Ohhhh-kay now Kalie Cassidy is here to add to the pile of atmospheric gothic dark siren stories that are having a moment on my TBR.

I LOVED this. Whatever she writes next, I want.

This was fine. Nothing super unique but the story kept me intrigued enough to at least finish it. I will say I saw so many people talk about the yearning and pining in this and I was disappointed once I read it. It’s hard to did pining and yearning when the couple gets together in a week of knowing each other and already has sexual activity that quickly. But hey, that’s me and not necessarily the authors fault it was marketed like that by other readers. I thought the whole sirens concept was cool. Just didn’t grip me the way I wanted too. TBD if I’ll continue onto the next book.

DNF @ 34%.

The premise of this one seemed interesting, but I didn't enjoy the writing style or storytelling. The author was likened to Rachel Gillig, whose prose I also didn't enjoy, so this problem is with me.

I think this will be a popular book and will recommend it to patrons who are interested in the genre.

Rated 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

“I’d spent my life ignoring the lure of the sea…how (could I) agree to marry a man whose job it is to hunt and kill -?”

On the Isle of Seraf, above the waters of the Leucosian archipelago, the reclusive King Nemea had built Fort Linum, far from the rest of the world. He was “inventive in his cruelty…had obliterated all goodwill ( from other archipelago rulers) with the heinous practice of hunting divine Sirens.” His treasure- A Siren Wing bolted to a wooden wall plaque, inscribed with the words, “The Monster Is Always Slain”.

King Nemea’s so-called benevolence toward his ward, Lady Imogen Nel, was a result of financial gain from her inheritance upon the death of her parents. Imogen was to be forcibly wed to Nemea’s captain, Evander, in two days time. “The scent of the sea clung to him…An intoxicating heat rolled through (Imogen’s) body, like a wave ravenously lapping the shore…A protector…was not something I’d hoped to find in the captain. I’d only let myself wish for a thread of kindness…”. It was not to be. In Evander's presence, a sinister feeling of loss engulfed Imogen. “He had muscles born of hunting Sirens, of heaving flailing, fearful bodies, as they fought their executions.”

Imogen had always felt an attraction and the pull of the sea. She kept her Siren tendencies under wraps. An unleashing of her power could ignite the monster in her. She continued to participate in the blood ritual of King Nemea, making an offering to his water deity, Eusia, in lieu of honoring the Great Goddess Ligea- the Queen of Sirens. Imogen found an ally in King Theodore of Varya who had initially come to attend Imogen’s wedding. Imogen and Theo seemed to be lost souls who yearned for freedom of choice. Imogen tried to maintain her humanity but could not deny her true nature when faced with her connection to both The Great Goddess Ligea and her sister, Eusia, a jealous practitioner of dark magic. She was afraid of morphing into a monster. Theo’s vulnerability was wrapped up in being duty bound to protect the Kingdom of Varya. His own wants and desires were secondary if he wanted to create a lasting legacy of honor and dignity in his archipelago.

A siren bond…the only way for Imogen to escape the confinement controlling her life. Theo agreed to help Imogen plan an escape from Fort Linum. Bound by blood, Theo would be safe from the lure of other Sirens while the pair could protect each other. This was a temporary fix. First, seawater was needed to make Imogen's wings appear. Theo’s future had been orchestrated for him. How could it come to pass if he was bound to Imogen? As their feelings for each other blossomed, they needed to disengage. Off to the Mage Seer to obtain a potion to undo their blood bond. The potion, however, was not without risk.

“In the Veins of the Drowning” by debut author Kalie Cassidy is the first book in the Siren Mage Series. Using beautifully descriptive prose, Cassidy’s world building delivers a panoramic view of the sea replete with Sirens and Necgya (the undead). Imogen's vulnerabilities and Theo’s political responsibilities place their budding, sizzling romance on the back burner… for now! Looking forward to Book #2!

Highly recommended.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you so much to the author and Little Brown & Co for the earc, and Hachette Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I first heard about this books months and months ago when Rachel Gillig posted about it in her stories. I know that if she was blurbing it was going to be something that I would love. I had the pleasure of participating in the cover reveal as well!

In the Veins of the Drowning follows Imogen, a siren that's never touched the sea. After being forced to come into contact with sea water during a bonding gone wrong her wings emerge. She escapes with the king of the neighboring kingdom, Theo, and ends up falling in love.

This is a dark, gritty fantasy with a unique magical system and political landscape. This book includes marriage of convenience, forced proximity, forbidden romance, found family, and more. Absolutely pick this book up if you love gothic, dark romantasy.

I'm not sure what was out in this book to make it unputdownable, but I absolutely flew through this the devastation I'm feeling now that it's over is tragic. I can't wait for the next book, and to pick back up with these characters. The adventure was amazing, the story line was incredible and the romance was top tier. THE YEARNING.

HELLO!?!?!?!? I think this book has most definitely taken over my life currently. I am beyond obsessed with the dynamic between Imogen and Theodore. There are SO many questions I need answered about what happens next. I am patiently waiting for the next book so I can be swept up in the tides of these lovers again.

In the Veins of the Drowning is an amazing debut and start to The Siren Mage duology. There is a lot to discover for Imogen as she finally embraces her Siren side at 26, just before her marriage to a siren hunter, and escapes the cruel king that has kept her as a ward. She blood binds herself to visiting king Theo, who brings her back to his lands with a promise to help her find answers to her ancestry if she will help him fight the source of the monsters hunting his siren citizens. Their bond is not settling as it should though, and they need to fight their growing desires against the bigger duties that lie ahead.

You can expect -
Siren Romantasy
Gods & Monsters
Discovering Magic
Marriage of Convenience
Banter & Tension
Touch Her and Die
Secrets Revealed
Political Intrigue
Late-20s MCs
Single, 1stP POV
First in Duology

This was so well written, with interesting world building and magic. I never felt overloaded or lost, just wanted to continue to discover more with Imogen. There are a lot of secrets withheld that borders on miscommunication, but Theo’s care and declarations of love outweigh it. He was very devoted, almost overly so to their detriment, but I liked that he empowered Imogen.

“I called you a gnat, and I detest myself for it. I am the bug. A moth. And you are the moon. Drawing me, pulling me. But I’ll never be able to reach you without destroying myself. All I can do is pray for the day.”

The ending is a decent cliffhanger, we got a lot of answers and closure, and it sets up the fights to come. I’m excited to see how it all plays out and glad it’s a duology so we get conclusions sooner, but could also read a full series in this world. So glad I jumped into this ARC even though I had so many others due at the same time. Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown & Co for providing an eARC for my honest opinion.

I have many questions but first of all how dare you? How dare you Kalie Cassidy? This book was so fun and I am offended that it had to end. I loved how this story felt both comforting familiar yet also excitingly new. I really liked the relationship with Theo and Imogen and how it developed throughout the story, even if it broke my heart. I do however wish there was more explanation around the magic system as well as the lore of the gods in this story. I felt like at times I was missing out on some depth in the story because of this. I would have loved more of a focus on Imogen learning how to harness her powers instead of just randomly just inherently knowing how to use them. But, the twists and turns along with the fast pacing kept me turning the pages. Overall, I think this was a great start to a new fantasy series and I'm excited to see where the story goes from here!

OBSESSED!! Richly imaginative, moody, and atmospheric — this fast-paced dark fantasy romance blew me away.

Cassidy’s prose is enthralling like a siren’s song. I was hooked from the start, and I couldn’t put this down. Filled with perilously high-stakes, the characters are faced with complex choices.

I delighted in the intense emotional bond and tension between Imogen and Theodore. I highly recommend this for readers who enjoy forced proximity and steamy romance set against a darker gothic setting.

Based purely on enjoyment and vibes, I want to give this book 5 stars so it gets 5 stars, idgaf.

This book was not unicorns and sunshine fantasy, it was dark, with blood and some guts, and I love blood and guts! I have to admit, I started it expecting to probably enjoy it but ultimately have a pretty standard and predictable time. I’m not a huge romantasy fan but the story sounded fun and I am always excited about sirens.

I was not at all disappointed by the siren aspects! I loved the lore especially, and I’m hoping we get more of that in the next book!

Surprisingly, the romance was a bit less predictable than I thought it would be. It didn’t feel, to me, like every other romantasy I’ve read (though to be fair, I don’t have a lot of experience in that department). I do sometimes feel though, that straight romance lacks a certain depth that queer romance often does not, and I thought the relationship between Imogen and Theo developed into something that felt deeper and more meaningful than a lot of straight romance I’ve read while still adhering to some classic and very enjoyable tropes. I loved their banter and the constant will-they-won’t-they you get in a slow burn romance.

That slow burn is the perfect juxtaposition to the plot’s fast pace. There was always something happening that kept me from putting the book down (which is why I started it, stopped only for sleep, and finished it as soon as I woke up) and there were some enjoyable twists I definitely did not see coming! Imogen’s longing for a simple life in a home where she belongs and feels safe was so sweet, and I really hope we see her get that by the end of her story.

PS I read this entire book out loud to my dog and she loved it too.

[Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.]


Wow. This book. I had such a rollercoaster of emotions reading this one. I'm still a little awe struck with just about everything involved in this. Anyone that loves mythology and sirens - *tap tap* please read this! It was not what I was expecting exactly. It's well written and getting inside of Imogen's head is crazy.

There was some minor things but I swear it really didn't bother me all that much and honestly isn't worth noting (outside of the rating) because it had me hooked with the drama unfolding.

Also that ending - I immediately went looking to find the next book's date and was crushed to not see one yet.

My Rating: 4.5 (rounded up)

𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs

𝒪𝓃𝑒-𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌: ʟᴜsʜ

𝒯𝒶𝑔𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑒: ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs sʟᴀɪɴ…

𝒪𝓅𝑒𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐿𝒾𝓃𝑒: ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ ʜᴀᴅ ɢʀᴏᴡɴ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴀ.

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:

𝐼𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒱𝑒𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒟𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 ɪs ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ, ɢᴏʀɢᴇᴏᴜs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅʀɪᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴋᴀʟɪᴇ ᴄᴀssɪᴅʏ ɢɪᴠᴇs ᴜs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀʏ ғᴀɪʀʏᴛᴀʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛᴇᴇᴛʜ—ᴘᴀʀᴛ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ, ᴘᴀʀᴛ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇʟʏ ᴜɴsᴇᴛᴛʟɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇsᴛ ᴡᴀʏ.

ᴛʜɪs sᴛᴏʀʏ ʟɪɴɢᴇʀs. ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɢʀɪᴇғ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ, ʀᴀɢᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀɪʙʟᴇ ᴘᴜʟʟ ᴏғ ᴅᴇsɪʀᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ? ʟʏʀɪᴄᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ sᴏɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ sʜᴀᴋᴇ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ sᴜʀᴇ ɪғ ɪᴛ’s ᴀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ᴏʀ ᴀ ʟᴜʟʟᴀʙʏ.

ᴏᴜʀ ғᴍᴄ ɪs ɪᴍᴏɢᴇɴ ɴᴇʟ, ᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʀʀɪʙʟᴇ ᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴍᴇᴀ, ᴀ sɪʀᴇɴ ʜɪᴅɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴘʟᴀɪɴ sɪɢʜᴛ. ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ, sʜᴇ sʜʀɪɴᴋs ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ᴀs sʜᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴇʀs ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴜᴇʟ ᴋɪɴɢ’s ᴛʜᴜᴍʙ ᴀs ʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴘᴀɪɢɴs ᴛᴏ ʀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴀ ᴏғ ᴀʟʟ sɪʀᴇɴs.

ʜᴇʀ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛ ɪs ᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴏ ᴏғ ᴠᴀʀʏᴀ—ᴀ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ, sᴡᴏᴏɴ-ᴡᴏʀᴛʜʏ ᴍɪx ᴏғ ᴀᴡᴇ-sᴛʀᴜᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʙᴀᴅ. ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ʙᴇɢɢɪɴɢ, ᴄʀᴀᴡʟɪɴɢ, ᴍᴏᴀɴɪɴɢ, ɢʀᴏᴠᴇʟɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ғᴜʟʟʏ ᴏɴ ʜɪs ᴋɴᴇᴇs ғᴏʀ ɪᴍᴏɢᴇɴ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴀᴛᴇ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ.

ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴍᴇssʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs—ᴍʏ ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅ. ɪᴛ ᴀsᴋs ʜᴀʀᴅ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ, ʟᴏʏᴀʟᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴇ. ᴛʜɪɴᴋ sɪʀᴇɴs, ᴄᴜʀsᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ɢɪʀʟs ᴡʜᴏ ᴀʀᴇɴ’ᴛ sᴏғᴛ ᴏʀ sᴀғᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴀᴄʜɪɴɢʟʏ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ.

𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:

🧜🏽‍♀️ɢɪʀʟs ʀᴇᴄʟᴀɪᴍɪɴɢ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ
✨ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs, ɢᴏᴅs, & ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
⚔️ʜᴀᴛᴇ-ᴛᴏ-ʟᴏᴠᴇ
✨ᴀɴ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴇᴠɪʟ
🌊ᴅᴇᴄᴏʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
✨ʙʀᴏᴏᴅʏ ɢᴏᴅ-ᴋɪɴɢ ᴍᴍᴄ x ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴇʏ ғᴍᴄ
🧜🏽‍♀️sᴏғᴛ ᴍᴇɴ ʙᴇɢɢɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀғᴜʟ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ
✨ᴛᴏʀɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴜᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇsɪʀᴇ
⚔️ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
✨ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴏɴᴅs & ᴜɴʙʀᴇᴀᴋᴀʙʟᴇ ᴄᴜʀsᴇs
🌊ᴏɴᴇ ʜᴏʀsᴇ
✨ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ
🧜🏽‍♀️ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴɪᴇɴᴄᴇ
✨ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ
⚔️ᴡɪᴛᴛʏ ʙᴀɴᴛᴇʀ, ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, sʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
✨ʀᴜɴᴀᴡᴀʏ ʙʀɪᴅᴇ

𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉: ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ sᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ sɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇsɪʀᴇ, 𝐼𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒱𝑒𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒟𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 ᴡɪʟʟ ᴘᴜʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ—ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ɪᴛ. ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇǫᴜᴇʟ!

ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
ᴡᴡᴡ.ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ.ᴄᴏᴍ

A Siren in hiding under a ruthless king forced to marry a vicious captain, with no escape in sight until she meets the neighboring king who seems to know her secret... and he is the answer to her escape... but there is always a price... and their fates are entangled. Imogen Nel is the ward of a vicious king who uses her blood to appease a sea goddess... a king who has spent his life hunting and killing sirens... something that Imogen is. Immy has managed to keep her secret but when the king forces her to marry a captain she thought would be fine until her secret slips and he is determined to use her siren powers for himself she kills him... and the only person she can turn to is the neighboring King Theo... Theo who knew exactly what she was when he first saw her. But escaping will not be easy and the only way seems to be for Imogen and Theo to agree to be bonded together... but in Theo's kingdom that means Imogen has essentially made herself his wife. The bond creates a need to be protected... yet whatever feelings growing between them is something far more... yet Theo is determined to deny it and Imogen thinks he can't stand her... oh and the fact that he has a fiancee that they are visiting on their escape. Yet the more Imogen begins learning about Sirens and her own heritage, the more twisted her own family history becomes.. and the more she realizes that she might be far closer to the sea gods than she could have ever imagine. Things come to a head when Imogen gets her prophecy essentially telling her that she'll have to choose between her heart and her kingdom, and just what she needs to do to free herself completely. Forbidden romance, sirens, twisted family secrets, and so much more in this absolutely fantastic siren fantasy. This is the siren fantasy book of my dreams. I absolutely devoured this in one sitting and need the second one IMMEDIATELY. I adored this so so much and can't get enough of it!! It was so good!

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

i kept hearing about this book and i wanted to read it because the magic system was different fae or witches or vampires, but Sirens.

this book weaves together sirens, political intrigue and romance to create a great first book of the series.

Our story follows Imogen, A siren who is hiding in the court of King Nemea, as his ward.
Through a series of events, Imogen ends up bound to enemy King Theodore through a blood bond and our story begins.

I loved the steady pacing of this book and even though Theodore got on my last nerve with how good and honorable he wanted to be, i love how their relationship builds throughout the story like a slow burn but better.

of course by the end of this i was like: when is the next book coming? is this a duology? is it a trilogy???

I can see both, but hope for a duo logy so i can know how it all ends.

thank you to netgally for the arc. All opinions are my own

Imogen is the ward of King Nemea, who zealously hunts sirens. She has lived her entire life in terror because she is a siren and if her secret is discovered, she will be brutally killed. Imogen is being forced to wed one of King Nemea's captains and nearby rulers and nobility are invited to celebrate the marriage. One visiting royal is Kimg Theodore, who doesn't seem to like Imogen. Days before the wedding, Imogen's fiance learns that she is a siren. He doesn't report her, but instead plans to bind them together so he can use her power to his advantage. Imogen realizes that it is only a matter of time before she dies, one way or another, so she desperately makes a deal with King Theodore to take her away. Part of this deal is that Imogen and Theodore bind themselves together until they get to Theodore's kingdom and then they will break the bond.

They escape and make it to Theodore's kingdom and have to delay their plans due to Theodore's fiancee's presence. They eventually get on their way and make a journey to the Mage Seer who can craft a draught to break their bond. But on their journey, they can't help getting to know each other and growing closer. There are many obstacles in their way.

This book was intense. It was full of high stakes and devastating revelations. Imogen and Theodore are definitely starcrossed lovers. They begin the story not liking each other very much, but there is tons of tension between them. I greatly enjoyed this book and I need the second one. I am desperate to know what happens next!

Thank you to Netgalley, Little Brown and Comoany, and author Kalie Cassidy for the gifted eARC.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company & Netgalley for the eARC!!

3.5 stars!

I really loved the concept of this book, and I thought the author's take on the Siren lore was really unique & interesting. I do wish there was a little more info on the world building/magic systems though.

I thought the romance between Imogen & Theo was good! I love a good yearning moment and angsty rivals to lovers.

Curious to see what happens in book 2!!

Very captivating concept, however there is room for her develop as a writer which is to be expected in an author’s debut. I look forward to seeing how the duology unfolds but also how Cassidy cements herself as an established author in this genre.

In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy is a phenomenal dark fantasy romance.
I was so excited to have received book one in this set!
The fierce characterization, the outstanding world-building, the sizzling chemistry, and intrigue—all of it was executed so well. I devoured this book in one sitting.
Can’t wait for book two!

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for a copy of In the Veins of the Drowning. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and really enjoyed it. I felt like it captivated me in the same way ACOTAR and Fourth Wing did. I liked the characters and the world building. I liked the pace of the reveals (especially knowing this is book 1 in a planned series). I liked the romance element and I liked the action. I will say, I didn’t love where we left the story, and at times it felt a little confusing for the reader because the magic system is pretty complex. I think I could stand to reread it once the next book comes out. I will absolutely be waiting with bated breath for the next book!