Absolutely fucking magical. I’m a massive fan of mystery SFF, but so often find books are unable to meet the needs of both genres. This series does it wonderfully. The worldbuilding is top tier, the magic system is interesting and immersive, and the characters—particularly Ana—shine. Like the first book in the series, the mystery itself is relatively easy to unravel, but I honestly didn’t care. When the characters and world are this compelling, reading is a joy, even if you’ve figured out how things will end. I will be waiting very impatiently for the next installment.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

This was a fun story, much like the first. It has a lot of the same elements- some body horror, Ana knowing more than everyone else, Din still being a little clueless. I would've liked Din to grow a bit more between books, though. I don't know how at this point he still thinks he would be able to keep a secret from Ana. It's not like he's gotten way smarter or Ana less so. Some parts are a bit predictable, but I still enjoyed it.

4.5 Stars—Rounded Up!

Dinios Kol is confused—he’s bi, he’s in debt, and he’s investigating a murder. Of course.

I love this series, and I’ll say something I rarely admit: I might have enjoyed this sequel even more than the first book. Robert Jackson Bennett has once again masterfully woven together fantasy, breathtaking world-building, humor, heart, and mysteries that keep the plot surging forward with twists and surprises at every turn. Every time I pick up one of Bennett’s books, I’m reminded just how much I adore his writing as I’m immediately swept back into his incredible worlds.

I think part of what made this sequel shine for me was the foundation laid in the first book. There was a bit of a learning curve with the world building in book 1, but this time we’re thrown back into the world with a solid framework already in place. That familiarity let me focus more on the mystery and dive into the story right away.

The political commentary in this installment was also a standout. The exploration of why humanity clings to the idea of kingdoms and savior-figures, the workings (and failings) of bureaucracy, the nature of power, and how it corrupts—all of it felt fascinating and incredibly relevant. I especially appreciated how these themes were dissected and, in the end, deemed so pathetically trite and uninspired as motivations.

And the characters? Just perfection. Din is unapologetically himself—messy, confused, and relatable—and Ana is quirky, weird, and absolutely brilliant. These two feel so alive, as if they’ve had a bit of real life breathed into them. I can’t help but root for them and revel in their chaos.

I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group—Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy RJB's writing and the streak continues, but I'm not quite sure this series is for me. The setting and world building are quite interesting but at its heart this is a Sherlock & Watson mystery, and I got a little tired of the interrogations and the sudden insights. If a Sherlock story set in a very original fantasy world sounds up your alley, you'll likely love this and the other books in the series.

The first book in this series had its flaws, but I liked enough about it to know that I would continue with the series and hoped that it would only get better.
And while I definitely prefer the mystery in this sequel to the first book, and while the world is still interesting, I was still somewhat let down.

The setup for the mystery is great, and I enjoyed the journey to get to the answer, but the reveal itself turned out to be predictable and clichéd.
I also didn’t care for the politics. What this book has to say about kings and empires, and the way that subject was handled, was not great.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

4.5 stars – A Drop of Corruption was one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and it in no way disappointed. I have docked half a point simply because I was able to guess a number of the twists, though this did not take away from my enjoyment.

A year after the events in A Tainted Cup, Ana and Din are charged with investigating yet another mysterious death, this time on the very edge of the Empire. Here, the duo must contend with not only a Kingdom at odds with their Imperial presence but also a killer whose genius is unlike anything Ana has encountered before. As Din toils to record all he sees, to unravel innumerable questions, it becomes apparent that the Shroud, a place of untold danger and promise, might hold the answers they seek.

Though A Drop of Corruption offers just as many twists as its predecessor, I was also won over by the exploration of Din and Ana as individuals, their relationship, and their journey forward. Din’s experience as Ana’s assistant has begun to take its toll; his motivations in this novel are less marked by survival or disguising his past, instead they look toward the future he aspires to but feels he cannot have. We also come to know more about Ana, though she remains as cryptic as ever, which I believe sets us up wonderfully for the interpersonal core of what a third installment yet to come. Bey0nd the surprise and intrigue this type of story-telling entails, it is these characters which keep me coming back.

As such, I must echo reviewers in expressing how much I love Din and Ana. Robert Jackson Bennet does a wonderful job of characterizing them in a way which is endearing and frank. They are our messy, messy duo—vomit, blood, and all! This treatment extends to his other characters as well who are so vivid on the page, to the point that I do not wish to see them go at the story’s close. This novel also allowed us more time within the world (which was much easier to follow and visualize now that I am familiar with it) and expands on its history and the political climate beyond the Empire’s walls. All in all, it gave me exactly what I wanted; more of this world and more of the characters.

And yet I still need more, more, more! The third book cannot come soon enough.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House Publish Group – Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the pleasure of reading an advance copy to review.

I enjoyed this second installment in the series. The quirky characters are interesting and I liked finding out more about this world that they inhabit. I was glad to see a new mystery to solve and have new characters introduced as well. The plot did seem to drag here and there for me, but I am still looking forward into diving into the next book in this series.

A delightful continuation of the Ana and Din adventures, offering more insight into the intricate world Bennett created.

Second books in a series are often the hardest, it seems, having to live up to expectations set by the first one and lacking the advantage of either dwelling on world-building or introducing the culmination that normally comes at the very end of the larger arc. So inevitably this was a slower paced novel than The Tainted Cup, but thoroughly enjoyable even so: the crime was as convoluted as I've come to expect based on book one (much body horror included), the chase exhilarating, the stakes high and the character development gradual and natural.

The introduction of a faux Medieval type of society existing right next to the more familiar empire was a surprise, but it made for a more interesting and multi-layered narrative. I confess that while reading about it I did not really draw the parallels that Bennett elaborated on in his Afterword, but I was actually happy to then sit there for a minute and consider the story from a slightly different angle. And honestly, this is the kind of books I'm whole-heartedly here for: fantastically engaging and fun to read, but also thought-provoking in more ways than one. Can't wait to learn what the future holds for these characters and this world!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this early, will be absolutely adding this to my library as it hits the shelves.

amazing writing, loved every moment of the story. the world and it's people and it's issues are so complicated and interesting and the mystery adds a little color to it and is exciting too but it's really the people and what causes the mystery that grips you. loved every moment of it and hoping to read more of these series.

Marvelous. Great. Unpredictable. The riddle is riddling, the mysteries are unravel in extraordinary plot and storyline. This far, A Drop of Corruption is easily becoming my 1st 5star read in 2025.

I love the writing
To me who was not a native, at first it was hard to comprehend each word and the meaning behind. But as story goes, i got mesmerized with all the choice of words the author decided to put.

There were the mysteries along with the fun (mostly Malo did) and not to mention all the odd Ana Dolabra brings.

The story itself reminds me so much to a Japanese Manga I once read (and i put down because it was so complicated), this is too complicated but the writing made it easier to enjoy.

Oh how i love mysteries and investigations plot in fantasy book 🫶🏻

Thank you for the ARC. I love this book so much

A Drop of Corruption is a fantastic continuation to The Tainted Cup. Robert Jackson Bennett somehow expands this lush eco-sci/fi world while also keeping me intrigued about the new and old characters.
Din and Ana are far from home in a new country and faced with a mystery that includes death, kings, and a dangerous mastermind. No one does mystery like RJB, and I was hooked trying to guess how the mystery of this chapter of Din and Ana's story would expand. Every revelation was a small explosion that blew away my expectations and left me wondering how their case was going to resolve.
I just love this world and Din. As with the first, I was taken with how complex and nature-based the world and science was. I can NOT wait to see where they go next. I truly hope that this becomes a serialized series so that I can read about them forever.

4.5 stars. REALLY satisfying mystery. I love how convoluted the various schemes are and how brilliantly Ana and Din solve them. The world was fascinating in book one and has only grown more interesting. The plots are intricate, maybe slightly too intricate, tbh, but I liked that about this book.

I,, uh, read it twice so I could grasp all the plot points, and also for the pure enjoyment of it.

Queer interest tag for the bisexual protagonist.

(copied from my GoodReads review)

“I find all these mentions of doom somewhat less delightful, ma’am.”

First and foremost, the LARGEST THANK YOU to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the eARC of probably most anticipated book of the entire year. Let’s do this again next year with the third book please? (:

WOW. Sequels are TOUGH for a lot of author but RJB gently leads you through the aftermath and next tale for Ana and Din. Did I say gently? I mean, yanks. (Also RJB if you wanna throw out a novella of the few cases mentioned that take place inbetween please feel free to send it my way.)

Sweet summer chaos child Din is having a rough go, his father’s debtors re breathing down his neck and he misses his boy and is ultimately having a job crisis. We get to see so much more of Din’s personality in this, and boy is STRESSED.

“What a colorful colloquialism.”
Ana is her usual charming and unhinged self, her dry wit and epic deductions always give my brain the best little scratch and I just eat them up every single time.

Our duo is headed to a northern section of the country jungle strewn and Empire (sort of) controlled, except for the smugglers, murder, and theft. It was really awesome to see a different side of the empire and political game. I do think this book leans into the political side as much as TC, and the mistakes of humanity; even for the “greater good.”

If you liked The Tainted Cup, you’re also going to love this sequel. I did.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was very excited for a chance to read the second early. This book did not disappoint. The world building was excellent as well as the introduction of new characters that I loved. I hope there are more books coming!

Thank you Netgalley and Hodderscape for having provided me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I read this book as soon as I finished The Tainted Cup, the previous installment in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, and immediately I was aware of a change in broadness and scope of the tale I was about to read. For if the epic fantasy and mistery/thriller elements are still here, the new setting and its implications soon tell the reader that something is abrew, something way bigger than before. We are in Yarrowdale, a city still not under the siege of the Empire, and its waters lays the Shroud, a semi-living structure where dead Leviathans are brought to be dissected and for their blood to be collected for precious Grafts, highly requested by the Empire. We have here bigger political implications than in the previous books, for the Treasury Iyalet is trying to convince the king of Yarrowdale to abide to the pact his predecessor stipulated 100 years ago, still, the resistance of Yarrowdale and its proud people, people who are used to the jungle and its mysteries, keeps strong.
This time Ana and Din will face someone who seems... perfect in their endeavours: no traces left, anywhere, motivations unknown, and a tie with the Apoths that seems unexplicable by the Apoths themselves. Unless they are hiding things too, which Ana is eager to find out. Less so is Din: he has to repay his father's debts, higher than before, and he secretly wants to leave his Iudex post to join the Legion, after witnessing their efforts at the Walls in Talagray. We now have a character way more human than before: not just a record player for testimonies, but a butchered man, a sleepless figure who finds solace in strangers' beds at night, who keeps doing his job but can't find motivation in doing so, for the people actually protecting the Empire, in his opinion, are somewhere else. This is what I liked most in this book: Din, his character, finally exposed to his flaws and issues and doubts, adorably battered and exquisitely perplexed by his findings.
Bennett's writing keeps giving: tension, humor and wit are perfectly mixed as the story goes on and the mysteries pile up, making the reading experience pleasant and intriguing at the same time.
And, oh, Ana: she is still the creepy, ghostly figure she's ever been, except this time she seems ready to reveal a tiny bit about herself: tiny but huge in its scope, something that, for sure, is given to us in order to make the next books even grander than the first two.
When, Bennett, when can I have more?!

3 Stars for A Drop of Croton – A Quirky Mystery That Could Use a Little More Magic

Picture this: a locked room, a missing Treasury officer, and a detective with a name that sounds like she moonlights as a very fancy blade. That’s A Drop of Croton for you—a clever whodunit brimming with puzzles, magic, and just enough danger to make you double-check your door locks.

Ana Dolabra, the Empire’s Sherlock Holmes (but sassier), tackles a case involving murder, titan blood, and a villain who makes Houdini look like an amateur. At her side is her ever-confused assistant Din, who spends most of the book blinking in disbelief at Ana’s genius—and possibly regretting all his life choices.

The setup? Delightful. The stakes? High enough to give me a nosebleed. The execution? Well, that’s where the three stars come in.

Don’t get me wrong—A Drop of Croton is fun. The mystery keeps you guessing, and Ana’s razor-sharp wit shines like polished steel. But the pacing felt like riding a horse that keeps stopping to eat grass. Just when you’re ready to charge ahead, the narrative pulls back, and you’re stuck waiting for something exciting to happen.

And then there’s the Shroud, a place so important it basically keeps the Empire from collapsing. But despite the high stakes, the story didn’t quite make me feel the full weight of the danger. It’s like being told the kingdom is in peril but never seeing anyone panic about it.

Still, there’s a lot to love here—snarky banter, clever twists, and a world filled with magic harvested from actual titans. If you’re in the mood for a cozy mystery with a side of fantasy, this might be your cup of croton tea (see what I did there?). Just don’t expect a runaway page-turner.

Would I recommend it? Sure, especially if you’re looking for a lighter read. Ana’s charm alone is worth the ticket price. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself wishing for a little more titan blood in your veins to get through the slower bits.

I loved exploring more of this world alongside Din and Ana. When in The Tainted Cup we were introduced to the world and its major characters, A Drop of Corruption dives more deeply into the complicated and complex politics and also the relation between humanity and the Leviathans. It feels like another layer of worldbuilding is slowly unfurled and shed light on and I loved every second of it.
The mystery is well though-out and exciting, despite some things being predictable for me. However being able to predict the mystery is always part of the fun for me. If I can figure it out before the obvious reveal the author has done a great job at hinting at it. There were many moments when I was on the edge of my seat just because I could feel the creepy atmosphere (and anxiety) through Din's eyes.
I highly recommend this book! I had the best of time reading it.

The second in the series comes with an even better constructed mystery. As we learn about a new area of the soon-to-be empire we meet an entirely new cast of characters. They're all well-drawn and 3 dimensional. It seems hard to write a good mystery, where each step reveals a bit and leads to the next. Most mysteries seem to hop from point-to-point without any seeming rhyme or reason. Bennet constructs this mystery like a house of cards that is entertaining to watch build up and then collapse as all is revealed.

Robert Jackson Bennett has done it again. This is one of my favorite series ever, with an incredibly unique world and characters. I devoured this book in a day and can’t wait for the next one. The mystery, the characters, the magic, the world- all expertly done. This has something for everyone in it and I cannot recommend it enough. 10/10.

I read The Tainted Cup earlier this year and LOVED it so Drop of Corruption was top of my wish list and I was not disappointed!

This was everything I wanted and hoped it would be. It’s a well-paced, gripping fantasy mystery with a captivating investigative duo set in a wonderfully rich fantasy world that I could not put down.

I love this investigative duo and, much like a fine wine, they have only gotten better with some age. I love their dynamic here and how much they have clearly settled into a rhythm of working together.

The world building continues to astound me – it’s just so rich and vivid! It’s a world unlike any I have read before and it just feels so layered and textured I can’t get enough.

What I will say though, I wish there hadn’t been such a big time jump! While I think this might have been done to move along the wider political plot, I am hoping the author might return to these earlier years of Din and Anna working together – I need to know all the different adventures they went on and mysteries they solved! I want to see how Din went from book 1 to book 2 and everything that happened in between. I am just hoping there might be some flashbacks in the future or some books released that cover this time period as I feel a bit cheated!

I have no other words – this RJB’s series was an absolute STAND OUT of 2024 for me and my only complaint is that I want MORE. I could go on, but really what else is there to say? This was brilliant and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.