Imogen Nel has always done her best to obey her King with everything she's got. He may be cruel, but she is his ward, and that makes her indebted to him. However, Imogen is hiding a secret so large that she would be executed immediately if it was revealed... and that is exactly why she is forced to create a blood bong with a neighboring king. The bond could strengthen both of them, or it could destroy the man she loves.

Holy. Moly. This book was amazing. Imogen is a badass, her backstory and powers are interesting, and I can't wait for the next book! Also, Theo.. I love yearning men, and when he calls her Immy... a part of my brain gets scratched.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the eARC. Projected publishing date: July 15th, 2025

ARC review: Is this the first good romantasy?

As a certified hater, enjoying a romantasy is huge for me. Never have I read so much yearning and groveling in my life. The romance is impeccable and actually takes its time to build. For the first time, I was highlighting lines not out of hate, but awe.

On top of the romance, I felt that the fantasy element was also done justice. The plot and world are intriguing and I may have actually gasped aloud at one point.

The writing is lush and descriptive. I adored it as this type of prose (think Ava Reid) is my favorite, but some will hate it.

All that being said, it’s not perfect. Imogen does a lot of negative thinking about herself which can become tiresome, but it made sense to me. Along with the negative thinking, there was some repetition around “we should do this thing” “no we shouldn’t” that kept circling around. None of this negatively impacted my enjoyment of the book.

I loved this. Will be picking up the next book the moment I can get my grubby little paws on it.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book! This is my first foray into the world of Sirens and I am happy to say it won’t be the last as I am so excited to continue on in the series.

We’re following Imogen who is escaping a life where she has to hide what she really is to stay alive because the people who claim to be keeping her safe are the same people who would see her kind (Sirens), obliterated from their world. In doing so, she meets Theodore, a King in his own right, who protects and worships Sirens. He agrees to help her escape if she agrees to three conditions. Simple enough right? Yeah, not so much. When lines become blurred and feelings begin to grow, Imogen and “Theo” are forced to make a potentially heartbreaking decision.

Can Imogen do what needs to be done to save her kind? Even if it means losing everything? I can’t wait to find out!!!
Thank you Little, Brown and Company!

Unfortunately, this was a bit of a disappointment for me. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2025, but it fell the tiniest bit flat for me. I would've liked more of an exposition to deepen Imogen's character, as well as additional world building throughout the book. The romance felt a little rushed. I probably will still continue the series though as I am interested in what will happen next and I did like the characters.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this. I struggled to connect with the characters and didn't really care what happened to them. I won't be continuing this series.

Mark my word, this will be THE book of the summer. It will lure you in within the first few pages -- pun intended.

In a world full of dragons and faerie books, it's about time we got something new. From the setting to the characters (big and small) to the dark magical elements woven throughout, it's memorable. The writing is lyrical, but certainly not boring or "fluffy." It's incredibly immersive.

My only wish is that it was longer; some scenes felt short despite how important they were to the plot + character development.

I lucked into downloading this when it was Read Now and I am SO glad I did. I am obsessed with this book. I started it one evening and could not stop reading. I was so engaged in the story and the characters. This book hit all my favorite things- beautifully written characters and world, tension, fast paced. The characters are sooo good. I found it really interesting that the sirens in this book have feathered wings because I'm not sure I've read a book where they did. I think of sirens mostly as evil mermaids. I did look up sirens though and see the history of them with wings in Greek mythology. I loved how Cassidy had her sirens shift and look. I loved Imogen and Agatha's relationship and was glad that Agatha kept on the adventure. I completely fell for Imogen and Theo immediately. Their first interaction I shipped them. The tension was so good in this book. I do believe this book will be one of my favorites of the year (I don't' see how It couldn't be) I look forward to reading everything Kalie Cassidy writes.

One of my new favortites!! The writing I feel was very well done [ not young adult easy reading ] and kept me on my toes the whole time. I honestly just ate this book up. I read it in just 2 days! Thank you netgalley for providing me the chance to read this! I mean fantasty, romance, drama, and siren's with wings! This is everything you want in a book, read asap!

This is something quite special. I’ve never had the pleasure of reading a book with folklore sirens and I am ensorcelled. Cassidy has remarkable talent in weaving a story that is wondrously fantastical while maintaining a great deal of realism with her characters. This author holds her characters accountable and it is so refreshing! Can’t recommend enough. Elevated writing, so great for adults, but absolutely appropriate for younger readers. This dark and twisty fantasy debut is impossible to put down.

3.5 stars rounded up. I think this book wasn't for me, but I think it would be loved by a lot of romantasy readers.

Strengths:
-the winged sirens- very cool. I love a fantasy element that hasn't been done before
-the setting overall was intriguing and unique
-The mmc is cool, seems kind and sweet and the kneeling thing is cute.

Weaknesses:
-a romance carried by tropes
- the main character is a little dense and kinda annoying
-the twist about her father's identity was a little predictable and has definitely been done before

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

3.5 stars
thank you netgalley fo the opportunity to read this book as an arc in exchange for an honest opinion
if you liked one dark window, im sure you will devoure this as well!!!
this was so interesting and different, the darker vibes and atmosphere were so intriguing and i cant wait to read the next book in the series!!!!!

I enjoyed the unique take on sirens (the winged, talon-bearing kind rather than the menacing mermaid version) although I definitely wanted more world building and lore about the sirens. I have a lot of questions haha.

The pacing and character development felt rocky and rushed at the beginning but it settled in as it went along and I enjoyed it more than I initially expected to. It hooked me in and made me want to keep reading. A bit disappointed that the sequel (it’s set to be a duology) won’t be out for who knows how long!

The author has a thorough list of content warnings on her website that I appreciated. It was pretty dark and had more sexual content and language than I usually read but I was glad to know to expect it before going in.

This book was just NOT it. I will not be reading the sequel and I honestly had a very hard time finding the motivation or want to even finish this one. I was bored for probably 85% of it. I found myself having to reread paragraphs because I would just zone out mid page. Then towards the 3/4 mark I started skimming through certain parts. There were a few things I wanted to touch on that needed to be changed for me to even slightly enjoy this book. The over use of the word "fuck" drove me nuts! It felt like a kid who just turned 18 and no longer lives at home and is going buck wild now that they aren't on a tight leash to their parents. If they don't say it a million times then they aren't cool. Yuck! Not to mention trashy! I felt like Cassidy did more "telling" vs "showing" I want to be immersed in the world, not whatever this was. Seeing a blurb from Rachel Gillig on the cover and it being marketed as a mix between Gillig's One Dark Window and Hannah Whitten's For The Wolf AFTER reading it has made me so thankful I read the book before I saw it. I would have finished this book not only disappointed, but probably angry as well.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own opinions.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown, and Kalie Cassidy for this galley copy to review

In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy is an exquisite read. I was hooked from the beginning and the way this book had a hold on me was visceral.

Imogen lives in fear of her king and of her hidden siren heritage being found out. In the days before her wedding, she plots her escape and flees with the kings of a neighboring kingdom. But the consequences of her freedom lead to more questions about her past, her powers, and the fate of her people. But is the only way to keep herself safe found in becoming a monster herself?

5/5 stars!

The story is fast paced and stole my breath away. The imagery is lush and I am going to recommend this to everyone! There’s incredible lore, heartache and yearning, and the way the story was written draws you in immediately. I cannot wait for the next book.

This novel was absolutely incredible. What a wild ride! My only complaint? The cliffhanger. Like, seriously—what just happened?! I’m literally on the edge of my seat, dying for the next book to drop. I might just have to go into full-on hibernation mode until the story continues.

Let’s talk about the writing first. It’s exquisite—beautifully crafted, immersive, and incredibly well done. You get swept up into the world so effortlessly, and the author’s prose just pulls you in deeper with each page.

The characters are equally remarkable. Imogen and Theo are phenomenal together. Their dynamic is electrifying—there’s so much tension, sharp banter, and undeniable chemistry. It’s the kind of relationship that keeps you turning the pages, eager to see what will happen next. Honestly, it’s a chef’s kiss.

I cannot recommend this book enough; I have absolutely no doubt that once In The Veins of The Drowning releases in July, it will undoubtedly be the only book on everyone’s mind. I cannot wait for everyone to experience this story!

I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing the book to be a 'read now'.

Look. I don't know why I keep trying to enjoy romantasy books. Probably because maybe one will actually had a solid plot and romance at the SAME TIME.

This had weak plot and a over-the-top horny romance that the author kept shoving down the throat of everyone. I got tired of how often the female lead would wax and wane over the incredible jaw line. Or how his hair would be. Or how he over-touched. Or how he couldn't keep his hands off her even though it was during moments when they had to get out of a bad situation.

I also didn't care for her? I found her too childish and whiny. The best part of the book was when he called her out on it. I felt like they had no chemistry and radiated this overabundant pressure to make me accept they liked one another even without the blood bond.

The plot itself (since it was put on the back-burner) is not something new or unique. Because so much time was spent on getting us off on the romance that the author didn't really through a lot of creativity in the way of a plot. Most of the readers are coming for romance and to read sex scenes.

So, all in all, if you enjoy repetitive remarks about the male looks and constant push and pull with no real plot of worth, this is the book for you.

I loved this! I’m in my fantasy era of reading and this one satisfied my craving after a book slump!
The writing was so beautiful and it sucked me in right from the start! I am so excited to read more from Katie Cassidy in the future and continue this series!

4.75⭐️

This was such a unique story. This book had gothic sea mermaid vibes and I ate it up.

In the book we follow Imogen who is arranged to marry a siren hunter by the evil king who took her in as an orphaned child. The main thing that makes this an unlikely match, Imogen is a Siren herself.

We follow Imogen as she tries to get out of this situation with the help of a neighboring king who just so happens to be attending her engagement party.

The magic system in this book is so unique and unlike anything I’ve read before.

The vibes of this book are unmatched. The pacing was perfect and kept my attention the whole way through. I found myself staying up until the middle of the night because I could not put this book down.

This book was marketed to me as being perfect for fans of One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig and I have to agree.

Tropes:
Marriage of convenience
Touch her and 💀
Found family
One… bed roll? 🔥

The writing of In the Veins of the Drowning was so lyrical and poetic it made the book such a joy to read. I really appreciated Imogen as a character and her survival-first mindset that is just so prevalent in women. The setting felt really unique and unlike anything I had read before, overall just a really incredible read. I think this would be perfect for fans of Ava Reid and Rachel Gillig.

IN THE VEINS OF THE DROWNING is everything I love in a romantasy read and more. Admittedly, I’d found myself a little burnt out on the subgenre, but then this force of a debut gripped my emotions and never let me go. Atmospheric, bold, and a romance that will wreck you as much as thrill you, I’m eagerly anticipating the next book in this series - and anything else Kalie Cassidy writes in the future. This will undoubtedly be one of my favorite fantasy books this year.