The found family in this story is so sweet and the awkwardly bumbling prince trying for romance was so sweetly written. I only wish we had more perspective from El and Penny about their interactions with Char.
Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to arc read this.

4.5/5
Thank you Netgalley and author for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I need the second book RIGHT NOW. This was really well written, I loved this book so much. It was genuinely making me giggle and kick my feet and also made me cry a lot. It's rare that a book makes me have such visceral reactions 😂.

I loved the world, the magic, and the main characters. McPherson is definitely a talented writer and I can't wait to read more from them. I'm so intrigued by the worldbuilding and its magic systems. Beau was such a relatable and real main character and Elias was probably my favorite character. I loved reading their relationship.

However, what pulled the book down for me was Beau and Penamour's relationship.
I love Penamour in the first half. I thought she was such a strong and interesting character. Though when she falls in love with Beau, that happens SO quickly that it felt like her precious hatred for him was swept under the rug. If it'd been a slower transition and we'd seen her actually again more chemistry between Beau and Elias as well, I would have loved the polyamorous relationship between the three of them but this time, it feels like more care was put into Beau and Elias's relationship with each other.

I'm interested to see how this progresses throughout the trilogy though and once again, I'm excited to see where this all leads.

I would like to start by saying that this book was the most diverse and strange book I've read recently. I rate it 4 stars, because even though there were many periods where I literally put the book down and asked "what am I reading", it was SO entertaining. I honestly haven't felt this conflicted over a book in a long time - which I think is a good thing. I have a lot to say about it: (SPOILERS AHEAD)

A King's Trust follows Prince Beauregard, the second son of the monarchs of Granvallee, and his ascension to the throne after the death of his older brother, Charmant. Beau is somewhat of a typical second son: He left home, his parents treat him poorly (like the spare who messes up everything), and he now has to step into a role he never wanted. In the process, he learns that things at home are not as they seem. He also is navigating romantic feelings for his guard, Elias, amidst his efforts to find a suitable wife to act as Queen.

Things I love about this book:
- The relationship between Elias and Beau
- The verbiage and writing is BEAUTIFUL. I cannot get over it. (See examples below) (No seriously, go see them)
- The diversity of characters
- The spicy scenes are *whew* (I've honestly never read MM spice before, but it felt a lot like Achilles and Patroclus in Song of Achilles. It was just so loving and you're rooting so hard for the relationship, that the spicy parts were just good) Even though I am a woman, I felt like I was able to still relate to and empathize BOTH of these men- and THAT is definitely a sign of good writing.
- The personification of food in relation to emotions. McPherson does a STUNNING job using taste to add layers of flavor to her writing (literally). I cannot count the number of times I paused to consider what an emotion or feeling may taste like in my mouth.
- The storyline is honestly just entertaining and fun
- The way magic is divided between several types of mages
- The way Beau saves Elias (again, the strength and authenticity of their bond)

Things that left me wanting (I swear the list isn't that long, I just thoroughly explained every single one)
:
- A lot of fuss was made about the disarray that Charm caused in his brother's absence (missing artifacts, forged papers, missing funds, lies, etc) but there was never any elaboration or investigation as to why he was behaving this way. Honestly, with all the (not-so-subtle) foreshadowing about The Watchers, I was thinking maybe he was indebted to the society or something.
- Speaking of The Watchers- there is not NEARLY enough on this. It is hinted at several times, and then Elias word vomits everything later. I feel like this could've been executed better and had more integration into the story. The existence of a secret society?? This needs to be more prevalent to the plot and storyline. And again- Charm's knowledge of them is never brought up again. How did he know- even as a child? What is the story there?
- The relationship between Beau and his parents. It is apparent from the start that the King hates Beau - why he hated Beau when he was just a child, I'll never know. But as an adult, the King thought that Beau was misappropriating funds, shirking his duties, and basically just being one giant POS. However, in the beginning of the book, we see that the Queen has a soft spot for Beau (as all mother's tend to). This has completely vanished by the end of the book. Why?
- The magic system: When we learn about the artifacts, we learn that magic used to exist, and lives on only in the form of these physical objects. Outside of that, it's not really integrated into the story until Elias comes clean about the Watchers. And the minimal integration of the Watchers as well just made the magic system seem so removed to me? When Beau develops actual powers and begins using them, I was a little confused. Where before, the story and plot centralized around Beau being the heir, then around his romantic entanglements, it was now prevalently drenched in magic. I think the magic system holds a lot of promise, especially the way it's described in the library scene- It just felt inconsistent.
- Okay. Don't hate me. But I have a of of feelings about Penamour. For starters, she was my least favorite character. When she meets Beau, she is rude and cold. Then she begins verbally attacking him on the regular. When she openly accuses him of murdering his brother, he barely blinks an eye. This woman who seems to think him capable of murder, cold, calculating, and malicious has zero problems blatantly disrespecting his title, rank, and person? And to his FACE? That felt very unrealistic to me. Is she not apprehensive that he will direct those traits towards HER? And the fact that she did it over and over again just to get the exact same response from Beau- that felt very repetitive.
------> Why did Beau go to the isles with Penamour? That felt so unrealistic to me. If someone thought I committed the worst form of treason possible to steal the throne, AND had zero qualms disrespecting my rank, title. or potential to be a KILLER- I would NEVER go off alone with them.
------> After Penamour literally drugged and interrogated Beau/Elias and they are proven innocent, she just magically loves Beau? It seemed like we were vying for an enemies to lover trope, but the execution was just not there. They never felt like true enemies to me, for starters. The story is told from Beau's POV and he never really thinks a bad thing about Penamour, despite the fact that he ABSOLUTELY should - the logic was not logicking. When she shows up at the inn fawning over him, I just couldn't get into it. It felt so impractical and fake to me, and it ultimately made me like her even less. Which in turn made me so frustrated that he was buying into it and was madly in love with her too. She gave him absolutely zero reasons to like her, let alone love her- aside from the fact that she was "authentic" when in reality, she was just short sighted and rude. I just despised everything about her and their relationship.
------> When Penamour tells Elias that they can both have Beau. OKAY- LOVE the thought. (not to mention, eagerly anticipating more spicy scenes with Elias) I could not stand to see Elias go anywhere after that night *eyebrows eyebrows*, but I think my distrust of her was so established at this point that I hated her telling Elias what to do at all. Elias is the boss. Elias is the OG. Elias deserves Beau. Penamour does not get to act like she knows Beau's deepest darkest desires after hating him enough to poison him less than 48 hours ago- ESPECIALLY not when Elias has been pining over this man and attending to his every need for EIGHT YEARS. Honestly, if I were Elias and I watched Beau fall in love with Pen like that, I'd feel so betrayed.
- The scene with the revenant and the necklace in the throne room was....confusing for a second. Beau getting sucked into the necklace definitely threw me for a loop, I had to go back and reread that paragraph a couple times. I think this goes back into the bounds of this magic system not really being fully established. I was caught off guard by the creature, the death of Beau, the act of literally going into the necklace as a soul. However, I still love what it did for the plot. Loved the ideas. Elias taking on Beau's scars and Beau taking on his??? TALK about a soul connection. I love them till I die. I think it could've just been integrated a little more thoroughly with a bit more clarity.

OKAY. If you made it this far, I seriously thank you because I don't think I would if roles were reversed. I love this story. It is so unique, I love the perspectives, I think I like queer MM romances for the first time ever (???). I hope now you understand why I started this by saying this was a confusing, diverse, and wild ride. Though there are many parts that made me pick my head up and literally ask myself "huh???" it was so very entertaining and held my attention. As for my rating- the prose and writing was so well formed and complex that I honestly want to give this a 4.5-5. The drawbacks for me are primarily development of plot aspects or character. Regardless, I read this in a day and a half, and will be keeping my eyes peeled for any others by S.E. McPherson. I am literally obsessed with her writing style. Absolutely stunning.

******This review will be shaved down and shared on Fable, Goodreads, Instagram, and closer to the publishing date, Amazon*******

EXAMPLES OF LINES/VERBIAGE THAT MADE ME PAUSE:

"They wanted just enough excitement in their small talk to flavor it, not enough realism to spoil the taste"
Holy mother of raw bluntness- this LINE

"His mother sat wearing a flat expression, nothing belying her nerves but the silk handkerchief she strangled in her lap"
I just love love love the personification.

"Every sound in the isles went silent when his breath played over Beau's lips. There was never a doubt Beau would cross that tiny gap of night air. He was helpless against the offer."
I think I am Beau, and I too, am helpless against the offer. (ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? obsessed. )

What an amazing debut novel! I picked this one up because of the described as having bi and AuDHD rep within a MMF fantasy book.

At the beginning the book felt a little more Regency than fantasy in my opinion, but that is just because it takes part in a palace and there is little no magical things shown/mentioned.


Here are some things I love about the book:
• the queer representation within the main (bi) and side characters (trans, lesbian)
• the way we Beau's mental health is part of the story, the more it progresses the more we learn about it, from tiny hints to actual conversions about it
• Elia's loyalty (and character), Penn's wit and generally so much about her (self-made queen, literally)
• all of Beau's nicknames for Penn and the way they sometimes made me laugh out loud
• the people on the isles... I want to meet them
• how different the two love stories go but how right they feel in that and how we never get a full love triangle (in the negative way)

There are a lot of things left open that I want to know more about. Also, how do we go from here. And is there a chance that Elias and Penn might fall in love too?

One thing I want to add at the end is the beautiful character art on the author's website: please go check it out if you haven't yet.

I cannot wait to learn how this story continues!

Thank you to Metaltail Press, S. E. Mcpherson and NetGalley for the eARC.

This book was *so* close to being perfect. So! Freaking! CLOSE!

The opening? Electric. I was immediately hooked and loved trying to guess what was going on: I had those nagging suspicions that ended up paying off later in the most satisfying ways, without getting lost in red herrings or waiting too long to be reveals. It had an almost “whodunnit” quality in its first third, and I was thoroughly entertained piecing the clues together. The tension was unreal. I was literally on the edge of my seat, heart pounding during those intense scenes. By the time I hit the 40% mark, I was so invested I could barely breathe. The mystery and political schemes were hands-down my favorite parts.

But. And it’s a big *but.*

The romances (plural) from 50% to about 75% were really tough to get through. Spoilers ahead-skip this if you haven’t read the book!

Beau is just terrible at communicating and handling a polyamorous relationship. Within 24 hours of saying he’d abdicate the throne and run away with Elias (and having sex with him), he gets engaged, then married, and then immediately jumps into bed with Penny. It felt way too much like cheating, and it was really hard to read. I get what the author was trying to accomplish: since one relationship had moved forward, the other had to catch up rapidly to keep them on equal footing. Plus, with Penny probably being pregnant, the wedding had to happen before conception to make any future claims to the throne legitimate. But Penny is such a strong character from the start that her change of heart just didn’t feel believable. I could buy her warming up to Beau after realizing she was wrong about him, but her falling for him and hopping into bed right away? Ew. Also, I just couldn’t buy that the islanders would be thrilled about Beau marrying some random girl who just burst through the door, especially after haggling Elias and Beau about their assumed marriage. The book tries so hard to gaslight readers into thinking it's all normal, but it just didn’t land for me.

That whole portion of the book dedicated to Beau having sex was just… rough. I’ll definitely reread this book when the sequels come out (because I TRULY LOVED IT), but I’ll certainly be skipping that entire part. It doesn’t really progress the main plot, and honestly, the full-body cringe it gave me had me worried I'd pull a muscle.

Also, if you're expecting a polycule (à la *Iron Widow*), know that this is not what this book is going for at all. Elias and Penny have this cold, distant respect for each other, but absolutely zero chemistry. Sure, they each think the other is attractive or smart, but their only real interest is in Beau and what he wants. When all three of them end up in bed together, it’s just so awkward. I was honestly relieved that scene got interrupted. Don’t get me wrong, the actual smut is well-written, but imagining Elias and Penny together just makes me recoil intensely.

All of these complaints could be avoided with minor adjustments: add a few cordial scenes between Elias and Penny while at court, have them share a few moments of camaraderie or vulnerability after the wedding. Even if the end goal isn't to have a full polycule, their chemistry is so dead that it took away all of my excitement for Beau’s happiness. At this point, I don't want him to end up with them both...

As for the “cheating” feeling, just have Elias and Beau have a version of the discussion Elias and Penny had after the wedding night *before* the wedding happens. Don’t have Beau swing between his romantic interests like a pendulum. I liked the conversation they all had after the wedding night, but it was way too short and immediately overshadowed by another plot twist. It needed more time and depth.

On the magic system, the random lore drops, and all the plot threads left hanging: the book did a fantastic job at making me trust that it's in control. I believe that even the littlest detail will lead somewhere in the next books. Please don't disappoint me, I'm truly relying on you; my heart is in your hands! 🤭

All in all, I can’t wait for the sequels. I am genuinely enamored with this book, absolutely obsessed. I’ll just be writing fix-it fanfics in my head to patch up the romance, as I'm prone to do. It’s fine. It's part of the fun!

Thank you, NetGalley and Metaltail Press for sending me an ARC copy of this book.

This was my first introduction to the author and it absolutely did not disappoint. I NEED the next book in the series like right now. Please send it to me now!! I was so enthralled in this story that I just kept wanting to read more. I love the way the world was set up. The magic and how you learn more about the magic, the different secret societies and royalties was all so fascinating. Elias has a special place in my heart. I love him. He’s an absolute sweetheart!! The push and pull between Beau and Penny was great! Penny did have to get herself in my good graces. In the next book I’m hoping to see more of a relationship between Elias, Beau and Penny. I feel like we got glimpses of them in this book, but I want more in the next book!!

Was definitely expecting more. Not necessarily a bad reflection on the book itself.
I did enjoy this book overall, and there were moments and characters that made me stay and finish this book.
My favorites are the isles family. While reading some of the scenes you can feel how their hearts are filled with so much love, devotion and loyalty. That kind of bonds are one of my favorites in fantasy books and I wish we got more of them.
Loved the MC's development throughout the book. That scene with his mother towards the end is perfectly done. No spoilers, you must read it to understand my pride for him in that moment.
I have to say that El was not my favorite, something still feels off about him.
That brings me to why I rated the book this way, while there were good things about it, something still feels off. Like something was missing or like the story was not properly constructed. Still feel like there were more scenes we should've seen, more of the world and magic, while simultaneously some things could've been left out.
I feel like many will enjoy this book, but I don't think I will be continuing when the second one will come out.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC opportunity ❤️

I absolutely LOVED this book! I'm not always a fan of fantasy, and when I do read fantasy I definitely lean more toward romantic fantasy, which this sort of was...? But there was so much more to this story than the romance--intrigue, adventure, action!

I particularly liked the political intrigue among the nobles. Often, especially in similar fantasy books, the politics goes way over my head. While I wouldn't say it was 'simple' in A King's Trust, you didn't need a poli-sci degree to understand what was happening. There were a lot of players but not so many nobles I couldn't keep track.

Of course, my absolute favourite part of the story is the romance between Beau, Elias and Penny. It was a beautiful written bisexual story and I thought it was handled so well. I could 100% see the chemistry between Beau and Elias AND Beau and Penny. I want to see more of Elias and Penny's dynamic/metamour/relationship when the sequel comes out.

One thing I was worried about when I started reading was that this is the first in a series. How long would I have to wait to find some sort of conclusion? While the story is definitely left open for more, this book ends in a satisfying end, that doesn't leave too many unanswered questions.

One of my favourite books of this year so far! Thank you for letting me read it!

"A King's Trust" is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue that follows the journey of a reluctant prince thrust into the role of heir after his older brother's unexpected death. I was drawn into this richly crafted world, and it's a story that lingers after the final page.

This novel shines in its character-narrative, particularly through Prince Beau, a cinnamon roll of a protagonist who grapples with the weight of a crown he never wanted. Witty dialogue and heartfelt banter make the interactions between Beau, Elias, and Penny a highlight. With their borderline polyamorous relationship, the chemistry between the trio feels authentic, though Penny and Elias' dynamic could have been explored further to deepen the connection, or lack there of.

The world of Penamour is brimming with potential, with a unique magic system and political machinations that add depth to the story. The first 40% of the book focuses on the day-to-day life of castle politics, which might feel slow for some, but the sharp dialogue and character development kept me engaged.

Once the plot accelerates, it delivers a compelling arc of Beau's transformation into a leader, without relying on cliched world-threatening stakes. However, the pacing falters slightly toward the end, where major reveals and plot points about Beau's brother, Char, and other world-building earlier could have smoothed the narrative flow. Some offhand mentions of significant events left me wanting more context, particularly around the broader politicking in Penamour.

Despite these minor hiccups, "A King's Trust" is a delightful read that balances lightly spicy romance, royal drama, and a touch of magic. It's a promising start to a series, with plenty of threads left hanging for a sequel I'm eager to dive into. I recommend this to fans of character-focused fantasy with diverse representation.

S.E. McPherson’s A King's Trust completely stole my heart. From the very first page, I was drawn into a world that felt lush, vibrant, and brimming with magic. The emotional depth of the characters, particularly Beau, Elias, and Lady Penamour, made this story impossible to put down. Their relationships—complicated, tender, and ultimately powerful—felt incredibly authentic. I especially loved how McPherson explored vulnerability, loyalty, and self-acceptance through their evolving bond.

The prose is lyrical without ever being overwrought, and the pacing is handled with a sure hand. There’s just enough court intrigue and political tension to keep you turning pages, but the real strength lies in the character dynamics. Beau’s journey from reluctant prince to confident leader was believable and inspiring, while Elias and Lady Penamour added rich layers of conflict and support.

If I had to suggest an area for improvement, it would be the worldbuilding. While Athera feels beautiful and magical, at times I wished for a deeper look into its history, traditions, and magical systems. Certain political factions and cultural elements were mentioned but not fully fleshed out, and a little more background could have made the stakes feel even sharper.

That said, A King's Trust is a phenomenal start to a new series, delivering a heartfelt and magical story that lingers long after the last page. McPherson’s ability to write emotional intimacy, especially in a polyamorous relationship, is truly refreshing in fantasy. I can’t wait to see where she takes Beau, Elias, and Penamour next!

Let’s talk about this. This book made my chest hurt. I was anxious, happy, sad, frustrated, ecstatic and craving more. I can’t believe I was so lucky to read this book before it is even released. Illegal that it’s supposed to be a trilogy and I have no idea how my heart is going to handle waiting. The magic system is unique and but easy to understand for the most part. The love is so fulfilling that you can see and feel Beau’s feelings yourself and know how much he cares for Elias and Penny. I cannot wait for more and I’m also absolutely terrified of what’s going to happen to the trio. Will they still be a trio in the end? Agony not knowing. Will Elias remain a “bodyguard” or will he also be king and rule along side them? What’s happening with the Watchers? I need answers.

i really enjoyed this book. it took me a little while to get into it, but once i did, i was addicted. the political intrigue was engaging, and the characters were multidimensional and interesting. some parts of the worldbuilding felt a little underdeveloped. I wish we’d gotten more of the magic system. at times, it felt surface level i just wanted to dig deeper.

the character dynamics kept me intrigued and wanting to devour the book. elias had me giggling and kicking my feet, and the banter between penny and beau was wonderful. i loved their scenes together. i wish we had more conversations between elias and penny. the tension between them in that one conversation??? i need more!

overall, this was such a fun read and took me by surprise in the best way.

3.5 ⭐

This was such a well written and fun book with lovely characters and great representation. I especially adored Beau and I’m really excited to see where the story goes next. While I enjoyed the book overall, I was hoping for a stronger focus on the magic and more of the MMF romance. The smut scenes were a bit corny at times and didn’t always land for me, and the pacing felt uneven, either dragging or skipping over things I wanted more of. Still, I can't wait for the next book because I need more Beau ASAP!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

4.25⭐️

Reluctant crown-prince, Beau, is forced back into palace life after the death of his brother, where he faces political intrigue, magic, secret societies, and two loves of his life.

This was a lot of fun. My favourite part of this was definitely the relationship between the three main characters. Beau, who is naive and clueless and also kind and good, his guard, Elias who is ‘the most frightening man alive’, and Penny, the one woman Beau actually likes, who seems determined to hate him. The three of them had such a good dynamic and I really enjoyed watching it unfold.

My only real disappointment was that I’d have liked more world building. The magic was so intriguing, but it was only really mentioned in passing until about two thirds of the way through the book, and I’d have liked more to get to grips with it. There were also a lot of names and places to remember which I found a little overwhelming at times.

Overall I really loved this, and I read it so fast, which is always a good sign for me. The romance was great and at no point felt forced, the pacing was good and the plot had a lot of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I’ll definitely be looking out for the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Oh boy, do I have feelings about this book. Let's start with what reeled me in before reading. The author caught me with their description of the book together with the bi and AuDHD representation. Next to that I think this book has a lovely cover, so for me that's a recipe for goodness.

In this story we follow Beauregard, Beau for short, as he takes the place of his brother as crown prince after his death. As the so-called spare, Beau never expected to rule and built a life away from home, but now cannot return to the people he loves. Together with his loyal guard Elias, Beau tries to find his way in the royal court, all while trying to find a suiting bride. This is where he connects with Victoire Penamour, his brother's former fiancee, who mainly gives him a lot of hostility. Will Beau find his allies at court or will it end in disaster?

Here's what I love about the book:
- The hints and later on the description of Beau's mental struggles in the past.
- Next to the bi representation, there's also trans representation, so love the queer themes in this book.
- When Beau whips out all the cringy names for Penamour. I died laughing.
- Elias's loyalty is to die for, simply sublime.
- The character art on the author's website (please do yourself a favor and check it out!)
- I got super involved with the characters from beginning to end, it's insane.
- Oh, oh, oh. The romance is to die for in my opinion, just all the buildup and then that first kiss; *dreamy sigh*
- I am so happy this story is about a polycule and not a love triangle, this gives the story another layer.
- Penny is a bossass bitch, love her.

There's probably a thousand more things to say, but this is to name a few. Also what is up with Beau's parents? Because they are so mean, when they should be building up their son instead of constantly shooting him down, especially since he's doing his very best. I do wonder where that attitude came from. But next to that, I just want to gobble up this book and make it my whole personality. Thanks.

At last I want to thanks Netgalley, Metaltail Press and S. E. Mcpherson for the eARC. I will definitely be buying a physical copy as soon as possible. I just need to have it.

I've read 50 books on NetGallery in a year and this has just shot into the top three.
I read this for its reviews. and also because audhd queer rep is hard enough to come by, and also because the cover was gorgeous. i expected to like this. i did not expect me to make me giddy enough that I cannot fall asleep now so I'm writing this instead.
not 'love solves everything' but 'love gives me the strength to carry on'. found family that faced parental disapproval. what it looks like with parents who don't hit you but hurt you. linguistics and communal village culture and love.
dependence on substances to control stimulation. the buttons and the rings and all the little hints of being neurodivergent. character arc where the main character doesn't change, just goes from hating his limitations to 'i can work with this'. where he grits his teeth and tries again. where people end up weird, and happy, and everything turns out okay. I did not know how much I needed a book like this but McPherson made it feel like the easiest thing in the world. if I could give this book ten stars I would.
to the author, if you read your own reviews: thank you.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an e-arc of A King's Trust!

This book was easy to get into and I enjoyed the pace at the beginning, slowly getting to know our main characters and falling in love with Beau! I found Beau to be a very relatable and true to himself MC. I don't often read books where the MC is the main POV but I think this was done really well. I loved the friends to lovers romance between Beau and Elias.

Towards the middle, the pacing became a little rushed and at times I had to re-read a few paragraphs to really grasp what was happening. I would've liked to know more about the world and the magic system. The ending did have me excited for the next book and I'm keen to see where our trio go!

I loved this! It's like it was made exactly for me since I'm also queer and Audhd. The romance is more subtle and veryy slow burn which is rare for books with poly rep so it might not be for everyone that's looking for more smut. I was kicking my feet over the smallest banter and touches that made the relationships believable. The audhd rep was done so well in my opinion and I related to many of the experiences portrayed. I can't wait for the next one!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the writing, to the world building, to the characters, this book was INCREDIBLE. A King's Trust will have you in a chokehold from the very beginning. It's such a great story with such lovable characters. This book follows Beau, who's a spare heir. After his brother's tragic accident, he is thrust into the royal life and must step up and fulfill his duties as heir. This book is filled with romance, magic, and spice. Truly an amazing and well written book

Enjoyed the story and character development. The relationships were thoughtful and nuanced. It was lacking in spice, and was hoping for more, especially the mma that was alluded to in description. Hopefully there is a book 2 because that was the only thing keeping it from a 5 star.