This story is set in 1600s England where we have a prince dead under mysterious circumstances and a king’s messenger tasked with bringing back to the court the one man who might know what happened. I enjoyed this book! It was atmospheric and the characters were vividly crafted. Definitely one that’ll cause you to have Google open in another browser, as much of the drama that unfolds on the page actually happened! I’m eager to find more books from this author’s backlist. Thanks to NetGalley for a digital arc!

Thank you to Sourcebooks for an arc of this novel!
I am such a massive fan of Susanna Kearsley and was ecstatic to find out she was coming out with a new book. The Kings Messenger is muli pov set in historical UK across England and parts of Scotland. I can’t decide who was my favorite of all of the characters. Each had character growth that led me to feel truly connected to them by the end. So much so I didn’t want to close the book and for this interaction with the characters to end. The beginning is fast paced as is the end though the middle slows down and really draws you into the characters and their dynamics. I was hooked the last 70 pages especially. Its surprising to me that this book was only about 300 pages when it packed such a punch. I absolutely loved Hector and Andrew. Both in such different ways. I had a lot of respect towards David and felt such empathy towards Phoebe and her father. Truly such complex characters. Kearsley has such a way with words and her writing style is so addictive. Check out this book if you havent! The romance was so sweet. I wish it had started a bit earlier than it did, but at the same time it really drew it out and made you wait in anticipation for it.

This book has a complete 5 stars from me. At first I was hesitant because the beginning parts of the book felt a little slow, but once I got used to the multiple points of view, I was perfectly fine. I flew through the last part. Historical fiction is a hit or miss for me but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.

Susan Kearsley has written a serious historical novel about the death of Henry, heir of King James VI an I and the intrigues surrounding it. The King's Messenger covers the career of Andrew Logan, hereditary king's messenger, who is told to bring back to court from Scotland Sir David Moray, a trusted advisor of Henry. James is touchy about his rights and has been known to arrange the death of someone he regarded as dangerous to him. In this novel David Moray did return to court but was able to give his papers regarding Henry's death to the queen. That protected him. King's Messengers were couriers and direct servants of the crown; the office carried on into the nineteenth century were it was folded into British bureaucracy.

"The King's Messenger" is a quick historical romance read for millennials who grew up devouring this genre. You'll feel the familiar immersion into the history, but what we're really here for is the slow burn, the quiet yearning, the scandalously unpinned hair of it all. And this Pride-and-Prejudice-esque love story will certainly not disappoint. I found each and every character unique and interesting in their own right, the pace of the book appropriate (albeit with some tidily wrapped up plot points at the end that could have been more complex to be more realistic), and the plot to be engaging enough to keep me interested while I wait for more pining. While I didn't always get excited to read some of the POV chapters that were more historical, I thought it was well-executed and well-written, and I'm still giddy with happiness at these two cutie-patooties.

While the characters are a bit old for the YA genre, I love this as a book for teens--I would have eaten this up in 10th grade myself (and let's be honest, I did today, several decades later!).

I mostly enjoyed The King’s Messenger by Susana Kearsley. I was not initially engrossed in the story or invested in the characters, but that changed as I continued reading. I felt like the main female character was unreasonable and judgmental at first. However, the reasons for her behavior became clear later in the story and I related to the character much better at that point. I felt like the ending was very satisfying and made up for the rocky beginning.
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book. Solid combination of historical fiction, romance and mystery. I really enjoyed the parts of the plot centered around Scottish history, the court of King James, and Scottish folklore. Audiobook narration only added to the reading experience- love a Scottish accent. The way she humanized historical figures while keeping the story plotty often reminded me of Joan by Katherine Chen. 4 stars!

I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel.

Plot summary: Andrew Logan is a king's messenger in 1613. King James sends him on a mission to capture a fugitive and sends along a scribe, whose daughter, Pheobe, joins up to take care of him. They also end up with a young boy, Hector, who comes along on the way back from Scotland to London. The fugitive, David Moray, seems like he may be innocent, and alliances may be shifting as the group returns.

There were many wonderful features in this story. I loved most of the characters, from Logan's strong-as-an-oak but kind heartthrob vibe, to David Moray's elegant and wistful heartthrob vibe, to Hector's fierce loyalty, and Pheobe's figuring out the world.

There were many themes explored throughout the story, like parent-child relationships, what makes someone guilty or innocent, and true love.

The story was well-paced, part swashbuckling adventure and part excellent historical fiction. The romance was predictable but believable and didn't overtake the main plot, and it was totally clean.

I could feel the suspense mounting toward the end, and there were a few laugh-out-loud moments.

There are some minor things that could have been better, such as the bad guys being very bad and one-dimensional, and Pheobe being a bit of an airhead at times. I also don't typically like magical realism, or whatever you'd call Logan's "Sight" gift, because it's easy to rely on it as a plot device.

But I'm still going to round up 4.5 to 5 stars because I loved reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Susanna Kearsley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

The King's Messenger masterfully blends historical fiction, adventure, and romance. Kearsley’s storytelling keeps readers emotionally invested as she builds a captivating romance amid an intense journey. The characters, from the determined Logan to the resilient Phoebe, create a deeply engaging narrative. The novel’s emotional depth, particularly in moments of loss and triumph, makes for a compelling read, culminating in a satisfying happily-ever-after.

Thank you to #NetGally for an ARC of this book! To start, Susanna Kearsley is one of my favorite authors. Her historical fiction often includes characters with "the sight" and ghosts. This story did not disappoint! I liked how the King's Messenger is set during King James' reign. I have read a lot of historical fiction from the 1500's so this is a new period of time for me to learn about and I hope this time period is the next "trendy" historical fiction era.

This novel is set in the 1610's in England/Scotland. Usually Kearsley adds a send story line set in more modern times, this book did not include that and I liked this deviation. In the novel, King James is currently in power after Queen Elizabeth's passing a decade earlier. There is much intrigue and subterfuge between Protestants and Catholics. . The story has two elements, first the King's royal messenger, Andrew Logan, is sent to find David Moray. David was the deceased Prince Henry's first gentleman, there relationship is that of a mentor/father figure for Henry. David is being investigated regarding Henry's death and those who support him sense a set up. This part of the story had murder mystery vibes and it took some time and some flashbacks in David's point of view to solve the murder. I appreciated how this was suspenseful and is wrapped up nicely. The author's note at the end is very helpful as it shares that some of the details are right from history. Some are more of Kearsley's conjecture but were documented and I thought that was cool.

There is also a love story between Andrew and our FMC, Phoebe. Phoebe started off as a bit insufferable as she was so mean to Andrew and blindly trusted the rich playboy, Valentine. As their journey goes on she slowly realizes her errors and they fall for each other. I found this story line to be predictable, however I found myself rooting for Andrew and wanted him to have a happy ending.

The King's Messenger is just as beautiful and enveloping as Kearsley's other works.

The stage is set early on and we are taken for a wild ride through history. It's obvious this story was well researched and I appreciated the author's note at the end to know what was real and what wasn't.

Kearsley writes romance that completely over comes you. There’s nothing spicey and yet you feel everything. I love that the romance isn't center stage and yet it shines. It's woven so masterfully through the main plot.

Content : polictial conspiracy

I struggled to get into this story. It took too long toget going, and I wasn't really invested in the characters. Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

Susanna Kearsley has been one of my favorite authors for over 20 years now. This book did not disappoint! The research she puts into her novels is beyond compare, and the notes at the end of the books are always so interesting to read.

King James is on the throne and the country is mourning the loss of his son Prince Henry. The King sends his messenger, Andrew Logan, to arrest the prince's companion, and sends along a scribe and his daughter, who happens to despise Logan. Everything is not as it seems, from the truth behind the arrest, to Phoebe's hatred of Logan. As they proceed on their journey, they are met with various obstacles and with them, many truths.

This book has it all - suspense, history, romance, and a bit of magic, as most, if not all, of Kearsley's novels do. The multiple POVs add to the story, and I enjoyed getting to know various characters deeper through their thoughts.

Don't skip the notes at the end of the book, as they tell us who was a real person and who is fictional.

4.5 stars

⭐️: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

All I have to say is...I'm already planning to read this again. The storytelling, the setting, the characters, they were lush and rich, and I found myself diving into the characters almost immediately. The death of Prince Henry and the truth about what really happened was both heartbreaking and such a fun plot device to get our hero and heroine shoved together.

Phoebe's disdain for Logan is, entirely, self-imposed. And, to be quite honest, it works wonderfully with the setting. She distrusts and mislabels him because of her own prejudices, prejudices which she works through throughout the novel. Logan, too, works through his own issues, but it was Phoebe's chapters I found myself drawn into more as she worked through the exact reasons she didn't like the man she was now forced to travel with.

Though I've never read a book by Ms. Kearsley before, I'll definitely be looking for her books again.

I'm always excited to read Susanna Kearsley. Excellently researched historical fiction. This particular book is about the King's messengers-kind of the Musketeers of the English court.

Susanna Kearsley is one of my favorite authors for historical fiction. So interesting to learn about the King's Messengers, their lives and roles in the royal court. Nice balance of history, intrigue and romance.

It was wonderful reading this author again. The story plot was somewhat different than what I am used from Ms Kearsley.; nonetheless it was a great story plot and ver informative.

This is such a great book filled with love, longing, secrets, and mystery.

Reading this book made me feel like I had opened the pages and stepped into the 1600s myself. The rich history mixed with the dialogue transported me back in time in the best way as I read from Phoebe, Andrew, David and Queen Anna’s perspectives.

The bit of mystery behind Prince Henry’s death was intriguing and the truth of what happened was heartbreaking.

But what really captivated me was the enemies to lovers romance between Logan and Phoebe. I loved watching Phoebes walls and judgments about Logan melt away over time and the realization that she had been listening to lies about Logan’s character and actions for years. After the first thread in the web of lies was pulled, the rest unraveled and Phoebe realized that what she had been told did not match what she witnessed with her own eyes. Meanwhile Logan’s protectiveness and awareness of Phoebe and her needs was so sweet. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I read.

Andrew Logan, Phoebe Westaway, Sir David, Queen Anna- the story is told from the perspectives of this case of characters. Their motivations are revealed as the story unfolds to the political intrigue that surrounds the death of Prince Henry, eldest son of James. What I loved about this book is that I felt like I was on the journey with the characters. It doesn’t feel like a lot happens, but yet I understand what each character gains and loses should they be captured or when they arrive in London at the beckoning of the King. Unlike the prior stories I read by Susanna Kearsley, the supernatural element in this book is rather a side point to drive plot rather than an integral part of the plot. This is a fantastic historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

📣 lovely romance wrapped up in an intricate historical setting

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what was your latest five star?

After a string of so-so fantasies, The King’s Messenger was a 5-⭐️ treat that reminded me of why I love this author. Phoebe and Andrew have an enemies to lovers story arc that begins with a mistaken impression of Andrew & that lasts well into their journey to retrieve a possible murderer for the King.

As they ride together, Phoebe realizes that Andrew is only partially similar to the prideful jerk she thought he was—he’s actually considerate, strong, & a man of honor & integrity. While still being prideful 🤣.

In the background of their sweeping love story is a mystery about what happened to a dead prince, & the characters involved in that mystery are unexpectedly moving as they grapple with his loss & life in the royal circle.

While Susanna Kearsley’s books do have HEAs, I describe them as chonky historical fiction with romantic elements. If that sounds like your cup of tea, check one out; they’re amazing!

5⭐️, out now.

CWs: loss, death, espionage, murder

[ID: Jess holds the book in front of historic ruins & a blue sky.]