The Tainted Cup was one of my favorite books of 2024. I loved the murder mystery set in an interesting high-fantasy setting, and I really loved the two main characters. A Drop of Corruption is the follow-up and sees Ana and Din work to solve a new, gruesome crime.

Ana and Din are delightful as ever in this installment. This book takes place some time after A Tainted Cup, and Ana and Din have worked a few cases since we last saw them. Din is struggling with his place in the world and where he wants his future to be. Ana's blunt (and often hilarious) advice is a true highlight of the book. Their dynamic gets a little more focus in this book, and the two learn more about each other, which adds to their dynamic and makes them both even more interesting characters.

There are also a handful of new supporting characters that I really enjoyed. I especially enjoyed Malo, a new local ally who assists in solving the case.

I enjoyed this book's mystery even more than the first book's. This is a truly twisty and layered plot that kept me guessing the entire time. This mystery has very high stakes and includes more plant-based horrors, political scheming, and a large cast of potential suspects and victims.

The world-building of the series continues to be rich and fascinating. The crime being solved takes place in the realm of Yarrow. The location is quite different from the locations visited in the previous book. Yarrow is extensive, with many regions that we travel to as Din and Ana work to solve the case. This area might be outside the Empire and the Titan's Path, but the Leviathans still factor into the story, and the fate of the entire Empire depends on it being solved.

A Drop of Corruption, like its predecessor, will undoubtedly be on my list of best books of the year. It does everything that The Tainted Cup did brilliantly and does it even better. If you like fantasy and mysteries/thrillers, I highly recommend this unique, memorable, and incredibly well-written series!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this book further solidified the fact that Robert Jackson Bennett is a must buy author in my opinion. His ability to create a world that is so unique and intriguing is unmatched, as seen not only in this series, but also in two of his previous trilogies, The Founders and The Divine Cities. I was a huge fan of the functional fungi/flora that was presented in The Tainted Cup, and to see more unique plants (and critters) in A Drop of Corruption was incredible. I found the mystery to have a few twists that felt a bit predictable, but I don’t think the predictability takes away from just how entertaining and fun this book is. And again, I think this world is so interesting and special, I’ll read anything and everything Ana and Din related!

My biggest complaint from The Tainted Cup was I felt there wasn’t nearly enough exploration of the leviathans and I would have loved to see more of them, or at least get a bit more lore surrounding them, in the following books. I think it’s safe to say this is no longer an issue. All that we learn about the leviathans in A Drop of Corruption, from the prologue to learning more about the Shroud, has me hooked, and much like the functional plants in this world, I’m left wanting to learn more. This book was a step up from The Tainted Cup and, needless to say, I’m very excited to see where this series goes from here!

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC, and thank you to RJB for writing a story that I enjoyed every minute of!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great Read, But I Did This to Myself

Okay, so A Drop of Corruption was such a ride, but I have to admit… I did myself zero favors by not realizing it was part of a series. Totally my fault, I was definitely a little lost at times. That said, I still really enjoyed it! The world-building? Chef’s kiss. It’s so intricate and immersive, and Bennett has this way of making everything feel alive.

The characters were another win for me. Ana is sharp, intense, and just the kind of detective lead I love, and the whole mystery had me hooked. There’s this perfect balance of political scheming, fantasy weirdness, and classic detective work that kept me turning pages. I just know I would’ve enjoyed it even more if I had read The Tainted Cup first, so learn from my mistakes!!

Even though I had some “wait… what?” moments, I still had a great time, and now I have to go back and read book one. If you love fantasy with a strong mystery thread, this one’s worth picking up—just maybe start at the beginning.

In the second book of the Shadow of the Leviathan Series, a Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air in the canton of Yarrowdale, —vanishing from a room within a heavily guarded tower, its door and windows locked from the inside. The Empire calls on its most brilliant detective, the great Ana Dolabra & her assistant Dinios Kol., to solve the case. 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.

I love this series. Ana is quirky, cusses like a sailor, & wears a blindfold while she solves crimes in, shall we say...unorthodox means. She somehow always manages to solve the crime, no matter how difficult. The author does an excellent job with world-building and character development. If you love a mystery with a fantasy setting, that will keep you guessing until the very end, then you should definitely check this out.

Another amazing adventure.

I couldn't wait to dive back into this weird and wonderful world introduced in the Tainted Cup. Although this book was just short of 5 stars it retained all the elements I loved in the first book and expanded on the world building and characters.

The action is now taking place in a different part of the Empire and even though I missed Din's love interest as well as the imminent Leviathan threat the new installment introduced new elements that more than compensated for it.

Ana was just as weird as usual, Din stoic and determined. The new character - warden Malo did not disappoint either. And of course the big bad guy was truly devious, even though unlike the first book I did guess a couple of the plot twists.

However, my favourite part was that we finally get a glimpse at what Ana truly is and where her power of deduction comes from.

I can't wait for the next book in the series.

I didn't read the book that came before this one and just felt unaware of the world this story took place in which left me feeling a little disconnected from the book overall. But beyond that this was an imaginative and interesting story that I did enjoy. Not a fan of mystery story's or books really but that's ok since it was a very good story. I liked the characters for the most part and enjoyed reading about them. One reason I don't reading mystery books is I never figure out what's going on until the end. Some people enjoy this, but I like to have some idea of where the story is going. So some people who are smarter than me will probably enjoy this far more than I did. It was a surprise to have it all cleared up at the end though. It's always nice to try something different and this was a different type of book for me and one I enjoyed reading. So as usual thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the opportunity to read a good book. Will look forward to reading from this author in the future.

Even more layered than the first book, A Drop of Corruption kept me on edge with its masterful misdirections. The fantasy elements—leviathans, political intrigue, and an atmospheric setting—add rich depth to the gripping mystery. If you loved The Tainted Cup, you’re in for a treat!

I was thrilled to return to Bennett's technocratic high-fantasy Empire, where plants and sea monsters take the role of electronics and AI. Reclusive genius Ana and her assistant Din are once again called to a far corner of the empire to solve a crime: the disappearance of a Treasury officer aiding in negotiations with a vassal state. What begins as a locked-room mystery broadens, upon investigation, into a smuggling conspiracy, a weaponry scandal, and a pair of hidden, dueling schemes to change the shape of the Empire itself.

If that sounds like a lot of plot... well, it is. Fortunately, it's grounded by the Sherlock-and-Watson dynamic of Ana and Din, as well as Din's new friend, street-smart local enforcer Malo. And it's illuminated by Ana's insightful commentary (often while blindfolded and eating something bizarre) as well as Din's pointedly naïve perspective. In the end, this is not just a mystery but a timely - and timeless - rumination on empire, the dangers of autocracy, and the responsibilities inherent in power. It's also a gripping, enthralling, delightfully immersive read.

I was provided an ARC of his book via Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore through Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, and while this can be read a standalone I would recommend reading [book:The Tainted Cup|150247395] first. It was a nice introduction to the world and the characters of Din and Ana and how they interact to solve crimes. The novels act as companions, following completely separate incidents with interconnected characters and themes and the author does a fantastic job giving you enough background information in this novel so you don't feel lost. It has been over a year since I've read book 1 and I felt like I had a nice refresher on the world and the characters. The world is strange and complex, and the author does a wonderful job detailing out the setting for this murder mystery.

As with the first book, Iudex investigator Din is sent on a mission to uncover clues when a murder under strange circumstances occurs in a small village on the outskirts of the Empire. Yarrowdale is a strange place, but it is very important to the empire, and when officers of the Treasury disappear and are found murdered only the best are sent to find out what happened. His superior officer and mentor Ana, trails behind him to conduct the investigation in her strange methods. Once in Yarrowdale, Din meets up with Malo, a Warden who aides in the investigation. Malo is surly, but she takes her duties seriously especially when the precious reagents produced in her homeland are in danger. As Ana, Din, and Malo investigate the murder of the treasury officer, they uncover a much larger plot that puts not only Yarrowdale, but the entire empire in danger. They must quickly find the culprit and stop him before he does more damage.

This was an excellent adventure! As with the first book it weaves several genres into a Sherlockian style mystery. I loved the fantasy setting and the characters. We meet new characters with new augmentations. In this world people can choose to under go procedures to permanently enhance their abilities like Din's ability to remember everything for his position as an engraver or take tonics to temporarily enhance things like wakefulness or stamina. I'm not sure how many books there are going to be in this series but if Din and Ana are investigating I'm going along on every case with them. In this installment we get to know more about Ana's abilities, even if she doesn't come right out and say what they are. Ana's methods are strange and she is able to draw conclusions from the most disparate information, but in this particular investigation and with Din's engraver abilities she is able to piece together the solution in a way we haven't seen before. I won't spoil Ana's abilities, but she did tell Din she would reveal her enhancements when the time was right. We also learn more about the strange leviathan creatures that threaten the world and what is done with them at the mystical place called the Shroud.

There is so much going on in this book, but I never once felt overwhelmed or confused. The author does a great job with the pacing and keeping the reader engaged and connected to each of the plotlines. With such a complicated storyline and so many offshoots it would have been very easy to lose sight of what was going on, but RJB kept things connected and brought things together in the end in such a great way. We get a great reveal as one would expect in a mystery, but along with the investigation we also get eerie emotional movements as well as excellent fantasy elements. We get more information about all of the abilities people can have and we get more development into Din and Ana's relationship. There were some great side characters that both helped and hindered the investigation. The author does a good job feeding you information throughout leaving clues along the way. I loved this book and the series has quickly become a favorite to recommend to other mystery and fantasy fans!

I adored Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption did not disappoint. I actually feel the second book dove more into the characters and thrill of solving this mysterious murderrrr.

My favorite tired loving memory man and his blindfolded boss are on a the hunt with new revelations at every turn. We also get introduced to new characters with further world-building.

If you haven’t read Tainted Cup, 1. Get on it! 2. This new series blends Holmes and Watson with the wonder of fantasy (think Tress of the Emerald Sea). While I can draw comparisons, this is a very unique style of story telling and writing to me. Highly recommend.

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

Pub date is 4/1/25!

Ana and Din are back! The Tainted Cup was one of my favorite books last year so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read the next book in the series early. A Drop of Corruption contains the same Holmesian style as the first book, but has a larger theme of anti-autocracy. I am usually not a mystery reader, but these books are SO good.

The authors note at the end of the book is a fantastic addition to the themes of the book and is sadly even more appropriate in the world today than it was at the time it was written.

I will note that there are sections of the book where the Victorian style writing and worldview of some characters is very noticeable when describing the people of Yarrow. The disparaging remarks do not come from our two main characters, nor are they supported by the book’s premise at large and indeed are used to further the commentary on Imperialism throughout the series. That being said, I do think that it is worth mentioning so readers are not caught off guard.

Is the second book in series just as good as first one? Yes.
I don't think I am the only reader who is craving for more fantasy mystery novels. This question get asked on various social media outlets on a weekly basis, so I guess there is an appetite for it and I would argue that the success of The Tainted Cup is partially the reason for it. Both book in the series worked so well for me and I think it's because, despite the fact a lot of fantasy novels have elements of mystery to it and vice versa, Robert Jackson Bennett managed to make a perfect blend of two genres, an equal ratio of both which makes this series great.

Bare bones:From the precarious edges of the Khanum Empire, Ana Dolabra and Din Kol are sent to the port town of Yarrowdale to investigate the murder of high official of Treasury who was part of the delegation coming to negotiate with the King of Yarrow the terms of Yarrow's assimilation into the Khanum. With seemingly impossible murder, riddles and red herrings, Ana and Din are faced with a foe like no other.

As I was wrapping this novel Edgar Awards announced their 2025 nominees and among the nominees for the prize of the night, Best Novel, is The Tainted Cup, where Din and Ana are introduced. It makes me really happy TTC was recognized for its mystery aspect in a category where genre-blenders are not that common. The point I am trying to make with this is, that among the leviathans and man-devouring mushrooms, this series is actually following a classic mystery novel to a T. RJB mentioned his main inspiration for this series were Nero Wolfe novels and if the genius recluse and her poor suffering sidekick didn't clue you in yet, let me tell you that inspiration was more obvious in this novel because Ana's appetite is astonishing and disgusting everyone around her. It's a theme.:)
Joke aside, as an avid reader of both genres, I loved how well Bennett integrated classic, well-known mystery elements into fantasy setting. For example, the incident that kicks the story going is at its heart a "locked room" mystery popularized through works of Arthur Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr. It got its name by posing the question of how the murderer got in the room of the victim and did the crime if the door is locked from the inside and there is no window. So, with the seemingly impossible crime, Din and Ana first must figure out "how it was done" before going onto "who has done it". Or how for example, many long running series like to give their main detective/investigator a rival who is on their level, of equal capabilities and intelligence, like Moriarty is to Sherlock or indeed Arnold Zeck is to Wolfe. In A Drop of Corruption, Ana, a uniquely augmented individual is faced with an equally gifted enemy and she has to work against the clock. It's the battle of minds.

But the real mystery of the series are, of course, leviathans, the "fantasy" part of this blend. A source of Khanum's power and the constant threat to their safety. Bennett is in his element expanding on this fantasy setting making it equally intriguing. On one side, we already saw that the blood of leviathan is responsible for mostly poisonous and parasitic flora and fauna of this land. But, and this is what I love most about it, it's not just a make-up of the setting, Bennett actually makes it a key element of both cases we saw Din and Ana working on. There is a body horror/anime/Annihilation coded scenery to make a point just how violent and unrestrained nature of this setting can get and left to humans it can get out of control.
But, leviathans are also what gave the social structure of Khanum's Empire its concentric look with the elites residing at the most inner part of the Empire, safe from the wet seasons. In this novel, Yarrow has some autonomy because the bay of Yarrow with its canal infrastructure is essential for Khanum's economy because it's where grafts are manufactured and shipped to the other parts of the empire. So, not big enough to resist the inevitability of Khanum's power but important enough to negotiate the terms of integration. This adds another layer of complexity to Ana's and Din's investigation who are sent to Yarrow in their capacity as Imperial Iudices, the "invader's officials". I am so intrigued by the leviathans and conzulates and I concocted bunch of theories in my head already.
I feel like Bennett has so much fun writing Ana because she is so eccentric and unpredictable and over the top about everything, but it's Din's character that's actually the heart of the story. He is young and still learning about the world around him*, but he is essentially a good guy who wants to do the right thing and it makes him a perfect narrator. These characters are lovable and I liked the fact their relationship is evolving. I think it may prove crucial for next part of the story, wherever Bennett sends them next. Maybe to the center of the Empire, Imperial Sanctum? Who knows, but I can't wait to read about it. I can't get enough of this series.



*The most relatable thing about our boy is the fact he is dealing with the heartbreak** in all the wrong ways.
**I am dealing with the same heartbreak in more mature way (will totally cry ugly tears if we don't see Strovi again.).

Who taught fantasy murder mystery could be so fun?
Ana and Din are back with another seemingly impossible mystery to solve in 'A drop of corruption'.

Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol, Iudex ( justice) representatives, are now at the edge of the territory, on a canton that is yet to surrender to the Empire's authority, where an empire official disappeared out of thin air. Quickly this disappearance turns into a series of murders and mayhem, and the plot thickens as the culprit is an intelligent asset that anticipates their every move and is plotting to weaken the empire by destroying its source of magic.

The story was exciting, the new characters were compelling, the political aspect well played along the narrative, and the world-building stills amazes me (it gets bigger than the last book, believe me). Robert J Bennett really knows how to keep us entertained. And, in this volume, there's also this underlying critique about the idea of kingdoms, divine rule, and democracy x autocracy that makes one wonder, and there's an author note at the end about that, which I found very enlightening.

I feel 'A drop of corruption' is a worthy sequel to 'The tainted cup', and I'm curious to see where the adventures of Ana and Din will take us from now on.

Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley/Del Rey for the e-ARC!

I swear there's crack in these pages because whenever I wasn't reading this book, I was craving it like mad. Like its predecessor, A Drop of Corruption is the perfect combination of great and fun to make for an excellent reading experience.

We're once again following Din and Ana as they try to solve another impossible crime. A man was stolen from a locked room with no sign of entry, only for his body to be found days later miles away. With this unique duo on the case, you know we'll be in for a wild ride to find the truth behind what happened, who did it, and why. Along the way, we learn more about this fascinating world Bennett has created. New people, new places, and new horrors, oh my! And let me tell you, some of these horrors were interesting to say the least.

Since we're already familiar with Din and Ana, there wasn't as much focus on them and learning their quirks over the course of the book. Instead, we got smaller, more intimate moments that helped show both characters in a new light. I really hope in the next instalment we get to dig deeper into Din's emotional state. Poor guy is so repressed.

And while I loved this book and highly recommend it, I'm not sure I'd suggest reading it immediately after The Tainted Cup. While the mysteries and locations are new, the methods of solving the crime aren't, at least not completely. There's only so much you can do to differentiate questioning people and picking details apart. This didn't bother me, but I can see some people being disappointed if they were hoping for something completely new. But me, I'm sat and waiting for the next one.

This book took everything I adored about The Tainted Cup and dialled it UP! Wow, just wow. I’m in awe of RJB’s brain!

The characters are some of the most endearing I’ve ever encountered. So much of their personalities comes through the incredibly written dialogue scenes - RJB is master of showing over telling. I really enjoyed the extra layers of depth (and mystery) added to the characters in this instalment. Several moments in this book made me emotional and I feel even more attached to the characters.

The world RJB has crafted for these mysteries to take place in is just magical, whimsical, and a little bit terrifying. These books truly transport me to another dimension. I loved that we moved to a different location in this instalment, expanding the scope of the world and giving rise to more political intrigue (which was delicious, by the way).

The plot is perfectly paced and nothing (and I mean nothing!!) is said/done without reason. I seriously applaud RJB for having such a turbulent plot without compromising the characters or world-building. As with The Tainted Cup, the murder which is the catalyst for the investigation grows arms and legs to the point that you forget where you even started! I had the best time being drawn deeper and deeper into the dark tangle of happenings, and there was so much pay-off!

From Ana’s expletives and eccentricities to Din’s sword-wielding, and from imperial politics to new friendships, this book has so much to adore. I cannot wait to see where the next instalment takes us!

Thanks so much to Del Rey and Netgalley for the advance reader’s copy.

Forget the traditional sword-sorcery, romance, and political intrigue, this world is built around murder mysteries, gritty investigations, and some seriously dark undertones. It's a perfect mix of fantasy and suspense and the series is focused on the kind of gritty realism where danger, mystery, and monsters rule.

In this story, Ana and Din are tasked with solving the case of a man who’s vanished from a locked room. It’s not just a disappearance though, and Ana quickly discovers that it’s a murder, and from there, the investigation spirals into a larger conspiracy that has great consequences. The pacing was tight, the twists kept coming.

Overall, such an atmospheric read. Would recommend to both fantasy and non-fantasy readers. A wonderful second book in the trilogy that lives up to the high expectations set by Tainted Cup! The game's afoot, baby! 🤩

our favorite mystery solving duo, Ana and Din are back again to solve a murder in another town. the culprit seems to be able to do things that should be impossible, but of course Ana is hot on their heels. i’m so fascinated by the the world building for some reason, the glimpses we get of what’s going on around the characters behind the scenes always makes me want to crawl into the book and get some answers for myself.

i mentioned before that im not the biggest fan of mystery-leaning books, but RJB is one of my favorite authors and this series is turning out to be so compelling. i already love Ana and Din’s dynamic and there’s some interesting things happening with Ana’s character right now especially. the way the truth is slowing revealed is always so rewarding. i honestly wouldn’t have guessed who ended up being responsible for the murders, but the ending was just so good. we got introduced to a new character— Malo, and i hope we get to see more of her in the future books in the series. i can’t wait to see what they’ll be solving next!

Din & Ana are back, and this time they're whisked away to Yarrow to solve another mystery.

Since reading The Tainted Cup, I've read a bit more fantasy than I usually do. Coming back to Din & Ana is refreshing as I love their dynamic. The world building is woven intricately throughout the story and the story is a perfect who-dun-it fantasy mashup.

Are who-dun-its your comfort reads? Do you want to know more about Din's shenanigans and maybe a little more background on Ana? Then I highly recommend picking up this book once it releases. You will not be disappointed!!

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this novel ahead of its release date.

Honestly, I could read multiple books with just Ana and Din solving macabre mysteries throughout the Empire. It actually made me think of Foyle's War, which in turn does remind me of Sherlock Holmes. In that TV series, Foyle is the lead detective and Sam is his driver/ingenue who eventually becomes the Din to Foyle's Ana. And very much similar to the idea of acting in service to a cause, Foyle fights a war by catching criminals in his country; while Ana serves hers not in the front lines but through her investigative prowess in the outskirts of the Empire. And she's fucking GREAT at her job.

Like the first book, my favorite aspect is the relationship between Din and Ana. Din is often perplexed by how unhinged his commanding officer is, yet still manages to deal with her shenanigans the best way he can. And while Ana doesn't often tell him or show him her appreciation, it's clear that the two are perfectly paired--platonically, of course. And boy, do these two find out SO MUCH about each other in this book. As do we.

While The Tainted Cup introduced us to this highly detailed fantasy world, we get even more insight into the inner workings of the empire and the kingdoms in the outskirts. I feel like the murders took it up a notch and got even more macabre in the sequel. Also, the story involving an incompetent king and a host of political mishaps hits so close to my current reality, and that's probably why, despite this being a massive scifi-fantasy undertaking, it's still relatable even now.

Loved this, will definitely read more, and I can't wait for my mushroom edition to arrive!

4.25/5 ⭐️

A Drop of Corruption like the Tainted Cup before it is a fascinating blend of Sherlock Holmes and Attack on Titan. Din and Ana have a similar dynamic to Holmes Watson but somehow more zany in most respects. A grim ride full of mystery and fun twists that will have me eagerly returning for the next installment.