Enola M. Douglas might have written the most culturally interesting and healthiest romantasy I’ve ever seen.
I went into Cast Off having not read the first book in the Jewels of the Nine Kingdoms series. I came out immediately adding book one to my TBR.
That’s probably the best compliment I can give it. It’s brilliant.
The setup
The novel follows Princess Jing Yi, an Omega princess from a fantasy empire inspired by imperial China, who is sent into a political marriage with the disgraced northern lord Alexander Wulfbane (because of course his name is Wulfbane). She’s spent her entire life being dismissed because of the birthmark across her face and the limp that makes her “unsuitable”. He, meanwhile, has built up the idea of the perfect political bride in his head.
Which means yes… Alexander is an absolute idiot when they first meet.
Thankfully, the book knows it.
Learning from Mistakes, an underused trope
One of my favourite things about Cast Off is that it never asks the reader to excuse bad behaviour just because the male lead is attractive. Alexander’s rejection hurts. Jing Yi doesn’t simply get over it. He has to earn her trust, and watching him slowly realise that the woman standing in front of him is nothing like the version he’d imagined makes for an incredibly satisfying slow-burn romance.
Hats off to the leading lady
Jing Yi completely steals the book.
She’s clever, compassionate and a gifted herbal healer whose knowledge of traditional Chinese-inspired medicine makes her valuable long before anyone recognises her worth. I loved that her kindness never comes across as weakness. She has agency, makes difficult decisions, sets boundaries and expects people to respect them.
She’s just incredibly easy to root for.
And you leave kinda wanting to mash leaves in a pestle and mortar…
Political intrigue and moral quandry
Behind the romance is a genuinely engaging political mystery involving disappearing Omegas, rising tensions between the kingdoms and a conspiracy that kept expanding in ways I didn’t expect. It gives the story real momentum without ever overwhelming the characters.
Surprisingly healthy relationships
What surprised me most, though, was how emotionally healthy this book feels.
The men actually talk about women with respect!
It says a lot that one of the most refreshing fantasy elements in this book isn’t the healing magic or the worldbuilding. It’s watching men speak about women as though they’re actual people.
Alexander apologises when he’s wrong. He changes because he wants to be better, not because the narrative magically declares him redeemed. Even in an Omegaverse setting, where consent can sometimes become… let’s say questionable, Cast Off keeps emotional trust at the centre of the relationship.
Let’s talk spice
The spice is there, but it’s patient.
Instead of throwing intimate scenes at the reader as quickly as possible, the novel waits until the emotional connection has been built first. By the time those scenes arrive, they feel like a payoff rather than an obligation.
So why the 5 stars?
The whole book reminded me of why I love political marriage stories in the first place. Two strangers forced together, learning to see each other properly against the backdrop of court politics and bigger conspiracies. Add in the Chinese-inspired worldbuilding, herbal medicine, court politics and a genuinely likeable heroine, and I was completely sold.
If you enjoy the political machinations of Game of Thrones, the court intrigue of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the rich East Asian-inspired fantasy of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I think you’ll have a wonderful time here.
A brilliant surprise, and an easy five stars.
★★★★★
ARC Disclosure: I received a free Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of Cast Off from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Cast off is available from 10th July 2026. See author links below for details.
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