thank you Del Ray for my copy of this book!

This series is so great. I never know what is going to happen and I am beyond obsessed with that. these characters are so satisfying!

The first book, The Tainted Cup, was one of my favorites last year, só I was so excited to read this one and it didn't disappoint. The world created by the author is so interesting, and the characters are really good. I admit that a little part of the story did not make sense to me and bothered me a little, but is something that is a "me" problem and not a problem of the plot or writer. Anyway, I am ready to read more adventures by Ana and Din.

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the eARC.

4.5

I'm not going to lie, I wasn't going to pick this up. I read The Tainted Cup in March 2024 and felt very ambivalent about it. I knew it wasn't going to stick in my brain, and while I did consider revisiting it when I saw everyone online rave about it, I had been let down by the sequels to Foundryside so in my head I was done with the series. Then I was offered a widget invite to the NetGalley eARC and I started second guessing, and then this year's r/fantasy bingo prompts were released and I was struggling to fill the biopunk square. So here we are and I have no clue what was wrong with me last March (other than like moving across the country and starting a new job and just being overwhelmed in general) but I really liked this. I think this world is super fun and I loved the way the mystery leads to more worldbuilding so that it never feels like too much. I do think some of the plot twists towards the end started to drag the story a little bit for me. I think this would have easily been a 5 star read if it was 50-100 pages shorter. That being said, I love Din and Ana and their working dynamic. It's very Sherlockian with Din being the Watson narrating the story and Ana being the eccentric analytic with secrets to be discovered throughout the series. I also found the author's note about authoritarian leadership really interesting and definitely made me stop and think a bit more about the story and other works of secondary world fantasy and how/why author's create governing systems in their worlds.

Detective Ana (our Sherlock Holmes character) is called upon to solve a disappearance. Din (our Watson character) uses his perfect memory to gather all the observations and evidence for Ana. The disappearance turns out to be a murder.

I really like Din and Ana. And I liked that we jumped right into the mystery in book 2. The mystery kept getting more and more complicated. Too complicated for me, similar to my complaints about book 1.

If you like complex Holmes/Watson mysteries and fantasy, I highly recommend this series.

4.75⭐️. A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. It is a detective-driven mystery with an adventurous fantasy twist. Themes include murder and intricate lock-room puzzles. Though the book doesn’t provide a timeline, it suggests time has passed since the previous book, with lower-stakes mysteries between them.

Ana and Din are called to the empire’s edge, where a treasurer vanished from a heavily guarded tower. The officer’s disappearance seems supernatural, but it’s later revealed to be a murder. A bank heist also occurs, and the killer may target the high-security compound known as the Shroud, where the empire harvests fallen titans for volatile magic.

The death toll rises, and the killer is intelligent and cunning. Din and Ana embody the Sherlock Holmes and Watson vibe, while the killer resembles Moriarty. The killer seems to be brilliant with an unusual amount of knowledge, and the first 30% of the books seek to uncover the killer’s identity. The rest of the book focuses on the pursuit and capture of all those involved. The political discussion centers around whether the town should join the empire, exploring its benefits and drawbacks, and the empire’s stance on expansion and resource management. The enhanced world-building provides a deeper understanding of the Leviathans and their connection to the people in the land. While the mystery may not be as challenging, the killer’s mastery of disguise adds an extra layer of intrigue.

I enjoyed this book more than the first. I liked how the book ended, emphasizing the importance of Ana’s investigative work and the growth of her and Din’s trust. I also appreciated the subtle reveals about the mystery surrounding Ana, which feels like the overarching mystery in each book. I’m curious about Ana’s background and how she solves problems. While the first book started slower, the pacing improved in the second book, with better reveal timing and a less rushed conclusion. Overall, I’m enjoying the fantasy murder mystery series. Though some twists were predictable, there were still surprising aspects. The unique nature of the series allows for a long run, but it doesn’t need to, so I’m interested in how many books this series will be. The serialized format provides intriguing elements about Ana and Din’s background, and I’m eager to see how the story progresses. If you liked the first book, I recommend picking up this book.

It feels so good to be back with Ana and Din! If you thought The Tainted Cup was their greatest case, then you are in for a delightful surprise in A Drop of Corruption. Ana and Din find themselves, once again, at the very edges of the Empire, in an isolated land ruled by a King whose people are either devoted to the monarchy or in conflict with the system. Throw in the ever present presence of the Leviathans, corrupt officials, body altering contageants, mass murder and secret experiments and you have just another day at the office. They might be my most favorite literary couple. The book is full of intrigueing revelations of not only the Empire, but of Ana and Din themselves. The banter between Ana and Din are some of the best parts and I look forward to all their interactions. Could the Empire be at risk again? Never fear, because Ana and Din are on the case.

Think Agatha Christie style murder mystery but instead of Hercule Poirot you have Moira Rose. The dialogue in this is luxurious, the environment lavishly built, I do hope this is not the last we see of Ana and Din.

Ahoy there me mateys! In this second book of the series, Din and Ana are back.  Several years and cases have passed since the first book.  The duo finds themselves in Yarrowdale on the edges of the Empire.  Yarrowdale is still run by a King and negotiations continue about transitioning the country into the Empire.  The problem this time is a locked room mystery where a Treasury official from the Empire has been found dead in a canal.  How did an assassin get into the official's locked room at the top of the tower without being seen?  How will the diplomatic interests of the Empire be affected?

Din, at this point in his career, is downhearted and rather jaded.  His work does not bring him personal satisfaction and he wants a department transfer to fight Leviathans on the Wall.  His family debts are smothering him and the only way to calm his mind is by a series of one-night stands.  He continues to do his best because of personal pride.  Ana at first seems her regular crazy self but time in Yarrowdale will stretch her to breaking.  Din and Ana still work well together but Din seems irritated at having to always do Ana's footwork for her.  Luckily, Din has Warden Malo with her excellent nose to help him deal with local formalities.  She was an excellent character addition and also provides lighthearted humor and banter with Din.

Of course the Treasurer's murder is just the start.  There is a lot going on with this book from the monarchy, to missing treasure, to smugglers, to Leviathans, to lots of secrets, to contagion, etc.  I was able to guess a couple of big plot twists and many smaller ones but there is plenty to discover about how the murder happened, how politics are effected, and how relationships evolve.  I really enjoyed this novel and I cannot wait for the next book.  Arrr!

Side note:  I adored the scene with Ana and the oysters!

4.5 rounded up

Last year, RJB released The Tainted Cup and the charming investigative duo of Din and Ana swept me up into a thrilling and fantastical murder mystery... The hybrid fantasy-mystery was one of my top reads of 2024. The duo is back in a more political who dunnit that is sure to be a hit when it's released this April. While there were parts of it that dragged a little to the point that the plot felt like it wasn't really advancing at all, I was deeply satisfied by the end of it. There were many times that I thought "Okay, this doesn't really need to be in the plot," or "This feels its just thrown in here," but by the time of Ana's big "get them all in the same room" reveal came around, it all made sense and it became clear that Bennett was writing with intention. This was the perfect cross between a Holmes-ian whodunnit and a high fantasy setting and truly, The Shadow of the Leviathan series will appeal to fans of both mystery and fantasy genres.

This story throws you into a Medieval-esque kingdom on the cusp of being taken over by a dominating Empire. Filled with commentary on self-appointed kings, history and ancestry, political diplomacy, and what it means to be a subject, the novel runs much deeper than just a fantasy murder mystery. RBJ's afterword is the cherry on top as he speaks to the political climate in America and the role "fantasy" plays in it. It's a must read!

A wonderful addition to the series! I loved how the story was strong and added in a lot of background for the Empire and for Yarrow. It was really interesting, the mystery felt like it was challenging but not like information was being withheld from me to make it challenging. I really love Din and Ana, I am looking forward to continuing to see where their journey takes them as the story continues.

4.75/5

This is my Fast and Furious, give me 15 of these. And they keep getting better by the moment.

On a first note: Din, slut season is open all day for you my boy. You're making some of us jealous.

On a second note: That dedication, the accent on the audiobook and the whole vibe is an homage to Spanish culture and I fucking loved it.

On a third note: The mystery was so much better than the previous one.

My only problem with this book was the villain. They were supposed to be SO MUCH and so impressive, that I didn't feel like they delivered.

But the rest, from the science fiction alien laboratory to the half answers we get surrounding a certain character, was brilliant.

I'm in love with the originality of this author, he keeps reinventing stuff in such an interesting light.

4.75/5

This is my Fast and Furious, give me 15 of these. And they keep getting better by the moment.

On a first note: Din, slut season is open all day for you my boy. You're making some of us jealous.

On a second note: That dedication, the accent on the audiobook and the whole vibe is an homage to Spanish culture and I fucking loved it.

On a third note: The mystery was so much better than the previous one.

My only problem with this book was the villain. They were supposed to be SO MUCH and so impressive, that I didn't feel like they delivered.

But the rest, from the science fiction alien laboratory to the half answers we get surrounding a certain character, was brilliant.

I'm in love with the originality of this author, he keeps reinventing stuff in such an interesting light.

We are back with Din and Dolabra as they arrive in Yarrowtown to discover who killed a treasurer. He disappeared from a locked room with no one coming or going.
They both have their work cut out for them, as this murder spirals into a larger mystery that will put everyone in Yarrowtown in danger. And could impact even more than they could imagine. This world is huge and with every book we learn a bit more about its politics and history and I enjoy every moment.

I love coming back to this duo as they use their enhancements to solve this mystery. And with this book, I'm more intrigued by Ana and hope we get to dive even more into her in the future. This was fun and suspenseful, and I had no idea what was going to happen from one moment to the next. This series has quickly becom a favorite and I hope we get more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for giving me the chance to read and review this title.

This series has absolutely found a place on my favourites shelf. I was already a huge fan after The Tainted Cup, but A Drop of Corruption just cemented it for me. I’ve always had a soft spot for Sherlock-and-Watson-type duos, and Ana Dolabra and Din Kol might be one of my all-time favourite iterations. Their dynamic is so sharply written—equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and completely unpredictable—and I already know I’ll be recommending this series to anyone who even hints at liking fantasy, mysteries, or murder with a twist.

This instalment sees Ana and Din sent to Yarrowdale to investigate a political murder that takes the form of a classic locked-room mystery—except this being a Robert Jackson Bennett book, it quickly spirals into something far more bizarre and high-stakes than anything as straightforward as “whodunnit.” The setting expands beautifully, introducing new layers to the empire, and I loved how the world feels both enormous in scale and incredibly detailed in its design. The levelling-up of the mystery elements alongside the fantasy world-building is something I really admire about this series—it never leans too heavily in one direction, and it all feels like it just works.

The atmosphere carries over so much of what I enjoyed in the first book, but the new location and increasingly complex political undertones make everything feel fresh again. The leviathan lore continues to be one of the most fascinating parts of the world, and I love how it’s not just window dressing—it’s tightly integrated into both the setting and the heart of the mystery. I honestly can’t wait to learn more about that part of the universe.

And of course, Ana and Din are just brilliant. Ana is as outrageous and sharp as ever (her dinner scenes are equal parts horrifying and hilarious), and Din’s narration brings the emotional weight that balances everything out. He’s such a relatable character—earnest, frustrated, trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t always reward good intentions—and watching his development continue in this book was really satisfying.

I also really appreciated how the story tackled corruption—not just in a surface-level, villains-doing-bad-things way, but as something systemic, complex, and ever-present. There’s a quiet kind of hopefulness in the way Din and Ana work: they know they can’t fix everything, but they still try to stop things from getting worse. It’s such a strong thread in the book, and it stayed with me after I’d turned the last page.

I can’t believe I hadn’t read any of Bennett’s earlier books before this series—that’s something I’ll be fixing soon. But for now, I’m just thrilled that we’ve got at least one more instalment coming. I’ll be there day one.

The Tainted Cup is one of my favorite books of 2024 and I love the genre blend of mystery and fantasy that it is. A Drop of Corruption is the perfect sequel for it. Din and Ana are such a great pair and I had so much fun reading about them again. The world is more clear to me now than before, which should happen once you read a sequel. I got engrossed in the mystery pretty quickly and even though it's very convoluted at times, it’s interesting to see it unfold. If you haven't read The Tainted Cup, you should definitely pick it up and if you like it, you will like this one too. However if The Tainted Cup wasn't for you, then I don't recommend picking up the sequel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc.

Robert Jackson Bennett returns to the fascinatingly strange and dangerous world of his Shadow of the Leviathan series with A Drop of Corruption. This second outing for the delightfully unconventional investigative duo, Ana Dolabra and Din, presents another intricate puzzle – this time involving a disappearance from a seemingly impossible scenario.

What Bennett achieves so well here, I think, is the seamless fusion of meticulous detective work with profoundly imaginative, almost phantasmagorical, world-building. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, respecting the traditions of the genre while feeling entirely fresh within its unique bio-fantasy setting. The true heart, however, might be the evolving dynamic between the brilliant, eccentric Ana and the steadfast Din, whose interactions provide both sharp wit and surprising warmth.

It's a densely imagined world, yet the narrative moves with impressive momentum. I found it a highly engaging read that trusts its audience to keep pace with both the complex investigation and the wonderfully weird environment. While familiarity with The Tainted Cup adds layers, A Drop of Corruption offers a rewarding experience on its own, cementing Bennett's status as a distinctive voice in modern fantasy. It's a clever, immersive, and satisfyingly executed novel.

“A Drop of Corruption” is a second installment in the “Shadow of the Leviathan” series by Robert Jackson Bennett.
What an incredible next installment in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with this E-ARC to read and review.

4.5 stars

i could (and should tbh since this was an arc) have finished this earlier but i like spending time with din and ana so much i purposefully read it slower. i cant wait for the next already, this is kind of becoming a comfort series for me

i fear i dont have much new to say compared to the first book. i still enjoy roberts writing a lot, the mystery was even more interesting this time and well done like the first. and also like the first, the highlight of the story is din and ana. especially ana. their dynamic is so good!

The first book in this series, The Tainted Cup, was one of my favorite reads of last year and this sequel did not disappoint in the slightest. I loved the way that Din evolved in his confidences since the last book, but also in the way he perceives his role in the Empire and alongside Ana. The mystery had so many twists and turns and there was an urgency that reminded me of some of the original Sherlock Holmes tales. I loved that we were able to spend more time was Ana and the addition of Malo was done very well. I'm already hoping for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklor, and Robert Jackson Bennett for this free, advance copy.

This series just keeps getting better and better! Gripping, atmospheric, well written characters, stunning plot!