Book giveaway for The Pretender by Jo Harkin Mar 03-Apr 02, 2025

Book Giveaway For The Pretender

The Pretender

Jo Harkin (欧宝娱乐 Author)

Release date: Apr 22, 2025

A bawdy, bold, and beautiful new novel for fans of Wolf Hall or Hamnet! We're giving away 20 early copies. ...more
A sweeping historical novel in the vein of Hilary Mantel and Maggie O鈥橣arrell set during the time of the Tudors鈥� ascent. The Pretender tells the story A sweeping historical novel in the vein of Hilary Mantel and Maggie O鈥橣arrell set during the time of the Tudors鈥� ascent. The Pretender tells the story of Lambert Simnel, who was raised in obscurity as a peasant boy to protect his safety, believed to be the heir to the throne occupied by Richard III, and briefly crowned, at the age of ten, as King Edward the Sixth, one of the last of the Plantagenets.

In 1480 John Collan鈥檚 greatest anxiety is how to circumvent the village鈥檚 devil goat on the way to collect water. But the arrival of a well-dressed stranger from London upends his life forever: 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鈥檚 rightful heir, John 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, the delightfully strong-willed and manipulative daughter of his Irish patrons, a girl imbued with both extraordinary political savvy and occasional murderous tendencies. Joan has two paths available her鈥攎arry, or become a nun. Lambert鈥檚 choices are similarly stark: he will either become King, or die in battle. Together they form an alliance that will change the fate of the English monarchy.

Inspired by a footnote to history鈥攖he true story of the little known Simnel, who was a figurehead of the 1487 Yorkist rebellion and ended up working as a spy in the court of King Henry VII鈥� The Pretender is historical fiction at its finest, a gripping, exuberant, rollicking portrait of British monarchy and life within the court, with a cast of unforgettable heroes and villains drawn from 15th century England. A masterful new work from a major new author. ...more

Winners have been selected

Format: Print book

Availability: 20 copies available, 8813 people requesting

Giveaway dates: Mar 03 - Apr 02, 2025

Countries available: U.S.

About Jo Harkin

Jo Harkin's passion is literary sci-fi, with an emphasis on how new technology impacts human lives. Her first speculative fiction novel, Tell Me An Ending, is released in March 2022 in the US and May 2022 in the UK. She lives in Berkshire, England. ...more

More about Jo Harkin...

Winners

Brittany Smith, Jennifer Rogers, Barbara Aebischer, Jan, Devin Bogenrief, Alice callaway, Wren, May, Shana Zucker, Kate , Janet, Meredith, Lee Zasloff, Connie, Viri, Susanne Wagner, Ai Nguyen, Isabell Olivo, Jessica Kendall, Jerilyn Blackwell

8,813 people entered this giveaway

All giveaways

Giveaway Listed By

Knopf Books 630 books
563 friends