The Dark In Her Veins by M.K. Lobb

Blurb:

From critically acclaimed, 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.

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:

Everything has a price, especially in the gritty city of Valestadt, where freedom and religion come hand in corrupt hand. Sin marks those who are deemed unworthy with a terrible disease called the Bloodrot, a devastating illness that eventually draws its victims to madness, even death. The rich benefit on the lives of such sinners–and the poor suffer for the sins they’re accused of harboring.

Talin Keller has always known she’s a sinner, and she’s fine with that as long as it keeps her alive. Employed by a holy man in the dreary city that’s always mistreated her, she does his dirty work so he can retain a perfect, clean countenance and retain his image as the Prophet of the people he governs. However, cursed with Bloodrot and leaning towards madness, Talin is always suspicious her next job will be her last.

But when she’s tasked by the Prophet with killing the Warden, a shadowy figurehead of the slummiest, most sin-packed part of Valestadt, she discovers an alternative to her inevitable death: trading the Warden’s life for freedom, escape, and perhaps even a cure. Unfortunately, Talin is drawn to the Warden. They’re equally cruel, ruthless, cunning, and callous, and they spark carnal desire in each other like nothing she’s ever experienced. If she succumbs to his influence, her promise for freedom and salvation are doomed.

As her plan grows more convoluted and she grows closer to her probable enemies, Talin must decide: trust the Prophet’s cruel, ruthless word…or the equally treacherous word of the Warden.

Set in a gritty, visceral world where the stakes are high, the romance is higher, and the danger is limitless, The Dark In Her Veins is a groundbreaking novel. I’ve been a long-time fan of M.K. Lobb’s novels ever since I discovered the Seven Faceless Saints duology on my local library’s bookshelves. I don’t often go to the library, though I try to go there off and on in order to support local librarians and international authors, but when I saw the cover, then read the blurb, of Lobb’s original novels, I was dragged in. I devoured those books, much like I devoured The Dark In Heir Veins.

While this publication is a bit different from Lobb’s previous novels (which consists of the Seven Faceless Saints duology and the To Steal From Thieves duology, both of which are adult or young adult novels of various fantasy subgenres), it is no less compelling, thrilling, and anxiety-inducing.

Composed of a gritty fantasy setting a la Six of Crows but grittier and a dark romantic pairing similar to The Poisoner by I.V. Ophelia – but again, darker – it’s truly a phenomenal narrative in its genre category. Although it follows some conventional tropes, it does introduce many more unique and original aspects that truly make the story a stand-out novel. One of those things is how the main couple don’t necessarily love each other (at least not at first) whereas in other dark fantasy novels I’ve read, most develop some sort of romantic connection. This specific plot made their relationship particularly compelling and interesting, and it had me questioning the psyche of every character in the novel.

And talk about a novel that defines the word twists! Even when I saw something coming within it, the novel was twisted, jagged, and sharp enough to draw blood. I was on the edge of my seat, heart in my throat, blood racing through my veins throughout most of the narrative. It’s one of those books where things get worse and worse as time goes on, in the best way possible.

I tend to gauge if a book is incredible or not on how mad it makes me. Odd trait, I know. But because I read so widely and tend to like most of what I pick up, I’m always super picky about the books I consider valuable enough to buy duplicates of or reread. The Dark In Her Veins is one of those novels.

I cannot recommend Lobb’s work highly enough! Check out literally all of her books…if you dare!