received this arc from netgalley, thanks!

something that i wasn't expecting was how this takes place at least a year after the events of <i>the tainted cup</i>. this means that din has had time to grow as a person, and so has his relationship with ana. i really enjoyed din's increasing complexity as a character, and the shifts in his motivations.

anyways, about the mystery of it all: i was certainly gripped! i found it extremely satisfying, and found myself working hard to notice things and try to figure it out. usually, with a mystery, i'm pretty content to just let it be solved for me but i think there is something about a fantasy setting that wakes my brain up. if i am already trying to figure out the worldbuilding, why not add a mystery as well?

all in all, an excellent sequel and i hope there will be much more to come. ana is fascinating and terrifying, and din is actually hilarious even if other people don't notice most of the time. 10 out of 10, would read again.

Scary laboratories full of mad scientists! Annihilation-style nature body horror! Disaster bisexuals!! Robert Jackson Bennett's Shadow of the Leviathan series is back in a big way, and I couldn't be happier. The Tainted Cup quickly became one of my top books of 2024, wowing me with a familiar detective trope repackaged in a marvelously original conceit - a Holmes and Watson style detective duo solving mysteries in a world where houses are made of vines and people ingest poison to augment themselves with strange abilities. A Drop of Corruption sends the long-suffering Dinios Kol and his eccentric, elderly partner Ana to the far reaches of the empire to investigate a murder in a soon-to-be imperial territory containing a secretive monarchy and a terrifying island laboratory known to drive its scientists mad.

As with its predecessor, character is somewhat secondary to plot but I can't bring myself to mind. Despite the fantasy setting, the story is ultimately a whip-smart thriller that left me guessing up until the last page. Although we don't get extensive details on Din or Ana's lives, Bennett's witty dialogue and distinctive character voices create a strong, memorable cast that prove less CAN be more when it comes to creating characters in such a high-concept world. There is also an unexpectedly resonant message about how apparently distinct political systems fall prey to the same human weaknesses of greed, corruption, and power. There are few authors who can balance the competing demands of fantasy with such skill, and I harbor a secret hope that Bennett will outpace Conan Doyle in number of Dolabra & Kol mysteries.

This is book 2 in the Shadow of Leviathan series. Ana Dolabra and her assistant Dinios Kol have been called to the scene of a missing person. This case is made all the more mysterious as the person disappeared from a locked & guarded room. As in any sci-fi/ fantasy mystery, this is full of magic and magical creatures. This is a great series & this one is awesome!

Impossibly, this is even more delightful than the first book!

Bennett has created a unique world, rich with its own lore and technology built around harvesting the organic matter of the mysterious leviathans that come to shore each wet season and must be killed before they wreak destruction. Without ever info-dumping, we discover ever more information about the workings of this civilization, but much remains a tantalizing mystery.

Intriguing as the world is, I absolutely adore these characters. Ana Dolabra is the cryptic, brilliant investigator, with Din her reluctant helper. Their relationship reached new depths, but there is still room for grow. The tone also walks a fascinating line in its treatment of the Empire, refusing to limit the depiction to a finite concept or good or evil.

Filled with witty dialogue and deft prose, I could read a hundred books about the adventures of Ana and Din. Recommended for all, but fans of books working the line between sci-fi and fantasy will love this!

An intriguing fantasy series that is a blend of Holmes style mystery and political fantasy. An excellent palate cleanser in a world filled with repeated tropes.

Received an ARC via NetGalley.

This is such an unusual series; I don’t know many that blend fantasy and a sort of detective style. The crime solving is a great way for me to feel at home in fantasy and it’s so unique that it really sets itself a part. It’s also easy to pick up after a break between releases bc it’s not heavy in plot that has to be remembered. I like that. I didn’t quite remember all the world building from book 1 but I wasn’t lost and it wasn’t super important to the story; there was enough in there to catch you up on what was relevant.

I’m looking forward to continuing the series. Especially as we get to know the characters more. I hope the world continues to expand to include more reoccurring characters as well. Malo was a good addition to the story and I hope to see her again.

I am loving this series. The political intrigue, amazing world-building, thrilling mysteries... but mostly the unforgettable characters, Ana and Din. Their relationship and interactions drive the story forward, keeping the reader engaged. Just like in "The Tainted Cup," the world-building continues seamlessly, creating such a unique, fantastical world. And the second installment left sooo much for the next book to explore. I need more leviathans and more Ana and Din. I NEED BOOK THREE NOW!

As always, thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an advance copy (ebook) to review.

3.5 Stars – A Plant Lover’s Murder Mystery Fever Dream

This series continues to feel like Sherlock Holmes fell into a botanical garden, got lost for three days, and emerged screaming about titan blood and murder. And I’m honestly, here for it.

If <i>The Tainted Cup</i> was about poison spores and conspiracy, <i>A Drop of Corruption</i> said, “Hold my (tainted) drink, what if we added EVEN MORE CRAZY PLANTS AND CONSPIRACY?” If you are the kind of person who talks to your houseplants, refers to them as your “leafy children,” or gets <i>genuinely</i> excited about photosynthesis, then congratulations, this book was written specifically for you.

Ana and Din are back, with Ana still running <b>entirely</b> on weird food choices and enough hallucinogens to kill a small elephant, and Din once again questioning all of his life choices. Their dynamic remains the highlight of the series: one part investigative brilliance, one part emotional damage, all wrapped up in Din’s beautifully detailed, long-suffering memory. At this point, I half expect the third book to just be his resignation letter stapled to some type of dangerous exotic plant leaf.

While the plot sometimes felt like wandering through an overgrown greenhouse <i>(I know there’s a path here somewhere, but where??)</i>, the characters and storytelling were <i>immaculate</i>. I loved that we got to plant ourselves deeper into this world (see what I did there) and learn much more about the unique properties of titan blood and marrow, a failing monarchy, and a clandestine super species hidden within the ranks.

I enjoyed this sequel more than the first book for sure and I continue to love how the author has created such a unique world with a brilliant cast of characters.

<b>So if you like your murder mysteries served with a side of aggressively detailed flora and fauna</b>, this is the series for you!

Din and Ana are back for another round of Sherlockian hijinks! I enjoyed this sequel even more than the first entry in the series, in part because the world of the story continues to expand in fascinating ways.

A Drop of Corruption begins as a classic locked room murder: a Treasury official vanishes, impossibly, from his rooms, then is found dead many days later. Investigating this death takes Din and Ana to Yarrowdale, a place defined by oppressive traditions, mysterious science, and an adversarial relationship to the Empire. Bennett appears to delight in the tropes of the genres he's working in, and the plot of the novel combines the improbably twisty logic of the mystery with the HIGH STAKES of high fantasy. This is a battle of wits with lives on the line, and I was hooked from the beginning.

I am a more devoted fantasy reader than I am a mystery nerd, and so I was occasionally frustrated by Ana's leaps of logic and the convoluted plot. This irritation was more than balanced by the delight of learning more about the Empire, however. While most fantasy worlds are shaped by forces of darkness either mythical (Lord of the Rings) or human (Game of Thrones), the conflict in Bennett's series emerges from the dangerous and dependent relationship that humans have on the monstrous leviathans that invade their shores each year, sowing death at the same time that their bodies provide the basis for the Empire's scientific advances. Humans scheme and fight against the background of this violent cycle, and so their choices feel coherent despite the fantastical nature of their environment. (Other frequent fantasy readers might be interested in Bennett's Afterword, which explores the genre's obsession with monarchy and provides fascinating context for the depiction of Yarrowdale).

The revelation about Ana's nature at the end of the novel feels earned and exciting, and while Din is not the most dynamic character, he plays his sidekick role well enough that I'm glad he's sticking around. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

One of the things that I have enjoyed about Bennett's series that I have read thus far is how the story evolves to encompass a cast of characters, instead of focusing on one characters evolutions. There are plenty of examples of this from other authors, but I really appreciate how switching the focus of the story feels like an addition of perspective to the same story as it evolves. This can mean some relearning of the world and characters as they begin to be take the spotlight. Divine Cities felt a bit jarring at times with the shifts in characters, Founders felt like a growth of the story. But I really like the way that Din grows to dominate this story. His use of his abilities was on full display in a way that felt muted in book 1. He becomes so much more in this story and I really loved seeing him on full display (pun intended?).

There was a lot more depth to his character in a way that helped to see him so much more fleshed out and well rounded. I enjoyed seeing more of his perspective, and the tension between him and Ana was interesting to see play out. There were a couple of quirks of both of them that felt like we were adding elements that weren't present in book 1, but overall the growth felt natural and well plotted. The action that Bennett writes is always a strength in his work and this is no exception. I had so much fun with this and I really want book 3 like sometime next week!

If there is one things that is clear about the book 3 of the other series, whatever happens in the next story will be absolutely epic and I am here for every bit of it!

Thank you to Del Rey and Net Galley for this ARC.

Oh, Ana and Din! I really think these two are the modern reader's Sherlock and Watson with the added twist of such unexpected humor and vulgar banter that is truly fun. If this was good in book #1, it became great in book #2. This mystery is brilliant too, just like the first -- and that ending!

However, where before I loved the fantasy mystery blending, this time it made it more difficult for me to buy into it at times. Where with Sherlock I can believe his wild connections, no matter how off the wall, because reality backs it up, some of Ana's sleuthing worked a little too well. Like some of the reveals just felt a little too tidy, like the workings of this world just allowed almost too many fantastical twists. Because I love what Robert Jackson Bennett is doing here, I can't really fault him for this, but as a reader, I couldn't ever really settle in to the world. Which is a shame! Because what a beautiful world he is building.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, Net Galley, and Robert Jackson Bennett for providing me this ARC.

Thank you to Del Rey Books @DelReyBooks and Penguin Random House Audio @PRHAudio for the free book and audiobook! #PRHAudioPartner

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
Shadow of the Leviathan series book 2
Pub Date: April 1, 2025

The first book in this series, The Tainted Cup, was one of my favorite reads last year, but I may have loved this sequel even more! What an incredibly imaginative, well-plotted, unputdownable read.

These books are a fun and sharply written combination of compelling fantasy and exciting whodunnit elements. I appreciate how well-balanced the fantasy elements and the mystery are. The atmospheric world-building that makes you feel like you are exploring the wonders and oddities of the empire alongside the MC, Din, from whose POV the story is told.

Din is an “engraver” magically altered to have a photographic memory. He observes crime scenes and other relevant locations, memorizing conversations verbatim to report back to Ana, his brilliant, eccentric, and usually blindfolded superior. I really enjoy the dynamic and banter between Din and Ana. And this time, we learned a bit more about each of them. All of the characters are well-developed, flawed, and intriguing. A new character named Malo was added this time, and I loved her! She speaks her mind, is snarky, foul-mouthed, hilarious, and has a very interesting skill set.

The mystery itself is layered, smart, and complex, with several twists, political intrigue, and danger, which kept me guessing throughout.

A unique and entertaining read and a series I highly recommend! I cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you to Netgally and Del Rey Books for the gifted ARC!

I loved the first book in this series and this one didn’t disappoint!

The world building keeps getting better. In this second book we learn more about this world and where their biological technology comes from, since our investigators have now traveled to the place where the Empire extracts biological material from the leviathans.
We also learn a bit more about our main character, assistant investigator Din, and some surprising secrets are revealed about Ana, our eccentric detective.

The mystery is once again interesting and well crafted. There's a dash of classic tropes, but woven into the politics and the particular technology from this fictional world.
I really enjoy how the author crafts his mysteries, always starting with a small puzzling case (this time a locked room mystery) which slowly unfolds into something a lot bigger and with higher stakes.

It was a perfect mix of fantasy and detective story, and a truly enjoyable read.
I'll be eagerly waiting for the next book in this series!

As always, I love RJB's fantasy worlds. One of my new favorite genres is fantasy mystery. This book just expands on the fantasy world that Bennett introduced in the first book. This magic system is unique and interesting. I like how we get to learn more about the leviathans and how the Empire deals with them. I always love a locked room mystery and that's exactly what this book provides. There were some parts where I did get confused with Ana's deductions, but I understood the overall mystery. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of a fantasy mystery.

4.5/5

Robert Jackson Bennett has done it again. A Drop of Corruption is not only a worthy sequel but an improvement on The Tainted Cup in almost every way. I enjoyed the first book immensely, but this one completely captivated me from start to finish. Bennett’s writing has evolved significantly since his first series, and even since The Tainted Cup, making this installment sharper, more immersive, and even more thrilling.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its masterfully crafted mystery. The way the plot unfolds, revealing layer after layer of intrigue, kept me hooked. Each revelation felt earned, and by the time I reached the halfway point, I simply couldn’t put the book down. The pacing was spot on—never dragging, never rushing—just a perfectly balanced build of tension and excitement.

The characters, already a highlight of the series, shine even brighter here. Ana Dolabra, in particular, stole my heart even more than before. She’s fierce, complex, and endlessly compelling. Malo was a fantastic addition to the cast, bringing fresh energy and dynamic interactions that enriched the narrative. And, of course, Din’s journey was one of the book’s greatest strengths. Watching his growth and transformation throughout the story was deeply satisfying and, at times, profoundly moving.

Beyond the characters and the mystery, what makes A Drop of Corruption truly special is the world itself. Bennett’s magic system in this series remains one of the most unique and fascinating in modern fantasy. Returning to this world felt like stepping back into something utterly original yet comfortingly familiar, and I loved every second of it.

Overall, A Drop of Corruption is a triumph. It builds on everything that made The Tainted Cup great and pushes the story, characters, and world to new heights. If you enjoyed the first book, you’re in for an even greater treat here. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for the chance the review this eARC.

Focusing on an intricate plotted high fantasy novel whilst rearing small humans is harder than it looks. A Drop of Corruption, the second in Robert Jackson Bennett’s Ana and Din mystery series, deserves your attention and focus.

It is first and foremost a high fantasy novel. Within that world, we have our neurodivergent Watson and Holmes, solving crimes for the empire. After that, comes the politics. All three of these parts are so interwoven and integral to the story that one does not work without the other.

Where The Tainted Cup established the world, its rules and politics, its fantastical scope, its perils, this builds on that. We move from the titan’s path and the outer rings of the empire to a politically complicated neighbor. We go from the terror of the titan to how its power is distilled.

It is smart and complicated. The how and why of it all made me dizzy at times. Convoluted? A bit but when you can augment a genius’s already brilliant mind, it needs to be complicated. The plot is tighter than Spanx so, while dizzying in its layers, I think it works. The language is mostly accessible. I had to look up the odd word but the prose is far from purple.

The author’s note talks about the rise and ills of autocracy. It ties into the themes of the minds of men (and their limits), perils of leadership, and hubris. No matter how brilliant the mind, all men are susceptible to ego. It ties what we see on the page into our unfortunate present.

I have a long memory for what I read and Cup made an impression. Theresa were a few details I was fuzzy on but I never felt lost. If you’re a ‘read it and forget it’ kind of reader, revisit Cup before enjoying Corruption. The mystery was solved but there is a lot more Bennett can do with this world. I look forward to the next installment. 5/5

The second book in the series delivers just as much excitement and intrigue as the first. This time, readers are drawn into a fresh mystery that is both unpredictable and gripping.

Overall, this book is an excellent continuation of the series. It is full of mystery, strong character dynamics, and immersive world building. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The remains of a Treasury officer have been discovered in Yarrow, a northern canton yet to be annexed by the Empire. Sent to negotiate on confidential Imperial business, our victim barely makes it to town before he’s redistributed and fed to the river turtles. Murder isn’t the only crime at play though, as Yarrow is home to a Shroud of preserved leviathans that are harvested for the various reagents and elixirs that augment the peoples of Khanum—a macabre scientific feat that serves as a bedrock of corruption and targeted attacks.

Ana is called in to investigate and bursts onto the scene, fueled by a steady diet of tobacco and graphic expletives. She’s accompanied by her loyal assistant, Dinios, who, between inheriting the debts of his deadbeat father, a weak stomach, and tending to the inconsistencies of Ana’s lunacy, is having a rather hard go of it. Self-care looks different for everyone, but sometimes it’s unclear if Din can keep his wick stashed away and out of his various one-night stands long enough to lock in and solve the case. The journey for our duo is a winding one, as they navigate rotting innards, manic augurists, identity theft, secret twins, and Imperial polygamy all while trying to unmask a mass-poisoner who yearns to destroy the sacred Shroud. Along the way, the dynamic between Ana and Din deepens, a welcome development from book 1 while Din also finds new kinship in a rugged, foul-mouthed Yarrow warden who is a surprisingly endearing addition to the cast that I hope they keep around.

Equally intriguing is the mystery of Ana’s origins—her various augmentations, and the story behind her gluttony for blood and tubers. The denouement is how I envision a deranged Miss Marple fanfic to play out, where she unmasks the perpetrator while blindfolded, strumming two lyres, and double-fisting raw livers. Titan’s taint is laden with mystery, much like this installment, and while Ana is as unhinged and unpredictable as ever, these two qualities are invaluable as she and Din work to unravel the web of complex treachery spun by a monster that’s long been operating right under their noses.

5 stars for book 2 and now begins the countdown for they 3rd installment, of which I have no doubt will be as clever and enthralling as its predecessors.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s “A Drop of Corruption” arrives as a formidable successor, eclipsing the impressive groundwork laid by “The Tainted Cup.” This second venture into the “Shadow of the Leviathan” saga reintroduces us to the delightfully unconventional Ana Dolabra and her ever-observant companion, Dinios Kol, as they navigate an intricate puzzle within the remote confines of Yarrowdale. The core mystery, a vanishing act within a fortified room, morphs into a narrative that transcends standard locked-room tropes, infused with the fantastical undercurrents of Bennett’s meticulously constructed world.

Bennett’s talent for fusing the detective genre with high fantasy is on full display. The story unfolds with a meticulousness that mirrors the precision of a master craftsman, pulling readers into a realm where the inexplicable becomes tantalizingly real. Ana Dolabra, with her mind a whirlwind of brilliant, often unorthodox deductions, mirrors the legendary Sherlock Holmes, a figure whose intellectual prowess is as undeniable as his social eccentricities. Just as Holmes confounded and impressed Watson with his leaps of logic, Ana leaves Din, our narrative's Watson-esque figure, perpetually caught between admiration and bewilderment. Din, with his pragmatic outlook and steady temperament, serves as the reader's anchor, grounding Ana's flights of intellectual fancy in a relatable, often humorously bewildered, perspective. He observes, records, and attempts to decipher Ana's methods, much like Watson's chronicling of Holmes's, offering a necessary human counterpoint to Ana's almost otherworldly brilliance. Their interactions are relatable, delivering sharp humor and a profound examination of their evolving trust, forged amidst complex investigations and shared experiences.

“You… wish to wait for this killer to kill again?” “Well, I don’t want to, Din. I’d prefer it if I could just toss a stone out my window and strike this fucker in the head! Yet that is unlikely.”

The central mystery is a labyrinth of political intrigue and moral quandaries. Bennett’s capacity to craft a narrative that keeps readers guessing until the final pages speaks volumes about his storytelling finesse. The inquiry into the disappearing Treasury officer steers Ana and Din into a conspiracy that threatens the Empire’s very fabric, particularly the Shroud, a bastion where the volatile magic of fallen leviathans is harnessed. The stakes remain consistently high, and the intrigue intensifies with each revelation, ensuring the narrative’s momentum never wanes.

A particularly compelling aspect of “A Drop of Corruption” is Bennett’s dissection of institutional decay and the destructive force of unchecked authority. The author’s note, illuminates his views on inherited power and autocratic rule, adding a layer of contemporary relevance to the fantasy setting. Bennett’s world-building is nothing short of extraordinary, painting a vibrant and immersive portrait of an Empire grappling with decline and the dangerous allure of ancient, leviathan-derived magic. The setting is not merely a backdrop but an active participant in the narrative, shaping the characters’ actions and the unfolding events. The political tensions and the intricate web of alliances and betrayals deepen the story, transforming it from a simple mystery into a compelling exploration of power dynamics.

The characters are exceptionally well-developed. Ana’s sharp mind and idiosyncrasies are contrasted against Din’s grounded perspective, creating a dynamic that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Their partnership deepens, and the reader is drawn into their world, experiencing their trials and triumphs alongside them. The supporting cast is equally well-crafted, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the narrative. Bennett’s ability to infuse his characters with depth and nuance ensures they feel authentic and relatable, even within the fantastical setting.

“No. He has always been the Empire’s thing. He seeks trade, and wealth. As we say— Ika aḍakohsa la’i ika siki da parasi. He has a purse for a scrotum, and coins instead of balls.”

The pacing of “A Drop of Corruption” is expertly managed, maintaining a steady rhythm that captivates the reader from beginning to end. The narrative unfolds seamlessly, with each chapter building upon the previous one, leading to a satisfying and surprising conclusion. The intricate plot is masterfully executed, with each clue and revelation carefully placed to maximize impact. The ending is both unexpected and fulfilling, a testament to Bennett’s skill in crafting a narrative that is both unpredictable and satisfying.

“A Drop of Corruption” is a resounding success, a perfect blend of mystery, fantasy, and social commentary. This sequel offers a rich and immersive world that has me itching for the next installment in this exceptional series.

This series is an epic collision of mystery and fantasy!

This world is a continuation of the Ana and Din Mystery series. This universe is home to a male main character, Dinios Kol, (meet our Watson character), who is now a more experienced assistant to an eccentric, if slightly unhinged, investigator, Ana Dolabra (meet our Holmes character). Their dynamic is full of banter, as well as an undeniable friendship and sense of support between the two.

The mystery starts as soon as you begin page one and weaves throughout the story - taking the reader through a story with important details, insights, and ongoing revelations.

Power, corruption, and political intrigue are all included. Mystery and fantasy are balanced well throughout.

The fantasy components speak to heavily augmented persons who can smell, see, hear, fight, etc. MUCH more than the average human.

The neurodivergent representation in this book is well done, as are the softer LGBTQ+ elements.

If you don’t enjoy swearing in your books - you may not enjoy this story. But if you love a story that makes you laugh out loud at its humour get yourself a copy ASAP.

I’m grateful to have been able to step back into this world with book number two! I now impatiently wait for the third book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett.