In the Veins of the Drowning Audiobook By Kalie Cassidy cover art

In the Veins of the Drowning

The Siren Mage, Book 1

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In the Veins of the Drowning

By: Kalie Cassidy
Narrated by: Ell Potter
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An "atmospheric and evocative" (Rachel Gillig) romantasy about a threatened Siren who forges a bond with a brooding, self-righteous king in order to flee the king who raised her. Perfect for fans of One Dark Window and For the Wolf.

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 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.

©2025 Kalie Cassidy (P)2025 Little, Brown & Company Action & Adventure Fantasy Royalty

Critic reviews

"An absolute riptide of a book. It draws you in, pulls you under. Atmospheric and evocative, Cassidy’s writing sews adventure, romance, and political intrigue together while maintaining its ominous tenor. Monsters lurk, and danger knows your name. I was completely swept away."—Rachel Gillig, New York Times bestselling author of One Dark Window
“A provocative dark fantasy with all the alluring qualities of siren’s song. Sensuous and lushly romantic, In the Veins of the Drowning ensorcelled me from the very first page.”—Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

"Cassidy has written your new favorite romantasy couple: a king tormented by his honor and a siren grappling with her monstrosity, each of them walking the knife's edge of duty and desire. Sensual, gripping, and resonant as siren song, In the Veins of the Drowning will sink its lure into you and leave you breathless."—Allison Saft, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of A Dark and Drowning Tide
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Such a deeply rich adventure- full of intrigue , fascinating characters and so good you can’t stop or put it down.

Jaw Dropping Listen- Fabulous

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First off, fantastic narration! It made it even more immersive and fun. This story was delicious! Rich in mythology woven into a dark atmospheric world of sirens and old gods. My day was spent devouring this and left wanting MORE on its conclusion. I am impatient for the second installment, but will think about this book and our dear Imogene and Theo until then! Bravo to Kalie on this written masterpiece.

The next big book to blow up because, WOW. An incredible romantasy.

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The narrator was amazing and the story was so good. The tensiooonnnnn. I hope we get a happy ending.

I need book 2 immediately.

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I was crying so hard last night listening to this. I simply can’t wait for the next book!

Fantastic

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I’m going to be in anxious anticipation waiting for the sequel! It’s almost cruel to release a book this captivating and make the audience wait so long for the next one.

Could not stop listening

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I love the slow burn and all the yearning in this book, but the love doesn't seem to go beyond the FMC's beauty--like, I kept wondering, "Aside from her being beautiful, what is his attraction towards her?" As for the spice scenes, I would've preferred more detail ("craving" and "desire") or simply just closed-door. I was getting mad at the MMC for moving too quickly.

Some things could be better

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Let me start with this book was a soild 4 stars, but I gave an extra half start because it was an authors debut book. So 4.5 star.
The beginning of the book was quite captivating, especially the dance scene (swoon). While I found myself wanting more in terms of background, siren history, and world-building, as well as a longer overall length, it felt somewhat incomplete, perhaps like a segment of a first book. The momentum seemed to wane after the initial ten chapters. Although I didn't particularly connect with the female protagonist or most of the characters, the male lead had his swoony moments, and there's potential for development. The romance is unique, deviating from the typical romantasy formula, which is a welcome change. I am inclined to give the second book a try.

Refreshing

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You’ll definitely be looking forward to the next book—guaranteed. The FMC is left to unravel the secrets behind her father’s past with her mother and to understand the divine power that was gifted to her by the gods. Raised to be small, quiet, and unseen, she often comes across as timid, which can be frustrating at times. You just want her to step into her strength and become the powerful force she’s clearly meant to be.

That said, I can see her character slowly heading in that direction, and I’ll be continuing the series with the hope that she fully embraces her potential in the next book. There are still many secrets she hasn’t uncovered yet, and the mystery continues to unfold.

Now, the MMC—he’s a standout. The description truly didn’t do him justice. He’s caring, emotionally available, and quick to express his love, treating the FMC with the gentleness and support she’s been missing. Yet, when dealing with others, he puts on the strong and commanding face of a king. He’s easily one of the highlights of the story.

The narration was fantastic from start to finish. The female narrator truly brought the main character to life with emotion and depth, while the male narrator was equally enjoyable—his voice perfectly suited the role and was easy to listen to.

Overall, I highly recommend this series for both the story and the performance. And don’t forget to check out the sneak peek at the end—it’ll leave you even more excited for what’s next!

You'll looks forward to the next book!

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The story from start to finish was unique to all other fantasies I’ve read. I was engaged from the moment I started and it never stopped. Narration was amazing and truly kept me engaged along with the writing. The book is phenomenal and the hype is real!

Unique story

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The atmosphere is perfection, the twists, the longing, the political intrigue is just right! I cannot get over Theo and Imogene, they are both so wonderfully woven together. Need book two desperately!!

Desperate for book 2!!

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