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Heart-Mage Trilogy #1
A King's Trust
Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQ+
The spare becomes the heir and, on his path to the throne, discovers magical intrigue, a secret society pulling political strings, and not one, but two loves of his life.
The spare becomes the heir and, on his path to the throne, discovers magical intrigue, a secret society pulling political strings, and not one, but two loves of his life.
382 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2025
7 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
March 19, 2025
I loved this book! It was well written and unique fantasy romance.
The story was well paced and the magic of the world was very intriguing. McPherson balanced the world building, plot, and character development deftly so I never felt like there was too much of an info dump or that I lost track of what was happening.
Beau is such a wonderful main character and I really enjoyed his developing relationships with both Elias and Penny. Genuinely really excited to see this trio continue to grow together in the next book!
Highly recommend this for anyone looking for a lovely queer poly fantasy romance!
Thanks to NetGalley and Metaltail Press for the ARC!
The story was well paced and the magic of the world was very intriguing. McPherson balanced the world building, plot, and character development deftly so I never felt like there was too much of an info dump or that I lost track of what was happening.
Beau is such a wonderful main character and I really enjoyed his developing relationships with both Elias and Penny. Genuinely really excited to see this trio continue to grow together in the next book!
Highly recommend this for anyone looking for a lovely queer poly fantasy romance!
Thanks to NetGalley and Metaltail Press for the ARC!
May 4, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so close to being perfect. So! Freaking! CLOSE!
The opening? Electric. I was immediately hooked and loved trying to guess what was going on: I had those nagging suspicions that ended up paying off later in the most satisfying ways, without getting lost in red herrings or waiting too long to be reveals. It had an almost “whodunnit” quality in its first third, and I was thoroughly entertained piecing the clues together. The tension was unreal. I was literally on the edge of my seat, heart pounding during those intense scenes. By the time I hit the 40% mark, I was so invested I could barely breathe. The mystery and political schemes were hands-down my favorite parts.
But. And it’s a big but.
The romances (plural) from 50% to about 75% were really tough to get through. Spoilers ahead-skip this if you haven’t read the book!
Also, if you're expecting a polycule (à la Iron Widow), know that this is not what this book is going for at all. Elias and Penny have this cold, distant respect for each other, but absolutely zero chemistry. Sure, they each think the other is attractive or smart, but their only real interest is in Beau and what he wants.
Another complain I have is that the magic should have come into play earlier . But overall, I can forgive the blurry magic system, random lore drops, and all the plot threads left hanging: the book did a fantastic job at making me trust that it's in control. I believe that even the littlest detail will lead somewhere in the next books. Please don't disappoint me, I'm truly relying on you; my heart is in your hands! 🤭
All in all, I can’t wait for the sequels. I am genuinely enamored with this book, absolutely obsessed. I’ll just be writing fix-it fanfics in my head to patch up the romance, as I'm prone to do. It’s fine. It's part of the fun!
This book was so close to being perfect. So! Freaking! CLOSE!
The opening? Electric. I was immediately hooked and loved trying to guess what was going on: I had those nagging suspicions that ended up paying off later in the most satisfying ways, without getting lost in red herrings or waiting too long to be reveals. It had an almost “whodunnit” quality in its first third, and I was thoroughly entertained piecing the clues together. The tension was unreal. I was literally on the edge of my seat, heart pounding during those intense scenes. By the time I hit the 40% mark, I was so invested I could barely breathe. The mystery and political schemes were hands-down my favorite parts.
But. And it’s a big but.
The romances (plural) from 50% to about 75% were really tough to get through. Spoilers ahead-skip this if you haven’t read the book!
Also, if you're expecting a polycule (à la Iron Widow), know that this is not what this book is going for at all. Elias and Penny have this cold, distant respect for each other, but absolutely zero chemistry. Sure, they each think the other is attractive or smart, but their only real interest is in Beau and what he wants.
Another complain I have is that the magic should have come into play earlier . But overall, I can forgive the blurry magic system, random lore drops, and all the plot threads left hanging: the book did a fantastic job at making me trust that it's in control. I believe that even the littlest detail will lead somewhere in the next books. Please don't disappoint me, I'm truly relying on you; my heart is in your hands! 🤭
All in all, I can’t wait for the sequels. I am genuinely enamored with this book, absolutely obsessed. I’ll just be writing fix-it fanfics in my head to patch up the romance, as I'm prone to do. It’s fine. It's part of the fun!
March 19, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I loved Elias and Beau deserved everything!
I’m sad that we didn’t get to see more of the MMF relationship but the brief moment they shared together was cute. I also wished for a bit more worldbuilding and that we got to see Beau learn to love himself more and be more confident, although we did get to see slivers of this, I hoped that it would be a bit more prominent.
Overall, I was just hoping for more from this book because I was enjoying it so much lol and I wanted more of everything.
This is definitely an author that I would read again because I liked the writing and the story/plot a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the ARC
I’m sad that we didn’t get to see more of the MMF relationship but the brief moment they shared together was cute. I also wished for a bit more worldbuilding and that we got to see Beau learn to love himself more and be more confident, although we did get to see slivers of this, I hoped that it would be a bit more prominent.
Overall, I was just hoping for more from this book because I was enjoying it so much lol and I wanted more of everything.
This is definitely an author that I would read again because I liked the writing and the story/plot a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the ARC
March 7, 2025
* I read this book from an ARC given from Netgalley, my opinions are my own.
I loved this book. It was so hard to put down. Beau and Elias's friendship was so fun to read and watch evolve throughout the book, they are so great together and Elias is such a great friend for the prince. I love the banter between Beau and Victoire, the amount of nicknames Beau gave her amused me immensely. I had so much fun seeing their relationship evolve throughout the book. Beau's found family at the Isle are the best people and I adore them, it sounds like there will be more books and if so I really hope to see more of them. I really adore how Ma took Beau in when he really needed her the most because his biological family just sucked. I really enjoyed this book and there's more to the series I will be ready to read them all.
I loved this book. It was so hard to put down. Beau and Elias's friendship was so fun to read and watch evolve throughout the book, they are so great together and Elias is such a great friend for the prince. I love the banter between Beau and Victoire, the amount of nicknames Beau gave her amused me immensely. I had so much fun seeing their relationship evolve throughout the book. Beau's found family at the Isle are the best people and I adore them, it sounds like there will be more books and if so I really hope to see more of them. I really adore how Ma took Beau in when he really needed her the most because his biological family just sucked. I really enjoyed this book and there's more to the series I will be ready to read them all.
March 18, 2025
First, thank you so much net galley for the opportunity to read and review this, I absolutely LOVED it from start to finish! If there is one thing I've noticed this year we are getting some absolutely amazing books from authors where it's their debut. The representation for me as a Queer-audhd-er meant SO much.
The only question I have to ask is WHEN are we getting the next book? pleaseeeee tell me it's in the works?! it SURELY can't end like that, can it?!
I has every intention of reading this in one sitting, I actually felt grumpy when I had to stop reading and go off and do responsible adult things with my day. However, I throughly looked forward to sitting down in the evening and diving back into the world. It pulled me in completely, I really did not want to put this book down. The world building, the little isle with the found family, the characters, the romance.
When we meet Beau, we can see him like any other unruly, spoilt, and quite simply - an ungrateful prince. At least, that's how he's described when we first meet him. However, when you start to peel back the layers, you realise that Beau isn't actually that way at all. After his brothers death, Beau is thrown into the spotlight and expected to do his duty - to prepare himself to become King. Beau, of course, can't think of anything he'd less rather be in the world than a King. We learn that Beau, really DOES have legitimate reasons for not wanting to be involved with his family at all. His parents are cold, cruel, and calculated and he's the 'overlooked' son of the family, the 'spare' that wasn't planned.
However, even with all these feelings that Beau has to work through he cares about where he comes from, and the people. He wants to do better than his parents. He's not prepared to hand over where he lives to Nobels who do not care about the people. Instead, he becomes the unbearable son - the son who only wants to do good and protect those he loves and cares about. His character development is honestly such a wonderful development throughout and the way in which is confidence grows is truely heartwarming.
The poly romance for me was just pure joy. I loved the friends to lovers part of Elias's love of Beau, his choice to be the guard to him and then all the other mysteries that unravel about him. His character arc is actually something quite special, in a small way. I enjoyed the whole dilemma of being torn between duty and who you really are because both him and Beau share this problem in VERY different ways. He has complete unconditional love for Beau and ah, I love them! However, I would say I wish this book was a little longer to explore more about how Elias came to be.
I really really loved Penny, so much. What I would say though is it would've been nice to see Elias and Penny really develop more of a friendship, that maybe even developed into something more between them. I loved the banter they often had, and how Penny really cared about how much Beau loved him, and really the ways in which she showed she loved Beau. Cannot say more than this because you have to experience the read for yourself.
The magic! AH the magic. I want more of it.
I'm literally thirsting for the sequel. No, I'm begging. Give us more please!
The only question I have to ask is WHEN are we getting the next book? pleaseeeee tell me it's in the works?! it SURELY can't end like that, can it?!
I has every intention of reading this in one sitting, I actually felt grumpy when I had to stop reading and go off and do responsible adult things with my day. However, I throughly looked forward to sitting down in the evening and diving back into the world. It pulled me in completely, I really did not want to put this book down. The world building, the little isle with the found family, the characters, the romance.
When we meet Beau, we can see him like any other unruly, spoilt, and quite simply - an ungrateful prince. At least, that's how he's described when we first meet him. However, when you start to peel back the layers, you realise that Beau isn't actually that way at all. After his brothers death, Beau is thrown into the spotlight and expected to do his duty - to prepare himself to become King. Beau, of course, can't think of anything he'd less rather be in the world than a King. We learn that Beau, really DOES have legitimate reasons for not wanting to be involved with his family at all. His parents are cold, cruel, and calculated and he's the 'overlooked' son of the family, the 'spare' that wasn't planned.
However, even with all these feelings that Beau has to work through he cares about where he comes from, and the people. He wants to do better than his parents. He's not prepared to hand over where he lives to Nobels who do not care about the people. Instead, he becomes the unbearable son - the son who only wants to do good and protect those he loves and cares about. His character development is honestly such a wonderful development throughout and the way in which is confidence grows is truely heartwarming.
The poly romance for me was just pure joy. I loved the friends to lovers part of Elias's love of Beau, his choice to be the guard to him and then all the other mysteries that unravel about him. His character arc is actually something quite special, in a small way. I enjoyed the whole dilemma of being torn between duty and who you really are because both him and Beau share this problem in VERY different ways. He has complete unconditional love for Beau and ah, I love them! However, I would say I wish this book was a little longer to explore more about how Elias came to be.
I really really loved Penny, so much. What I would say though is it would've been nice to see Elias and Penny really develop more of a friendship, that maybe even developed into something more between them. I loved the banter they often had, and how Penny really cared about how much Beau loved him, and really the ways in which she showed she loved Beau. Cannot say more than this because you have to experience the read for yourself.
The magic! AH the magic. I want more of it.
I'm literally thirsting for the sequel. No, I'm begging. Give us more please!
April 13, 2025
The moment I met Beau, the cinnamon roll Prince, I was reminded of one of my favorite characters from Bridgerton; Benedict! If you yearned for that MMF romance to be endgame, pick up this book asap! 😏❤️
I love his free spirit and gentle side. He’s misunderstood and still trying to determine who he really is. Also we get BOTH enemies to lovers AND friends to lovers in this book😍 This is a why choose fantasy romance with a strong plot, royalty, ballroom dances and lots of witty banter! 💃 also it’s been a long time that I’ve read a book that follows the male lead’s POV! It’s so refreshing.
After the death of his brother and crown prince to the throne, Beau is forced to take up his place as the next heir to the crown, which is the last thing he wants … he yearns for freedom & adventure, alongside his loyal guard. The last thing he needs is a sharp duchess keeping him on his toes 👀
What you can expect:
👑ballroom dances
👑MMF poly romance
👑Royal/guard
👑Friends to lovers
👑Enemies to lovers
👑witty banter
👑Forbidden romance
I love his free spirit and gentle side. He’s misunderstood and still trying to determine who he really is. Also we get BOTH enemies to lovers AND friends to lovers in this book😍 This is a why choose fantasy romance with a strong plot, royalty, ballroom dances and lots of witty banter! 💃 also it’s been a long time that I’ve read a book that follows the male lead’s POV! It’s so refreshing.
After the death of his brother and crown prince to the throne, Beau is forced to take up his place as the next heir to the crown, which is the last thing he wants … he yearns for freedom & adventure, alongside his loyal guard. The last thing he needs is a sharp duchess keeping him on his toes 👀
What you can expect:
👑ballroom dances
👑MMF poly romance
👑Royal/guard
👑Friends to lovers
👑Enemies to lovers
👑witty banter
👑Forbidden romance
April 13, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
It's easy to see why other people have enjoyed it, Beau, Elias and Penny are really good characters and the world building was easy enough to follow.
I wish there had been more talk and exploration of the magic, but hopefully that comes in book two.
I will say, the sex scenes felt almost awkward? And having a vagina referred to as lower lips felt hard to take seriously in a smutty moment.
I'd read the next book and I'm interested to see how the story develops!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
It's easy to see why other people have enjoyed it, Beau, Elias and Penny are really good characters and the world building was easy enough to follow.
I wish there had been more talk and exploration of the magic, but hopefully that comes in book two.
I will say, the sex scenes felt almost awkward? And having a vagina referred to as lower lips felt hard to take seriously in a smutty moment.
I'd read the next book and I'm interested to see how the story develops!
April 20, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Metaltail Press for the ARC
This was a fun read though it moved very fast and I got so much whiplash from the Beau's relationships/behaviour towards people here. I got angry on his behalf. I would have liked this book to have been longer or taken its time, parts of this were too forced in a way that I had to go read and check why/how/who - there were several important things that just happened and you just get told that it happens in an off hand way.
I would love to know more about Penamour and the politicking, a lot of things happened outside of Beau that are important but neither he or the reader are wholly aware of.
This was a fun read though it moved very fast and I got so much whiplash from the Beau's relationships/behaviour towards people here. I got angry on his behalf. I would have liked this book to have been longer or taken its time, parts of this were too forced in a way that I had to go read and check why/how/who - there were several important things that just happened and you just get told that it happens in an off hand way.
I would love to know more about Penamour and the politicking, a lot of things happened outside of Beau that are important but neither he or the reader are wholly aware of.
October 26, 2025
DNF'd at the beginning of Chapter 4
Writing is fine?
Sadly, the more I read, the less interested I became abt the story. If the setting up isn't enough to get me hooked. . .
Also, I couldn't get a solid idea of what the world in this novel was actually like. Yes, this is a book in a fantasy setting, but the overall vibe gives "inspired by French monarchy" and that's abt it! Most characters' names were French or French-sounding. And yet, the dialogue was v. modern. But there was (as far as I could tell) no electricity, cars, etc.
Trigger/Content Warnings (up to the beginning of Chapter 4):
TL;DR: Picked up this book in hopes that I'd get lost into a whole new adventure. Unfortch, I didn't connect with the story and found most of its worldbuilding v. confusing. Given that I have a lot of other books to read, I gave up on this one w/o any regrets. Which is sad cuz I was eager to read abt the M/M/F-as-endgame ship. Alas.
I borrowed this book from the library.
Writing is fine?
Sadly, the more I read, the less interested I became abt the story. If the setting up isn't enough to get me hooked. . .
Also, I couldn't get a solid idea of what the world in this novel was actually like. Yes, this is a book in a fantasy setting, but the overall vibe gives "inspired by French monarchy" and that's abt it! Most characters' names were French or French-sounding. And yet, the dialogue was v. modern. But there was (as far as I could tell) no electricity, cars, etc.
Trigger/Content Warnings (up to the beginning of Chapter 4):
TL;DR: Picked up this book in hopes that I'd get lost into a whole new adventure. Unfortch, I didn't connect with the story and found most of its worldbuilding v. confusing. Given that I have a lot of other books to read, I gave up on this one w/o any regrets. Which is sad cuz I was eager to read abt the M/M/F-as-endgame ship. Alas.
I borrowed this book from the library.
March 17, 2025
This was a very refreshing fantasy read. The first 40% didn't quite have an obvious story goal, it just dealt with the minutia of day to day castle life for the prince. It's very political and dry at times. But the dialogue and banter were so good that didn't even bother me. After that it really picked up and got into the story.
I appreciated that it didn't revolve around a world threatening event, just a prince becoming who he needed to be to take the throne. This gave it more time for character building, which was easily my favorite part.
There are a few plot points that aren't delved into just yet, and I'm really looking forward to the world building that's sure to come in the sequel(s).
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciated that it didn't revolve around a world threatening event, just a prince becoming who he needed to be to take the throne. This gave it more time for character building, which was easily my favorite part.
There are a few plot points that aren't delved into just yet, and I'm really looking forward to the world building that's sure to come in the sequel(s).
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2025
NEW FREAKING FAVOURITE UNLOCKED
Gods DAMN that was MOST EXCELLENT. Genuinely addictive - even when I was caught in brain-fog and struggling to concentrate on ANYTHING, I was still completely hooked by Beau and Elias and Penny!
A fair bit of this shouldn't have worked for me - the prose is simpler than I like, the worldbuilding's not terribly detailed (although we're clearly going to be learning a lot more about the magic and related topics in future books) and despite being in a vaguely Medieval setting, the characters use plenty of modern turns of phrase. All things that have bored or annoyed me from other writers.
But here, I didn't care. Because McPherson made me FEEL, constantly, ALL THE THINGS. Her characters are so well-crafted - not only did I find them interesting as characters, I also fell head-over-heels for all the main trio. Beau is earnest and genuine, and so angry, and feels everything so strongly; Elias hits all of my competency-porn buttons, is utterly devoted, and just enough of a martyr that I want to hug him as well as shake him; Penny also gives competency-porn, but with politicking and communication rather than swordfighting, is secretly a magic-nerd, and Will Do What Must Be Done at any cost. Each of them could carry the novel on their own; intertwined, they're MAGNIFICENT.
Even if the language is a touch simple, the storytelling is masterful. What starts out with a grieving prince shoved into the role of crown heir (which he is in no way ready for) develops layers very quickly; there are several smaller subplots, like Beau discovering that there are nobles assaulting palace servants, which won me over even before the 'big' plotlines got properly underway. And the big plotlines are always there, subtly in the background even when things look simple: I adored how well the clues to the various mysteries were woven into the story, how McPherson toyed with my suspicions and theories, how well the tension was drawn out before each reveal. Almost every detail we're given turns out to be vitally relevant later, usually in ways I never saw coming, and I cannot emphasize enough how freaking delighted I was by how neatly it all fits together.
And, listen. I am generally unbothered by romances in my fantasy. I don't mind them being there, but I rarely get invested. HI, I WAS INVESTED. I SHIP IT MOST EXTREMELY. I thought both romances - between Beau and Elias, and Beau and Penny - were great, and balanced really well; I liked the contrast between Beau and Elias having known each other for years, and Beau and Penny starting out as strangers. Maybe the pagetime skewed a little Beau-and-Penny towards the end, but for very good reasons entirely justified by the story - and at no point does Elias become forgotten or unimportant. (Also, I am VERY here for this trio having one braincell between them, and it's Penny's.) Even the sex scenes were excellent, and my asexual self usually couldn't give a damn about those!
If I have one actual critique, it's that claiming the throne became about it being Beau's birthright, when earlier in the book, it was much more an issue of 'Beau will be a better king than any of the alternatives'. I wish we'd kept hold of that, that's much more convincing and important than 'this dude should be in charge because his dad was', but eh, I'll allow it. They are in a monarchical setting.
I did not expect to have this much FUN with this book. Much of it gave me that fizzy, glittery feeling where you want to swing your feet and hug the book to your chest; plenty of moments made me laugh out loud (scaring the dogs several times); and I melted with Feels more than once. I was interested, I wanted to see how things turned out, I wanted to know more about the magical artefacts (extremely plot-relevant) and Elias' backstory (*chef's kiss*), Beau's tattoos and Penny's (marvellous) scheming, who killed Beau's brother and WHY. There was tension and outright anxiety, way too much (non-romantic) heartbreak, outright FURY at Beau's parents and far too many other scumbags. I had to put the book down and stare at the wall and try VERY HARD NOT TO CRY when McPherson proved that no, this was NOT going to be the kind of fluffy romantasy where all ends well for everyone and no character is in real danger.
Which made it so much more than it would otherwise be. King's Trust does not feel like popcorn, even though it absolutely has that gimme-more popcornish quality; it's not brainless fluff, even if it's as (wonderfully) easy to read as fluff is. It feels satisfyingly rich; it's a story you can sink your teeth into. It's wry and thoughtful and funny, vibrant and clever, earnest but complicated enough to lose yourself in. It is everything romantasy is supposed to be!
In no way does King's Trust feel like a debut; this feels like the ultra-polished novel of an experienced author, and I am wowed by it. And I am setting up google alerts for news of the sequel in another tab as I write up this review.
GO READ THIS AT ONCE!
Gods DAMN that was MOST EXCELLENT. Genuinely addictive - even when I was caught in brain-fog and struggling to concentrate on ANYTHING, I was still completely hooked by Beau and Elias and Penny!
A fair bit of this shouldn't have worked for me - the prose is simpler than I like, the worldbuilding's not terribly detailed (although we're clearly going to be learning a lot more about the magic and related topics in future books) and despite being in a vaguely Medieval setting, the characters use plenty of modern turns of phrase. All things that have bored or annoyed me from other writers.
But here, I didn't care. Because McPherson made me FEEL, constantly, ALL THE THINGS. Her characters are so well-crafted - not only did I find them interesting as characters, I also fell head-over-heels for all the main trio. Beau is earnest and genuine, and so angry, and feels everything so strongly; Elias hits all of my competency-porn buttons, is utterly devoted, and just enough of a martyr that I want to hug him as well as shake him; Penny also gives competency-porn, but with politicking and communication rather than swordfighting, is secretly a magic-nerd, and Will Do What Must Be Done at any cost. Each of them could carry the novel on their own; intertwined, they're MAGNIFICENT.
Even if the language is a touch simple, the storytelling is masterful. What starts out with a grieving prince shoved into the role of crown heir (which he is in no way ready for) develops layers very quickly; there are several smaller subplots, like Beau discovering that there are nobles assaulting palace servants, which won me over even before the 'big' plotlines got properly underway. And the big plotlines are always there, subtly in the background even when things look simple: I adored how well the clues to the various mysteries were woven into the story, how McPherson toyed with my suspicions and theories, how well the tension was drawn out before each reveal. Almost every detail we're given turns out to be vitally relevant later, usually in ways I never saw coming, and I cannot emphasize enough how freaking delighted I was by how neatly it all fits together.
And, listen. I am generally unbothered by romances in my fantasy. I don't mind them being there, but I rarely get invested. HI, I WAS INVESTED. I SHIP IT MOST EXTREMELY. I thought both romances - between Beau and Elias, and Beau and Penny - were great, and balanced really well; I liked the contrast between Beau and Elias having known each other for years, and Beau and Penny starting out as strangers. Maybe the pagetime skewed a little Beau-and-Penny towards the end, but for very good reasons entirely justified by the story - and at no point does Elias become forgotten or unimportant. (Also, I am VERY here for this trio having one braincell between them, and it's Penny's.) Even the sex scenes were excellent, and my asexual self usually couldn't give a damn about those!
If I have one actual critique, it's that claiming the throne became about it being Beau's birthright, when earlier in the book, it was much more an issue of 'Beau will be a better king than any of the alternatives'. I wish we'd kept hold of that, that's much more convincing and important than 'this dude should be in charge because his dad was', but eh, I'll allow it. They are in a monarchical setting.
I did not expect to have this much FUN with this book. Much of it gave me that fizzy, glittery feeling where you want to swing your feet and hug the book to your chest; plenty of moments made me laugh out loud (scaring the dogs several times); and I melted with Feels more than once. I was interested, I wanted to see how things turned out, I wanted to know more about the magical artefacts (extremely plot-relevant) and Elias' backstory (*chef's kiss*), Beau's tattoos and Penny's (marvellous) scheming, who killed Beau's brother and WHY. There was tension and outright anxiety, way too much (non-romantic) heartbreak, outright FURY at Beau's parents and far too many other scumbags. I had to put the book down and stare at the wall and try VERY HARD NOT TO CRY when McPherson proved that no, this was NOT going to be the kind of fluffy romantasy where all ends well for everyone and no character is in real danger.
Which made it so much more than it would otherwise be. King's Trust does not feel like popcorn, even though it absolutely has that gimme-more popcornish quality; it's not brainless fluff, even if it's as (wonderfully) easy to read as fluff is. It feels satisfyingly rich; it's a story you can sink your teeth into. It's wry and thoughtful and funny, vibrant and clever, earnest but complicated enough to lose yourself in. It is everything romantasy is supposed to be!
In no way does King's Trust feel like a debut; this feels like the ultra-polished novel of an experienced author, and I am wowed by it. And I am setting up google alerts for news of the sequel in another tab as I write up this review.
GO READ THIS AT ONCE!
March 11, 2025
A King’s Trust is a really enjoyable story about the spare price who, after the surprising death of his older brother, learns that he, soon, will be the king. This book features multifaceted and compelling characters, an interesting magic system that is set up well for future books in the trilogy, and a strong writing style that really makes Beauregard’s tale a worthwhile read. My one major complaint is that the book tends towards feeling slow, though the ending has an absolutely breakneck pace.
Prince Beauregard’s life lies away from the palace: the spare prince without either aptitude or interest in politics, he has made a second life for himself in the islands of his kingdom and planned to leave his royal life behind. However, after his brother’s unexpected death, he must confront the fact that he, now, is the crown price, and will be inheriting the throne soon. One of the largest challenges for Beau is the requirement that he marry before he takes the throne. This presents two challenges: first of all, the only woman he is interested in Duchess Penamour, absolutely hates his guts. The second is that he is expected to marry a woman, particularly one of noble blood, but he’s absolutely entranced by his guard, Elias. Cue a story that centers politics and matchmaking: Beau must learn the politics of his kingdom and reckon with cruel abuses of power that have been left to fester under his father’s rule, and at the same time seek out a suitable marriage to strengthen his claim to the throne.
There’s a lot I really enjoyed about this book. Beau is the kind of protagonist who is very easy to root for: he is deeply personable and cares strongly about doing what is right; though he is also flawed in ways that make his ascension to the throne far from certain. Lady Penamour is a complex and strong female lead; I especially loved her arc, and in many ways she felt like the most human character of the group. Elias is a bit of more of an enigma—deeply protective and devoted, willing to be cruel if it means he guards the safety and emotions of those he cares about. His tension with Beau is deeply compelling, though at times I found myself wishing his story was less….edgy? The author does an amazing job painting Elias as a character who you never really know if you, the reader, will understand; but at times I felt it went too far or was too repetitive.
My main complaint about the book is its pacing; this book often felt that it was a bit slow. It never felt like it dragged or left me feeling bored; the book does a good job of dangling mysteries in front of the reader to make you want to keep reading. That being said, the book never felt as compulsively readable as I hoped it would. For as much as I enjoyed the reading experience, I felt as though the pacing could have been a tad faster.
I am rating this book 4.5 stars out of 5, rounded down to 4 stars. It’s an enjoyable read, the characters have a lot of depth, and I did sincerely appreciate its representation. I am absolutely looking forward to further books in the trilogy!
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Prince Beauregard’s life lies away from the palace: the spare prince without either aptitude or interest in politics, he has made a second life for himself in the islands of his kingdom and planned to leave his royal life behind. However, after his brother’s unexpected death, he must confront the fact that he, now, is the crown price, and will be inheriting the throne soon. One of the largest challenges for Beau is the requirement that he marry before he takes the throne. This presents two challenges: first of all, the only woman he is interested in Duchess Penamour, absolutely hates his guts. The second is that he is expected to marry a woman, particularly one of noble blood, but he’s absolutely entranced by his guard, Elias. Cue a story that centers politics and matchmaking: Beau must learn the politics of his kingdom and reckon with cruel abuses of power that have been left to fester under his father’s rule, and at the same time seek out a suitable marriage to strengthen his claim to the throne.
There’s a lot I really enjoyed about this book. Beau is the kind of protagonist who is very easy to root for: he is deeply personable and cares strongly about doing what is right; though he is also flawed in ways that make his ascension to the throne far from certain. Lady Penamour is a complex and strong female lead; I especially loved her arc, and in many ways she felt like the most human character of the group. Elias is a bit of more of an enigma—deeply protective and devoted, willing to be cruel if it means he guards the safety and emotions of those he cares about. His tension with Beau is deeply compelling, though at times I found myself wishing his story was less….edgy? The author does an amazing job painting Elias as a character who you never really know if you, the reader, will understand; but at times I felt it went too far or was too repetitive.
My main complaint about the book is its pacing; this book often felt that it was a bit slow. It never felt like it dragged or left me feeling bored; the book does a good job of dangling mysteries in front of the reader to make you want to keep reading. That being said, the book never felt as compulsively readable as I hoped it would. For as much as I enjoyed the reading experience, I felt as though the pacing could have been a tad faster.
I am rating this book 4.5 stars out of 5, rounded down to 4 stars. It’s an enjoyable read, the characters have a lot of depth, and I did sincerely appreciate its representation. I am absolutely looking forward to further books in the trilogy!
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
March 17, 2025
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my unbiased review. Thank you so much for the ARC, I appreciate it!
So when is the next book? I need it so bad.
I devoured this book in almost one sitting, accidentally. The world, the characters, and the romance were so addicting that I felt like I flew through it. I now regret reading it so quickly.
The main character, Beau, first appears to us as a bit of an unruly, whiny, and ungrateful prince, but as the book progresses, we really catch glimpses of the mistreated and overlooked son who just wanted love and comfort from his family. His character development is amazing as we slowly see him become more and more confident in himself and his abilities despite his despair. Additionally, we get to see his relationship with Elias develop.
While Elias might be for everyone, I enjoyed his mysterious and, at times, deceiving character. He is so full of sunshine but also an enigma. Around 60-70%, we start to crack Elias' shell and learn that he isn't all happy and sunshine, which is intriguing. However, we begin to learn about Elias a bit too late into the book, though this was due to the turning point in his and Beau's adorable relationship. I also loved the addition of Penny into the relationship; she fit nicely into Beau and Elias' relationship; however, I wish for Elias and Penny to develop their friendship/relationship, which would make the relationship dynamics seamless.
In addition, I did enjoy learning more about Beau's brother, Char, but again, I felt this happened a bit too late in the book, which contributed to the ending feeling very jam-packed and rushed. If some things were revealed throughout the book instead of just at the end, that would have improved the pacing of the ending immensely, which is what hindered the book from reaching 5 stars for me.
All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed A King's Trust and recommend it due to its diversity, politics, and intriguing and unique magic system!
So when is the next book? I need it so bad.
I devoured this book in almost one sitting, accidentally. The world, the characters, and the romance were so addicting that I felt like I flew through it. I now regret reading it so quickly.
The main character, Beau, first appears to us as a bit of an unruly, whiny, and ungrateful prince, but as the book progresses, we really catch glimpses of the mistreated and overlooked son who just wanted love and comfort from his family. His character development is amazing as we slowly see him become more and more confident in himself and his abilities despite his despair. Additionally, we get to see his relationship with Elias develop.
While Elias might be for everyone, I enjoyed his mysterious and, at times, deceiving character. He is so full of sunshine but also an enigma. Around 60-70%, we start to crack Elias' shell and learn that he isn't all happy and sunshine, which is intriguing. However, we begin to learn about Elias a bit too late into the book, though this was due to the turning point in his and Beau's adorable relationship. I also loved the addition of Penny into the relationship; she fit nicely into Beau and Elias' relationship; however, I wish for Elias and Penny to develop their friendship/relationship, which would make the relationship dynamics seamless.
In addition, I did enjoy learning more about Beau's brother, Char, but again, I felt this happened a bit too late in the book, which contributed to the ending feeling very jam-packed and rushed. If some things were revealed throughout the book instead of just at the end, that would have improved the pacing of the ending immensely, which is what hindered the book from reaching 5 stars for me.
All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed A King's Trust and recommend it due to its diversity, politics, and intriguing and unique magic system!
March 21, 2025
I received this book as an ARC (THANK YOU!!!) and am voluntarily and happily providing an unbiased review.
What I Loved:
* A truly diverse cast of characters: McPherson did a fantastic job providing nuance to each and every one. A little banter here, a little journey inside a neurodivergent’s experience there, and lots of lovable (and a few hateable) characters.
* Tulip family/found family: This is so SO important in the times we live in, and I felt inspired to hold my loved ones a little closer after reading.
* The many facets of the relationship between our two MMC’s and our FMC: The tension and yearning were so satisfying! This is my first queer/poly romantasy read ever but I loved their banter and communication.
What I removed 1 star for:
* I wish the magic was more of a focus in the first half of the book. Without more explanation of it or more of it in the plot overall, this felt like more of a romance and less of a fantasy story. It’s a unique system and I want more of it! Perhaps in the next book we’ll find out more 🤓
Great debut overall by S.E. McPherson! I definitely recommend this book, but do yourself a favor and check the content warnings laid out by the author before proceeding.
What I Loved:
* A truly diverse cast of characters: McPherson did a fantastic job providing nuance to each and every one. A little banter here, a little journey inside a neurodivergent’s experience there, and lots of lovable (and a few hateable) characters.
* Tulip family/found family: This is so SO important in the times we live in, and I felt inspired to hold my loved ones a little closer after reading.
* The many facets of the relationship between our two MMC’s and our FMC: The tension and yearning were so satisfying! This is my first queer/poly romantasy read ever but I loved their banter and communication.
What I removed 1 star for:
* I wish the magic was more of a focus in the first half of the book. Without more explanation of it or more of it in the plot overall, this felt like more of a romance and less of a fantasy story. It’s a unique system and I want more of it! Perhaps in the next book we’ll find out more 🤓
Great debut overall by S.E. McPherson! I definitely recommend this book, but do yourself a favor and check the content warnings laid out by the author before proceeding.
April 16, 2025
4.5 stars
How bout a story with a Poly romance, royal drama, and a cinnamon roll prince? yes?
If you're into fantasy with a side of spicy romance, political intrigue, and a prince who doesn't want the throne but might just save the kingdom anyway, A King's Trust is totally worth the read.
Prince Beauregard (Beau) is the second son, living his best life on the isles, when tragedy strikes, and suddenly, he's the heir to a throne he never wanted. There's a secret society pulling strings behind the scenes. Classic royal chaos.
Tropes & Vibes:
👑 Reluctant Heir
💔 Enemies to Lovers
🛡️ Royal/Guard Romance
🧠 Found Family
🔥 Polyamory
🏰 Political Intrigue
The world-building is rich, and the characters are complex and relatable. The romance is slow-burn and satisfying, and the plot keeps you hooked with twists and turns.
If you're looking for a fantasy romance that's more than just a love triangle, A King's Trust delivers. It's got heart, heat, and a whole lot of royal drama.
Huge thanks to the author for sending me a PR box! All opinions are my own.
How bout a story with a Poly romance, royal drama, and a cinnamon roll prince? yes?
If you're into fantasy with a side of spicy romance, political intrigue, and a prince who doesn't want the throne but might just save the kingdom anyway, A King's Trust is totally worth the read.
Prince Beauregard (Beau) is the second son, living his best life on the isles, when tragedy strikes, and suddenly, he's the heir to a throne he never wanted. There's a secret society pulling strings behind the scenes. Classic royal chaos.
Tropes & Vibes:
👑 Reluctant Heir
💔 Enemies to Lovers
🛡️ Royal/Guard Romance
🧠 Found Family
🔥 Polyamory
🏰 Political Intrigue
The world-building is rich, and the characters are complex and relatable. The romance is slow-burn and satisfying, and the plot keeps you hooked with twists and turns.
If you're looking for a fantasy romance that's more than just a love triangle, A King's Trust delivers. It's got heart, heat, and a whole lot of royal drama.
Huge thanks to the author for sending me a PR box! All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2025
I got this book from NetGalley as an eARC for honest review! Thank you🙏🏼
Now, what to say?
This book took me on a journey. I mean, all books do, but this swept me along with it. I found myself very invested, very quickly. The pacing was quite good and I didn't feel like things were lagging or too fast paced. There is one section where I think things felt a bit fast, but as I thought it through I chalked it up to aspects of the magic that was present in those situations. I took a moment to considering everything going on and every moment could have led to it.
There was also quite a bit of wondering who was most suspicious or might have ulterior motives. It was a fun plot try and figure out as I read.
As it regards characters, I really enjoyed Beau as a protagonist and narrator. He was quirky, clueless and more capable than he gave himself credit for. Elias was your tall, dark and handsome figure. Mysterious to a fault. Penny was frustrating initially but absolutely brilliant. And I don't fault her for how she was at first all things considered.
Point is, this was so fun and I think you should read it! I look forward to the rest of the series!
Now, what to say?
This book took me on a journey. I mean, all books do, but this swept me along with it. I found myself very invested, very quickly. The pacing was quite good and I didn't feel like things were lagging or too fast paced. There is one section where I think things felt a bit fast, but as I thought it through I chalked it up to aspects of the magic that was present in those situations. I took a moment to considering everything going on and every moment could have led to it.
There was also quite a bit of wondering who was most suspicious or might have ulterior motives. It was a fun plot try and figure out as I read.
As it regards characters, I really enjoyed Beau as a protagonist and narrator. He was quirky, clueless and more capable than he gave himself credit for. Elias was your tall, dark and handsome figure. Mysterious to a fault. Penny was frustrating initially but absolutely brilliant. And I don't fault her for how she was at first all things considered.
Point is, this was so fun and I think you should read it! I look forward to the rest of the series!
March 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. There's so much to enjoy - political intrigue, strained family relationships, an MM bodyguard romance and a MF romance.
I enjoyed following the characters on this journey. The Prince was a spare and never expected to become heir. He struggles with leaving behind his carefree life that he enjoyed whilst he wasn't in the spotlight.
The dynamic between Beau, Elias and Penny was well written and the tension between Beau and Elias - sizzling! You could feel Beau's attraction and draw to Elias much more than his attraction to Penny and I was totally here for it!! I can't blame him either - Elias is lush.
The AuDHD representation and other tough themes are so well written.
The magic in the book is really intriguing especially as we learn a lot more about Beau towards the end of the book. I have so many questions about it and also about who/what Elias is.
If you are looking for a Romantasy with a poly MMF twist then this book is definitely one to read! I really hope there's more. I can't wait to see what's in store for these three! I'd love Penny and Elias to build a more romantic relationship but I guess we'd need another POV to truly see that unfold. Perhaps an Elias POV. Ok, ok, I might be fangirling him a bit.
Thank you to the author, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review of the book.
I enjoyed following the characters on this journey. The Prince was a spare and never expected to become heir. He struggles with leaving behind his carefree life that he enjoyed whilst he wasn't in the spotlight.
The dynamic between Beau, Elias and Penny was well written and the tension between Beau and Elias - sizzling! You could feel Beau's attraction and draw to Elias much more than his attraction to Penny and I was totally here for it!! I can't blame him either - Elias is lush.
The AuDHD representation and other tough themes are so well written.
The magic in the book is really intriguing especially as we learn a lot more about Beau towards the end of the book. I have so many questions about it and also about who/what Elias is.
If you are looking for a Romantasy with a poly MMF twist then this book is definitely one to read! I really hope there's more. I can't wait to see what's in store for these three! I'd love Penny and Elias to build a more romantic relationship but I guess we'd need another POV to truly see that unfold. Perhaps an Elias POV. Ok, ok, I might be fangirling him a bit.
Thank you to the author, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review of the book.
March 16, 2025
*ARC read from NetGalley*
A King’s Trust was an exciting read that pulled on my heartstrings on several occasions. The theme of found family is strong and warming in this story, and I loved following Beau’s journey of protecting those he cares for. This story had everything you could ask for: the funny banter and playfulness, the heartfelt truths between friends and lovers, the spicy situations Beau found himself in, the political strategies that Penny came up with, Elias’s unwavering loyalty, the light magical elements thrown in to make this fantasy. I had trouble putting this book down and thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
A King’s Trust was an exciting read that pulled on my heartstrings on several occasions. The theme of found family is strong and warming in this story, and I loved following Beau’s journey of protecting those he cares for. This story had everything you could ask for: the funny banter and playfulness, the heartfelt truths between friends and lovers, the spicy situations Beau found himself in, the political strategies that Penny came up with, Elias’s unwavering loyalty, the light magical elements thrown in to make this fantasy. I had trouble putting this book down and thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
March 20, 2025
Read an advance copy on NetGalley and oh my goodness. This book hooked me from the very beginning and never let go. I am absolutely obsessed with the characters, especially Elias. Great world building and royal drama.
March 5, 2025
I received this book as an advanced reader copy in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**
I am in LOVE with this book! A King's Trust follows the story of Beau, a prince who suddenly finds himself next for the throne. Except, no one believes he has what it takes. This book takes you on a journey to get to know Beau, his past, why he left his family as a young man, and how he fell in love with his guard, Elias. In the process, we meet Penny who is one of the cleverest, strategic, most badass female character I've read in a while. She is quick on her feet and stubborn, yet loveable. Naturally, this trio finds in each other what we all want: a chosen family who unconditionally loves you. This was a quick-paced adventure that had me laughing, crying, and wanting to know more about their lives. This book is the promising beginning to a superb trilogy!
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**
I am in LOVE with this book! A King's Trust follows the story of Beau, a prince who suddenly finds himself next for the throne. Except, no one believes he has what it takes. This book takes you on a journey to get to know Beau, his past, why he left his family as a young man, and how he fell in love with his guard, Elias. In the process, we meet Penny who is one of the cleverest, strategic, most badass female character I've read in a while. She is quick on her feet and stubborn, yet loveable. Naturally, this trio finds in each other what we all want: a chosen family who unconditionally loves you. This was a quick-paced adventure that had me laughing, crying, and wanting to know more about their lives. This book is the promising beginning to a superb trilogy!
November 7, 2025
This book was an absolute fXxk!ng delight! All of the political intrigue and scheming gave me real Bridgerton vibes (in a good way). You can definitely tell this book is world building (with a bit of adventure and spice) for the next two books in the trilogy. There are so many interesting, but unresolved, plot lines (again, in a good way).
What did I LOVE about this book?
- The MMC, Beau. What a good, loving, caring man with a traumatized inner child. Many books have a MMC POV, but this book felt like it was written entirely from Beau's POV (even though it's in 3rd person) and it was a refreshing change. Beau is complex and naive and has a heart of gold. I've never felt more attuned to a character. This is even more emphasized in relation to his enemies, who you come to hate pretty viciously (especially his parents).
- The banter between characters helps keep a light tone throughout when things could get pretty heavy. I love snark!
- I read a lot of reverse harem books and am always missing the MM action. This book has one spicy, on-the-page MM scene and it is an absolute delight. The romance was woven together expertly with both intense emotion and an advancement of the characters' stories. Given the tension between the two MMCs, I'd argue this scene was even better than the MF one.
- The introduction to the magical world of the Maurilel, which I'm sure will be expanded on the books to come
What didn't I like about this book?
- I read it so fast and now it's over! And since this is the first, I'll have to wait so long to spend time with these characters again. I'm missing them already.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy, which I received for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What did I LOVE about this book?
- The MMC, Beau. What a good, loving, caring man with a traumatized inner child. Many books have a MMC POV, but this book felt like it was written entirely from Beau's POV (even though it's in 3rd person) and it was a refreshing change. Beau is complex and naive and has a heart of gold. I've never felt more attuned to a character. This is even more emphasized in relation to his enemies, who you come to hate pretty viciously (especially his parents).
- The banter between characters helps keep a light tone throughout when things could get pretty heavy. I love snark!
- I read a lot of reverse harem books and am always missing the MM action. This book has one spicy, on-the-page MM scene and it is an absolute delight. The romance was woven together expertly with both intense emotion and an advancement of the characters' stories. Given the tension between the two MMCs, I'd argue this scene was even better than the MF one.
- The introduction to the magical world of the Maurilel, which I'm sure will be expanded on the books to come
What didn't I like about this book?
- I read it so fast and now it's over! And since this is the first, I'll have to wait so long to spend time with these characters again. I'm missing them already.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy, which I received for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 8, 2025
3**/5**--I received this book as an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review! Mild spoilers below for early interactions between the MC and another character.
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Figuring out my own feelings about this book has been really tough, because there were a lot of unique and wonderful things about it that I truly loved, but also a good amount of things that just aren't to my taste or that made me feel uncomfortable. I do think that some of this is because I wouldn't consider myself a big romantasy reader, and I am not neurodivergent (this is a specific selling point of the author and book), so I'm maybe not the ideal audience. But, on the other hand, I am bisexual and hypersensitive with a history of anxiety and depression, so in some ways I am. Overall, I really did enjoy it, and am happy I read it, but it didn't grip me in the way that my favorite books have. On to the details!
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Let's get the hard stuff out of the way first; the reasons I was turned off by this book, which for the most part are more minor than the positives and mostly come down to writing preference, with one exception. First, about a quarter of the way through the book, two things started happening that really turned me off, after being very excited about how the book was going from the start; Beau (the main character) trying to get under Lady Penamour's skin by calling her a plethora of different nicknames, and her definition of politics that I thought would go one way (politics aren't optional when life and rights are on the line) but just missed the mark for me instead (politics are about giving people what they want).
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From there, for the rest of the book, the tension and atmosphere of a lot of scenes and characterization felt very off to me. Some scenes had deaths and intense fighting, but still felt lighthearted and had little to no consequence in short periods of time with the story. Every character (side characters included) has so many nicknames that it becomes confusing, and there are a lot of unnatural, cliche phrases that fit this genre but not the world, which makes most side characters feel like NPCs. Phrases like "godsdamned" are used often, and there were a lot of strange, canned ways that characters converse that is just something I don't personally like in writing. Using modern words and phrases like "sexy" and "I'm in" and "he's hot" while also using lots of phrases like "who's this then" that feel like they come from a different place and time took me out of the setting a bit. But, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I know that sometimes repetitive phrasing and canned responses can be comforting to people who are neurodivergent, which I am not! This issue was more of a personal preference for me than a deal breaker for the book.
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The biggest issue for me is that I don't understand the interest that women have in writing explicit sex scenes between two cisgender men. As a queer person, I of course think that in the realm of romantasy and even all other genres, it is important for there to be representations of lots of different types of identities. The issue for me becomes where the gaze is coming from, and my own identity as the person consuming the media. If McPherson were a bisexual or gay man, I would have felt lot more grace for the sex scene I take most issue with, but I felt so uncomfortable reading it because I felt like I was intruding on something that wasn't meant for me, written by someone who also shouldn't have been present for it. I really didn't like that there was necessary character exposition embedded in the scene as well, so it wasn't really optional to skip. This phenomenon of women being interested in or turned on by sex between two men has never made sense to me, and makes me feel very uncomfortable. I think this scene in particular and the romance it involves does make sense within the context of the story and the identity of the characters, but it was the biggest issue that I had personally with the book. The scene was something that I did figure would come up from the very beginning based on the book's description (so perhaps that should have made me decide to not read it as an ARC reader, which I do feel guilty about), so I don't necessarily think it's the fault of the writing or shouldn't be included, but instead a matter of taste. It does feel a bit problematic to me, but I am also not from the demographic that would maybe take offense to this. If there is anyone who believes that this trope is harmful to their identity, I believe that their voices should be the ones we listen to, not my analysis of my own uncomfortable feelings. So, moving on.
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Now, the good things! The first is my favorite character, the main character, Beau. He is an incredibly real and believable MC, and one of the most relatable that I've ever read. Almost every quote I wrote down was something that Beau thinks or says, because his view of the world was so eerily similar to my own, for better and worse. His thoughts about his own bisexuality and reading people, his opinions on tattoos (I am a tattoo artist), his hypersensitivity and his imposter syndrome made it so easy for me to understand him, the plot, and further reflect on my own character. From the very beginning, I loved that he had flaws, that only grew to make me (and other characters in the book) love him more as the story went on. There is also a ton of myth busting and abuse identification that is present in the book as a result of his character, that was incredibly refreshing and different than most popular fantasy books written by men, from the 80s to now. It felt so good to not have to give a story the benefit of the doubt for the time period, and incredibly satisfying for one character to bring up a problem or fear and then have another character identify the real issue in exactly the way I was yelling at the page. And, speaking of satisfying, I really enjoyed the millennial references throughout the book, to Ella Enchanted, Tangled, Twilight, and more. They were blended into the story very well and made me feel some very happy nostalgia.
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Another thing that I loved so much and wish there was even more of was the magic system. I did feel that the romance part of the book took priority over it, and I wish there had been equal parts or more exploration of the magic because it was so fascinating and McPherson did such an amazing job in developing it. I loved that Beau didn't know very much about it in the beginning of the book, and learned more throughout, so the actual building of the information didn't feel rushed or boring or overwhelming to me as a reader. If there is a sequel to this book, which I suspect there will be based on the introduction of a new character at the very end, I really hope that McPherson dives head on into the magic system and makes it more of a main focus.
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All in all, the biggest thing that I hope for McPherson's future writing is that she learns to trust herself and her readers a bit more; so much of her work is very compelling and has so much potential, but it sometimes felt like she gave us a little too much to make sure that we would really be able to get what was going on. I wonder if she uses the spicy element of the book a little bit too much of a crutch to keep her reader interested, when there really are some elements (like the magic system and character discussion) that are so incredibly compelling and strong. I did enjoy this book and am very happy I read it, and though I do feel bad about giving it a middle of the road rating that is the lowest so far, I really hope that if you're thinking about reading this book, my review is helpful to give you an idea of if you'll enjoy it or not. Hopefully I've done a good job of identifying what would maybe make someone pick it up, and I hope that those who took the time to read the whole thing and are excited by my descriptions will love it and leave 5 star reviews!
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Figuring out my own feelings about this book has been really tough, because there were a lot of unique and wonderful things about it that I truly loved, but also a good amount of things that just aren't to my taste or that made me feel uncomfortable. I do think that some of this is because I wouldn't consider myself a big romantasy reader, and I am not neurodivergent (this is a specific selling point of the author and book), so I'm maybe not the ideal audience. But, on the other hand, I am bisexual and hypersensitive with a history of anxiety and depression, so in some ways I am. Overall, I really did enjoy it, and am happy I read it, but it didn't grip me in the way that my favorite books have. On to the details!
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Let's get the hard stuff out of the way first; the reasons I was turned off by this book, which for the most part are more minor than the positives and mostly come down to writing preference, with one exception. First, about a quarter of the way through the book, two things started happening that really turned me off, after being very excited about how the book was going from the start; Beau (the main character) trying to get under Lady Penamour's skin by calling her a plethora of different nicknames, and her definition of politics that I thought would go one way (politics aren't optional when life and rights are on the line) but just missed the mark for me instead (politics are about giving people what they want).
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From there, for the rest of the book, the tension and atmosphere of a lot of scenes and characterization felt very off to me. Some scenes had deaths and intense fighting, but still felt lighthearted and had little to no consequence in short periods of time with the story. Every character (side characters included) has so many nicknames that it becomes confusing, and there are a lot of unnatural, cliche phrases that fit this genre but not the world, which makes most side characters feel like NPCs. Phrases like "godsdamned" are used often, and there were a lot of strange, canned ways that characters converse that is just something I don't personally like in writing. Using modern words and phrases like "sexy" and "I'm in" and "he's hot" while also using lots of phrases like "who's this then" that feel like they come from a different place and time took me out of the setting a bit. But, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I know that sometimes repetitive phrasing and canned responses can be comforting to people who are neurodivergent, which I am not! This issue was more of a personal preference for me than a deal breaker for the book.
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The biggest issue for me is that I don't understand the interest that women have in writing explicit sex scenes between two cisgender men. As a queer person, I of course think that in the realm of romantasy and even all other genres, it is important for there to be representations of lots of different types of identities. The issue for me becomes where the gaze is coming from, and my own identity as the person consuming the media. If McPherson were a bisexual or gay man, I would have felt lot more grace for the sex scene I take most issue with, but I felt so uncomfortable reading it because I felt like I was intruding on something that wasn't meant for me, written by someone who also shouldn't have been present for it. I really didn't like that there was necessary character exposition embedded in the scene as well, so it wasn't really optional to skip. This phenomenon of women being interested in or turned on by sex between two men has never made sense to me, and makes me feel very uncomfortable. I think this scene in particular and the romance it involves does make sense within the context of the story and the identity of the characters, but it was the biggest issue that I had personally with the book. The scene was something that I did figure would come up from the very beginning based on the book's description (so perhaps that should have made me decide to not read it as an ARC reader, which I do feel guilty about), so I don't necessarily think it's the fault of the writing or shouldn't be included, but instead a matter of taste. It does feel a bit problematic to me, but I am also not from the demographic that would maybe take offense to this. If there is anyone who believes that this trope is harmful to their identity, I believe that their voices should be the ones we listen to, not my analysis of my own uncomfortable feelings. So, moving on.
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Now, the good things! The first is my favorite character, the main character, Beau. He is an incredibly real and believable MC, and one of the most relatable that I've ever read. Almost every quote I wrote down was something that Beau thinks or says, because his view of the world was so eerily similar to my own, for better and worse. His thoughts about his own bisexuality and reading people, his opinions on tattoos (I am a tattoo artist), his hypersensitivity and his imposter syndrome made it so easy for me to understand him, the plot, and further reflect on my own character. From the very beginning, I loved that he had flaws, that only grew to make me (and other characters in the book) love him more as the story went on. There is also a ton of myth busting and abuse identification that is present in the book as a result of his character, that was incredibly refreshing and different than most popular fantasy books written by men, from the 80s to now. It felt so good to not have to give a story the benefit of the doubt for the time period, and incredibly satisfying for one character to bring up a problem or fear and then have another character identify the real issue in exactly the way I was yelling at the page. And, speaking of satisfying, I really enjoyed the millennial references throughout the book, to Ella Enchanted, Tangled, Twilight, and more. They were blended into the story very well and made me feel some very happy nostalgia.
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Another thing that I loved so much and wish there was even more of was the magic system. I did feel that the romance part of the book took priority over it, and I wish there had been equal parts or more exploration of the magic because it was so fascinating and McPherson did such an amazing job in developing it. I loved that Beau didn't know very much about it in the beginning of the book, and learned more throughout, so the actual building of the information didn't feel rushed or boring or overwhelming to me as a reader. If there is a sequel to this book, which I suspect there will be based on the introduction of a new character at the very end, I really hope that McPherson dives head on into the magic system and makes it more of a main focus.
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All in all, the biggest thing that I hope for McPherson's future writing is that she learns to trust herself and her readers a bit more; so much of her work is very compelling and has so much potential, but it sometimes felt like she gave us a little too much to make sure that we would really be able to get what was going on. I wonder if she uses the spicy element of the book a little bit too much of a crutch to keep her reader interested, when there really are some elements (like the magic system and character discussion) that are so incredibly compelling and strong. I did enjoy this book and am very happy I read it, and though I do feel bad about giving it a middle of the road rating that is the lowest so far, I really hope that if you're thinking about reading this book, my review is helpful to give you an idea of if you'll enjoy it or not. Hopefully I've done a good job of identifying what would maybe make someone pick it up, and I hope that those who took the time to read the whole thing and are excited by my descriptions will love it and leave 5 star reviews!
March 25, 2025
This was such a fun and refreshing read. The beginning worldbuilding was a little slower (as it can go in a fantasy novel) but once I hit about the 20% point, the story really picked up.
Beau is the spare to the throne. This situation changes when his brother, the heir, sustains a fatal injury in a horseback riding accident, thereby elevating Beau from the position of spare to heir. To his dismay, Beau is forced through a crash course on everything relating to being a future ruler. He would rather be living on the isles he has come to love with his closest confident and trusted guardsman, Elias, by his side. Instead, he must suffer through mountains of paperwork, while also interviewing potential ladies to be his wife. As he learns more about the condition of the land, he discovers unexpected disparities attributed to him. Surrounded by the nitwit ladies of the court, Beau quickly finds Lady Penamour (Penny) is the only lady who will have an intelligent conversation with him, though she abhors him. Which obviously only means she is one of the few people who can help him gain the support to keep his crown.
I loved this story. The variety of characters introduced are well thought out and interesting. Even the side characters are intriguing, with the people on the isles being my favorite. Beau, who I initially thought to be a self-absorbed careless character, quickly showed his depth and caring. Beau’s relationship with Elias is extremely sweet and heartwarming. How Penny accepts who and what they are to each other is also just another piece that makes this story special. This story features a bisexual and polyamorous relationship, but these are not the central themes. The spice is present, but not overwhelming.
The magic system is the part of the story I am most interested in. I predict that forthcoming books will provide a more in-depth exploration of the mechanics of magic and the artifacts crafted through various types of magic. The explanation of magical people provided some insight but left a need for additional information. I look forward to continuing this series with the release of future books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Metaltail Press for an advanced copy of this book.
Beau is the spare to the throne. This situation changes when his brother, the heir, sustains a fatal injury in a horseback riding accident, thereby elevating Beau from the position of spare to heir. To his dismay, Beau is forced through a crash course on everything relating to being a future ruler. He would rather be living on the isles he has come to love with his closest confident and trusted guardsman, Elias, by his side. Instead, he must suffer through mountains of paperwork, while also interviewing potential ladies to be his wife. As he learns more about the condition of the land, he discovers unexpected disparities attributed to him. Surrounded by the nitwit ladies of the court, Beau quickly finds Lady Penamour (Penny) is the only lady who will have an intelligent conversation with him, though she abhors him. Which obviously only means she is one of the few people who can help him gain the support to keep his crown.
I loved this story. The variety of characters introduced are well thought out and interesting. Even the side characters are intriguing, with the people on the isles being my favorite. Beau, who I initially thought to be a self-absorbed careless character, quickly showed his depth and caring. Beau’s relationship with Elias is extremely sweet and heartwarming. How Penny accepts who and what they are to each other is also just another piece that makes this story special. This story features a bisexual and polyamorous relationship, but these are not the central themes. The spice is present, but not overwhelming.
The magic system is the part of the story I am most interested in. I predict that forthcoming books will provide a more in-depth exploration of the mechanics of magic and the artifacts crafted through various types of magic. The explanation of magical people provided some insight but left a need for additional information. I look forward to continuing this series with the release of future books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Metaltail Press for an advanced copy of this book.
April 27, 2025
That feeling when you read a book and love the characters with all your heart and soul!
A King’s Trust is a beautiful gem of a book and one I will recommend often. This is the first book in a poly MMF Fantasy Romance series starring a cinnamon roll prince with magic in him, his loyal guard who knows too much, and the brilliant duchess who despises him.
The story follows Beau, who never wanted to be heir but must step up to the task when his elder brother dies. His parents want him to find a wife immediately. One of the possible choices is Lady Penamour, his late brother’s fiancée who despises Beau for she believes him responsible for her betrothed’s death. And in the meantime there is Elias, Beau’s guard and the only one who seems to believe Beau’s capable of finding a wife and co-ruling a kingdom threatened by enemies inside and out. If the three can work together, they might be able to find lost magic relics and avert a war. If not, our prince might succumb to the same secretive forces that killed his brother.
To say that I enjoyed this book is an understatement! Beau is that kind of character I can’t help but love. He is layered and hides a lot of pain behind his sarcasm. And the interactions with both his love interests are perfect! On the one side we have a friends to lovers romance with his guard filled with lots of yearning, on the other there’s an enemies to lovers with a duchess filled with political intrigue. The plot is the kind that I love, layered and slowly building into something big. I enjoyed its intrigue a lot!
This is a perfect read for lovers of found family, steamy on-page spice, royal/guard, enemies to lovers, and bi and AuDHD rep.
And these are the tropes!
📖 MMF Fantasy Romance
⚔️ one of the romances is an enemies to lovers
🛡️ the other is loyal guard x prince
💞 annoying nicknames
🔮 ancient magic
🏰 political intrigue
🛏️ only one bed
💖 AuDHD Bi Disaster
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
A King’s Trust is a beautiful gem of a book and one I will recommend often. This is the first book in a poly MMF Fantasy Romance series starring a cinnamon roll prince with magic in him, his loyal guard who knows too much, and the brilliant duchess who despises him.
The story follows Beau, who never wanted to be heir but must step up to the task when his elder brother dies. His parents want him to find a wife immediately. One of the possible choices is Lady Penamour, his late brother’s fiancée who despises Beau for she believes him responsible for her betrothed’s death. And in the meantime there is Elias, Beau’s guard and the only one who seems to believe Beau’s capable of finding a wife and co-ruling a kingdom threatened by enemies inside and out. If the three can work together, they might be able to find lost magic relics and avert a war. If not, our prince might succumb to the same secretive forces that killed his brother.
To say that I enjoyed this book is an understatement! Beau is that kind of character I can’t help but love. He is layered and hides a lot of pain behind his sarcasm. And the interactions with both his love interests are perfect! On the one side we have a friends to lovers romance with his guard filled with lots of yearning, on the other there’s an enemies to lovers with a duchess filled with political intrigue. The plot is the kind that I love, layered and slowly building into something big. I enjoyed its intrigue a lot!
This is a perfect read for lovers of found family, steamy on-page spice, royal/guard, enemies to lovers, and bi and AuDHD rep.
And these are the tropes!
📖 MMF Fantasy Romance
⚔️ one of the romances is an enemies to lovers
🛡️ the other is loyal guard x prince
💞 annoying nicknames
🔮 ancient magic
🏰 political intrigue
🛏️ only one bed
💖 AuDHD Bi Disaster
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
March 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and S.E. McPherson for the e-ARC. This was such an intriguing read! I was initially drawn in by the MMF fantasy aspect and the weight of political obligation shouldered by Beau, who is thrust into the role of crown prince after the passing of his brother—eventually set to become king. The stakes felt high from the start, and the tension between duty and personal desires added a compelling depth to the story.
One of my favourite aspects was the friends-to-lovers dynamic between Elias and Beau. Their unwavering loyalty to each other was so beautifully written. It felt genuine and heartwarming. Watching them tiptoe around their feelings, hesitant yet deeply connected, made for an incredibly engaging journey. I was eagerly awaiting the moment they would finally realise what was right in front of them! The added complication of Beau needing to find a wife, along with the presence of the prickly duchess who clearly disapproved of him, only heightened the tension between them all, too.
The plot was fast-paced and exhilarating in many ways, but I did find the overall pacing a little slow, especially in the first half. It leaned heavily towards a slow burn, which, while effective in building tension, did make certain sections feel like a bit of a waiting game. However, once the story gained momentum, the twists and turns kept me hooked. The second half, in particular, was gripping, making up for the slower start.
I’m assuming there will be a second book, as there are still so many unanswered questions, particularly about what the events of this book mean for all the characters moving forward. I can’t wait to see where their journey takes them next!
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up to four stars, as the emotional depth and character dynamics more than made up for the slower pacing.
One of my favourite aspects was the friends-to-lovers dynamic between Elias and Beau. Their unwavering loyalty to each other was so beautifully written. It felt genuine and heartwarming. Watching them tiptoe around their feelings, hesitant yet deeply connected, made for an incredibly engaging journey. I was eagerly awaiting the moment they would finally realise what was right in front of them! The added complication of Beau needing to find a wife, along with the presence of the prickly duchess who clearly disapproved of him, only heightened the tension between them all, too.
The plot was fast-paced and exhilarating in many ways, but I did find the overall pacing a little slow, especially in the first half. It leaned heavily towards a slow burn, which, while effective in building tension, did make certain sections feel like a bit of a waiting game. However, once the story gained momentum, the twists and turns kept me hooked. The second half, in particular, was gripping, making up for the slower start.
I’m assuming there will be a second book, as there are still so many unanswered questions, particularly about what the events of this book mean for all the characters moving forward. I can’t wait to see where their journey takes them next!
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up to four stars, as the emotional depth and character dynamics more than made up for the slower pacing.
March 30, 2025
A truly enchanting novel with such diverse presentation and discussion of political issues this was a phenomenal DEBUT novel from an insanely talented writer. The angst from the start, the pining , the building of suspense and dramatic irony in the flowering relationships throughout AMAZING. And small details like the naming - Macabries..macabre? As aforementioned he divulging into the complexities of sexuality and relationships (especially in the why-choose scenario) was such a delicate and complex exploration ensnared in the truly beautiful writing. The mutually assured destruction of the Maurilel magic and the entire world building around that was truly exquisite and luckily easy to understand and grapple with as a reader. Not to mention the extremely empowered Lady Penamour, the absolute adorable relationship the three develop and EMOTION TETHERS (a favourite micro trope of mine)..and ONE NIGHT ONLY (we all know that is always a lie). This book was truly a spiritual experience where I too felt the extraction of my soul into this book and the characters within. Oh and the synesthesia of emotion something I've never come across before but it was so beautifully done I fear it will become my new standard. I cannot WAIT for the other two books giving us further insight to the development of their relationship and the struggles they will, inevitably, face. 5 stars all round.
June 25, 2025
4.5 stars
This was an absolutely fantastic debut book and I loved every second of it. Every character felt alive and real, and the dynamics between the main trio were great. I especially loved Beau as a character, as he had so much depth to him. No one in the trio is perfect, but that made them feel more human and relatable. Yes, you sometimes wanted to bang your head against the wall because of their actions, but the author wrote them in a way that you still loved them as characters and you wanted to see how their relationship bloomed. If you love a found family, this is the book for you. I am really excited to see how they grow together in the later books.
I do love some court politics, and we did get some politics in this book. But I feel like this book more focused on the trio's beginnings and solidified what they might be going up against in the later books. I am excited to see how the story continues now that everything has been established in the first book. One thing I do wish for is that the magic system gets explained and expanded more in the later books in the series. It was really only touched upon in the last quarter of the book but it really seemed interesting so I want to learn more about it!!
I will definitely be continuing the series as the books come out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Metaltail press for the ARC!
This was an absolutely fantastic debut book and I loved every second of it. Every character felt alive and real, and the dynamics between the main trio were great. I especially loved Beau as a character, as he had so much depth to him. No one in the trio is perfect, but that made them feel more human and relatable. Yes, you sometimes wanted to bang your head against the wall because of their actions, but the author wrote them in a way that you still loved them as characters and you wanted to see how their relationship bloomed. If you love a found family, this is the book for you. I am really excited to see how they grow together in the later books.
I do love some court politics, and we did get some politics in this book. But I feel like this book more focused on the trio's beginnings and solidified what they might be going up against in the later books. I am excited to see how the story continues now that everything has been established in the first book. One thing I do wish for is that the magic system gets explained and expanded more in the later books in the series. It was really only touched upon in the last quarter of the book but it really seemed interesting so I want to learn more about it!!
I will definitely be continuing the series as the books come out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Metaltail press for the ARC!
March 24, 2025
This was a book that I truly enjoyed reading from the start. There was a lot of world building and setting things up for the story, but it was all worth it!
I loved Beau, he’s just so lovably sweet and just a little awkward, he never seems to truly fit the royal mold, and no one seems to understand him other than his guard Elias. And Elias was hot, and completely loyal and devoted to Beau, they had a special relationship. Penny was the perfect girl for Beau, she was very politically savvy and could navigate the royal relationships much better than Beau ever did. She really made him work for it though! I love the “found family” aspect of the story, because Beau’s family by blood was truly awful, I wouldn’t want any part of his family, that’s for sure!
The world building and magic of the story was top notch and I really loved it. I can’t wait to read more by this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and Metaltail Press for the advance copy of this and letting me read and review it. All opinions are my own.
I loved Beau, he’s just so lovably sweet and just a little awkward, he never seems to truly fit the royal mold, and no one seems to understand him other than his guard Elias. And Elias was hot, and completely loyal and devoted to Beau, they had a special relationship. Penny was the perfect girl for Beau, she was very politically savvy and could navigate the royal relationships much better than Beau ever did. She really made him work for it though! I love the “found family” aspect of the story, because Beau’s family by blood was truly awful, I wouldn’t want any part of his family, that’s for sure!
The world building and magic of the story was top notch and I really loved it. I can’t wait to read more by this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and Metaltail Press for the advance copy of this and letting me read and review it. All opinions are my own.
March 29, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!
After the death of his brother, Beau becomes the heir to his father's kingdom. Before he's able to take the throne, Beau has to navigate politics from the royal families and a plot from a secret society.
This was such an amazing debut! While it did take me a while to get invested, I couldn't stop reading once I did get hooked. I thought that the world and the magic system is interesting, although I would have liked to see a little more world building. My favorite aspect of this book was the characters. They were all do well-written and I loved all of them, but I especially loved Beau. I really loved getting to see Beau's relationship with both Elias and Penny evolve as the book progressed. I do wish we got to see more of Beau, Elias, and Penny as a triad, but I'm sure they'll have more moments together in the next book. I'm definitely invested and can't wait for the next book in this series!
actual rating: 4.5 stars
After the death of his brother, Beau becomes the heir to his father's kingdom. Before he's able to take the throne, Beau has to navigate politics from the royal families and a plot from a secret society.
This was such an amazing debut! While it did take me a while to get invested, I couldn't stop reading once I did get hooked. I thought that the world and the magic system is interesting, although I would have liked to see a little more world building. My favorite aspect of this book was the characters. They were all do well-written and I loved all of them, but I especially loved Beau. I really loved getting to see Beau's relationship with both Elias and Penny evolve as the book progressed. I do wish we got to see more of Beau, Elias, and Penny as a triad, but I'm sure they'll have more moments together in the next book. I'm definitely invested and can't wait for the next book in this series!
actual rating: 4.5 stars
June 4, 2025
Firstly, I want to thank NetGalley and S. E. McPherson for access to a copy of this book. Be warned, this book has some scenes of intimacy between some of the characters in this book, some scenes of violence, as well as discussion of self harm and substance abuse in parts of this book. Avoid reading this book if you are sensitive to any of those topics.
What a journey! There were many moments that left me either giggling madly or holding back tears as the characters and their relationships developed throughout this story. My poor coworkers had to put up with me talking about every unhinged moment throughout this book, and I kept finding myself feeling excited yet nervous for what else could possibly happen to top everything that had come before.
I found the concept of the book and the characters themselves compelling enough to keep me reading late into the night, and I am impressed at the overall world building and story telling as this is the authors first novel. The pacing did feel a bit jarring at times, and I found myself struggling to keep up with some of the aspects of the magical lore that is being established in this book for the series, I am invested in the outcome of this series to keep reading and am anxiously waiting to find out what ramifications there are for the events at the end of this first book.
Overall, this book made me feel a roller-coaster of emotions and didn't hold back when many other authors tend to. I have so many questions left unanswered that I'm hoping will be answered in the next book, which cannot come soon enough! 4 out of 5 starts!
What a journey! There were many moments that left me either giggling madly or holding back tears as the characters and their relationships developed throughout this story. My poor coworkers had to put up with me talking about every unhinged moment throughout this book, and I kept finding myself feeling excited yet nervous for what else could possibly happen to top everything that had come before.
I found the concept of the book and the characters themselves compelling enough to keep me reading late into the night, and I am impressed at the overall world building and story telling as this is the authors first novel. The pacing did feel a bit jarring at times, and I found myself struggling to keep up with some of the aspects of the magical lore that is being established in this book for the series, I am invested in the outcome of this series to keep reading and am anxiously waiting to find out what ramifications there are for the events at the end of this first book.
Overall, this book made me feel a roller-coaster of emotions and didn't hold back when many other authors tend to. I have so many questions left unanswered that I'm hoping will be answered in the next book, which cannot come soon enough! 4 out of 5 starts!
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