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!

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I feel very…conflicted about this. There were things I thought were interesting. The world the Kalie has built is super intriguing and gritty. Theo and Imogen’s chemistry was very enjoyable to read (tho sometimes their mood changes gave me whiplash). The story was pretty compelling, I wasn’t expecting all of the twists that appeared. Kalie’s take on Sirens was very refreshing. I liked that she used winged Sirens - you don’t see too many of those nowadays but I like those kind from mythology.

That being said, this still fell a bit flat for me. I felt like the pacing was almost too fast, we never stayed in one place for long and I felt like by the time I was getting my bearings we moved locations again. So it made it hard for me to fully connect to this world and the story.

I also just found myself really confused in the scenes. Especially when Imogen used her powers, I don’t know if I’m just a bit daft or if they just weren’t written well enough? I just kept getting lost and not understanding how Imogens power even works.

I feel like if we had just slowed down the pacing a bit. Took the time for Imogen and Theo to get to know each other, this could’ve been stronger. The foundation is there but it feels as though the meat of the story is still missing. I just couldn’t understand why Theo was instantly obsessed with her. Especially when they were arguing a large portion of the book.

I also didn’t understand how he was so devoted to her but he was also going through with this wedding to someone else?? Did I miss something?? Cause that’s so fucking weird to me. Basically was like “I don’t want to marry her, so don’t sever our bond but also I’m gonna go do this ceremony with her real quick. But I promise it’s fine.” Like huh? 🤔

Anyway, I am intrigued enough to read the second book. But I’ll probably either try for the ARC of that or just get it from the library as this isn’t one I think I’d like to keep permanently on my shelf.

3 stars

The concept and premise of this book sounded like something right up my alley. It seemed like a new fresh twist to a siren story since here they have wings and other powers. Although the story wasn't bad I could not get into the writing style and the way dialogue was executed, I don't know how to explain it. The main characters felt a bit flat to me, not a lot of personality and one dimensional. I didn't feel the connection between them, it could have been because of the blood bond they had that make made me question if their feeling were genuine. I am not rating it lower because this is more of my personal preference and I think a lot of people are going to enjoy this story but at this time it was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

This book sounded like a book that was written specifically for me, on paper, I should’ve loved it. But I struggled so much in the beginning, I felt like I was just completely thrown into things and I was struggling to keep up.

Nothing lures me in faster than a FMC with a hidden identity and the broody King of the opposing Kingdom being forced to work together. Imogen Nel is a siren hiding in plain sight in a land that hates her kind. She is protected by her King but a prisoner in her own home, and never gets to explore the depths of her foreign powers. While King Theodore is visiting the castle a series of tumultuous events, leads to the necessity of them escaping together.

Cassidy writes a dark lush fantasy, filled with political intrigue, secrets and twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat and longing for book 2. She builds a world that both you and the FMC are desperate to find out more about. Being sheltered with limited knowledge, you are on adventure with her and her own self-discovery. The romance she builds along the way leaves her questioning if she can go through with the plan they agreed to. A slow reveal of information about the two main characters and their found family keeps you intrigued and falling in love with the story along the way.

A beautifully written tale of love, war, prophecies and secrets!

DNF @45%

I was intrigued by this book because I don’t really see many books about sirens but unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me. You’re basically thrown straight into the story with no explanation of the world, the magic, or what’s going on. The characters, especially Imogen, were so flat and boring and were not interesting to read about.
The plot was hard to follow because it was so drawn out but with no explanation or depth. I would’ve loved more world building or more insight into who the characters were but it just felt like boring, repetitive dialogue.
I was so excited for the dark, magical vibes but nothing about this book really stood out to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!

I was not sure of what to expect when I opened this book but I absolutely consumed In the Veins of Drowning in one day. It had me absolutely hooked from beginning to end—the politics, the gods, the romance, and the world building absolutely gripped me. This is the first of a duology and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next!!

Highly recommend to those that enjoyed To Kill a Kingdom, Gild, Metal Slinger, and Quicksilver.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for a chance to read an advanced copy and give an honest review of this book!

Such an intriguing premise. I had to do a little reminding for myself about sirens and their mythical status. It was definitely something I had never thought about in a romantasy. Is that was this was? Hard to say. But there was some romance and it felt like a solid fantasy adventure.

Many readers are going to love this book and I understand why. It has sirens with sharp teeth and wings! It has a handsome, mysterious King as a love interest. What's not to love? Unfortunately, this one didn't really work for me. I didn't like the FMC and I felt like she was just flailing about with no real direction. The world building was severely lacking for me and I needed more answers. I felt like I stepped into the story not really knowing what was happening and that can be fine if some of those questions are answered along the way and I didn't really feel like this book did that.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kalie Cassidy's In the Veins of the Drowning is a mesmerizing romantasy debut that seamlessly weaves dark magic, forbidden power, and an intoxicating romance. Set in a richly imagined world where sirens are both feared and hunted, the narrative follows Imogen Nel, a siren in hiding, as she forms a precarious alliance with King Theodore to confront a looming darkness that threatens their realms.

Cassidy's world-building is both lush and haunting, immersing readers in eerie waters teeming with undead horrors and kingdoms on the brink of destruction. The atmospheric prose captivates from the very first page, drawing readers into a realm where mythology and reality seamlessly blend. The slow-burn romance between Imogen and Theodore is exquisitely crafted, brimming with tension and depth that will leave readers yearning for more.

The novel's pacing is impeccable, balancing high-stakes adventure with emotional introspection. Cassidy delves into themes of identity, power, and sacrifice, offering a protagonist who is both relatable and inspiring. Imogen's journey of self-discovery and empowerment resonates deeply, making her a standout heroine in the fantasy genre.

Fans of Rachel Gillig's One Dark Window will find In the Veins of the Drowning to be a compelling addition to their bookshelves. Cassidy's debut is a testament to her storytelling prowess, leaving me eagerly anticipating their next book!

Wow, I was blown away by this book. It was genuinely everything I had hoped for and more. The characters were well developed and the plot was interesting. I really liked Imogen and her backstory. Great pacing--I couldn't put it down from the first page! I'll be recommending In the Veins of the Drowning to our customers. Can't wait for book two!

In the veins of drowning is a dark and moody, lush romantasy. I felt the pacing was a bit slow and hard to keep me engaged. The character building was a bit rocky in my opinion as well. I do think the way that sirens were described were incredibly fun, with the wings and talons, it kept an age old fantasy fresh in that way.

The writing was really flowery and I had trouble tracking the magic, and wish there was a bit more world building before we jumped into the plot.

This book had me in an absolute chokehold from page one. Imogen is such a relatable, loveable person! Her development through the story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The antihero of the story, the person you want to root for and build up when she’s knocked down.

The imagery and diction the story weaves is top tier, I viscerally felt every emotion and situation Immy and Theo went through. I DESPERATELY need book 2!!

3.5 out of 5 stars; rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e-ARC! In exchange, I will be providing a honest review.

The plot of this book had an interesting, dark, and mysterious take on sirens that I found quite enjoyable! It is a Romantasy with the romance and fantasy elements balancing throughout the book. It also gives a fresh take on the Romantasy genre with the sea creature elements that I have not seen in other books of this genre.

Imogen Nel is a siren prisoner stuck in a castle. She is being forced to marry a siren hunter, and when everything takes a turn for the worst, the king of another kingdom, King Theo helps her escape. While Imogen is gone, she leans more about who she is, her family, and her siren powers.

This is a MMC falls first and HARD romance. The romance felt suddenly rushed, which was why I gave this the rating I did. There was some miscommunication between the MMC and FMC that was frustrating to read about.

The writing style was simple to understand, even with all the fantasy elements that were thrown at the reader at times. This simple language helped me understand and enjoy the book more.

The book also does end on a massive cliffhanger but is clearly setting up for another book or two, which will hopefully be better. This book is more of a self-discovery book for Imogen, which I appreciated.

Overall, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

GIRL. I am OBSESSED. Absolutely stunning novel with a fresh take on the genre. Perfect amount of tension and yearning. I am so excited to talk to literally everyone I know about it over and over again

I absolutely adored this dark and magical romantasy with its unique premise centered around a siren. The blend of romance, fantasy, and the haunting allure of the sea creates an immersive and captivating world. The author’s ability to weave a story that is both enchanting and mysterious kept me hooked from the very first page. As someone who loves anything related to the ocean, I found the setting to be wonderfully atmospheric and full of tension. I received an ARC copy and I’m beyond excited to see where this story goes next. The potential for both heart-stopping romance and thrilling magical developments is endless. If you’re a fan of fantastical, high-stakes love stories with an edge of darkness, this is definitely a book you’ll want to dive into!”

Imogen Nel is a prisoner at court. A siren in a land where sirens are hunted, she hides away her true self and accepts whatever the king demands. Even if it happens to be marriage to the very captain who has killed so many of her kind. During the week of her nuptials royals from surrounding kingdoms arrive and Imogen meets a darkly handsome king from another land. He just might be her salvation and a way to connect with her siren magic and escape a dangerous situation. They form a blood bond, one that they agree to sever as soon as they reach safety. But their alliance will start a war.

This was such unique world-building. Out of all the fantasy romance I’ve read lately, and there has been A LOT, I don’t think any have had sirens, in their viscous winged and taloned forms, and magic inherited by the god’s direct ancestors. I was drawn in immediately. The begrudging allies to lovers romance does build slowly, despite a blood bond that won’t let the two main protagonists get more than a few feet away from each other without pain.

I won’t go too much into the plot itself, but the entirety of the book is pretty much Imogen discovering who she is and why she was essentially trapped at court her whole life. There is political intrigue, an interesting history of the gods and sirens, and two people who are pretty much at each other’s throats until about the 60% mark. I would say this is a darker fantasy, as there is a lot of violence and dark themes.

This is absolutely a set-up for at least a trilogy. With the ending I can’t see the author wrapping this up in just one more book. I do think with the ending readers will be eager to find out what happens next. The romance slowly develops from unwilling allies to forming an attachment that is ripped away at the end, so I’m also interested to find out how this couple navigates their relationship moving forward. I’m also supremely invested in the secondary characters and their relationship. Which I guess means that I will absolutely be picking up the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of In the Veins of the Drowning.

When I tell you that I was sucked in from page ONE. The only reason I didn’t read this in one sitting is because I knew this is just book one in a series, and I wasn’t ready for the hangover.. so I paced myself.

Kalie Cassidy has created a beautiful world with Sirens, Gods and Goddesses, blood oaths, interesting magic and spells, a strong FMC and an MMC that would give up his kingdom for her. This is top tier Romantasy!

I do think that the first half of the book is a little romance heavy where as I wish there were more world and background building into the FMCs family and where she came from. I loved how it ended (even though it was a cliff hanger) but it felt kind of rushed and I wanted more from the last scene. I cannot wait for the next book and this will definitely be a story I re-read.

4.75 stars

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the eARC!

HELLOOOOOOO, YEARNING. In the Veins of the Drowning is EXACTLY the kind of romantasy I've been searching for! This book had everything: sirens, gods-given magic, an MMC who falls so hard for the FMC that it's almost painful (non-derogatory), a creepy and mysterious mage seer, political intrigue, and more. It also doesn't hurt that the two MCs have two of my favorite names ever 😂 (Imogen and Theodore).

I loved watching Imogen and Theo's relationship blossom, especially because it started with them being very reluctant allies. Witnessing Theo's yearning for Imogen was everything to me. 🩷

This book does end on a cliffhanger, but I think it was really well done, and I'm SO excited for the next book (which, unfortunately, will be quite some time from now, since In the Veins of the Drowning isn't even published yet!)

In the Veins of the Drowning hits shelves on July 15, 2025. If you're a romantasy fiend (like me), you're absolutely not going to want to miss it!!!

I liked the description of this book more than I liked the execution.

I couldn’t really connect with the characters and felt they needed more in general. The two main characters didn’t mesh together well and the insta-love relationship between them rang false in my opinion, although that could be because I really didn’t care much for Imogen. Maybe with more characterization and depth it would have worked better.

Much like the characters, I wanted more in regard to the world this was set in. There simply wasn’t enough world building, and that along with the flat characters had me struggling to finish. It just felt very juvenile and like this was a first draft rather than the final book.

I seem to be in the minority with thinking this book was meh, so apparently this book just wasn’t a good fit for me.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley, however this review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.