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John Howard Tudor #1
John Howard and the Underlings
A fallen aristocratic teenager is forced to live on the violent streets of Tudor London. Facing betrayal, famine, freezing weather, and the vicious street gangs that terrorise the city, John Howard faces the fight of his life in order to survive and prove his innocence.
England, 1536. As the son of a rich earl, hardship is something sixteen-year-old John Howard has never known. But his privileged life descends into chaos when his vindictive stepparent accuses him of poisoning her older child. And when his father declares him guilty and prepares to banish him to France, John flees his punishment into the capital’s cutthroat alleyways.
With his fortunes turned, the now disgraced aristocrat spends his time dodging brutal gangs and evading execution in the shadows with a lowly group of exiled misfits. But the runaway young man must rise up from his dark existence to lead an attack for vengeance when two of his friends are hunted down and murdered.
Can this exiled noble save his outlawed crew from a cruel death among the cobblestones?
John Howard and the Underlings is the thrilling first book in the John Howard Tudor historical fiction series. If you like Renaissance settings, unlikely leaders, and rediscovering family, then you’ll love J.C. Jarvis’s gritty tale.
England, 1536. As the son of a rich earl, hardship is something sixteen-year-old John Howard has never known. But his privileged life descends into chaos when his vindictive stepparent accuses him of poisoning her older child. And when his father declares him guilty and prepares to banish him to France, John flees his punishment into the capital’s cutthroat alleyways.
With his fortunes turned, the now disgraced aristocrat spends his time dodging brutal gangs and evading execution in the shadows with a lowly group of exiled misfits. But the runaway young man must rise up from his dark existence to lead an attack for vengeance when two of his friends are hunted down and murdered.
Can this exiled noble save his outlawed crew from a cruel death among the cobblestones?
John Howard and the Underlings is the thrilling first book in the John Howard Tudor historical fiction series. If you like Renaissance settings, unlikely leaders, and rediscovering family, then you’ll love J.C. Jarvis’s gritty tale.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2022
87 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Jarvis
19 books26 followersJ.C. Jarvis grew up in Derbyshire, England, with a lifelong fascination for history, particularly the Second World War and Tudor England.
After serving in the British Army and later working in the IT industry, he turned fully to writing, transforming a lifelong passion for history into a career as a bestselling historical fiction author.
He is best known for the Fernsby’s War Series, a sweeping World War II saga following British intelligence officer Michael Fernsby and those drawn into the hidden war of espionage, resistance, and sacrifice behind enemy lines.
The series has built a loyal international readership and is praised for its depth of research, emotional realism, and cinematic storytelling.
In addition to Fernsby’s War, Jarvis is the author of the John Howard Tudor series and the origin novel Defying the Reich, which tells the powerful early story of fan-favourite resistance heroine Mina Postner.
When not writing, J.C. continues to research obsessively, always chasing the next story buried in history’s shadows.
After serving in the British Army and later working in the IT industry, he turned fully to writing, transforming a lifelong passion for history into a career as a bestselling historical fiction author.
He is best known for the Fernsby’s War Series, a sweeping World War II saga following British intelligence officer Michael Fernsby and those drawn into the hidden war of espionage, resistance, and sacrifice behind enemy lines.
The series has built a loyal international readership and is praised for its depth of research, emotional realism, and cinematic storytelling.
In addition to Fernsby’s War, Jarvis is the author of the John Howard Tudor series and the origin novel Defying the Reich, which tells the powerful early story of fan-favourite resistance heroine Mina Postner.
When not writing, J.C. continues to research obsessively, always chasing the next story buried in history’s shadows.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 4, 2026
Great premise but it was just the same things happening over and over and over again. Got boring.
February 4, 2022
John Howard and the Underlings is Book 1 in the John Howard Tudor Series by J C Jarvis. This story takes place in 1533 at the Coronation of Anne Boleyn. John Howard is 13 with his family, mother Jayne, sister Sarah, and his father is Robert who is a powerful person and close to the King, Henry VIII. I liked how J C Jarvis layed the background for the characters in a very interesting way. I found the story interesting from the first page to the end of the book. I don't want to spoil an excellent story by giving to much away, but, I thought the story was exciting and well written. The way the characters interact with each other was excellent. John Howard and the Underlings had me rooting for John and really hating the evil stepmother. I can't wait for book 2. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
January 31, 2022
Great story with a lot of characters you root for plus several characters who you dislike and hope they get their comeuppance. Revenge plays a major role in this story, and it impacts the lives of several of the characters. Several parts of the book caught me by surprise due to the violence. In other words, this book is not for the faint of heart. While the story includes several stereotypes, for example, the wicked stepmother, the author also digs deep into what it took to survive the harsh realities of being poor and living on the streets of London in the 1500's. I often wondered if the main character would survive by exposing the truth or by just leaving London. Fear, betrayal and the desire for revenge are key drivers throughout the story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 25, 2023
Have just finished all three of the John Howard series and they are super reads!!!! Suspense,adventure heartbreaks and friendships galore and speaking of gore there is a lot of that as well. Walk with John Howard as he is thrust out his comfortable noble niche into the stretes of London which he is in no way prepared for. No home,no family and basically nobody John has to relearn how to survive and then how to prove his innocence when the entire country believes the most heinous crimes he has committed. Excellent books!!!!
June 4, 2022
Nice read. It started off a bit slowly but definitely picked up pace a few chapters in, when the main character is forced to leave his home and must adapt to a new life in the streets of London. I loved the fact that it was historically accurate.
October 7, 2022
exciting
This book was so exciting from page to page I couldn't turn fast enough. The main character shocked me at what he Turned into a great warrior. I cant wait to buy the second book!
This book was so exciting from page to page I couldn't turn fast enough. The main character shocked me at what he Turned into a great warrior. I cant wait to buy the second book!
October 17, 2022
1536 Robert Howard has re-married and his new wife, Lady Margaret, has presented him with a son, Arthur. But the life of the heir 16 year old John starts to unravel. Falsely accused John runs for his life.
But can he clear his name and expose the guilty party.
An entertaining historical thriller
But can he clear his name and expose the guilty party.
An entertaining historical thriller
November 5, 2022
A top class book exciting and fast paced set during the reign of Henry VIII the main character John Howard born into the aristocracy is accused of murdering his stepbrother by his evil stepmother John has to prove his innocence whatever it costs
August 10, 2023
Good yarn, but some needless errors
Enjoyable read—could have used a good scrub by a copy prepublication to remove 20th C slang & resolve a couple logical flaws. Still, fun afternoon.
Enjoyable read—could have used a good scrub by a copy prepublication to remove 20th C slang & resolve a couple logical flaws. Still, fun afternoon.
June 19, 2022
not bad
I have to remind myself that the “hero” of this novel is just a teenager and should expect some of the different ways that brain works- lots of angst.
I have to remind myself that the “hero” of this novel is just a teenager and should expect some of the different ways that brain works- lots of angst.
April 16, 2023
A thrilling start to this Tudor historical fiction series.
March 21, 2025
A well written series
J.C. Jarvis writes excellent stories. I have enjoyed many of his works. His characters are believable and the tension in the plot us very well constructed.
J.C. Jarvis writes excellent stories. I have enjoyed many of his works. His characters are believable and the tension in the plot us very well constructed.
January 10, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Writing style is a little weak (dialogue heavy) but the story is fun and well-developed, if repetitive.
Villains are super obvious- could have done with some nuance and humanizing of the villains.
Otherwise, this is a quick, fun read for when you're craving Tudor England.
Writing style is a little weak (dialogue heavy) but the story is fun and well-developed, if repetitive.
Villains are super obvious- could have done with some nuance and humanizing of the villains.
Otherwise, this is a quick, fun read for when you're craving Tudor England.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews