the writing of this is just not for me AT ALL. it’s so dense and just not something i ever got used to. the story is interesting but not interesting enough to try and push through the writing.

thank you to del rey and netgalley for the advanced copy!

This series is setting up to be great fun, a touch mad, there’s kaiju in the ocean and biological tech that’s basically magic but might have you die screaming as it eats you alive. They have a kill it, kill it with fire, level of not messing around when it goes pear shaped in this world…. The Sherlock and Watson vibe is still there though less so than the first book. Well worth reading if you like science fiction/fantasy/mystery. Not cozy and things do get a bit gory. I’m really looking forward to this next book even though I’m generally a wimp about gore and violence.

"A Drop of Corruption" is the exciting follow-on to Robert Jackson Bennett's previous thriller "The Tainted Cup". The heroes of these books are a pair of investigators in a world where the foundation of their society is based on seemingly magical biological powers of mysterious ocean creatures. These investigators are comparable to Watson and Holmes in their ability to solve nearly impossible yet extremely high stakes cases. Thrills, adventures, mysteries, and some good old fashioned sex and drugs await! I totally enjoyed both of these books, and recommend them to anyone looking for an exciting mystery adventure. (These books can be read out of order, as they are each standalone episodes.)

I thank the publisher and author for kindly providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.

A Sherlock Holmes like fantasy and a new mystery in the world of The Tainted Cup, Kol is back and a new mystery of remains in a box. You’ll feel in a very consistent scene; Kol is called into a new investigation and then immediately meets with superior Ana - verbatim to the first novel. I liked that feeling. On a new adventure, our protagonist must follow his leads to possible bank robbery, secret notes, and what top political departments could really be hiding.

I really like this series. Not only is the author a good writer but you can tell he comprehends his subject matter and does research as needed. Compared to the first, I believe this one had a little more Ana, which I really love, as Ana tends to bring in some directness, humor, and just the right amount of madness. The consistency in this series in this world is great but it’s also just consistency- I would have liked maybe introducing something that felt a little newer to the story

I did like the first one better; Kol was underwhelming in this one, as he repeatedly felt a little one note and overshadowed. But would still recommend this series, if you enjoy a smarter fantasy with a lot of sci fi elements. Especially one that feels lighter to the fantasy to give more focus on the procedural aspects.

Din and Ana find themselves in Yarrow, a coastal region near the edge of the Empire, after the body of a Treasury member turns up in the canals this area is known for. The death is linked to the Shroud, where parts of the Leviathan are harvested for use in the Empire. As they work the case with local warden Signum Malo, new clues are sniffed out, limits are tested and the plot thickens. Will they discover the true enemy in time?

It was so great to be immersed back into Din and Ana’s functional but very dysfunctional world. Both their characters evolve even more as the second book in the series progresses. The world they live in also evolves and we are very much working through questions of how civilizations and people grow as time and needs change. I really enjoy how the author touches on human natures and what exactly makes us tick. Definitely recommend this series. 5 stars.

Based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Random House Publishing Group/Del Rey and NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

I read the first book in this series just before Christmas of this year, and am glad I didn’t need to wait for much longer to enjoy these characters again. This world is so unusual and enchanting, and Bennett writes a thrilling mystery. I appreciate how the ante was upped, and I want more lore of Ana and Din in the next book. This feels like a fabulous mix of fantasy and dystopian fiction, and it brings such a freshness to the genres it inhabits. Ana and Din are enjoyable characters, and their evolution as people develops in a believable way. As for the plot? It hit the mark. The ante was upped from the first book in a way that sparked delight and intrigue throughout the entire book. I love that the plot goes all the way to the end as well, and isn’t simply solved at 60% like so many books nowadays. High praise to Bennett and the beginnings of his masterpiece series.

Happy Publication Day! And a big thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for my review. This was a highly anticipated release for me and I couldn't WAIT to crack this one open.

With that said, this one took me longer to get through than I would have liked, but that is because of my reading preferences and not a fault of the book. I tend to forget that the pacing for a mystery is not on par with that of a thriller, though they tend to get lumped in together. This book is a mystery novel through-and-through and Bennett is methodical in crafting his tales. The character work and the subtle use of setting and world-building are used masterfully to create such a unique and intriguing story. Each piece of information is placed meticulously within the story and it was a lot of fun trying to solve this layered mystery alongside Ana, Din, and the newly introduced Malo.

In this follow up to the first book, Ana and Din find themselves trying to unravel yet another unsolvable mystery. This book takes them deep into the jungles and canals of Yarrowdale, a canton that is in the midst of being adopted into the Empire, to investigate the disappearance of a Treasury Officer. What they find is a plot that could lead to the deaths of the entire population of Yarrowdale and could bring the Empire to its knees.

Throughout reading this one I was reminded of what I loved about the first book. I really enjoyed this Sherlock-esque story and characters. Ana and Din are the Empire's version of Sherlock and Watson, complete with eccentric personalities, unrivaled intelligence and skill, and humor sprinkled in. In this book we get to know these characters more and I will say that they are the heart of what I love about this series. As I struggled through the slower parts of this novel, coming to the end I was quickly reminded why I enjoy following these characters. The revelations that we find out at the end of this novel have me, yet again, energized and excited to read further into this series.

There is a lot to enjoy here for fantasy lovers who are looking for interesting new worlds to explore and characters to follow. This book's version of "magic system" utilizes mind and body "alterations" that give the members of the Imperial Military specialized abilities unique to the nature of the work of their branch. The world-building is so intriguing because it is part procedural mystery within a world where nature is used to improve the lives of the people. From providing light, shelter, medicines and much more. All the while there are these Leviathan monsters that come out of the sea every year and march on the world. I still find myself wanting to learn more about why these Leviathan do what they do, what they are, and where they come from. The lore has not been explored as much, though we do get more in this book than the previous novel. I am hoping book 3 will shed some major light on this.

Overall, if you were a fan of the first novel I think you will enjoy this one just as much. If you are new to this series, enter into it with patience as it is slow and methodical in divulging its secrets. Take your time and enjoy your visit to the Great and Holy Empire of Khanum. This series is unlike other fantasy novels out there and comes highly recommended by me!

This is definitely a worthy sequel to the original! Focusing the narrative on the political fringes of the empire instead of the leviathan walls was an interesting choice, but it pays off. The mystery is tightly wound and the development of Ana and Din's relationship was very fun to see. I especially enjoyed the reveals about Anna's character, the arguments against monarchies, and the twists in the mystery. I did find Din's personal character arc to be a bit frivolous, but it takes up very few pages so it wasn't really an issue. I wish the debtor subplot had been expanded upon, because it just gets mentioned and resolved. Personally I did like the biopunk aesthetic of the first novel more, as the swamp setting wasn't as immediately intriguing. However by the end I was completely invested - I also loved the conversations Ana and Din have about the payoff of being Iudex, and how democracy is rarely glorious. 5 stars!

I really enjoyed this second Ana and Din mystery as a follow-up to The Tainted Cup! I love how these books are episodic, so while they still should be read in order so you can build up the greater story arc, it's nice to have the mystery solved and buttoned up in one book.

It was great to see how Ana and Din's relationship grew in this book. You could feel the level of familiarity that came from conversations at the end of book 1, but also from the year of further working together based on the timeline presented at the beginning of the book. The pair trusts each other more, is being more candid with each other, and also getting more exasperated with each other (but in a loving way of course). I also felt like we got to see the individual characters grow and develop more in this book. We get to see Din being a full-on disaster bisexual, dealing with saying goodbye to a past flame while also having engraver memories he can never forget. We also got to understand Ana and her antics a little bit more, while also getting new layers uncovered that I would love to see in another book.

This is a really great fantasy/sci-fi/murder mystery combo that I think will appeal to a large variety of readers!

Thanks again to Random House and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of this book!

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett--This new novel is a sequel to The Tainted Cup. This crime mystery is set in a fantasy empire and adjacent kingdom. Ana and Din are dispatched to solve the murder of a man who disappeared from a locked room, which they do but that leads to even more questions and political intrigue. The fantasy world has many interesting aspects that make solving the crimes intriguing and the characters are quirky. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey books for the digital arc in exchange for my review.

Investigators Din and Ana are off to another remote part of the Empire to solve a murder mystery - a man abducted from his room while all the exits are closed. But this is more than just a simple murder. What unfolds is a plot to unravel the Empire itself with an enemy who is ahead of Ana the entire time. Along the way, Din and Ana learn more about each other and themselves, and have to come to decide their own fates as well as the fate of the Empire.

What an incredible sequel! I feel that Bennett was able to keep the intrigue and momentum going from The Tainted Cup into A Drop of Corruption. I love how the story verges on horror at times, while also making the reader grow to learn and love all the main characters.

I love how fleshed out this world feels, and that both books give us glimpses into different parts of this vast Empire. Din and Ana continue to peel back the layers of themselves, with this book focused a bit more on Ana. I really enjoyed learning more about it all. I also found the mystery eluding me for most of the novel, but once I had figured it out, I still loved seeing everything play out in the end.

Bennett knows how to take important, deep topics, and create amazing worlds to weave them into. The idea of a monarchy and the role of our leaders is prevalent throughout this novel/series, and I appreciate his views on this and other topics.

I really hope we get more books with Din and Ana, because I will eat them up!

he Tainted Cup blew me away last year. It was this perfect blend of fantasy and murder mystery, plus the magic system was super cool, and I fell head over heels for the characters. So, when I snagged an ARC for book two, I was pumped. Like, 'this is gonna be my first read of the year, five-star-guaranteed' levels of excited. And guess what? It totally delivered.

A Drop of Corruption throws Din and Ana into a brand-new murder case, but this time they're ditching the Empire and heading to the sweltering, swampy Kingdom of Yarrow. We start with a seemingly impossible locked-room mystery and, uh, some very dismembered body parts, but things escalate fast. Like, from a seaside town to the freakin' jungle to the royal court, with political conspiracies, biological weapons, and a whole lot more gruesome deaths along the way. And honestly? I was hooked from start to finish.

This book seriously expands the world in the most fascinating way. Yarrowdale is home to the Shroud, this place where they bring in massive leviathan carcasses and experiment on them. It's this wild mix of body horror and magical science-y stuff that I couldn't get enough of. We also get to know the characters a bit better, though I'm always craving more. Ana is still her wonderfully weird and brilliant self, with all her odd habits. And Din? My stressed-out, bisexual icon king, constantly broke, always in the most dangerous situations. Plus, we get Malo, this no-nonsense character with a hint of annoyance, and I loved her. With her super senses, Din's perfect memory, and Ana's ability to understand, well, everything, they're basically an unstoppable trio. I'm just hoping Malo sticks around for book three, because none of the side characters from book one made it into this one.

Honestly, I'm crossing my fingers for a ton more books in this series. There's not really a huge overarching plot yet, but there are definitely more mysteries to solve and places for Ana and Din to explore. I'm so excited to see where this goes!

I loved this book!

As with all RJB books the characters are amazing! I love Ana and Din and the addition of Malo was perfection. The banter, the working relationships, and the balance of everyone's strengths are so well done.

The world is amazingly well fleshed out. RJB books are honestly so unique and descriptive. He manages to make you truly feel connected to the world the characters are in without dumping tons of overly descriptive paragraphs into the book.

The plot is a quirky detective mystery. It has twists and turns and even if you figure out a few things ahead of time, there will still be a few things that surprise you. It's an intense search and there are definitely some gory scenes, so keep that in mind if that's not for you. Also, weirdly alongside all that gore, this book is quite funny. There are a lot of witty comments. The back and forth between characters, especially Ana and Din, always managed to make me chuckle.

I will definitely be continuing this series. Can't wait for the next one!

The TWISTS are sharp. The STAKES are higher. This book is a wild ride.

The mystery was amazing. It was so layered. The author is a mastermind!!

The magic system was unique and having Titan blood as a power source?! I loved it!

But mostly the authors note is a must read. Don’t skip over that!

The Tainted Cup was a five star read for me and set a high bar. While A Drop of Corruption didn’t quite reach the same level for me, I still adored it.

We're introduced to the canton of Yarrowdale where a Treasury officer has disappeared from a room that remains locked from the inside. Ana and Din are called to find out more about this disappearance that ends up being a murder.

Robert Jackson Bennett really has a knack for bringing fantasy and mystery together. The way the plot unfolded was the absolute highlight of reading this. On top of that, the worldbuilding was fantastic as he introduced more political maneuvering and insight into the magic.

Though I loved the politics, it made it a denser read at times. The pacing had more ups and downs compared to the first book’s seamless flow, especially at the beginning. However, once the story picked up, it got faster and faster.

Ana and Din continue to be an unbeatable pair—witty, sharp, and endlessly entertaining. Ana is ever so slightly rude and Din balances her out perfectly. Their dynamic is the heart of this series, and I loved every moment of their interactions. In particular, I loved how their story wrapped up during this book's ending.

Despite a few slower sections, this was still an incredibly satisfying read, and I already can't wait for the next installment! I'd highly recommend this series to anyone interested in a fun, fantasy mystery.

Thank you to Del Rey Books and Random House for providing an eARC for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars

WHAT A FUN RIDE!

I was so glad to be back in this monster-filled, mystery-laced world. Din and Ana are at it again—tackling another mind-bending case and bringing us into a brand-new corner of the Empire.

RJB masterfully scatters clues throughout the book, keeping you guessing until the very end. I swear I had at least ten different suspects, and every time a new piece of the puzzle dropped, I was rethinking everything I thought I knew. Beyond the whodunit, this installment also wove in sharp political commentary and a thoughtful reflection on ancestral traditions—and what it means to break away from them.

Ana and Din’s chaotic dynamic is still delivering, though I’m itching to know more about Ana’s past. I’m holding onto a few theories based on hints from the first two books, and I’m hoping we get more reveals soon. Also, bring back Malo! She’s a fave and adds such great energy to the crime-solving duo.

This one is perfect for my girls, gays, and theys who:
✨ Think they can solve any mystery
✨ Love fantasy with a side of suspense
✨ Always root for the underdog

Thanks again to NetGalley, Robert Jackson Bennett and Random House Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my opinions.

This book gives fantasy and mystery in all the best ways with a side of strong Sherlock Holmes vibes. What truly sets it apart for me is its unique magic system - where fallen Titans are dissected for their magic-infused power. This almost sci-fi element adds a spark to the worldbuilding, making the setting feel fresh and immersive.
Beyond the murder at its core, the novel raises the stakes with the looming threat to the Shroud, intertwining politics, power struggles, and moral dilemmas in a way that keeps you hooked. The pacing is excellent, balancing slow-burning intrigue with bursts of action, and the atmosphere is richly drawn, making it easy to sink into the story. If you enjoy clever mysteries with a fantastical edge, complex conspiracies, and a touch of noir, this is a book worth picking up.

Our dynamic duo is back, and all their usual antics are in full force. If you were a fan of The Tainted Cup, you would not want to miss this cleverly crafted sequel. Charismatic characters, compounded with a cunning crime, will keep readers chasing for answers and chuckling along the way! Cozy, good fun...

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett is the 2nd book in the Shadow of the Leviathan Series. I really enjoyed book one, The Tainted Cup, and if you liked The Tainted Cup, you will absolutely like A Drop of Corruption. I am already dreading the wait for the third book. This is a mystery wrapped in a high fantasy. The world building is fantastic and Ana and Din are incredible characters. Comparisons to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are thrown about fairly frequently but to Ana and Din they are an apt comparison. The mystery is so well done, I'm always still puzzling things out when Ana has the case sorted. Really enjoying this series. If you like fantasy and you like a good mystery - read the Shadow of the Leviathan series. A Drop of Corruption releases today, April 1st. Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for my advance reader copy.

My thanks for the arc goes to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Sci-Fi, Science Fiction Mystery, Mystery, Futurism, Mystery
Spice Level: Some sex on page but not exactly graphic—it could be considered to be part of the characterization but probably could have been cut because it doesn't advance the plot.
Language: Still plenty of f-bombs
Representation: LGBTQ characters, in-world racial diversity
Creativity: Extremely clever

A DROP OF CORRUPTION, the second in the Shadow of the Leviathan, is complex, twisty, and murderous—keeping me glued to the page.

Things I love about this book and the first, *The Tainted Cup*:

- Creativity is through the roof
- Leviathans being used to power and remake this magical world
- Characters are deep and fascinating and varied
- Sherlock-like sleuth is a mystery herself
- Watson-like character is long-suffering
- Political intrigue
- Society at large and the problems
- The actual murder mystery

So, so amazing!!! Literally, the only thing I would change is taking out some of the unnecessary spice and the f-bombs (which is why I drop the rating a star by my policy because it makes the book less accessible to a larger audience). I find everything about the story gripping. I want more in this world. I want to keep exploring and seeing how the characters develop and solve new problems.

Ana Dolabre is macabre to read at times. I feel like the clues are coming together to learn more about her after the first book. Seriously, I can't say more without spoiling things.

Imagine me clapping for an encore, and then you'll have the picture.

Sci-fi readers are going to eat up this book.

Happy reading!