A King's Trust

S.E. McPherson

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.

Queer PolyAm Romance | Fantasy | Own-Voices Bi, AuDHD Rep

Royal/Guard | Enemies to Lovers | Found Family

"A compelling tale with well-drawn characters and beautifully executed LGBTQ+ romance."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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Fable

"In her debut fantasy novel, McPherson delivers a thrilling and emotional story with remarkable worldbuilding. Readers will instantly connect with the genuinely kind but snarky Beau, as he remains true to himself and his morals, and loyal to the people he cares about. Elias and Lady Penamour are also intriguing and well-developed characters. The romantic buildup between Beau and Elias, and between Beau and Lady Penamour, is engaging and ultimately satisfying. The novel also offers strikingly sensitive and authentic representations of queer and trans characters, as well as polyamory. Family strife, intense battle scenes, and magic add interest to the palace intrigue.

A compelling tale with well-drawn characters and beautifully executed LGBTQ+ romance."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Content & Trigger Warnings

Emotional Abuse
Suggestion of sexual assault (off-page)
Alcohol consumption & abuse
Depression
Self-harm
Blood & gore depiction
Scars
Grief & loss depiction
Knife, sword & axe violence
Poisoning

Ending Spoilers (for anxious readers)

Does this book have a happy ending? Yes!

Do any of the main characters die? Yes, but they're all alive at the end.

Who is the endgame? Beau, Penny, and Elias as a triad

Meet the Main Characters

Crown Prince

Beauregard Highput

Meet Beau, a crown prince who'd rather have his late elder brother back than a throne.

Too honest for a politician, too gentle for a swordsman, too deeply in love with his guard best friend and his commoner life on the isles to properly focus on marrying a future queen and ascending to the throne; Beau's a disaster.

But if he can keep the gorgeous duchess who hates him from destroying all his plans and find a little magic, maybe he can steer his kingdom clear of the wars that are coming.

Ferocious Duchess

Victoire Penamour

Meet Victoire Penamour, Duchess of Veritelutte, ferocious politician, and a scholar of ancient magic. She'd be the ideal next queen—if she didn't hate the crown prince to the marrow of his bones.

But let him call her infuriating nicknames; let him baffle her with the ways he continually upends noble life in Granvallee; let him be charming and strange. She's not going to marry him. She's going to make sure no one marries him. And she'll bring him to justice for the crime she's (almost) certain he committed.

Loyal Guard

Elias Batesian

Meet Elias Batesian, the prince's loyal guard and biggest distraction. No one wants to see the prince safely on the throne and married to the woman of his dreams more than this man. And no one could possibly make the prince want to abdicate and run off with a guard more than this man.

Sure, he disappears around corners and comes back with a freshly cleaned blade and blood under his fingernails. Sure, he seems to know more than a common guard ought to. But he's got the future king's trust anyway.

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