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 concealed 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 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 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 ancestral powers may not be enough to kill what hunts her—the only way to defeat a monster may be to become one herself.
In the Veins of the Drowning is an original, immersive romantasy and the debut novel from Kalie Cassidy. The story follows Imogen Nell, a siren hiding in a kingdom that hunts her kind. When she kills her husband-to-be, she’s forced to flee with a rival king, Theodore, who offers her protection through a dangerous blood bond. As they flee across undead-filled seas, Imogen must embrace the dark magic within her—or risk losing everything!
The writing is poetic, lyrical, and richly descriptive and doesn’t come across as a debut novel but instead the work of an established author well into their career. The story alternates between the perspectives of Imogen Nel and King Theodore (Theo) of Varya. In Imogen’s POV, readers get a firsthand glimpse into all her inner turmoil as a siren forced to suppress her identity, hide her wings, and hide the truth of her heritage. In Theo’s POV, it shows his dedication to his kingdom and his struggle to reconcile his responsibilities with his growing feelings for Imogen. His emotional arc is very satisfying as he transitions from a mindset of rigid beliefs and prejudices to more compassionate after he confronts his feelings for Imogen. His inner monologues are especially captivating as he grapples with the dilemma of aiding Imogen and risking starting a war.
The main characters are all complex, flawed, and morally grey. Imogen is a very introspective and emotional protagonist. After she bound herself to King Theo by a blood bond, she’s often suspicious of Theo’s intentions and the bond’s influence. She’s also empathetic but isn’t afraid to make painful choices when cornered, including killing others when necessary! Theo begins as a dutiful king who’s cold and calculating and sees Imogen as a necessary pawn in a political alliance. Over the course of the story, he begins to question everything—especially when his blood bond with Imogen forces him to see her clearly and feelings begin to develop. Romance fans will appreciate the strong chemistry between Imogen and Theo that is immediately evident from their first chance encounter in the early chapters. Their relationship begins as a reluctant alliance and slowly develops into an intense, steamy romance. By the end their romance is so emotionally charged that characters are outspoken about their mutual longing, and they are evidently transformed from their experiences together.
The world-building in this book is quite expansive, as readers get to experience life in the world where Imogen was raised, a trek through the siren-inhabited sea, and Theo’s kingdom and beyond. The overall vibe of the world-building is dark and evocative, with lots of interesting political intrigue, descriptions of powerful mages, and beings who’ve lived for centuries harnessing the power of others. The author’s descriptions of Imogen’s siren wings, talons, and blood magic are vividly detailed, allowing readers to easily visualize her and the other sirens in their minds.
The story is fast-paced and has a constant feeling of tension—coming both from Imogen’s constant inner turmoil and the conflicts that keep coming one after another. The novel culminates in an abrupt cliffhanger that will leave readers eager to read the sequel right away. Unfortunately, it won’t be coming out for a while, so this may be one you may want to reread before the sequel to reacquaint yourself with all the intricate details of the story.
The story includes some powerful underlying messages that make the book quite thought-provoking—themes of belonging, accepting one’s heritage, and how society defines monstrosity are strongly emphasized through Imogen’s story. The story also gives a unique take on sirens, their origins, and their relationships with humans.
Overall, In the Veins of the Drowning is a standout debut romantasy. It will especially resonate with fans of authors like Rachel Gillig and Ava Reid or those who love gothic dark fantasy, rich world-building, character-driven storytelling, political intrigue, and intense slow-burn romance. If all of this sounds intriguing, grab a copy of this book ASAP!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of In The Veins Of Drowning is a gripping listen performed by the incredibly talented Ell Potter. Potter brings protagonist Imogen to life with such intensity and emotion that listeners will be enthralled by the character from start to finish. Imogen’s inner turmoil regarding her identity and her unwavering need for vengeance against the being that siphoned her mother’s (and her own) power is dramatically expressed—with impressive acting skills and a wide vocal range to give listeners all the feels! Once Imogen and Theo form a blood bond, their relationship immediately intensifies—and Potter emphasizes their strong chemistry with engrossing dialogue that showcases the tangible longing they have for each character.
Potter gives all the supporting characters realistic voices and unique personalities, especially Theo’s bride-to-be and her and her scheming mother—it amounts to such an entertaining performance that it feels like listening to the audio of a high-budget fantasy film with a full cast of actors! Potter’s portrayal of Theo is a particular highlight of the audiobook—his emotional arc is beautifully articulated as Potter shifts her performance of him from a calm, calculating voice to one infused with more emotion and recklessness—capturing not only the influence of his blood bond with Imogen but also his genuine head-over-heels feelings and determination to aid her. As this is a fast-paced story, Potter carefully paces the narration so that every last detail of the rich world-building and sirens’ history/power is clear, making the story compelling for listeners.
Overall, the fast-paced, original dark fantasy storyline coupled with Ell Potter’s outstanding narration makes this audiobook an unstoppable and highly memorable audiobook! It’s a must-listen for audiobook enthusiasts who love gothic dark fantasy, slow-burn romance, stories about mythical creatures, and immersive narration! If you haven’t listened to Ell Potter’s narration before, you’ll be sure to become a big fan after listening, and you’ll definitely want to check out her incredible backlog of titles—especially her phenomenal performances in the Emily Wilde series!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of In The Veins Of Drowning is a gripping listen performed by the incredibly talented Ell Potter. Potter brings protagonist Imogen to life with such intensity and emotion that listeners will be enthralled by the character from start to finish. Imogen’s inner turmoil regarding her identity and her unwavering need for vengeance against the being that siphoned her mother’s (and her own) power is dramatically expressed—with impressive acting skills and a wide vocal range to give listeners all the feels! Once Imogen and Theo form a blood bond, their relationship immediately intensifies—and Potter emphasizes their strong chemistry with engrossing dialogue that showcases the tangible longing they have for each character.
Potter gives all the supporting characters realistic voices and unique personalities, especially Theo’s bride-to-be and her and her scheming mother—it amounts to such an entertaining performance that it feels like listening to the audio of a high-budget fantasy film with a full cast of actors! Potter’s portrayal of Theo is a particular highlight of the audiobook—his emotional arc is beautifully articulated as Potter shifts her performance of him from a calm, calculating voice to one infused with more emotion and recklessness—capturing not only the influence of his blood bond with Imogen but also his genuine head-over-heels feelings and determination to aid her. As this is a fast-paced story, Potter carefully paces the narration so that every last detail of the rich world-building and sirens’ history/power is clear, making the story compelling for listeners.
Overall, the fast-paced, original dark fantasy storyline coupled with Ell Potter’s outstanding narration makes this audiobook an unstoppable and highly memorable audiobook! It’s a must-listen for audiobook enthusiasts who love gothic dark fantasy, slow-burn romance, stories about mythical creatures, and immersive narration! If you haven’t listened to Ell Potter’s narration before, you’ll be sure to become a big fan after listening, and you’ll definitely want to check out her incredible backlog of titles—especially her phenomenal performances in the Emily Wilde series!
The audiobook of In The Veins Of Drowning is a gripping listen performed by the incredibly talented Ell Potter. Potter brings protagonist Imogen to life with such intensity and emotion that listeners will be enthralled by the character from start to finish. Imogen’s inner turmoil regarding her identity and her unwavering need for vengeance against the being that siphoned her mother’s (and her own) power is dramatically expressed—with impressive acting skills and a wide vocal range to give listeners all the feels! Once Imogen and Theo form a blood bond, their relationship immediately intensifies—and Potter emphasizes their strong chemistry with engrossing dialogue that showcases the tangible longing they have for each character.
Potter gives all the supporting characters realistic voices and unique personalities, especially Theo’s bride-to-be and her and her scheming mother—it amounts to such an entertaining performance that it feels like listening to the audio of a high-budget fantasy film with a full cast of actors! Potter’s portrayal of Theo is a particular highlight of the audiobook—his emotional arc is beautifully articulated as Potter shifts her performance of him from a calm, calculating voice to one infused with more emotion and recklessness—capturing not only the influence of his blood bond with Imogen but also his genuine head-over-heels feelings and determination to aid her. As this is a fast-paced story, Potter carefully paces the narration so that every last detail of the rich world-building and sirens’ history/power is clear, making the story compelling for listeners.
Overall, the fast-paced, original dark fantasy storyline coupled with Ell Potter’s outstanding narration makes this audiobook an unstoppable and highly memorable audiobook! It’s a must-listen for audiobook enthusiasts who love gothic dark fantasy, slow-burn romance, stories about mythical creatures, and immersive narration! If you haven’t listened to Ell Potter’s narration before, you’ll be sure to become a big fan after listening, and you’ll definitely want to check out her incredible backlog of titles—especially her phenomenal performances in the Emily Wilde series!
