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Cast Off

5⭐️1🌶
I finished Cast Off by Enola M Douglas last night.  This was another absolutely beautifully written book.  It was long at over 700 pages but it never dragged or felt like a 700 page book.  Honestly 700 pages still wasn't enough.  This one had darker themes than the first book.  Both the main characters had lost at least one parent at a young age and both were dealing with the circumstances surrounding those deaths.  JingYi lived a miserable existence despite being the omega daughter of the emperor.  She was reduced to servitude.  She has a large port wine birth mark on her face and she walks with a limp.  In a society where looks and perception are everything she is ostracized for her appearance.  She becomes a shadow amongst even her own family.  Alexander is attempting to restore his family name after his father's seemingly traitorous behavior and subsequent execution.  The king offers him a bride from a foreign land.  He sees this as his ticket to restoring his family name once and for all.  JingYi sees this as an opportunity to start fresh and finally get some freedom. But when Alexander lifts JingYi's veil at the alter his meticulously planned out future shatters in front of him.  
This is only the beginning of the story.  There is so much more going on outside of their relationship.  I won't spoil it but I will say that Alexander, eventually, makes up for being a total dick at first.  JingYi's background comes out slowly and Alexander slowly lets down his walls as well.  Both of their stories are sad but JingYi's is exceptionally gut wrenching.  I suggest having some tissues handy.  Several characters from the first book make an appearance.  The writing is phenomenal, the world building is crazy, the imagery is truly spectacular.  I could see, taste and smell this book.  Enola does such an amazing job making every kingdom unique and spectacular.
I love her writting so much that I've signed up and been approved for an ARC of her next book which is not even from this series.  I couldn't even tell you what its going to be about but I know I'll probably enjoy it.  

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