Fantasy

Review: Cast from the Dark by Asher D. Payne

May 24, 2026

Synopsis:

She was never meant to escape.

Before Caspian Vayne, the notorious Captain of the Bloodmarked, purchases her for his crew’s entertainment, Rohen Levitte is an elite assassin. Always unwillingly chained to another man, she finds herself craving freedom, something the open sea gives her a taste of. Folding herself into the incapable woman she wants them to believe she is, a dark and stormy night grants her the opportunity to escape into the hands of Caspian’s ex-best friend, Alastair Seridean, the Captain of the rival crew, Scarlet Tempest.

Caspian Vayne, a man purchased from the underground markets and trained by the corrupt king, barely grasps the reins of freedom. Branded by the Royal Crest, his damned past litters his skin along with the scars he’s earned. Carrying knowledge he cannot share, he is not unfamiliar with betrayal, but the night Rohen Levitte slaughters half of his crew, a newfound hatred blooms.

As the hunt continues for the legendary Eyes of Ellira—a Damned goddess who once commanded the sea—and the power they hold, the two destined by fate clash as deceit pollutes the veins of the Capital. While the humans battle for power, the Damned, gods who fell in love with humans and were cast out, and the Others, sinister beings who divided divinity in two, are at war for control.

Will Rohen and Caspian uncover their lineage before it is too late? One thing is certain. The sea will remember her. And Caspian Vayne will regret the day he ever touched a blade of the king.

Review:

Based on the blurb and the content warnings, I knew from the start that this wouldn’t be a light, uplifting read – but I still wanted to give it a chance, because you never really know until you try.

That said, I quickly realised it wasn’t quite for me, and that’s not a fault of the book; sometimes you simply don’t connect with a story, which is what happened to me. While I occasionally wished for a bit more clarity in certain parts, I did find the pacing engaging, and the multiple points of view added variety to the narrative.
What I struggled with most was the overall darkness of the story. Nearly every character carries deep trauma, and the book explores heavy themes such as assault, slavery, and ongoing abuse (and many more). This shapes how the characters interact, often creating cycles of hurt and betrayal that felt overwhelming at times. In particular, I found it difficult to connect with Caspian, even understanding that his behaviour is rooted in his past.

In the end, I see this more as a learning experience for my reading preferences. It made me realise that very dark fantasy – at least at this intensity – might not be for me. Still, reading is deeply personal, and what didn’t work for me could easily become someone else’s favourite.

🌙 Recension: Cast from the Dark (Marked by the Deep #1) by Asher D. Payne
📚 Genre: Dark Fantasy
📅 Release Date: May 19, 2026
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 452
⭐️ 3/5