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Shadow of the Leviathan #2
A Drop of Corruption
The brilliant detective Ana Dolabra may have finally met her match in the gripping sequel to The Tainted Cup--from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.
In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, an impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—abducted from his quarters while the door and windows remained locked from the inside, in a building whose entrances and exits are all under constant guard.
To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.
Before long, Ana’s discovered that they’re not investigating a disappearance, but a murder—and that the killing was just the first chess move by an adversary who seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and who can predict every one of Ana’s moves as though they can see the future.
Worse still, the killer seems to be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud. Here, the Empire's greatest minds dissect fallen Titans to harness the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the destruction would be terrible indeed--and the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.
Din has seen Ana solve impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and Ana seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, he fears that his superior has finally met an enemy she can’t defeat.
In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, an impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—abducted from his quarters while the door and windows remained locked from the inside, in a building whose entrances and exits are all under constant guard.
To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.
Before long, Ana’s discovered that they’re not investigating a disappearance, but a murder—and that the killing was just the first chess move by an adversary who seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and who can predict every one of Ana’s moves as though they can see the future.
Worse still, the killer seems to be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud. Here, the Empire's greatest minds dissect fallen Titans to harness the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the destruction would be terrible indeed--and the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.
Din has seen Ana solve impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and Ana seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, he fears that his superior has finally met an enemy she can’t defeat.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2025
2213 people are currently reading
55814 people want to read
About the author
Robert Jackson Bennett
28 books21.5k followersRobert Jackson Bennett is a two-time award winner of the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel, an Edgar Award winner for Best Paperback Original, and is also the 2010 recipient of the Sydney J Bounds Award for Best Newcomer, and a Philip K Dick Award Citation of Excellence. City of Stairs was shortlisted for the Locus Award and the World Fantasy Award. City of Blades was a finalist for the 2015 World Fantasy, Locus, and British Fantasy Awards. His eighth novel, FOUNDRYSIDE, will be available in the US on 8/21 of 2018 and the UK on 8/23.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,285 reviews
March 7, 2025
4 1/2 stars. Even better than The Tainted Cup!
I am having so much fun with this series. Even though it is a high fantasy setting with an incredibly detailed world, the tone of the stories reminds me very much of urban fantasy mysteries I've enjoyed over the years. Once again, the plot is a murder mystery, and, once again, the delightfully funny banter between Din and Ana drives the narrative.
Before beginning this series I saw comparisons to Sherlock and Watson and I rolled my eyes and thought yeah, whatever, but it's actually a fairly good comparison in this case. Ana is just as brilliant as Cumberbatch's Sherlock, and even more prone to eccentricities and social faux pas. Din narrates the story Watson-style, recounting Ana's brilliance with no small amount of bafflement, while also showing ingenuity of his own.
The mysteries in both books have been really well-crafted, layered and satisfying. I've gotten much better at discovering culprits and spotting wild twists after years of reading mysteries and thrillers, but I have so far found Bennett's mysteries impenetrable. I think it is because there is so much going on and each mystery opens up to an even larger mystery before it is solved. By the time I got to the "Aha! So it's..." point, Ana was confirming what I'd figured out in the next paragraph.
But while much of this book is fun, underneath it is something deeper-- a criticism of autocracy in a genre enamored by kingdoms and divine rule. The author's note is a must-read.
Now to wait for the next book.
I am having so much fun with this series. Even though it is a high fantasy setting with an incredibly detailed world, the tone of the stories reminds me very much of urban fantasy mysteries I've enjoyed over the years. Once again, the plot is a murder mystery, and, once again, the delightfully funny banter between Din and Ana drives the narrative.
Before beginning this series I saw comparisons to Sherlock and Watson and I rolled my eyes and thought yeah, whatever, but it's actually a fairly good comparison in this case. Ana is just as brilliant as Cumberbatch's Sherlock, and even more prone to eccentricities and social faux pas. Din narrates the story Watson-style, recounting Ana's brilliance with no small amount of bafflement, while also showing ingenuity of his own.
The mysteries in both books have been really well-crafted, layered and satisfying. I've gotten much better at discovering culprits and spotting wild twists after years of reading mysteries and thrillers, but I have so far found Bennett's mysteries impenetrable. I think it is because there is so much going on and each mystery opens up to an even larger mystery before it is solved. By the time I got to the "Aha! So it's..." point, Ana was confirming what I'd figured out in the next paragraph.
But while much of this book is fun, underneath it is something deeper-- a criticism of autocracy in a genre enamored by kingdoms and divine rule. The author's note is a must-read.
Now to wait for the next book.
April 2, 2025
dinios kol my disastrous bisexual son is back!! and hes sleep deprived!! he’s vomiting!!! he’s yearning!!! he’s slowly losing his marbles!! he’s in severe debt!! he’s in way over his head!!
robert jackson bennetts competition continues to only be himself
oh and i need kepheus back in book three or else!!
Read my full review
thank you to the entire del rey team for providing this arc
Bookstagram | Blog
robert jackson bennetts competition continues to only be himself
oh and i need kepheus back in book three or else!!
Read my full review
thank you to the entire del rey team for providing this arc
Bookstagram | Blog
February 22, 2025
By the last page I already knew this was pretty much perfect, but then I read the Author’s Note in the end and knew that it just got even better. You see, Bennett just happens to share the same views on hereditary power and strongmen in charge of autocracies as I do, and he’s very much clear about it, and it is such a refreshing view in the fantasy genre that otherwise seems hopelessly hung up on royalty and chosen ones and all that absolute nonsense. Me (and Bennett apparently) — it seems that we’d prefer a bureaucracy of checks and balances any time over any strongman who claims to been born out of “right” gametes.
And true to that, Bennett gives us another fantasy murder mystery adventure with two investigators - a brilliantly eccentric Ana Dolabra ( “If she isn’t included in whatever this is, there’ll be hell to pay,” I said. “This is not a threat, but just … physics. When defied, she breaks things.” ) and her pragmatic assistant Dinios Kol (who suffers from a bit of tired disillusionment from the job where every day, despite making a difference, you see more stuff happen that makes you feel that the difference you made is non-existent) in an Empire that runs on graft alterations of humans in a fascinatingly complex fantasy world where the Iudex - the law - are among exactly those checks and balances that keep everyone accountable and keep even the powerful in check.
It’s a wonderfully complex murder and political mystery that flies along through a few hundred pages without ever missing a beat, without ever dragging or rushing, paced perfectly and with constant tension and high stakes and the satisfying feeling you get when you read a story that’s plotted and executed with confident mastery. The fantasy world feels unique and well-developed, and Bennett’s world-building is top-notch as usual, and the characters are fun to follow (although a few scenes with Ana’s peculiar feasts made me want to unsee the paragraphs I just read and skip dinner), and I’d be glad to read a few books set in this universe.
Bennett, as usual, develops pretty serious themes throughout, seamlessly integrating them into the story without the slightest didacticism. The corruption that comes with power and greed and the need for someone to put in the effort to keep that corruption in check — it’s something we all can use more of in the real world just as much as Bennett’s characters can use it in theirs. As Ana says to somewhat disillusioned Din, “I suspect you shall come to realize what many Iudexii eventually learn—that though the Legion defends our Empire, it falls to us to keep an Empire worth defending.”
5 stars with no hesitation. I love it as much as his Divine Cities series, although this one is a lighter, less gloomy read.
My review of the first book in the series, The Tainted Cup.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House / Del Rey for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
“Because all the characters in this story—like all of humanity, apparently—have a little blank spot in their heads that says, “Kings. What a good idea.” The idea is powerful, and seductive, and should not be underestimated. To be a civilization of any worth, however, means acknowledging the idea—and then condemning it as laughably, madly stupid.”
And true to that, Bennett gives us another fantasy murder mystery adventure with two investigators - a brilliantly eccentric Ana Dolabra ( “If she isn’t included in whatever this is, there’ll be hell to pay,” I said. “This is not a threat, but just … physics. When defied, she breaks things.” ) and her pragmatic assistant Dinios Kol (who suffers from a bit of tired disillusionment from the job where every day, despite making a difference, you see more stuff happen that makes you feel that the difference you made is non-existent) in an Empire that runs on graft alterations of humans in a fascinatingly complex fantasy world where the Iudex - the law - are among exactly those checks and balances that keep everyone accountable and keep even the powerful in check.
“This work can never satisfy, Din, for it can never finish. The dead cannot be restored. Vice and bribery will never be totally banished from the cantons. And the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist. The duty of the Iudex is not to boldly vanquish it but to manage it. We keep the stain from spreading, yes, but it is never gone. Yet this job is perhaps the most important in all the Iyalets, for without it, well … The Empire would come to look much like Yarrow, where the powerful and the cruel prevail without check. And tell me—does that realm look capable of fighting off a leviathan?”
It’s a wonderfully complex murder and political mystery that flies along through a few hundred pages without ever missing a beat, without ever dragging or rushing, paced perfectly and with constant tension and high stakes and the satisfying feeling you get when you read a story that’s plotted and executed with confident mastery. The fantasy world feels unique and well-developed, and Bennett’s world-building is top-notch as usual, and the characters are fun to follow (although a few scenes with Ana’s peculiar feasts made me want to unsee the paragraphs I just read and skip dinner), and I’d be glad to read a few books set in this universe.
“But … when we come, the deed is already done. The body is cold, the blood cleaned away. We often find the killer, but that heals nothing, as far as I can see. It only leads to a rope, or a cage, and many more tears.” I swallowed. “Is it so strange a thing, ma’am, to helplessly look upon the slain and dream of instead saving lives?”
Bennett, as usual, develops pretty serious themes throughout, seamlessly integrating them into the story without the slightest didacticism. The corruption that comes with power and greed and the need for someone to put in the effort to keep that corruption in check — it’s something we all can use more of in the real world just as much as Bennett’s characters can use it in theirs. As Ana says to somewhat disillusioned Din, “I suspect you shall come to realize what many Iudexii eventually learn—that though the Legion defends our Empire, it falls to us to keep an Empire worth defending.”
5 stars with no hesitation. I love it as much as his Divine Cities series, although this one is a lighter, less gloomy read.
My review of the first book in the series, The Tainted Cup.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House / Del Rey for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“You know, you are not a stupid person, Din.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I said, pleased.
“Or, rather, not an unusually stupid person.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I said, far less pleased.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
September 4, 2025
♡ thank you so much, del rey, for sending me a finished copy!
1.) The Tainted Cup ★★★★★
the tainted cup was my favorite publication of 2024, so i was beyond elated when this book showed up on my doorstep in 2025! and opening this book, and instantly being back with din and ana, just reminded me how beloved this book series already is to me and how it is probably my most anticipated current ongoing series. i know, right? a lot of praise, but it really is from my heart.
the very basic premise of what this series is doing is that it is a genre blend of fantasy and mystery, where we follow two character, din and ana, who are very coded as sherlock and watson, while they try to solve murder mysteries in what very much feels like an attack on titan world, filled with walls and leviathans that attack those walls. yet, also in this world, people have medical augmentations that allow them to enhance themselves, with abilities to do things better, but at a cost. and in this second installment, we really get to see that cost with classes in this world.
in this book, din and ana are visiting a town in the middle of trade negotiations, called yarrowdale, which is a port town, and it feels a little extra scary when the wet season is approaching and when leviathans attack walls in this world! but this town hasn’t experienced an attack in living memory, and they also have something called the shroud, which is a leviathan graveyard with a lot of mystery behind it. and maybe some more mystery will be added to it, because this story starts with dinios kol, an altered mind rememberer, traveling to this town to meet an officer and to see what is left of a body. and one moldy tower room later, ana dolabra comes to hopefully solve another case with din, and in a new city, where body parts are continuing to be found.
this series really feels like a breath of fresh air for both of its blended genres and it really feels like magic to read. din and ana’s relationship really just means the whole world to me, and seeing them both trust more, listen more, and even love more is just so beautiful. am i crying over a scarf? yes!! also, malo is such an amazing side character, who i was feeling all the emotions constantly for. i really hope we get to see them again in more stories. but yeah, the characters, the story, the writing, the messages, the mystery, it’s really all so top notch and i just really recommend this series to everyone who has even somewhat similar reading tastes to me.
other random things i loved about this story: din is for sure pan or bi and we just really love to see it, always. i also always will love an unsettling castle setting. i was obsessed with how we got more backstory in this second installment, and seeing more of these character’s pasts and how they are choosing to live in the present. i love the constant theme of patterns and how they are all around us, for better or worse, if we really begin to look. i love that this book looked at debt and the systems that want to keep people down and at the mercy of their leaders. and i very much love to appreciate the discussions around the corruption of government and how those in power are more than willing to treat the citizens they view as lesser, regardless of any and all costs.
i truly love everything about this series, but i do feel like no one, and i mean no one, is writing author notes the way robert jackon bennet is writing author notes. both books in this series have heavily discussed classism, capitalism, and which groups of people thrive, and die, because of these things. But this author’s note, the final thing the reader is left with upon closing this book, really emphasizes how fantasy stories have treated autocracies. how such a majority of stories are written about one true heir, who is divine, and righteous, and deserving of taking over and ruling the land, and knowing what is best for all people. and how that romanticization is never the real world reality. it was just really powerful to me and i really applaud what this author is saying to his readers, both in his storytelling and with his voice, especially in 2025.
trigger + content warnings: death, vomit, blood, kidnapping, fungus + mold depictions, medical debt, loss of parents in past, colonization, slavery / captivity, classism, contagion, illness, poison, bugs / insects, gore, smoking, drinking, animal deaths, forced medical treatments, medical experimentation, talk of suicide ideation, a character who feels a little agoraphobic, and a little sexual content
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡ buddy read with penny
♡ Foundryside ★★★
1.) The Tainted Cup ★★★★★
“The ocean cannot tell the difference between a rich man and a poor one, nor one full of happiness, or despair. To those waves, all are so terribly small.”
the tainted cup was my favorite publication of 2024, so i was beyond elated when this book showed up on my doorstep in 2025! and opening this book, and instantly being back with din and ana, just reminded me how beloved this book series already is to me and how it is probably my most anticipated current ongoing series. i know, right? a lot of praise, but it really is from my heart.
the very basic premise of what this series is doing is that it is a genre blend of fantasy and mystery, where we follow two character, din and ana, who are very coded as sherlock and watson, while they try to solve murder mysteries in what very much feels like an attack on titan world, filled with walls and leviathans that attack those walls. yet, also in this world, people have medical augmentations that allow them to enhance themselves, with abilities to do things better, but at a cost. and in this second installment, we really get to see that cost with classes in this world.
in this book, din and ana are visiting a town in the middle of trade negotiations, called yarrowdale, which is a port town, and it feels a little extra scary when the wet season is approaching and when leviathans attack walls in this world! but this town hasn’t experienced an attack in living memory, and they also have something called the shroud, which is a leviathan graveyard with a lot of mystery behind it. and maybe some more mystery will be added to it, because this story starts with dinios kol, an altered mind rememberer, traveling to this town to meet an officer and to see what is left of a body. and one moldy tower room later, ana dolabra comes to hopefully solve another case with din, and in a new city, where body parts are continuing to be found.
this series really feels like a breath of fresh air for both of its blended genres and it really feels like magic to read. din and ana’s relationship really just means the whole world to me, and seeing them both trust more, listen more, and even love more is just so beautiful. am i crying over a scarf? yes!! also, malo is such an amazing side character, who i was feeling all the emotions constantly for. i really hope we get to see them again in more stories. but yeah, the characters, the story, the writing, the messages, the mystery, it’s really all so top notch and i just really recommend this series to everyone who has even somewhat similar reading tastes to me.
other random things i loved about this story: din is for sure pan or bi and we just really love to see it, always. i also always will love an unsettling castle setting. i was obsessed with how we got more backstory in this second installment, and seeing more of these character’s pasts and how they are choosing to live in the present. i love the constant theme of patterns and how they are all around us, for better or worse, if we really begin to look. i love that this book looked at debt and the systems that want to keep people down and at the mercy of their leaders. and i very much love to appreciate the discussions around the corruption of government and how those in power are more than willing to treat the citizens they view as lesser, regardless of any and all costs.
i truly love everything about this series, but i do feel like no one, and i mean no one, is writing author notes the way robert jackon bennet is writing author notes. both books in this series have heavily discussed classism, capitalism, and which groups of people thrive, and die, because of these things. But this author’s note, the final thing the reader is left with upon closing this book, really emphasizes how fantasy stories have treated autocracies. how such a majority of stories are written about one true heir, who is divine, and righteous, and deserving of taking over and ruling the land, and knowing what is best for all people. and how that romanticization is never the real world reality. it was just really powerful to me and i really applaud what this author is saying to his readers, both in his storytelling and with his voice, especially in 2025.
“This work can never satisfy, Din, for it can never finish. The dead cannot be restored. Vice and bribery will never be totally banished from the cantons. And the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist. The duty of the Iudex is not to boldly vanquish it but to manage it. We keep the stain from spreading, yes, but it is never gone. Yet this job is perhaps the most important in all the Iyalets, for without it, well … The Empire would come to look much like Yarrow, where the powerful and the cruel prevail without check. And tell me—does that realm look capable of fighting off a leviathan?”
trigger + content warnings: death, vomit, blood, kidnapping, fungus + mold depictions, medical debt, loss of parents in past, colonization, slavery / captivity, classism, contagion, illness, poison, bugs / insects, gore, smoking, drinking, animal deaths, forced medical treatments, medical experimentation, talk of suicide ideation, a character who feels a little agoraphobic, and a little sexual content
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡ buddy read with penny
♡ Foundryside ★★★
May 4, 2025
3.55!
“To serve is a tremendously humbling thing. How easy it is to mistake glory and fame for duty! But duty is thankless, invisible, Forgettable—but oh, so very necessary.”
Robert Jackson Bennett has the writing style to deliver books to my liking but my luck with his books so far, it's not that they're bad or because I don't enjoy them because I do enjoy them. It's just the past two books I've read from him were when I was in a slump so that affected my rating a lot but I would love to get back to them after a while and see where it leads. I loved the underlying themes that the author painted through this book and how it highlighted some real world issues. Ana was honestly such a good fmc I had sm fun reading her perspective and her thoughts and the way the story got so elevated as we read her point of view was something I enjoyed, I liked Din as well and the banter between them was SOOOO good. The twist and turns had me shocked but the pacing was so slow and my slump didn't really need that and I also found some of the things in this book to be repetitive. I do feel like I would rate it more if my slump wasn't here but objectively this was a good book and it had all the things which would to the liking of someone who reads mystery books.
Overall, it was enjoyable.
_.
I'm so excited to move forward with this series!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Randomhouse- Ballantine for an E-ARC*
“To serve is a tremendously humbling thing. How easy it is to mistake glory and fame for duty! But duty is thankless, invisible, Forgettable—but oh, so very necessary.”
Robert Jackson Bennett has the writing style to deliver books to my liking but my luck with his books so far, it's not that they're bad or because I don't enjoy them because I do enjoy them. It's just the past two books I've read from him were when I was in a slump so that affected my rating a lot but I would love to get back to them after a while and see where it leads. I loved the underlying themes that the author painted through this book and how it highlighted some real world issues. Ana was honestly such a good fmc I had sm fun reading her perspective and her thoughts and the way the story got so elevated as we read her point of view was something I enjoyed, I liked Din as well and the banter between them was SOOOO good. The twist and turns had me shocked but the pacing was so slow and my slump didn't really need that and I also found some of the things in this book to be repetitive. I do feel like I would rate it more if my slump wasn't here but objectively this was a good book and it had all the things which would to the liking of someone who reads mystery books.
Overall, it was enjoyable.
_.
I'm so excited to move forward with this series!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Randomhouse- Ballantine for an E-ARC*
June 22, 2025
I'm addicted to this fantasy thriller series, and I can honestly read dozens of sequel books as long as Robert Jackson Bennett keeps writing them. Thankfully, one of the quirkiest and most unusual investigation duos with unique searching skills and powers is back: Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a huge round of applause to Anna Dolabra and Dinios Koll, who are back to work on the strangest case about a victim in a locked room, possibly killed by a ghost-like perpetrator who passes through warded doors of a high tower, leaving no trace, no murder weapon behind, and seemingly serving the empire's political chess game in choosing a Treasury Officer.
Robert Jackson Bennett does it again with A Drop of Corruption, the kind of fantasy-mystery that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. Ana Dolabra, the Empire’s most unconventional investigator, and her loyal but increasingly overwhelmed assistant, Din Kol, are called upon to untangle a case that defies all logic: a Treasury officer vanishes from a secured room with no exit and no sign of foul play—at least at first glance.
What starts as a puzzling disappearance soon spirals into something far darker, with Ana and Din chasing a perpetrator who seems to walk through solid barriers and anticipate their every move. Bennett seamlessly combines an impossible mystery with the broader machinations of a crumbling Empire, whose very survival hinges on the mysterious power drawn from the remains of titanic creatures. As the investigation takes them deeper into this dangerous world, the duo’s bond is tested by political scheming, escalating chaos, and an enemy who may finally be smarter than even Ana herself.
Ana is a marvel of a character—chaotic, whip-smart, and never predictable. Her wild intelligence is offset beautifully by Din’s humanity and quiet tenacity. While Ana’s brilliance keeps the case moving, Din’s quieter moments of vulnerability, humor, and doubt give the story its emotional center. Their dynamic is sharp, entertaining, and never feels stale—equal parts bickering and unspoken trust.
Bennett’s world-building is extraordinary, with a setting so vivid it feels alive. The decaying grandeur of the Empire, the eerie presence of leviathan remains, and the layered political tensions all create an atmosphere that’s rich and textured without being overwhelming. Each piece of the puzzle is laid with precision, leading to a finale that feels both surprising and inevitable—one of those endings that makes you want to reread just to see how cleverly the clues were hidden in plain sight.
A Drop of Corruption stands out for its ability to combine thrilling tension, sharp wit, and an unforgettable setting. It’s a story that delivers on every front: a page-turning mystery, compelling characters, and a world you won’t want to leave. I’m already impatient for the next book because if this series continues at this level, it’s destined to become a modern fantasy classic.
A flawless mix of intrigue and imagination—this book is a triumph. I'm giving my blazing highly deserved five stars!
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing this amazing sequel's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Robert Jackson Bennett does it again with A Drop of Corruption, the kind of fantasy-mystery that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. Ana Dolabra, the Empire’s most unconventional investigator, and her loyal but increasingly overwhelmed assistant, Din Kol, are called upon to untangle a case that defies all logic: a Treasury officer vanishes from a secured room with no exit and no sign of foul play—at least at first glance.
What starts as a puzzling disappearance soon spirals into something far darker, with Ana and Din chasing a perpetrator who seems to walk through solid barriers and anticipate their every move. Bennett seamlessly combines an impossible mystery with the broader machinations of a crumbling Empire, whose very survival hinges on the mysterious power drawn from the remains of titanic creatures. As the investigation takes them deeper into this dangerous world, the duo’s bond is tested by political scheming, escalating chaos, and an enemy who may finally be smarter than even Ana herself.
Ana is a marvel of a character—chaotic, whip-smart, and never predictable. Her wild intelligence is offset beautifully by Din’s humanity and quiet tenacity. While Ana’s brilliance keeps the case moving, Din’s quieter moments of vulnerability, humor, and doubt give the story its emotional center. Their dynamic is sharp, entertaining, and never feels stale—equal parts bickering and unspoken trust.
Bennett’s world-building is extraordinary, with a setting so vivid it feels alive. The decaying grandeur of the Empire, the eerie presence of leviathan remains, and the layered political tensions all create an atmosphere that’s rich and textured without being overwhelming. Each piece of the puzzle is laid with precision, leading to a finale that feels both surprising and inevitable—one of those endings that makes you want to reread just to see how cleverly the clues were hidden in plain sight.
A Drop of Corruption stands out for its ability to combine thrilling tension, sharp wit, and an unforgettable setting. It’s a story that delivers on every front: a page-turning mystery, compelling characters, and a world you won’t want to leave. I’m already impatient for the next book because if this series continues at this level, it’s destined to become a modern fantasy classic.
A flawless mix of intrigue and imagination—this book is a triumph. I'm giving my blazing highly deserved five stars!
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing this amazing sequel's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
June 22, 2025
“Because you are a reasonably smart boy. I suspect you shall come to realize what many Iudexii eventually learn— that though the Legion defends our Empire, it falls to us to keep an Empire worth defending.”
Fiction is underestimated by many, but good fiction, even with elements of science fiction and fantasy can be thought provoking - and sometimes, or many times it is with people or situations in very different worlds that we can find things in common and patterns (yes, seeing patterns is a reference to this book) in the overarching themes. A Drop Of Corruption is primarily a mystery in the vein of Holmes and Watson, but at its heart a commentary on autocracies and the need for functional police systems. Ana and Din travel to another city that is in the midst of treaty negotiations with the Empire to solve yet another seemingly impossible murder and soon find that the reasons behind the murder are layered with the political systems and covert operations there.
The book fulfills its premise with a scintillating mystery that keeps the reader involved, with several seemingly impossible situations showcasing Ana's prowess and Din's capabilities. The intricate plot has many players, with political intrigue, bureaucratic procedures as well as cultural clashes, all while dealing with a Moriarty-esque antagonist. The writing is measured with fair mention of various clues that turn out to be relevant later and it is a joy to be able to deduce a few of the solutions/ character revelations ahead of the confirmation in the book!
But more than this, the book also prompts questions on governing systems, the importance of policing checks in any bereaucracy or city, country or empire and the dangers of autocratic management, even if not quite Moriarty-esque. This is beautifully reflected in Din's own thoughts, problems, arguments and career considerations. It was interesting to see Ana mentor Din in her own way, but what was really satisfactory was that they trust each other more now than when they started working together. The secondary characters are given due weight, but Ana and Din's character sketches and growth take the prime consideration.
And to note finally, the world-building! Robert Jackson Bennett reveals more questions than answers in this book (a bit more than the first). But the empire foundation, the various organisations, the magic (or bio-chemical) system, the cultures all take a backseat next to the elephant (or the leviathan, if you will) in the room! The world-building is still focused on the empire, the people and their advances with the bio-chemical manipulations of leviathan matter and though we see more exotic uses of these, the book reveals quite little of the leviathans themselves and their origins. But this curiosity and the hints of Ana's origin story are keeping me hooked for the next book in the series. A minor quibble with the writing is RJB's use of a few Indian languages to pepper phrases through the book in the non-empire language, and my word associations weren't quite the associations this world used it for, which was jarring.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys Holmes and Watson mysteries and fantasy mysteries with good world-building. Looking forward to more in this series!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing group for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
🌟🌟🌟🌟3/4🌟
[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the characters and their arcs; 3/4 star for the writing; One star for the world-building, One star for the plot and themes - 4 3/4 in total, rounded up to 5 stars.]
“This work can never satisfy, Din, for it can never finish. The dead cannot be restored. Vice and bribery will never be totally banished from the cantons. And the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist. The duty of the Iudex is not to boldly vanquish it but to manage it. We keep the stain from spreading, yes, but it is never gone. Yet this job is perhaps the most important in all the Iyalets, for without it, well … The Empire would come to look much like Yarrow, where the powerful and the cruel prevail without check. And tell me—does that realm look capable of fighting off a leviathan?”
Fiction is underestimated by many, but good fiction, even with elements of science fiction and fantasy can be thought provoking - and sometimes, or many times it is with people or situations in very different worlds that we can find things in common and patterns (yes, seeing patterns is a reference to this book) in the overarching themes. A Drop Of Corruption is primarily a mystery in the vein of Holmes and Watson, but at its heart a commentary on autocracies and the need for functional police systems. Ana and Din travel to another city that is in the midst of treaty negotiations with the Empire to solve yet another seemingly impossible murder and soon find that the reasons behind the murder are layered with the political systems and covert operations there.
The book fulfills its premise with a scintillating mystery that keeps the reader involved, with several seemingly impossible situations showcasing Ana's prowess and Din's capabilities. The intricate plot has many players, with political intrigue, bureaucratic procedures as well as cultural clashes, all while dealing with a Moriarty-esque antagonist. The writing is measured with fair mention of various clues that turn out to be relevant later and it is a joy to be able to deduce a few of the solutions/ character revelations ahead of the confirmation in the book!
But more than this, the book also prompts questions on governing systems, the importance of policing checks in any bereaucracy or city, country or empire and the dangers of autocratic management, even if not quite Moriarty-esque. This is beautifully reflected in Din's own thoughts, problems, arguments and career considerations. It was interesting to see Ana mentor Din in her own way, but what was really satisfactory was that they trust each other more now than when they started working together. The secondary characters are given due weight, but Ana and Din's character sketches and growth take the prime consideration.
And to note finally, the world-building! Robert Jackson Bennett reveals more questions than answers in this book (a bit more than the first). But the empire foundation, the various organisations, the magic (or bio-chemical) system, the cultures all take a backseat next to the elephant (or the leviathan, if you will) in the room! The world-building is still focused on the empire, the people and their advances with the bio-chemical manipulations of leviathan matter and though we see more exotic uses of these, the book reveals quite little of the leviathans themselves and their origins. But this curiosity and the hints of Ana's origin story are keeping me hooked for the next book in the series. A minor quibble with the writing is RJB's use of a few Indian languages to pepper phrases through the book in the non-empire language, and my word associations weren't quite the associations this world used it for, which was jarring.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys Holmes and Watson mysteries and fantasy mysteries with good world-building. Looking forward to more in this series!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing group for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
🌟🌟🌟🌟3/4🌟
[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the characters and their arcs; 3/4 star for the writing; One star for the world-building, One star for the plot and themes - 4 3/4 in total, rounded up to 5 stars.]
“This work can never satisfy, Din, for it can never finish. The dead cannot be restored. Vice and bribery will never be totally banished from the cantons. And the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist. The duty of the Iudex is not to boldly vanquish it but to manage it. We keep the stain from spreading, yes, but it is never gone. Yet this job is perhaps the most important in all the Iyalets, for without it, well … The Empire would come to look much like Yarrow, where the powerful and the cruel prevail without check. And tell me—does that realm look capable of fighting off a leviathan?”
March 22, 2025
4.25 STARS! 🌟 Huge thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for the ARC via NetGalley! 💌
A locked-room mystery, an eccentric genius detective, and a high-stakes fantasy world where magic is everything? SIGN ME UP. 😩🔥
Ana Dolabra is BACK, and she's as unhinged and brilliant as ever. 😭💖 If you thought The Tainted Cup was a wild ride, A Drop of Corruption takes it up a notch—bigger stakes, sharper twists, and even more of Ana's chaotic genius.
From page one, I was HOOKED. A Treasury officer vanishes from a locked room—no doors opened, no windows broken, no trace of how he got out. Just gone. And of course, only one person can crack this: Ana, with Din (our Watson-esque, eternally exasperated narrator) by her side.
WHAT I LOVED:
✔️ The Mystery: Clever, layered, and impossible to predict. The deeper Ana and Din dig, the more it unravels into something MUCH bigger than a simple murder.
✔️ Ana & Din’s Banter: I LIVE for their dynamic. Ana is as sharp and socially oblivious as ever, and Din’s resigned acceptance of her antics makes it even funnier. Their snarky, ride-or-die partnership is the heart of this series.
✔️ The Magic System: Titan blood as a power source?? The Shroud as a high-security compound where they harvest it?? I’M OBSESSED.
✔️ Themes of Corruption & Power: It’s not just a whodunit—this book dives deep into power, bureaucracy, and the ugly truths behind empires.
The author’s note at the end is a MUST-READ because beneath all the murder and chaos, there’s some SERIOUS commentary on power, corruption, and control. And I love that in my fantasy mysteries.
And OMG, that ending?? 😭 I NEED BOOK THREE ASAP.
Whether you're here for the mystery, the mind-blowing worldbuilding, or just to watch Ana and Din verbally spar their way through life, A Drop of Corruption DELIVERS.
If you love:
🔎 Sherlock-style detective brilliance
✨ A rich fantasy world with a unique magic system
🖤 Snarky, morally grey characters
📖 Mysteries that make your brain hurt (in a good way)
Then this book is FOR YOU.
Now excuse me while I stare at my calendar waiting for the next one. 😭💖
A locked-room mystery, an eccentric genius detective, and a high-stakes fantasy world where magic is everything? SIGN ME UP. 😩🔥
Ana Dolabra is BACK, and she's as unhinged and brilliant as ever. 😭💖 If you thought The Tainted Cup was a wild ride, A Drop of Corruption takes it up a notch—bigger stakes, sharper twists, and even more of Ana's chaotic genius.
From page one, I was HOOKED. A Treasury officer vanishes from a locked room—no doors opened, no windows broken, no trace of how he got out. Just gone. And of course, only one person can crack this: Ana, with Din (our Watson-esque, eternally exasperated narrator) by her side.
WHAT I LOVED:
✔️ The Mystery: Clever, layered, and impossible to predict. The deeper Ana and Din dig, the more it unravels into something MUCH bigger than a simple murder.
✔️ Ana & Din’s Banter: I LIVE for their dynamic. Ana is as sharp and socially oblivious as ever, and Din’s resigned acceptance of her antics makes it even funnier. Their snarky, ride-or-die partnership is the heart of this series.
✔️ The Magic System: Titan blood as a power source?? The Shroud as a high-security compound where they harvest it?? I’M OBSESSED.
✔️ Themes of Corruption & Power: It’s not just a whodunit—this book dives deep into power, bureaucracy, and the ugly truths behind empires.
The author’s note at the end is a MUST-READ because beneath all the murder and chaos, there’s some SERIOUS commentary on power, corruption, and control. And I love that in my fantasy mysteries.
And OMG, that ending?? 😭 I NEED BOOK THREE ASAP.
Whether you're here for the mystery, the mind-blowing worldbuilding, or just to watch Ana and Din verbally spar their way through life, A Drop of Corruption DELIVERS.
If you love:
🔎 Sherlock-style detective brilliance
✨ A rich fantasy world with a unique magic system
🖤 Snarky, morally grey characters
📖 Mysteries that make your brain hurt (in a good way)
Then this book is FOR YOU.
Now excuse me while I stare at my calendar waiting for the next one. 😭💖
July 4, 2025
Blog | Instagram
Rating: 4 stars
With its delightful detective-sidekick duo, rich fantasy world, and another gripping murder mystery, ‘A Drop of Corruption’ lived up to the high expectations set by the previous book.
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The smooth reintroduction of the world and main characters, Din and Ana, drew me back into this series with ease. From there, the story launches into a complex locked-room murder mystery, with Din and Ana conducting interviews and following leads to unravel the truth behind the death, as well as a high-stakes threat. While there was a moment in the middle when the storyline felt drawn out, the mystery packed impressive twists that kept me engaged throughout. I was also satisfied with the well-crafted resolution, especially since I did not see most of the final reveals coming.
"Sometimes the smallest thing can sometimes prove to be of greatest importance"
The contrast between Din's reserved personality and Ana’s sharp, brazen and eccentric nature creates an entertaining dynamic that deepens as they open up further to one another. Their interactions are also brilliantly used to explore themes of justice, corruption, and power, making the storyline even more compelling. Besides this, both Din and Ana shine individually. More is revealed about Din's backstory, tying in with new internal conflicts that add to the complexity of his character. Meanwhile, Ana's quirks reach new heights, and while more about her modifications and motives are revealed, there is still much to uncover.
A fresh cast of secondary characters helps drive the storyline, especially Signum Tira Malo. Although I initially struggled to remember their unique names, these characters became more memorable and fleshed out as the story progressed, even more so than those in the first book. I also appreciated the expanded world-building, as the story is set in a new location within the Empire. The details of the rich cultures, political tensions, and biotechnological advancements are smoothly woven into the story, creating a fascinatingly complex setting. However, there was one modern reference that felt jarringly out of place in the fantasy world.
"To serve is a tremendously humbling thing."
As a bonus, the audiobook—narrated by Andrew Fallaize—was fantastic. Fallaize's emotive narration, complete with accents and distinct character voices, masterfully brought the story to life.
See my other reviews for Robert Jackson Bennett:
Shadow of the Leviathan:
The Tainted Cup
You can also find more of my thoughts and discussion questions on my blog!
Rating: 4 stars
With its delightful detective-sidekick duo, rich fantasy world, and another gripping murder mystery, ‘A Drop of Corruption’ lived up to the high expectations set by the previous book.
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The smooth reintroduction of the world and main characters, Din and Ana, drew me back into this series with ease. From there, the story launches into a complex locked-room murder mystery, with Din and Ana conducting interviews and following leads to unravel the truth behind the death, as well as a high-stakes threat. While there was a moment in the middle when the storyline felt drawn out, the mystery packed impressive twists that kept me engaged throughout. I was also satisfied with the well-crafted resolution, especially since I did not see most of the final reveals coming.
"Sometimes the smallest thing can sometimes prove to be of greatest importance"
The contrast between Din's reserved personality and Ana’s sharp, brazen and eccentric nature creates an entertaining dynamic that deepens as they open up further to one another. Their interactions are also brilliantly used to explore themes of justice, corruption, and power, making the storyline even more compelling. Besides this, both Din and Ana shine individually. More is revealed about Din's backstory, tying in with new internal conflicts that add to the complexity of his character. Meanwhile, Ana's quirks reach new heights, and while more about her modifications and motives are revealed, there is still much to uncover.
A fresh cast of secondary characters helps drive the storyline, especially Signum Tira Malo. Although I initially struggled to remember their unique names, these characters became more memorable and fleshed out as the story progressed, even more so than those in the first book. I also appreciated the expanded world-building, as the story is set in a new location within the Empire. The details of the rich cultures, political tensions, and biotechnological advancements are smoothly woven into the story, creating a fascinatingly complex setting. However, there was one modern reference that felt jarringly out of place in the fantasy world.
"To serve is a tremendously humbling thing."
As a bonus, the audiobook—narrated by Andrew Fallaize—was fantastic. Fallaize's emotive narration, complete with accents and distinct character voices, masterfully brought the story to life.
See my other reviews for Robert Jackson Bennett:
Shadow of the Leviathan:
The Tainted Cup
You can also find more of my thoughts and discussion questions on my blog!
December 12, 2024
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this, but I felt it was a little repetitive. Book 1 was such a breath of fresh air, but this one didn’t quite have the same blow. It felt like the same formula with a different culprit, Din running around asking questions, and Ana with all her bizarreness doing the thinking.
I loved Ana, she’s still my favorite character. The plot was solid, but what felt missing this time was the emotions. There was so little about both of them. I wanted to know more about them, their background stories, their thoughts—something to make me connect more. I’m not asking for romance, just a little something extra to bring them to life. Maybe even bringing back that legionnaire guy from book 1 would’ve added something.
This one felt like a full-blown, fast-paced investigation with no nonsense, which isn’t bad, but I missed the emotional beats. And okay, this is on me, but I was really hoping for some real live Titans this time around.
Still, it wasn’t a bad read. I liked it, but just not as much as the first one.
Note: Big thanks to the author and publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this, but I felt it was a little repetitive. Book 1 was such a breath of fresh air, but this one didn’t quite have the same blow. It felt like the same formula with a different culprit, Din running around asking questions, and Ana with all her bizarreness doing the thinking.
I loved Ana, she’s still my favorite character. The plot was solid, but what felt missing this time was the emotions. There was so little about both of them. I wanted to know more about them, their background stories, their thoughts—something to make me connect more. I’m not asking for romance, just a little something extra to bring them to life. Maybe even bringing back that legionnaire guy from book 1 would’ve added something.
This one felt like a full-blown, fast-paced investigation with no nonsense, which isn’t bad, but I missed the emotional beats. And okay, this is on me, but I was really hoping for some real live Titans this time around.
Still, it wasn’t a bad read. I liked it, but just not as much as the first one.
Note: Big thanks to the author and publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2025
5*
Is the second book in series just as good as first one? Yes.
I don't think I am the only reader who is craving for more fantasy mystery novels. This question get asked on various social media outlets on a weekly basis, so I guess there is an appetite for it and I would argue that the success of The Tainted Cup is partially the reason for it. Both book in the series worked so well for me and I think it's because, despite the fact a lot of fantasy novels have elements of mystery to it and vice versa, Robert Jackson Bennett managed to make a perfect blend of two genres, an equal ratio of both which makes this series great.
Bare bones:From the precarious edges of the Khanum Empire, Ana Dolabra and Din Kol are sent to the port town of Yarrowdale to investigate the murder of high official of Treasury who was part of the delegation coming to negotiate with the King of Yarrow the terms of Yarrow's assimilation into the Khanum. With seemingly impossible murder, riddles and red herrings, Ana and Din are faced with a foe like no other.
As I was wrapping this novel Edgar Awards announced their 2025 nominees and among the nominees for the prize of the night, Best Novel, is The Tainted Cup, where Din and Ana are introduced. It makes me really happy TTC was recognized for its mystery aspect in a category where genre-blenders are not that common. The point I am trying to make with this is, that among the leviathans and man-devouring mushrooms, this series is actually following a classic mystery novel to a T. RJB mentioned his main inspiration for this series were Nero Wolfe novels and if the genius recluse and her poor suffering sidekick didn't clue you in yet, let me tell you that inspiration was more obvious in this novel because Ana's appetite is astonishing and disgusting everyone around her. It's a theme.:)
Joke aside, as an avid reader of both genres, I loved how well Bennett integrated classic, well-known mystery elements into fantasy setting. For example, the incident that kicks the story going is at its heart a "locked room" mystery popularized through works of Arthur Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr. It got its name by posing the question of how the murderer got in the room of the victim and did the crime if the door is locked from the inside and there is no window. So, with the seemingly impossible crime, Din and Ana first must figure out "how it was done" before going onto "who has done it". Or how for example, many long running series like to give their main detective/investigator a rival who is on their level, of equal capabilities and intelligence, like Moriarty is to Sherlock or indeed Arnold Zeck is to Wolfe. In A Drop of Corruption, Ana, a uniquely augmented individual is faced with an equally gifted enemy and she has to work against the clock. It's the battle of minds.
But the real mystery of the series are, of course, leviathans, the "fantasy" part of this blend. A source of Khanum's power and the constant threat to their safety. Bennett is in his element expanding on this fantasy setting making it equally intriguing. On one side, we already saw that the blood of leviathan is responsible for mostly poisonous and parasitic flora and fauna of this land. But, and this is what I love most about it, it's not just a make-up of the setting, Bennett actually makes it a key element of both cases we saw Din and Ana working on. There is a body horror/anime/Annihilation coded scenery to make a point just how violent and unrestrained nature of this setting can get and left to humans it can get out of control.
But, leviathans are also what gave the social structure of Khanum's Empire its concentric look with the elites residing at the most inner part of the Empire, safe from the wet seasons. In this novel, Yarrow has some autonomy because the bay of Yarrow with its canal infrastructure is essential for Khanum's economy because it's where grafts are manufactured and shipped to the other parts of the empire. So, not big enough to resist the inevitability of Khanum's power but important enough to negotiate the terms of integration. This adds another layer of complexity to Ana's and Din's investigation who are sent to Yarrow in their capacity as Imperial Iudices, the "invader's officials". I am so intrigued by the leviathans and conzulates and I concocted bunch of theories in my head already.
I feel like Bennett has so much fun writing Ana because she is so eccentric and unpredictable and over the top about everything, but it's Din's character that's actually the heart of the story. He is young and still learning about the world around him*, but he is essentially a good guy who wants to do the right thing and it makes him a perfect narrator. These characters are lovable and I liked the fact their relationship is evolving. I think it may prove crucial for next part of the story, wherever Bennett sends them next. Maybe to the center of the Empire, Imperial Sanctum? Who knows, but I can't wait to read about it. I can't get enough of this series.
*The most relatable thing about our boy is the fact he is dealing with the heartbreak** in all the wrong ways.
**I am dealing with the same heartbreak in more mature way (will totally cry ugly tears if we don't see Strovi again.).
I would like to thank Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, and Robert Jackson Bennett for an advanced copy of A Drop of Corruption. All opinions are my own.
_______________________
I am manifesting an investigation that will make the presence of Captain Kepheus Strovi absolutely necessary.
We need this greenest of flags.
Everybody needs it.
Leviathans will understand and leave the walls alone for this to happen.
I am manifesting an investigation that will make the presence of Captain Kepheus Strovi absolutely necessary.
We need this greenest of flags.
Everybody needs it.
Leviathans will understand and leave the walls alone for this to happen.
Is the second book in series just as good as first one? Yes.
I don't think I am the only reader who is craving for more fantasy mystery novels. This question get asked on various social media outlets on a weekly basis, so I guess there is an appetite for it and I would argue that the success of The Tainted Cup is partially the reason for it. Both book in the series worked so well for me and I think it's because, despite the fact a lot of fantasy novels have elements of mystery to it and vice versa, Robert Jackson Bennett managed to make a perfect blend of two genres, an equal ratio of both which makes this series great.
Bare bones:From the precarious edges of the Khanum Empire, Ana Dolabra and Din Kol are sent to the port town of Yarrowdale to investigate the murder of high official of Treasury who was part of the delegation coming to negotiate with the King of Yarrow the terms of Yarrow's assimilation into the Khanum. With seemingly impossible murder, riddles and red herrings, Ana and Din are faced with a foe like no other.
As I was wrapping this novel Edgar Awards announced their 2025 nominees and among the nominees for the prize of the night, Best Novel, is The Tainted Cup, where Din and Ana are introduced. It makes me really happy TTC was recognized for its mystery aspect in a category where genre-blenders are not that common. The point I am trying to make with this is, that among the leviathans and man-devouring mushrooms, this series is actually following a classic mystery novel to a T. RJB mentioned his main inspiration for this series were Nero Wolfe novels and if the genius recluse and her poor suffering sidekick didn't clue you in yet, let me tell you that inspiration was more obvious in this novel because Ana's appetite is astonishing and disgusting everyone around her. It's a theme.:)
Joke aside, as an avid reader of both genres, I loved how well Bennett integrated classic, well-known mystery elements into fantasy setting. For example, the incident that kicks the story going is at its heart a "locked room" mystery popularized through works of Arthur Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr. It got its name by posing the question of how the murderer got in the room of the victim and did the crime if the door is locked from the inside and there is no window. So, with the seemingly impossible crime, Din and Ana first must figure out "how it was done" before going onto "who has done it". Or how for example, many long running series like to give their main detective/investigator a rival who is on their level, of equal capabilities and intelligence, like Moriarty is to Sherlock or indeed Arnold Zeck is to Wolfe. In A Drop of Corruption, Ana, a uniquely augmented individual is faced with an equally gifted enemy and she has to work against the clock. It's the battle of minds.
But the real mystery of the series are, of course, leviathans, the "fantasy" part of this blend. A source of Khanum's power and the constant threat to their safety. Bennett is in his element expanding on this fantasy setting making it equally intriguing. On one side, we already saw that the blood of leviathan is responsible for mostly poisonous and parasitic flora and fauna of this land. But, and this is what I love most about it, it's not just a make-up of the setting, Bennett actually makes it a key element of both cases we saw Din and Ana working on. There is a body horror/anime/Annihilation coded scenery to make a point just how violent and unrestrained nature of this setting can get and left to humans it can get out of control.
But, leviathans are also what gave the social structure of Khanum's Empire its concentric look with the elites residing at the most inner part of the Empire, safe from the wet seasons. In this novel, Yarrow has some autonomy because the bay of Yarrow with its canal infrastructure is essential for Khanum's economy because it's where grafts are manufactured and shipped to the other parts of the empire. So, not big enough to resist the inevitability of Khanum's power but important enough to negotiate the terms of integration. This adds another layer of complexity to Ana's and Din's investigation who are sent to Yarrow in their capacity as Imperial Iudices, the "invader's officials". I am so intrigued by the leviathans and conzulates and I concocted bunch of theories in my head already.
I feel like Bennett has so much fun writing Ana because she is so eccentric and unpredictable and over the top about everything, but it's Din's character that's actually the heart of the story. He is young and still learning about the world around him*, but he is essentially a good guy who wants to do the right thing and it makes him a perfect narrator. These characters are lovable and I liked the fact their relationship is evolving. I think it may prove crucial for next part of the story, wherever Bennett sends them next. Maybe to the center of the Empire, Imperial Sanctum? Who knows, but I can't wait to read about it. I can't get enough of this series.
*The most relatable thing about our boy is the fact he is dealing with the heartbreak** in all the wrong ways.
**I am dealing with the same heartbreak in more mature way (will totally cry ugly tears if we don't see Strovi again.).
I would like to thank Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, and Robert Jackson Bennett for an advanced copy of A Drop of Corruption. All opinions are my own.
_______________________
I am manifesting an investigation that will make the presence of Captain Kepheus Strovi absolutely necessary.
We need this greenest of flags.
Everybody needs it.
Leviathans will understand and leave the walls alone for this to happen.
I am manifesting an investigation that will make the presence of Captain Kepheus Strovi absolutely necessary.
We need this greenest of flags.
Everybody needs it.
Leviathans will understand and leave the walls alone for this to happen.
April 2, 2025
✨Happy Release Day ✨
‘The Tainted Cup’ was one of my favourite reads of 2024 and ‘A Drop of Corruption’ was lined up to be one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, so I feel both incredibly blessed, and also kind of cheeky, that I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of this book, which I then fell upon with reckless abandon.
I find it so fascinating how much this series seems to draw inspiration from various popular mangas. If Book 1 had strong ‘Attack on Titan’ vibes, then this one, with all its blooming humans and jungle vibes, aesthetically felt heavily inspired by ‘Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 1’ (a personal favourite of mine).
One of my biggest complaints with book 1 was that the first 40% or so felt like a bit of work to try and understand and familiarize myself with all the heavy world building. Thankfully coming into this book with that knowledge already in place meant that we could dive into the story head first and straight into the latest murder mystery for Din and Ana.
As far as the story goes, this book, set months into the future of Book 1, is cut from the same Sherlock Holmes-esque deductive reasoning and mystery as the first book but we get the opportunity to see more depth of character in both Din and Ana, whilst continuing to see more to their dynamic working together as well. I loved the mystery in this one and was kept guessing throughout (although I had my suspicions early on and some of them even turned out to be pretty close).
Malo was a fabulous new addition to this cast of characters and I dearly hope we get to see more of her into the future.
In Book 1 I became immediately enamored with Captain Strovi (as Din himself evidently did as well) and the little crumbs of romance we got between them were a highlight for me and I had hoped to see more of him in this book. I understand why we didn’t, but I was still a little disappointed that we only really see glimpses of him in Dins poor little heartsick mind. I must admit I was a bit taken aback by the development of Din becoming a bit of a fuckboy, but I guess when you’re looking for distraction and comfort you take it in whatever form you can get it. The flip side to that is that it’s genuinely delightful to see some completely normalized and unapologetically bisexual representation (it’s never discussed, it just is a fact that exists).
No middle book syndrome here. Book 2 has taken the groundwork of book 1 and has expanded upon the world building and produced a fantastic mystery and enjoyable adventure. Now I just have the horrible wait for book 3 to endure.
(Reading RJBs AMA on reddit saying that he imagines this series developing into a Miss Marple like series with a dozen installments of Ana and Din just galivanting around solving murders and having emotions makes me want to put my face in my hands and scream I'm so excited).
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide my thoughts.
My threatened riot from my Book 1 review on Captain Strovi’s behalf has been put on pause cause I still hold a hope that they’ll be end game.
‘The Tainted Cup’ was one of my favourite reads of 2024 and ‘A Drop of Corruption’ was lined up to be one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, so I feel both incredibly blessed, and also kind of cheeky, that I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of this book, which I then fell upon with reckless abandon.
I find it so fascinating how much this series seems to draw inspiration from various popular mangas. If Book 1 had strong ‘Attack on Titan’ vibes, then this one, with all its blooming humans and jungle vibes, aesthetically felt heavily inspired by ‘Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 1’ (a personal favourite of mine).
One of my biggest complaints with book 1 was that the first 40% or so felt like a bit of work to try and understand and familiarize myself with all the heavy world building. Thankfully coming into this book with that knowledge already in place meant that we could dive into the story head first and straight into the latest murder mystery for Din and Ana.
As far as the story goes, this book, set months into the future of Book 1, is cut from the same Sherlock Holmes-esque deductive reasoning and mystery as the first book but we get the opportunity to see more depth of character in both Din and Ana, whilst continuing to see more to their dynamic working together as well. I loved the mystery in this one and was kept guessing throughout (although I had my suspicions early on and some of them even turned out to be pretty close).
Malo was a fabulous new addition to this cast of characters and I dearly hope we get to see more of her into the future.
In Book 1 I became immediately enamored with Captain Strovi (as Din himself evidently did as well) and the little crumbs of romance we got between them were a highlight for me and I had hoped to see more of him in this book. I understand why we didn’t, but I was still a little disappointed that we only really see glimpses of him in Dins poor little heartsick mind. I must admit I was a bit taken aback by the development of Din becoming a bit of a fuckboy, but I guess when you’re looking for distraction and comfort you take it in whatever form you can get it. The flip side to that is that it’s genuinely delightful to see some completely normalized and unapologetically bisexual representation (it’s never discussed, it just is a fact that exists).
No middle book syndrome here. Book 2 has taken the groundwork of book 1 and has expanded upon the world building and produced a fantastic mystery and enjoyable adventure. Now I just have the horrible wait for book 3 to endure.
(Reading RJBs AMA on reddit saying that he imagines this series developing into a Miss Marple like series with a dozen installments of Ana and Din just galivanting around solving murders and having emotions makes me want to put my face in my hands and scream I'm so excited).
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide my thoughts.
My threatened riot from my Book 1 review on Captain Strovi’s behalf has been put on pause cause I still hold a hope that they’ll be end game.
September 4, 2025
Kracken science runs amok.
Or something along those lines.
So in this world, leviathans are a threat not to be taken lightly. And what some of the people in charge will do to have the best weapons to keep them at bay is turning out to be questionable.
At best.
I ended up liking this second book even better than the first.
The world and the characters are starting to form a broader picture as we learn more about how not only the world itself works, but how our characters' life experiences fit into that world.
I kind of guessed the ending after was killed, but as with a lot of good mysteries, we don't really tune in to be surprised by the whodunnit. We read mysteries to uncover more about the detectives who are solving these fictional mysteries. And in this one, we also want to read about what they uncover about their world, while at the same time learning the rules and history of the fantastic new world Bennett has created for us.
Din and Ana are both excellent and interesting, and we are getting some answers to the questions of who they both are and how they came to be in their individual situations. I thought the resolution for Din at the end was quite well done in a very Anaesque way.
There is still a lot left to uncover, but I think Bennett is striking a good balance between keeping the reader interested in the overarching mystery of whatthefuckevenisAna without making it seem like he's stringing the reader along because he doesn't have the answers yet himself.
If that even makes sense to anyone?
Anyway. Excellent story, and I'm highly anticipating the next book.
And if you're in the market for an odd couple/buddy cop mystery in a fantasy setting?
Recommended.
Or something along those lines.
So in this world, leviathans are a threat not to be taken lightly. And what some of the people in charge will do to have the best weapons to keep them at bay is turning out to be questionable.
At best.
I ended up liking this second book even better than the first.
The world and the characters are starting to form a broader picture as we learn more about how not only the world itself works, but how our characters' life experiences fit into that world.
I kind of guessed the ending after was killed, but as with a lot of good mysteries, we don't really tune in to be surprised by the whodunnit. We read mysteries to uncover more about the detectives who are solving these fictional mysteries. And in this one, we also want to read about what they uncover about their world, while at the same time learning the rules and history of the fantastic new world Bennett has created for us.
Din and Ana are both excellent and interesting, and we are getting some answers to the questions of who they both are and how they came to be in their individual situations. I thought the resolution for Din at the end was quite well done in a very Anaesque way.
There is still a lot left to uncover, but I think Bennett is striking a good balance between keeping the reader interested in the overarching mystery of whatthefuckevenisAna without making it seem like he's stringing the reader along because he doesn't have the answers yet himself.
If that even makes sense to anyone?
Anyway. Excellent story, and I'm highly anticipating the next book.
And if you're in the market for an odd couple/buddy cop mystery in a fantasy setting?
Recommended.
August 23, 2025
**4.5-stars rounded up**
A Drop of Corruption is the highly-anticipated follow-up to The Tainted Cup, which published in early-2024.
I have been excited about this release since I turned the final page of that book. This may seem dramatic, but its really not. I fell in love with the perfect blend of Mystery and SFF-elements that RJB delivered and wanted more.
Each book has its own mystery to solve, and this one was just as, if not more, compelling than the first.
In Yarrowdale, an area at the edge of the Empire, an impossible crime has taken place. A Treasury Officer has disappeared from his locked room, that was in a building with guards at all of the entrances and exits.
In order to get to the bottom of it, and hopefully locate the missing officer, the Empire calls upon its most brilliant investigator, Ana Dolabra, who brings along her charming assistant, Dinios Kol.
It doesn't take long for Ana to work out that it's not just a disappearance they're investigating, but a murder. How did it happen though? The doors and windows were locked from the inside. It's a real puzzle. A true locked room mystery.
As they dig further in, it becomes clear that the killer is actually targeting a high-security area known as the Shroud. It's there that the Empire's finest minds are trying to find a way to harness the magic found in the blood of fallen Titans.
If the Shroud were to fall, or be destroyed, it could mean the end of the Empire. What sort of madman would wish that sort of devastation on their world, and why?
I'm completely in love with this series. When I first picked this up, I was so happy to be reunited with Din and Ana, I was practically giddy. It felt like seeing old friends after a long-time apart.
I loved how RJB really leaned into the world in this one, and built it out further than before. I feel like I walk away with a deeper understanding of the Empire, and the way it functions, which is something I was hoping for going in.
RJB excels at meshing a completely intriguing mystery with a lush Fantasy environment. Even the way the detectives go about solving the various crimes are so out of our world; it's fascinating to read. For example, the details Ana is able to glean just by eating assorted foods.
We also got a new character, Malo, who assisted Ana and Din during their time in Yarrowdale and beyond. I absolutely adored her, and hope she'll be sticking with the series for a long time to come. Could our dynamic duo be turning into a tantalizing trio? I hope so!!
Another aspect I was impressed by was the pace. This story never takes a break. It is pedal to the floor the whole way through. There is something happening at every moment, with so many details being uncovered.
I would love to read this again before the next book is released. I feel like maybe I would pick up even more the second time through. This time I was flying, because I needed answers, but I feel like if I read it again, I could make it a more leisurely read, focusing on the finer details.
I can't recommend this series enough. If the thought of a high-concept-SFF Mystery tickles your fancy, and for some reason you haven't started this series yet, you need to drop everything, run to your local library, or bookshop, and get yourself some copies. It's that good. Don't wait.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm so excited to see what mystery we get to solve next.
Ana and Din are the absolute best detective duo in SFF!!
A Drop of Corruption is the highly-anticipated follow-up to The Tainted Cup, which published in early-2024.
I have been excited about this release since I turned the final page of that book. This may seem dramatic, but its really not. I fell in love with the perfect blend of Mystery and SFF-elements that RJB delivered and wanted more.
Each book has its own mystery to solve, and this one was just as, if not more, compelling than the first.
In Yarrowdale, an area at the edge of the Empire, an impossible crime has taken place. A Treasury Officer has disappeared from his locked room, that was in a building with guards at all of the entrances and exits.
In order to get to the bottom of it, and hopefully locate the missing officer, the Empire calls upon its most brilliant investigator, Ana Dolabra, who brings along her charming assistant, Dinios Kol.
It doesn't take long for Ana to work out that it's not just a disappearance they're investigating, but a murder. How did it happen though? The doors and windows were locked from the inside. It's a real puzzle. A true locked room mystery.
As they dig further in, it becomes clear that the killer is actually targeting a high-security area known as the Shroud. It's there that the Empire's finest minds are trying to find a way to harness the magic found in the blood of fallen Titans.
If the Shroud were to fall, or be destroyed, it could mean the end of the Empire. What sort of madman would wish that sort of devastation on their world, and why?
I'm completely in love with this series. When I first picked this up, I was so happy to be reunited with Din and Ana, I was practically giddy. It felt like seeing old friends after a long-time apart.
I loved how RJB really leaned into the world in this one, and built it out further than before. I feel like I walk away with a deeper understanding of the Empire, and the way it functions, which is something I was hoping for going in.
RJB excels at meshing a completely intriguing mystery with a lush Fantasy environment. Even the way the detectives go about solving the various crimes are so out of our world; it's fascinating to read. For example, the details Ana is able to glean just by eating assorted foods.
We also got a new character, Malo, who assisted Ana and Din during their time in Yarrowdale and beyond. I absolutely adored her, and hope she'll be sticking with the series for a long time to come. Could our dynamic duo be turning into a tantalizing trio? I hope so!!
Another aspect I was impressed by was the pace. This story never takes a break. It is pedal to the floor the whole way through. There is something happening at every moment, with so many details being uncovered.
I would love to read this again before the next book is released. I feel like maybe I would pick up even more the second time through. This time I was flying, because I needed answers, but I feel like if I read it again, I could make it a more leisurely read, focusing on the finer details.
I can't recommend this series enough. If the thought of a high-concept-SFF Mystery tickles your fancy, and for some reason you haven't started this series yet, you need to drop everything, run to your local library, or bookshop, and get yourself some copies. It's that good. Don't wait.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm so excited to see what mystery we get to solve next.
Ana and Din are the absolute best detective duo in SFF!!
March 16, 2025
2025 has been bringing banger after banger in the adult fantasy space and thankfully this extends to sequels because holy crap this was GOOD. The Shadow of the Leviathan series pushes the conventions you’d expect of similarly written mystery fantasy books. Sure, there aren’t many books like this out there currently, but for all our sakes, I hope there will be soon.
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
December 23, 2024
4.5 stars. What a pleasant surprise to enjoy a sequel more than the first book in the series!
I've always been more of a fantasy reader than a mystery reader, so it actually means a lot to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the detective part of the story. The clues are nicely set up, and quite a few of the twists/schemes are delightfully clever. I was also glad to see that one of my main complaints about the first book -- the fact that many mysteries got solved by someone knowing a piece of information that the reader does not (oh! I didn't tell you this poison would cause mold on the wall!) -- no longer applies to this second installment. All the hints are skillfully tucked into seemingly unimportant dialogues and details, which makes it so satisfying whenever I manage to spot a cue. And when I don't, that just adds even more fun to the ah-ha moment.
The fantasy side, however, especially in the last part the book, is what made this story truly resonate with me and left me thinking. The tonal shift midway in the series is interesting, and the thematic emphasis on cultural clashes, bureaucracies, power corruptions, etc. makes it feel more like RJB's other fantasy mystery trilogy rather than the first book in this one, but that's exactly the way I like it. The occasional philosophical commentaries about the divine and the ephemeral, or about glory and duty, or relating to the bold references made in the author's acknowledgements, are precisely the reason why I love fantasy worlds. Seeing them in this book was a little unexpected, but very pleasantly so.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a pre-approved ARC, which forced me to fit this read into a terribly managed schedule that would've otherwise not allowed it. 3.5 stars for the first 70% of the book, 5 stars for the last 30%. Now I'm looking forward to the next one more than ever.
I've always been more of a fantasy reader than a mystery reader, so it actually means a lot to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the detective part of the story. The clues are nicely set up, and quite a few of the twists/schemes are delightfully clever. I was also glad to see that one of my main complaints about the first book -- the fact that many mysteries got solved by someone knowing a piece of information that the reader does not (oh! I didn't tell you this poison would cause mold on the wall!) -- no longer applies to this second installment. All the hints are skillfully tucked into seemingly unimportant dialogues and details, which makes it so satisfying whenever I manage to spot a cue. And when I don't, that just adds even more fun to the ah-ha moment.
The fantasy side, however, especially in the last part the book, is what made this story truly resonate with me and left me thinking. The tonal shift midway in the series is interesting, and the thematic emphasis on cultural clashes, bureaucracies, power corruptions, etc. makes it feel more like RJB's other fantasy mystery trilogy rather than the first book in this one, but that's exactly the way I like it. The occasional philosophical commentaries about the divine and the ephemeral, or about glory and duty, or relating to the bold references made in the author's acknowledgements, are precisely the reason why I love fantasy worlds. Seeing them in this book was a little unexpected, but very pleasantly so.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a pre-approved ARC, which forced me to fit this read into a terribly managed schedule that would've otherwise not allowed it. 3.5 stars for the first 70% of the book, 5 stars for the last 30%. Now I'm looking forward to the next one more than ever.
March 29, 2025
our favorite mystery solving duo, Ana and Din are back again to solve a murder in another town. the culprit seems to be able to do things that should be impossible, but of course Ana is hot on their heels. i’m so fascinated by the the world building for some reason, the glimpses we get of what’s going on around the characters behind the scenes always makes me want to crawl into the book and get some answers for myself.
“We built this, i thought. We have built this unnatural thing, and it has built us in turn.”
i mentioned before that im not the biggest fan of mystery-leaning books, but RJB is one of my favorite authors and this series is turning out to be so compelling. i already love Ana and Din’s dynamic and there’s some interesting things happening with Ana’s character right now especially. the way the truth is slowly revealed is always so rewarding. i honestly wouldn’t have guessed who ended up being responsible for the murders, but the ending was just so good. we got introduced to a new character— Malo, and i hope we get to see more of her in the future books in the series. i can’t wait to see what they’ll be solving next!
↛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Random House Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
“We built this, i thought. We have built this unnatural thing, and it has built us in turn.”
i mentioned before that im not the biggest fan of mystery-leaning books, but RJB is one of my favorite authors and this series is turning out to be so compelling. i already love Ana and Din’s dynamic and there’s some interesting things happening with Ana’s character right now especially. the way the truth is slowly revealed is always so rewarding. i honestly wouldn’t have guessed who ended up being responsible for the murders, but the ending was just so good. we got introduced to a new character— Malo, and i hope we get to see more of her in the future books in the series. i can’t wait to see what they’ll be solving next!
↛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Random House Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
April 2, 2025
✨ RELEASE DAY! ✨
Woah. What a book!
We get up close and very personal with Din, and have a look at what troubles him behind his very controlled facade. It's both fun and messy, up to the point we follow him in a serious realization that will help settle his turmoil and begin a new, self-aware chapter.
We get to know Ana a lot more too, and while she is unpredictable as ever, she is also made bare and vulnerable, and like with Din, this helps us care about her a great deal more.
From a character development stand point, this feels like meeting again with some friends you've been too long away from.
Story-wise, like the first book, we have a very rare blend of fantasy, science fiction and murder mystery, where the fantasy word building is quite unique and the mystery full of twists and turns, without a single dull moment. I will not dwelve any deeper in the mystery, as I do not want to inadvertently spoil anything.
I feel very small writing praise for this book, as I've just finished reading the author's perfectly worded sentences, that will make many other books feel poorly written.
Please let us have many more books in this series. I don't think I'll ever get enough.
Crappy Pic (it looks like a cheap and trashy perfume commercial fake shot— it's quite hilarious 🤣) cause AI is not cooperating today and I don't have the patience
Maybe pics?
I was lucky enough to have received an ARC for this book via NetGalley(thanks so much to the author and to Del Rey), and all expressed opinions are my own.
Woah. What a book!
We get up close and very personal with Din, and have a look at what troubles him behind his very controlled facade. It's both fun and messy, up to the point we follow him in a serious realization that will help settle his turmoil and begin a new, self-aware chapter.
We get to know Ana a lot more too, and while she is unpredictable as ever, she is also made bare and vulnerable, and like with Din, this helps us care about her a great deal more.
From a character development stand point, this feels like meeting again with some friends you've been too long away from.
Story-wise, like the first book, we have a very rare blend of fantasy, science fiction and murder mystery, where the fantasy word building is quite unique and the mystery full of twists and turns, without a single dull moment. I will not dwelve any deeper in the mystery, as I do not want to inadvertently spoil anything.
I feel very small writing praise for this book, as I've just finished reading the author's perfectly worded sentences, that will make many other books feel poorly written.
Please let us have many more books in this series. I don't think I'll ever get enough.
Crappy Pic (it looks like a cheap and trashy perfume commercial fake shot— it's quite hilarious 🤣) cause AI is not cooperating today and I don't have the patience
Maybe pics?
I was lucky enough to have received an ARC for this book via NetGalley(thanks so much to the author and to Del Rey), and all expressed opinions are my own.
June 23, 2025
I'm on a streak of reading new releases!
The Tainted Cup was... one of the weirdest books I've ever read. But it was so entertaining! I saw a wonderful reception for this second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, which made me even more excited to continue and also made it rise up the dreaded (but awesome) TBR pile. I wanted more fantasy weirdness, more mystery and more unique characters. I had an abundance of each with A Drop of Corruption!
Again, there is an epic backdrop with a more intimate mystery at the core that simultaneously feels in scope but also makes our characters feel hopeless in the grand scheme of things. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the breadcrumb mystery, the central cast and the mix of world building with plot. The circulation around different settings helps keep it fresh, as well as engaging with different spheres of this society who are adapted physically and mentally in order to serve and protect the empire. Through this aspect of the world, Robert Jackson Bennett can have characters that instantly standout on the page.
Whilst I personally enjoyed the evolving dynamic of our central characters in The Tainted Cup, I preferred the setting and mystery of A Drop of Corruption. I could not pick one over the other, but I would definitely say they are both strong, fresh fantasy reads that I would recommend to anyone having any genre burnout. On top of being an enjoyable read, this also has reinvigorated my desire to read more fantasy, as it shows how so much can still be accomplished and explored in this wonderful genre.
4.25/5 STARS
The Tainted Cup was... one of the weirdest books I've ever read. But it was so entertaining! I saw a wonderful reception for this second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, which made me even more excited to continue and also made it rise up the dreaded (but awesome) TBR pile. I wanted more fantasy weirdness, more mystery and more unique characters. I had an abundance of each with A Drop of Corruption!
Again, there is an epic backdrop with a more intimate mystery at the core that simultaneously feels in scope but also makes our characters feel hopeless in the grand scheme of things. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the breadcrumb mystery, the central cast and the mix of world building with plot. The circulation around different settings helps keep it fresh, as well as engaging with different spheres of this society who are adapted physically and mentally in order to serve and protect the empire. Through this aspect of the world, Robert Jackson Bennett can have characters that instantly standout on the page.
Whilst I personally enjoyed the evolving dynamic of our central characters in The Tainted Cup, I preferred the setting and mystery of A Drop of Corruption. I could not pick one over the other, but I would definitely say they are both strong, fresh fantasy reads that I would recommend to anyone having any genre burnout. On top of being an enjoyable read, this also has reinvigorated my desire to read more fantasy, as it shows how so much can still be accomplished and explored in this wonderful genre.
4.25/5 STARS
March 31, 2025
cunty as always
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THE EAGLE HAS LANDED ‼️‼️ I REPEAT ‼️‼️ THE EAGLE HAS LANDED ‼️‼️ ITS TIMEEEEE ‼️‼️
‐----------------
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED ‼️‼️ I REPEAT ‼️‼️ THE EAGLE HAS LANDED ‼️‼️ ITS TIMEEEEE ‼️‼️
February 14, 2025
I don’t think I have ever struggled this much to rate a book. If I were one to give quarter stars I think this would likely be a 4.75. In many ways I think this is an improvement on book one but when I think about whether I liked it that much more than book one I get stuck. I am trying to stop talking myself out of giving five star ratings so I have decided to just round up and commit to the five star. The stories are tonally quite different so what (who) I missed from book one probably wouldn’t have fit in this story. (I’m a romantic and I am holding on to my hope for the next book you can’t stop me) Honestly I suspect I won’t feel confident in my rating on this book until I’m able to consider it in the context of the full series.
Know that this debate is literally between a 4.5 or a 5 star so it is a glowing review either way lol.
Full review to come but I will leave you with some initial thoughts:
- really enjoyed it overall and did not want to stop reading
- loved some of the darker, unsettling twists the story took
- loved exploring Din’s struggles with his work and his desire for justice/to have an impact
- a much more layered mystery than book one
- LOTS of monologuing and conversations needed to unpack each layer of the mystery
- I stand by the fact that the book isn’t always consistent with Din’s struggles with reading BUT it’s mainly contained to how he reacted to specific clues and therefore didn’t bother me much in the end
- Occasionally I found myself missing the emotional variance that some of the side characters from book one brought to the story. But in general this sequel is tonally heavier than the first book so it made sense
- Very excited for book three though I know I have a long wait 😭
Know that this debate is literally between a 4.5 or a 5 star so it is a glowing review either way lol.
Full review to come but I will leave you with some initial thoughts:
- really enjoyed it overall and did not want to stop reading
- loved some of the darker, unsettling twists the story took
- loved exploring Din’s struggles with his work and his desire for justice/to have an impact
- a much more layered mystery than book one
- LOTS of monologuing and conversations needed to unpack each layer of the mystery
- I stand by the fact that the book isn’t always consistent with Din’s struggles with reading BUT it’s mainly contained to how he reacted to specific clues and therefore didn’t bother me much in the end
- Occasionally I found myself missing the emotional variance that some of the side characters from book one brought to the story. But in general this sequel is tonally heavier than the first book so it made sense
- Very excited for book three though I know I have a long wait 😭
July 17, 2025
Better than the first book, and that's saying a lot.
A Drop of Corruption takes us as far as possible from the sea wall that served as the setting for The Tainted Cup. A decaying swamp city on the very border of the Empire serves us up our next impossible murder: an imperial treasurer has vanished from his room on the sixth floor, with all the doors and windows locked from the inside, and his remains found miles away. Whatever the reason, it just might be related to the highly fraught politics of this region suspended between Empire rule and the monarchal rule of a neighboring kingdom.
This was an absolute feast of gorgeously described settings, rich atmosphere, and unique worldbuilding. I'm so thoroughly charmed by the world of the Shadow of the Leviathan series - I'm usually a very character focused reader, and the characters in these books are enjoyable, but they're overshadowed by the outstandingly creative sandbox Robert Jackson Bennet has built to play in. Expect all of the fascinatingly creepy and sometimes disgusting magic of book 1, but dialed up times ten. I LOVED all of the places this book went, from the High Court of Yarrow to the incredibly ominous Shroud, and loved getting to see more of how people lived and operate within this somewhat sinister world. (Seriously, I demand a novella set entirely within the shroud.)
The mystery is just as twisty and inventive as I hoped and expected it would be, with that perfectly satisfying mix of things you'll probably guess, and things you definitely won't. Even better, it all starts to shed some light on the background and true nature of the most mysterious character in these books: Ana Dolabra herself.
I can't wait to come back for more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
A Drop of Corruption takes us as far as possible from the sea wall that served as the setting for The Tainted Cup. A decaying swamp city on the very border of the Empire serves us up our next impossible murder: an imperial treasurer has vanished from his room on the sixth floor, with all the doors and windows locked from the inside, and his remains found miles away. Whatever the reason, it just might be related to the highly fraught politics of this region suspended between Empire rule and the monarchal rule of a neighboring kingdom.
This was an absolute feast of gorgeously described settings, rich atmosphere, and unique worldbuilding. I'm so thoroughly charmed by the world of the Shadow of the Leviathan series - I'm usually a very character focused reader, and the characters in these books are enjoyable, but they're overshadowed by the outstandingly creative sandbox Robert Jackson Bennet has built to play in. Expect all of the fascinatingly creepy and sometimes disgusting magic of book 1, but dialed up times ten. I LOVED all of the places this book went, from the High Court of Yarrow to the incredibly ominous Shroud, and loved getting to see more of how people lived and operate within this somewhat sinister world. (Seriously, I demand a novella set entirely within the shroud.)
The mystery is just as twisty and inventive as I hoped and expected it would be, with that perfectly satisfying mix of things you'll probably guess, and things you definitely won't. Even better, it all starts to shed some light on the background and true nature of the most mysterious character in these books: Ana Dolabra herself.
I can't wait to come back for more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 12, 2024
Unshackled by the need for extensive world-building, Robert Jackson Bennett has room in this sequel to craft a more complex and satisfying mystery, centered around his winning duo of lead characters. It succeeds as both a mystery and a fantasy novel, blending the two genres beautifully.
While I’m more invested in the evolving interpersonal dynamics between Ana and Din than the “Mystery of the Week” plot in each installment, this sequel lays the groundwork for even richer character development to come in future books.
A Drop of Corruption is a more assured, exciting sequel than its predecessor, and I look forward to seeing where the overarching story goes from here.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky
While I’m more invested in the evolving interpersonal dynamics between Ana and Din than the “Mystery of the Week” plot in each installment, this sequel lays the groundwork for even richer character development to come in future books.
A Drop of Corruption is a more assured, exciting sequel than its predecessor, and I look forward to seeing where the overarching story goes from here.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky
June 29, 2025
This was such an enjoyable and satisfying read. I honestly think that, despite being Fantasy first and foremost, Robert Jackson Bennett is writing some of the best quality mysteries in publishing right now.
Overall this book both removed some of my complaints of the first book (namely Ana's character development) and left me much more confused on how this could ever be wrapped up in a single additional installment with all the ground left to cover. I think/hope there are plans for this to be longer than a trilogy!!
Edit: (taken from his AMA, Feb 2024)
The Characters:
In book one my only minor complaint, really, was that Ana felt more like a caricature. Sure, I was seeing her through Din's eyes and she's a larger than life type of person anyway, but I couldn't get a good grasp on who she was and what made her tick. But I'm happy to report that she got so much more development and backstory and humanizing talks with Din in this installment. For those who wanted more Ana and more Ana answers-- you're gonna get it!
I also really loved the introduction of a new character in this location: Malo. She's got a real swagger and grittiness that the manic-but-poised Ana and proper-to-the-point-of-sometimes-near-roboticness Din could never bring to the story. It was good to see her play off the main characters here from her bravado to her on-her-sleeve emotions.
And Din, oh Din. He certainly has a time in this one, the poor lad. But at least someone finally takes notice and commends him for his most excellent skill at... vomiting precisely. 😅
The Romance:
The Ana lovers are gonna eat with this novel, but I'm sorry for the Kepheus and Din shippers as there's not a single appearance of Kepheus in this. Perhaps in the next one, but not today.
The Writing:
The Pithians of Yarrowland have some very colorful phrases and I very much enjoyed quoting them aloud to my partner, bereft of context.
The Mystery:
I really loved the mystery here. I think it took interesting twists and turns, I had multiple theories running from even just chapter 2-3 (several of which were right! which means he did a good job telegraphing clues to pick up on!), and yet the Fantasy elements and the way the reader learns more information about the world meant that it was never wholly solvable from just the beginning.
But the pacing and seeding of clues was impeccably done. And I like that whenever Ana started putting pieces together (usually dropping another clue in her speech, but not a full unravelling) it was my cue to start thinking about what further pieces I could put together myself. It led to a lot of interest and engagement on my end so that I could often feel clever, invested in finding more clues, and also impressed by the cleverness of Ana, our Sherlock analog.
Based on the percentage of this story that's truly just devoted to the continual layers of the mystery, this felt more akin to an installment in a Mystery series than a middle book in a Fantasy series. If you're here because you liked the mysteries of book 1, I think you'll be very satisfied with the amount of screentime devoted to the mysteries of book 2.
The World-Building:
This is part of where I start to become concerned about everything I know, and everything I feel I've yet to know, and where the series could possibly conclude. For while I did get a lot of answers in this novel about the Titans and the Empire and augmentations... there are still so many questions left from book 1, questions introduced in this book, and bombastic action I predict will happen but was not developed at all in this installment. It all needs so much time to cook, still!
Granted, after reading several RJB trilogies before this one, I suspect our next book will feature some sort of significant time jump in order to accomplish everything that must be in place before the finale (several years into the Fifth Empire). But with how much time each book devotes to its particular mystery... it's gonna be a narrow squeeze or an impressive feat for sure.
The Politics:
Rather than expounding further on the politics of the Empire we were introduced to in book one, this novel takes a full reprieve and bounces over to Yarrow, a land not yet fully incorporated into the Empire. As such it is Yarrow in the limelight and Yarrow that we are better coming to understand, and only the occasional tastes and teases of the Empire-- mostly through history lessons and quotes from their most famous ancestors.
(Just how big is book 3 gonna be to tie everything up? Or will we be blessed with more books?)
The Author:
The world is a funny place, these last few years. It's almost impossible to escape the politics of our particular moment in time. And based on the author's note at the end, it's something that weighed heavily on him while writing this book. (Reading the author's note on the same day South Korea implemented what's gotta be one of the shortest coups/instances of martial law... definitely hit different.)
While he overall did a good job of keeping it a Fantasy novel first and not so outwardly and obviously political, there were a few moments toward the end that could get a tad preachy. Though I don't feel like it's so much more egregious than his usual flavor in prior books, just perhaps a tad more noticeable here? ymmv
Overall:
Overall I really loved this book. I absorbed it slowly over multiple days because I didn't really want it to end. I care so much more about these characters than I did at the end of book one, and I'm so excited by many of the revelations and world-building nuggets we were given in this book.
I think this is an excellent follow-up to book one that will satisfy Fantasy readers, Mystery readers, and both character and plot-driven readers alike.
The Arc:
For the sake of all Americans who are too terminally online or know too much US slang, I really hope they change the colors of the rockets before they go to print. My immature little brain could not handle so many people talking about "red rocket." 😅😅😅😅 whoops
Please please please let them be crimson.
Thank you to Del Rey for granting me an eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Audiobook Notes:
I first read this book as an eARC and then listened to the audiobook on re-read... And it occurred to me that I'd never listened to the first book on audio because it's very startling to hear all their British accents. I'm pretty sure I liked it a lot more without their voices in my head, but sometimes physically reading is an impossibility so this is alright. I just definitely prefer the eyeballs-only version.
Overall this book both removed some of my complaints of the first book (namely Ana's character development) and left me much more confused on how this could ever be wrapped up in a single additional installment with all the ground left to cover. I think/hope there are plans for this to be longer than a trilogy!!
Edit: (taken from his AMA, Feb 2024)
I'm almost done with the sequel, and am contracted for a third. I imagined this series with lots of installments, like a Miss Marple or a Nero Wolfe series, so I'd write 12 of these suckers if I could. Din and Ana just traveling all over the Empire, experiencing uncanny new biological developments and trying to understand the human heart. That kind of shit.
The Characters:
In book one my only minor complaint, really, was that Ana felt more like a caricature. Sure, I was seeing her through Din's eyes and she's a larger than life type of person anyway, but I couldn't get a good grasp on who she was and what made her tick. But I'm happy to report that she got so much more development and backstory and humanizing talks with Din in this installment. For those who wanted more Ana and more Ana answers-- you're gonna get it!
I also really loved the introduction of a new character in this location: Malo. She's got a real swagger and grittiness that the manic-but-poised Ana and proper-to-the-point-of-sometimes-near-roboticness Din could never bring to the story. It was good to see her play off the main characters here from her bravado to her on-her-sleeve emotions.
And Din, oh Din. He certainly has a time in this one, the poor lad. But at least someone finally takes notice and commends him for his most excellent skill at... vomiting precisely. 😅
The Romance:
The Ana lovers are gonna eat with this novel, but I'm sorry for the Kepheus and Din shippers as there's not a single appearance of Kepheus in this. Perhaps in the next one, but not today.
The Writing:
The Pithians of Yarrowland have some very colorful phrases and I very much enjoyed quoting them aloud to my partner, bereft of context.
The Mystery:
I really loved the mystery here. I think it took interesting twists and turns, I had multiple theories running from even just chapter 2-3 (several of which were right! which means he did a good job telegraphing clues to pick up on!), and yet the Fantasy elements and the way the reader learns more information about the world meant that it was never wholly solvable from just the beginning.
But the pacing and seeding of clues was impeccably done. And I like that whenever Ana started putting pieces together (usually dropping another clue in her speech, but not a full unravelling) it was my cue to start thinking about what further pieces I could put together myself. It led to a lot of interest and engagement on my end so that I could often feel clever, invested in finding more clues, and also impressed by the cleverness of Ana, our Sherlock analog.
Based on the percentage of this story that's truly just devoted to the continual layers of the mystery, this felt more akin to an installment in a Mystery series than a middle book in a Fantasy series. If you're here because you liked the mysteries of book 1, I think you'll be very satisfied with the amount of screentime devoted to the mysteries of book 2.
The World-Building:
This is part of where I start to become concerned about everything I know, and everything I feel I've yet to know, and where the series could possibly conclude. For while I did get a lot of answers in this novel about the Titans and the Empire and augmentations... there are still so many questions left from book 1, questions introduced in this book, and bombastic action I predict will happen but was not developed at all in this installment. It all needs so much time to cook, still!
Granted, after reading several RJB trilogies before this one, I suspect our next book will feature some sort of significant time jump in order to accomplish everything that must be in place before the finale (several years into the Fifth Empire). But with how much time each book devotes to its particular mystery... it's gonna be a narrow squeeze or an impressive feat for sure.
The Politics:
Rather than expounding further on the politics of the Empire we were introduced to in book one, this novel takes a full reprieve and bounces over to Yarrow, a land not yet fully incorporated into the Empire. As such it is Yarrow in the limelight and Yarrow that we are better coming to understand, and only the occasional tastes and teases of the Empire-- mostly through history lessons and quotes from their most famous ancestors.
(Just how big is book 3 gonna be to tie everything up? Or will we be blessed with more books?)
The Author:
The world is a funny place, these last few years. It's almost impossible to escape the politics of our particular moment in time. And based on the author's note at the end, it's something that weighed heavily on him while writing this book. (Reading the author's note on the same day South Korea implemented what's gotta be one of the shortest coups/instances of martial law... definitely hit different.)
While he overall did a good job of keeping it a Fantasy novel first and not so outwardly and obviously political, there were a few moments toward the end that could get a tad preachy. Though I don't feel like it's so much more egregious than his usual flavor in prior books, just perhaps a tad more noticeable here? ymmv
Overall:
Overall I really loved this book. I absorbed it slowly over multiple days because I didn't really want it to end. I care so much more about these characters than I did at the end of book one, and I'm so excited by many of the revelations and world-building nuggets we were given in this book.
I think this is an excellent follow-up to book one that will satisfy Fantasy readers, Mystery readers, and both character and plot-driven readers alike.
The Arc:
For the sake of all Americans who are too terminally online or know too much US slang, I really hope they change the colors of the rockets before they go to print. My immature little brain could not handle so many people talking about "red rocket." 😅😅😅😅 whoops
Please please please let them be crimson.
Thank you to Del Rey for granting me an eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Audiobook Notes:
I first read this book as an eARC and then listened to the audiobook on re-read... And it occurred to me that I'd never listened to the first book on audio because it's very startling to hear all their British accents. I'm pretty sure I liked it a lot more without their voices in my head, but sometimes physically reading is an impossibility so this is alright. I just definitely prefer the eyeballs-only version.
July 11, 2025
5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!
I thank NetGalley for the ARC!
What an amazing second book in the series! I cannot believe I loved this Ana and Din mystery even more than the first!
The riveting mystery plays out on an ever-widening stage of RJB’s prolific world-building that is done so masterfully that it doesn’t seem to consume any page-space outside of what is absolutely needed to tell the story. RJB so deftly weaves the alien world into the narrative that we see but one tapestry. It doesn’t bog you down with info dumping.
This Holmes (Ana) and Watson (Din) dynamic grows from where it started in the Tainted cup with yet another absorbing mystery, another crime. We see the story unfold in the voice of Din, our Watson. A man is gone. No door moved. No sound heard. The room was locked. Ana, the top mind, must find the truth. Her aide, Din, helps. But this case is not just one death. It hides a plot to break the realm.
The land is vast. The edge holds Yarrow, a place with old rules and deep rifts. The Shroud, a grim isle, holds dead gods. Their blood fuels the realm. If it falls, all breaks. I found it interesting that the Yarrow language was Hindi. I loved that I could understand the alien words spoken by Yarrow folk 😀. The Indian inspiration was also evident in the names: Jari (short for pujari or priest) Pavitr (pious), Naukari (servitude).
Ana is sharp, odd, bold. She sees what most miss. Her mind runs fast. She mocks, she snaps, she eats raw fish with glee and solves hard crimes. But her heart hides truths. As the case grows grim, she bends, she breaks, she risks her health, her rank, her name. Ana’s weaknesses are a sharp reminder of some of Holmes’ weaknesses. She uses these to see more, to feel more. By the end, she felt like she was not just a tool of law—but a soul who dares to care. As opposed to Din who is calm, kind, stuck. He learns much, but feels small. But each clue, each lie, each death shapes him. He sees that law, when done right, saves lives. Din is Watson. Din is us. He doubts, he dreams, he fails. But he tries. His growth felt earned. I rooted for him. I wanted him to win—not just the case, but his own war with self-worth. Ana’s bond with Din shifts here: not boss and aide, but two minds, two hearts, linked by trust.
A new immensely interesting and likable character assisting Ana and Din is Malo. A guide with grit. She is brave and comes from the ground. Malo warms the tale. She’s fierce, but kind. She gives the plot its soul. Her arc lifts the book past crime—to hope.
I loved that RJB was thrifty with words. What words he does use seemed to cut, making the scenes drip, and convey the shifts in mood. The pace ran fast. Each sentence kept its tenterhooks in my attention. Each phrase a revelation. Each clue fit. Each twist stung. The tale blends myth, plot, and grit.
This book is sharp, rich, and bold. It blends crime, lore, and wit. Each page pulls. Each soul feels real. I was joyous reading every word!
I thank NetGalley for the ARC!
What an amazing second book in the series! I cannot believe I loved this Ana and Din mystery even more than the first!
The riveting mystery plays out on an ever-widening stage of RJB’s prolific world-building that is done so masterfully that it doesn’t seem to consume any page-space outside of what is absolutely needed to tell the story. RJB so deftly weaves the alien world into the narrative that we see but one tapestry. It doesn’t bog you down with info dumping.
This Holmes (Ana) and Watson (Din) dynamic grows from where it started in the Tainted cup with yet another absorbing mystery, another crime. We see the story unfold in the voice of Din, our Watson. A man is gone. No door moved. No sound heard. The room was locked. Ana, the top mind, must find the truth. Her aide, Din, helps. But this case is not just one death. It hides a plot to break the realm.
The land is vast. The edge holds Yarrow, a place with old rules and deep rifts. The Shroud, a grim isle, holds dead gods. Their blood fuels the realm. If it falls, all breaks. I found it interesting that the Yarrow language was Hindi. I loved that I could understand the alien words spoken by Yarrow folk 😀. The Indian inspiration was also evident in the names: Jari (short for pujari or priest) Pavitr (pious), Naukari (servitude).
Ana is sharp, odd, bold. She sees what most miss. Her mind runs fast. She mocks, she snaps, she eats raw fish with glee and solves hard crimes. But her heart hides truths. As the case grows grim, she bends, she breaks, she risks her health, her rank, her name. Ana’s weaknesses are a sharp reminder of some of Holmes’ weaknesses. She uses these to see more, to feel more. By the end, she felt like she was not just a tool of law—but a soul who dares to care. As opposed to Din who is calm, kind, stuck. He learns much, but feels small. But each clue, each lie, each death shapes him. He sees that law, when done right, saves lives. Din is Watson. Din is us. He doubts, he dreams, he fails. But he tries. His growth felt earned. I rooted for him. I wanted him to win—not just the case, but his own war with self-worth. Ana’s bond with Din shifts here: not boss and aide, but two minds, two hearts, linked by trust.
A new immensely interesting and likable character assisting Ana and Din is Malo. A guide with grit. She is brave and comes from the ground. Malo warms the tale. She’s fierce, but kind. She gives the plot its soul. Her arc lifts the book past crime—to hope.
I loved that RJB was thrifty with words. What words he does use seemed to cut, making the scenes drip, and convey the shifts in mood. The pace ran fast. Each sentence kept its tenterhooks in my attention. Each phrase a revelation. Each clue fit. Each twist stung. The tale blends myth, plot, and grit.
This book is sharp, rich, and bold. It blends crime, lore, and wit. Each page pulls. Each soul feels real. I was joyous reading every word!
January 2, 2025
The Tainted Cup was such a pleasant surprise when I read it last year, with it combining fantasy and murder mystery perfectly while also offering an intriguing magic system and lovable characters. Needless to say that I was thrilled when I got an arc for book two. I even made it my first read of the year, hoping for a 5 star book, and well … I was not disappointed.
A Drop of Corruption brings a new murder case for my favorite supernatural investigators Din and Ana, this time not set in the Empire but in the hot and swampy Kingdom of Yarrow. At first they are confronted with a seemingly impossible locked room mystery and some severed body parts, but the story quickly becomes something far bigger than that. The investigation leads them from a seaside town to the jungle to the high court and reveals political schemes, biological weapons and more gruesome deaths. And what can I say? I followed along with greatest interest for the entirety of the book.
Book 2 is expanding the world in the most interesting way, for Yarrowdale is home of the Shroud, the place where gigantic leviathan carcasses are brought to and are experimented on. It's a mix of body horror and magical science talk, making it very fascinating to read. The characters are explored a little bit more as well, but I wish there would have been even more of that for I like them very much. Ana is still the eccentric and rude yet brilliant creature with the strangest habits, and Din is a stressed-out bisexual icon, who is struggling with money and his job, and somehow always finds himself in the world's most deadly places. Book 2 also adds Malo as a new character and I did like her no nonsense, ever slightly annoyed personality a lot as well as her alterations. With her heightened senses, Din's infinite memory and Ana's gift for comprehension of basically everything they are quite the unstoppable trio now. I don't know if Malo will return in book 3 though, because no side character of book 1 returned in book 2.
I do hope for many more books in this series. There is not really an overarching plot throughout books 1 and 2, and I'm sure there are more mysteries to solve and places to go for Ana and Din. I'm very excited to see where this series is going in the future. (I also take my enjoyment of A Drop of Corruption as a call to finally read Foundryside. I've owned a copy for years now, why in the world have I not picked it up yet?)
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Drop of Corruption brings a new murder case for my favorite supernatural investigators Din and Ana, this time not set in the Empire but in the hot and swampy Kingdom of Yarrow. At first they are confronted with a seemingly impossible locked room mystery and some severed body parts, but the story quickly becomes something far bigger than that. The investigation leads them from a seaside town to the jungle to the high court and reveals political schemes, biological weapons and more gruesome deaths. And what can I say? I followed along with greatest interest for the entirety of the book.
Book 2 is expanding the world in the most interesting way, for Yarrowdale is home of the Shroud, the place where gigantic leviathan carcasses are brought to and are experimented on. It's a mix of body horror and magical science talk, making it very fascinating to read. The characters are explored a little bit more as well, but I wish there would have been even more of that for I like them very much. Ana is still the eccentric and rude yet brilliant creature with the strangest habits, and Din is a stressed-out bisexual icon, who is struggling with money and his job, and somehow always finds himself in the world's most deadly places. Book 2 also adds Malo as a new character and I did like her no nonsense, ever slightly annoyed personality a lot as well as her alterations. With her heightened senses, Din's infinite memory and Ana's gift for comprehension of basically everything they are quite the unstoppable trio now. I don't know if Malo will return in book 3 though, because no side character of book 1 returned in book 2.
I do hope for many more books in this series. There is not really an overarching plot throughout books 1 and 2, and I'm sure there are more mysteries to solve and places to go for Ana and Din. I'm very excited to see where this series is going in the future. (I also take my enjoyment of A Drop of Corruption as a call to finally read Foundryside. I've owned a copy for years now, why in the world have I not picked it up yet?)
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2024
Ana, I am here for your quirky craziness and wild diet.
Dinios, Iudex Special Division, is sent alongside his mentor, Ana, to investigate a strange murder in Yarrow, far from the Empire’s reach and purview. The deceased was a member of a Treasury delegation, sent to confer with the king of Yarrow on high imperial business.
Ana always makes me crack up. Her eccentricity and Din’s resigned acceptance makes their partnership a delight to behold - fresh, unique, and delightful!
“If she isn’t included in whatever this is, there’ll be hell to pay,” I said. “This is not a threat, but just … physics. When defied, she breaks things.”
There no live leviathans that far north. Instead, we are introduced to the Shroud where the leviathans bodies are harvested for the augmentation elixirs. It is obviously shrouded (couldn’t help myself!) in secrets.
I did miss the absence of Captain Strovi and the burgeoning romance we got between them in book one. I understand why it wouldn’t make sense for his presence, but I admit to missing him except for mentions of him only through Din’s longing.
This definitely has the potential to be a longer on-going series with an episodic feel with new introductions of locations, world-building, and characters.
“I suspect you shall come to realize what many Iudexii eventually learn—that though the Legion defends our Empire, it falls to us to keep an Empire worth defending.”
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Dinios, Iudex Special Division, is sent alongside his mentor, Ana, to investigate a strange murder in Yarrow, far from the Empire’s reach and purview. The deceased was a member of a Treasury delegation, sent to confer with the king of Yarrow on high imperial business.
Ana always makes me crack up. Her eccentricity and Din’s resigned acceptance makes their partnership a delight to behold - fresh, unique, and delightful!
“If she isn’t included in whatever this is, there’ll be hell to pay,” I said. “This is not a threat, but just … physics. When defied, she breaks things.”
There no live leviathans that far north. Instead, we are introduced to the Shroud where the leviathans bodies are harvested for the augmentation elixirs. It is obviously shrouded (couldn’t help myself!) in secrets.
I did miss the absence of Captain Strovi and the burgeoning romance we got between them in book one. I understand why it wouldn’t make sense for his presence, but I admit to missing him except for mentions of him only through Din’s longing.
This definitely has the potential to be a longer on-going series with an episodic feel with new introductions of locations, world-building, and characters.
“I suspect you shall come to realize what many Iudexii eventually learn—that though the Legion defends our Empire, it falls to us to keep an Empire worth defending.”
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
February 20, 2025
First off, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This is the second part of the Shadow of the Leviathan series.
NO spoilers for the first part or this one!
I read the first book two months ago, and I really liked it, but I had some doubts about wanting to read the next part.
But when I saw the second part, I jumped at the chance to request it.
And I'm so glad I did!
1️⃣Each part features a murder that Dinios Kol and his boss, the brilliant and quirky Ana Dolabra, investigate, and they're all caught up in the intrigues and politics of this captivating world with tons of seas and the Leviathans, who are the biggest threat to it all. Din's job is to observe, report, and act as Ana's eyes and ears—literally, since she's got this quirky thing about wearing a blindfold all the time.
2️⃣The main plot of the second part involves a bizarre murder in a locked room. The characters get pulled into a world of conspiracies, strange crimes, and shocking twists that even Ana struggles to predict, and she has to push herself to the limit. The action takes place in a remote corner of the Empire—a place that isn't technically considered part of the grand state but is crucial for its stability and even survival.
The series is told from Din's first-person perspective. There are small details and descriptions that make you feel like you're right there with him.
Ana's central antagonist turns out to be a sadistic genius who can stay several steps ahead. Gradually, Din uncovers not just the mysteries around him but also Ana herself—her tragic secrets and true nature, which really adds depth to the story.
New characters are popping up that I really liked. And I ended up loving the main characters even more.
Ana>>>
Now I definitely know that I’m looking forward to the next part🙌🏻
Heads up, there are some gross descriptions in the book, so don’t read it while you’re eating❗️
4,5/5⭐️
📜🗡🩸🧫🪙
This is the second part of the Shadow of the Leviathan series.
NO spoilers for the first part or this one!
I read the first book two months ago, and I really liked it, but I had some doubts about wanting to read the next part.
But when I saw the second part, I jumped at the chance to request it.
And I'm so glad I did!
1️⃣Each part features a murder that Dinios Kol and his boss, the brilliant and quirky Ana Dolabra, investigate, and they're all caught up in the intrigues and politics of this captivating world with tons of seas and the Leviathans, who are the biggest threat to it all. Din's job is to observe, report, and act as Ana's eyes and ears—literally, since she's got this quirky thing about wearing a blindfold all the time.
2️⃣The main plot of the second part involves a bizarre murder in a locked room. The characters get pulled into a world of conspiracies, strange crimes, and shocking twists that even Ana struggles to predict, and she has to push herself to the limit. The action takes place in a remote corner of the Empire—a place that isn't technically considered part of the grand state but is crucial for its stability and even survival.
The series is told from Din's first-person perspective. There are small details and descriptions that make you feel like you're right there with him.
Ana's central antagonist turns out to be a sadistic genius who can stay several steps ahead. Gradually, Din uncovers not just the mysteries around him but also Ana herself—her tragic secrets and true nature, which really adds depth to the story.
New characters are popping up that I really liked. And I ended up loving the main characters even more.
Ana>>>
Now I definitely know that I’m looking forward to the next part🙌🏻
Heads up, there are some gross descriptions in the book, so don’t read it while you’re eating❗️
4,5/5⭐️
📜🗡🩸🧫🪙
February 27, 2025
Robert Jackson Bennett has done it again. A Drop of Corruption takes everything that made The Tainted Cup great (impossible murders, weird biology, razor-sharp wit) and somehow makes it even better. There’s a new impossible crime, more unsettling biology, and, most importantly, more Ana Dolabra - the world’s strangest mind.
This time around, Ana and her long-suffering assistant Dinios Kol are sent to the empire’s edges to investigate a treasury officer’s disappearance. And let me tell you - it’s a gruesome murder, because if there’s one thing Bennett knows how to do, it’s making sure every crime scene sticks in your brain. This one involves dismemberment, vanished body parts, and a killer who seems to walk through walls.
Ana solves the surface-level mystery in about five minutes, but the deeper they dig, the more tangled the case becomes. The stakes turn shockingly high. If they fail, the entire empire could collapse, and leave the world defenseless against the leviathans. No pressure. Someone out there is playing a game Ana isn’t used to losing, and Din finds himself torn between his duty as her “engraver” and his growing realization that being an investigator might not be the life he truly wants.
Now, for me the series works because we follow a brilliant and fascinating character (Ana) through the eyes of a much more bland one (Din). Din is to Ana what Watson was to Sherlock - a trusted assistant with some personality but not enough charisma to carry the series. A Drop of Corruption gives us glimpses into Ana’s past and hints at what she truly is. She’s still an enigma, but things get much clearer and much more exciting. Din, meanwhile, starts questioning his place in all of this. He signed up to be Ana’s eyes and ears to pay off his father’s debts, but as he gets drawn deeper into the empire’s ugly truths, he starts to wonder if he should be fighting to save it or choose a simpler and more profitable path.
The world-building continues to impress and remains one of the most inventive things I’ve ever read. The concept of Leviathans and the horrifying ways in which their blood transforms environment is cool. Then we have the Shroud - a living, organic space with peculiar properties. And the new characters fit right into this strange, unsettling world. Mala, for example, has an enhanced sense of smell (and more), which makes her an excellent investigator but also means she’s experiencing reality in ways that most people can’t understand.
Since Bennett doesn’t do one-note villains, the antagonist is ruthless, brilliant, and broken. Their backstory is a slow-burn tragedy that creeps up on you. If I had to nitpick, I’d say that the book is sometimes too detailed and repetitive in the middle. But honestly, when the writing is this good, why would I want to nitpick?
Ultimately, I’m satisfied, impressed, and desperately hoping we get another one in the series. Because if Bennett keeps building on this foundation, we might just be looking at one of the best fantasy mystery series of the decade.
This time around, Ana and her long-suffering assistant Dinios Kol are sent to the empire’s edges to investigate a treasury officer’s disappearance. And let me tell you - it’s a gruesome murder, because if there’s one thing Bennett knows how to do, it’s making sure every crime scene sticks in your brain. This one involves dismemberment, vanished body parts, and a killer who seems to walk through walls.
Ana solves the surface-level mystery in about five minutes, but the deeper they dig, the more tangled the case becomes. The stakes turn shockingly high. If they fail, the entire empire could collapse, and leave the world defenseless against the leviathans. No pressure. Someone out there is playing a game Ana isn’t used to losing, and Din finds himself torn between his duty as her “engraver” and his growing realization that being an investigator might not be the life he truly wants.
Now, for me the series works because we follow a brilliant and fascinating character (Ana) through the eyes of a much more bland one (Din). Din is to Ana what Watson was to Sherlock - a trusted assistant with some personality but not enough charisma to carry the series. A Drop of Corruption gives us glimpses into Ana’s past and hints at what she truly is. She’s still an enigma, but things get much clearer and much more exciting. Din, meanwhile, starts questioning his place in all of this. He signed up to be Ana’s eyes and ears to pay off his father’s debts, but as he gets drawn deeper into the empire’s ugly truths, he starts to wonder if he should be fighting to save it or choose a simpler and more profitable path.
The world-building continues to impress and remains one of the most inventive things I’ve ever read. The concept of Leviathans and the horrifying ways in which their blood transforms environment is cool. Then we have the Shroud - a living, organic space with peculiar properties. And the new characters fit right into this strange, unsettling world. Mala, for example, has an enhanced sense of smell (and more), which makes her an excellent investigator but also means she’s experiencing reality in ways that most people can’t understand.
Since Bennett doesn’t do one-note villains, the antagonist is ruthless, brilliant, and broken. Their backstory is a slow-burn tragedy that creeps up on you. If I had to nitpick, I’d say that the book is sometimes too detailed and repetitive in the middle. But honestly, when the writing is this good, why would I want to nitpick?
Ultimately, I’m satisfied, impressed, and desperately hoping we get another one in the series. Because if Bennett keeps building on this foundation, we might just be looking at one of the best fantasy mystery series of the decade.
January 19, 2025
(thank you netgalley and random house publishing group - del rey for an arc in exchange for an honest review)
“A Drop of Corruption” is the second entry in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. Robert Jackson Bennett looked in the eye of middle-book-syndrome and said “no”
Now an official officer in the Iudex Special Division, Dinios ‘Din’ Kol is sent ahead to investigate the scene of a crime in Yarrowdale. The Kingdom of Yarrow — considered a canton — is to join the Empire in a deal made centuries ago, foregoing many of their cultural practices, but not everyone is fond of the idea. Though the locals are eager to leave behind the Yarrow monarchial government, the royalty seek to end the deal as it would mean losing the advantage they have in sourcing many of the alchemical potions derived from the felled leviathans. But before they join the Empire, they must pay taxes and no one likes the taxman. Which is why it is less of a surprise when Immunis Mineti Sujedo of the Imperial Treasury is found dead. No, what is a surprise is how he died.
In a guarded locked room, high up in a tower with no exits, a pool of blood no one can survive losing is found. No body is in sight and everyone assumes the man had been murdered and the corpse disposed of. But when remains are found in the swamp miles away, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra to solve this mystery. What Ana doesn't know is that she is about to meet a rival who will challenge her throughout the investigation.
The mystery in this book is my favourite so far. There’s nothing I love more than a classic locked-room mystery and while Ana is quick to solve the how — the who, why and to-what-end of the mystery were the most engaging and heart racing. Especially the who. The antagonist here is quite possibly my favourite I’ve read in a murder mystery. They had our cast (and me!) sweating. What made me realise that we had a near-genius in our hands, was that towards the 90% mark of the book, our antagonist’s plans had our genius Ana say three words — “I don’t know.” When I tell you I got chills.
Everything was elevated in this book: the humour, the characters, the mystery and the worldbuilding. By Sanctum the worldbuilding in this book was insane. The atmosphere in the first chapter had me so immersed, I practically felt the suffocating heat of the swamp and the putrid smell of rotting fish. The Empire’s capabilities were expanded in this book and nothing portrayed this more than the augurs. Chapters 45 and 46 were chef’s kiss, chef’s kiss, chef’s kiss! Here’s to the next book and it hopefully starting with Din throwing up as it has in the last two books.
“And all the world a savage garden, mindless and raging.”
“A Drop of Corruption” is the second entry in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. Robert Jackson Bennett looked in the eye of middle-book-syndrome and said “no”
Now an official officer in the Iudex Special Division, Dinios ‘Din’ Kol is sent ahead to investigate the scene of a crime in Yarrowdale. The Kingdom of Yarrow — considered a canton — is to join the Empire in a deal made centuries ago, foregoing many of their cultural practices, but not everyone is fond of the idea. Though the locals are eager to leave behind the Yarrow monarchial government, the royalty seek to end the deal as it would mean losing the advantage they have in sourcing many of the alchemical potions derived from the felled leviathans. But before they join the Empire, they must pay taxes and no one likes the taxman. Which is why it is less of a surprise when Immunis Mineti Sujedo of the Imperial Treasury is found dead. No, what is a surprise is how he died.
In a guarded locked room, high up in a tower with no exits, a pool of blood no one can survive losing is found. No body is in sight and everyone assumes the man had been murdered and the corpse disposed of. But when remains are found in the swamp miles away, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra to solve this mystery. What Ana doesn't know is that she is about to meet a rival who will challenge her throughout the investigation.
For those who sip from the marrow. Te siz imperiya.
The mystery in this book is my favourite so far. There’s nothing I love more than a classic locked-room mystery and while Ana is quick to solve the how — the who, why and to-what-end of the mystery were the most engaging and heart racing. Especially the who. The antagonist here is quite possibly my favourite I’ve read in a murder mystery. They had our cast (and me!) sweating. What made me realise that we had a near-genius in our hands, was that towards the 90% mark of the book, our antagonist’s plans had our genius Ana say three words — “I don’t know.” When I tell you I got chills.
“You know, you are not a stupid person, Din.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I said, pleased.
“Or, rather, not an unusually stupid person.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I said, far less pleased.
Everything was elevated in this book: the humour, the characters, the mystery and the worldbuilding. By Sanctum the worldbuilding in this book was insane. The atmosphere in the first chapter had me so immersed, I practically felt the suffocating heat of the swamp and the putrid smell of rotting fish. The Empire’s capabilities were expanded in this book and nothing portrayed this more than the augurs. Chapters 45 and 46 were chef’s kiss, chef’s kiss, chef’s kiss! Here’s to the next book and it hopefully starting with Din throwing up as it has in the last two books.
“I suspect you shall come to realize what many Iudexii eventually learn—that though the Legion defends our Empire, it falls to us to keep an Empire worth defending.”
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