It's very rare I can't finish a book. And I couldn't finish this - yet. Not because it's not brilliant, because it is, but because the sense of foreboding of what will happen next just got too much for me, so I have had to stop for a break before I go in again.
That's how gripping and real this book is - it will genuinely grasp you and hold you tight, while it leads along paths that feel very unsafe, with bad things ahead for characters you quickly come to love.

Tibb Ingleby is a vagrant, something that is against the law in the early sixteenth century. After the death of her mother she is alone until she meets Ivo and then Ambrose. What follows is a breathtaking account of how they escape from the restrictions of this time to live the life they want.

What I liked about this book. The narrative is mainly from Tibb's point of view and her voice is wonderfully clear.. She is foul mouthed and crude but her wit and humanity shine through. Understandably. because the book is mainly from her viewpoint, she dominates the story but we do get a glimpse of Ivo's life too. This part was nerve-wracking and I found it a difficult read.

What I was not so sure about. The part with the angel dragged a little with a fair amount of repetition. I would have liked to know more about the real events upon which the story is base.

Overall a really good debut with an unusual and unique premise. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A Little Trickerie
by Rosanna Pike

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

This sounded like something I would enjoy, a historical real with an unusual main character. I found it a somewhat strange read though, and really lost interest when the angel part started.
I really liked Tibb though, she was such a sad character and yet somehow she always seems to find a way through the tragedies that befall her. Its strange to think from today's POV how almost naive and ready to believe in anything people were then. I suppose they had so little control over their lives and families, that maybe it gave them some sense of control, of something that held order?
There were parts I enjoyed, the beginning was fascinating, and then when Tibb met Ivo that was different, I felt “with” them as they struggled to just get by in life, find food and shelter. Then the next characters Tibb meets, and her adventures, but I wasn't as connected with the story then, and the last third I really didn't enjoy.


Stars: Three, I did enjoy parts, mainly the first third, but its not a story I'd reread.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

Tibb, a feisty young vagabond with a good heart, travels around Tudor England, making friends and enemies along the way. Life was perilous in the 1500s and Tibb’s life and friends fall foul of many civil and religious laws. I read breathlessly, hoping for a happy ending for Tibb and the little family of friends she gathers around her. I loved the way Tibb expresses herself with her quirky turns of phrase, although I don’t think the f-word was used at that time quite in the way Tibb uses it.

As I started the book I felt doubtful about it but as i progressed I became engaged with the story. I was involved with the 2 characters and was hoping for their success. The story progressed and i felt much less enthusiastic about the phase when the book is telling about the travelling players.
I was pleased to rad of the complete acceptance of the gay story.
After Tibb was rescued from having been bought, I felt that the story became a bit ridiculous as we entered the phase of the angel. I have mixed feelings about this read.

Tibb Ingleby and her mother are vagabonds and when her mother's last attempt to arrange a roof over their heads ends in her death, Tibb is on her own. She meets young Ivo who is fleeing from his own demons and together they find a way to survive. Until one day Ivo leaves her without an explanation.

This book is set in Tudor England, but it is actually 100% a novel and not a historical story (just an historical setting). It's about a young girl who looks at the world in her own way and tries to make the best of it. The writing style is smooth, funny and you really do get inside Tibb's head. As always, after a while I did get a bit more fed up with a special writing style. I'm a plot reader.

And that plot may not seem so special, but the plot building is rather smart. Everyone Tibb meets has their place in the story and at the end Pike finishes each storyline nicely. I always find it incredibly clever when a story is brought full circle. So in that sense, this was a heartwarming story with a lot of modern themes and, at times, a lot of humour.

Apart from Tibb's perspective, you also get some characters from Ivo's point of view at a difficult time for him. For me, these parts weren't necessary, but they were short anyway.

Near the end, Pike brings out a 'deus ex machina' at one point in the form of a historical person and, for me personally, I didn't like it. Although, something needed to be done to end this trickerie :).

A little trickerie is an original debut novel, though I'm not sure if I'll remember this one for a long time.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

I was asked if I would like to review this book but I ran out of time before the publication date. I will definitely read it especially as it’s the book of the month at one of my favourite book stores - Backstory Words and Wine in Balham.. it is described as a unique and engaging read following the life of Tibb Ingleby, a vagrant who experiences the best and worst of humanity as she grows up on the margins of society. As fun and adventurous as it’s deep and moving according to Backstory. If you are in Balham, you get a free coffee when you buy this book of the month! I have given it 4 stars based on the average opinion of others.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike.

The story follows a young vagabond girl called Tibb Ingleby as she lives her hard life in England during the reign of Henry VII. Tibb’s mother dies through complications of childbirth and Tibb then has to rely on her own wits and the friends she makes on the road to.survive. She’s chaotic and sweary, but always tender hearted and thoughtful. I really liked her and rooted for her to triumph.

A highly recommended read for lovers of historical fiction.

This was an unique read with a main character who you will find it hard to forget. As we follow Tibb through Tudor England we meet the friends and acquaintances she meets and we witness the adventures she seeks.
Tibb is brash and confident but deep down she has a heart of gold and has a lot of love to give. In many situations she finds herself in she has to use her "trickerie" to conquer those obstacles.
What I loved was that the characters in this book are usually hidden from history and I thought Tibb's character carries you along through the book and there are many interesting themes in this one. Plenty of unsettling ideas about prejudice and there is humour and also sadness. The found family aspect is also a feeling I love in books and this one did this well.
Overall I enjoyed this one, its engaging and one I think people should pick up !!!

5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/08/02/review-a-little-trickerie-by-rosanna-pike/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Wow,Very Original, Definitely Unforgettable

I requested A Little Trickerie on something of a whim, I like to have some historical fiction on my shelves and this sounded different although I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I would say that this is a compelling read. Set in a harsh and superstitious Tudor England it brings to us one of the most captivating narrators I can recall, at times heartbreakingly innocent whilst at the same time being only too well aware of the cruelty of life, particularly for those who have fallen between the cracks.

In a world where vagabonds can be branded and thrown into the stocks we make the acquaintance of Tibb and her Ma. Unfortunately Tibb’s ma passes away very early in the story leaving Tibb an orphan with a small baby, no money, no roof and no idea what to do. The opening chapters are something of a shock and an eye opener. In fact Tibb’s predicament feels desperate with one unhappy occurrence after another, until she finally stumbles upon a friend, a young boy called Ivo.

The two survive traversing the coastline and countryside, always on the move but becoming firm friends.

I don’t want to give too much away about the plot simply because I had such a good time discovering Tibb’s story with no prior knowledge.

I loved this story and here’s why.

Firstly Tibb. What a captivating character. I love her voice. Her’s has not been a gentle upbringing. Her mother taught her little tricks to survive (mainly involving light fingers) but with Ivo she finds a surprising friendship. I love the way Tibb looks at life, she has a surprising and unique way of looking at things but at the same time she seems to bring out the strangest reaction in people veering mostly into two camps, those that want to help or protect her and those that want to own or hurt her.

This story brings to us a fantastic and eclectic collection of characters for you to love and hate. And you will really feel that range of emotions.

I loved this snapshot of Tudor England. This is quite a different view from that usually written of with the nobles and their political shenanigans. This is harsh. Life is hard for the more lowly. There is a lot of superstition and any behaviour outside the norm is not just frowned upon but actively and harshly acted against. I would point out that this story can be very grim in parts so be prepared for that.

I loved the plot, even though I’m going to avoid discussing it, Tibb comes up with a trick that spins out of control with scary consequences and a lot of tension.

The pacing, the writing and the story were perfect. To be honest I can’t fault this and that’s made even more remarkable when you consider that this is a debut.

A remarkable story, sometimes a difficult read, at others uplifting. Tibb is a character I won’t forget. Emotional, heartbreaking, uplifting. A book that reminds you of the strength of good friends and love.

I highly recommend this book, it’s quite taken my breath away.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.

5 of 5 remarkable stars

Set in the early years of the 16th century this story follows Tibb, a teenaged vagrant whose alcoholic mother has just died. She teams up with Ivo, a boy she meets on the beach and together they eke out an existence living off seafood and what ever they can find. Ivo decides he needs to get a job and a roof over their head, but when they get to the town, they witness the arrest and castration of a pair of homosexual men. Ivo is panicked by this and disappears so Tibb is on her own again. She falls in with a group of strolling players and as they travel the land she finds she has friends and falls in love with the huge oddly coloured strong-man Ambrose.. the head of the troupe, who had fancied her himself, is enraged by this and in taking his revenge sets in motion a fine adventure. Most unusual and quite gripping.

Tibb Ingleby is definitely a heroine who leaps from the page with as much bravado as she can muster, surviving all kinds of trouble which she does with sharp wit and an eye for opportunity. A devastating event at the beginning of the story helps to get A Little Trickerie off to a dramatic start and alongside Tibb we get to know, Ivo, her rescuer who is the calm to Tibb's storm and the light at the end of a dark tunnel. However, as the story travels through the vagaries of fifteenth century England we learn what it means to be a vagrant and to live under the shadow of being different. Being poor was not an option for Tibb but her stoic deliverance sees her survive in places where lesser people would have failed, and, undoubtedly, it is her strength of character which gives the book its humour and also its soul.

From the very start of the story I was transported to Tudor England which was depicted as a place of thieves and vagabonds, of ruses and trickery, of religious fervour and superstitious bigotry. It doesn't sugar coat life but brings to the core the power of friendship, the strength in togetherness and the ability to get back up when life knocks you down. Beautifully written, with a lyricism which I absolutely loved and an authentic style all of its own, this series of imaginative vignettes introduces us to Tibb's world. We feel her sorrow, hurt when she hurts, laugh out loud at some of her more colourful phrases and ultimately are completely charmed by this unangelic heroine who pulls off, with the help of her friends, the most audacious scam and does so with a joyful naivety, which is as refreshing, as it it cunning.

A Little Trickerie gives us a strong heroine in Tibb Ingleby. She is feisty and funny, quirky and as soft hearted as mallow and yet her core of steel makes her into a character I won't easily forget.

When Tibb meets Ivo on a beach in Norfolk her life will never be the same

The blurb tells you the plot so what's the story like in my view a intriguing read that takes you a lot about Tudor England with a bit of Walse. Not a great time to live if you were homeless not that nows great but even harder the cost of being caught death. For a young lady when her Mum dies she must do what she can. With Ivo's help things change then it's all change again then the climax, very suspenseful, awesomely crafted. There are 3 parts to this novel I won't give any spoilers. There are some great characters as well as the 2 centrals Ambros and Maria where wonderful, plus there's plenty of characters to hate and even more to like.

This is a great read and well worth the time. I really hope you enjoy it as well.

I really didn't think I was going to like this story for the first few pages but I am so glad I continued to read the tale of Tibb Ingleby.. Tibb has been led to believe that she is wicked by Farmer O and the things that happen to her make her believe that. Set in the 1500s this historical tale takes in the events of Tudor England. Things look up for Tibb when she meets Ivo and they team up. Life changes over the years for Tibb as she searches for a roof over her head - something her mother always wanted for them both. Tibb is different; she looks different; a better person than she thinks she is.
A very different story told in a novel way.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Rosanna Pike/Penguin General UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Historic fiction told through the eyes of Tibb classified as a vagabond and therefore an illegal person in the 1500s discover the country as she roams and soak up the history. She is a rough diamond in the raw or perhaps a pearl

really enjoyed this. It had a lightness of touch which provided a welcome relief from the hardships and prejudices that Tibb and Ivo had to endure. They were great characters and I loved the way the plot developed. Not sure if I liked the back and forth in time though, but I can see the attraction of presenting the narrative this way.

A Little Trickeries by Rosanna Pike

It is Tudor England, a place of extreme poverty and immense wealth. Unfortunately young Tibb Ingleby and her Mum are in the former category with a simple wish for a roof over their heads, whilst always fearful of being found to be vagrants. Soon orphaned Tibb, comes across Ivo, a boy also alone. The love that develops between them is not matched by physicality, as Ivo’s preference for men surfaces,and the ire of church looms. A wonderful collection of characters pop up as their perilous journeys divide and cross, leading to a thrilling stand off involving the highest authority in the land.

This is a story of strength and survival, romantic and platonic love for others, the fight to maintain hope against bigotry and injustice and the moral right to have a roof under which to sleep. Could be today, right? It is also told with gusto, raw realism and encourages a genuine care for the main protagonists.

#docs.reading.room

A Little Trikerie is so original. I’ve been spellbound, almost literally, from start to finish. Tibb, the central character is captivating. Alone after the death of her mother, she tries to make her way in Tudor England. It’s such an unusual slant on this historical period and that’s the aspect I really enjoyed. It feels authentic and it’s a story of ordinary people. Tibb is on a journey both literally and figuratively. She’s joined by other vagabond characters looking to find their way in a harsh landscape. Tudor laws weren’t kind to the poor and displaced and every day is a challenge. There’s so much packed in to this tale. I was with Tibb every step of the way, willing her to overcome the difficulties encountered. There’s a lot of humour and at the heart , a really compelling story. Brilliant and brave, I’ve enjoyed every page.

I’m so impressed by how this book balanced difficult issues like sexual assault and violent homophobia with a humorous and sympathetic narration. It had a wonderfully unique voice, and is possibly my favourite example of prose written to suit the period setting without getting insufferable. This is one of those books where I loved it so much I don’t have a whole lot to say about it. I adored the characters, and the plot, especially in the second half, was propulsive. I finished it ridiculously quickly!

What a beautiful, haunting book. Very reminiscent of the writing styles of Lauren Groff with a touch of Annie Garthwaite. Such a wimiscal and a times difficult to read book. Tibb is such an extraordinary character but beware the abundance of trigger warnings for this book. Such a unique and special read, but one which will leave you equally heart-warmed and heartbroken. Incredible, especially as a debut!

A full review will be published on www.instagram.com/thehistorybelles on publication date