A King's Trust

Heart-Mage Trilogy, Book 1

De: S.E. McPherson

Narrado por: Luke Milligan

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. A KING’S TRUST is a fantasy romance featuring a cinnamon roll prince with magic in him, his loyal guard who knows too much, and the brilliant duchess who despises him. If they can work together, they might be able to find lost magic relics and avert a war. If not, our prince might succumb to the same secretive forces that killed his brother. Found family, royal/guard, enemies to lovers.

©2025 S.E. McPherson (P)2026 S.E. McPherson

Voice Special Effects that elevate the immersion

A poignant story for our generation about breaking tradition and unconditional love. Very pleasing to read LGBTQ representation in the Fantasy genre that plays a significant role in the overall plot. It wasn't just about checking a box but the main focus of the conflict. Very well done. I especially enjoyed that the main character was bisexual since I also identify as such a person. Good world building that I would say is about mid-level in terms of depth. Very romantic and cool magic. There are countless locations and nobility to keep track of but the important ones to the story are memorable enough while the overall world doesn't overwhelm the reader. A special note to the production quality of the audiobook as there are voice effects for certain characters and the narrator does a smashing job of affecting voice inflections and laughs when mentioned in the text and appropriate! I recommend for fans of the "Romantasy" genre who want a unique romantic angle. I couldn't stop giggling and sharing the details with friends while I read this novel. Mystery, action, magic, political intrigue, and romance keep the reader turning every page! Ready for the next one

A Stunning Debut with Depth and Swoon-Worthy Chaos

Waiting a year for the audiobook? WORTH EVERY SECOND.

Below is my original review of the story, which remains unchanged, but I'll add that one of the best parts of this book is the natural dialogue throughout. It feels so real, and I heard the characters in my head so many times while reading. Hearing them actually brought to life by the narrator has been incredible. I'm pleasantly surprised by the British accent but think it suits the story very well. McPherson has such rich and varied dialogue throughout, and it's rare that a narrator is able to embody such a breadth of characters (or simply gets the chance to, because so many audiobooks relegate main dialogue to a handful of key players). Well done, Luke Milligan. I loved his portrayal of "side" characters like Ma and Courdor (lol). Anyway, I'm obsessed. Listen to it. I can't wait to hear the sequel in the Heart-Mage Trilogy, A Villain's Hope —which is out now in print!

Original review:
A King’s Trust is the kind of book that reminds me why I love reading. S.E. McPherson has crafted a world that is immersive and intoxicating—full of magic, intrigue, and characters that feel like they could step off the page and into your life. I love them deeply.

At the heart of this story is a poly MMF romance (my first of its kind!) that burns in all the best ways—an AuDHD bi prince trying to survive a throne he never wanted, a lusciously loyal guard who knows too much, and a duchess who refuses to make it easy on anyone (and like, she’s definitely an enneagram 8 like me). The tension? Off the charts. The emotional depth? Gut-wrenching in the best way. And the world-building? So vivid that I felt completely transported—something that doesn’t always come easily for me, but this novel made easy.

This book doesn’t just deliver an unforgettable story—it means something. It’s a love letter to found family (tulip family!), queerness, and the defiance of expectation—all things we need to uplift in these uncertain times. If you love fantasy romance with spice 🥵, depth, and razor-sharp storytelling, this is a must-read. I already can’t wait for what’s next from S.E. McPherson, and I’ll be starving until I get my hands on the sequel.

Order it. Devour it. Obsess over it. Thirst for the sequel. Trust me.