful blend of political intrigue, shifting identities, and wry humour. Sweeping throu... READ MORE
The boy with three names
John the son of a widowed farmer, leads a simple life, tormented but loved by his two brothers, he occasionally catches his Father looking at him in a puzz... READ MORE
Excellent Historical Novel
A book that will be enjoyed by all those who enjoy historical novels especially those set in the Tudor period. Based on the story of Lambert Simnel who cla... READ MORE
An incredible book
An unforgettable journey through 15th-century England. The story of young John Collan, who’s pulled from his quiet life and groomed to impersonate a royal ... READ MORE
Bawdy, quipy, highly entertaining
The Pretender
By Jo Harkin
What caught my eye when I chose this book was it's description of Wolf Hall meets Demon Copperhead. I didn't love DC but Wol... READ MORE
Great historical fiction
The precarious period between Richard III and Henry VII is the subject of The Pretender. Pretenders to the English throne are shifting allegiances. Who is ... READ MORE
A book inspired by actual event.
Unfortunately this book wasn't for me despite historical fiction being my favourite genre. I found the style of writing difficult especially as it was inte... READ MORE
Stunning novel
This book has shot straight into one of my favourite books of the year.
The story starts with the young son of a farmer, John Collan. His nemesis is a ... READ MORE
Pretender
I was hopeful because of the good reviews, but am sorry to say I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped, and was glad to finish it. Whilst it gives a g... READ MORE
Verified Purchase
Very much a yes/no book
I wish I had been better prepared for the level of really bad language that is used throughout the story. I was all for putting it down and forgetting abou... READ MORE
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