To be completely honest, I expected more from this book. It wasn’t a bad reading experience by any means, but it still felt like something was missing. The first half was definitely stronger than the second.

The premise is fantastic – and it’s exactly what drew me in. In the Veins of the Drowning is a dark fantasy novel centered on Imogen, a siren forced into hiding from a kingdom that seeks to eradicate her kind. As danger catches up to her, she forms an unlikely alliance with Theo, a king from a neighboring realm, in an attempt to escape her past.

I mean – mythologically accurate sirens, blood bonds, a handsome king – what’s not to love? Unfortunately, many of those promising elements felt underdeveloped. The book moves at a very fast pace, and in this case, that’s not really an advantage. The plot rushes forward, but it comes at the expense of character development, relationship depth, and world-building. The beginning was strong for me, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. But then everything started happening too quickly. Instead of pushing the plot so fast, I wish the author had taken more time to develop the relationship between Imogen and Theo. It’s marketed as a slow burn, but it reads more like insta-love. As for the magic system, I’m still not entirely sure how it works. The world-building had potential, and the author did try to establish some structure, but it wasn’t explained clearly enough. That lack of clarity left me feeling disconnected in the second half.

The stakes also didn’t feel as high as I was led to expect, especially given the buildup and the identity of the main villain. The ending felt a bit unsatisfying. While it’s clearly intended to set up a sequel, I would’ve liked this book to feel more complete on its own. Aside from a few secrets being revealed, not much else happens in the final chapters.

That said, I wouldn’t say I disliked the book – I was just hoping for more. My high expectations were built up by the strong start, and unfortunately, the rest didn’t quite live up to them. Still, the story itself is interesting, and I do plan to read the sequel.
I also recognize that many of the issues I had might come down to personal preference. I’m sure plenty of readers will enjoy this book more than I did. So, I’d still encourage you to give it a try – maybe it’ll resonate more with you than it did with me.

This was swoon-worthy siren magic! 🤩
The gothic vibes were immaculate a la Rachel Gillig’s work. The worldbuilding was fun - from the blood bonds to magic system. But it could’ve been expanded on in many ways.
The stakes are high and the characters are grey - it makes for a great adventure story.
The MMC has my heart.
Give this a try.

When I tell you this is your new romantasy obsession, you better believe me. The tension? There. Heart-wrenching, nail biting moments? You got it.
There isn't a single thing I'd change in this book, which says a lot, considering how awfully picky I usually am when it comes to romantasy books. I cannot wait for the sequel.

Loved the world building in this one. The take on sirens was unique and I loved the viciousness of them. The FMC was chaotic but deliberately so and it worked. The MMC was an absolute joy to read. The story got a bit repetitive towards the end but overall it worked for me. A great, enjoyable read.

A siren hidden in a world where she is hunted !
blood bonds
prophecies
Slow burn romance
I enjoyed this book and will definitely read book 2 when it comes out. It does feel like there could have been a few more chapters where the characters go from its the blood bond - I love you. Still I was kept immersed in the story. Thank you for allowing me to read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gollancz for the preview. All opinions are my own.

4+ stars

This was a highly enjoyable and bingeable fantasy romance with sirens and gods. It's dark and atmospheric, and I could not put it down. I think people are really going to fall for Theo and Imogen; their sloooooooooooooow burn is tortuous, but their chemistry is undeniable. When they ignite, they really ignite! Plus there is just soooo much angst and tension, not to mention the heartbreak.

The plot is high stakes with the encroaching threat of one god, the pursuit by the king Imogen escaped, and Theo's duty that's forcing him elsewhere. The reveals along the way were a mix of "OH NO" and "should have seen that coming." I'm very interested and eager to see where the next book goes.

I'm taking a star off because I think the world-building needs some work, and there definitely seem like there are some holes in the plot and the lore. Some things just didn't make sense logically, but hopefully that will all improve with the second book. I still enjoyed myself a ton, but the issues did bother me enough to note it.

I’m gonna need everyone to drop everything and read this the moment it comes out. July 17th, MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

Oh my word. Where do I even begin? The moment I opened the first page and read, I was immediately transported to this gothic, dark, eerie, magical world. This was my first introduction to gothic fantasy, and let me tell you, it will definitely not be my last.

The vibes were immaculate. There really is no other way to describe it. It felt like I was THERE. It felt like I was Imogen, battling between disguising who and what I was, combined with fighting the attraction I had to our love interest. Our love interest is so pathetic for her, I was IN PAIN. The want, the tension, the yearning, the desire, ALL had me in a chokehold. The person he wants most may just be the exact person to bring his kingdom to ruin. But it hurts more to live without her.

The world consists of Gods that are worshiped, and those who have powers are their descendants. That's why Imogen and the man she wants cannot be, their powers combined could devastate realms. Kingdoms battle for power. Someone is out to get Imogen, and our love interest saves her by ‘kidnapping’ her when he realizes she’s in danger.

I can’t wait for the sequel, and this isn’t even out yet.

Thank you to Orion for this earc. It was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Fast-paced, atmospheric, and richly imagined - I quickly devoured this fantasy romance! I love a magical world heavily tied to the ocean, so this book was one that I was excited to dive into! (Yes, pun intended!) Following a siren and a king who, through some rather dire circumstances, end up magically bound together, this book is the first in a series involving some rather enticing enemies-to-lovers romance, magic, and adventure.

Right from the start I was invested - the plot moves quickly with great momentum. The atmosphere was brilliant and felt thick and heavy, and the romance - particularly the bickering between the main protagonists - was chef's kiss. However, there were a few things that didn’t fully work for me. Being the first in a series, it became noticeable as the story progressed that major arcs were being set up. This is not a bad thing (on the contrary, I love an intricate and complex arc!), but the story felt like it lacked a satisfying climax. Because of this, I found the first half of the book more compelling - though that might just be my frustration at having to wait for the next book in the series.
Additionally, while the main protagonists felt nicely fleshed out and compelling, I do think the side characters could have used a bit more development, and I would’ve preferred the romance to be drawn out a little longer. Similarly, the world-building created a strong sense of atmosphere and setting, but I would have liked more detail about the magical system and its “rules,” so to speak. So really, I just wanted more!

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys sirens, a magic system involving gods and their children, and some adventure in a world that is richly atmospheric. I’ll absolutely be picking up the next in the series!

I loved this read. It was a great take on sirens and delivered what it promised. It was easy to get into and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the tension and build up with the romance.
I did feel there were elements missing and areas that could have been developed, particularly with the wider story as the twist started to unfold. The ending also felt quite abrupt but has set up for a promising follow up which I am excited to read.

I really wanted to love this one, and it has good bones but it’s absolutely riddled with plot holes😩 the romance was so good though so that’s what the stars are for, the plot is just a mess…

Lyrical, eerie, and wholly original. The prose was stunning, and the mythology elements were beautifully woven in. A moody read perfect for fans of dark academia.

5⭐

"𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚."

Thank you Kalie Cassidy, Orion Publishing Group, Gollancz and NetGalley for the ARC!

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 by Kalie Cassidy is an evocative and immersive debut, a rich and atmospheric romantasy with a unique twist to the siren lore.

I loved everything about this book from the sirens, to the magic, the kingdoms, blood bonds and found family. Cassidy has done an amazing job to lure the readers like siren's song from her gorgeous purple prose.

The adventure and quests are set in a maritime or dark and grueling setting, where the stakes are high and every action and decision has consequences. I like the way that the words are strung together, the dark descriptions giving out visual images for the readers. The unique take on the siren lore felt fresh and utterly immersive, with the enchanting prose that effortlessly carried me along with narrative.

The cast of characters were splendid. The morally-greyness within them also had a soft side. The devotion, longing and angst that was between Theodore and Imogen was truly evocative, and their chemistry was complementing them all throughout. Reading about a man in his knees for a powerful woman to love him was truly a spending experience.

Aside from the romance, this book has another side to its story. There are Great Gods and Goddesses, Mage Seers and Sirens who each have a distinct part of the world's history and lore. Their stories coming together in the end with jaw-dropping twists was truly unexpected. The last hundred pages were slapping us with brutal revelations and backstories which had me second-guessing some of the characters' motives.

More than the romance and the quest, this book is also about a woman's survival, a woman's escape from a tyrant man's Kingdom, a powerful woman learning about herself and her powers and a powerful woman who learnt to put herself first and foremost before anyone else. It's a journey of healing and feminine rage boiling beneath the skin for a long time before finally unleashing the terror out.

Overall, this book is an evocative and immersive read to all those readers who love dark and grueling worlds, with strong women and feminine rage.

I read this book in one day which shows how easy the story is to get into, and to binge read.

The foundations of this story were really strong. It promised a dark, romantic fantasy with sirens. That sounds exactly like my kind of book, but the book needed to be longer.

The story itself was entertaining however, some aspects of the book were so underdeveloped that it was jarring to read. One of the main aspects of the story is the romance, and whilst there were some cute moments, their relationship went from 0-100. I actually really liked them as a couple, but I feel like the book would have benefited from being a bit longer and developing the romance more on page. We were told that time had passed and that they developed feelings for each other, but we weren’t shown that development which is why it was jarring to read such a fast switch up.

“The only piece of me that has found a true home is my heart.”

In The Veins Of The Drowning is everything I didn’t know I needed. Reading this book was super addictive, and as soon as I started, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the author’s style and couldn’t help but feel like I was traveling through a classical painting.
The book takes all the codes of fantasy and mythological retelling (sirens, here), you won’t feel lost BUT the author makes them hers by twisting them and adding a lot of originality. The resulting magical system and world is as familiar as it is unique and original, full of metaphors. I absolutely adored what she did about “marriage bonds” (and won’t elaborate to avoid spoilers) and all the implications it had for people (and for the story). The plot never stopped to surprise me (which isn’t so frequent) with the inventiveness and all the twists.
Imogen is such a great character, and I loved her trajectory, from a soft and protected ignorance to her feelings of guilt, then her quest –and rage. Theo was another great character, complex and full of nuances, fighting against his own demons.


Their relationship was *chef kiss* but here too I don’t want to reveal too much to avoid spoilers. I can’t help but have so many questions about the characters’ motivation and “true” feelings, about what does it mean, and I’m sure we will have the answers in book 2.
If I had to summarize, I would say that if you decide –as you should– to read In The Veins Of The Drowning, expect a mix of a fantasy full of politics, a mythology retelling, an initiatic journey, a enthralling romance and a lingering questioning about what and where home is… and to be wishing the sequel was already between your hands. Which leads me to my only one grief: I NEED to read book 2 and the wait will be so SO long… But I’ll wait if I must (OC), and as long as I’ll have to, and I’ll be there to know the end of the story when it’ll come.

Thank you to the author and gollancz for the eARC sent via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

This was such a fun read! From the bold chemistry between the main characters to the depths of the sea, this book has it all. I loved the idea behind the powers and how they can be mixed, this made me absolutely lose my mind at the final scenes!!

Overall it was a great read and I can’t wait for the second book!

Did someone call 1-800-HOTMESS? Because this book is its headquarters and I loved every moment of the chaos. In the Veins of the Drowning delivered exactly the kind of emotional turbulence I didn’t know I craved. I was utterly besotted (IFYKYK) by Imogen and Theo: two magnetic, headstrong characters locked in duty, desire, and the looming dread of what’s to come.

What I really enjoyed was the rich folkloric thread running through the novel. Sirens here are no mere myth: they’re fierce and deeply intertwined with god's power, Cassidy reclaims them not as temptresses, but as women bound by their own agency, forging their own destinies written in salt and blood. The constant threat of war keeps the story taut, while the slow unraveling of loyalty and truth keeps the stakes high the entire time.

The ocean adds a brooding undercurrent of tension. The sea is a breathing and deadly force, echoing the tempestuous conflict not just for Imogen and Theo, but those around them that are swept up by their current. Imogen’s longing for a place of safety becomes a quiet indignant dream against the ever-churning tides and the haunting call of prophecies.

Theo, in contrast, gives us the gift of vulnerability. His emotional reckoning is gradual and messy, it haunted me and will continue to! Cassidy navigates his declarations with ease, letting grand moments land with weight each time. It’s rare to find a story that holds this much heat and heart without being overly stretched with cliches.

I need book 2 yesterday!

In the Veins of the Drowning follows Imogen, a siren in hiding, living in a kingdom that believes sirens are monstrous creatures that need to be hunted. When a neighbouring king comes to visit, he recognises Imogen for what she is, and believes she is a lost siren heiress who can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. For protection, the two form a blood bond and flee the kingdom together, traversing waters teeming with the undead. As the lines between duty to their people and desire for each other begin to blur, Imogen worries her own ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her. The only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.

While I was intrigued by the premise of this one, unfortunately the execution was lacking for me.

We are thrown into the story with little context and not a lot of world-building, so I felt like I was constantly trying to catch up. I found the pacing very inconsistent, and the plot didn’t seem to have much direction. So much happened in the second half of the book, that it was, again, hard to keep up. There were all sorts of secrets and spells and prophecies revealed in such short succession at the end of the book, that it became really confusing.

I also couldn’t connect to the characters. I found Imogen to be very annoying and childish and the MMC, Theo, lacked personality. Their back and forth was frustrating, and the chemistry between them felt forced. Again, things happened so quickly in this book, and I wish things could have been slowed down to allow the characters to get to know each other better and for their relationship to develop organically.

I enjoyed the depiction of sirens, but the magic is never properly explained, so I struggled in the scenes where Imogen was using her siren magic. The siren aspect was what drew me to this book, and I wish more time was spent on explaining the sirens and the magic.

Although I found the ending confusing, it seems like the next book could delve into magic and sirens a lot more. However, this book was just not for me, and I won’t be reading the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gollancz for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️ 2🌶️
- Slow-Burn
- Morally Grey FMC
- Forced Proximity/ Bonds
- Touch her &💀/ Touch him &💀

Imogen’s life takes a wild turn when she discovers she’s the last in the bloodline of Ligea, the lost Goddess of the sea. Living as the King Nemea’s Ward and engaged to the notorious Siren-slaying Captain, she makes a deal with the King of Varya to escape her confines. As she learns about her true powers, Imogen must navigate the tangled web of loyalty, duty, and love. It’s up to her to embrace her destiny and save her world…

In the Veins of the Drowning is the exciting first instalment of the Siren Mage duology. I so enjoyed the premise, it’s been a while since I’ve read a story centred around Sirens, and I loved the reimagining of this mythical creature!

It’s a slow-burn romance which quickly unfolds in a morally complex world. The plot is fast-paced, and the narrative quickly swept me along. The world-building set a good foundation - I’m looking forward to seeing more of the aesthetics of the magic system in book two!

I would say I didn’t quite see the amount of characterisation I’d have liked. The personalities of the MCs, particularly Theo, could have been more fully developed and explored. But it is nonetheless a great romantasy and an easy and enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.

ad || thank you to so much to Gollancz and NetGalley for gifting me an e—arc of In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy

Wow. This book dragged me in and captivated me like a siren— irresistible and impossible to put down. The atmosphere was rich, the characters had the perfect chemistry, and the story pulled me under in the best way! Right from the get go, we get introduced to Imogen (a hidden siren) who is imprisoned in a kingdom by a ruthless king who hunts Sirens and has pinned a Siren’s wing for all who enter to see. We see events unravel - and some of my favourite tropes happening but I don’t want to spoil the fun! I wanted to inhale every phase and description like pure magic was captured between the pages.

Theo was such an interesting MMC - he’s awestruck by Imogen but not in an instalove way but instead in a Mr Darcy epic speech X mysterious way. Saying that, the two main characters also briefly reminded me of the main characters in the Plated Prisoner series so if you enjoy that you might love this one too.

My only regret is now having to wait until July for a physical copy! I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

Tropes
🌊 Sirens
🌊 Touch her and ☠️
🌊 Blood bond
🌊 One horse
🌊 Prophecy
🌊 Forced proximity
🌊 Top notch banter

Kalie Cassidy’s In the Veins of the Drowning is a moody, atmospheric romantasy that leans heavily into mythic siren lore and lyrical prose, offering readers a dark and seductive world where magic is dangerous, love is complicated, and power is never without cost. It’s an ambitious debut with a strong thematic core—but one that occasionally falters in execution.

Imogen Nel is a siren in hiding, suppressing both her instincts and her terrifying magic in a kingdom that views her kind as monsters. Her world begins to unravel when a visiting king not only identifies her true nature, but insists that she may hold the key to defeating a threat even greater than the crown that hunts her. Bound to him by a magical blood pact, Imogen is pulled into a perilous flight across haunted waters, and into a tangled web of desire, identity, and survival.

The novel’s strongest asset is its atmosphere. Cassidy’s prose is often lush and evocative, well-suited to the gothic undertones and mythic quality of the story. Her depiction of sirens feels refreshingly close to ancient mythology, offering a darker, more dangerous take on a creature too often softened in fantasy.

Worldbuilding is often vague or front-loaded with unfamiliar terms and half-explained concepts. While mystery can be an effective narrative tool, here it sometimes veers into confusion. Key questions about the magic system, political structure, and the antagonist’s motivations remain murky, even as the stakes continue to rise.

The romance, while emotionally resonant in parts, leans heavily on familiar tropes—forced proximity, magical bonds, and a morally grey love interest. There’s chemistry between Imogen and the king, but the relationship lacks the depth or progression that would make its emotional and narrative payoff fully satisfying. Their bond often feels more dictated by the plot than developed through meaningful interaction, and moments of intimacy can veer into melodrama rather than genuine romantic tension.

Pacing, too, is uneven. The novel begins with a slow, simmering tension, but the second half rushes through major plot points with little breathing room. The climax arrives abruptly, with several loose ends and emotional arcs left unresolved—though, to be fair, this is the first book in a series.

Still, In the Veins of the Drowning has undeniable potential. Cassidy’s writing is rich and immersive, and Imogen’s internal struggle—between fear, power, and identity—anchors the story in a way that will resonate with many readers. Though uneven in its execution, the novel’s bold concept and vivid aesthetic may appeal to fans of darker romantasy, especially those looking for something atmospheric and emotionally charged.

It’s a promising debut, if not a flawless one—and with refinement in pacing and worldbuilding, Cassidy is a writer to watch.