What do you think?
Rate this book
The Siren Mage #2
In the Wake of the Ruined
The realm has a new queen… and a new monster.
Imogen can no longer hide. She has claimed her ancestral crown, and now the corrupted bond she shares with the ancient deity Eusia is stronger than ever. Though she is determined to sever it, doing so is no easy feat. The threat of war looms. Shifting alliances, a hunger for magic, and her feelings for Theodore, King of Varya, attempt to thwart her at every turn.
Meanwhile, Theodore is battling the strain of his own crown and commitments. When Imogen suddenly appears on his ship, every dutiful resolution he’s ever made threatens to snap. As they draw nearer to ending Eusia, lurking dangers and their perilous desire for one another prove more insurmountable than they could have imagined.
Will the chaos, ruin, and death that Imogen was prophesied to usher into the realm be the end of all things, or the beginning?
Imogen can no longer hide. She has claimed her ancestral crown, and now the corrupted bond she shares with the ancient deity Eusia is stronger than ever. Though she is determined to sever it, doing so is no easy feat. The threat of war looms. Shifting alliances, a hunger for magic, and her feelings for Theodore, King of Varya, attempt to thwart her at every turn.
Meanwhile, Theodore is battling the strain of his own crown and commitments. When Imogen suddenly appears on his ship, every dutiful resolution he’s ever made threatens to snap. As they draw nearer to ending Eusia, lurking dangers and their perilous desire for one another prove more insurmountable than they could have imagined.
Will the chaos, ruin, and death that Imogen was prophesied to usher into the realm be the end of all things, or the beginning?
578 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,412 reviews
July 21, 2026
Okay okay hear me out the beginning really had me but by 30% in I figured out what the “betrayal” and plot twist would be and then I just started to get agitated by none of the characters picking up on the obvious. I loveeeddddd book 1 and I adore Theo and the way he yearned in the first book, but I personally got so turned off by the the fact that he was married to someone else until the last chapter. If it was a series or even a trilogy I would have loved that but it was so unnecessary to drag it out for that long. I also love Imogen but so many of the problems she found herself in could have been avoided by trusting her instincts instead of constantly questioning herself. Don’t get me wrong she did demonstrate a lot of growth but again I think because the nature of it being a duology it just felt like she spent way too much time trying to piece a puzzle together that was so blatantly obvious it was hard to not feel disconnected. Now 3 stars for me means I did like the book it was just average and disappointed in some key areas that make me love a book!
July 31, 2026
The way Theo is so stoic and so utterly burdened with governing a kingdom yet so unequivocally down bad for Immy throughout the entirety of this duology has just gotta be one my favourite studies in how to yearn and yearn good.
The second book in this duology gives us chapters from his POV and it really adds so much more depth and tension to the storytelling to be able to climb inside his head and see his angst over duty vs desire and alternate between him and Imogen as they mutually pine for one another.
I think what I appreciated most is that the yearning-pining-conflict has no basis in Theo being unable to communicate his feelings. He’s an open book and I love that. I’m not sure about other readers but about 90% of my annotations and highlights are Theo’s declarations. I stand by that he gives Darcy.
Speaking of Immy, I remember reading somewhere that author Kalie Cassidy has spoken about navigating her own identity as someone who is biracial and her exploration of belonging (I found the source here, if anyone wants it), and I feel like it really came through beautifully and poignantly in Immy's character and her struggles of what it means to belong as a "monster", (plus other identities and duties she’s grappling with) and her feelings on acceptance and love.
That exploration of identity also flows on to the supporting characters, particularly Halla. I’m not saying I particularly “like” Halla as a character, but I will say that I find her characterisation quite fascinating and the way I even had empathy for her is something that I think Cassidy executed really well. I liked that Halla was afforded grace and complexity, motivations, history and her own complicated view of the world around her.
This is gothic fantasy romance with some mild horror elements done quite dare I say perfectly to my liking in terms of the balance of fantasy to romance to plot and characterisation. Keep in mind it also has some pretty heavy and gnarly themes so be mindful of content warnings such as: grief, trauma, abuse, really catastrophic parenting choices and more. (I’ll add a full list soon).
The way this duology concluded was beautifully wrapped up to my satisfaction and my heart was happy. A very good message and sentiment too.
Recommend for people who like gothic fantasy romance/romantasy with zombie sirens, siren lore inspired by Greek mythology and something like mild mermaid-adjacent horror.
Going on my fave duologies list!
1. In the Veins of the Drowning: ★★★★★
2. In the Wake of the Ruined: ★★★★★
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
Tiny update: I am now reading three books at once.
Anyway, happy publish day to my favourite siren Immy and broody king of angst Theo.
The second book in this duology gives us chapters from his POV and it really adds so much more depth and tension to the storytelling to be able to climb inside his head and see his angst over duty vs desire and alternate between him and Imogen as they mutually pine for one another.
I think what I appreciated most is that the yearning-pining-conflict has no basis in Theo being unable to communicate his feelings. He’s an open book and I love that. I’m not sure about other readers but about 90% of my annotations and highlights are Theo’s declarations. I stand by that he gives Darcy.
Speaking of Immy, I remember reading somewhere that author Kalie Cassidy has spoken about navigating her own identity as someone who is biracial and her exploration of belonging (I found the source here, if anyone wants it), and I feel like it really came through beautifully and poignantly in Immy's character and her struggles of what it means to belong as a "monster", (plus other identities and duties she’s grappling with) and her feelings on acceptance and love.
That exploration of identity also flows on to the supporting characters, particularly Halla. I’m not saying I particularly “like” Halla as a character, but I will say that I find her characterisation quite fascinating and the way I even had empathy for her is something that I think Cassidy executed really well. I liked that Halla was afforded grace and complexity, motivations, history and her own complicated view of the world around her.
This is gothic fantasy romance with some mild horror elements done quite dare I say perfectly to my liking in terms of the balance of fantasy to romance to plot and characterisation. Keep in mind it also has some pretty heavy and gnarly themes so be mindful of content warnings such as: grief, trauma, abuse, really catastrophic parenting choices and more. (I’ll add a full list soon).
The way this duology concluded was beautifully wrapped up to my satisfaction and my heart was happy. A very good message and sentiment too.
Recommend for people who like gothic fantasy romance/romantasy with zombie sirens, siren lore inspired by Greek mythology and something like mild mermaid-adjacent horror.
Going on my fave duologies list!
1. In the Veins of the Drowning: ★★★★★
2. In the Wake of the Ruined: ★★★★★
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
Tiny update: I am now reading three books at once.
Anyway, happy publish day to my favourite siren Immy and broody king of angst Theo.
July 10, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
You know that feeling when a sequel spends 400 pages convincing you two people would burn kingdoms, rewrite fate and quite literally die for each other....only to end before you really get to watch them live?
Yeah.
That's where I'm at.
This duology had me in a chokehold from the very first page and while this finale gave me some of the most beautiful declarations of love I've read in a long time, it also left me desperately wishing the story had lingered just a little longer once all the suffering was over.
What worked for me
(aka: This section is sponsored by Theodore Ariti's dialogue)
King behaviour
Forget morally grey men for a second. Give me the king who chooses you over and over again. The man who never stops fighting. The man who looks at all your broken pieces and says, "I would happily spend my life trying."
Every time this man opened his mouth, I was highlighting something.
"Loving you is not the end, it's the beginning of everything."
Sir....be serious.
His devotion never once felt performative. It lived in his choices, his sacrifices and his relentless hope when Imogen had none left. Even when everyone else accepted defeat, Theodore simply....didn't. He loved actively and I ate it up every single time.
The yearning was yearning
The mutual pining? Exceptional.
The longing, the stolen moments, the quiet conversations, the way these two found home in each other despite impossible circumstances....that emotional thread carried this entire book for me.
One of my favourite lines perfectly captures why their relationship worked so well:
"He'd given me the short but altering privilege of knowing what it felt like to belong somewhere."
That wasn't just romance. That was healing.
Beautiful prose and compelling themes
The writing continues to be gorgeous. It's lyrical without becoming inaccessible and there were so many passages I had to stop and reread because they hit that hard.
I also loved the thematic contrast between love and power. Watching Imogen reject the very thing Eusia devoted centuries to chasing made for a satisfying emotional payoff and I appreciated that the story never lost sight of what it was trying to say beneath all the politics, Gods and magic.
Where it lost me
(aka: The Mutual Misery Olympics)
The marriage subplot overstayed its welcome
I understood exactly why the political marriage existed. It created tension, raised the stakes and kept Theodore and Imogen apart in a believable way.
The problem wasn't the marriage. It was how long we had to sit in the misery it created.
For a huge portion of the book, every interaction between them felt stolen or interrupted because Theodore was technically married. Instead of giving me the forced proximity I'd been excited for, it became secret meetings, hurried conversations and constant reminders that another obstacle had appeared just as they were about to breathe.
The emotions never got to breathe
There were several moments where I found myself thinking, "Okay....now talk."
Instead, we'd get an emotional revelation....and then immediately move on to the next crisis.
The romance was never lacking in intensity but sometimes it felt like the physical moments arrived before the emotional conversations had fully settled. I wanted them to unpack the hurt, the fear and the impossible choices before jumping into the next intimate scene or plot twist. It left parts of their emotional journey feeling just a little unresolved.
By the final act, the mutual yearning I'd loved so much had slowly become mutual misery. I never doubted that these two loved each other - I just wanted the story to stop making them prove it for five consecutive minutes.
The ending needed more happiness
This is ultimately what kept it from being a four-star read.
After everything these two endured, I didn't need another declaration of love. I believed them already.
I needed peace.
Not pages of domestic fluff. Just enough time to actually experience what all that suffering had earned them.
The one-year-later epilogue tells me they're happy.
I wanted to feel it.
I wanted to sit in it for a while.
The ratio between suffering and payoff just felt slightly off. The story asked me to sit with their pain for hundreds of pages but only gave me a fleeting glimpse of the happiness they'd fought so hard to earn.
Final thoughts
Despite my frustrations, I was completely invested from beginning to end. Theodore Ariti is easily the standout of this series and one of the most memorable romance heroes I've read in a long time. His unwavering devotion, the gorgeous writing, the emotional themes and the aching romance made this a finale I won't forget.
I just wish the story had trusted itself enough to let happiness linger as long as it let heartbreak.
Final verdict
A beautifully written, emotionally intense conclusion that gave me one of my favourite fictional kings, exquisite mutual yearning, and enough quotes to wallpaper my Kindle. Theodore Ariti loved with every fibre of his being and I believed every single word that came out of his mouth.
Unfortunately, after asking me to survive 400 pages of emotional damage, near-death experiences and enough self-sacrifice to last several lifetimes, the ending wrapped everything up just a little too quickly for me. I wanted to spend more time watching Theodore and Imogen live for each other instead of constantly being willing to die for one another.
Consider this my official apology to every MMC I'm about to unfairly compare to Theodore.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Siren Queen × Protective King
• Mutual pining (the painful kind)
• "I'd burn the world for you" energy
• Touch her and perish
• Political marriage complications
• Secret meetings & stolen moments
• Love vs. power
• Beautiful lyrical prose
• Protective hero supremacy
• One fictional king permanently raising my standards
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Siren Queen. Protective king. Mutual pining.
Please let this sequel be all payoff and emotional devastation. Amen 🤞🏻✨️
You know that feeling when a sequel spends 400 pages convincing you two people would burn kingdoms, rewrite fate and quite literally die for each other....only to end before you really get to watch them live?
Yeah.
That's where I'm at.
This duology had me in a chokehold from the very first page and while this finale gave me some of the most beautiful declarations of love I've read in a long time, it also left me desperately wishing the story had lingered just a little longer once all the suffering was over.
What worked for me
(aka: This section is sponsored by Theodore Ariti's dialogue)
King behaviour
Forget morally grey men for a second. Give me the king who chooses you over and over again. The man who never stops fighting. The man who looks at all your broken pieces and says, "I would happily spend my life trying."
Every time this man opened his mouth, I was highlighting something.
"Loving you is not the end, it's the beginning of everything."
Sir....be serious.
His devotion never once felt performative. It lived in his choices, his sacrifices and his relentless hope when Imogen had none left. Even when everyone else accepted defeat, Theodore simply....didn't. He loved actively and I ate it up every single time.
The yearning was yearning
The mutual pining? Exceptional.
The longing, the stolen moments, the quiet conversations, the way these two found home in each other despite impossible circumstances....that emotional thread carried this entire book for me.
One of my favourite lines perfectly captures why their relationship worked so well:
"He'd given me the short but altering privilege of knowing what it felt like to belong somewhere."
That wasn't just romance. That was healing.
Beautiful prose and compelling themes
The writing continues to be gorgeous. It's lyrical without becoming inaccessible and there were so many passages I had to stop and reread because they hit that hard.
I also loved the thematic contrast between love and power. Watching Imogen reject the very thing Eusia devoted centuries to chasing made for a satisfying emotional payoff and I appreciated that the story never lost sight of what it was trying to say beneath all the politics, Gods and magic.
Where it lost me
(aka: The Mutual Misery Olympics)
The marriage subplot overstayed its welcome
I understood exactly why the political marriage existed. It created tension, raised the stakes and kept Theodore and Imogen apart in a believable way.
The problem wasn't the marriage. It was how long we had to sit in the misery it created.
For a huge portion of the book, every interaction between them felt stolen or interrupted because Theodore was technically married. Instead of giving me the forced proximity I'd been excited for, it became secret meetings, hurried conversations and constant reminders that another obstacle had appeared just as they were about to breathe.
The emotions never got to breathe
There were several moments where I found myself thinking, "Okay....now talk."
Instead, we'd get an emotional revelation....and then immediately move on to the next crisis.
The romance was never lacking in intensity but sometimes it felt like the physical moments arrived before the emotional conversations had fully settled. I wanted them to unpack the hurt, the fear and the impossible choices before jumping into the next intimate scene or plot twist. It left parts of their emotional journey feeling just a little unresolved.
By the final act, the mutual yearning I'd loved so much had slowly become mutual misery. I never doubted that these two loved each other - I just wanted the story to stop making them prove it for five consecutive minutes.
The ending needed more happiness
This is ultimately what kept it from being a four-star read.
After everything these two endured, I didn't need another declaration of love. I believed them already.
I needed peace.
Not pages of domestic fluff. Just enough time to actually experience what all that suffering had earned them.
The one-year-later epilogue tells me they're happy.
I wanted to feel it.
I wanted to sit in it for a while.
The ratio between suffering and payoff just felt slightly off. The story asked me to sit with their pain for hundreds of pages but only gave me a fleeting glimpse of the happiness they'd fought so hard to earn.
Final thoughts
Despite my frustrations, I was completely invested from beginning to end. Theodore Ariti is easily the standout of this series and one of the most memorable romance heroes I've read in a long time. His unwavering devotion, the gorgeous writing, the emotional themes and the aching romance made this a finale I won't forget.
I just wish the story had trusted itself enough to let happiness linger as long as it let heartbreak.
Final verdict
A beautifully written, emotionally intense conclusion that gave me one of my favourite fictional kings, exquisite mutual yearning, and enough quotes to wallpaper my Kindle. Theodore Ariti loved with every fibre of his being and I believed every single word that came out of his mouth.
Unfortunately, after asking me to survive 400 pages of emotional damage, near-death experiences and enough self-sacrifice to last several lifetimes, the ending wrapped everything up just a little too quickly for me. I wanted to spend more time watching Theodore and Imogen live for each other instead of constantly being willing to die for one another.
Consider this my official apology to every MMC I'm about to unfairly compare to Theodore.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Siren Queen × Protective King
• Mutual pining (the painful kind)
• "I'd burn the world for you" energy
• Touch her and perish
• Political marriage complications
• Secret meetings & stolen moments
• Love vs. power
• Beautiful lyrical prose
• Protective hero supremacy
• One fictional king permanently raising my standards
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Siren Queen. Protective king. Mutual pining.
Please let this sequel be all payoff and emotional devastation. Amen 🤞🏻✨️
July 21, 2026
“This is precisely how one should be loved. Boldly, madly, shoulder to shoulder against the world and all its dangers.”
Can you love a story for prose and yearning alone? Maybe. But that’s too simple an explanation for what I found so alluring about this duology.
As a romantasy regular, this is kind of like dessert. I’m not entirely sure it’s the most substantive, but it is undoubtedly rich. That’s not a negative, I’m talking flourless chocolate cake (or insert your favorite). There is stunning lyrical prose that makes me sigh in bliss, a haunting and macabre atmosphere, along with a sometimes meandering plot. But at its heart this is a journey of self acceptance, where the romance steals the spotlight over plot or world building.
If anyone could convince me of the existence of practically instantaneous, inescapable love that is almost painful in its boundlessness, it would be Kalie Cassidy with Imogen and Theo. The way they fall in love feels almost accidental and inconvenient (yet also destined) in book 1, but here in Wake it feels impossible and undeniable. These two never seem to catch a break between the people and circumstances that aim to keep them apart.
At the top of the list, and I might be a little salty about this, is a political marriage. Partly my fault for reading so many romantasies lately, but I’m slightly bitter about the necessity for a marriage to come between the two main characters. This is one of those stories where the romance got me so good, I’d happily (and maybe guiltily) let the rest of the world burn. But not Imogen and Theo. His sense of duty and honor, along with her worries over monstrosity and corruption, keep them circling around the necessity of staying apart.
Although the lore and prose are beautiful, the plot seems to take a slightly scenic route. There were times I thought we’d lost sight of the destination, although I didn’t mind this too much. Because of course, every time I felt my focus waning Imogen and Theo seduced me with their tragic devotion and longing, with their sense of inevitability.
Initially I had this idea that there was going to be a searing revenge arc, with Imogen becoming the beautiful and fierce monster she was so afraid of. But that’s not exactly what this story is about. We are shown both the consequences of continuously choosing to pursue more power, or judiciously using what you have.
I also think the theme of self acceptance and self reconciliation runs deep here. Of figuring out what is most important in life, and choosing the simplicity of loving yourself even over epic romantic love.
If you loved the first book, if you love a romance forward fantasy full of yearning and angst dressed in beautiful prose, my guess is you’ll enjoy this one too.
4⭐️’s kindle & audio (Ell Potter is a stunning narrator, and Maxim Reston was good but didn’t quite match her intensity).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: here for the lush prose, decadent yearning, and to see Imogen go full siren in her revenge arc.
Can you love a story for prose and yearning alone? Maybe. But that’s too simple an explanation for what I found so alluring about this duology.
As a romantasy regular, this is kind of like dessert. I’m not entirely sure it’s the most substantive, but it is undoubtedly rich. That’s not a negative, I’m talking flourless chocolate cake (or insert your favorite). There is stunning lyrical prose that makes me sigh in bliss, a haunting and macabre atmosphere, along with a sometimes meandering plot. But at its heart this is a journey of self acceptance, where the romance steals the spotlight over plot or world building.
If anyone could convince me of the existence of practically instantaneous, inescapable love that is almost painful in its boundlessness, it would be Kalie Cassidy with Imogen and Theo. The way they fall in love feels almost accidental and inconvenient (yet also destined) in book 1, but here in Wake it feels impossible and undeniable. These two never seem to catch a break between the people and circumstances that aim to keep them apart.
At the top of the list, and I might be a little salty about this, is a political marriage. Partly my fault for reading so many romantasies lately, but I’m slightly bitter about the necessity for a marriage to come between the two main characters. This is one of those stories where the romance got me so good, I’d happily (and maybe guiltily) let the rest of the world burn. But not Imogen and Theo. His sense of duty and honor, along with her worries over monstrosity and corruption, keep them circling around the necessity of staying apart.
Although the lore and prose are beautiful, the plot seems to take a slightly scenic route. There were times I thought we’d lost sight of the destination, although I didn’t mind this too much. Because of course, every time I felt my focus waning Imogen and Theo seduced me with their tragic devotion and longing, with their sense of inevitability.
Initially I had this idea that there was going to be a searing revenge arc, with Imogen becoming the beautiful and fierce monster she was so afraid of. But that’s not exactly what this story is about. We are shown both the consequences of continuously choosing to pursue more power, or judiciously using what you have.
I also think the theme of self acceptance and self reconciliation runs deep here. Of figuring out what is most important in life, and choosing the simplicity of loving yourself even over epic romantic love.
If you loved the first book, if you love a romance forward fantasy full of yearning and angst dressed in beautiful prose, my guess is you’ll enjoy this one too.
4⭐️’s kindle & audio (Ell Potter is a stunning narrator, and Maxim Reston was good but didn’t quite match her intensity).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: here for the lush prose, decadent yearning, and to see Imogen go full siren in her revenge arc.
July 21, 2026
4 🌟 “𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙮. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜.”
wow what a good duet 🌘 🌊 🕯️✨
the yearning we get in this is insanely good!!! like THEO THE MAN YOU ARE 🥵🥵
“𝙸 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞…”
“𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝?”
“𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘪𝘳.”
🤭😜
and i just love Imogen so much!! she goes through so much in these books and watching her learn to love herself was everything 💗
the plot had me fully invested, a bit predictable but overall such a fun ride with these characters and this world!!
that epilogue made my heart whole 🖤 a perfect conclusion 🥹✨
wow what a good duet 🌘 🌊 🕯️✨
the yearning we get in this is insanely good!!! like THEO THE MAN YOU ARE 🥵🥵
“𝙸 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞…”
“𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝?”
“𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘪𝘳.”
🤭😜
and i just love Imogen so much!! she goes through so much in these books and watching her learn to love herself was everything 💗
the plot had me fully invested, a bit predictable but overall such a fun ride with these characters and this world!!
that epilogue made my heart whole 🖤 a perfect conclusion 🥹✨
March 13, 2026
FIVE BAJILLION STARS (and that epilogue made me weep)
yearning was off the charts again
Bookstagram | Blog
yearning was off the charts again
Bookstagram | Blog
February 18, 2026
Thank you to Little, Brown for the ARC. This was my most highly anticipated book of 2026. I read 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 in a single day right after it was published, was immediately utterly obsessed, and recommended it to everyone I knew. The cliffhanger was insane and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 was the opposite. It took me five whole days to finish it because I literally kept falling asleep. Compared to the first book, this one is painfully dense. Part 1 was very difficult to trudge through. Part 2 was okay, but felt rushed. Part 3 held all the plot twists which I (unfortunately) could see from a mile away, but I had useless information fatigue wasn’t interested in the least.
Cassidy needs to trust that the readers can read between the lines, we don’t need everything spoon-fed to us– but that’s exactly what she does with this book. The unnecessary descriptions and world-building was what held the story back majorly. I don’t know if Cassidy wasn’t set on writing a second book, or if she was just rushed to pump this story out for the publisher, but (in my opinion) this book lacks true 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. There’s no other way I can describe it. I felt nothing reading this, which was shocking and disappointing because I don’t know of anyone else who wants to love this book more than myself. I hope constructive criticism can be taken and the book that is sent out into the world in July will be different than this.
𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 was the opposite. It took me five whole days to finish it because I literally kept falling asleep. Compared to the first book, this one is painfully dense. Part 1 was very difficult to trudge through. Part 2 was okay, but felt rushed. Part 3 held all the plot twists which I (unfortunately) could see from a mile away, but I had useless information fatigue wasn’t interested in the least.
Cassidy needs to trust that the readers can read between the lines, we don’t need everything spoon-fed to us– but that’s exactly what she does with this book. The unnecessary descriptions and world-building was what held the story back majorly. I don’t know if Cassidy wasn’t set on writing a second book, or if she was just rushed to pump this story out for the publisher, but (in my opinion) this book lacks true 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. There’s no other way I can describe it. I felt nothing reading this, which was shocking and disappointing because I don’t know of anyone else who wants to love this book more than myself. I hope constructive criticism can be taken and the book that is sent out into the world in July will be different than this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Kalie Cassidy, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4 / 5 ⭐️!
I found this one to be much better than the first book!
I felt that this book was much deeper in terms of the character development, Imogen and Theo's relationship, and overall the sense of adventure than book 1, and I really enjoyed it!
The highlight of this book for me was definitely Theo!
Theo was sooo swoon-worthy in this book!! I could feel the yearning from him all over the page in his POV. It made my reading experience so much better because.. let's be honest, I love a man that yearns. And Theo brings "down bad" to a whole new level.
I am so happy that these two get their ending, and it was just so satisfying after what they had been through!!
Overall such an enjoyable duology!!
♡ pre-read ♡
So excited to see what becomes of Imogen and Theo!!
4 / 5 ⭐️!
I found this one to be much better than the first book!
I felt that this book was much deeper in terms of the character development, Imogen and Theo's relationship, and overall the sense of adventure than book 1, and I really enjoyed it!
The highlight of this book for me was definitely Theo!
Theo was sooo swoon-worthy in this book!! I could feel the yearning from him all over the page in his POV. It made my reading experience so much better because.. let's be honest, I love a man that yearns. And Theo brings "down bad" to a whole new level.
I am so happy that these two get their ending, and it was just so satisfying after what they had been through!!
Overall such an enjoyable duology!!
♡ pre-read ♡
So excited to see what becomes of Imogen and Theo!!
Want to Read
August 10, 2025ive sold my soul to immy & theo - i need this book more than i need air
Currently Reading
July 23, 2026Finally getting back into this world after In the Veins of the Drowning left me completely enamored with the story.
Where we left of...
We pick up right after Imogen claims the ancestral crown and the magical bond she shares with the ancient sea diety, Eusia, strengthened and threatening to consume her. The King of Varya, Theodore, is struggling between his duty to his people and the love her has for Imogen. As the war is on the horizon, Imagen is in dire need to break the bond or see it destroy everything she loves, including Theo.
*I'm traveling so my updates will be limited, but I'll try!!*
Where we left of...
We pick up right after Imogen claims the ancestral crown and the magical bond she shares with the ancient sea diety, Eusia, strengthened and threatening to consume her. The King of Varya, Theodore, is struggling between his duty to his people and the love her has for Imogen. As the war is on the horizon, Imagen is in dire need to break the bond or see it destroy everything she loves, including Theo.
*I'm traveling so my updates will be limited, but I'll try!!*
Currently Reading
July 11, 2026pre-read 🥺🧜🏼♀️
So nervous and excited for this. King Theo, i missed you 😫🥺🥺🥺💙🩵
So nervous and excited for this. King Theo, i missed you 😫🥺🥺🥺💙🩵
August 25, 2025
Just finished #1 in 48 hours, as I literally could not put it down. I need #2 like Eusia needs Imogen’s and Theo’s blood: ASAP!!! 😫🩸🧜♀️
July 9, 2026
4.5⭐️s!!
“𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼. 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓭, 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰.”
one of my most anticipated sequels of the year, and it absolutely did not disappoint.
i loved this book so much!! theo and imogen completely captured my heart in itvotd, so i was beyond excited to be reunited with them and finally see how their story ended in this book.
the story picked up right where book 1 left off and took me on such an emotional journey. i absolutely adored imogen’s growth from the first book to this one. she became such a force of nature, but never let all that power corrupt who she was at her core.
and then there’s theo… THIS MAN 😩😮💨. the yearning and the things that came out of this man’s mouth deserve their own novella because i swear i was highlighting EVERY. SINGLE. WORD he said. his unwavering devotion to imogen, despite every obstacle thrown their way, somehow made me love him even more. this man fell first, and he fell HARD. i’m just so happy they got the hea they deserved.
“𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮. 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓶𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝔀. 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓭𝓼𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓹𝓾𝓵𝓼𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓽.”
i also have to give a huge shoutout to lachlan and agatha for being the real ones. while lachlan drove me absolutely insane at times in book 1, he completely turned it around for me here. i loved watching him and imogen bond over their love for agatha, and seeing him eventually come to care for imogen and acknowledge that she was the right person for theo. plus, some of his sassy remarks had me cackling.
and agatha… my sweet, sweet agatha. she really went through it in this book 😭. i’m going to need a little epilogue of lachlan and agatha living their best lives because i’m not ready to let them go.
my only real complaints? fricken halla was always interrupting everything 😤. and eusia constantly being a thorn in imogen’s side. thankfully, everything got sorted out in the end LOL.
while i loved book 1 just a tiny bit more, this was such a satisfying ending to a fantastic duology. kalie’s writing was so poetic, and her use of imagery made the reading experience incredibly immersive. honestly, there were moments that made me feel physically ill because they were written so vividly (iykyk). the siren mage duology is now on my list of all time favourite romantasy duologies and kalie cassidy will definitely be added to my auto-buy authors! i can’t wait to see what she writes next 🥰.
“𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼. 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓭, 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰.”
one of my most anticipated sequels of the year, and it absolutely did not disappoint.
i loved this book so much!! theo and imogen completely captured my heart in itvotd, so i was beyond excited to be reunited with them and finally see how their story ended in this book.
the story picked up right where book 1 left off and took me on such an emotional journey. i absolutely adored imogen’s growth from the first book to this one. she became such a force of nature, but never let all that power corrupt who she was at her core.
and then there’s theo… THIS MAN 😩😮💨. the yearning and the things that came out of this man’s mouth deserve their own novella because i swear i was highlighting EVERY. SINGLE. WORD he said. his unwavering devotion to imogen, despite every obstacle thrown their way, somehow made me love him even more. this man fell first, and he fell HARD. i’m just so happy they got the hea they deserved.
“𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮. 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓶𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓮𝔀. 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓭𝓼𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓹𝓾𝓵𝓼𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓽.”
i also have to give a huge shoutout to lachlan and agatha for being the real ones. while lachlan drove me absolutely insane at times in book 1, he completely turned it around for me here. i loved watching him and imogen bond over their love for agatha, and seeing him eventually come to care for imogen and acknowledge that she was the right person for theo. plus, some of his sassy remarks had me cackling.
and agatha… my sweet, sweet agatha. she really went through it in this book 😭. i’m going to need a little epilogue of lachlan and agatha living their best lives because i’m not ready to let them go.
my only real complaints? fricken halla was always interrupting everything 😤. and eusia constantly being a thorn in imogen’s side. thankfully, everything got sorted out in the end LOL.
while i loved book 1 just a tiny bit more, this was such a satisfying ending to a fantastic duology. kalie’s writing was so poetic, and her use of imagery made the reading experience incredibly immersive. honestly, there were moments that made me feel physically ill because they were written so vividly (iykyk). the siren mage duology is now on my list of all time favourite romantasy duologies and kalie cassidy will definitely be added to my auto-buy authors! i can’t wait to see what she writes next 🥰.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 stars
What a great way to end this duology! This was one of my most anticipated reads and it delivered!
I was completely entertained by this book and absolutely flew through it. I just ate it up. I love Imogen and Theodore so much, and the found family in this story is one of my favorite parts of the series.
And the yearning in this. Sigh. Theodore- the man that you are. This was some Pride and Prejudice/Bridgerton level yearning.
I also really loved that we got more of Lachlan in this book. He ended up being such a fun presence — almost comic relief at times — with his banter and personality, which added a really nice balance to the heavier moments.
Overall, I really enjoyed where the plot went and thought the ending wrapped things up in a satisfying way. The only reason this isn’t a full five stars for me is that some parts felt a little predictable, and I would have loved a couple more twists along the way.
I really loved this series and the duology as a whole. I’d definitely recommend it, and I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about these characters — especially Imogen and Theodore — for quite a while.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Little, Brown and Company for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review
What a great way to end this duology! This was one of my most anticipated reads and it delivered!
I was completely entertained by this book and absolutely flew through it. I just ate it up. I love Imogen and Theodore so much, and the found family in this story is one of my favorite parts of the series.
And the yearning in this. Sigh. Theodore- the man that you are. This was some Pride and Prejudice/Bridgerton level yearning.
I also really loved that we got more of Lachlan in this book. He ended up being such a fun presence — almost comic relief at times — with his banter and personality, which added a really nice balance to the heavier moments.
Overall, I really enjoyed where the plot went and thought the ending wrapped things up in a satisfying way. The only reason this isn’t a full five stars for me is that some parts felt a little predictable, and I would have loved a couple more twists along the way.
I really loved this series and the duology as a whole. I’d definitely recommend it, and I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about these characters — especially Imogen and Theodore — for quite a while.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Little, Brown and Company for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review
March 12, 2026
I could not put this book down, yet I didn’t want it to end! I loved this story so much!!!
July 19, 2026
── .✦
In the wake of the ruined 3/5
ehhhhh
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
○°•★•°○— Pre-read: Time to complete this duology!! this better be good.. i'm expecting this to be just as good as the first not better or worse 🙈
ehhhhh
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
○°•★•°○— Pre-read: Time to complete this duology!! this better be good.. i'm expecting this to be just as good as the first not better or worse 🙈
July 23, 2026
Okay how was this maybe even better than book 1???! I LOVED everything about this book. From the writing, the absolutely feral yearning, characters, & the way everything ended but still (maybe??) leaves room for more/spin off in a future book?
Theo & Imogen forever!!! NEED more from Kalie Cassidy 🤯
5⭐️
2🌶️
6🧠
Theo & Imogen forever!!! NEED more from Kalie Cassidy 🤯
5⭐️
2🌶️
6🧠
July 10, 2026
This was one of the sequels I was most excited about this year and yet again I was disappointed.
This book was chaotic all around. The magic was messy and not very well explained or explored. The gods and world was very minimal and didn’t make a lot of sense. The characters were just not likable, I hated almost every decision the MMC made and every line he had in this book. I hated that the FMC was weak and forgave him for everything and still loved him through it all and even ended up begging him instead of the other way around. I hated that the MMC is still married and there is talk about him getting his wife pregnant all the way up until the last chapter of this book. The entire plot of these two books is about him going to marry or being married to another woman while stealing away from his wife at inopportune moments to secretly touch the FMC and try to have sex with her instead of talking things through or solving the bigger problems they have going on. Every spice scene is at extremely inconvenient times and pretty cringy seeing as the mention of his wife always comes up or his wife actually does interrupt them.
The eating a bit of their own flesh any time they preform magic was disgusting. The magic in general was confusing and the FMC in her monstrous era was underwhelming.
I was really hoping to love this but unfortunately it rubbed me the wrong way through the entire story.
This book was chaotic all around. The magic was messy and not very well explained or explored. The gods and world was very minimal and didn’t make a lot of sense. The characters were just not likable, I hated almost every decision the MMC made and every line he had in this book. I hated that the FMC was weak and forgave him for everything and still loved him through it all and even ended up begging him instead of the other way around. I hated that the MMC is still married and there is talk about him getting his wife pregnant all the way up until the last chapter of this book. The entire plot of these two books is about him going to marry or being married to another woman while stealing away from his wife at inopportune moments to secretly touch the FMC and try to have sex with her instead of talking things through or solving the bigger problems they have going on. Every spice scene is at extremely inconvenient times and pretty cringy seeing as the mention of his wife always comes up or his wife actually does interrupt them.
The eating a bit of their own flesh any time they preform magic was disgusting. The magic in general was confusing and the FMC in her monstrous era was underwhelming.
I was really hoping to love this but unfortunately it rubbed me the wrong way through the entire story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2026
“but you must know that i see all the parts you hate and wish to hide, and i love you still.”
—
this was such a good gothic siren summer romantasy duology!! the magic system was so unique, and i loved the darker atmosphere with all the spells, sacrifices, and creepy vibes. definitely a little spooky at times, which was very fun.
at first i wanted to throw hands with lachlan because he desperately needed agatha to put him in his place. but i absolutely loved watching his development with imogen throughout this book. he may be grumpy, but seeing him so soft for agatha had me crying. "hello, sweetheart." tears were shed.
imogen's character development was so good too. she became so much more confident in her decisions, and it broke my heart seeing her constantly willing to risk everything for the people she loved, even at the expense of her own happiness.
“𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅. 𝒃𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒚, 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚, 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔.”
theo... where do i even begin? this man is the king of yearning. adding his POV was EVERYTHING to me. when i tell you every single thing he said got highlighted, i'm not kidding. i sat here forever trying to pick my favorite quotes, and there were way too many contenders. his nickname for her was already one of my favorites, and then he had to go and add "darling" and "love"??? i collapsed.
“𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚. 𝒊 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔. 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔, 𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
the forbidden love in this book was SO good. the tension??? can we please talk about the hand graze? the pinky touch?? i was literally gnawing at the bars of my enclosure.
i will gladly take any bonus chapters or an extended epilogue please since i already miss mr. theodore so much.
“𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔—𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
—
this was such a good gothic siren summer romantasy duology!! the magic system was so unique, and i loved the darker atmosphere with all the spells, sacrifices, and creepy vibes. definitely a little spooky at times, which was very fun.
at first i wanted to throw hands with lachlan because he desperately needed agatha to put him in his place. but i absolutely loved watching his development with imogen throughout this book. he may be grumpy, but seeing him so soft for agatha had me crying. "hello, sweetheart." tears were shed.
imogen's character development was so good too. she became so much more confident in her decisions, and it broke my heart seeing her constantly willing to risk everything for the people she loved, even at the expense of her own happiness.
“𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅. 𝒃𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒚, 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚, 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔.”
theo... where do i even begin? this man is the king of yearning. adding his POV was EVERYTHING to me. when i tell you every single thing he said got highlighted, i'm not kidding. i sat here forever trying to pick my favorite quotes, and there were way too many contenders. his nickname for her was already one of my favorites, and then he had to go and add "darling" and "love"??? i collapsed.
“𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒒𝒖𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚. 𝒊 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔. 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔, 𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
the forbidden love in this book was SO good. the tension??? can we please talk about the hand graze? the pinky touch?? i was literally gnawing at the bars of my enclosure.
i will gladly take any bonus chapters or an extended epilogue please since i already miss mr. theodore so much.
“𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔—𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
July 21, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Okay, I have to say it… I loved this one even more than the first book. 😭✨
The first book was already a great start to the series, but this one completely pulled me in. I felt more invested in the characters, the story had even more emotional depth, and I loved watching everything unfold. There was so much more tension, drama, and those moments that had me desperately needing to know what would happen next.
I also really enjoyed how the world and the story continued to expand without losing the things that made me love the first book. I was completely hooked, and honestly, I didn’t want to put it down.
The only reason I’m giving it 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because there were a few moments where I wanted a little more from the pacing and the ending. But overall? I had such a good time reading this.
Okay, I have to say it… I loved this one even more than the first book. 😭✨
The first book was already a great start to the series, but this one completely pulled me in. I felt more invested in the characters, the story had even more emotional depth, and I loved watching everything unfold. There was so much more tension, drama, and those moments that had me desperately needing to know what would happen next.
I also really enjoyed how the world and the story continued to expand without losing the things that made me love the first book. I was completely hooked, and honestly, I didn’t want to put it down.
The only reason I’m giving it 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because there were a few moments where I wanted a little more from the pacing and the ending. But overall? I had such a good time reading this.
July 10, 2026
“You are a spirit I cannot banish. A ghost that wails the word ‘mine’ as you haunt me.”
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
Delightfully moody, gloriously gothic, and much darker than anticipated; this was simply immaculate. We are dropped right where book two ends, making the stakes impossibly high from the very start. The dark, siren lore from book one deepens throughout this book, and the world building was fascinating, original and a little unsettling. The prose was hauntingly beautiful, and the medium pacing kept me gripped the entire read.
I loved just how dark this leaned, while also maintaining a surprisingly lighthearted tone. There is a little bit of body horror, but also a little bit of humor, and the most achingly beautiful forbidden romance. The tension between Imogen and Theodore was impossibly thick, while the mutual yearning was unmatched. Their fierce devotion to each other had me feverishly highlighting passages and completely unable to put this down. I loved that Theodore never tries to stifle Imogen’s power, and he is just the most perfect grounding force for her.
Imogen is incredibly relatable, and so charming. It is very rare and refreshing to see a fantasy heroine maintain her raw, terrifying magic all the way to the final page. She doesn't get weakened or sidelined. Instead, she steps fully into her crown as an absolute powerhouse. I loved her entire journey, from the beginning of book one to the end of book two.
The climax was heart-pounding, the resolution felt entirely earned, and the epilogue left my heart completely full. I cannot recommend this duology enough.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Love
Shifting Alliances and Royalty
Reluctant Allies to Lovers
Light Body Horror
The weight of inherited legacies
Destiny vs Free Will
✄----------
Genres in Order of Weight: Dark Fantasy, Romance
Setting: Fictional Realm
Rating: 5 Stars
✄----------
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
Delightfully moody, gloriously gothic, and much darker than anticipated; this was simply immaculate. We are dropped right where book two ends, making the stakes impossibly high from the very start. The dark, siren lore from book one deepens throughout this book, and the world building was fascinating, original and a little unsettling. The prose was hauntingly beautiful, and the medium pacing kept me gripped the entire read.
I loved just how dark this leaned, while also maintaining a surprisingly lighthearted tone. There is a little bit of body horror, but also a little bit of humor, and the most achingly beautiful forbidden romance. The tension between Imogen and Theodore was impossibly thick, while the mutual yearning was unmatched. Their fierce devotion to each other had me feverishly highlighting passages and completely unable to put this down. I loved that Theodore never tries to stifle Imogen’s power, and he is just the most perfect grounding force for her.
Imogen is incredibly relatable, and so charming. It is very rare and refreshing to see a fantasy heroine maintain her raw, terrifying magic all the way to the final page. She doesn't get weakened or sidelined. Instead, she steps fully into her crown as an absolute powerhouse. I loved her entire journey, from the beginning of book one to the end of book two.
The climax was heart-pounding, the resolution felt entirely earned, and the epilogue left my heart completely full. I cannot recommend this duology enough.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚:
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Love
Shifting Alliances and Royalty
Reluctant Allies to Lovers
Light Body Horror
The weight of inherited legacies
Destiny vs Free Will
✄----------
Genres in Order of Weight: Dark Fantasy, Romance
Setting: Fictional Realm
Rating: 5 Stars
✄----------
July 6, 2026
IN. LOVE ! Kalie Cassidy is 100% one of my new fave authors <3
more people need to know about this top-tier duology! the gothic, haunting atmosphere and dark magic system, the amazing cast, and the gorgeous yearning!?! I love Imogen as an FMC and how strong she is, while also being real and vulnerable. I LOVE Theodore, and while this duology is perfect, I definitely need more Theo in my life🤭😍 the way he yearns and his way with words are just to die for!!<3
it took me a while to read, but I just really didn't want to finish the book🙈 I love the story, and I love how much I hate some of the characters *cough cough Halla*
I usually don't talk to my family about books (they're not readers), but I had to tell them all my frustrations and anxious feelings, and my sister actually ended up being like, "soo... how did it end??👀" - that is saying something, as she does not care about what I'm reading... usually 😂👏🏼
we got adventure and plot and kisses in the dark! I love how refreshing the plot felt, and while I had an idea of where we were going, I didn't have a clue at the same time👏🏼
we have forced proximity while struggling with the fact that they can't be together or near each other. we have the most delicious yearning - did I mention I love yearning and Theo haha??😂 like, I have highlighted soooo many quotes from him and moments they have together😍
I really appreciate how the tension between them continued throughout the entire series and not just in the first book! also, I would pretty please with a cherry on top love a novella with Lach and Agnes!!
the writing, characters, setting, and romance are phenomenal! so, so excited for whatever comes next!🫶🏼
thank you SO much, Little Brown, for the ARC!<3<3 It will be forever treasured 🙏🏼
2.5/5 🌶️
more people need to know about this top-tier duology! the gothic, haunting atmosphere and dark magic system, the amazing cast, and the gorgeous yearning!?! I love Imogen as an FMC and how strong she is, while also being real and vulnerable. I LOVE Theodore, and while this duology is perfect, I definitely need more Theo in my life🤭😍 the way he yearns and his way with words are just to die for!!<3
it took me a while to read, but I just really didn't want to finish the book🙈 I love the story, and I love how much I hate some of the characters *cough cough Halla*
I usually don't talk to my family about books (they're not readers), but I had to tell them all my frustrations and anxious feelings, and my sister actually ended up being like, "soo... how did it end??👀" - that is saying something, as she does not care about what I'm reading... usually 😂👏🏼
we got adventure and plot and kisses in the dark! I love how refreshing the plot felt, and while I had an idea of where we were going, I didn't have a clue at the same time👏🏼
we have forced proximity while struggling with the fact that they can't be together or near each other. we have the most delicious yearning - did I mention I love yearning and Theo haha??😂 like, I have highlighted soooo many quotes from him and moments they have together😍
I really appreciate how the tension between them continued throughout the entire series and not just in the first book! also, I would pretty please with a cherry on top love a novella with Lach and Agnes!!
the writing, characters, setting, and romance are phenomenal! so, so excited for whatever comes next!🫶🏼
thank you SO much, Little Brown, for the ARC!<3<3 It will be forever treasured 🙏🏼
2.5/5 🌶️
June 16, 2026
oh my gosh this is a masterpiece 😭 the perfect ending to a stunning duology!
this book transports you straight to the atmospheric, haunting seaside kingdoms where blood sacrifices for archaic gods are currency. at times i felt like i was reading a horror story because of how grotesque the fantasy imagery was and i LOVED it. amidst the fog and gloom, the romance in this book will take your breath away. this will for sure be one of my go-to recommendations for men who yearn because theo is ON ONE.
this book had me enthralled the entire time, and was truly unputdownable. the perfect blend of mystery, mythology, suspense, and romance. i cannot WAIT to reread this duology.
this book transports you straight to the atmospheric, haunting seaside kingdoms where blood sacrifices for archaic gods are currency. at times i felt like i was reading a horror story because of how grotesque the fantasy imagery was and i LOVED it. amidst the fog and gloom, the romance in this book will take your breath away. this will for sure be one of my go-to recommendations for men who yearn because theo is ON ONE.
this book had me enthralled the entire time, and was truly unputdownable. the perfect blend of mystery, mythology, suspense, and romance. i cannot WAIT to reread this duology.
July 26, 2026
➵ 4.75 ⭐️
myyyy goodsssss, i can't believe it's over, I'm gonna miss my babies so muchhh 😭😭😭😭
Okay, let's be honest—there was no version of this where I gave this book less than 5 ⭐️ (unless something had gone horribly wrong, like Allegiant level of wrong, which spoiler alert, it didn't so 😂)
I love Theo (aka King of my heart) and Imogen (aka one of my absolute fav and most relatable characters) with undying passion, though I can admit this sequel wasn't as good as the first book.
Throughout the first 2 parts, there were times where I just expected more, like more action or more tension. I just thought that, with where the first book ended, this book will be faster paced and more intense, in a way? Not that there wasn't tension or that it wasn't good, because there was and it was, but there were just a lot of things I expected and the story gave me exactly that, at an even pace. (not sure if that makes sense but if you've read the story and u feel like me you'd probably understand lol) Part 3 was where most of the action was and it was great.
Regardless, as I mentioned I love my babies with undying passion and I adored where they ended up 😭 There were again so many quotes I highlighted, I'm obsessed with how obsessed Theo is with Imogen 🫠❤️🔥
Kalie said during her Brooklyn event that there are no more planned books for this world but so many people have asked her for a prequel story about Lachlan and Agatha that she'd love to write one, so 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
_____________________________
➵ pre-read:
WE HAVE A COVER AND IT'S GLOOOOOOOOORIOUS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
THANK YOU ALINE
He made fists of my hair and kissed me all over. His words were heavy breaths. "Love." Another kiss. "You're threaded through me like sinew," he said into my neck. "You're the Godsdamned pulse in my chest. . ." He searched my face with torrid eyes as he dragged his fingers through my damp hair. "You think loving each other is the dark end of all things—" He gave a slow shake of his head. "Loving you is not the end, it's the beginning of everything."
myyyy goodsssss, i can't believe it's over, I'm gonna miss my babies so muchhh 😭😭😭😭
Okay, let's be honest—there was no version of this where I gave this book less than 5 ⭐️ (unless something had gone horribly wrong, like Allegiant level of wrong, which spoiler alert, it didn't so 😂)
I love Theo (aka King of my heart) and Imogen (aka one of my absolute fav and most relatable characters) with undying passion, though I can admit this sequel wasn't as good as the first book.
Throughout the first 2 parts, there were times where I just expected more, like more action or more tension. I just thought that, with where the first book ended, this book will be faster paced and more intense, in a way? Not that there wasn't tension or that it wasn't good, because there was and it was, but there were just a lot of things I expected and the story gave me exactly that, at an even pace. (not sure if that makes sense but if you've read the story and u feel like me you'd probably understand lol) Part 3 was where most of the action was and it was great.
Regardless, as I mentioned I love my babies with undying passion and I adored where they ended up 😭 There were again so many quotes I highlighted, I'm obsessed with how obsessed Theo is with Imogen 🫠❤️🔥
Kalie said during her Brooklyn event that there are no more planned books for this world but so many people have asked her for a prequel story about Lachlan and Agatha that she'd love to write one, so 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
_____________________________
➵ pre-read:
WE HAVE A COVER AND IT'S GLOOOOOOOOORIOUS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
THANK YOU ALINE
June 22, 2026
(4.5/5) In the Wake of the Ruined is ACHINGLY romantic and has an immaculate gothic atmosphere.
🎁 eARC gifted to me by Little, Brown
🗓️ pub date: July 7, 2026
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
I practically begged Little, Brown for an ARC of this sequel after devouring In the Veins of the Drowning. This duology is must-read if you love dark fantasy romance, a resilient FMC, a man who yearns, sirens, & mystery.
This book picks up right where In The Veins of the Drowning, and we're going THROUGH it alongside Imogen. The way this book had me frustrated af is telling for how emotionally invested I am in these characters and this story.
I love that Imogen is villain-coded. Everything about her would make you think she'd be the perfect villain, but her big heart makes it so that she is actually the perfect protagonist (flawed & highly relatable). I think a lot of people will empathize with her character and how much she gives of herself.
Theodore is a man written by a woman in the absolute best way. Some of his lines, especially in this book are forever etched into my brain. YOUR HONOR, I LOVE A MAN WHO YEARNS & IS DOWN BAD.
Oh, if you won't like OW drama. Buckle up...
My reasoning for not giving this the full 5-stars primarily comes down to the pacing. Part 1 dragged a bit, then part 2 picked up, part 3 finished strong. I just felt it was a littleeee predictable.
Nonetheless, love this duology and absolutely recommend it!
🎁 eARC gifted to me by Little, Brown
🗓️ pub date: July 7, 2026
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
I practically begged Little, Brown for an ARC of this sequel after devouring In the Veins of the Drowning. This duology is must-read if you love dark fantasy romance, a resilient FMC, a man who yearns, sirens, & mystery.
This book picks up right where In The Veins of the Drowning, and we're going THROUGH it alongside Imogen. The way this book had me frustrated af is telling for how emotionally invested I am in these characters and this story.
I love that Imogen is villain-coded. Everything about her would make you think she'd be the perfect villain, but her big heart makes it so that she is actually the perfect protagonist (flawed & highly relatable). I think a lot of people will empathize with her character and how much she gives of herself.
Theodore is a man written by a woman in the absolute best way. Some of his lines, especially in this book are forever etched into my brain. YOUR HONOR, I LOVE A MAN WHO YEARNS & IS DOWN BAD.
Oh, if you won't like OW drama. Buckle up...
My reasoning for not giving this the full 5-stars primarily comes down to the pacing. Part 1 dragged a bit, then part 2 picked up, part 3 finished strong. I just felt it was a littleeee predictable.
Nonetheless, love this duology and absolutely recommend it!
April 2, 2026
4.25☆ “Love. You’re threaded through me like sinew. You’re the Godsdamned pulse in my chest. You think loving each other is the dark end of all things. Loving you is not the end, it’s the beginning of everything.”
We pick up right where we left off at the end of ‘In the Veins of the Drowning,’ and from page one, I was on the edge of my seat.
The unexpected partnership between Imogen and Lachlan was such a highlight. Lachlan stole the show —his humor added the perfect touch of comedic relief when everything else was tense and spiraling out of control.
And then there’s Theo… the perfect man. The ultimate yearner. Truly top-tier book boyfriend material. He had me blushing, giggling, and completely locked into the story. I’m honestly devastated he’s not real because I absolutely need him in my life.
That said, I think I enjoyed book one a little more. While I stayed invested in the story, there were moments where I found myself wishing for just a little ✨more✨ That’s ultimately why this wasn’t a full five star read for me.
The final 10% though? Pure chaos in the best way. I was stressed, heart racing, fully riding that adrenaline rush. And even though it was intense, the resolution delivered and I walked away feeling satisfied…although I definitely wouldn’t have complained about getting a little more Theo hehe.
Ty Tessa from Little Brown Co for sending me an e-arc!
We pick up right where we left off at the end of ‘In the Veins of the Drowning,’ and from page one, I was on the edge of my seat.
The unexpected partnership between Imogen and Lachlan was such a highlight. Lachlan stole the show —his humor added the perfect touch of comedic relief when everything else was tense and spiraling out of control.
And then there’s Theo… the perfect man. The ultimate yearner. Truly top-tier book boyfriend material. He had me blushing, giggling, and completely locked into the story. I’m honestly devastated he’s not real because I absolutely need him in my life.
That said, I think I enjoyed book one a little more. While I stayed invested in the story, there were moments where I found myself wishing for just a little ✨more✨ That’s ultimately why this wasn’t a full five star read for me.
The final 10% though? Pure chaos in the best way. I was stressed, heart racing, fully riding that adrenaline rush. And even though it was intense, the resolution delivered and I walked away feeling satisfied…although I definitely wouldn’t have complained about getting a little more Theo hehe.
Ty Tessa from Little Brown Co for sending me an e-arc!
April 6, 2026
5 Stunning Stars!!!! ⭐️
I think we all need to take a moment to appreciate how Kalie gave us a tension filled Romance in book 1 and was STILL able to continue that into Book 2 without you feeling bored or over it already!!
This is a MASTERPIECE duology!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥
In book 2 the longing, the yearning and the tension intensifies to a top tier level while also having action and maintaining the point of the story!
I swear I didn’t want to finish this because I am not ready for this to be over.
Theo is a MMC that stole my heart in book 1 and then literally locked my heart up and threw away the key in book 2, he does not miss a beat!!!
I truly cannot recommend this duology enough, the vibes are immaculate, a perfect conclusion and Kalies writing is phenomenal!! I cannot wait for more ♥️🖤
I think we all need to take a moment to appreciate how Kalie gave us a tension filled Romance in book 1 and was STILL able to continue that into Book 2 without you feeling bored or over it already!!
This is a MASTERPIECE duology!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥
In book 2 the longing, the yearning and the tension intensifies to a top tier level while also having action and maintaining the point of the story!
I swear I didn’t want to finish this because I am not ready for this to be over.
Theo is a MMC that stole my heart in book 1 and then literally locked my heart up and threw away the key in book 2, he does not miss a beat!!!
I truly cannot recommend this duology enough, the vibes are immaculate, a perfect conclusion and Kalies writing is phenomenal!! I cannot wait for more ♥️🖤
July 12, 2026
3.75✨ The writing was once again beautiful just like the first book, and the gothic atmosphere was present and more prominent here. There were some horror elements woven in there too. The scene where they finally reached the island and the description of the palace’s ruins were so eerie and vivid. Theo stole the show once more with his pretty words and…other things. 😮💨
I’m keeping this review spoiler free as always, but even though this second installment was more plot heavy, I still wanted more. It felt disjointed and all over the place. Both books needed at least 100 pages more and certain things would have been easily resolved if the characters just sat down and thoroughly constructed a plan. Also, where were the sirens? This is supposed to be a siren book but we only get glimpses here and there. What about the wings? I would’ve loved seeing Imogen in her full siren form and use her wings. And let’s not forget the numerous scenes of them cutting pieces of their flesh and consuming them.🤢 I also kept picturing Eusia as Voldemort which didn’t help at all. 😂
The ending was wrapped up very messily, almost like the author was being held at gunpoint. It was a HEA, but it simultaneously felt open and unresolved.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and the writing was what kept me going for the most part. I will definitely be reading more of Cassidy’s work in the future.
I’m keeping this review spoiler free as always, but even though this second installment was more plot heavy, I still wanted more. It felt disjointed and all over the place. Both books needed at least 100 pages more and certain things would have been easily resolved if the characters just sat down and thoroughly constructed a plan. Also, where were the sirens? This is supposed to be a siren book but we only get glimpses here and there. What about the wings? I would’ve loved seeing Imogen in her full siren form and use her wings. And let’s not forget the numerous scenes of them cutting pieces of their flesh and consuming them.🤢 I also kept picturing Eusia as Voldemort which didn’t help at all. 😂
The ending was wrapped up very messily, almost like the author was being held at gunpoint. It was a HEA, but it simultaneously felt open and unresolved.
Overall, I still enjoyed the book and the writing was what kept me going for the most part. I will definitely be reading more of Cassidy’s work in the future.
July 9, 2026
If you want a man that YEARNS read this book.
I am obsessed with this book. I finished it and it is all I can think of. Theo is THE yearner. All he does is yearn for Imogen.
I loved the perspective of sirens in this series, it was different and I enjoyed it immensely. Seriously - I feel like this book consumed me and my time because all I wanted to do was read it and ignore every responsibility I had.
The ending did feel a bit rushed but I don't mind it simply because we got Theo's POV yearning for Imogen and that made everything better. If it's one thing I love in a fantasy romance, its a man who yearns. Like this man was physically sick if he didn't have her within his sights. It was that good.
Romantasy lovers...read this book. I'm begging you. I need people to talk to about it.
I am obsessed with this book. I finished it and it is all I can think of. Theo is THE yearner. All he does is yearn for Imogen.
I loved the perspective of sirens in this series, it was different and I enjoyed it immensely. Seriously - I feel like this book consumed me and my time because all I wanted to do was read it and ignore every responsibility I had.
The ending did feel a bit rushed but I don't mind it simply because we got Theo's POV yearning for Imogen and that made everything better. If it's one thing I love in a fantasy romance, its a man who yearns. Like this man was physically sick if he didn't have her within his sights. It was that good.
Romantasy lovers...read this book. I'm begging you. I need people to talk to about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,412 reviews