In the Veins of the Drowning
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.
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Kalie Cassidy
Kalie Cassidy writes the kind of fantasy that feels like slipping beneath dark waters, mysterious, lyrical, and quietly dangerous. Her debut novel, In the Veins of the Drowning (2025), invites readers into a world of winged sirens, fractured kingdoms, and a heroine caught between survival and self-discovery. It is the first book in The Siren Mage series, a romantic fantasy steeped in political tension, cultural myth, and the raw pull of identity.
Cassidy grew up in Southern California, where the Pacific’s edge and her Puerto Rican and Irish heritage shaped how she saw the world, as both belonging and apart. Before turning to fiction, she spent over a decade in the theatre as an actor, coach, and teacher in Los Angeles. That background informs her storytelling: her characters speak with emotional honesty, her scenes move with a sense of stagecraft, and her prose lingers with the rhythm of performance.
The Siren Mage
In a world where the ocean hides more than secrets, The Siren Mage unfolds a haunting tale of power, identity, and forbidden bonds. The series begins with a siren named Imogen Nel, who conceals her wings and blood magic beneath the surface of a kingdom that fears her kind. When a blood bond forces her to ally with a brooding king, their desperate flight across waters haunted by the undead becomes a journey that blurs the line between survival and sacrifice.
The Siren Mage consists of two books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
