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Ugh, this book was just *chef's kiss*.

I'll preface my review with a disclaimer: I don't think this book is for everyone. If it does happen to be for you, it's going to blow you away. If not, it's possible that you'll hate it. That being said, here's why it was absolutely, 100% for me:

1. This story covers the latter part of the Wars of the Roses, when Henry VII has taken the throne and is busy being paranoid that everyone in his court is going to betray him. I LOVE the Wars of the Roses, and I'll devour pretty much any book that covers this topic. However, it's a very complicated part of history. If you find yourself getting lost in the plotting and having a hard time keeping track of all the different conspirators, it isn't the author's fault: it really was that complicated. That being said, I think Jo Harkin does a pretty good job laying the story out. You have to pay attention, but if you do, stuff generally makes sense.
2. This book brings to life a character who is given only a brief mention in history. Simnel was the face of a rebellion against Henry VII, but we know very little about who he really was. His backers (nobles who were still loyal to the Yorks) claimed that he was the son of a former York King's brother. More likely, this wasn't true. But Jo Harkin dances around this mystery in a genius way: even the main character never knows whether he is truly a royal descendent by the end. I love stories that pull one small note from history and give them more context.
3. The writing is so unique! The story is told with a lot of old-timey language, and happens to include a lot of irreverent, "bawdy" humor. This can be a bit jarring when you start, but you get used to it quickly, and I personally found parts of the story to be quite funny.
3. The main narrator is FANTASTIC. It isn't often that the protagonist is my favorite, because they usually get sacrificed in order to move the plot forward. However, John/Edward/Simnel was such a compelling character. Even when he starts doing some questionable things, you still can't help but love him. All I wanted to do at the end was give him a hug.
4. I thought this book did an excellent job showcasing a single character's growth, but in the opposite direction: a slow descent into emotionless despair. Simnel is certainly something very different from the innocent boy he started out as by the time you get to the end. The pacing of this journey is perfect, and somehow, you don't end up hating him at the end, even when it seems like his morals have been compromised. How Jo Harkin managed that, I'll never understand, but I adored it.

LOVED this book, and so excited for other like-minded readers to get to enjoy it when it comes out too! And special thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC.