The Pretender is a vivid, transporting feat of imagination and storytelling, so alive I felt Jo Harkin might be a time traveller

MAGGIE SHIPSTEAD

A brilliantly buoyant, funny, clever novel ... Takes us from rural Oxfordshire to the great palaces of Europe, showing us how history is shaped by strong characters and convincing lies, while Jo Harkin's writing is consistently original, vivid, and witty. It's Glorious Exploits meets Wolf Hall - and I completely loved it

JOANNA QUINN

A brilliant piece of historical storytelling that's also gorgeously irreverent, contemporary and fun. Witty, poignant, wildly engaging, and with a huge heart - I loved it

SARAH WATERS

I blazed through full of wonder and admiration ... the writing is searingly confident, the sense of time and place dizzyingly good, the dialogue ribald and the description elegant ... I loved every single page ... The Pretender has everything: history richly drawn, amazing characterisation, humour, wit, vigour and bravery. It's magnificent

EMMA STONEX

This tale of power, loyalty and treachery is told with vim and verve - I found myself laughing out loud at the sheer brilliance of Harkin's sentences. A book that's intelligent, bawdy, vivid and profound, I enjoyed it so much. A masterful novel

VICTORIA MACKENZIE

The Pretender is the real deal - nimble, vibrant, playful, and daring. It pulses with life. I loved it

KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE