1. In 1480, nine-year-old John Collan lives a simple life on an Oxfordshire farm, unaware of his true heritage.

2. A nobleman arrives, revealing that John is actually Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick, hidden since infancy to protect him from political enemies.

3. To prepare for his future role, John is renamed Lambert Simnel and taken from his home to begin his transformation.

4. Lambert is sent to Oxford to be educated in a manner befitting royalty, learning languages, history, and courtly manners.

5. His journey continues in Burgundy, where he is further groomed for kingship and introduced to the complexities of European politics.

6. Lambert travels to Ireland, where he is received by Yorkist supporters who plan to use him as a figurehead to challenge Henry VII.

7. In Ireland, Lambert meets Joan, the strong-willed and politically savvy daughter of his Irish patrons, who becomes both an ally and a complex figure in his life.

8. Lambert is crowned as King Edward VI in Dublin, solidifying his role in the rebellion against Henry VII.

9. With an army of supporters, Lambert marches to England, aiming to claim the throne from Henry VII.

10. The rebellion culminates in the Battle of Stoke Field, where Lambert’s forces are defeated, marking the end of the Yorkist threat.

11. Lambert is captured by Henry VII but, surprisingly, is pardoned and spared execution.

12. Instead of being executed, Lambert is assigned to work in the royal kitchens, a significant fall from his brief status as a king.

13. Lambert grapples with his multiple identities—John, Lambert, Edward—and the loss of his sense of self.

14. He reflects on how he was used by others for political gain, leading to a deep sense of betrayal and disillusionment.

15. Lambert harbors thoughts of revenge against those who manipulated him, particularly the nobleman who orchestrated his rise and fall.

16. Amidst his internal turmoil, Lambert seeks meaning and understanding of his place in a world that used and discarded him.

17. The novel concludes with Lambert contemplating a future shaped by his own choices, hinting at a self-determined path beyond the identities imposed upon him.