The cover of this book caught my eye first and then learning the time period for the book - I was in.

We get different points of view of the story from each of the main characters, which gives more depth to the story.

The reader gets a gentle romance mixed with political intrigue and lots of adventure.

The author’s note at the end is very comprehensive and shows how much research the author did.

If you are looking for a sweet historical fiction with adventure, romance and magical realism mixed in, this book is for you.

Thanks to @netgalley and @bookmarked for the advanced reader copy.

#kingsmessenger #susannakearsley

It’s 1613 and young Prince Henry is dead; his father King James wants his son’s companion Sir David Moray arrested and brought to justice. Andrew, the king’s messenger, and a scrivener are sent to fetch David and bring him to London. Andrew however sees that his elderly neighbor, the scrivener is too weak to make such an arduous trip; but since everyone must follow the king’s orders, Andrew allows the scrivener’s daughter Phoebe to join them. The story takes the reader through their ride back to London, the chase from those who try to stop them and the relationships that form along the way.
Let me just start by saying that Kearsley’s earlier books are some of my favorites so when I saw there was a new one, I was so excited to grab it. This one took me a while to get into even though I love her light use of magical realism and history (I am sucker for the British royal history). However my issue was more with just not fully enjoying the riding scenes, not a dislike of the story. In the end I really became connected with the characters, their backstories and their relationships. I ingested the second half of the book in an afternoon. While I don’t love this one as much as her earlier ones, I really did enjoy it in the end.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC to review

The story was breathtaking, absorbing, with just the right blend of action, politics, mystery and romance. It’s impossible to put down, even the slowest readers will want to keep on reading! Andrew Logan, a King’s messenger, is tasked with bringing in Sir David Moray, Gentleman of the Robes to Prince Henry to answer for the mysterious death of young, healthy Prince Henry. It is a task that needs to be done in secret. Accompanying Andrew is Lawrence Westaway, a scrivener who is to write down everything Moray says on the journey s it can be used against him in a (likely) show trial in London. Westaway is old, and not in the best of health; his daughter Phoebe insists on coming on the journey to take care of him.Andrew and Phoebe have a fraught relationship, to say the least and it’s great fun and really rewarding to watch as over the journey to apprehend Moray and then to bring him to London, both Phoebe and Andrew learn things can be very different from what one thinks. In fact, the whole team (a young boy, Hector is added to the group early) finds that everything they thought they knew, just might not be the truth. Toss in Second Sight for Andrew, a noble “boyfriend” for Phoebe, the poetry of Moray and you have one terrific read. I knew before I opened the book that I would love it (I love all of Susanna Kearsley’s work) but The King’s Messenger is her best yet, deserving of 10 stars!

Beautifully written but did not hold my attention like other her books by this author. Too much exposition without equal story.

Well, I pretty much read this whole book in a day because it was a good day to rest and read a good book! For me, this one is five stars, and here’s why. I love any British historical fiction based on Plantagenet, Tudor, or Stuart monarchies. This book revolved around James 1 of England (and Scotland) who is an endlessly interesting subject; between the witch hunting, his crazy romantic escapades, his bible, his son who was beheaded (Charles), his wife queen, Anna of Denmark, who I just read about in another book (The Kings Witches by Kate Foster) and whom I find an awesome underrated Queen of England, and now I know about Prince Henry, their eldest son, who died at age 18. Why did I not know about this Prince of Wales who suddenly died at 18? I think the author did him a great service here, bringing him into the spotlight. I also loved the references to Mary Queen of Scots, who always fascinates me.
I also loved the love story in this book, and I rarely feel this way. The main character (the King’s messenger) was pretty much like a Jamie in outlander, and I learned so much about the role of the kings messengers which I have never read about before! Rounding out the reasons that this was a win for me, was references to Marcus Aurelius’s meditations throughout the book as well as some great calligraphy references - both areas in which I delight daily. Many many thanks to NetGalley for sending me an advanced readers copy of this well-researched book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will definitely check out more books by this author!

Prince Henry is dead.

Andrew Logan is a Messenger for the King. He has been sent to bring Prince Henry's companion Sir David back to stand trial. The King believes Prince Henry was poisoned and that Sir David is responsible.

Logan will be accompanied by a scribe and his daughter.
What starts out as a routine job ends up being very complicated for Logan. Should he follow his orders or do what is right?

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but this one piqued my interest. I loved it! Logan is a fantastic main character. I loved the intrigue. There's a small fantastical element that was interesting. I also really enjoyed the author note at the end that told about the real Messengers. I will definitely check out more books by this author.

This was my first time reading Susanna Kearsley and I was blown away. This was such a great book that incorporated historical fiction, a touch of magic and a hint of romance. Before reading this story, I knew nothing about King James, Prince Henry or Queen Anna so this made for such an immersive and informative read for me. I enjoyed the multi-POV throughout the book as we follow along Andrew and Phoebe on their exciting journey as well as get a glimpse into Queen Anna's life. The only thing is that I wish there was a little more explanation as to the magic/paranormal element of second sight that Andrew has since there aren't any clear rules for when his gift can be used. Overall though, this was a great read that I recommend to any historical fiction fans!

A huge thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark & Susanna Kearsley for this ARC! 💙

👑 I knew bits about Mary, Queen of Scots, but almost nothing about her son, King James I—the first ruler of both Scotland & England. When I saw The King’s Messenger was set during his reign, unraveling political intrigue, secrets, and betrayal after his son Henry’s death, I had to read it. And WOW—it did not disappoint!

📖 What stood out?
Susanna Kearsley is a master at making history come alive. The vivid Scottish scenery, the courtly drama, and the fascinating concept of the King’s Messenger role had me hooked. Add in a mix of magical realism & enemies-to-lovers romance, and for a hot second, I forgot I was reading historical fiction! 😍

🔥 What to Expect:
✔️ Multiple POVs 👀
✔️ Enemies to lovers 💘
✔️ Scottish scenery & court politics 🏰
✔️ Secrets, betrayal, and bandits ⚔️
✔️ Closed-door scenes 🔥

💞 How was the romance?
The dynamic between Andrew & Phoebe was everything. Both are strong-willed yet bound by court expectations. Phoebe’s growth from naïve to resilient was one of my favorite parts. Kearsley crafted their tension beautifully, making every interaction electric. ⚡

⭐ Final Thoughts:
If you love historical fiction with romance, political twists, & immersive storytelling, this book is a must-read! The multiple POVs keep the pacing perfect, and between the court intrigue, danger, and slow-burning tension, you won’t be able to put this one down!

Author Susanna Kearsley is a favorite of mine; her tales seamlessly weave historical detail with magical influences, resulting in powerful tales that are difficult to put down. THE KING’S MESSENGER is one of her best, relying upon a popular romance trope, ‘the road trip’, to challenge and reward the characters as they move towards their destination. The historical detail is well-developed with picturesque settings from Scotland and England, accompanied by a rotating band of secondary characters that serve to flesh out the historical detail and provide support or threats along the journey. Is this more romance than historical fiction? Probably, because the historic record described within, remains unsettled. Was there a murder or just a sudden death of the young Prince Henry? Much of the plot revolves around the dead heir to the throne. In fictional characters, the budding romance, but one of the ancillary plots, is a fun addition. I could not pause my reading of this book; it was just that good. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

The King's Messenger shed light on an interesting time period through her engaging story telling. Fans of Historical Fiction with some romance peppered in will love this book.

The setting is 1613 during the reign of King James. Andrew Logan is dispatched as the Kings messenger to bring Sir David Moray to Court for questioning. Sir David is suspected of being involved in the untimely death of the crown Prince Henry. David was a close companion of the Prince Henry and seems to be in mourning over his passing.

Throughout the book we get glimpses of Prince Henry's upbringing through the POV of David and Henry's Mother, Anne of Denmark. I enjoyed reading about how the royal family was raised in this era and what the familial relationships looked like. However most of the book takes place during the "present day" after Henry's death. The chapters are written from multiple POV which give the characters added depth.

The majority of the book is the traveling from Scotland to England to return to the Kings Court. The traveling party contains Sir David, Andrew Logan, Phoebe, Phoebe's father the scribe, and a young boy who is along to care for the horses. Andrew and Phoebe have an Enemies to Lovers vibe. Phoebe has definite opinions about Logan, but as the journey goes on she begins to question those opinions and wonder if she has been misled.

All in all a good read!

I received an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for this arc.

The first part of the book seemed to me to be mainly character studies of the people on the journey to Scotland as well as Sir David’s memories of his time with Prince Henry who, at the time, was thought of as the hope of the nation. There are secrets here as well as long held misunderstandings which will turn out to be based on Reasons. So yeah, miscommunications. Then throw in a road trip which actually picks up once Phoebe and her father arrive in Leith and meet up with Andrew and a young boy he’s taken under his wing. Oh, I hope there is or will be more heard about from young Hector as he’s a delight who avoids plot-moppethood.

The fact that Sir David Murry knows that it’s likely that he will be arrested on orders of King James and that his likely fate will not be a good one but that he still arrives back in Scotland says a lot about his character to me. Along the trip and through his memories, David will serve as our source of information about Prince Henry whom it is clear he loved as a son and whose death devastated him.


Phoebe starts the book with a chip on her shoulder and a starry eyed view of a certain asshole whom she thinks she loves. Phoebe’s eyes are slowly opened along the journey when she sees men of true worth and honor and then remembers and rethinks things from her past. It’s a gradual transformation which makes it all the more believable for me.

The road trip reveals the Border areas between Scotland and England as well as life in the early seventeenth century. As the travelers get closer to London, opinions and loyalties have shifted and a secret is revealed. But the King is the one who issued Andrew’s orders and he must be obeyed – not because Andrew agrees with what looks to be Sir David’s ultimate fate, being made to “fall in his sword” to cover up the deeds of others, but rather that a king in general, and King James in particular, is not to be messed with. But then a possibility opens up which harks back to something that we’ve already seen in action. Sometimes it is what you know that counts.

I think that this is a “still waters run deep” novel. It has romantic love, intrigue, danger, family love, politics, and history. I stayed up late to read just one more chapter and then settled myself down the next day to discover what would happen next. One of the best things I can say about this book is that it is written in a way that makes me want to know more. The wait for another Kearsley novel is long but the reward is great. A-

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, British Fiction, Scottish
Spice Level: Kissing on page

I'm already a fan of Susanna Kearsley's books. This one is a little different because it exclusively takes place in the past instead of having a connection to the contemporary world. I still loved it!

THE KING'S MESSENGER caught me into its world of king's messengers, court intrigue, false accusations, the Scottish sight into events to come, and so much more!

The characters are stunning. And I loved watching how they slowly change in their views and what happens because of those changes. The characters we want to root for have more modern sensibilities than might have been historically accurate. This mostly comes out in respect for women and kindness. There are also characters that you will love to hate.

I couldn't stop reading because I was so caught in the story. It is wonderfully interesting and firmly grounded in facts (with a little extrapolation, of course). And anytime there's a Scottish man in a book, I just seem to love it even more.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in British Royalty, England, sweet romance, and historical fiction.

Happy reading!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The King’s Messenger
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Source: Netgalley
Publication Date: March 4, 2025

The captivating tale of early royal life, “The King’s Messenger,” will rank among my top books for 2025. Through Andrew Logan’s eyes, we witness the intricate dynamics of a royal household where loyalty and honor are paramount. As a student of King James, I found the retelling of his life, woven by author, Susanna Kearsley, particularly memorable. It vividly portrays a king with voracious appetites, hateful and jealous tendencies, and a corrupt court filled with intrigue.

The story centers around King James and his wife, Queen Anna, and the tragic loss of their eldest son, Prince Henry. Amidst this somber backdrop, an unlikely romance blossoms between the Messenger, Andrew Logan, and his neighbor, Phoebe Westaway. As the King’s messenger, Logan’s mission is to return Sir David Moray, unjustly accused of Prince Henry’s murder, to London or prove his innocence.

As Andrew and Phoebe journey home from Scotland, they face danger and treachery. They are forced to confront the true villains while obeying the King’s orders. This exquisite tale of love, romance, deception, and royal life is a must-read for historical fiction enthusiasts. @susanna.kearsley @bookmarked @netgalley #england #scotland #historicalfiction #books #bookstagram #bookreviewer #thekingsmessenger #kingJames #romance #journey #royalmessengers

🇬🇧

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

🏴

The King's Messenger follows the story of King James and his actions following the death of his son Henry who died from suspected poisoning. He calls in one of his messengers to bring in Prince Henry's guardian in for questioning, and a quest ensues.

I am a a major fan of Susanne Kearsley, and this novel strays from her typical template a bit. Many of her stories have a time travel element to them, but this one doesn't. Instead it has multiple POV's spanning different timeframes. This is captures through memories instead of time travel. I found it a bit difficult to juggle the POVs at first, but once I knew the characters it was a breeze.

This story has everything! Witchcraft, adventure, life/death scenarios, some romance. This story is written so beautifully! If you are a fan of historical fiction this is a must read.

Thank you to Susanna Kearsley, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for this eARC!

I was very excited to get an early copy of the newest book by Susanna Kearsley. I read everything she writes and this book did not disappoint.

The characters are well written - as always, their relationships with other characters are well rounded and complex. The setting/timeframe is fantastic and the touch of magic is always well done.

I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction - reading other books by the author are not necessary to enjoy this book.


Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader’s copy of this book.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review and ordered the paperback edition with sprayed edges from Barnes and Noble. Susannah Kearsley is one of my favorite authors and did not disappoint with this latest book! The King's Messenger may be my new favorite among all her excellent books. As expected from Kearsley, the book is thoroughly historically researched, beautifully paced, and gorgeously written. Logan is a King's Messenger--an official post in which he carries out missions for the King. Phoebe is the daughter of Laurence Westaway, a scrivener (aka official scribe) who accompanies Logan on his mission to apprehend David Moray, who is suspected of killing Prince Henry, the son/heir of King James and Queen Anna. The story practically takes place in real-time on the road, with flashbacks, as they, along with a stable boy named Hector, journey back from Scotland with David Moray in custody. It becomes ever more apparent that Davis is an honorable gentleman being wrongfully suspected and accused and that Logan must figure out how to protect his charge while maintaining loyalty to the crown.

As with all of Kearsley's books, the characters are well-rounded and multidimensional. I adored the love story between Phoebe and Logan as "enemies to lovers," with Pride and Prejudice added to the mix (Phoebe is prejudiced against Logan and has her demons and fears). My heart ached during the flashbacks of David treating Prince Henry like his son, which made the innocent moments and discussions with Hector (the stable boy) even more poignant. I was worried about how the situation would resolve peacefully, and I loved the book's last third, which handled the resolution in such a satisfying way. As with many of Kearsley's books, I couldn't put it down once I started reading this, reading a majority of the book in a day or two. I read it so fast that I can't wait to reread it, slowly savoring the words and precious moments between all the characters. I can't recommend this book highly enough--it is perfect for anyone who loves romance, adventure, and history.

4 court intrigue stars

I can always count on Susanna Kearsley to immerse me in another time. I’ve read at least 6 of her books.

We are back in 1613 and in the court of King James. Andrew Logan is a King’s Messenger. Trusted to convey messages from the King and, occasionally, to retrieve someone and bring them back for questioning.

David Moray was Prince Henry's trusted companion from about age 5. In those days, the tradition was to raise the royal children in separate households to keep them safe from intrigue and death. Unfortunately, Henry survived only until 18 years old, when he succumbed to a mysterious illness. Moray is under suspicion. The King sends Messenger Andrew Logan to Scotland to retrieve Moray and bring him back for questioning.

Phoebe is another main character in this one. Her father is a scrivener (scribe). He’s aging, though. When the king wants to send him along with Andrew, Phoebe volunteers to go along on the trip to care for her father. She’s leaving her heart behind with Valentine (appropriate name, huh) and hopes to get a marriage proposal when she returns.

Phoebe and Andrew have verbally sparred on many occasions, and she’s not quite sure what to make of him. He seems to be more of a gentleman than she thought in spite of his recent sparring with Valentine.

The group has some great adventures and dangers as they find David and begin to bring him back to London. They are joined by an adorable young man who idolizes David. We learn David’s full story along the way.

I really enjoyed this one! It was fun to read the author’s notes at the end and learn that some of these characters were real people.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this before its publication date. I have been a fan of Susanna Kearsley for a long time now, and I was very excited to get a copy of her newest book. She did not disappoint. My relationship with historical fiction is love/hate. I either love the storyline, or get lost in the historical information that slows the story down. The King's Messenger was a lovely story, with characters that I was fully vested in, and actually made me want to know more about the history of the time period.

The King's Messenger (Paperback)
by Susanna Kearsley
A historical story showing a different view of kings, and messengers after the death of Elizabeth the first. How people expect royalty to behave, and how history is changed to their perceptions.

An interesting story of the mystery and court intrigue surrounding the death of Prince Henry Stuart - the king who never was.