In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy – Review
Title: In the Veins of the Drowning
Author: Kalie Cassidy (The Siren Mage #1)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publish Date: July 15, 2025
Excerpt:
The monster is always slain…
Imogen Nel is in hiding. Hiding from a cruel kingdom that believes Sirens are monstrous, blood-hungry creatures. Hiding from a king and his captain who viciously hunt her kind. Hiding from her own alluring abilities. By keeping herself from the sea, Imogen’s bloodlust is dulled, and her black wings remain hidden beneath her skin.
When a neighboring king comes to visit, Imogen can no longer hide. He knows precisely what she is, and he believes she can save both their kingdoms from an even greater monster. But Imogen’s power threatens to violently reveal itself, and the two form a blood bond that protects them both. They 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.
My Thoughts:
This is a dark fantasy rooted in Siren mythology, and it immediately pulled me in. Imogen is a strong yet conflicted woman. She is both embracing and resisting the pull of her Siren nature. Sirens are considered monstrous creatures and hunted relentlessly. Imogen has been hiding who she truly is and as long as she stays away from the ocean, she is able to control her powers and keep her wings hidden from sight. But everything changes when she meets a king visiting from another kingdom and forms a blood bond with him.
The world feels fresh and unique, and certainly kept me turning the pages. This is a wonderful start to what I think is going to be an amazing series and I can't wait to see where the story goes next!
Thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐