Reviews - The Pretender | The StoryGraph

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346 reviews for:

The Pretender

Jo Harkin

4.15 AVERAGE

amelie5m's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

clh714's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

raehink's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

I loved the main character in all of his iterations but this book was way too long. And the abundant bawdiness and wordplay became tiresome halfway through.

sadie_lucier's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

ccavie's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lauraflora's review against another edition

4.0

The premise of this was absolutely fascinating, and the author executed it so well. To take a character that is a footnote in history, and create a fully fleshed life for them was no small feat. The writing was witty and nuanced. If you like historical fiction, especially medieval historical fiction, this book is fantastic.

John Collan is a peasant boy, living a very simple life, when one day some well dressed strangers show up on horseback. He discovers that he is not John Collan, but Lambert Simnel, rightfully heir to the throne.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC.