A King's Trust
S.E. McPherson
BOOK 1 | THE HEART-MAGE TRILOGY
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
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Praise for A King's Trust
"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)
"Tantalizing and dripping with tension—a slow-burn romantasy that explodes when things get hot. If you're able to withstand the tantalizing tension, the dripping ache and yearning for touch, you're going to absolutely devour the second half of this book. The slow-burn explodes into a fiery pace, glowing with powerful magic and blushing with orgasmic detail. If you like your romantasy spicy...you can't miss A King's Trust. Coast through the slow set-up—a tease—because it's building, it's coming. I promise. Both Elias and Lady Penamour are superior love interests and characters. McPherson has done a spectacular job with these characters—about as complex and likable as they come. A King's Trust is exactly the type of slow-burn romance you were hoping for."
—Independent Book Review
Content & Trigger Warnings
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Emotional Abuse
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Suggestion of sexual assault (off-page)
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Alcohol consumption & abuse
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Depression
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Self-harm
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Blood & gore depiction
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Scars
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Grief & loss depiction
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Knife, sword & axe violence
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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
Book Details
Author: S.E. McPherson
Publisher: Metaltail Press
Publishing Date: March 25, 2025
Hardcover
ISBN 9798992254303
Page Count: 360
Paperback
ISBN 9798992254310
Page Count: 382
Ebook
ISBN 9798992254327
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.
