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Casted

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For Selah, growing up on the fringe of her elite society has made her a less-than enthusiastic debutante. It has also made her wildly unprepared for the attention of a handsome, high-ranking official. The Governor asks for her hand in marriage, and Selah finally has all her dreams within reach.

But some dreams are nightmares. When an old family secret surfaces, Selah's very existence is upended, and her only recourse is to enter a series of daunting trials to earn back her life, her title, and her betrothed.

Coming face-to-face with the ugly underbelly of her world, she realizes the shine was all an illusion, and her path forward just might take her somewhere unexpected. But how much of the journey is in her hands when she's up against an ancient prophecy?

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2023

5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read

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Ashley Kucinsky

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5 stars
28 (51%)
4 stars
19 (35%)
3 stars
6 (11%)
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1 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Lia.
489 reviews29 followers
April 11, 2023
I am going to be in touch with Ms. Kucinsky’s lawyers after all of the emotions she just put me through.

This book has a FMC who isn’t hiding secret powers, but still has a mysterious past. She struggles between two love interests and is torn between what her brain and heart want.

Lots of dystopian vibes as the story follows Selah through dangerous (and often fatal) trials.

Book has friendship to lovers, love triangle, one bed, betrayal, forbidden magic.

This book is getting 2 🌶️ from me and a 4.5 ⭐️. I honestly want to give it 5, but I’m in turmoil over how it ended. I need some closure.

I will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen.
Profile Image for Carmella.
135 reviews3 followers
March 30, 2023
ARC review:

I will say the first 25% of the book had some odd pacing that made it hard to get into at first, but after I got through the first 25% I had a hard time putting the book down and I NEED book two. There is a lot of character growth when it comes to Selah and it is easy to relate to her because she is just a regular person like the author said in a TikTok that made me want to read this book in the first place. This book left me wondering and questioning at each turn and I loved that. Also I love the way the book ended, it ended with a lot for us to continue to discover in the next book, but didn’t leave me wanting to throw the book with frustration due to a cliff hanger.

I will say this book is also beautiful in aesthetic even on my paper white. Each chapter has an icon at the top and they are beautiful and the cover itself is beautiful.

This book to me feels like a mix of the hunger games (dystopian and trials) TSaTWoN (trials), and acotar (under the mountain trials). Though it is completely its own book and can hold its own, so I do not want people to compare, it just had similar vibes to the books mentioned above in certain parts.
Profile Image for Caroline Eastman.
21 reviews
March 22, 2023
This book was my first ARC, given to me in return for an honest review. So here it is.

Selah is the FMC, she’s relatable, has great character development, and has so much potential. Her upbringing as Caste resulted in her being in higher class, with more wealth, having higher education, at this point she has had an “easier” life, until her world is flipped upside down and she must go into the Trials to prove her worth.

This book was not what I expected, at all. It’s dystopian twist put me on the edge of my seat, reading this book in a few days. It’s adventurous, heart breaking, but also shows the difficult yet enjoyable sides of love and friendship.

SPOILERS AHEAD


I really began to enjoy Nix and Selah’s relationship, they understood each other, she could be herself fully around him. IM SO SAD WITH HOW THIS BOOK ENDS.

But, I want to know more!! I want to know more about geomancer people, the history, the casted, the scrolls, this prophecy that was mentioned a handful of times. I NEED the rest of these books!

This series has so much potential, Ashley Kucinsky, I can’t wait to read more about Selah’s journey and this world you are creating. Thank you!
Profile Image for Keri.
39 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2023
I received this book as an ARC, and I was SUPER stoked since it's my first one. (Thank you!)

I had a hard time at first getting into this book, mainly because it felt like at times something was missing. It felt like it jumped to different scenes without a nice little segway as to why and how we got there. It's definitely her writing style, and that's okay!! Towards the end, I got used to it and I really dove in deep. I appreciate the CW at the very first of the book. It's really nice to find an author who cares about their readers mental health, and doesn't think the CW will be spoilers.

I 100% recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy/dystopian/romance/betrayal.

!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

SERIOUSLY.

STOP READING THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE RUINED.

******************************************************

Selah is AMAZING. I really loved how I connected with her on what felt like on a personal level. Bullying, not fitting in, being cast (no pun intended) aside, and with a mother who seems as if she dislikes her. She's ordinary, yet so unique and I can't help but adore her. Strong main character, which how can she not be with everything she's been through?

You know that scene in Frozen where Anna meets that guy and immediately "fell in love" and you just had a bad feeling & you're questioning how can you love someone you just met? Yeah, that is how I felt when Selah met Andren. Andren is a golden babyback bitch if you ask me. But, what can you expect from an outcast who hadn't been shown kindness or love at all?

Ophida? God love her. She would get on my nerves being as chatty as she is and downright rude at times, but I LOVE HER SO MUCH. She's super fucking strong and resilient and I can't wait to see where her and Selah's adventure will take them. (Hopefully straight into Nix's arms because WHAT THE FUCK).

When Selah finally let go of her inhibitions and opened herself to Nix I wanted to scream with excitement and then it was ripped away from me. Cause why not kill off the good guy :(

I can't wait for book 2, and I just know Nix and Selah will get their HEA.
Profile Image for Karolina.
72 reviews3 followers
March 22, 2023
4/5 stars

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At first, I had a somewhat difficult time getting into the book. The first few pages started off in the middle of the story and I didn't know the background of the main character or the world itself. But a few pages later everything about the world was explained. At the beginning there was a lot of jumping around between the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next, there could have been a little bit more description to make the story flow better. But as the story progressed into the trials everything was a lot smoother.

At first I found Selah a little boring but as the book progressed and I saw her character development, I enjoyed reading her story. My favorite character was Nix from the moment Selah bumped into him in the market at the beginning of the book. And as they became closer during the trials, I liked him even more! On a different note, I hated Andren the second he was introduced in the story. He was too perfect to be a good guy. I guess by the end of the book I knew exactly what kind of person he was.

I can't wait to read the second book when it comes out! Selah has a long journey ahead of her!
Profile Image for Cher.
66 reviews3 followers
April 6, 2023
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Selah has grown up in the world of the Casted, an elite society. Her looks greatly varies from her classmates-making her a target for bullying. When she makes her debut, one in which she is not excited about, she quickly catches the attention of the Governor- Andren. When a marriage proposal become reality for Selah, old family secrets are revealed. Secrets that turn Selah's world upside down. Now to return back to the world that Selah grew up in, she must take the Trials and see if she has what it takes to survive.

I first want to say that this is a really good book. The beginning I was confused, trying to piece together the background history. But the more I read, the more it began to make sense. When reading I felt like I really knew Selah- her insecurity, anxiety, compassion and even thoughts-made me relate to her. As the book went on there was a lot of character growth for Selah and Ophida (who at the beginning I didn't really like but grew on me throughout the book). At the end of the book I was left wanting more. To know what was in store for Selah, Andren, Nix and Ophida. I was left gut wrenched and now I am eagerly awaiting for the second book to come out.
Profile Image for Dog Eared Reads (Jen).
182 reviews8 followers
March 24, 2023
3.75 / 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Casted is the debut novel from Ashley Kucinsky and follows Selah--Elite from birth, but bullied due to the fact she wasn't as Stepford looking as the rest of the members of the "Caste". Family secrets come to light that toss her into a trial that has her fighting for her life to prove her worth to the rest of the Casted.

I had no issues getting into the story. The world building is done well and the writing style is better than a lot of things I've read from experienced authors. It did feel a bit like Bridgerton, but with magic up until Selah left for her trial. I did have some issues staying into the book, about halfway through I just stopped being able to picture what was going on and it sort of lost something for me. The ending is kind of a cliffhanger, but I am excited to see where the next book takes us.
48 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2023
This book took me by surprise. It had me hooked from the first chapter. Certain scenes in the book had me reminiscent of ACOTAR, The Hunger Games, Daughter of The Drowned Empire, and a tv show called 3%. I devoured this book in two sittings (only because I required sleep) otherwise I would have read it in one sitting.

From the beginning I was skeptical of the Andren/Nix situation, and by the end of the book my suspicions were confirmed.

I cannot begin to even describe the need I have for the next book. I DONT WANT TO WAIT lol

Needless to say, I CANNOT wait for the next book to be released and might have to reread this one while waiting for the next to be released 🥰

I’d like to give a special thank you to Ashley Kucinsky for allowing me the opportunity to have this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥰 I feel like she’s going big places with this series!

Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Valerie.
4 reviews
March 20, 2023
I was was an arc reader for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was great! It’s semi-Hunger Games, but not so much that it’s a ripoff. I love the idea of the Caste, and how we are initially led to believe being casted is a positive thing. Andren the governor gave me Tamlin from ACOTAR vibes — he seems great at first, but he’s actually awful. I loved Nix and the way he treated Selah. He was her anchor when she needed it most.

The twists, turns, and surprises were just that — I could predict things like her falling for Andren, and once the Trials started, her gravitation towards Nix made their eventual romance obvious (but not in a bad way!) but things like Selah’s Sponsorship, the Geomancers, those last few chapters when everything came together, the ending?!?!? All amazing. I’ll be anxiously awaiting book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashlynn Ettestad.
13 reviews
March 30, 2023
I read this book as an ARC reader and agreed to give my honest review on it.
Overall I really enjoyed this book!! In the beginning it was kinda slow to start and I had a harder time getting into the story. Once I did get into it though, I couldn’t put it down! I think that the beginning is slower because it is doing a wonderful job at world development and building for future books to come. I am hoping that this is the beginning to a long series as I absolutely fell in love with the characters. This was a book that I wasn’t sure I was going to love, but by the end had me laughing, crying, and wishing for so much more to read!
I cannot wait to see what else this author has in store for Selah. This book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger so be prepared for that!!
Profile Image for Kim.
9 reviews4 followers
March 31, 2023
Minor spoilers



Although I’m tempted to say that this is an incredible piece of storytelling for a new author, that last bit is totally unnecessary. This is an incredible piece of storytelling period. I absolutely love how multifaceted the characters are, and I’m so excited to learn more about how the Caste works. I feel like we’ve only gotten a small glimpse of just how dystopian this society truly is. I really appreciate the way that even characters who don’t seem to be leads per se get a bit of a backstory. (If we don’t see Tomas again I might riot.) I love dystopian and fantasy stuff, but am not into romance at all. However, this one hooked me and has me thinking that maybe I need to widen my horizons a bit!
Profile Image for Mary.
2 reviews
March 20, 2023
I read this book as an ARC reader and honestly was not really sure what to expect. It sounded like a book I would enjoy and I ended up getting completely sucked into the story and read most of it in one day because I couldn’t put it down. The story is a little predictable at first but it definitely did not end how I had expected it to. I love the main character Selah and her character development throughout the book is done well, as well as the other main characters in the book. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series to see how the story continues to unfold!
Profile Image for Hailey Wilmoth.
4 reviews
April 1, 2023
ARC review:

Selah’s story really captured my attention and I was really pulled in from the start. I can appreciate that she was the out cast and not another racing beauty like we often get as the main character in a fantasy. With that being said, I did feel that in places the flow of the story sort of jumped around a bit, and I had to really try to regain my bearings in order to understand what was going on. Quick transitions, if you know what I mean. Overall though I really enjoyed Casted and look forward to the second installment!
Profile Image for Steve Harmon.
2 reviews
April 2, 2023
Fantasy isn’t my typical genre, and I’ve definitely never read a romance. But my wife told me to just give this book a try and swore that I would like it. Sure enough, I was sucked in by the end of the first chapter and couldn’t put it down once I got to the trials. I admit that I got a little mad toward the end (if you’ve read it, you’ll get it), but I’m really excited for the next book. My wife and I will be reading that one together.
1 review1 follower
March 20, 2023
I was an ARC reader for this book and it reminded me of Bridgerton a little bit in the beginning. Then it took an entirely different turn with more action, conflict, and mystery. If you like a book with a little bit of everything plus some fantasy elements, then this is definitely for you! Looking forward to the second book!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
19 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2023
I devoured this ARC!
Logistics: I greatly appreciated the content warning at the beginning, as well as the pronunciation guide being at the beginning.
Story: Like I said, I DEVOURED this. It was SO good! Selah doesn't fit in with her usual society, for good reason. Andren seemed too good to be true, and well 😶 The twist at the end was unexpected, and hurt my heart a bit. Cannot wait for book 2!!
Profile Image for Holly.
64 reviews10 followers
April 4, 2023
I received an ARC of this book! I enjoyed Selahs character growth and development. This book had a lot of my favorite elements (love some Dystopian vibes) The first couple lines of the book definitely caught my attention and drew me in. I LOVE the pronunciation guide and warnings at the beginning of the book. Overall im very excited to see what book 2 holds.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
27 reviews1 follower
April 4, 2023
WHAT. AN. AMAZING. BOOK.

I've been stuck in a reading rut desperate to find something good, and this book was SO GOOD. It had all of the elements that make it one of those unforgettable books, and I need the next one NOW! Fantastic writing, deep characters, expansive world building. 5/5!
Profile Image for Lannie Baker.
8 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2023
I received this book as an ARC - first off, I wound up genuinely enjoying this book. But, I struggled with the beginning of it because of the jumping around and the what felt like absolutely no answers and so many other questions being raised. Once I got past it however, I flew through the rest of the book and loved it. I will definitely be recommending this to others
1 review
March 20, 2023
This book had me hooked early on. The character building was gradual and not all at once (which I found refreshing). I felt like this book was twilight meets hunger games meets avatar (air bender). Im ready for the next book already. I love Selah and I need to know what’s gonna happen to her now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lauren Luthy.
11 reviews
March 21, 2023
This book had me hooked from the beginning. The world and character building were fantastic. I loved all the twists and turns, which I was unable to predict. I will be anxiously awaiting the next books!!
1 review
March 22, 2023
Just from the first chapter I was pulled into this story and couldn't put it down! Great adventure, love, loss, and finding ones self all in packaged in an amazing story like none other! Do not walk but run to buy this book!
Profile Image for Tisha Embry.
53 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2023
I was given the opportunity to be a Beta for Ashley Kucinsky for the book!

It was a slow start in the beginning, but this was one I couldn’t put down! I really Need the second book! The whole trials gave me a Hunger Games vibe, but it was different in its own standing! If you give this one a try, you won’t be let down!
Profile Image for Victoria McQuigg.
65 reviews
April 4, 2023
This book is incredibly original and compelling. I was hooked from the first chapter. The twists and turns kept me on edge. With just enough romance and spice to lighten the heavier aspects of the book. I can't wait to read the next one.
Profile Image for Lexi Kreutzian.
21 reviews
May 12, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! It was like the hunger games and the selection put together!! It kept me interested throughout the book and I definitely got attached to the characters! Very good I highly recommend!
Profile Image for LaRyssa Nelson.
7 reviews
April 2, 2023
ARC Review

Story was good and I enjoyed the concept, but I wish it had more dialogue and world building. I felt myself skimming a lot.
Profile Image for Marette.
10 reviews
April 18, 2023
I absolutely cannot wait for the second book. AND I have it on good authority there will be a third!
Profile Image for Caylee Marshall.
2 reviews
June 3, 2023
Fabulous read - I couldn’t put it down. Great world building and characters!!
Profile Image for Angie Rutkowski.
52 reviews
April 2, 2025
Can’t wait to see what happens next! An outcast story with romance & human perseverance. A good read!
9 reviews
December 28, 2025
Casted (The Stolen Scrolls Book 1) pulls you into a detailed fantasy world with intriguing magic and compelling character arcs. Plenty of adventure and mystery to keep fantasy fans hooked.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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