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The Dark in Her Veins
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Expected 25 Aug 26Win a free print copy of this book!
5 days and 05:00:13
20 copies available
U.S. only
From critically acclaimed, UK bestselling author M.K. Lobb comes a noir romantic fantasy set in a world in which sin is a fatal disease, and the rich hire the poor to carry out their basest instincts—until the forbidden romance between a sinner and a mysterious figure threatens to destroy everything.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 25, 2026
7 people are currently reading
18266 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Lobb
6 books575 followersM. K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark— be it literature, humour, or general aesthetic. She grew up in small-town Canada and now lives by the lake with her partner and their cats. When not reading or writing, she can be found at the gym or contemplating the harsh realities of existence.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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February 1, 2026Braving this site to make an update now that ARCs are going out: Please be aware that there are numerous content warnings for this book, such as descriptions of murder, religious cults (and implied abuse associated with that), abusive parents, knife play, power play/BDSM dynamics, and general relentless violence. I wouldn’t say it’s super intense, but it’s definitely dark, so YMMV! If I missed anything you think I should’ve included, please let me know through my website form. Thanks for being here xx
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
comment ça je dois attendre le tome 2 là omg Slade YOU'RE MY NEW MAN
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January 23, 2026Everyone being the villain and Sleep Token’s Chokehold as the theme?
Yeah, sign me the fuck up for this.
Yeah, sign me the fuck up for this.
February 18, 2026
I will never get over the fact that I received one of thirty copies of this bound manuscript. So beyond cool. Thank you again, @mk_lobb and @sourcebookscasa ❤️
I absolutely loved this book, and finished it so fast. I simply couldn’t put it down. This dark romantasy was so unique, but also easy to follow. Imagine a world where sinning causes a terminal illness called blood rot. The elite wouldn’t chance death, so they hire sinners to do their bidding.
Talin is a sinner, forced between the two most powerful men, to essentially save herself. Her background was tragic, and I loved the flashbacks to her family and the cult that they belonged to. The slow burn romance/spice in this one was so on point, but it didn’t overtake the story at all, which was so plot driven. Don’t worry, you’ll still be obsessed with Slade, though. 🔥
I feel so lucky to have read this one so early, BUT the cliffhanger has me wanting book two like right now. I’m already planning a reread in the future, because I loved this so much!
Romantasy fans, put The Dark in Her Veins on your calendar, because you will absolutely want to read this! Just a PSA- there are tons of trigger warnings, so be sure to check those out!
I absolutely loved this book, and finished it so fast. I simply couldn’t put it down. This dark romantasy was so unique, but also easy to follow. Imagine a world where sinning causes a terminal illness called blood rot. The elite wouldn’t chance death, so they hire sinners to do their bidding.
Talin is a sinner, forced between the two most powerful men, to essentially save herself. Her background was tragic, and I loved the flashbacks to her family and the cult that they belonged to. The slow burn romance/spice in this one was so on point, but it didn’t overtake the story at all, which was so plot driven. Don’t worry, you’ll still be obsessed with Slade, though. 🔥
I feel so lucky to have read this one so early, BUT the cliffhanger has me wanting book two like right now. I’m already planning a reread in the future, because I loved this so much!
Romantasy fans, put The Dark in Her Veins on your calendar, because you will absolutely want to read this! Just a PSA- there are tons of trigger warnings, so be sure to check those out!
February 4, 2026
ARC in hand and I already know this is going to be my kind of unwell 🥵
Noir romantasy + moral rot + a city that monetizes violence is exactly the sort of premise that gets me feral on principle. The vibe reads like:
wet cobblestones,
gloved hands,
corrupted holiness, and
A romance that is absolutely not safe for anyone’s nervous system.
I haven’t finished yet, but the concept alone is doing damage in the best way. I’ll be back with a real review once I’ve been properly RUINED 😉
Noir romantasy + moral rot + a city that monetizes violence is exactly the sort of premise that gets me feral on principle. The vibe reads like:
wet cobblestones,
gloved hands,
corrupted holiness, and
A romance that is absolutely not safe for anyone’s nervous system.
I haven’t finished yet, but the concept alone is doing damage in the best way. I’ll be back with a real review once I’ve been properly RUINED 😉
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Imagine a world where sin is a death sentence, the wealthy pay others to bleed for them, and falling in love might be the most dangerous crime of all. That’s The Dark in Her Veins by M.K. Lobb.
This dark romantic fantasy instantly pulled me in with its ruthless, corrupt world where sin manifests as a fatal disease called Bloodrot. The rich outsource their sins to “sinners,” slowly poisoning them from the inside out, while maintaining their own spotless reputations. It’s bleak, unsettling, and disturbingly believable.
Our FMC, Talin Keller, is 22, lethal, and already dying. A skilled shooter and assassin working under the Prophet, she navigates a city steeped in religious influence, cult-like devotion, secrets, and political corruption. The worldbuilding is meticulous and haunting, from the Prophet’s grip on the city to the diabolists, powerful beings who feed on confessions and are both cursed and revered.
Then there’s the Warden. Platinum blond, dangerous, overprotective, and absolutely a problem. Their connection is instant, forbidden, and electric. The tension between them crackles off the page hot, teasing, and emotionally loaded. When he calls her “little sinner” I was officially done 🥵 They’re drawn to each other in a way that feels inevitable and dangerous.
I loved the noir, cinematic feel of this story. Every scene played out like a dark film in my head. The action is relentless, the tension razor-sharp, and the plot twists were truly diabolical. As Talin begins uncovering the truth about the Prophet and the system controlling her life, all while Bloodrot eats her alive, the stakes become painfully personal.
Talin carries deep religious and family trauma, and I felt for her constantly. There were moments I just wanted to reach through the page and give her a hug. Her fight for freedom, truth, and autonomy made this story hit emotionally as hard as it did plot-wise.
Dark, smart, sexy, and layered with commentary on power, devotion, and control, this book completely had me in its grip. I enjoyed it so much and cannot wait for readers to experience this world.
Endlessly grateful to M.K. Lobb and the publisher for trusting me with an early ARC.
August 25, 2026 cannot come fast enough.
This dark romantic fantasy instantly pulled me in with its ruthless, corrupt world where sin manifests as a fatal disease called Bloodrot. The rich outsource their sins to “sinners,” slowly poisoning them from the inside out, while maintaining their own spotless reputations. It’s bleak, unsettling, and disturbingly believable.
Our FMC, Talin Keller, is 22, lethal, and already dying. A skilled shooter and assassin working under the Prophet, she navigates a city steeped in religious influence, cult-like devotion, secrets, and political corruption. The worldbuilding is meticulous and haunting, from the Prophet’s grip on the city to the diabolists, powerful beings who feed on confessions and are both cursed and revered.
Then there’s the Warden. Platinum blond, dangerous, overprotective, and absolutely a problem. Their connection is instant, forbidden, and electric. The tension between them crackles off the page hot, teasing, and emotionally loaded. When he calls her “little sinner” I was officially done 🥵 They’re drawn to each other in a way that feels inevitable and dangerous.
I loved the noir, cinematic feel of this story. Every scene played out like a dark film in my head. The action is relentless, the tension razor-sharp, and the plot twists were truly diabolical. As Talin begins uncovering the truth about the Prophet and the system controlling her life, all while Bloodrot eats her alive, the stakes become painfully personal.
Talin carries deep religious and family trauma, and I felt for her constantly. There were moments I just wanted to reach through the page and give her a hug. Her fight for freedom, truth, and autonomy made this story hit emotionally as hard as it did plot-wise.
Dark, smart, sexy, and layered with commentary on power, devotion, and control, this book completely had me in its grip. I enjoyed it so much and cannot wait for readers to experience this world.
Endlessly grateful to M.K. Lobb and the publisher for trusting me with an early ARC.
August 25, 2026 cannot come fast enough.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
**Thank you so much to M.K. Lobb & Sourcebooks for sending an ARC of The Dark in Her Veins along to the bookstore where I work!**
So I just finished the ARC of this book - OH MY GODDDD. I am so glad that I stumbled upon this (technically my coworker put it aside for me because she knew it was my vibe, so I’m very glad that she did that).
I would describe this as a Dark Romantasy, but it is *very much* a slow-burn, and the romance is definitely the secondary storyline. I think I would call it a middle fantasy (if that’s a thing as a mid-point between low fantasy and high fantasy), and it was the absolute perfect amount of complexity for me.
This is SUCH a page-turner - I read it in less than 12 hours (I did have to take a brief power nap), because it was THAT un-putdownable. I haven’t gotten that in a hot minute, so I’m so happy about that.
Long story short, put this release date on your damn calendars. Talin & Slade will be your favorite new dark MCs, and part of me is sad that I discovered this now because there will clearly be a sequel and I need that, like, right this second.
So I just finished the ARC of this book - OH MY GODDDD. I am so glad that I stumbled upon this (technically my coworker put it aside for me because she knew it was my vibe, so I’m very glad that she did that).
I would describe this as a Dark Romantasy, but it is *very much* a slow-burn, and the romance is definitely the secondary storyline. I think I would call it a middle fantasy (if that’s a thing as a mid-point between low fantasy and high fantasy), and it was the absolute perfect amount of complexity for me.
This is SUCH a page-turner - I read it in less than 12 hours (I did have to take a brief power nap), because it was THAT un-putdownable. I haven’t gotten that in a hot minute, so I’m so happy about that.
Long story short, put this release date on your damn calendars. Talin & Slade will be your favorite new dark MCs, and part of me is sad that I discovered this now because there will clearly be a sequel and I need that, like, right this second.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
This book had me hooked from the very first line and absolutely consumed me. It was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was so intrigued by the concept of hired sinners and a disease that slowly kills. Then on top of that, we get crazy dystopian-like religion, cults AND morally grey characters with so much rage and tension you could cut it with a knife??? I could not put it down and when I got to the end, I was immediately hit with the WORST book hangover because that ending...that ending had my jaw on the floor!!! So now I'll just be here, slowly dying inside while I wait for M.K. Lobb to release her next masterpiece.
Thank you so much to M.K. Lobb and Sourcebooks for gifting me an ARC of this book!
This book had me hooked from the very first line and absolutely consumed me. It was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was so intrigued by the concept of hired sinners and a disease that slowly kills. Then on top of that, we get crazy dystopian-like religion, cults AND morally grey characters with so much rage and tension you could cut it with a knife??? I could not put it down and when I got to the end, I was immediately hit with the WORST book hangover because that ending...that ending had my jaw on the floor!!! So now I'll just be here, slowly dying inside while I wait for M.K. Lobb to release her next masterpiece.
Thank you so much to M.K. Lobb and Sourcebooks for gifting me an ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Exquisitely dark world-building. Inquiry: where is the young adult tag coming from?
I understand the idea of relinquishing self in a safe environment, but when the BDSM is paired with fantasy elements, it can go too far(see spoiler). The Dark in Her Veins went too far for me. I can officially say that this singular, one time event was a killjoy for me; it completely took me out of M.K. Lobb’s otherwise exquisite world-building.
I understand the idea of relinquishing self in a safe environment, but when the BDSM is paired with fantasy elements, it can go too far(see spoiler). The Dark in Her Veins went too far for me. I can officially say that this singular, one time event was a killjoy for me; it completely took me out of M.K. Lobb’s otherwise exquisite world-building.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First, I'd like to thank NetGalley, M.K. Lobb, and Sourcebooks for gifting me the ARC of The Dark in Her Veins in exchange for my honest review. This is the first book I've read by M.K. Lobb, and I hope it won't be my last. I'm looking forward to reading more of Talin and Slade. The world that Lobb created is unique and fascinating, and the characters hooked me right from the beginning and didn't let go. This is an action-packed, dark romantasy/fantasy novel, that has everything fans of the genre could want: Intrigue, suspense, morally grey characters, irresistible chemistry, and the cost of survival. I would definitely recommend this book, and I hope there is a sequel coming soon!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
i loved this book so much I blurbed it:
Deliciously sexy. Lobb’s adult debut is everything I loved about Seven Faceless Saints and To Steal from Thieves, but darker, grittier, and more dangerous. Perfect for those who like their women angry, their love interests deadly, and their fantasy a little blasphemous.
Deliciously sexy. Lobb’s adult debut is everything I loved about Seven Faceless Saints and To Steal from Thieves, but darker, grittier, and more dangerous. Perfect for those who like their women angry, their love interests deadly, and their fantasy a little blasphemous.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the kinkiest thing I've ever read outside of fanfiction (pos).
March 9, 2026
Need the next book now!!!!
on-my-radar
January 3, 2026"In a world where sin is a fatal disease, and the rich hire the poor to carry out their basest instincts, the forbidden romance between a sinner and a mysterious figure threatens to destroy everything."
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews