So where I even begin with this one? I loved, loved, loved this book!

McPherson’s world-building is vivid and immersive, creating a setting that feels both fantastical and grounded in real emotional stakes.
Beau is a relatable and endearing protagonist, his kindness and vulnerability making him a character readers will root for from the very first page.

P.S.
Elias and Beau deserved everything along with Penny.
I'm really excited to see this trio continue to grow together in the next book!

This book really surprised me. At the begging, it was a little slow and I thought I was going to hate it, but as it went on, El and Beau grew on me. This romance is definitely a slow burn for the throuple but totally worth it if you’re needing something else to read.

I've been looking for a book about polyamory for some time now, one where the rest of the content also appeals to me, and I’ve finally found it here. At the beginning of the story, a lot was unclear, but over time, things started to make sense. However, I found it a bit disappointing that much of what happened had already taken place before the events of the book, and it was only recounted afterward, rather than being shown as part of the narrative. I really liked Beau, Elias, and Penny as protagonists – especially Penny, who I thought was a strong woman and very likable. I also enjoyed the dynamic that developed between the three of them throughout the story. The magic intrigued me from the very beginning, which is why I was disappointed that it appeared rather sporadically and wasn’t explored more deeply. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys court intrigues, complex characters, and well-written polyamorous relationships.

This was such a delight. It was a bit slow-moving in the first quarter but I immediately connected with Beau and loved his relationship with Elias from the jump, The dialogue was sharp and hilarious at times. I felt the plot moved along nicely even with the slow setup. I was engaged throughout and never lost interest in any of the characters. The magical elements throughout the novel were intriguing and added so much to the universe.

Beau was a great narrator. I truly appreciated his voice and didn't get irritated with him once which was shocking for me. I loved Elias beyond comprehension. Give me a 'touch him and die' character any day and I'll probably adore him. Penny was everything. She was strong and mysterious and brilliant. I loved that we got to see Beau's home on the Isles as well. It made what happened there so much more emotional than anything else in the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much! I can't wait to read more from McPherson!

Thank you to NetGalley and Metaltail Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I adored this book so much !!!

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!

Utterly mesmerizing. McPherson weaves a spellbinding tale of politics, magic, and romance, where every twist captivates. The worldbuilding starts slow, but once it unfolds, it’s impossible to look away.

Beau never wanted the throne, but fate has other plans. Thrust into courtly chaos—paperwork, power plays, and an unwanted marriage—he longs for the freedom of the isles and the quiet strength of Elias, his most trusted companion. Amid court intrigue, only the sharp-witted Lady Penamour challenges him, making her the ally he never expected.

The characters shine—vivid, layered, impossible not to love. The romance is tender yet fierce, beautifully queer, and refreshingly natural. The magic system intrigues, promising even more depth in the sequels.

I am feral for this book. Sharp dialogue, slow-burn tension, and a world that lingers long after the last page. McPherson has crafted something special. I need more.

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

I received this book as an ARC from Netgally. All opinions are my own.

I really en how the book from start to finish. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect in terms of how explicit it would be during sex scenes but I was pleasantly surprised with how it was done. The romance and spice did not take over the book and they instead just added to it. I absolutely loved how magic was balanced in the book. I do wish that there had been a smidge more struggle with saving one of the characters at the end because as it stands it is a little convenient what happens.

Beaus nicknames for Lady Penamour definitely had me laughing out loud.

Overall I enjoyed it and it left me wanting more.

Thank you to Netgally, the publisher, and author for providing me with this ARC!

A King's Trust is a very cute read. It's very court politic heavy which is not everyone's cup of tea but it's done well. The chapter titles were intriguing and funny as well. The front half of the book is fairly slow and difficult to discern exactly what the plot is going to be beyond a prince rising to king as well as a romance that is truly feet kicky worthy. The second half of the book is much more fast paced and interesting. The story is about a prince who raised himself on the isles and is forced to return to the mainland when his brother dies. Upon his return he has to be trained to become King which he has never wanted to be as well as find a wife. There are secret societies, lies, deceit, and Magic which alters the course of this path. The romance is foot kicky and overall I enjoyed the story, with the exception of the heavy court politics.

I loved A King's Trust! It featured a gorgeous, sympathetic MMC, his hero guard, and an impressive, powerful Duchess.

In my experience, romance books written from a single POV tend to be written from the female gaze. So, it was enlightening, and rather enchanting, to find that A King's Trust turns that on its head, featuring the sole point of view of Beau, struggling with being newly made Crown Prince after the unexpected death of his older brother.

I liked Beau immensely, he is torn between what he wants, and what he thinks he should do, but soon finds even that isn’t so simple as what he wants is more than one thing (or in fact, more than one person). His love of a simple life is endearing, if a little naïve, and his passion for treating people fairly in a world that doesn’t consider their needs is admirable. Beau’s loyal guard Elias has been just out of reach for years, a line that has never been crossed, despite what everyone else believes, because of their professional relationship, until one day that seal is broken and the love is out in the open. Meanwhile, Beau must find a wife to be his future queen, and the Duchess with whom he spars and argues so frequently is the only one who has captured his interest.

We learn a lot of court intrigue, something about the magic that used to exist on the continent, but has mostly disappeared over the years, and about a secret society with an interest in magical artefacts. We see Beau enjoying separate spicy times with both Elias and the Duchess, but we don’t ever see the three together. There is a moment where it looks like it’s about to happen, but they are interrupted, so I would struggle to consider this a full MMF book. Having said that, while there wasn’t a cliffhanger, it did feel like there were plenty of stories still to be explored, so I’m really hopeful that there will be further books in the series and we’ll have more opportunity to explore the characters together.

Thanks to NetGalley & Metaltail Press for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Beauregard is the second son thrust into the role of heir when his older brother unexpectedly dies. He has no interest in becoming king, and is resentful of the responsibility keeping him from living the life he desires. He has to learn some hard truths about the people around him, and recognize the types of people who typically have privilege and power, and the ways in which they often use that power and privilege. All while uncovering various mysteries, navigating the court politics, trying to find a queen, and fighting his attraction to his guard.

I loved this book. It grabbed my attention and held it till the end. The tension in every aspect of this story was beautifully done. It was incredibly well written, evocative, and compelling. The dialogue in particular was written especially well, full of wit, sarcasm, and snark. It made me feel all the emotions. I cried, I laughed, I audibly gasped, I giggled and kicked my feet.

There were twists & turns I rarely saw coming. The magic system was unique and intriguing. I quickly fell in love with the characters. I loved the found family aspect, and seeing Beau realize that maybe deep down he knew all along who he could truly trust. The two romance plots were compelling. The slow burn was deliciously slow and incredibly satisfying. The enemies to lovers was done well, it could have been too abrupt a switch, but there was enough interaction and subtle building of trust to make it believable.

I will certainly be on the lookout for more from McPherson in the future, and will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

I received an ARC from netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

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!

*A King's Trust* by S.E. McPherson is an engaging, charismatic fantasy about Prince Beauregard, who unexpectedly becomes the crown prince after his brother’s death. With a royal duty to marry before taking the throne, Beau struggles and is torn between his duty to marry a noblewoman and his growing feelings for his guard, Elias.

The characters are well-developed and I loved reading about them, especially Beau, whose journey from a rebellious prince to a more confident leader is heartwarming. Kind of reminded me of myself. The evolving friendship and romance between Beau and Elias are a key highlight, while the polyamorous dynamic with Penny adds depth. The magic system is interesting an unique, and the world-building was well done without overwhelming me.

Though the pacing can feel slow at times, the story is still captivating, with strong themes of duty, love, and personal growth. Overall, it’s a wonderful read for fans of character-driven fantasy with a queer poly romance, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next.

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.

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.

Well that was nothing short of magical.

'A King's Trust' is fast paced, and despite being a fairly length fantasy, had me constantly turning pages.

It's queer, and not in the 'ticking boxes to meet criteria' sort of way, which I wholeheartedly appreciated.

There's spice, albeit fairly minimal aside from a couple of scenes, and most of it is closed door. It's done in a way that remains tasteful and it takes over absolutely none of the storyline.

It was a pleasure to receive this as an ARC, and since it's due out in just a few days, I'd urge anyone to read it.

If I had to criticise - I want to learn more about the magic. It was nice to read a fantasy that didn't rely so heavily on the magic itself, but since it played such a heavy role towards the end, I think it would have been nice to explore it more throughout the book.

That said, I want more from this universe, so I can only hope that more on this really unique magic comes with it.

A King’s Trust by S. E. McPherson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am screaming, sobbing, throwing up, feral, absolutely destroyed in the best way possible. There are truly not enough words in any language to express how much I love this book and how absolutely amazing it was. This was everything. Growing up I would read so many books where there was always a love triangle and the main character had to choose, but I am so happy and fulfilled and emotional over the fact that this was not that. And it also wasn’t a why choose type romance where the main plot is the smut and the relationships, and I wanna be very clear that I’m not saying there’s a problem with that because I for sure adore those books as well. It’s just that I feel like I got something that I have rarely if ever been able to get out of a romance book where it just feels so natural to have this type of loving relationship and I need more of this immediately and forever. This book was just absolutely everything. And so queer! I love it!

The world building, characters and rep in this book were all fantastic. The story flowed so naturally and really sucked me in. A fantastic read.

I was excited to dive into "A King’s Trust" thanks to the generous ARC provided, but I must admit that I had a hard time getting into the book. Perhaps I was still riding the high from a historical romance featuring a captivating king and queen that I recently finished, making it difficult for this story to capture my full attention.

What Didn’t Click
From the outset, the narrative didn’t grab me. I only managed to get a few pages in before deciding to set it aside. It felt as though something was missing that I desperately need when it comes to historical romances—a spark or that compelling hook that makes me want to stay engaged with the characters and their world.

Potential and Possibilities
That said, I’m aware that sometimes a book just isn’t the right fit for the moment. It might simply be a case of me being in a temporary book slump. I can see hints of potential in the premise, and I’m open to giving "A King’s Trust" another try when I’m in the right mindset for historical romance. Sometimes a story grows on you over time, or you find that perfect moment to appreciate its nuances.

Final Thoughts
While "A King’s Trust" didn’t win me over immediately, I’m leaving the door open for a future reading when I can approach it with a refreshed perspective. For now, I remain on the fence—but I’m optimistic that under different circumstances, the story might resonate more strongly with me.