Member Review
Review by
penny s, Reviewer
I have a soft spot for locked door mysteries. When one is investigated by a remarkable duo who thrive on thinking differently? This reader can’t get their hands on the book fast enough. While you don’t need to read “The Tainted Cup” to enjoy this second volume in the Ana and Din mysteries by Robert Jackson Bennett, they are both enjoyable reads and the experience is richer when both are read.
From the opening sentence, Din’s growth as an investigator is apparent. Throughout this volume, we also see changes in Ana as she figures out being a mentor – both in general and specifically for Din. This mystery offers different nuances into the Empire of Khanum than was explored in the first book. In “A Drop of Corruption,” the tensions and cracks of all areas of society are more overt. Perhaps this is due to Din’s growing experience and his expanded worldview. Now he’s able to understand different nuances and broader implications of his general observations and his findings. His first interaction with Signum Tira Maro highlights this; she thought that he, as an inner ring investigator, would smell (due to her enhancements), “more expensive”... and further she states, “I apologize for not giving you a finer greeting... The true Empire lies a long way from here. Sometimes we forget its touch.”
Things progress from there, in many ways advancing similarly to the first book. Ana arrives later with her signature blindfold. Din is left largely to his own devices to figure things out methodically while Ana, on what seems to be wildly disparate tangents, deduces the same.
It’s a wonderful continuation of a story for those who love magical worlds, mysteries, and celebrate neurodiversity. "A Drop of Corruption" is an invitation to explore a world where magic, memory, and mystery collide. If you enjoyed "The Tainted Cup," this sequel will captivate you with its deeper exploration of the Empire of the Leviathans and the intricate challenges faced by its characters.
From the opening sentence, Din’s growth as an investigator is apparent. Throughout this volume, we also see changes in Ana as she figures out being a mentor – both in general and specifically for Din. This mystery offers different nuances into the Empire of Khanum than was explored in the first book. In “A Drop of Corruption,” the tensions and cracks of all areas of society are more overt. Perhaps this is due to Din’s growing experience and his expanded worldview. Now he’s able to understand different nuances and broader implications of his general observations and his findings. His first interaction with Signum Tira Maro highlights this; she thought that he, as an inner ring investigator, would smell (due to her enhancements), “more expensive”... and further she states, “I apologize for not giving you a finer greeting... The true Empire lies a long way from here. Sometimes we forget its touch.”
Things progress from there, in many ways advancing similarly to the first book. Ana arrives later with her signature blindfold. Din is left largely to his own devices to figure things out methodically while Ana, on what seems to be wildly disparate tangents, deduces the same.
It’s a wonderful continuation of a story for those who love magical worlds, mysteries, and celebrate neurodiversity. "A Drop of Corruption" is an invitation to explore a world where magic, memory, and mystery collide. If you enjoyed "The Tainted Cup," this sequel will captivate you with its deeper exploration of the Empire of the Leviathans and the intricate challenges faced by its characters.
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