Cinnamon roll Prince Beau can't let an injustice pass without trying to fight it, even if it costs him all the political play-nice he'd need to take his throne without a civil war. His supernaturally loyal guard Elias is always there with a steadying hand and the subtle (or not so subtle) threat of violence to keep Beau's goals on track. And Lady Penamour, Beau's late brother's fiancée, will use all her biting wit and political skill to fuck things up for him *royally* on her path to prove he's the one who murdered his brother.

  
{A King's Trust} by S.E. McPherson is the award-winning first in the Heart-Mage Trilogy, named to *Kirkus Reviews'* Top 100 Best Indie Books of 2025, a queer polyam fantasy romance with own-voices bi and AuDHD rep*.* Great for people who love enemies to lovers, royal/guard, and found family tropes, and anyone who wants characters who feel real enough to reach out and touch (or strangle, when you're frustrated enough with them). 

  
The story continues from Elias's perspective in {A Villain's Hope} by S.E. McPherson, which earned both a *Kirkus Reviews* starred review and Editor's Pick from Booklife. When mages come to collect on the deal that>! resurrected Elias!<, he and his royal loves must reckon with the man he was before his heart-mage rebuilt him to secure unlikely allies and stop ancient magic from breaking the world.

  
Links for all the major retailers for [A King's Trust here](https://www.semcpherson.com/heart-mage-trilogy/a-kings-trust) and [A Villain's Hope here](https://www.semcpherson.com/heart-mage-trilogy/a-villains-hope), and they're also both available as audiobooks on [Audible ](https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Kings-Trust-Audiobook/B0GV1RHC6Q)or [Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/a-kings-trust-heart-mage-trilogy-book-1-unabridged/id1888742968).

  
\[Image descriptions: Illustration of a magically scarred prince, a pregnant queen with dark braid, and a guard with long hair half-up and glowing tattoos lying in bed together; cover of A King's Trust by S.E. McPherson showing blue and gold flowers swirling with smoky magic on a black background; and cover of A Villain's Hope by S.E. McPherson showing red and white tulips swirling with smoky magic on a black background\]

An AuDHD prince, his loyal guard & their badass duchess