I write haiku reviews for Instagram and review everything I read on Goodreads, but am happy to provide further feedback, if requested.

Amazing book... Loved it
Can't wait for the next one

I think there were moments that were better in this book than book 1 and I love Din and Ana

4.25 stars rounded up

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett turned out to be a readable fantasy. I am not normally in for fantasy or pseudo worlds, this one turned out to be quite good. It is a mystery, which is really what I read the most, and a pretty thorough investigation, given the parameters of the world in which it takes place. All the people are enhanced, one way or another with varying talents according to their enhancements. They had not yet been able to enhance greed and hunger for power out of the psyche, however, which is where the story leads. The investigator, or the one who interprets what her minion reports is blindfolded to keep her from being overwhelmed by all she sees. It is an interesting approach.

It is hard to tell about character development when the characters are so different to begin with. There is definite growth in the character of Din (Dinios Kol), the eyes and ears of Ana, the investigator. He was young and Ana knew that so she let him make his own decisions, while forcing him to think.. The plot was complex but easy to follow, even with the odd names and the enhancements. The pacing was good and all in all it was a decent novel. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a Drop of Corruption by Random House Publishing Group-Del Rey, Random House World, Inklore. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupDelReyRandomHouseWorldInklore #RobertJacksonBennett #ADropOfCorruption

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"This work can never satisfy, Din, for it can never finish. The dead cannot be restored. Vice and bribery will never be totally banished from the cantons. And 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. We keep the stain from spreading, yes, but it is never gone. Yet this job is perhaps the most important in all the Iyalets, for without it, well ...The Empire would come to look much like Yarrow, where the powerful and the cruel prevail without check. And tell me—does that realm look capable of fighting off a leviathan?"


My god, I absolutely love this series so far. It's honestly the easiest thing for me to say right now. And we are only in book two! In A Drop of Corruption, you are following the greatest crime-solving duo ever! Ana and Din are just that special. Sure, they might do things unconventionally but that's what makes these adventures so much fun.

The puzzles within this book were very interesting. I just wanted to see how Ana was going to solve everything before the culprit was revealed. As everyone knows, words matter, and how you ask a question can definitely matter in this world. It was definitely interesting to see everyone, especially in the Shroud, and how their minds worked.

On top of that, I really wanted to know what Ana was or had done. It has been a mystery to me for so long and we got so many clues in this! My mind was blown and I think that was the tipping point for Din on his big decision. Besides loving this duo, we also got to meet Malo. I absolutely adored her and hope she thrives wherever she goes in the future. I definitely want to see more of her because I think the crime-solving duo can always be a trio. Always.

In the end, I'm sad that this adventure is over. I can't wait for the next book to be written and for it to fall into my lap so that I can devour it. Ana and Din need more mysteries to solve and I doubt this world will ever stop providing them.

The Leviathan series by Robert Jackson Bennett is killer. I love mysteries and I love a genre meld, but it's extremely rare for a book to so successfully straddle two genres and deliver, simultaneously and without sacrifice, on both fantasy and mystery. This sequel to The Tainted Cup is equally good, with a sturdy, interesting mystery (in both novels, while I found the ultimate solutions predictable, the criminal plots and mechanisms were thrillingly original) and copious action and adventure. Each book so far has a complete and satisfying plot, while exposing tantalizing bits of other stories in a horrifyingly eldritch fantasy world, and I truly love the detective duo (frightening feral cryptid and her sidekick/muscle/office peon, lonely dyslexic recording device). Some new characters in this one really shone, and I hope to see more of them! I'm ecstatic that this series seems to be settling in for a good number of entries—I hope Jackson Bennett writes like ten more!

This has me in an absolute slump just because it was so good!

A Drop of Corruption is a continuation of the fantasy mystery series following Ana, an eccentric investigator for the Iudex division of the Empire, and Din, her reluctant assistant. They are called to the far reaches of the Empire where an impossible feat has occured: a Treasury official disappeared from a locked room and was found killed. As they investigate the impossible, they find themselves tangled in a great political conspiracy that could topple the Empire.

Listen, I’m in love with this series - its a wonderful blend of mystery and fantasy where you get a wonderful mix of both without either lacking. The story is interesting and you are absolutely sucked into it in mere moments. Ana and Din are fantastic: a true Holmes and Watson duo but they’re also better. You just root for them and I especially love the bisexual disaster that is Din - what a hot mess but you can’t help but love his heart of gold.

Bennet is a GENIUS at worldbuilding: even though this is the second in a series, we get more worldbuilding but just the right amount. You are able to experience the world but are not overwhelmed from the details are able to be present.

I really have to say there are more revelations for the general plot that I really enjoyed in this book. We get developments for both Ana and Din (and also for the wonderfully written side characters) that add a lot to their characters.

I also appreciated the themes present in this story. Bennett’s author note is so wonderfully poignant in today’s world and the way he weaves in a criticism of authoritarian regimes without being too heavy handed is superb. His author note is a must read in of itself.

I am quite literally frothing at the mouth for book 3 - it cannot come soon enough! This series is a must for any mystery or fantasy readers.

I was very excited to get back into this world! I enjoyed the mystery and twists, and I especially liked getting to know more about Ana. This series takes place in one of the most unique and interesting fantasy worlds I've read, though it can be a bit hard to remember how everything works. Overall though, I definitely recommend this series!

This book was fascinating, and the main characters were deep and intriguing. The murder mystery at the heart was twisty and surprising and the world-building sublime.

Some descriptions were a bit disgusting and shocking and some parts were a bit difficult to understand. This was due to the in-world jargon, mostly. It is a balancing act between boring over-explaining and leaving the reader scratching their head, so I think the author broke the correct way with this.

My only criticism is that the book was a bit long, and I say that as a long-time fantasy reader--many of my books are the kind of "bricks" that can be used to hold doors open. That said, I can't think of what I would cut out of the book that would not also result in a loss of either plot or immersion.

Robert Jackson Bennett has an amazing imagination. I've read most of his books and I always know that I will be transported to an entirely unique world when I join him for a tale.

I thought this was really decent. I didn't absolutely love it, but I was entertained and felt like there was enough depth to care about how the storyline ended.

Fantastic!! A million stars from me! I really enjoyed The Tainted Cup, and this sequel has got me falling deeper and deeper in love with the world and the characters. I truly loved this book. It is such a unique world. The body augmentations are interesting. And even though its a fantasy world with rules and "sciences" different from the real world, the author does a fantastic job of mashing fantasy with mystery in a way that is still easy to follow along and exciting!

I definitely squealed when I got this ARC.

I loved book 1 so much, expected to enjoy this one but my expectations were exceeded!
More details of this world are painted in this book (the details relating to the old city added texture)
I loved that we had enough clues throughout the story that were just enough that we could figure it out in hindsight but not too much that they could be distracting.
My jaw literally dropped towards the end of the book when a couple of mysteries are revealed.

I am very much looking forward to the next installment in this series.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Robert Jackson Bennett returns to the tales of Ana and Din with A Drop of Corruption, the second book of the Shadows of the Leviathan. Being a sequel, there is only so much to be said. Another murder. Another mystery. Another case suited uniquely for Ana and Din's style of investigation. And, more Empire-wide ramifications.

In the interests of transparency. I read this book after its release, but in the ARC format. I had already gone out of my way to purchase three editions of this book. I loved book 1. I loved the Founders Trilogy from this author. Clearly I was going to love A Drop of Corruption also, right?

I was already waffling on a 4.5 rating when I finished the epilogue. Then I read the author's note. It is one thing to see patterns, themes, and possible tie-ins in books. It's another to know that not only is an author capable of making those links deliberately, but to know that, beyond a doubt, that is what the author did do. Robert Jackson Bennett has done that. And this book is 5 stars because he had the audacity and skill with which to do it.

This book was more subtle than book 1. I missed Kepheus' impact, but welcomed Malo happily. Where The Tainted Cup smacked me in the face with how much I loved it almost immediately, A Drop of Corruption seeped its way in and flourished. This type of reception couldn't possibly be more suited to each book. These are the types of stories to be re-read and appreciated anew once all the secrets are revealed.

Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me an early copy. I will, once again, be everyone's problem telling them to read this series.

I could’ve read this whole book in one sitting. I would’ve disregarded all societal conventions and bodily functions to drink this book in. But I had patience and spread it out over a few days. And when I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about this book.

Bennett has created such an interesting world here, and I think he does a great job of balancing worldbuilding and plot. Fortunately, as the second in a series, not a ton of worldbuilding needed to be established, so we could kick right off with the plot.

I love a Sherlock Holmes story - and this felt like our introduction to the Professor Moriarty of the group. Ana is such an interesting Holmes-type - and Din is a perfect fantasy Watson.

I know I’m impatient but I’d like to immediately devour three more of these books please.

Thank you to NetGalley, Robert Jackson Bennett, and Del Rey for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If The Tainted Cup was the pilot episode of "Shadow of Leviathan" series, it feels like "A Drop of Corruption" is like the high stakes 2-part episode at the end of a season of a great TV Show. (the story is all told within 1 book though don't worry)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters that we already know feel more settled into who they are as people in this world and most of the characters we're introduced to all felt fully fleshed out in this strange northern country of Yarrow. I especially loved Malo's sass.

The mystery felt much higher stake than book 1 and the twists and turns occasionally had me saying "What the what?" out loud. I did find the conclusion and big reveal to be a bit less grand than the first book, and I was a little bummed out about it. However I've come to the conclusion that was kind of the point, especially after reading the authors note at the end.

Excited for hopefully another Ana and Din story in the future!

I have chosen this book as my choice for my book club in April and May. Links will be included below on where to find the VODs when they are streamed/uploaded.

Incredible! If The Tainted Cup was a masterclass in unique worldbuilding and intricate mystery, A Drop of Corruption somehow takes it even further. Bennett expands his eerie sci-fi/fantasy world to new heights, delivering a story packed with political intrigue, a corrupt government, and a mystery that keeps you guessing.

At the heart of it all, of course, is the fantastic investigative duo, Ana and Din. Their partnership gains even more depth in this sequel, balancing sharp detective work with their signature witty banter. The way Bennett crafts a complex mystery—layered with genius villains and shocking reveals—while still keeping it completely bingeable is fantastic. Some twists were guessable, but that never took away from their impact; the writing and storytelling ensured each revelation hit with full force.

The eerie, unsettling sci-fi magic continues to be one of the book’s highlights. It enhances the atmosphere, making the world feel as fascinating as it is unnerving. This is definitely an adult read, with elements of violence, body horror, dark themes, and some alluded-to spice, but it all serves the story rather than overwhelming it.

With its intricate plot, sharp humor, and a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat, A Drop of Corruption is an easy 5/5 stars. Highly recommended!

Another winner from Robert Jackson Bennett! I am hopeful we get many more installments in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, a la Sherlock Holmes. Din and Ana find themselves in a far-flung canton ruled by ancestral kings and some very antiquated traditions, investigating the mysterious and gruesome murder of a Treasury official. While the kingdom of Yarrow seems rather backward to Din, it houses many Apoth manufactories and the Shroud, the strange semi-organic island built to extract blood and other substances from the dead leviathans, which are used to make reagents and medicines, grafts, etc., for the Empire. However, all is in danger when a genius madman begins to wreak havoc, using leviathan blood and marrow, its most essential and powerful essence, to create horrors beyond which we have seen in The Tainted Cup.

The mystery and plot are as captivating as the first book, and I hope we someday see Din and Malo team up again in a future installment. We see some growth in Din and learn some interesting information about Ana, who is as entertainingly mad as ever. The horrifying biological mutations are even more terrifying in this second installment. I can't wait to see where Robert Jackson Bennett takes our heroes next.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House - Del Rey for an advanced copy of this book.

If The Tainted Cup was weird, brilliant foreplay, A Drop of Corruption is where things get messier, more layered, and way more personal—in the best, most brain-melting way.

This isn’t just another murder mystery in a fantasy world. It’s a story about two people—Ana and Din—who look like the empire’s perfect tools, but who quietly carry grief, memory, and impossible expectations under the surface.

Din’s inner life cracked open in a way that genuinely surprised me. He’s not just the guy with the perfect memory—he’s deeply human. Yearning, flawed, burdened by love and loyalty and family. And Ana? She remains sharp as ever, but the little glimpses into her past have me waiting impatiently for the third book. Their relationship—still all banter and brilliance—grows into something even more real here. It’s not romantic, but it’s intimate in the way that truly matters.

The mystery itself is twisty and fascinating (locked-room crime with spores, yes please), but it’s the way this book balances intellect with emotional undercurrents that makes it hit different. It asks you to pay attention—to the politics, the details, the pain behind precision.

Was the ending a bit drawn out? Sure. But honestly, that didn’t matter to me. This series is doing something smart, strange, and deeply thoughtful. And it deserves way more people screaming about it.

4.75/5

Best for fans of eerie worldbuilding, morally questionable empires, and characters who are way too competent for their own good.

Well, my review is going up about a week later than planned. By sitting on it, I believe my thoughts have fully formed. The second book in this series gives us a broader look into the world. From here, each book is only going to get more intriguing with the depth we learn. One of the main draws of the series, though, is not just the fantastical world but the mystery elements. This shows a new case and mostly stands as its own story in that regard. The case of a missing official in a politically fraught kingdom unearths more questions to push the Empire's best detective to her limits. I loved getting to see more of Ana’s brilliance in action. With the concluding chapter of the novel, I can’t wait to see how Din and Ana tackle their next adventure. Thank you to Netgalley & Random House for the copy to be able to review.

Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me an eARC copy! I also took advantage of it being an Aardvark box pick, if that already tells you anything.

I love both the 1st and 2nd installment of this series for different reasons. The first book focused on the mystery and introduction to our main detective duo plus the world itself. This second book went into the politics of this world and how the Leviathans are so important as not only an enemy to be fought but a resource to be used. On top of that, a mystery of someone trying to bring the Empire down with murder and other “corruption”. We also get introduced more into the magical characteristics of this world.
This would have been a 5 star, but I didn't really care for the choice of showing Din basically having one night stands as a coping mechanism. I understand its being used to show Din is a heartbroken character and is using this behavior to fill that brokenness, but I almost DNFd really soon in the story because that's not something I care to read. Though, I appreciate it not being overly spicy, because I defintely couldn't get passed that. I appreciated the 2nd instance where it was ALL closed door though. I would rather have implication than telling me "the deed" was done.
I am glad I continued though, because I did really enjoy the twisty mystery. Ana is still as crass as ever, but I still find her my favorite character in the series. I CANNOT wait for the next book.
I also enjoyed the author's note for the commentary on why he chose to write the particular events happening in this one.

4 stars

I am in love with this series! It is so complex and unique and really keeps me on my toes while I was reading. There is so much going on between the plot, the main characters, the society and not to mention the medical science is fascinating. Din and Ana's relationship is weird, but they really complement each other in their partnership during investigations. I learned a great deal about each, but they still have some secrets that I can not wait to learn more about. This story is very character driven and I think both Din and Ana are great and keep the story moving. The plot of this second book was quite a bit slower in the development and conclusion, when we did get to the climax of the story it was amazing and still left me hanging. I can't wait to get the next book with these characters and the challenges their next cases brings.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.