hanks to NetGalley for the arc!

4.5/5

I actually loved this. I enjoyed this mystery much more than in the last one and the think there were great expansions on Din’s and Ana’s characters. I also really loved Malo, a new character in this one. The only reason I couldn’t give this five stars was because I found myself really missing some of the characters from the last book and I wanted more of the small amount of romance we got in the last book.

Maybe next time!

Anyways, I love Din, my bisexual king. He was really going through it this book and I gotta say that I love that for him.

I’m really loving the mystery fantasy genre thing going on here. I definitely recommend this series.

Fantastic read - equally as good as the first book in the series. It's clearly a continuation and will not read well without knowledge of the previous book.

The book reads like a well written thriller, with an amazing botanical-inspired fantasy setting. The mystery is easy to follow and rewards careful readying - you can come to the same deductions just a tiny bit earlier than the main characters and feel very proud of yourself.
The characters are very likeable, both those we already know and the newly introduced ones. Getting more hints about Ana, and answeing questions started in the previous book tightens the intrigue and weaves it into the world building promising a great conclusion to the story in the next book.

Fantastic world building and characters that felt authentic and as real as myself, love this series so much its the epitome of fantasy

So I made a massive mistake in selecting this title, because I didn’t read that it was a second book so I almost dismissed it but I started reading and just fell in love with it.
The world building is incredible, definitely a world I would not want to visit nor be a part of, this sci-fi fantasy world. I loved the main characters and now have to go back and read the first book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟 (4.5/5)

While A Drop of Corruption was an excellent read, it didn’t quite capture me like the first book did. With the first few sentences of book one, I knew it was a 5-star story, but this one didn’t quite hit the same high.

The characters were enjoyable, and the plot was fun—predictable at times but still solid, leaving little to fault. The world-building, though, was something else entirely. It was both disgusting and utterly fascinating—crafted in a way that made me squirm and marvel all at once. It pulled me in despite its grotesque nature, and I couldn’t help but enjoy how richly detailed and immersive it was.

The dynamic between the main characters was where the book fell slightly short. It lacked the humour and spark that made their interactions so vibrant in the first instalment. While their arcs and development were still compelling, I missed the sharper, more engaging connection that had brought so much energy and enjoyment.

It’s a fantastic sequel with Robert Jackson Bennett’s trademark mix of brilliance and grit. Despite falling a little behind its predecessor, the story and world-building more than make up for it, leaving me eager for more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are, as always, my own.

What made The Tainted Cup so exceptional was the incredible world-building which felt entirely new. Here, that same world feels less shiny simply because we’ve seen it before. And while the locked-room mystery is clever, the formula begins to wear thin: so many close calls and false starts.

The Tainted Cup was a breakout for me, despite not being a fan of murder mysteries. A Drop of Corruption doesn’t quite recapture the spark of discovery that made the first book so exceptional. That said, it’s still worth the read!

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey!

4.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I was really hyped for this one, I started immediately after finishing The Tainted Cup and it did not disappoint!

The magic system continues to be intriguing and we definitely see a lot more of it this time. It feels really creative and has interesting applications.

Din and Ana continue to make a great team in solving murders and mystery; though there is character development poor Din still seems a bit lost in life. I hope to see him become more confident in his direction. Ana remains to be the standout and I love to see her outsmarting everyone.

I did guess correctly at some of the reveals, but not completely and not in the ways that I expected. It's nice to pick up on some of the clues but still be surprised at the full reveal.

I do still have some theories going forward in the series, but these remain to be seen!

I can't wait to read more of this series and dive into existing works from RJB.

With thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

This was a highly anticipated read for me as I adored the first book in the series, and this did not disappoint! It’s an excellent continuation from the first book, and it’s just as exciting.

The plot and character development in this is weaved together very well, and Ana and Din are once again on the path to a brilliant new mystery. This one kept me guessing and I thought I’d maybe figured it out but I didn’t see that twist coming!

It was great to learn more about our characters and I’m so eager to see where they go next!

Highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Much like the first book—which I absolutely loved—this was a fantastic read. The way Robert Jackson Bennett weaves stories and layers plot twists never fails to amaze me. I adored the first installment, and I adore this one just as much.

Ana and Din are such polar opposites, yet they work so perfectly together as a team.

I’ll admit, I thought I had the prince figured out, but not in the way I expected. That twist really got me!

Getting to see Ana outside her element in this book was fascinating and added so much depth to her character.

If RJB writes 100 more of these, I’ll happily read every single one.

Truly I believe this is 3.5 as stars. I enjoyed getting back in this world but I didn't feel the magic I felt reading the first book. The world was established in the first one and I didn't really feel there were any enhancements to it. I really do enjoy the world and how alterations or enhancements are presented and used in the world. I still love the Attack on Titan vibes with the Leviathans and the Shroud.

I feel this book may suffer from some middle book syndrome if this is indeed a trilogy(which I hope not) as it really was just another case. The case itself was meh to me, I just wanted to spend more time with Din and Ana. Speaking of Din and Ana, I was hoping for some more backstory with them to add some layers to the characters and I felt we did not get any of that, so I am pretty disappointed with that although we do get some teasers.

I do look forward to book 3 and the answers that come from the questions of book 1 and 2.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this

Investigator Ana Dolabra and her assistant, Dinios Kol, are called to Yarrowdale, a community at the far edge of the Empire, to investigate what appears to be an impossible crime. A Treasury officer disappeared, abducted from his quarters where the doors and windows were stilled locked from the inside and the entire building is under constant guard.
It doesn't take long before Ana and Dinios discover that they are investigating a murder when the officer's body is discovered. The murderer, it appears, has the ability to walk through walls and manages to stay at least one step ahead of Ana while targeting a high-security compound known as The Shroud. This facility houses some of the most brilliant minds in the Empire who work fastidiously to dissect fallen Titans in an attempt to harness the magic in their blood.

If The Shroud should fall to the unknown 'ghost' the entire Empire would be at peril as the Titan blood is what keeps the Empire in power.

If someone were to ask me who the best fantasy author is today, I would say Robert Jackson Bennet (and indeed I did recommend him to someone looking for Christmas gifts). I haven't read everything he's published (but I will), but everything I've read to date has been stunning.

We first met Ana and Dinios in the first book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, The Tainted Cup, and having them back for another mystery/adventure is thrilling. Lately Bennett has been publishing a number of trilogies, but I hope that the adventures of Ana and Dinios will continue far beyond three volumes.

Bennett's world-building is exemplary. I don't think there's anything in his worlds that we might realate to our present world, and yet somehow he makes his worlds real and comfortable (comfortable in that the reader is made to feel right at home - but his worlds are UNcomfortable in their tension and conflict (which of course makes for exciting storytelling).

Then Bennett gives us truly unique characters. The abilities that Ana and Dinios have are ... well, I could use a thesaurus, but 'unique' just fits the bill. I could easily encourage anyone to read this just for the CTPP quotient (that's "Cool Things Per Page"). What Ana discovers here and what Dinios has to go through, is riveting.

So, exemplary worlds and outstanding characters ... all that's left is a plot that can hold the readers attention, and Bennett excels here, too. "Locked room" mysteries present a real challenge for a writer, and when done well, a delightful challenge for the reader. Of course this locked room mystery takes a pretty quick turn, but the discovery of what's happening seem to be always just slightly out of reach. Of course this makes it exciting as well.

I don't think you need to have read The Tainted Cup to enjoy this book, but you'll have wanted to just because both books are so good.

Looking for a good book? Robert Jackson Bennett's A Drop of Corruption is the second book in his Shadow of the Leviathan series. Anyone who enjoys good, powerful fantasy and anyone who enjoys a locked room mystery, should give the book a read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Watching Din and Ana solve the mysteries within is a lot of fun, and trying to figure it out before them is nearly impossible. I enjoyed all the intrigue of the court and the very idea of the Shroud, and the way the other characters rounded out the story and made it whole. This book was wonderful, from the very beginning all the way through the acknowledgments. I so hope more Ana and Din stories are coming.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

TThere should be a word for the melancholy that descends when reading an exceptionally good book and approaching the end. It’s a bit like approaching the conclusion of an incredible vacation, reveling in the wonder of it, while mourning that it’s going to be over soon. That’s how good A Drop of Corruption is, which splendidly extends the complex world building and character profiles of The Tainted Cup, the first book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. In addition to a baffling locked room, or locked tower, murder this time, the emphasis is also on the mystery of the brilliant enigmatic blindfolded investigator Ana Dolabra, who is faced with the rare mystery that breaks through her boredom to confound and at times enrage her. It begins when a disliked Treasury Official impossibly disappears from a heavily guarded and secured tower room. And his body, or parts of it, is found far away in a body of water. His secure box has been breached, although instead of a theft, there is a grisly deposit, which seems like a taunt. And this is happening against the backdrop of high political intrigue in Yarrowland, which is vital for the secretive Empire industries that distill the leviathan’s body parts to use as strange powerful enhancements for select members of the Empire’s far-reaching bureaucracy. As an engraver, Din, Ana’s ever faithful assistant, has been subject to these augmentations, which make every image, word, and sensation imprinted on his memory. His unaffected and droll tone as the narrator of these events, recall the quiet power of Dr John Watson’s voice, and Ana can be every bit as taxing and brilliant at Sherlock ;she is also beset by disarming personal demons. The murder quest, which also turns into a classified secrets heist, will lead Ana and Din into the inner workings of secret and possible illegal Empire laboratories, into a near inaccessible slave-holding anti-augmentation high kingdom in Yarrow, and into the dangerous and overgrown swamp forests in the boundary lands, which hold their own horrors. As soon as one mystery appears to be solved, two others pop up all orchestrated by Ana’s near invisible rival. The plot is expertly steered, the dénouements are often thrilling hairpin turns, and the larger questions of AI ethics (just substitute leviathan-enhanced) can easily be applied to the questions we now face in our world. Bennett’s imagination must have been augmented to create such wonders. I needed to start rereading it for sheer giddy pleasure almost as soon as I was finished.

I went into this book happy to get another great mystery with Ana and Din and while the setup for it is wonderful, I sadly didn't like it as much as the first one.
The story didn't pull me in as much and somehow I could not connect as well with the characters this time. I will still try the next book because I hope the story and dynamics pick up again.

The second in Robert Jackson Bennett's "Shadow of the Leviathan" series, A Drop of Corruption reunites us with Ana and Din, who are solving a mystery out in the wild margins of the Empire. This one has the same Sherlock Holmes feel, along with a little locked-room Agatha Christie flavor.

Since the world of the Empire was fleshed out in Book 1, this one doesn't have to lean so heavily into that, which in some ways is nice -- it allows more room for story and character development. But if you've forgotten anything about how this fantasy world works, this book won't help you much. This isn't one of those sequels you can read without reading the first book -- definitely read The Tainted Cup first before you dive into this one.

Book 2 introduces us to a potential new mystery-solving partner for Anna and Din, and treats us to more of Ana's delightful weirdness. Din is still figuring out his direction in life, and seems to come a bit closer to some conclusions, as well as some enlightening information about Ana and her background. I look forward to learning more about both in the next book. I missed Din's love interest in this book -- I'm hoping he makes a return in future installments.

I would have liked to meet some actual leviathans in this one. The talk of what becomes of them in the Shroud, and the magic in their blood, just further mystified them when I was hoping this book might provide some clarity after Book 1's mysterious descriptions.

I'm not one to read straight-up fantasy, but Bennett's combination of fantasy and mystery is perfect. Can't wait for the next one! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.

This was such a great book! I read book 1 roughly a year ago and was concerned about not remembering the world building details. The first 2 pages of the book were an info dump of the world and it was much appreciated.

The mystery in this book was really interesting and well done. I was able to figure out a few parts but some surprised me. The mystery was really intricate but I was able to follow all the threads. I sometimes struggle with the overly complex mysteries, but this was a great balance.

The characters were interesting. We learn more about Ana throughout the story. We also meet Malo who I wish we get more of in future books. Din, our narrator, is a bit meh, but he's surrounded by fascinating characters who make up for it, and I see him as more of a conduit of the story, so it didn't bother me.

This was a solid book from start to finish and I'm already looking forward to Ana and Din's next adventure!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.

The followup to the first of the Din and Ana mysteries, A Drop of Corruption is a mysterious, twisting, rollicking sequel. The best parts focus on Ana and Din, as Iudex officers and detectives with curious quirks. The plot was even more twisty, with twins, reagents, and the bone marrow (?) of long-dead monstrous creatures. I couldn't say I followed it the whole time, but the vibes and setting are immaculate and Bennett excels at characterization.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore through NetGalley.
This sequel does not disappoint though the overall tone shifts somewhat. The pair has been sent to the kingdom of Yarrowdale to solve a mysterious disappearance. A treasury official has vanished from a locked room - a common literary plot point but still masterfully presented. Even at this point, Ana and Din suspect there is a bigger mystery to solve and realize early on that they are up against a brilliant strategist. From here, the story unfolds with more murders and odd events that offer twists to the mystery and further information for Ana to sift and Din to investigate. Ana is one of my favorite characters and the author continues to reveal hints about her background. In particular, toward the end, she offers Din a huge clue to who she is.
I appreciate how Jackson Bennett weaves mystery and fantasy together. His descriptions bring the world to life. We see court intrigue, empire building, unequal citizens, and those who rebel against the system. The most difficult to see is why the antagonist creates the plans he does. Even that becomes clear as more is revealed about him through the investigation. The last dining scene is hard to read but offers so much information for the story and about the characters.
Hanging over the entire story is the Shroud. It is wrapped in mystery but Din is allowed to see parts of it and see how awe inspiring and depressing it is. Portions of the novel feel repetitive as the Shroud is addressed and re-addressed.
Overall, it was a fun read and I look forward to more of their adventures. I hope we see some of the secondary characters return in future mysteries.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The first in the series was fantastic, so I came in with very high expectations. I really enjoyed getting back to following Kol and Anna, and the beginning did a good job setting the scene for another mystery. I also enjoyed the ending, and thought the mystery wrapped up nicely and Kol’s future plans were addressed. The middle, however, was a slog to get through. Not sure if it was the pacing or if the mystery details became too tedious. I will continue the series, just hope the next one is as compelling as the first.

It is a great follow-up to the 1st novel. The best part of course is the relationship between Din and Ana, but the author introduced some great supporting characters specifically Malo, a feisty local Apoh. I was told that this story seemed to ramp up compared to the first book, and boy did the stakes skyrocket. While the first novel felt like a cozy murder mystery, this one had a much bigger worldview. I was here for the ride, but I missed the more intimate and little mystery storyline from the first book.

It made sense the author had to punch up the storyline since he started planting the seeds of what we could see from Ana and Din in the future. Knowing more of the Empire inevitably means we’ll get closer to the inner ring and perhaps this elusive, mysterious God-like Emperor.  Overall the central mystery was convoluted but well-crafted, and immensely satisfying to see it come together.

Something Robert Jackson Bennett does well is that he will blatantly give you the clues, but it’s still maddening to figure out how to put it together. Any reader can understand when a character says, “That’s an odd thing” then you know to latch onto that and realize it means something. But knowing it’s important and putting it together is two different things. So for Ana to casually put it together, it’s a great way to hammer home her brilliance. Something I think this book does the best of all is to show Din in a 3 dimensional way. Being an engraver one might think him rigid and boring, but he is a vulnerable person with deep concerns, loneliness, and pain.  Just like Ana, you realize the great depths of these characters who are otherwise trying to be decidedly closed off.

Final verdict
4 out of 5 stars. A great murder mystery follow-up to the 1st novel. Higher stakes. More action. Crazier plots. A level-ed up villian.

Favorite quotes
Can you imagine how many yard of guts it takes, Din, to prance into such highly guarded institutions with little more than confidence to aid you?

I feel we needn't bother looking at faces to find this man, Din! Just keep an eye out for the fellow with testicles large enough to cause back deformities, and we shall have our culprit!

"...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 helplesly look upon the slain and dream of instead saving lives?"

Could that be love? Could a thing capable of that also love?

"...all over now. No more riddles, no more need for imagination. And all was so small, at the end. It was for money, and land, and brutal, petty nihilism. Honestly, how...how tremendously disappointing."