Susanna Kearsley’s books always have such a tone of realism and make her characters so relatable that even the most fantastic suggestions seem completely believable. And reading the afterwards with her in depth explanations for how the characters were developed and which parts of the story are truth or fiction just emphasizes how wonderful a storyteller she is.

The mixed emotions Logan has about his mission, the confession Phoebe receives from her father, the memories of David…. These all felt so real, but then were perfectly mixed with the adventure of their travels to London and the various characters they meet along the way. The gradual change in Phoebe’s perception of Andrew Logan was completely convincing. I highly recommend this book!

Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous court of King James comes a story filled with deceit, jealousy, and possible murder. Kings Messenger Andrew Logan is sent to retrieve David Moray so he can be held to account for the mysterious death of his charge Prince Henry. Along for the journey are scribe Westaway, his daughter Phoebe, and a young stable boy- all of whom harbor secrets and agendas. Told in alternating perspectives including Queen Anna, a full picture of events is woven together as tale of shifting alliances and the impact on ordinary people.

As always, thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This was my first Susanna Kearsley book but it most definitely won't be my last! I ate this book up and couldn't put it down. What a fantastic first book of the year! I definitely added to my book boyfriend list. Andrew has my whole heart!
A prince was murdered and the King sends one of his messengers to find a person of interest and bring him back to the palace for questioning. The messenger finds himself with unexpected and surprising companions that turn this task into an adventure of the heart and mind.

Susanna Kearsley's latest historical fiction novel transported me to 17th-century England and Scotland. Andrew Logan is King James' messenger and has served the king for five years. It is 1613, about one year after the death of King James and Queen Anna's son, Prince Henry. Andrew is assigned to travel from London to Scotland to arrest David Moray, Prince Henry's closest advisor, for the murder of the Prince. What follows is an enchanting and intriguing tale of political intrigue, the quest for power, trust and betrayal, the gift of sight, and a romance. Kearsley takes us on a literal road trip of several weeks' journey by horse with a small group of people who retrieve Moray and return with him to London. I felt immersed in this world as a result of the enormity of research Kearsley masterfully combines with beautiful prose that is reminiscent of the time period and region. Fans of historical fiction will find this a must-read with romance and magical realism, adding to the depth of the story and its rich and layered characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Susanna Kearsley for the advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #TheKingsMessenger #SusannaKearsley #historicalfiction #romance #magicalrealism #read #anticipatedbooks #nytbestsellingauthor #ARCreview #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookclub #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookworm #SourcebooksLandmark

Just didn’t Hit for me and ended up a DNF… ((My apologies for the late review. (I am now cleaning them up for the new year)) I wish Kearsley stayed in the gothic dual timelines and I'm just so disappointed since belleweather … sadness

Susanna Kearsley once again expertly creates historical fiction made more riveting by couching the story in a compelling romance.

This time she takes us to 1613 London and the court of King James I of England. Rumors have been spreading about the cause of the untimely death the previous winter of the King’s son and heir, Henry, shortly before he turned 19. Henry had been the focus of great hope and expectation, which meant he had incurred enemies just by existing. His mother, Queen Anne, wanted to find out which of his enemies might have taken her son away from her.

She pressed her husband to investigate, and wanted in particular to ask questions of Sir David Moray, former Gentleman of the Robes to Prince Henry. Per her wishes the King employed one of his messengers, the Scottish-born Andrew Logan, only 26, but already known for bravery in carrying out the King’s wishes. Andrew was to find and arrest David Moray, and return him to London where he could be examined on what he knew about the prince possibly having been poisoned. The King also assigned a scrivener, Laurence Westaway, to accompany Andrew.

Andrew was aided by having the Second Sight. As he explained: “This gift - or curse - of Second Sight . . . gave unbidden glimpses of the things that were to come. My mother, a Macdougall from the Western Isles, had warned me I should hide it well, for while the Sight was commonplace among her people, elsewhere it was nothing but a danger to possess, viewed as the Devil’s work and witchcraft.”

He knew therefore, that Westaway might not make it back home, and to that end agreed that Westaway’s daughter Phoebe, 24, could join them on the trip.

Picking up Sir David Murray in Scotland turned out to be relatively easy. But bringing him back to London to stand trial turned out to be a journey full of peril and revelations that would change everyone’s lives.

Evaluation: The author clearly has done a great deal of research in recreating 17th Century Scotland and England, not only with respect to the history and politics of the time, but regarding the language, dress, housing, manners and conduct of the period. Fans of Diana Gabaldon will rejoice in revisiting those times with such a skillful narrator, and with an enchanting romance in the story to boot.

This was a fun historical fiction novel told by two POV. I really enjoyed this book I couldn't put it down and read it in a day.

Susanna Kearsley write good historical fiction, well researched, highlighting little known events. In this tale Prince Henry, the heir to James I, is touted as the bright hope for the future. So his sudden death from illness was devastating. How could it happen? Was it poison, if so who? The prince’s closest companion is headed for Edinburgh. So is the king’s messenger, with an arrest warrant. This is the tale of the messenger and his mission.

The first thing that stood out to me was how immaculately researched this was; Kearsley created a phenomenal and well-rounded sense of place and time that made me just fall into the book. I love how the story balanced political intrigue with personal relationship, romantic and familial, and a touch of magic. I enjoyed the romance, particularly how it the was more slow-burn, feeling genuine and earned.

I was thrilled to receive this ARC of yet another Scottish-set Susanna Kearsley novel. It had all the usual elements that I like (the Scottish setting, exploring 17th-century history, a sweet romance), with one unexpected element: a sweet child-hero relationship. The romance was lovely, though it burned a bit too slowly for my taste. I also enjoyed getting multiple perspectives, though the multiple POVs plus the flashback elements made it difficult at times to keep track of who was narrating. Admittedly, the Stuart kings of Great Britain are not my strongest historical period, but I found Kearsley's perspectives of what might have happened between James I, his wife, and their oldest son very interesting, especially after reading her afterword. I almost wish I had read the afterword first, to be honest. Overall, I still think The Winter Sea is my favorite of her novels, but I am glad to have read this latest addition to her oeuvre.

Ms. Kearsley doing what she does best, well researched historical fiction with a bit of other worldliness. Four solid stars.

Loved this. Solid plot. Strong character development. Wonderfully atmospheric. Pretty compulsive read. She’s one of my favorite authors and she didn’t let me down with this one!

A wonderful novel that artfully blends fact and fiction and features a vulnerable young heroine you’ll love. The book is set in the royal court of King James VI/I, the enigmatic monarch recently portrayed in the miniseries Mary & George, so the historic context immediately drew me in. Although I have read many novels about King James’ mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, I knew little about her son’s reign. In the first pages the reader learns that England has suffered an unspeakable tragedy, the loss of a popular crown prince. Rumors are flying about the cause of his death. Kearsley weaves that history into an engrossing tale that blends a royal road trip with a touching enemies-to-lovers subplot. Her deep research really shines in the novel’s male main character, Andrew Logan, who is a King’s Messenger caught in the crosswinds of deadly palace intrigue. There are some light speculative elements, but this is a very human story written by an author who walked the paths traveled by her characters. I’m anxious to read more of Kearsley’s many books. In the US, it’s available for preorder. Thanks to the @sourcebooks team and @netgalley for providing me this e-book for review. #historicalfiction #bookstagram

The King’s Messenger completely surprised me. At first, I wasn’t sure—it starts off slow, and I found myself wondering where it was going. But then it clicked, and suddenly I was staying up way too late, completely hooked.

Its 1613, right after England and Scotland have been united under King James I. His son, Prince Henry, has died unexpectedly, and rumors of poison are spreading. To get answers, the King sends Andrew Logan, one of his messengers, to Scotland to arrest Sir David Moray, a close friend of the prince. Andrew isn’t traveling alone—he’s joined by Laurence Westaway, a sickly court scribe, and Laurence’s daughter, Phoebe, who insists on coming along to care for her father. The twist? Phoebe hates Andrew, and there’s plenty of tension between them to keep things interesting.

I loved the way the story unfolds. It’s told from multiple perspectives—Andrew, Phoebe, Sir David, and even Queen Anna (James’s wife). At first, I wasn’t sure if all the viewpoints were necessary, but they ended up giving the story so much depth. One of my favourite part of the book, was the relationship between Andrew and Phoebe —watching them clash and slowly come to understand each other felt so real. Phoebe is fiery, stubborn, and fiercely loyal, and Andrew’s quiet integrity balances her out perfectly. Sir David, He is clever and sarcastic in a way that brings some much needed humor to the story.

The book is a little slow to begin with, but when they begin their journey from Scotland to London is where the book shines. It’s long, dangerous, and full of tension not just from the people they encounter on the road, but also within the group itself. There’s even a touch of the supernatural, as Andrew has the ability to glimpse the future. It’s subtle but used so effectively, especially in one eerie, unforgettable scene in the misty Scottish Borderlands.

For me - what really makes this book stand out is the way atmosphere is written. You can feel the cold wind, the muddy roads, and the constant sense of danger. Susanna Kearsley has such a gift for making history come alive without overwhelming you with too many details.

I also really enjoyed her author’s note at the end, I could have read an entire book just about her research. I loved learning which characters were based on real people and how much of the story was rooted in actual events.

This is a story about loyalty, truth, and finding love in the most unexpected places. The romance is subtle but beautiful, the characters feel real, and the whole thing has this quiet magic to it. If you’re into historical fiction, or even just a really well-told story, I can’t recommend this one enough. But, be patient, give it some time to build…. it’s worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark.

A love story, a rebellion, what will happen?

This story focuses on the Scotland Jacobite Rebellion and don’t stress if you know nothing about it! The story helps you to better understand through the amazing details!

The writing is amazing and I loved seeing the love story unfold through all of the twists and turns!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was so excited to see there was a new Susanna Kearsley because she never disappoints & I always learn history I was never aware of before as her research is always top drawer. She immerses you in a time period with her novels & makes you want to head down rabbit holes to learn more about the eras she's writing & the real live people interspersed within the fictional characters.
All throughout reading this book I had to pause (briefly) to look up various people I was so fascinated to place the real within the made up & attempt to learn a bit more about this time period in history.
I will be recommending this to all my friends! If I still did a top 5 for the year this would be on the list (even though it doesn't publish until 2025!)

Thanks to netgalley & Landmark for the chance to read an early copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that included adventure, romance, and history of the realm of King James. The character development was excellent, and the many quotes from historical figures enhanced their development. Susanna Kearsley is incredibly accomplished at researching and developing characters and creating a believable atmosphere for the time. I found once I started this novel, I could not put it down. Her author notes in the back of the novel were extremely valuable and enhanced my understanding of the known history as well as the historical figures. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history, historical mystery, a bit of romance, and philosophical quotes about navigating life, then and now. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Landmark Source Books for this ARC

I have read many of Susanna Kearsley’s books and have quite enjoyed being transported and immersed in a different time period. The King’s Messenger takes 1613 England/Scotland with King James at the helm. Jealousy and treachery rule the day and those who orbit the King’s court.

A journey to Scotland, an unraveling mystery and slow burn romance come together to make an intriguing tale. Phoebe, Sir David, and Andrew’s time together brought forward a theme of found family despite the circumstances. Added to that was the impact of a child’s belief and trust in the adults responsible for them.

I quite enjoyed my time with this group and appreciated the thoughtful approaches each character took. In a time when integrity was lacking the actions of each were heartening. The King’s Messenger as a stand out read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for my DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read this one so quickly!
This is another wonderful Susanna Kearsley historical, told from two points of view. One is a King's Messenger with the Second Sight tasked with returning home to Scotland to retrieve a man accused of murder; another is the daughter of the scrivener sent with the King's messenger to help document everything the accused says. These two have a rocky history, but grow to understand one another as the perilous journey unfolds... if you're a SK fan I think you'll really enjoy this one!

a delightful, well researched historical fiction with a splash of magical realism, even a hint of romance. if you enjoy political and court intrigue, and like to be transported back in time, definitely pick this one up

3.5 stars rounded up