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.

I got invested. I swear to god my heart rate went wild. We love a good long lost queen stepping into her own. I will say that this is also hella complicated. Like especially towards the end as she’s setting up the next book I got a bit dizzy from all the plotting but I think I get it? I mean I suspect I know how book two will unfold? Maybe? Will definitely continue on with this series!