Definitely one to pick up if you like romantasy. I enjoyed the characters and was intrigued by the plot.

This was a first-person narrative, with descriptive writing and easy to read. There was a decent amount of dialogue which made the reading move pretty quickly. Court politics in ocean life will make this a great read for those who love nautical tales.

“In the Veins of the Drowning” had its' talons hooked in me from the start and didn’t let go. Cassidy weaves a darkly captivating tale of power, identity, and unexpected bonds. Imogen, a siren hidden away from her true nature, and Theodore, a king bound by duty, kept me on the edge of my seat with every twist and turn. The characters are complex, layered and downright infuriating. And the tension between them—CHEF'S KISS. There’s a delicious blend of danger, heart-wrenching moments, and swoon-worthy declarations that will leave you breathless. If you love a the-world-is-not-for-us romance with high stakes and magic, this is an absolute must-read! I’m obsessed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lured in by the siren call of a romantasy thinking one again 'have i finally found one that I'll like' only to be left rather expectedly devastated that this failed to live up to not only my expectations but it's own as well.

I'll admit i enjoyed the first 20%, but after that and once the plot kicked in, i felt like i was stranded out at sea because nothing these characters did, or what happened to them, or the decisions they made, made any fucking sense.

Lets talk about the characters first. A fucking tidepool has more depth than any of these characters, and i'm not even being hyperbolic. I'm not mentioning the side characters because you could have taken them out completely and nothing in the storytelling would have changed. I'm talking purely about the main characters. Tell me one trait that Imogen had other than being angry or jealous. I'll wait. Our man Theodore (i had to look up his name because i had forgotten it that's how boring he was) existed purely to stand in the corner and brood. They were both so one note and shallow! And you're trying to convince me that these two had chemistry? Or any feelings for each other outside of the Siren bond? I don't buy it for a second. They had no casual moments of intimacy needed to build their relationship, no shared experiences or history to bond over, and no reason to be "in love" with each other other than the Siren bond, which didn't do anything other than make each other aware of how badly they wanted to fuck each other.

Just absolutely disgusting character work. Moving on. The dialogue..it's romantasy you can take a guess. It's cringy and they say the f-word to much for it to sound as gritty and dark as intended. it lands more so in the realm of a teenager who's parents are away for the night and they're finally allowed to say whatever they want without getting in trouble.

Finally, the pacing. Atrocious throughout. The first 20% was interesting and engaging and fooled me into thinking that the rest was going to follow suit. This dragged for the remaining 80% afterwards. Scenes that should have been punchy and fast because of the action were a slog to get through, and scenes that should have been slow for development blended in with everything ele that was slow and failed to stand out as these character defining moments.. After a certain point (around 65-70%) i just read the dialogue because I needed it to be over and I can't DNF when i'm that far in.

All that said, I hated this but I made it to end so two stars I guess? Also if you see me out in the ocean, and you're tempted to throw me a buoy please don't bother because i'm trying to recollect the time i wasted on this book from Imogen herself.

Vampires meet epic fantasy in this romantasy where there are few beams of sunlight cutting through the stormy skies. This was a dark book, the imagery, the cost of the magic, the bargains made with gods. Themes of abuse, of manipulation, of cold bargains made to further power - but through it all threads of genuine tenderness in places you didn't think it was possible to it to survive.

OK, I said vampires, but they are actually sirens - old school sirens wrapped up with gods and powers that feel a lot like modern vampires. It took me a little to get into this book as it is one of those that throws you into action and has you find your footing along with a less than completely reliable narrator who is woefully ignorant of many of the things she is twisted up in.

I did actually enjoy this story more as it started to unravel and more truths about world, the magic, the political alliances etc began to come clear. Absolute reluctant cinnamon roll romance if you are into that with the expected she's not going to make it easy on him.

The ending - while not a cliff hanger per se, there better be a book 2 because I NEED to know what happens next - way too much left unfinished with all those teasers for where the plot will unfold. Like everything discovered and resolved in this book just set up book 2.

NOOOOOOOO you did me dirty by ending like that! There I was just minding my own business getting sucked into this book and bam, it's over... just over! Book 1 isn't even released and I'm already waiting for book 2.

Genre: Dark Fantasy
Descriptors: dark magic, royalty, sirens, violence, longing, wanting, revenge.
Favorite Character: Theo <3
Spice: It's a romantasy, you get some that leaves you wanting more
Standalone? NOPE! thank goodness.
Would I recommend: Oh yes!
Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up to a 5

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this splendid book.

My new obsession. This is absolutely going to blow up on booktok and bookstagram. Oh my gosh I loved this so much. The banter was top tier. Just so well done

This was good but not my favorite romantasy. There were some pacing issues and I felt like there should have been way more up front to really situate the world, what Imogen was feeling, etc., This lead to some trouble understanding Imogen's motivation and why she did what she did. I will say though, once the plot kicked off, things really picked up. I also need to compliment the author's commitment to gruesomeness. Yes, Imogen is monstrous and she is that. In spades.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I've been in a very sirens and pirates reading mood, and Kalie Cassidy did not disappoint with her debut novel. This romantasy had me turning through the pages so quickly to see what choices Imogen would make throughout her adventure.

Dark, twisty, moody, and full of betrayal, I think this book will be good for others, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me. Some scenes felt too rushed, or I just didn't understand. The only good thing was the writing; it was exceptional and probably what readers will appreciate about this story.

Do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK! This is the fantasy debut for Kallie Cassidy and releases in July of this year from Little Brown. It is the first book in The Siren Mage series.

If you enjoy a fast paced fantasy with magical creatures, brooding MMCs, political intrigue and of course: MAGIC, then this needs to be added to your TBR immediately!

Definitely a 5 star read for 2025! Loved every minute of it!

I wanted to like this story as I enjoy the theme but really struggled to finish it. I was confused with the FL's choices, and she was not my favorite.

Let me introduce you to my newest fantasy obsession. THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD.

Imogen is an incredibly powerful Siren and Theodore forms a bond with her that surpasses anything they both could imagine.

This book has EVERYTHING I want in a Romantasy. Literally everything. I was sucked in from the very beginning and it never lost me. Not once.

Theo is my new favorite book boyfriend, hands down. That man…. 🥵🥰. I just loved him. I’m a SUCKER for a moment in fantasy when the man takes a knee before the woman…. And it didn’t disappoint. I was shook.

While I LIVED for the romance between these two, I also just loved the world building and the way the story came together. I gasped at multiple moments and I cannot wait for the next book. CANNOT wait.

I think the overall concept of this is great and very refreshing right now in romantasy. I however really struggled with the main characters and the decisions that were made. That unfortunately took me out of it.

But thank you so much to Little, Brown and Company for my ARC <3 I appreciate it!

3/5

"A Siren, away from the sea. Salt water only makes the longing worse."

These are not your Disney animated mermaids. Think closer to Pitates of the Caribbean. Even closer to Odysseus's Sirens.

A fish without her fins. A bird without her wings.

Dark and beautiful.

If your current monster romance isn't the thing, this will be.

"Together we would bring chaos.
We would bring ruin.
We would bring death."

In the Veins pulls you in immediately and is so hard to put down! Imogen is desperate to prove (maybe to herself) that she is not a monster but the inevitability of what she is ever-looms. The pressure on her is palpable and it kept me turning the page. If you need a reading-slump-breaker-book, this is it!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

Kalie Cassidy’s In the Veins of the Drowning is a breathtaking romantasy that immerses readers in a world of dark magic, forbidden power, and an irresistible slow-burn romance. From the first page, Cassidy’s atmospheric prose weaves an enchanting tale that grips you like the tide, pulling you deeper into the story of Imogen Nel, a Siren hiding from those who see her as a monster.

Imogen is a compelling protagonist—strong yet vulnerable, battling both external threats and the danger within herself. When she forms a blood bond with a brooding, duty-bound king, the novel transforms into a gripping journey filled with tension, longing, and heart-stopping action. Their dynamic crackles with chemistry, making every interaction charged and meaningful.

Cassidy’s worldbuilding is both lush and haunting, with eerie waters teeming with undead horrors and kingdoms on the brink of destruction. The story perfectly balances high-stakes adventure with emotional depth, making it impossible to put down. Fans of One Dark Window and For the Wolf will adore this book’s blend of romance, mythology, and dark fantasy.

With lyrical writing, complex characters, and a plot that keeps you breathless until the final page, In the Veins of the Drowning is an unforgettable debut. A must-read for lovers of atmospheric fantasy and slow-burn romance!

I absolutely loved this one! It is so beautifully written and really immersive, and I felt like I was there the whole time. The romance is perfect, and I was pulled into this story. Loved it!

Amazing. Dark and moody and perfect for those who loved One Dark Window. Why isn't book 2 in my hands right now?

‘In the Veins of the Drowning’ by Kalie Cassidy was exactly what I was looking for in a fantasy- a captivating blend of dark romance and fantasy filled with toe curling suspense that will leave you aching for more. The atmosphere was jaw dropping and immersive. The world-building was chefs kiss. And the brooding king? Oh, he’s brooding alright (had me giggling the whole time honestly)🤭

Imogen Nel is hiding from everything—her bloodthirsty nature as a siren, a kingdom that wants her dead (literally), and the trauma of a king who raised her only to turn on her (yall she’s really going through it). Then, another king shows up, demanding her help and offering a blood bond in return. Which isn’t as simple since things get a bit…complicated. Ya know, the usual-fleeing a kingdom, fighting undead sea monsters, and developing feelings for a brooding royal who’s far too noble for his own good😫🤚 that kind of thing?

The slow burn between Imogen and the king is delicious. I absolutely adored the relationship between them which made the book unputdownable. Although i will say, I did wish for a little more depth for their relationship. I wanted more from the push and pull between them. Regardless of that, the plot was insanely good and was worth every second. .

This is a solid 4-star read. It’s eerie, suspenseful, romantic, and totally immersive. Might actually end up being a 5 stars once I get my hands on the copy and get a feel of the book! If your also a fan of Rachel Gilling this book is a MUST READ.