A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

5 out of 5 Stars

***ARC received from Del Rey and NetGalley, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. I have always prided myself in completing a book before its release date but I fell behind. I was pretty close to completion but this was the book I had been most looking forward to this year and I wasn’t about to rush through it. It deserves all my attention as this was the follow up to my favorite read out 2024 and I know its only April but this is right at the top of my favorite read of 2025. Seriously, can Robert Jackson Bennett do wrong with this series? So far, no, no he cannot.

In the far edges of the empire a mysteries murder has taken place. Mysteries enough to bring in the top minds meaning Ana and Din are on the job. This starts out much like the previous book but these are investigators so that is to make sense but it rather quickly blossoms into a much later story. Yarrowdale is an interesting setting for the story, hints of the empire looming on the horizon but it allows to broaden the world. We got a lot of the Empire in the previous book and this lets us explore in a way the history of the world. Din is such a sweetheart, he is struggling with his job, wanting to do more to save the Empire, be on the frontline seeing his job isn’t doing enough for the Empire. He’s come a long way in his development from the first book, more confident in who he is as an investigator more than happy to disregard Ana’s instructions when it doesn’t suit his current needs. Din has come a way from someone who seemed to be constantly questioning his place.

One of my favorite things about this series is Ana, I loved her in the first book and I adore her in the second. Its been awhile, Ana and Din have had more adventures but still much like Din we are left wondering who Ana really is. One thing I hate is when books drag out a mystery far longer than need be and Robert Jackson Bennett seems to understand this perfectly. We learn so much more about Ana both through Din’s interaction with her and the knowledge she passes on to him about her history. It was great to learn so much more about her, things that explain some of her strange behaviors and perhaps why she is as brilliant as she is. Also that much of her behavior are not some strange funny quirks to make her a quirky character, they are deeply rooted in who she is. We learn more about this and there is still so much left to explore about Ana, we now understand a little more about her.

Din and Ana’s relationship has evolved since the last book, they have worked together more and appear to have a tighter bound. Its clear how much Ana relies on and cares for Din even if her personality is so brusque she does treat everyone the same yet you feel how she seems to care for Din. Not just to serve her own purposes, as always she would respect if he wanted to leave even if she might put up a fight. The things she does don’t only serve her own purpose, its clear she does it from a place of concern and caring and you know Din knows this.

The plot and pacing move along at a great pace, for an almost 500 hundred page book it knows how to pace itself. The book never spends too long on the initial murder mystery that brought Din and Ana to this new town as the bigger mystery unfolds yet it is never forgotten. It swings back to explain further on what happened as new clues and information is brought up. I loved how it handles the differences between the Kingdom of Yarrowdale and the Empire both have their flaws, the blind loyalty to a bloodline, the willing to destroy in the name of progress. Both have their flaws but I liked how they were explored in the store. There is a much deeper look at the leviathan and the terrible things that must be done to dissect and gain from them. I felt deeply for the augur characters, they are so deeply impacted by their work, driven nearly mad all for the advantage of others. It something these books do so well, even though they are just secondary characters they are given depth and we want better for them.

This is a great new addition to the series, giving answers but setting up an even bigger story. Highly, highly recommend.

A Drop of Corruption is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. It is one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, and it did not disappoint at all. It is definitely one of the best sequels I have ever read. Robert Jackson Bennett’s worldbuilding in this book is incredibly unique and truly stands out. With well developed characters and a compelling mystery, you simply can't put this book down. I love this series so much, and I can't wait to read the next installment. I will definitely be rereading the first two novels very soon as well. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In A Drop of Corruption, Robert Jackson Bennett continues to build upon the fascinating world he created in The Tainted Cup, bringing Ana Dolabra and
Dinios Kol to investigate an unusual disappearance in a city caught in the mechanations of both its current ruler and the whims of the Empire.

Locked room mysteries are my personal favorite type and I thoroughly enjoy attempting to figure things out while the characters do so. I adored how the plot of A Drop Of Corruption propelled forward as truths were uncovered and how even the most minute detail could eventually play a role in a massive revelation.

Ana and Din are a still wonderful duo: with Ana’s unconventional behavior and methods balanced by Din’s more pragmatic mindset. Din’s portrayal is a more vulnerable one: slightly disillusioned with overall impact of his role, quietly yearning and dealing with the stress of a troublesome issue.

While Ana still remains very brilliant and slightly imperceptible, certain information provided offers a slightly better understanding of her character, while raising interesting questions relating to her overall intentions as well.

Although serious themes pertaining to justice, the benefit of the many at the expense of the few and the effects of the rule of kings upon their people are presented within A Drop Of Corruption, there are still some moments of levity that are appreciated.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s author’s note is also immensely relevant especially in this current climate. I thoroughly enjoyed A Drop Of Corruption and I’m greatly anticipating the next book in this series.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Del Rey, Random House Worlds and NetGalley for providing access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is a phenomenal continuation of this series. It feels very Sherlock Holmes in a fantasy world. I would recommend this to everyone who enjoys fantasy and crime thrillers.

If you haven’t read The Tainted Cup, do so. If you’ve read it then I highly recommend reading A Drop of Corruption. I instantly fell right back into step with Din and Anna, though this time they are in a foreign land investigating another impossible murder. Thank you to Random House Publishing for this ARC.

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to read the first book in Robert Jackson Bennett’s Shadow of the Leviathan series, The Tainted Cup. And I fell in love with it. Which was both awesome and slightly scary: awesome, of course, because I got to read a great book; but a bit scary because the bar was set so high for any sequels. Happily though, I’ve just finished an advance review copy of the next book, A Drop of Corruption, and it lives up to the challenge.

At its roots, Corruption is a natural follow-on to The Tainted Cup. The Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin relationship between Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol holds true, although there are occasional hints of Sherlock Holmes as well. Ana is still eccentric, enigmatic, and brilliant; while Din remains snarky and quietly competent, even if he is sometimes unable to figure out exactly where Ana’s thoughts are headed. And I’d be content just with their by-play, and the mystery itself, and some of the newer characters, like Signum Malo, whom I hope to see more of in future books. (Note: please please let there be future books…)

Corruption doesn't stop there, though: there is more to the mystery (the mechanics of the locked room puzzle that notionally kicks off the story are rather quickly resolved, almost as an aside), more to the world-building, and more to the characters. And much more to the political background, which is an underlying, serious, thought-provoking commentary on – how shall I say this – the corruption and the stifling of ingenuity associated with autocrats and autocratic government. Which could be rather depressing, but there are also countervailing moments of optimism, not least of which is one of my favorite quotes, with Ana speaking to Din: “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.”

Overall, A Drop of Corruption is a worthy and wonderful successor to The Tainted Cup, and I highly recommend it, both for mystery lovers and for fantasy readers.

And finally, a few practical notes: First, just go read it – and definitely don’t skip the Author’s Note once you get to the end! Second, although I imagine a new reader could enjoy A Drop of Corruption by itself, the experience will be much enhanced by reading the first book first. And third, my deep and sincere thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the review copy.

RJB writes a damn good fantasy. This is his second in the series and just as amazing and all consuming as the first one. The main characters are complex but relatable and I feel like the mystery in this one was even better than the first. Do yourself a favor and read this series and then make sure to read the authors note at the end. It was perfection.
This is a far too underrated fantasy!

This is just a tad too long, because Din spends too much time whining about his lot in life. This seems to be resolved by the end, so hopefully we can all move forward. The mystery is fascinating, though unsolvable by the reader. Another fine adventure and if Din can continue without the constant complaining, I am happily along for the ride.

A Drop of Corruption is a captivating and fast-paced entry in Robert Jackson Bennett's The Founders series. Set in a world where political intrigue and ancient powers collide, the novel follows detective-turned-investigator Sigrud as he navigates a tangled web of corruption, betrayal, and dark secrets. Bennett’s world-building is immersive, creating a rich, complex setting that pulls you in from the start.

The characters are compelling, especially Sigrud, whose personal struggles and determination make him a memorable protagonist. The story blends mystery, action, and fantasy elements effortlessly, with Bennett’s sharp writing keeping the suspense high throughout.

Though the plot is engaging, some parts feel a bit predictable, and the pacing slows down in places, but overall, it’s an exciting, well-crafted read. Fans of gritty, politically charged fantasies will find A Drop of Corruption to be an enjoyable, satisfying experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC.

The book starts with a classic locked room mystery; however it moves far beyond that well worn premise becoming a far more interesting and complex conspiracy.

Din and Ana are again our flawed protagonists; this time they visit the northern reaches in a place that is barely a part of their empire.
This book finds Ana shedding a bit of her Nero Wolfe roll to become more active in the investigation, but she still plays the roll of the Sherlock to Din's Holmes. There are some interesting points brought up regarding the colonialism of the empire and the serfdom/feudalism of this province's more traditional government, but the book is mostly a fun and intriguing mystery set in a bazaar fantasy world.

Recommended to any one who wants a good mystery or conspiracy and doesn't mind the fantasy setting and to lovers of fantasy novels.

After being a little iffy on Book 1, I am sold! This world is fantastic. I’m loving the episodic crime solving this time around, and I couldn’t be more enamored with these characters. I so hope we get more Malo in the next installment.

This story and mystery is so cleverly crafted. I definitely did not know what the next revelation would bring, and the way the “magic” of this world is used to unravel the crime is very fun. We got some larger revelations about the world and one of our characters in this book, I can’t wait to see where the next book will take us!


I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I had such a favorable experience with The Tainted Cup I was eager to continue Shadow of the Leviathan series. I chose the ebook version again even though I now purchased the audio version of the first book. I am encouraged to go read this author's backlist also.

I'm seeing more of these scifi mysteries and they are a real favorite combining my favorite genres.

While the world-building and plot are complex and interesting, the reading is easy and fun. The pace was comfortable and kept me engaged, even in a longer book. I would read the series in order as the personal aspects build on the previous book.

This fantasy world has augmented human, political classes, and huge monsters. We learn about some of the different types of augmentations which also divides them somewhat into the kind of work they perform. Travel between regions seems to take time and they travel by cart or by horse. People seem to only be knowledgeable about their own area and not well traveled unless they are more wealthy or travel for work. But usually investigators do not travel and stay in their own region.

I have come to love our main characters Din and Ana. They are curious and not easily classified. Din is an engraver, which is an augmented human, who remembers everything and can recite it back. Ana is an investigator who shuts out stimuli to solve mysteries. They solve problems with a very Sherlock Holmes style with much observing and witness statements. Din goes out to gather the evidence and report back to Ana. Ana is genius but Din has some skills too.

We learned a bit more of their personal history as they come out to Yarrowdale to investigate a murder. Yarrow has a king who has planned to turn over the kingdom to the Empire. The Treasury people have been negotiating the integration, ie. the taxes. A man from the Treasury has turned up dead. It gets worse when they realize a number of healing potions have been stolen.

This series is brilliant and I hope there will be many books. I want to learn much more about these characters and their world.

I loved this book even more than the first. Excellent writing, loved the fantasy and murder mystery elements, but that it was also grounded in the characters. I loved the banter, how multi-layered it was, and how it came together in the end. Will definitely recommend.

I was offered an arc for this from NetGalley and I am thankful for that. I did not like the first book and rated it 3 stars so I was a little skeptical going into this. I ended up DNF’ing this 33 pages in. It was super boring and I couldn’t really keep up with all that was going on. I also didn’t really like the lgbtq in it. I don’t typically read that if I can help it. I will not be continuing this series.

A Drop of Corruption takes everything that made The Tainted Cup exceptional—impossible murders, eerie biology, and razor-sharp wit—and elevates it to new heights. This sequel delivers another mind-bending crime, even stranger biological concepts, and, most importantly, more of Ana Dolabra—the empire’s most enigmatic and formidable investigator.

This time, Ana and her steadfast assistant, Dinios Kol, are sent to the empire’s fringes to investigate the disappearance of a treasury officer. The case quickly turns gruesome, featuring dismemberment, missing body parts, and a killer who seemingly walks through walls. Ana, true to form, unravels the surface-level mystery within minutes, but as the investigation deepens, the complexity of the case intensifies. The stakes? Nothing less than the survival of the empire against the looming leviathan threat.

The narrative thrives on its dynamic between Ana and Din. Much like Watson to Sherlock, Din provides a grounded perspective, allowing the reader to witness Ana’s brilliance through his eyes. However, this installment explores Din’s internal conflicts in greater depth. Originally joining the Iudex to settle his father’s debts, he now finds himself questioning whether his true calling lies in solving crimes or fighting alongside the Legion to protect the empire.

The world-building continues to astonish, expanding on the empire’s genetic wizardry, the transformative properties of leviathan blood, and the mysterious Shroud—a living, organic space unlike anything else. New characters seamlessly integrate into this bizarre yet captivating universe, with Mala, an investigator with an unnervingly heightened sense of smell, standing out as a particularly intriguing addition.

True to Bennett’s style, the antagonist is far from a one-dimensional villain. Instead, they are a tragic, cunning figure whose backstory unfolds gradually, revealing layers of motivation and pain. While the middle of the book occasionally lingers on intricate details, the prose remains so compelling that it’s difficult to find fault.

Ultimately, A Drop of Corruption solidifies the Shadow of the Leviathan series as one of the most remarkable fantasy-mystery sagas of the decade. With its gripping plot, intricate character development, and unparalleled world-building, this book is both a page-turner and a thought-provoking read. Highly recommended, and I eagerly await the next installment—if Bennett continues on this trajectory, this series could become a landmark in the genre.

I adore RJB's writing. It's unique and refreshing and unlike many fantasy books being published right now.

A Drop of Corruption take us back into the world of the Levithian's and goes at a pace that you can't put down. I was enthralled the entire time reading this and on the edge of my seat. I feel this is a book you must experience because to say too much leads to spoilers but lets just say, I'm always trying to solve the mystery before my lovable man Dinios Kol, and I never ever ever do! And the reveal left me gasping!

RJB is truly writing like no other! His unique worlds, fantastic character building, and awesome magic systems are so well thought out and engaging.

Cannot wait to see what RJB does next!

Thank you as always to Del Rey and Netgalley for an early copy for exchange for an honest review!

Another 5 star read from Mr. Bennett. I enjoyed his Foundryside trilogy, and The Tainted Cup was absolutely phenomenal. The writing is fantastic, the story very well paced and told mainly from Din's POV. We meet a lot more characters and explore more of this fantasy world. Again, Ana proves hilarious and brilliant, and I'm so intrigued by her secret modifications and her overall history before Din was assigned her assistant. I cannot wait for the third installment!!

4.5 Ana and Kol are back with another mystery to solve! If you enjoyed the first one you will enjoy this second installment just as much. The world building continues in this novel and it is nicely interwoven in the main mystery plot. I was able to guess part of the big reveal but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the story. Ana and Kol continue to have an endearing and humorous relationship that has smiling multiple times.

Be sure to read the authors note at the end. Made me like the book even more.

Thanks to net galley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

My level of obsession with these fictional characters and this fictional world is a bit alarming, but it’s Robert Jackson Bennett’s fault. I didn’t know how badly I needed fantasy mystery books, but now it’s kind of all I want? Why bother with fantasy or mystery alone when you can have both? The series is fantastic, no notes, thank G-d I saw book #3 is listed (currently Untitled) on Goodreads.

Go read The Tainted Cup and then A Drop of Corruption right now and thank me later.

I honestly don’t know how to review this book without spoiling anything. All I can say is it’s even better than the first one and you so need to read it!!