The Dark in Her Veins by M.K. Lobb

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Divine Villains #1

Release Date: August 25, 2026

Talin Keller is a hired sinner whose role in Valestadt places her between survival, violence, and loyalty to the Prophet who employs her. She carries the physical consequences of the sins she commits through Bloodrot, which makes her position both dangerous and unstable. Gabriel, the city’s revered Prophet, uses religious authority and public devotion to maintain power while keeping his own hands clean. Slade, also known as the Warden, serves as a darker opposing force whose connection to Gabriel complicates Talin’s mission. The characters operate in a morally corrupt world where self-preservation, manipulation, and hidden motives shape their relationships and decisions.

The plot follows Talin as she navigates a city where sin leaves a visible and deadly mark on the body, creating a system where the powerful can hire others to absorb the cost of their wrongdoing. Her work for Gabriel leads her toward Slade, a figure tied to rumors, danger, and the possibility of freedom from both Gabriel’s control and the worsening Bloodrot. As Talin moves between the brothers, the story develops through shifting alliances, revelations about her past, and a larger conspiracy connected to Valestadt’s religious and political structure. The narrative blends dark fantasy, violence, corruption, and supernatural consequences while building toward an unresolved ending meant to continue the story.

Overall, this book had an interesting concept, especially with the idea that sin could physically deteriorate the body, but it did not fully work for me. I did not like the first-person POV which made the story feel harder to follow and less cohesive. I also found the cliffhanger ending frustrating because so much felt unresolved in the final pages. The romance was another major issue for me because it came across as more of a niche / fetish-driven dynamic than a traditional romance, which made it difficult for me to connect with the relationship. So, while the premise had potential, and I am sure there are many readers who would enjoy this book, it was not for me, I felt the characters, pacing, and romantic development kept me from becoming fully invested and left me with no desire to read the next book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *