A DROP OF CORRUPTION was such a fun ride. The best way to describe it is Sherlock Holmes if Sherlock was a woman who swears constantly and Watson was a genetically altered bisexual hot mess. Mix that with a science fiction medieval hybrid setting and this novel was an absolute blast.

The story is one that is incredibly unique and interesting. After reading so many books a year, it is refreshing to read a book that is so different, but also funny, witty, and engaging. As this is the second book, you need to read the first, and I agree that the first book, in its attempt to world build, is confusing honestly. But this doesn’t attempt to explain the world as much, and, as a result, I found myself immersed in the mystery and characters more.

And the writing is fantastic! Each charger feels unique, even if it builds on tropes established previously in literature. And the story itself is well done. I didn’t know where the story was going. My only qualm with the characters, in figuring out what is happening, talk a bit too long and to excess in some places.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book and I found myself wanting to turn the page to keep reading. I think it’s worth the read!

Thank you to Del Ray Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second book in a series by Robert Jackson Bennett. We follow Ana and Din as they are tasked with figuring out a murder, but it is never quite as easy as it seems.

I had only sort of liked the previous book but I do enjoy this author. I was about 40% through when it started to get my attention, so I recommend sticking with it. I’m sure there will be another book too, as there is new information we learn about our main characters and we can’t be left hanging forever!

Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Del Rey for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A Drop of Corruption is the second book in a series following a Sherlock-and-Holmes style Investigator and her assistant as they travel through a Fantastical land and solve murders. In this second book, brilliant detective Ana Dolabra may have finally met her match at the edge of the Empire’s reach. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air–abducted from his quarters while the doors and windows remained locked from the inside, in a building whose entrances and exits are all under constant guard. A Drop of Corruption comes out on April 1st and is available for preorder now.

I don’t know how I’m leaving this book with it getting a higher rating than the first one. The first book was so good, but something about this mystery and this setting and these side characters just scratched an itch in my brain. This Mystery starts out as a locked-room (not murder, disappearance) mystery which is the jam of so many Mystery fans, including me. Adding in all of these other intricate plots that Dolabra has to somehow untangle and I’m hooked. Though, I will say that the big ‘AH HA!’ at the end was something I thought of very early on in this novel. It was still fun to see how everything played out. This setting was more interesting to me since it took place around this sea side with a canal where terrible things can lie in wait. I think the first one’s setting felt pretty plain and boring, but I think that was in service to the plot. I think if the author had spent too much time in the first book creating such an interesting setting it would have detracted from the Mystery it was trying to maintain. In this one, we actually take the time to settle in to this setting (I know, bad joke). I could feel the humidity and smell the salt in the air. And the way it lent to the vibes of the book was great. I still love the Sherlock and Holmes characters of this world (especially the new information we got on our Sherlock!), but I enjoyed our side characters in book two so much more than the ones in book one. I feel like we really got to know them AND one of them might be seen again in a future novel. One can only hope.

I hope my first point against this novel doesn’t come across the wrong way, but I think Dolabra lost some of her mysticisms in this one which made it a little less surprising when all of the Mysteries of this novel came together at the end. I had already picked up on one of them early on so maybe that also had something to do with it. I think some of the choices that Kol made were pretty poor. I think it kind of made me like him a little bit less than in book one. I can understand why he’s behaving the way he is, it’s stated pretty clearly towards the end of the book this heavy and empty feeling he gets after closing a case. But I feel like the choices he makes sometimes got in the way of his job. And maybe that was an intentional choice because people make stupid decisions sometimes. I just didn’t enjoy that aspect of it.

Overall, this was so good. It was such a great continuation of this story. I’m already so ready to see where Dolabra and Kol end up next and what kind of insane murder is going to happen there. I think this is a good starting point for Mystery fans to jump into Fantasy. Or just good for Fantasy fans who want to break away from the norm.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the eARC!

In A Drop of Corruption, Robert Jackson Bennett expertly expands the world of Khanum, taking readers on a darker, more complex journey while retaining the dry wit that made the first book so engaging. This installment shifts focus more heavily onto Ana and Din, delving further into their backstories and motivations, which adds layers of emotional depth to the narrative. Further, the introduction of Yarrow—an untamed region with dense jungles, canals, and the formidable and enigmatic Shroud—adds a fresh and lush backdrop to the tale. The mystery at the heart of the story is even more complex than that of the first book, leaving readers questioning whether Ana will be able to unravel it. As always, Din finds himself in increasingly stressful and undesirable situations while he and Ana attempt to solve the new mystery, providing readers with ample moments of humor. Compared to the first book in the series, this book has a much darker, grittier tone that pairs well with the mystery and the themes of this installment. Overall, A Drop of Corruption is an excellent continuation of the series that leaves readers eagerly awaiting what comes next.

A Drop of Corruption follows our favourite Iudex officers Ana and Din. Set a year after The Tainted Cup ends they are once again tasked with solving a most puzzling murder case.

Another amazing entry in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. Bennett is an expert at setting up an intriguing mystery with plenty of red herrings along the way. I spent an extensive amount of time thinking about this book while I wasn't even reading it, coming up with the wildest theories. While Bennett gives great hints along the way, if you pay close attention, the revelation at the end always goes beyond what you'd expect.

What I enjoyed most about this book was probably the expansion of the world with a focus on the leviathans. The existential horror is becoming more and more reminiscent of VanderMeer's Southern Reach series in the best way possible. Bennett deepens our understanding of the Empire of Khanum by unobtrusive world-building, which in general is quite well done.

Now onto the characters. Ana is a joy and a menace as always. Though I understand Din is mostly there to facilitate the story and is somewhat of an audience-insert, I found his character a tad conflicting with the previous installment. I was having a hard time grasping how he actually felt about certain topics or where he was lying to himself. Probably because we haven't had enough time to get to know him very well. I would love to see more depth added to his character in sequels. We also get some new characters here, and of course Malo is a new favourite. Bennett knows how to write a supporting character who brims with personality.

A Drop of Corruption is another wonderful installment in the Shadow of Leviathan series. The mystery is once again well thought out and engaging. If you loved The Tainted Cup I'm sure you'll have a great time with this sequel.

Ana and Din are back with another strange case.
A Treasury officer goes missing from his guarded room. Only one entrance, windows bolted from the inside. Very curious.

That's all I'll give away.
This is just as good as book one. Maybe even better. I love Ana and Din. They are so complex. I also loved the addition of Malo and hope to see more of her character in the future.
This is one of the best series ever in my opinion.

"Before there was memory, before there was history, there were the leviathans: the colossal, monstrous creatures that lumbered ashore each wet season and went wandering the plains, bringing death and panic with them."

Ana and Din return in this sequel to The Tainted Cup, this time venturing beyond the reach of the empire to solve an impossible mystery. A treasury official has vanished into thin air from a locked room, a vault has been robbed, and the security of the most important Imperial facility might have been compromised. As Ana and Din unravel this mystery, Din begins to worry that Ana has at last found an adversary she cannot outwit…

"The drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist. The duty of the Iudex is not to boldly vanquish it but to manage it."

The Tainted Cup was one of my top books of 2024, and A Drop of Corruption surpassed every expectation. I heaped praise on the first book, and I must do the same for this sequel. I adored every aspect of this. Robert Jackson Bennett has become one of my favorite authors. I would buy and read his grocery lists at this point.

This book catches the reader’s attention from the very first line, with that grim description of the leviathans I quoted at the beginning of this review. It maintains this with a twisting, fabulous mystery worthy of the likes of Agatha Christie. This is such a lovely, complex murder and political mystery. The plot goes from a locked room mystery to a bank heist to political intrigue without missing a beat, without ever feeling trite or contrived. The pacing is perfection, and the plot is masterfully done. I adored how every clue was worked into seemingly unimportant dialogue and narration and how seamlessly it all fell together. The reader feels the same triumph as Din and Ana solve the mystery and finally reveal the complete puzzle. This is one of those fantastic mysteries that makes the reader want to immediately read it again to marvel at all the clues hidden in plain sight.

At this point, I have to gush about the world-building. The world-building is phenomenal. For anyone else, it would be enough to write a world where these giant monsters threaten an empire. Fighting these monsters would have been the plot of this whole series. Robert Jackson Bennett takes this world what seems like fifteen steps further--he has created a society where these creatures are a facet of everyday life, the magical abilities of the Imperial officers are normalized, and there is always some mystery to investigate. There is something so incredibly vivid about this setting of the grandeur of a declining empire shadowed by the presence of these terrible leviathans. The thematic elements of A Drop of Corruption were wonderfully executed, with discussions of the corrupting influence of power, cultural clashes and cultural relativism, and the nature of autocracies, all worked in seamlessly.

Finally, I cannot express how much I adore Ana and Din. I could write a dissertation on how much I love the two of them. I even love the side characters of Malo and Thelenai. They are all just so wonderfully fleshed out and flawed in their own ways. These are characters that feel real in a way so few manage. The Sherlock-Watson dynamic of Ana and Din is so perfect, and they continue to play off each other wonderfully.

I could read a dozen more Ana and Din adventures happily and without complaint.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey and Robert Jackson Bennett for the opportunity to review an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars
includes: a locked room mystery, a bank heist, a phenomenal mystery, a bisexual MC
song recommendations: Main Title - John Paesano & Braden Kimball, Little Dark Age - MGMT, Pulling a Thread - The Chamber Orchestra of London

"The eccentric detective Ana Dolabra matches wits with a seemingly omniscient adversary in this brilliant fantasy-mystery from the author of The Tainted Cup.

In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire's reach, a Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air - vanishing from a room within a heavily guarded tower, its door and windows locked from the inside.

To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial detective, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.

Ana soon discovers that they are investigating not a disappearance but a murder - and one of surpassing cunning, carried out by an opponent who can pass through warded doors like a ghost.

Worse still, the killer may be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud, where the Empire harvests fallen titans for the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.

Din has seen his superior solve impossible cases before. But as the death toll grows and their quarry predicts each of Ana's moves with uncanny foresight, he fears that she has at last met an enemy she can't defeat."

Fantasy locked room mystery!?! My two favorite genres in one!

Many thanks to Net Galley for a complimentary ebook I exchange for my honest review,

A Drop of Corruption was one of my most anticipated books this year. I loved everything about The Tainted Cup, and Ana Dolobra especially. This book was another twisty, complex mystery that demanded all of the Dinios Kol’s wit and wiles to unravel. Meanwhile, we got a much deeper look into the world of the Empire and the magic systems that underlay it. I can’t wait for the next installment!

A Drop of Corruption is the second of a series - an Ana and Din Mystery - that combines sci-fantasy and mystery.
It is a rather bleak land run with magic gained from dead leviathans.
Ana and Din are investigators sent to a remote area of the empire where a tax official has disappeared and then parts of his body are identified. As they investigate, Ana and Din discover a complex plot which could affect the Empire.
The story flows well; it is a little long. I enjoyed this book - it is a unique series.


First off, thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of A Drop of Corruption.

I fell in love with this world, the characters and the writing from reading the first of this series. Reading the second installment only made me more dedicated, solidifying this series as one of my favorites…for a myriad of reasons.

Ana and Din make such a perfect team, playing on each other’s strengths in their work while also building and maintaining a bond that (though hilarious) is heartfelt and genuine. The witty banter and intellectual insight mix together in a flawless combination. They are the mystery-solving duo we never knew we desperately needed as readers.

Being a fantasy novel is not the only thing going for this incredible book. The mystery that our adventurous pair finds themselves embroiled in is planned, executed and paced to twisty perfection. Solving this mystery will keep you turning pages from start to finish and hypothesizing until the very end.

Bennett does a phenomenal job of building a world that is captivating and compelling, creating an atmosphere that makes you want to be a participant in all of the exciting happenings. It is worth noting that while this world contains wonderful multitudes, sometimes there is more than meets the eye, The author's afterward is not to be missed or set aside with this one.. Bennett delves into another deeper message regarding some of the common over-arching tropes within the fantasy genre, and our own society, that makes for a thought-provoking read of its own accord.

All in all, Bennett has exceeded my already high expectations with A Drop of Corruption. Now the only problem is finding the patience to wait for the next adventure

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
Genre: Mystery l Fantasy
Length: 480 pages
Release Date: April 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc and DelRey for the finished copy.

I am convinced that RJB has cracked the proverbial code on what elements you need in a great fantasy mystery. The Tainted Cup was one of my favorite books I read in 2024 and A Drop of Corruption is in contention with one of my favorite reads of 2025! I made a fatal mistake in reading A Drop of Corruption, The Sword of Kaigen and Blood Over Bright Haven all in the same year.

A Drop of Corruption picks up shortly where The Tainted Cup left off, with two of my favorite characters I have read recently in Din and Ana. I love this duo so much, they are clever, hilarious and most of all the series thus far is a page turner. I think the reason I love this series is so much is because I don't read a lot of mystery anymore (I fell in love with reading Nancy Drew as a kid) and this book reminds me how much love I have for the mystery genre. It's a perfect concoction of wit, humor with fantasy elements and I'm hooked! I had no idea who the culprit(s) were until the very end or how it was accomplished. I know sometimes mysterys can we overwrought with twists and turns but I don't find that to be true of this series. I just have so much damn fun with this series and I can't wait to read the next one!

Superb.
From the stunning cover to the pertinent afterword, and every bit in between, this was both an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Jackson Bennett has given us some damn good tales before now, but this series almost leaves one lost for superlatives.
The characters are so well-drawn as to commit them forever to the pantheon of Almost-Real (just when you think fiction is jaded, and unlikely to ever excite you too much, along come Ana and Din); the plot is a delicious mix of fantasy and murder mystery (but also, court and family politics, social upheaval and personal enfranchisement); the world-building is truly spectacular - this series should become a classic for that alone; the prose is dense in service to this scene-setting, but never arduously so; and the pace is just perfect, never flagging, effortlessly sweeping the reader along on a river of discovery.
What elevates this from a mere fantasy novel, however, as seen in the author's afterword, is the exploration of power and individual responsibility, the evolution of cultures - and a possible blueprint for understanding that the status quo in our own societies need not go unchallenged.
My thanks to Netgalley for the DRC of this brilliant book, and to Robert Jackson Bennett for shining a light into the dark corners - in a very entertaining way.

The first third of this book was straight fire, 5/5 energy. A wonderful, classic, closed-door murder-mystery narrative with interesting characters was exactly what I wanted. The book, however, devolves into a muddied political narrative out to critique autocracy that left a strange taste in the mouth when following characters who exist in an empire. While I theoretically understand what Bennett was attempting in critiquing autocracies (in fantasy at large), he inadvertently tumbles into just a big an issue of romanticising Empire. As a result, I went from thoroughly enjoying the set-up to a mystery, to finding predictable conclusions stymied by cultural critique. Nevertheless, I think there is a lot to enjoy in this, and I still greatly enjoyed the majority of my reading experience.

Robert Jackson Bennett has done it again!

This book definitely held up to the first in the series! The mystery was so intriguing and I loved the new characters that were introduced. The world building was phenomenal as always.

The only thing I wish I had more of in this book was more expansion upon the story/characters/world that was introduced in the first book of the series. While there was some, it somewhat felt like a new story in the same world as opposed to a continuation of the original story.

I would 100% recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fantasy or a good murder mystery (even if you’re not a huge fantasy reader)!

I received a a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.

Ana and Din are called to the outposts of the empire to investigate a disappearance, then a murder,several strange experiences all the while thwarting an attack on the Empire.
The world building is detailed and exotic , the author has way of bringing details vividly to life in an unsettling way- the image of Ana slurping live Oysters to a people turned into plants , to the life like Shroud are beautifully described. We learn more about the Empire and its society, the political intrigues and policy through the negotiations between The Empire and Yarrowland. I loved the touch of sci-fi to this fantasy in the grafts and enhancements that help people do their jobs and the fact these enhancements come with a significant price. The aurars ( almost super thinkers) are tormented by the abilities they have taken on for the greater good.
The underlying mystery is intriguing with plenty of reveals and twists and the relationship between Ana and Din develops and the mystery around Ana’s grows.. I almost cheered when Din finally accepted that the work Ana does in rooting out corruption in the powerful and making them pay is as important as defending the empire from a sea monster ( which feels weirdly important with way the world is in 2025!)
This book can be read without having to read the first book, but I would definitely recommend reading if you haven’t already.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with the ARC for this book for my honest review.

My rating - 3.5/5

tl;dr - Very well-written sequel that, while better than the first in almost every way, still falls short of its potential.

I didn't love The Tainted Cup as much as everyone else did, primarily because I didn't like either of the two main characters, but I did enjoy reading as the mystery slowly unfolded. Everything about this sequel, however, is better and I mostly enjoyed this story and thought it was very well-written.

While I still don't care for either of the two main characters, they are fleshed out more in this one which made things more enjoyable. I also enjoyed the new side character, Malo, more than any other character in the series so far.

I love the unique world in this series. But while the overall world-building and leviathans feel like they belong to an epic fantasy world, the author makes the stakes feel too low for everything going on in this world. Even if, by the end, you realize the stakes are high, it never felt that way to me. This series creates a world with a ton of potential that I unfortunately don't think either book has come close to hitting yet.

Overall it's very well written, has good dialogue, some humor, well-written characters (whom unfortunately I don't much enjoy reading about), and some really cool world-building (which felt out of place due to limiting scope of the story).

If you enjoyed the first book then I think you'll enjoy this one as it does everything better than the first.

The second book in a stand alone series, “A Drop of Corruption” further develops the characters introduced in Shadow of the Leviathan book one, “The Tainted Cup.” We continue following Empire detectives Ana and Din as they solve crimes in this sci-fi/fantasy series.

Bennett knows how to weave a tale and this one is convoluted. There are many suspects and it is impossible to see the end from the beginning. His characters are complex, their interactions engaging.

4 stars for book two. I enjoy a good mystery and that this is. The ending got a little more twisted than I would have preferred, but over all this is a read worth your while. My thanks to Del Rey and the author for this book. All opinions are mine.

I absolutely love this series, and A Drop of Corruption does not disappoint. Din and Ana are such well-drawn characters that you can’t help but dive headfirst into their mysteries, eager to see how things unfold by the end. While I do think this book is slightly less thrilling than the first in the series, The Tainted Cup, it’s still an incredibly solid read.

One thing that stands out in this book is the political undertones, which, while fascinating, might be why I feel it doesn’t quite hit the same high notes as the first book. But that's just a small thing in the grand scheme of the story. The introduction of new characters, including one who I hope will show up in future books, is a great addition and adds some fresh energy to the series.

Bennett's ability to blend fantasy and mystery is truly impressive—it’s surprising that no one has done it this well before. Honestly, he has a real knack for it, and I doubt anyone could pull it off as seamlessly as he does. As long as Bennett continues to write in this world, I’ll be eagerly reading along.

I’m giving this one 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good mix of fantasy, mystery, and complex characters!

I just finished reading the second book in this series, and I have to say—it left me wanting more. The way the story moves through different times and places keeps things fresh, but the core remains the same: a gripping mystery filled with fascinating characters. It reminds me so much of a Sherlock Holmes case, especially because of Ana. She is, without a doubt, the heart of the story.

Ana is like Sherlock in so many ways—her quirks, her sharp mind, and even the way she sometimes blinds herself to the bigger picture while honing in on the smallest details. But what makes her truly compelling is that she is a mystery herself. This book gave us a glimpse into her backstory, but it’s not nearly enough. I need to know more.

The fantasy elements add a unique twist, making the cases feel both familiar and fresh. I can’t shake the feeling that the author is carefully unraveling Ana’s secrets bit by bit, and we’re only just scratching the surface. There has to be another book after this. If not, I’ll be left with too many questions. Who—or what—is Ana, really? I can’t wait to find out.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.