Susanna Kearsley is (and I feel she always will be) a drop-everything-to-read author for me, and THE KING’S MESSENGER reaffirms her writing supremacy. Kearsley typically writes time-slip novels. Here, there is no traditional time slip of historical and modern characters, but rather a dual timeline with multiple narrators telling portions of the story- sometimes in the present tense and sometimes in the past tense. First-person narrators are the two romantic interests: Andrew Logan, one of the King’s Messengers, and Phoebe Hathaway, daughter of a scribe working with Logan for the king. We also get intermittent chapters from the points of view of Sir David Moray and Queen Anne.
Kearsley writes lyrical historical novels in the Jacobite period. Her gorgeous prose always feels like the PBS Poldark series to me- sweeping historical vistas with breathtaking backdrops and heart-pounding intensity between the characters. The time period bursts to vivid life under Kearsley’s pen. Kearsley interweaves true historical characters and their timelines with her own vivid imaginings to create utterly compelling tales.
Whenever someone famous died in the Jacobean period, it seems like poison is always mooted. In THE KING’S MESSENGER, Kearsley weaves a tragic pattern of intrigue and poison around the death of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. Henry was well beloved by his countrymen but not by his (right arsehole of a father) King James I. I have always despised James for so many things, including his court favorites (and rapacious male lovers), the unending scandals of his poorly-run court, and his political absolutism. He is so easy to hate!
When Henry dies, King James sends his messenger Andrew Logan to Scotland to arrest Sir David Moray and bring him back to London to face a 'trial'. Logan has the Second Sight, which both endangers him and also gives him a leg up in avoiding the dangers of Moray’s family who are trying to rescue him. The story feels almost like an epic quest, with the initially opposing characters growing close over the course of their great journey.
Kearsley brings us a gripping story of treachery, betrayal and love. THE KING’S MESSENGER fairly vibrates with energy, sucking me into the Jacobite world.
"I've loved every one of Susanna's books! She has bedrock research and a butterfly's delicate touch with characters—sure recipe for historical fiction that sucks you in and won't let go!"—Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlander
New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Susanna Kearsley explores romance, court alliances, and the limits of one's duty in this rich story of an honorable man in service to a treacherous king, and the mission that brings him to love and his true calling.
It is the year 1613, and King James is sending his messenger Andrew Logan into Scotland with secret orders to arrest Sir David Moray, close friend and advisor of the late Prince Henry. Secrets are second nature to Andrew, who must hide his Second Sight to stay alive. Joined by a court scrivener and the scrivener's spirited daughter Phoebe, Andrew slowly untangles the true purpose of his mission—to frame Sir David for Prince Henry's murder. But Andrew is unwilling to betray an innocent man.
Phoebe Westaway dislikes Andrew, and their history makes it hard for her to trust him. But as their journey draws them deeper into the dark web of court intrigue, Phoebe begins to suspect that she might have more need of the King's Messenger and his unusual gifts than she could ever have foreseen.
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