Book Review: In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy

Genre: Romantasy

Pages: 384 (Paperback)

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Spoiler-free Review!

Summary

Living in solitude as the King's ward, Imogen has learned to shrink herself. To shadow herself from the vicious king and his captain, who hunt her kind...Sirens. Imogen has been able to hide her alluring abilities and hold her black wings from appearing. But when a neighboring King comes to the palace, Imogen can hide no longer. He knows exactly what and who she is. After Imogen narrowly escapes death, she forms a blood bond with this mysterious King to protect them both as he helps her flee the castle. As they transverse the long trek ahead, the line between duty and desire begins to blur. And Imogen fears to defeat a monster, she may need to become one herself.

My Review

I went into this with 0 expectations and finished with it as my favorite read so far this year. This is the book that I have been waiting for in 2026. Romance, politics, chilling imagery and yearning. This books will stay with me for a while.

Imogen was a breath of fresh air. Since I got into reading in 2024, I think I have read only 1 or 2 other main female characters like Imogen. Rather than being "strong, feisty and stubborn", Imogen started out as the opposite. A woman who has been raised to be small, submissive and quiet. She is scared, unknowing and gentle. She slightly reminded me of Elspeth from One Dark Window. It was so nice to have a different main character and watch her grow as the novel went on. Showcasing her strength in different ways than what I am used to reading.

Theodore is everything that you want from an MMC. Stoic, daring, and utterly obsessed with our leading lady. This man knows how to YEARN. Always pushing her to be who he knows she is meant to be. I am looking forward to more of him in the next book.

The writing of this novel was easy to follow and Kalie Cassidy gave some very creepy images when describing the Mage. I love when an author paints a picture so well, I physically make a face of disgust. Love it.

Kalie Cassidy really knows how to write tension and characters who don't hide their burn for one another. With some of my favorite tropes: forced proximity, forbidden love, one horse, she did them all perfectly.

This is not a slow-burn or enemies to lovers of any kind. The two have an obvious immediate attraction to the other, however we get a lot of build up and tension between them before there is any declarations or spicy scenes. This book, in my opinion, had the perfect amount of spice. I believe...2?...explicit scenes in the whole novel. It was just the right amount for story and romance.

For lovers of One Dark Window, Anathema and Rhapsodic, this is definitely a book you should add to your TBR. Not only was the romance to die for, the plot was well thought out and the books pacing kept me intrigued the whole time. A page turner you won't want to miss out on!