Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
An "atmospheric and evocative" (Rachel Gillig) romantasy debut about a threatened Siren who forges a bond with a brooding, self-righteous king in order to flee the king who raised her, 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 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.
In the Veins of the Drowning: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This adult romantasy features moderate violence including hunting and bloodlust, a developing romantic relationship with likely steamy content between the Siren protagonist and the king, and themes of persecution and transformation into monstrosity.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, steamy sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include self-harm, captivity, and death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will be drawn to the atmospheric dark fantasy world, forbidden romance between a hunted Siren and a conflicted king, and the moral complexity of embracing monstrous powers.