Two mysteries

Every speculative fiction novel is a mystery. We don't necessarily call it that -- the usual term is world-building. But the best F&SF novels don't just tell you about the world you're in: they make it a puzzle that the reader gradually solves. World building becomes world discovery. Some F&SF novels are also murder mysteries, with detectives and the big reveal at the end.

Robert Jackson Bennett's A Drop of Corruption is both. It starts out as a locked-room murder mystery. Ana and Din figure out how the murder was done almost immediately, but who did it and why they don't know. That is the mystery that most of the novel is concerned with. It turns out to be deeply tied to the nature of the Empire of Khanum.

Although I loved The Tainted Cup -- it was just so much fun! -- I didn't love the world-building. It felt perfunctory to me. This surprised me because Bennett is an author who is not afraid to go big. The Tainted Cup didn't feel like a Bennett novel to me.

A Drop of Corruption does. Or, to be more precise, it begins to. A Drop of Corruption is as much fun as The Tainted Cup, but it is something bigger and deeper, and we can glimpse where Shadow of the Leviathan is headed. In an Author's Note, Bennett writes,

... all the characters in this story— like all of humanity, apparently— have a little blank spot in their heads that says, “Kings. What a good idea.” The idea is powerful, and seductive, and should not be underestimated. To be a civilization of any worth, however, means acknowledging the idea— and then condemning it as laughably, madly stupid.*

I will certainly read the next book, and I expect the entire series, if I live so long.

I thank NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for an advance reader copy of A Drop of Corruption.

*This quote is from an advance reader copy. It will be corrected if necessary when the book is released 1-Apr-2025.

A great sequel to what was an amazing first book.
Captivating, page turner and with a fab plot. Highly recommend

OBSESSED !!! It’s like Sherlock but add in the pre-cogs from Minority Report and stick them all in a Jeff VanderMeer setting. Brilliant, incredible, no notes.

Another intricately plotted tale featuring Ana Dolabra, the brilliantly unorthodox and clever investigator and Dinios Kol, her assistant with perfect memory, called to investigate a seemingly impossible crime of a Treasury official kidnapped from a locked room. There are shades of political and royal intrigue, as the crime takes place in Yarrow, an independent area scheduled to fall under the Empire's realm in the near future. The pacing and multitude of revelations kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to learn more about the history of this world, and has some poignant commentary and parallels to real world situations.

First off, big thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

Alright, I didn’t know this kind of story could exist, but here we are: picture a gripping investigation set in a unique, high-fantasy world that’s hilarious but also surprisingly dark. How do all these elements blend so perfectly? I have no idea, but Robert Jackson Bennett absolutely nails it!

I loved the first Din and Ana investigation in the Tainted Cup, and this sequel is just as fantastic, if not better. (You don’t need to read the first one to enjoy this, since the plots are standalone, but it does help you catch a few references sprinkled throughout.)

The dynamic between Din and Ana is a highlight for me. Din is the young but sharp assistant investigator, dealing with some form of dyslexia, which makes him such a relatable and likable character. Then there’s Ana, the lead investigator—a mix of madness and brilliance who keeps you guessing. Add in Malo with her special warden Apoth skill set, and you’ve got a trio that really works together seamlessly.

Expect a cast of compelling characters, twists and turns you won’t see coming, and a deeply immersive fantasy world that pulls you in from page one. If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts fun and thrilling, you can’t go wrong with this one!

I really liked the first book in the series and was very happy to be approved for an earc of the second. Ana and Din are still great, the word building really amazing and also the side characters didn’t disappoint. But I couldn’t give it the 4* I gave the first book. The great reveal at the end just didn’t make sense this time (I would have to spoiler the whole book to explain this unfortunately) which was very disappointing. Also the excessive use of phrases ending in “…,yes?” and “…,true?” drove me crazy and especially Ana didn’t speak that way in the first book, the change in character was irritating for me. And lastly the bigger story arc which was teased at the end of book one just wasn’t in here at all. This in total led to the 3* rating, but I will totally continue to read the series.

A Drop of Corruption was a great and very intriguing second installment to this series. I think the world and magic Robert Jackson Bennett has set up is just so unique and interesting, and once again, I am looking forward to the next one. I love Din and Ara.

Second in a series of interconnected, but self-contained fantasy mysteries, a young public servant is to serve as an assistant to an older, very eccentric investigator in an empire with Lovecraftian monsters that threaten to invade from the sea every wet season but are also the source of fantastic biotech solutions for everything.

This is a book I wanted immediately right after finishing the first book The Tainted Cup—not because that first book ended in cliffhangers (I hate cliffhangers, and this author does not do those) but because I had liked the universe and characters so very much.

When I saw people reading NetGalley proofs, I wanted in also; I wanted to read this as soon as possible, and I was lucky enough to get a request accepted. Many thanks to all involved - Netgalley, publisher, author. No strings attached to the review, though there is my own bias that I had really liked the first book, and I really wanted to read this. And it did not disappoint!

Like with other works of Robert Jackson Bennett, the writing and characterization are very good—the pace, the descriptions, how characters define themselves by what they do and how they react. I like very much the two main characters, but in a way the central character is the universe, this world, this totally different way of doing technology, the many layers of history and speculative tech underlying every action, but without info dumps or feeling oppressive.

The plot here was not the plot I thought I wanted when I finished The Tainted Cup—I wanted and still want Din and Ana to head to the inner ring and deal with the political center of this universe. That is not what happens here, Din and Ana instead head to a border satellite medievalesque (Rohirrim-esque?) semi-independent state that is formally outside its control but is of crucial importance to the Empire. Never mind what I thought I wanted; this was fantastic and so much to my taste: the politics of the kingdom and clash with the empire, the decisions and ethics of politics, as well as the absolutely fascinating setup that makes that kingdom so important but without losing the focus on the real people and their lives and aspirations and needs. Din needs to reconcile himself with what he really wants, and there is a very good payoff in the evolving relationship between him and his boss. And yes, we find out a bit more about Ana, though that just makes the reader want even more.

So, a very good second book to a series, it picks up on what is established, develops further the characters and world-building, and gets the reader ready for more (and there is such potential...) while still providing closure and self-containment.

(This NetGalley request kind of backfired; I managed to read an eagerly awaited book a few months ago, yes, but now I finished it, and there is no new volume for me in 2025, and I am now eagerly waiting for book 3, which has no release date in sight, and wanting to talk about all kinds of details now and now and now but without spoiling anyone…)

Ana and Kol have been called away to Yarrow, a kingdom not yet annexed completely by the Empire but one of grave importance to the Empire, for this is where the dead leviathans are sent to be cultivated for reagents. When they arrive, they discover a Treasury officer has been found in the swaps surrounding Yarrow in pieces, not only that the man had gone missing from the top floor of a tower in a room that was locked and guarded. Kol and even Ana know that the criminal behind this murder maybe their most diabolical adversary yet and as they start investigating they realize that not just the Yarrow Royal Court but even the Empire operating in Yarrow have deadly secrets that pale in comparison to one murdered man, these secrets could bring Empire to its knees.

Alright, so I loved Malo, and I hope she continues to feature in the series! Ana is still just this side of bat shit crazy, which I love, and Kol continues to struggle with understanding how important his work truly is to the Empire. Which is totally understandable because, seriously, the crazy situations he ends up in because Ana sent him off on some mission would make anyone question just how they are helping anyone. It's great how he obviously has unwavering faith in Ana, and yet he doesn't even seem to realize this until the end. He's got a lot of growth that happens in this one, and I really loved that.

I have to say my absolute favorite part of this series continues to be just how well RJB describes this absolutely unfathomable world. From explaining how all of these weird plant matters look, to being able to not just picture but fully appreciate just how large the Shroud is, to some truly stomach turning descriptions of corpses the detail he goes into and how you genuinely just feel surrounded by this strange world is wonderful.

The mystery itself, this time was, of course, fantastic. It's weird that the bad guy ends up being who I thought he was, but not in the way I thought he was. It's a ridiculously ingenious plot twist that is so much better because it's truly simple. Plus, literally everyone in this who has resided in Yarrow for any amount of time is just crooked. Empire or The Kingdom, it doesn't matter they are all just self-centered jerks willing to put hundreds of lives on the line to feed their own ego. And I absolutely have to agree with Ana on this one. Once we find out what the murderers motivation is, it's so disappointing in how simply uninspired and completely common it is. The man's supposed to be a genius, and yet his reasons for doing what he does are just so *boring*. I loved it!

Overall, of course, I recommend this one! It's definitely one of the best new series from this year, and it looks like RBJ is going to keep that going next year!

As always, thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eArc!

It was a wild, fascinating, and enjoyable mystery. I ate this up very quickly! I'm not sure how such a complex, immersive world can be created while still being easily readable and accessible. Anyone who enjoys original fantasy stories sprinkled with a mix of mystery should definitely check these out!

Gosh you know how some books suffer from the book two slump well this one sure didn’t do that. I loved tainted cup and really was worried if the second book would do it justice and boy did it! I will say maybe read book one right before book two because it will help a ton in the world building and remembering the different characters. This book takes place a few months after the first one and you still get the really cool Sherlock homes feel to it all! Now gotta admit I did miss seeing some characters from the first book but the new additions to the book helped me with that disappointment heheheheh. Gotta say I need book three!!!! Thanks so much for net galley for letting me read this!!!! This one will not disappoint!

The second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, "A Drop of Corruption" continues the intricate fantasy murder mystery that I had loved so much in "The Tainted Cup". Din and Ana are wonderful characters, their world rich and unique. While the worldbuilding here is so foreign that it requires extensive explanation, a lot of the themes are very familiar - colonialism, empire, and family debt. If you enjoy your fantasies dense yet humanizing, you can't go wrong with Robert Jackson Bennett.

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett was a fantastically good read. I can't get enough of Bennett's writing and I look forward to anything he writes. This second book in the series was just as good as the first and I will have to patiently wait for another book. I like how things come together slowly and it gives it time to marinate. It's so good. The characters are so lovely and I can't help but fall in love with them all. I think that's what's great about Robert Jackson Bennett, his characters always feel real. Overall, a fantastically good read!

I have the same likes and dislikes about this book as I did the first one in the series since they were very very similar. Just like the first one, I enjoyed the mystery plot within the unique fantasy world setting. However, I felt like I was missing any connection to the main character. For a fantasy world that is so fleshed out, it's strange that Din is not a fleshed out character at all. We know basically nothing about him - there is no mention of his emotions or desires or interpersonal relationships (bring back the captain from book one!). I just feel like I need more of that in a book so that I can feel invested in the character themselves.

I love Robert Jackson Bennett's books. The Troupe was one of my favorite reads of all time, and The Tainted Cup introduced a world that fascinates me. A Drop of Corruption continues the story of Ana and Din, the Holmes and Watson of this world.

The mystery was fun, interesting, and wild. Ana continues to be so intriguing to me, and I can't wait to read more of her and Din's adventures.

I've given almost every Robert Jackson Bennett book five stars. This one continues that trend. Bring on more!

Apparently, the author said he might make this a series that continues on for dozens of books, and I have to say...that would be absolutely amazing.

A Drop of Corruption is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, which is one of the series that got me into fantasy mysteries. Not only does this book expand on the worldbuilding, but it delves deep into a mystery that is so much more complicated than just a simple disappearance.
Din and Ana are back, but this time, they've moved north, far away from the Leviathans but close to the Shroud, where the corpses of Leviathans are taken to use for resources. I loved the complexity of the mystery itself and surprised myself by sort of predicting it (I got the right person based on just vibes, but I had no idea how or why). Also, this book encompassed so many different locations and subplots: jungle adventures, political meetings, old cults, and even hints at character backstories. Sometimes the plot did slow down, but there was always an air of suspense that kept me intrigued.
The cast of characters is incredibly entertaining. As always, Ana's eccentricity and her sense of humor make her such an intriguing character. The book dips into her backstory a bit, but it only makes me more curious about what it must be like to see inside her mind. Din's narration, too, is so colorful and amusing. He's a bit angsty (which I love), but he's also grown a certain stubbornness that really enhances his dynamic with Ana. I didn't trust Malo at first, but she quickly grew to be a fun addition to the team.
Fans of The Tainted Cup will not be disappointed by A Drop of Corruption, the newest addition to the series that explores new settings, characters, and mysteries.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4.5/5

I was so happy to be back in this world after loving the first book in this series. RJB has created memorable characters, a fascinating world, and tantalizing mysteries for book 3. The worldbuilding isn't a super intense lift and things come together gradually over the course of the book. RJB's author's note shines a light onto the timeliness of this book in terms of real-world political relevance. I will say that these characters are also just so much fun to be around, and the twists and turns of the mystery are wonderful as well.

Another great book for Dinias Kol and Ana Dolabra! I loved the previous book and this one also did not disappoint. I wish that I had gotten the chance to reread the previous story first, but I didn’t have time to. That would have made it an easier re-entry into their world, but I caught up quickly. I generally don’t like this genre but these books are different in a way that I enjoy.

Huge thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc!

I devoured this so fast! I don't know how it's possible to build such an intricate, immersive world and make it digestible, but here we have it.

A Drop of Corruption takes us in a different part of the world, where the empire's reach is not as solid. The first book dealt more with the celebrated Engineers of the world, who build the walls to keep out Leviathans, while this book deals more with Apoths, who harvest dead Leviathan bodies for alterations—very much like the one our main character, Dinios, has. Din is once again using his enhanced memory to aid in this investigation, but the secrets and political machinations involved in this part of the empire makes his job harder.

"What are we, if not instruments in service to one another?"

Ana, our "Sherlock," is eccentric as ever as the circumstances of the murder they're investigating leaves them stumped one too many times. Ana's strangeness and Din's resigned handling still makes for an amusing dynamic. What I loved about this book, though, is that we get to see a little more vulnerability between them. We learn more about Din's reason for taking on such work, and we see his struggle with wanting to make tangible contribution versus continuing the unsatisfying task of bringing justice. We even learn a bit more about Ana, and although her past is still shrouded in secrets, we are one step closer to figuring her out.

If I were to complain about anything, it would be that some things from Book 1 weren't as prevalent in this book. The most obvious being the absence of Kepheus. At least he was not forgotten, as Din often pined over him. But I also missed Captain Miljin, who was not mentioned at all. There's also little mention of Din's dyslexia or his new found abilities. Although, none of this detracted from my overall enjoyment.

As is the case for any of this author's works, the side characters as so well fleshed out. Their motivations, their fears... all of it entangled into a very human tapestry. That's what makes these books such satisfying mysteries. One character, in specific, becomes an unexpected friend to Din and is sure to be featured again.

I could picture this series continuing in endless episodic installments, and I never want to leave this world or these characters!

Bennett does it again! Those who enjoyed the first installment of this series will also A Drop of Corruption. What Bennett delivers is an action packed sequel that expands the world and takes us on another crime solving spree. I won't say too much about the plot because those who have read The Tainted Cup know exactly what they are getting into reading this novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see more of Din and Ana's partnership, as well as meet a whole new cast of characters. Ana continue's to make me belly laugh at her craziness and wit, and Din became much more fleshed out to me in this book. I appreciated seeing him struggle with what he's seen and the duty that has been placed upon him to take care of his family. This book as a whole felt more trippy to me, but I enjoyed every second of it. This series continues to get better and better and I can't wait to read the next book!

As was my complaint with The Tainted Cup, I would get lost in the amount of characters and had to re-read a couple times to make sure I knew who was present. However, I still really enjoyed and had a great reading experience.

I highly recommend to anyone who likes unique fantasy and mystery/crime solving books!

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Ray for the eARC in exchange of an honest review!