Bennett constructs a solid narrative that explores universal themes such as betrayal, loyalty, and the difficulty of distinguishing between good and evil in a world where moral lines are blurred. The author's writing is one of his defining characteristics. His prose is fluid yet never lacking in complexity, managing to combine moments of frantic action with slower, more reflective passages. The world-building is meticulous, with a well-developed political and social system that recalls the works of well-known authors like George R.R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson, but with a more political and psychological focus. The city that serves as the backdrop to the story is alive and tangible, almost a character in its own right, actively influencing the plot and the fate of its inhabitants.

Another strength of the novel is the characterization. Bennett excels at making his characters complex, showcasing their weaknesses and inner conflicts, which makes them human and, consequently, engaging. His ability to address political and moral themes through his characters makes the novel more than just an adventure story: it becomes an investigation into the human soul and the nature of power.

The tension that pervades "A Drop of Corruption" is palpable, as Bennett skillfully manipulates the narrative rhythm, and the element of mystery that permeates the plot keeps the reader glued to the pages with continuous twists that enrich the story and increase the desire to keep reading. However, it is a dense text, rich in subplots and with an expansive world that requires significant effort and imagination from the reader. There are also some unanswered questions by the end of the story, but this helps maintain suspense in anticipation of the next volume in the series.

The Shadow of the Leviathan series follow 2 investigators, Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol on their adventures and investigations through an imaginative, cutthroat world filled with mutated humans with superhuman abilities and giant monsters. Think Sherlock Holmes with Kaiju.

I enjoyed this second book in the series, but just a little less than the first installment. Like the first, the writing is excellent, the mystery compelling and satisfying, and the world building immersive. I liked that this book is set in a new location, introduces a new cast of characters, and reveals more of the world rather than retreading old ground. The first one focuses more on Dinios' secrets while this one unearths more of Ana's secrets.

While I enjoyed meeting a new cast, I found them less compelling than the first. I felt like there was so much action in this story that there was no time for character development, even for our two main characters. Kol felt a bit flat in this and Ana felt like a caricature instead of a three dimensional person. In book one, there were compelling secondary characters like the love interest Kepheus. I would have happily read many chapters about that burgeoning relationship. The love interest in this one, Sabudara, was a brief character sketch and I think only meant to provide some comic relief, so if you're looking for romance, prepare for disappointment. Finally, I found some of the violence and language times jarring at times; instead of naturally flowing with the story, they felt like an attempt to inject more edginess into the book.

My disclaimer is that I might be judging A Drop of Corruption too harshly. Tainted Cup was one of my favorite books of 2024 and my expectations were extremely high going in. While I still loved the world, the writing, and the surprises, I felt like book two in the series fell a little short of the magic of the first for me. That being said, I will definitely read book three (hopefully there will be one)!

Thanks to Robert Jackson Bennett, Del Rey, and Netgalley for the ARC.

3,5

This was such a hard review to write because its a good book with only one flaw. But the flaw was so persistent trough the book that it made me enjoy it less.

I once again loved the cast of characters. Din and Ana are such a lovely take on a sherlock/Watson duo. I enjoyed their interactions with each other and the new cast members as well as their character arcs.

The world is once again filled with such whimsy and wonder. This series handled its ”magic” system like no other. I love the way it uses plants and biology. This book expanded on both old and new concepts and i was intrigued trough the entire thing.

The murder mystery was okay but I do think the first book was better.

Now to my Issue. In the efforts to be anti monarchy the book manages to feel incredibly pro-imperialism. It also made a lot in the book feel racially charged in a way I’m pretty sure the author didn’t intend. But it soured the book quite a but for me and I think it could have been handled better.

In the end i think it was a misstep from the author and i will of course continue with book three, especially since it could technically fix all the issues i had with this book.

I often find with series that I never enjoy the following books quite as much as the initial one, but for once that was not the case here!

This was a wonderfully done sequel that expanded upon our main characters, Ana and Din, and their dynamic. As well as the story’s world and lore. I find myself captivated to know even more and will be excited to read more of this series if/when its available.

I’m usually able to piece together mystery/detective stories pretty well, and thats still the case here. BUT - there’s usually a twist or two that even I didn’t put together until looking back on some details provided in hindsight. It’s the perfect blend of feeling like all the pieces make sense while still providing some surprise.

The pacing is well done, the author sets the scenes beautifully without feeling like the descriptions tear us away from the plot for too long, and all the characters feel well-rounded and full (even side characters!).

Wow 5 ⭐️

Ana and Din are my two favourite investigators, The Shadow of Leviathan series is so refreshing and interesting to read with high fantasy and mystery combine in the most perfect way. In this sequel to The Tainted Cup(which I also gave 5⭐️ too) the individual character development of Ana and Din really adds so much more to the story on how they think and approach the investigation of the mystery. If you love mystery plot lines with the atmosphere of fantasy world, this series will have you hooked. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up

I was super excited to read more of Ana and Din’s detective adventures, and A Drop Of Corruption did not disappoint! Whilst not quite as solid as The Tainted Cup (a very high bar to clear in my opinion), this is an excellent sequel with a distinct plot that builds on the established world and characters from the first book.

This novel takes place in a brand new area of the world from the first instalment, in the swampy, humid canals and northern coastal town of Yarrow. This region of the world faces very different threats than other areas of the empire previously explored, and the novel did a great job in showing the diversity of life among places and people in this world. As with the first book, the location is very intertwined with the book’s plot and has clearly been carefully planned out, making the mystery feel genuine.

As with The Tainted Cup, the mystery element starts small (in this case a classic Locked Room murder mystery), but quickly unravels to reveal a complex web of intrigue that goes much deeper. The stakes in Drop Of Corruption feel as high as ever, with the tension gradually building towards an exciting conclusion and final reveal. I struggled a lot more with the names in this book than its predecessor, with a flood of new characters that I found difficult to keep track of at first. I also found the mystery itself to be a little more far fetched, though it was still cleverly plotted and enjoyable to read.

I was really pleased to see a little development of both Ana and Din in book two, with a drip feeding of backstories for both characters feeding the intrigue. I really hope this is a series that runs for many future books, as I’d be eager to regularly check in on their investigations!

Thank you to Netgalley.com for providing me with an ARC of this title.

I read The Tainted Cup last month and it was my first Robert Jackson Bennett novel so i was unsure what to expect. I loved that book and rated it 5 stars so I couldn't wait to delve back into the lives of Ana & Din who have become my favourite detective duo!

The books are set in a very unique fantasy world and both books had strong plots.

A Drop Of Corruption was equally as brilliant and chaotic as i was hoping for. It is very well written with great pacing. I was never bored. There were moments where I took my time to understand what was going on in parts.

I loved that i didn't know what would happen next! The story was complex and full of twists and turns! As a murder mystery, it certainly kept me on my toes!

I enjoyed the introduction of Malo and can't wait to see how she fares in Ashradel. She filled the gap that Captain Kepheus Strovi left from book one. I really hope that Din is reunited with him in the next book!

The banter between Ana and Din was great. Her eating scenes & Din's reaction to it cracked me up! I love how she knows Din better than himself & clearly cates for him. Her helping to expose the debt company for him was heart warming!

I can't wait for the next installment!

Thank you Penguin Random House @penguinrandomhouse , NetGalley @netgalley , and Robert Jackson Bennett @r.Jackson.bennett for this free ebook. “…for if we are not instruments in service to one another, then we are nothing at all.” RJB

“A Drop of Corruption: An Ana and Din Mystery” (Shadow of the Leviathan #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Fantasy/Classic Detective. Location: The Empire of Khanum. Time: Empire date 1129

THE SERIES: Tall, yellow-eyed, white-haired, bizarrely eccentric Ana Dolabra (40s-50s?) is a brilliant detective. She almost always wears a blindfold, and solves impossible cases without leaving her book-filled room. Dinios Kol (20) is Ana’s assistant. Din is an engraver, magically altered to remember everything he sees and hears. This makes him the perfect Dr Watson for Ana’s Sherlock Holmes. He investigates and remembers; she analyzes, evaluates, and finds hidden truths.

THIS BOOK: In far Yarrowdale, a Treasury officer disappears from a locked room in a heavily guarded tower. The Empire calls Ana and Din to solve the case. Ana discovers a cunning murder instead. The killer may be targeting the Shroud, a dangerous off-shore compound where colossal, monstrous leviathans are harvested for their blood magic. If the Shroud falls, the Empire loses its magic. Assisted by warden Tira Malo with her super hearing and enhanced sense of smell, Din travels upstream to find the killer. But the death toll grows, and Din fears Ana has met an enemy she can’t defeat.

Author Bennett has created a Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson duo in a land full of magical enhancements. He builds an amazing world full of shaped life-root and branch, flesh and bone. Book 1 had scary parts about the leviathans, but this books leans toward horror in its descriptions of horrible killings and altered bodies. Bennett includes a map and a list of military ranks! His book is an homage to classic murder mysteries in the most glorious, magical way. It’s long and complicated, so you might want to read book 1 first. It’s 5 stars from me👩🏼‍🦳

4.5 stars rounded up.

It's no secret that The Tainted Cup was one of my favorite reads last year after it was sold to me as "Knives Out, but fantasy." The dynamic between Ana and Din is so Holmes and Watson-esque while still being downright hilarious, and the setting itself is so unique and fascinating and fantastical that I want to know every bit of world-building I can get my hands on. So of course I have been hyped for the sequel, and I am so happy to have gotten my hands on an advanced copy!

In A Drop of Corruption, Ana and Din find themselves in Yarrowdale, a canton in a precarious situation - its incorporation into the Empire quickly approaching and an Empire treasury official has mysteriously vanished from his locked and guarded rooms before being found murdered. What seems like an already complicated murder becomes even more complicated upon the reveal of a massively valuable research facility in the canton that has been put at risk with these happenings. Meanwhile, Din is still reeling from the events of their previous case (and the man he had to leave behind when it ended), and Ana might be acting even quirkier than her normal.

This book has a very different vibe from The Tainted Cup, and that's not a bad thing. Din is struggling (and using terrible coping mechanisms) over what he wants for his future, and whether this investigative life is really what he's meant for. He's a bit more jaded. Ana is... every bit as complicated as she was before, but becomes even more baffling and crude and amusing as the story goes on. The dynamic between the two, with their mentor-mentee and "oh my god am I just babysitting my boss?" continues to be hilarious. And that Ana backstory reveal at the end was enough of a jaw-dropper to make any wonkiness earlier in the story more than worth it! A fun cast of side characters (some of whom we will hopefully see again) definitely didn't hurt either!
But, genuinely, the place where this book - like the previous one - shines is in its setting. RJB has created such a fascinatingly unique world, built on the literal backs of dead leviathans that still pose a danger to the Empire and abilities dependent on their blood... Abilities that are fantastical and horrific in turn, especially as we learn more about Ana's backstory and follow Din wrestling with the inevitable ending of his own skills. And then the horrors caused in the environment by leviathan blood tainting it? Genuinely, I would sit down and read a historical primer of this world and the skills and mutations that RJB has created.

I adored this book and cannot wait to see where Din and Ana are going next!

I am such a fan of RJB. After reading A Tainted Cup last year I continued on to read his Foundryside series (and have City of Stairs on my TBR). I love his ability to world build and creating a thorough fantasy experience.

A DROP OF CURRUPTION started with showing us how much Din had changed, grew, become a bit more jaded since we last saw him which helped emphasize the time that had passed between the two books. It was interesting to read about Din and Ana and their characterizations but this was a distinct book and story from A TAINTED CUP. Very much like a procedural mystery/detective show. As a reader who typically gravitates towards series it was pretty nice to be able to start a sequel and not spend so much time trying to recall too many details from book 1.

What I really appreciated in this one is that it greatly expanded the world. One of my issues with A TAINTED CUP was just the implications of Leviathans in this world. I KNEW they posed a threat but also the advancement but they didn't seem integral to the story. So I liked that they were at least a bit more related to this mystery AND we got to learn a lot more about them, their political implications, and all the other messy details. The world also grew because we were in a new region that wasn't quite part of the empire which added a fun political tension.

For the mystery, I was always on the edge of my seat. RJB masterfully created such a convoluted mystery that was really engaging for the reading. Din and Ana were consistently "solving" the mystery only for the solution to open up three new mysteries they needed to figure out. As a reader sometimes mysteries can just drag as we want the pay off of SOME resolution. By having these domino mysteries, I was always engaged and excited.

Love this series, cannot wait for more!!

I thought I wasn’t going to enjoy this book as much as the first one. I had to get to 50% before I really got into it but when I got there, it got me good. I got a real Holmes vs Moriarty vibe in the plot of this story and I’m quite proud of myself for figuring out the last part of the mystery. Of course, there was a serious social commentary running underneath all the action and that was good too.

Ana’s revelation blew me away and left me speechless but the element I truly enjoyed in this installment is how Ana and Din’s relationship further strengthened after all they’ve been through.

Thanks, Netgalley, for providing me with a digital ARC of this book. #ADropofCorruption #NetGalley

Like the first book, The Tainted Cup, A Drop of Corruption was a brilliantly written mystery. The world is very complex and this gives an extra layer of complexity to the mystery itself. This book is very detailed but fast-paced to keep the reader hooked. I loved the ending in both of the books in the series because it is SO satisfying to see the mystery unfold.

The two main characters, Ana and Din, are so fun to follow. Ana has many eccentricities that are humorous and intriguing. She is a delightfully crude and blunt character. I also love Din’s sarcastic inner monologue, especially when dealing with Ana. I love their personality pairing of eccentric meets exasperated. Their banter will put a smile on your face! RJB also has a knack for creating so many side characters for these books and giving them unique personalities and struggles. A Drop of Corruption makes you care and invest in the unique world and its people so easily.

I am not typically a mystery person but these books blend mystery and fantasy seamlessly and masterfully. If you are a fan of either of these genres I would recommend this series! Book two was as amazing as book one and expanded the world even more. I cannot wait to see what book three has in store!

This was stunning! I enjoyed the first book, but this second book made me gasp more with the tugging of my emotions lol this was a mystery filled gothic fantasy. It was clever and witty. I especially loved the banter and the world that was built!

Book: A Drop of Corruption
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Del Rey, for sending me an ARC. This is the second book by this author that I have read. I enjoy how this is adult fantasy, but the writing is super easy to get into. While the world and the characters are complex, everything is presented in a way that is easy to follow. I do think I did enjoy this second book more than the first.

I am going to try to keep my review as spoiler-free as possible, but since this is the second book in a series, there may be spoilers for earlier books.

In this one, Din and Ana are back in action and this case may just push them to the breaking point. When a Treasury officer vanishes from a locked, heavily guarded room in Yarrowdale, Ana and her assistant Dinios Kol are called to investigate. What begins as an impossible disappearance soon turns into something far more sinister—a murder orchestrated by an adversary who seems to defy the laws of reality. With the Empire’s crucial research facility, the Shroud, at risk, Ana must unravel a mystery where her opponent stays one step ahead, moving through barriers as if they don’t exist and anticipating her every move. As the stakes escalate and the Empire’s magical power hangs in the balance, Din wonders if Ana has finally encountered a case she cannot solve.

I know I started my review out by saying this. The writing is super easy to get into and presents everything in a way that gives you what you need when you need it. Unlike a lot of high fantasy books, this one does not use the info dump. Instead, we are exposed to the world as the case unfolds. We are thrown right into the story with Din investigating a murder. He is not sure of what he is doing nor does he know what his boss, Ana, is going to through at him. All he knows is that he still has to pay off his father’s debts. Right away, we are thrown into the case and now have a murder to solve. Along the way, there are going to be new people, new bits of the world, and one wild ride.

I love what Din and Ana bring to the page. They are very much a Waston-Sherlock duo. We have Ana who is rather odd, a bit out there, but has a brilliant mind. Din is more grounded and doesn’t always understand what Ana wants and why. He just goes along with it. Din tells the story. He could give us an Ana who is strange and different, which he does. Yet, he does not undercut her brilliance and the fact that she is very good at what she does. He follows her orders, but the way that he tells us about her, we get to see that he does care for her. Now, this is not a romantic relationship at all. Rather it is one in which we see a co-worker admire the brilliance of their boss.

Now, the relationship is not perfect. Din still has his father’s debts hanging over his head, which is a big reason why he agreed to work with Ana in the first place. He is not going to stay with her forever. He sees him looking for other jobs. He also sleeps around to take his mind off of things. We also see him question Ana. Ana does expect a lot of Din. At times, it may not seem like she does care for his well-being. Now, this is not true. She is also very odd in her requests of him. She tells him to trust her and just do what she says. You can tell at times that he does not understand what she is doing. At the end of the day, both of them have a deep bond with each other.

Now, the mystery is re very good. They are difficult for the reader to solve. Now, I did have this one somewhat pieced together by the end of the book, but I did miss a lot of the finer details. When Ana gave us the big reveal, I was able to see, though, all of those little things that I missed along the way. To me, this is the mark of a well-done mystery. There was enough sprinkled throughout the story to give us what we needed, but, yet, there were still things that we had to show/tell at the end. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed all of the twists and turns along the way.

Overall, I did enjoy this one a lot. I had a great time being back in this world. I am excited to see what happens next.

This book comes out on April 1, 2025.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/4edqgxWAKW0

Din & Ana are the duo you never knew you needed!

Impossible to guess what is going to happen next. I do feel this lacked some of the emotion we got from the side characters from book 1 but Ana was feistier this go around and I thoroughly enjoyed this. Cant wait for book 3!

“For if these folk have their way, we shall return to nature primordial, and be as beasts, and all the world a savage garden, mindless and raving.”

REVIEW

The stakes have only gotten higher in this, A Drop of Corruption, sequel to last year’s The Tainted Cup!

Din and Ana have moved on to Yarrowdale to investigate a new murder and this one is as much of a doozy as the first. The twists are spinny, the turns are fast, and the roller coaster is all over the place. I just love what RJD does with his worlds—the worldbuilding is so rich and yet not difficult to understand. I love the further inclusion of the Leviathans in their book and how catastrophic they really can be. The inclusion of The Shroud was epic and captivating.

You know the game is afoot when an official disappears from their room without a trace—doors and windows all locked—and winds up torn to shreds in a river. The plot only thickens from there! The perp behind this murder and further destruction seems to be 10 steps ahead at every moment. The tension is high but the humor is still whip smart.

I am always impressed with the immersion of this world. The foreshadowing, the trial that leads the reader through the story. We think we’re headed one direction and then we are flipped on a dime along with Din.

Speaking of Din, we really got to go more in depth with his character and story. We get to see a vulnerable part of him and his indecisions. He has a good, albeit weird, thing going with Ana and it might end sooner than he’d like.

Overall, still a fun wild ride. I’m so flipping excited for book 3 it’s unreal. I’m absolutely loving the fact that people are discovering and loving RJB and hope this shines more light on his previous works!

Thank you NetGalley and DelRey for the early eArc!!

A Drop of Corruption is the second in Robert Jackson Bennett’s Sherlock Holme’s inspired fantasy series Shadows of the Leviathan. The first book – The Tainted Cup – introduced readers to engraver Dinios Kol, a man altered so that he has a perfect memory and his savant boss Ana Dolabra, who wears a blindfold to limit the amount of sensory information she has to process. That book introduced their imperial world, threatened by monsters that come from the sea but whose blood and viscera underpin a complex biological system of enhancements.
While readers last saw Din and Ana heading towards the imperial centre, A Drop of Corruption finds them beyond the edge of the Empire. Yarrowdale is important as a processing centre for leviathan bodies and so has a thriving imperial outpost but is not yet officially part of the Empire. Din and Ana have been sent to solve the mystery of a missing Treasury official, who disappeared from a guarded, second floor locked room with locked windows leaving only a pool of blood. The solution of this mystery just opens up further mysteries as the pair find themselves trying to outwit someone possibly cleverer than Ana.
If the homage to the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in the first book in this series was not sufficient, Bennett provides even more direct lifts and allusions to those stories in the follow up. From his mechanical solution to the locked room mystery, to an adversary reminiscent of Moriarty, to the use of disguise and misdirection. But this is all in service of illuminating his fantasy world and many of the solutions hinge on the protagonist’s (and reader’s) understanding of the rules of that world.
Putting the Doctor Watson comparisons aside, Dinios Kol is a great guide to this world. Unhappy with his lot in life, saddled with debts accrued by his father, looking to find solace in physical contact, but also handy with a sword and an intuitive investigator in his own right. His personal arc is in understanding the purpose of a functioning justice system to the continued health of the Empire. And it is in this facet – the exploration of power and influence and corruption, that this series transcends its setting and genre trappings.
Once again, Bennett uses tried and tested crime fiction tropes to dig deep into interesting aspects of the world that he has created. In the two books so far he has kept his main characters on the periphery of the Empire. Given how much more of this world there is to explore and the flexibility of this approach, more adventures of Din and Ana are assured and will be welcome.

A captivating sequel that seamlessly fits into the world of Ana and Din. Like the first book, this is a slow-paced mystery that takes time to settle into. The author carefully weaves a web of information, ensuring that every detail eventually ties together—but the journey can feel sluggish at times.

There’s a long stretch where the plot lingers, allowing us to absorb the setting and explore the motivations of different characters. While this adds depth to the world, it also makes the pacing feel stagnant in places. That said, I enjoyed the intricate plotting and the vast array of characters, each adding something unique to the story. The world itself is rich with fascinating elements, and though the conclusion wasn’t entirely satisfying, finishing the book still felt worthwhile.

I preferred the first installment, but this was still an engaging read. If you don’t mind a slow burn, it’s worth the journey.

What a fantastic addition to the Shadow of Leviathan series!! I really enjoyed this one and elaboration on the fantasy world within a new murder mystery (that truly kept you guessing!). One of my favorite parts of the book was Din’s struggles of finding a worthy endeavor in a corrupt system and the close look at those in power. The epilogue at the end was perfect. I highly recommend this book.

I loved book 1 in this series and was very excited to see that book 2 was coming out so soon.

This sequel did not disappoint. Is it long? Yes. It is needed for the plot? I think so.

Din and Ana are out on another major case where someone from the Empire has been murdered under very suspicious circumstances. There is also a dead king in an empire that was supposed to become part of the empire.

With perfect storytelling, Bennett spins this tale while building another piece of the world we are getting with this series. The added characters are well written and I loved this mystery.