I’ve enjoyed M.K. Lobb’s previous YA books so I knew I had to read this adult debut. The Dark in Her Veins is a spicy adult fantasy about responsibility and confession. I loved the steady themes about religion and exploitation. Keep reading this book review of The Dark in Her Veins for my full thoughts.
Summary
Nothing is sacred for those willing to pay the price…
In Valestadt, everything has a price. Sin leaves its mark in the form of the Bloodrot, a slow-creeping disease that leads to madness, then death. The rich outsource their violence. The poor sell theirs and suffer the cost.
Talin Keller is a sinner. Employed by the holiest man in the city, the Prophet, she stains her hands so his can stay clean. But with her Bloodrot rapidly advancing, Talin knows her next job could be her last.
Then a new assignment puts Talin on a collision course with the Warden, a shadowy figure whose name is spoken like a warning. If she can get close, she can trade his life for her own freedom—and escape the death her sins have promised. That is, if she can stay steady on the knife’s edge.
Because Talin is dangerously drawn to the Warden. He is sharp, cruel, and whatever blazes in him sparks against every dark part of her. If she isn’t careful, her plans will burn.
As savior and sinner tangle, Talin uncovers a conspiracy tied to the past she thought dead. And in Valestadt, where sin is currency, she’ll have to decide what she’s willing to pay to survive.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
M.K. Lobb always has such interesting world building ideas. And The Dark in Her Veins is no exception. It’s about the rich outsourcing their violence, their deepest desires, and preying on desperation. For Talin, her Bloodrot is advancing, but could she figure out a way to envision a future for herself. One that doesn’t end in death. Especially in a society where she’s seen as the scapegoat, the one to always pay the price. The Dark in Her Veins examines the power of dogma, of authority, and of power to manipulate, exorcise, and empower. The dangerous applications of teachings, of obedience, and control.
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I love a spunky and brave heroine and Talin is 100% the vibe. It gives me kind of a Buffy the Vampire vibe with some serious secrets. The Dark in Her Veins is an action packed series starter about betrayal, fighting for our future, and the power of the elite to twist religion, dogma, and the truth for themselves. It’s a story that explores the difference between love and obsession. I cannot wait for book two and the spice is truly spicy! Find The Dark in Her Veins on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.