The Cast Down

by Katelyn Engels

Set in the year 2050, Elia Anderson's life is about to take a staggering turn from blissful engagement to a fight for survival. "The Cast Down," thrusts readers into a gripping tale of trauma, love, and the pursuit of truth amongst chaos. 

In a world teetering on the edge, resources waning and political tensions mounting, society crumbles beneath the weight of its own failures. The results of which, send the population of Las Vegas scrambling toward refuge. Elia, separated from her family, is thrust into an underground city. A city brimming with mystifying architecture and advanced technology. 

Faced with the repercussions that accompany sudden change, loss, and mass hysteria, Elia is forced to make involuntary changes; all while rebuilding her life in a concrete maze beneath the earth.

"The Cast Down," a story unnervingly close to current day trajectories, is a captivating exploration of the human spirit's fight against oppression. Readers will be drawn into a world where hope flickers like a candle, and love becomes a dangerous game. 

Will Elia escape the shadows casted by an oppressive Council? Or will she be cast away ? 

282 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2025

Reviews

[Whitney Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished The Cast Down, and I couldn’t put it down! It’s a fast-paced, intense read, and I finished it in just over 24 hours because I kept wanting to know what would happen next!!

The characters are relatable and you quickly find yourself rooting for them as they face challenges throughout the book. While they’re not perfect, their struggles feel real, and you can’t help but want to see them succeed. The relationships between the characters also felt natural and added a nice emotional touch to the story.

The book has plenty of mystery and suspense, and I was hooked the whole time as things unfolded. There are some great twists that kept me on my toes, and I loved how the plot kept me guessing!

I’m really excited for the sequel and can’t wait to see where the story goes next! If you’re into fast-paced dystopian books with a bit of mystery and relatable characters, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read.

[thelvp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought the ebook quite impulsively, but I don’t regret it one bit. I wanted an exciting, not too difficult distopian story and I got it! It’s nothing too fancy or intellectual or something. But it is well written, fast paced and has an interesting premise. Is the main character a bit too perfect sometimes? Sure. Is the love story really necessary? Nope. And are there still a lot of open ends, especially with regard to her fiancé and the Atlas themes everywhere? Yep. I especially miss the exposition on why (why???) the whole thing happens in the first place. But - did I have a great time reading this? For sure! I recommend this book for a nice beach day read, or if your brain is on chill mode after a hard day of work.