I listened to the audiobook version of the King’s Messenger and it was absolutely fantastic! I enjoy historical fiction, but wasn’t sure what to expect about King James’s “messenger” from the early 17th Century. Andrew Logan is the subject messenger and he is part knight of the round table, part bounty hunter, and part scholar with an admirable sense of justice. I really enjoyed getting to know him as he traveled to Scotland to bring Sir David Murray back to England for questioning surrounding the death of the recently deceased Prince Henry. Traveling with Andrew was an elderly scribe (who was tasked with taking notes and the confession of Sir David) and his opinionated daughter Phoebe who at first seemed to loathe Andrew.

The audiobook is from two different perspectives- that of Andrew, which is narrated by Angus King, and that of Phoebe, which is narrated by Beth Eyre. Both were most impressive in bringing the characters to life and showing the right amount of emotion and urgency in all the right places. Simply put, I highly recommend this audiobook!

I really enjoyed listening to this narrator! I also enjoyed this book, it was hard to put down the first time I read it, so as an audiobook, I had similar issues of not wanting to pause it. I really like that although there's the romance, it does not take over the plot by any means. I also really enjoy the historical and political aspects of this book, it really gives the reader a vivid setting that our characters are navigating. She really put in the effort on research for this book, which really added to it's value, and I love it!!

1613 Scotland. Henry, Prince of Wales is dead, and King James is laying blame on Sir David Moray (Murray). The king is sending his messenger, Andrew Logan, north to Edinburgh with the warrant to retrieve Murray. He takes with him a court scrivener, and the scrivener's daughter Phoebe, with whom Andrew has been at odds for years. The courtly political intrigue and the wedge between King James and Queen Anna drive the external forces of the plot, while the slow burn romance between Andrew and Phoebe takes center stage.

I'd only previously read one Susanna Kearsley, and that one had a dual timeline in the modern era and historical, which often removes me from the story. This is set entirely in a historical setting, with some parts taking place when Prince Henry is young, staged as flashbacks from Moray's perspective, but with the primary plot in 1614 and dual POV of Phoebe and Andrew. This structure worked very well for me, keeping me immersed in the reign of James VI and I.

Leaning on primary sources, Kearsley pieces together the lives of the historical figures and brings really lovely detail to her fictional characters. In her author's note at the end of the book, she writes about the choices she makes where there are gaps in history or room for creative license (particularly in the character of King James). This level of detail appeals to me as a reader, and its clear in Kearsley's worldbuilding that the research and history is important to her writing process.

The romance between Phoebe and Andrew is lovely, building slowly over their road trip to Edinburgh and back to London. Because this is historical fiction and not historical romance, we don't get the depth of internal monologuing typical in a romance, but their actions and conversations convince a reader of the bond and respect between them.

The audiobook is dual POV, narrated by Beth Eyre and Angus King, and I found it an engaging listen.

The King's Messenger is a delight, delivering everything one could want from historical fiction: a riveting story, characters the reader comes to love, and oodles of real history. A week ago I knew nothing about a job that's existed for hundreds of years, but having gotten to know Messenger Andrew Logan (and reading the author's notes at the end of the book), I understand the position and feel I've lived vicariously through his struggles to honorably serve a king (King James I) whose own intentions are questionable at best. Ms. Kearsley skillfully intertwines fictional and historical figures and manages in a not-overly-long novel to include love stories between a mother and her son, a father and his daughter, a prince and his teacher/companion, and, of course, between the messenger and the young woman he's loved from afar. This title is a keeper that I'll recommend but not necessarily share!

The Kings Messenger Honest ARC Review:

For fans of Diana Gabaldon and Philippe Gregory, The Kings Messenger is filled with competition, rivalry and court intrigue. The year is 1613. King James, the sixth of Scotland, first of England, son of Mary, Queen of Scots - has unified both countries under one crown. The death of his eldest son, Henry has brought a period of mourning to the kingdom. Many begin to believe the Prince was poisoned.

Andrew Logan, a King’s Messenger, has the ability of sight. Witchcraft accusations lead to many deaths so Andrew must guard his secret. Treacherous behavior, betrayal and an untamed love lead this novel to become a fantastic read!

The Queen is such a strong female character. I adore her!

The world building is descriptive and interesting. If you can imagine traveling through England and Scotland in the year 1613, a beautiful and sometimes unsettling experience is painted for the you.

A reader is taken on a fascinating journey. If you are looking for something to pull you in and carry you far from home, this is a great addition to your TBR!!


Thank you for sharing this ARC with me. I really enjoyed it!

My first historical fiction from Susanna Kearsley, and I've decided that I like her. :)
I read the book and listened to the audio version parallel, and I must admit that the Scottish bits narrated by Angus King really adds to the experience. Not only an entertaining novel but informative too.

This has to be my new favorite historical fiction !
It had everything to keep you hooked. Loved the magic, all the action, and especially the romance.

I have read all of Susanna Kearsley's books and having been waiting for this one for a long time. I am familiar with her style of writing in two time periods but this one is different in that there is no modern time frame. Instead some of the same characters were in both times.

It is told in various perspectives including the King, Queen, Andrew Logan who is the title character, Phoebe and Sir David. The narration was very good and it was clear which character was which.

Logan who has visions of future events although unknown to anyone but his mother is sent on a mission to bring Sir David to the king to face trial for his presumed part in the death of the Prince. Phoebe and her father go along with him, her father as scribe and Phoebe because he is unwell.. They go to Scotland and have to make their way back to London while being chased by David's cousin who is trying to rescue him.

An intriguing tale with a good amount of historical information.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the DRC.

The King’s Messenger by Susanna Kearsley is a captivating historical audiobook that masterfully weaves intrigue, duty, and a touch of romance. Told through multiple POVs—Phoebe, Andrew, Sir David, and Queen Anna—it offers a layered, immersive experience. The pacing is spot-on, keeping you engaged without ever dragging. The narrators bring the characters to life beautifully, making the historical setting feel vivid and real. And while the story is rich with political intrigue, there’s just enough romance to keep things interesting without overpowering the plot. If you love historical fiction with depth, heart, and a bit of passion, this one’s worth the listen.

Ready for a road trip in 17th century England and Scotland? Andrew Logan is one of King James’ messengers tasked with arresting Sir David Moray, the closest advisor to the recently deceased Prince Henry, to stand trial for his untimely and suspicious death.

Traveling with an adoring young groom who hopes to be a messenger one day, a prisoner and gentlemen David, a sickly scrivener and his daughter Pheobe, this quirky group learns far more than they bargained about each other over several weeks as they evade a group tracking their ride back to the King. More than one has change of heart on this journey that tests them both physically and emotionally.

Susanna Kearsley’s use of multiple POVs offers a distinctive way to experience the same events through different lenses, giving depth to each character and revealing how their perceptions and backgrounds shape the narrative. Her motley crew, of varying social strata gives us a true picture of the different levels of society at the time, and her author’s note reminds us how many stories are lost to history because of a person’s caste. The King's Messenger is a captivating historical fiction novel that mixes rich details with a touch of magical realism.

Thank you to NetGalley, Recorded Books, and author Susanna Kearsley for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The King’s Messenger is out now. All opinions are my own.

The King's Messenger is a Historical Fiction novel imbued with romance, Danger, and moral ambiguity. The characters are some of the strongest realized I've read in a historical fiction novel. At first, I was thrown off by the beginning focusing on a pretty scrivener's daughter, but quickly the narrative enraptured me. The extensive author's note at the end explaining the history and reasoning behind everything from her inspiration to the spelling of characters' names was very interesting. I found her storytelling did just enough to keep pressure on the characters without it ever feeling like too much or unrealistic. Even the nod to Second Sight made sense within the context of the narrative, staying true to the times and cultural norms. Though this is not my preferred genre, I really enjoyed reading this novel.
I started with the audiobook, which was well done, but I needed to switch to reading the ebook to read more quickly for my understanding. It was worth it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and RB Media for this ARC!

The King's Messenger by Robert Z. Maxey is a gripping historical novel set against the backdrop of political intrigue and royal tension. The story follows a messenger tasked with delivering a crucial message that could alter the course of history. As he navigates treacherous landscapes and faces unexpected obstacles, the novel delves into themes of loyalty, power, and the consequences of decisions made in the shadows. Maxey’s writing style is engaging, with well-developed characters and vivid descriptions that transport the reader to a world of danger and adventure. While the pacing can occasionally feel slow, the story builds to a satisfying conclusion that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and suspense.

What a landslide of a historical fiction novel! I love a good cat and mouse story- and this one about Andrew Logan who is sent as a king's messanger to fetch Sir David, the bedchamber fellow for the recently deceased Prince Henry (son of King James- THE King James). Thinking that Sir David was responsbile for the demise of the young Prince Henry, Andrew alongside Phoebe and her father and young Hector must get David back to the King to stand trial.

Phoebe was such an awesome female character! I loved her observations and how her character evolved from the beginning of the book to the end. I adored her father and really liked how soft spoken he was. The magical realism of Sight was fascinating and I enjoyed the role it played throughout the story.

My only complaint was Sir David REALLY was longwinded with his tales of Prince Henry and while they were interesting I felt the story could have cut back drastically on them. I also am not convinced about how long it took them to travel from Scotland back to London (literally weeks and weeks AND weeks) when it only took them 4 days by boat, with Andrew having rode his way there before that time to meet them. But if the journey had been a quick one, well we wouldn't have had our story now would we?

Excellently researched and gives an alternative view of King James (spoilers HE IS A BADDIE) which I found refreshing. Loved the multiple POV. Overall well done and I need to read The Winter Sea!

Content: really nothing of note. *one fade to black scene

This book started slow. At first I was lost and had a hard time connecting with the characters. But as the story progressed I became invested in the lives of Phoebe, Phoebe's dad Lawrence the scribe, Andrew Logan the kings Messenger. They are on a mission to arrest Sir David for the death of Prince Henry. There are twists and Logan has the sight which helps them on their journey. This was an interesting listen because my knowledge of the 1600's England is lacking and I did a lot of Google searches to understand the time period better. I enjoyed the author's note at the end explaining her inspirations and her research for the book. I really enjoyed the narrators and their storytelling talents.

While I enjoyed this book, I think I would have liked it a lot more if I had not listed to it on audio. I had a hard time understanding the male accents. The female voice was alot easier to listen to and understand. Overall, I thought the book was very interesting and I would recommend reading the physical book to my friends.

While I love the book itself, I wasnt over the moon with the audio book. The felt like there could have been a better narrator for the male role. He supposed to have a Scottish accent but it's not really done that well. The female narrator is decent though.

“You don’t fall in love like it’s a decision—you trip over it when you’re not even looking.”

So, let’s get into it. This one was a bit of a mixed bag — snappy dialogue, a sprinkle of romance, a few twists (some sharper than others), and a main character who’s equal parts endearing and exasperating. I gave it 3.5 stars, mostly because while it didn’t totally blow me away, it kept me entertained enough to keep hitting play.

Speaking of which: the audiobook? A full win. Dual narration gave the story some extra sparkle, and the male voice actor had a Scottish accent that was basically its own main character. Honestly, I’d listen to him narrate my to-do list. The female narrator nailed the tone, balancing sass and vulnerability without overdoing it.

The plot had its highs and lows — moments that had me hooked followed by a few pacing dips where I wasn’t sure if we were moving the story forward or just taking a scenic detour through Emotional Overthinking Lane. But hey, not every chapter can be a mic drop moment.

Still, it’s a fun, slightly messy, emotionally tangled ride with enough charm to keep you invested. Perfect for audiobook fans who love dual narration, a good character arc, and a Scottish accent that might just ruin you for all other male narrators.

Bottom line? It’s like a fizzy little rom-com cocktail — a little sweet, a little sharp, and just bubbly enough to leave you smirking.

This was my first book by Susanna Kearsley but it will not be my last.

In The King's Messenger, Andrew Logan is sent to Scotland to detain Sir David Moray at the behest of King James. His neighbor, Phoebe, daughter of the King's scribe, decides to tag along, setting off on the long journey.

Kearsley develops the background and history of the story so much, the reader felts right in the mix of things, something I so enjoy in historical fiction.

The narration was spot on and really helped distinguish the characters. I really enjoyed the audio version and would highly recommend it.

Synopsis: Shortly after the unification of England and Scotland in the 1600s, King James' son Henry was poisoned. The king sends his messenger, Andrew, to Scotland to arrest the suspected murderer.
Thoughts: First of all, this cover and the sprayed edges are GORGEOUS.
Susanna Kearsley is a new to me
author, and I can see why she is so popular in the historical fiction genre. It is clear that this story was meticulously researched, and it comes alive with rich detail. I enjoyed the characters and the multiple points of view, but the storyline itself was a bit slow for me personally. Definitely read the author's note in this one!
Read this if you like:
• historical fiction, magical realism, slow burn romance, multiple pov, political drama

This review is for the audiobook of The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley, read by Beth Eyre and Angus King. This audiobook is fantastic, and the farther along in the book you get, the better it is. Both narrators have a wide range of female and male voices. Excellent choices. I believe this is just how Phoebe and Andrew sound. Susanna Kearsley always pulls at my heart strings. Andrew and Phoebe's story is very slow burn, but boy, it sure pays off.
Thank you to Netgalley and Recorded Books for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.