This is one of those relatively unique cases where a book is not for me but I will still frequently recommend it because I know it will be for so many other people.

We are following Din who is the Watson in this fantasy Sherlock Holmes inspired whodunit murder mystery. The magic is plant-based, and our Sherlock is Ana, a quirky whip-smart investigator.

On paper, it sounds totally up my alley and like I should love these books, but there's something about being in Din's head that I can't stand. However, if you loved a Tainted Cup, I think you'll love A Drop of Corruption as well; this book absolutely holds up to what book 1 did. I just also didn't care for that one either.

This was a brilliant follow-up to The Tainted Cup! Like the first book, the mystery of this story was weird (in the best way), full of fun twists and turns, and an absolute page-turner. Not only do you find a well thought-out locked-room murder mystery, but RJB also brilliantly weaves in themes of colonial violence and extractivism, complicating the alleged benevolence of empire.

I also found the world-building and character development to be well-executed, answering several questions I'd had from the first book (while still leaving plenty of questions to keep me eagerly waiting for book 3). RJB's description of leviathans somehow makes it easy to visualize while still having an air of "this is beyond total human comprehension" when writing about leviathans and the empire's repurposing of their corpses. Additionally, we get more backstory of both Ana and Din, some of which only raises more questions about the world this series is set in, and what the empire's true goals really are.

All said, this book was everything I hoped for, and is already my favorite read of 2025. Thanks to NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Drop of Corruption finds us again following Dinios Kol, Imperial investigator, on another murder mystery - this time at the far reaches of the Empire. Once again serving alongside Ana Dolabra, a character whose Sherlockian ability to make connections and find meaning in small clues leaves both Kol and the reader with questions about her own identity and Imperial modifications.
Fantasy mystery continues to be a sub-genre that I absolutely devour and adore and Bennett deftly continues the Shadow of the Leviathan series here. I loved Kol’s character arc in this book and the further glimpses of his life as he grapples with his desire to do something within the Empire that feels worthwhile and meaningful while struggling with his father’s debts and his own youthful desires for fun and pleasure. I was delighted we got more of Ana in this one - both her strangeness and also some insight for both the reader and Kol about the truth of her, though it left more questions to be answered in further novels.
The author’s note also makes this one worth reading. Bennett’s reflection on empires and kings in light of the current political climate was an interesting addendum to this book that was so heavily reliant on kings and lineages.
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for an earc

ARC via NetGalley.

It was so good to be back in this world, back with Din and his struggles with both his consternation and admiration for Ana Dolabra. We're outside the empire now, in Yarrow, where the Shroud surrounds the island where they turn the insides of the leviathans into reagents and tools of the Empire. Yarrow is a very different place than we've been before, but still full of corruption, drama, intrigue, and pain.

It starts with a locked door murder, the nature of which and the remaining parts brings the particular talents of Din and Ana. It expands into smuggling, alchemy, magic, and the kinds of science that require enhancement to understand, while also exploring the autocracy, serfdom, slavery, and survival.

Another brilliant work from RJB, with the kind of nature horror elements that make me shiver.

Oh I loved this book, just as much as the first book and sometimes the second book in a series is not as good.

I don't want to say too much and spoil anything but if you loved the first book, you'll love this one too. A mash up of a thriller and fantasy. What's not to love!

All the stars.

The sequel to A Tainted Cup did not disappoint! This book continues everything I enjoyed about the first book, but with higher stakes! From the twist and turns to the witty banter, I had a hard time putting this book down. I definitely recommend this book for anyone that enjoys a blend of murder mystery and fantasy. I can’t wait to read the next one!

I feel like with every book I get off of NetGalley I become less and less articulate because it’s straight banger after straight banger. Like The Tainted Cup slapped, and post A Drop of Corruption I’m staring at my ceiling what J did to deserve the wait time between this release and the next instalment.

Review of A Drop of Corruption: An Ana and Din Mystery by Robert Jackson Bennett

Robert Jackson Bennett’s A Drop of Corruption is a masterful fusion of forensic mystery, political intrigue, and body horror, set within the sprawling, leviathan-haunted empire of Khanum. Building on the strengths of his previous works like The Tainted Cup and the Founders trilogy, Bennett crafts a narrative that is both intricately plotted and richly atmospheric, anchored by one of his most compelling investigative duos to date: the eccentric genius Ana Dolabra and her engraver-assistant Dinios Kol.

World-Building: A Living, Breathing Empire
Bennett’s signature world-building shines in this installment, expanding the Khanum universe with visceral detail. The Great and Holy Empire, sustained by the blood of slaughtered leviathans, is a labyrinth of bureaucratic ranks (Conzulate, Prieto, Immunis) and bio-alchemical marvels. The Shroud—a titanic graveyard enshrouded in a cocoon of "viridine glimmer"—serves as both a macabre resource hub and a symbol of imperial fragility:

"Protected within this green cocoon, I knew, was the citadel at its center. I imagined I could almost discern the shape of walls and roofs somewhere within it." (Page 34)

The ossuary moss, a "predatory fungus" that preserves corpses for Apoth dissection, exemplifies Bennett’s knack for blending the grotesque with the practical. This ecosystem of decay and innovation mirrors the Empire itself—a decaying colossus propped up by stolen titan marrow and cognitive enhancements.

Characters: Holmesian Dynamics with a Fantastical Twist
Ana Dolabra, blindfolded and brilliant, is a standout. Her erratic genius and sensory overload ("I can hear the heartbeat of the ocean") evoke Sherlock Holmes by way of cosmic horror. Din, her foil, balances her with grounded humanity, his perfect memory a blessing and curse:

"These awful sights would remain with me until I died. But such was my lot in service to the Empire." (Page 22)

Their dynamic crackles with wit and tension, as when Ana dismissively declares, "You are not an unusually stupid person... It’s only when you’re really very befuddled that I know the work might offer some mild entertainment." (Page 49). Supporting characters like Signum Malo, the sardonic Apoth warden with augments that let her "smell every drop of sweat," add grit and local flavor, grounding the story in Yarrowdale’s muddy, monsoon-slicked reality.

Plot: A Locked-Room Mystery with Cosmic Stakes
The central mystery—Immunis Sujedo’s impossible disappearance from a locked tower—unfolds into a conspiracy involving blood forgery, smuggled reagents, and a severed head left as a taunt. Bennett layers clues with forensic precision: the lodestone trick (Page 56), the citrus-scented clothes masking impostor traces (Page 32), and the rhythmic tapping linking Ghrelin to the killer (Page 106). The reveal that Sujedo was replaced by a bio-engineered impostor—"He was never in that room to begin with" (Page 78)—echoes The Tainted Cup’s body-horror twists but escalates the stakes with political subversion.

The cryptic note "Te siz imperiya" ("I am the Empire") inverts the imperial motto, critiquing authoritarian rot:

"A skull with words in its mouth... stating that it is the Empire… It’s a message, too, clearly." (Page 98)

Themes: Corruption and the Cost of Power
Bennett interrogates empire-building through Khanum’s tax wars and the Yarrow king’s resistance. The Apoth’s reagent thefts and Ghrelin’s covert Shroud work (Page 114) mirror real-world exploitation, while Din’s debt-ridden backstory—"My father’s new debts... my dream of a new service would remain just that" (Page 42)—personalizes systemic rot. The recurring motif of "sipping from the marrow" becomes a metaphor for parasitic power structures, literalized in the leviathan blood trade.

Prose and Pacing: A Feast for the Senses
Bennett’s prose is lush yet precise, immersing readers in Yarrowdale’s "musky" ossuaries and the "steaming jungles" where armored boats bristle with arrowheads. The pacing is deliberate, with early chapters methodically layering clues, but accelerates into a feverish third act as Ana unravels the conspiracy. Minor pacing lags in exposition-heavy dialogues are offset by razor-sharp exchanges, such as Malo’s deadpan: "You seem very practiced! That is the most precise vomit I have ever seen." (Page 23)

Comparison to Bennett’s Previous Works
Fans of The Tainted Cup will relish the forensic mystery and duo dynamics, while the Shroud’s cosmic dread recalls City of Blades’ divine ruins. However, A Drop of Corruption delves deeper into body horror (mummified heads, ossuary tendrils) and political critique, positioning it as a darker, more ambitious entry in Bennett’s oeuvre.

Weaknesses: Complexity as a Double-Edged Sword
The novel’s intricate world-building—hierarchies, grafts, leviathan lore—may overwhelm newcomers. While rewarding for patient readers, the density of proper nouns (Aporh, Immunis, Sublimes) occasionally slows momentum. Additionally, Ana’s near-omniscient deductions risk contrivance, though Bennett mitigates this by grounding her in flawed humanity (her sensory overload, impulsive oyster binges).

Conclusion: A Triumph of Genre-Blending
A Drop of Corruption cements Robert Jackson Bennett as a maestro of speculative mystery. With its layered plot, morally gray characters, and searing critique of empire, the novel is a must-read for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora and Gideon the Ninth. As Ana muses: "The question is—who is his audience? And what form shall his next message take?" (Page 107). One hopes Bennett’s audience will clamor for many more dispatches from this haunting, harrowing world.

Rating: 4.5/5
A near-flawless blend of mystery and mythos, slightly tempered by its labyrinthine opening acts.

This book was an excellent follow up to the first book! There were a couple of things from the first book that I’m a bit disappointed weren’t followed up on, but overall, it was a good second book. The biopunk world continues to be fascinating in all permutations. Our MC, Din, seems to be suffering a bit from the weight of biochemically created perfect memory and all that he’s been forced to bear witness to, and trying his best to handle himself. Ana continues to be delightfully odd and fascinatingly good at her job. It was especially interesting to see some people that were altered in a similar way to Ana, thus pushing her into certain indulgences to bring the case to a close. I was most interested to learn a bit more about Ana, so I hope we learn more in the next volume!

In this volume, we’re thrown head first into political intrigue as Din and Ana work in Yarrow, a technically independent kingdom with a previously signed agreement to join the empire despite none of the current nobility wanting that to actually happen. They are, of course, just there to solve a murder, but this soon enough has them working with the upper crust of Yarrow. Din and Ana working with these political figures gave us some more perspective into the somewhat precarious situation of the empire and is probably set up for the core of future conflicts.

Although I enjoyed this book, due to certain aspects of the mystery and the ultimate resolution, I must admit that I enjoyed the first book of the series more, but A Drop of Corruption is a very solid addition to the series.

The second installment in the shadow of the leviathan series, A Drop Of Corruption proved to be such an incredible read- continuing on a new investigation to solve by Ana Dolabra and her assistant Dinios Kol.
In this new mystery, both Ana and Din have to dig deep in order to track down an elusive killer within the jungle of the Yarrows- a feat that proves both time consuming and almost deadly with a twist that no one in the yarrows saw coming.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that was intriguing in all the right places and utterly compelling from start to finish- it gave me Indiana Jones
meets sherlock holmes vibes and I was here for it!.
A huge thankyou to both Net galley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read the ARC of this amazing story.

This is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. It’s set in a wonderfully unique secondary world where the centuries old emperor, the last remnant of the original people, rule over a population modified with blood from humongous sea creatures who once a year make to the land, destroying everything. The entire empire is harnessed to either fight the leviathans or to make use of them.

This time, we follow the investigative duo, Dinios Kol, the narrator, and his superior officer in the law department, Ana Dolabra, outside the empire to Yarrowdale, a small seaside kingdom that the empire has rented for a century for its practical geography. The dead leviathans are floated there to The Shroud, a secret facility where everything useful is extracted of them. It’s dangerous work, as the leviathan blood mutates everything around it instantly, but necessary. Now the century is up and the empire is trying to negotiate a new contract with the king.

One of the negotiators has been killed in a bizarre fashion and the body disappeared from inside a locked, upper-floor room. Ana and Kol have arrived to investigate. Well, Kol investigates and Ana stays in her room to avoid overpowering herself with too much stimulus like always. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take her long to figure out how it was done. That turns out to be the easiest part of the case.

A conspiracy against the empire seems to be afoot, and the perpetrator is not only capable of changing their appearances, but highly intelligent too, thanks to illegal modifications. Poor Kol has his hands full as he hunts the killer through swamps to king’s court and even to The Shroud itself, all the while risking his life to instant mutation by leviathan blood stolen by the killer that has been made into a weapon.

Even Ana seems stumped, her behaviour turning more bizarre by the day. But nothing escapes her, and in the end, the truth turns out to be fairly simple and, as she says, banal. She’s very disappointed. Reader is less so. I sort of guessed where the case was headed to, but allowed myself to be distracted by the false leads. And even if the killer’s motivations were fairly simple in the end, the case was entertaining.

Murder wasn’t the only crime committed. Ana learns that the officers working for the empire at the Shroud have misused their power and illegally modified the workers. All in the name of greater good. In the end, the only arrest she’s able to make are these people. But it’s a lesson for Kol as well, about the importance of the work they’re doing for the empire and the meaning of justice.

The greatness of the series is in the characters. Kol, the engraver with perfect memory, thanks to his mods, has personal troubles. His father’s debts are his to pay, and the bank is doubling the payments, now that he’s working on such a high-risk area. He has difficulty sleeping, so he finds willing bed-fellows, men and women, where ever he goes to avoid his own bed. He dreams of joining the legion to fight the leviathans, and returning to the man he left behind, but he knows that the bank will never allow that.

With the amount of sleep he got in this book, it’s a wonder he’s able to function through it, let alone have several sword fights. But he’s ever curious and able to detect the smallest details, thanks to his modifications. And in the end, after several talks with Ana, he’s even able to make up his mind about the legion.

There was maybe a character discrepancy with the previous book though. I don’t remember well, but I seem to recall he had trouble reading, which was only once referenced to in this book when letters danced in his eyes. Yet he seemed to be able to read well throughout the book. Maybe I misremember, but it caught my eye.

Kol was joined in his investigation by a new side-kick, Malo. She’s a warden, a local working for the empire with a modified sense of smell and sight. Her job is to track and fight smugglers in the swamps. She’s a fun, rough character and not a love-interest or bed-fellow, which I found refreshing. The end saw her needing to change her life, and maybe we’ll see her in later books too.

The most interesting character is, like before, Ana. She starts as her usual cantankerous, highly intelligent, and easily distracted self. But as the case progresses, she morphs into something else, and some of it is clearly deliberate. Kol doesn’t know what to make of it, and she won’t talk. It could even be that she can’t talk about what kinds of modifications she has. She can hint though, and what Kol learns through his investigation is so mind-boggling he refuses to believe it.

This was another great book. It retained the cozy feel despite the gruesome mutations and sword fights, the world remained intriguing, even if this one didn’t have mushroom houses, and the case, despite the banal ending, was good. I’m very eager to read more of Kol and Ana’s investigations.

Another winner from Robert Jackson Bennett! I might even prefer this one to the first.

I cannot get enough of Ana and Din's banter, and I loved getting to know both of them better in this book. Ana is still just as feisty, kooky, and ingenious as in the first book. I could read books upon books of Ana being her witty self. Din continues to struggle with the fatigue of life, some of which was incredibly relatable. Together, they make such a chaotic and fun duo.

I really enjoy the gradual reveals Robert Jackson Bennett has done in both of these books now to keep the story moving along. While there is one larger mystery at hand that you will have to try to figure out until the very end, there are also many smaller mysteries within that give you small bits of satisfaction and make you want to continue even more.

I have yet to solve these on my own (I'd be curious to know if anyone that has read either or both books in this series has figured out the conclusion before the book gets there and explains it), however the conclusions have been very satisfying in that they didn't feel pulled out of left field/impossible to solve, which is one of my biggest pet peeves with mystery books. That said, it's a good thing the world isn't counting on me to solve these mysteries, because we'd all be doomed.

Similarly to book one however, I found myself getting a bit bored/feeling like this dragged a bit in the middle, so this still isn't quite 5 stars for me. It is a solid 4 though, and I definitely will read the next book when it comes out!

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

5 out of 5 Stars

***ARC received from Del Rey and NetGalley, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. I have always prided myself in completing a book before its release date but I fell behind. I was pretty close to completion but this was the book I had been most looking forward to this year and I wasn’t about to rush through it. It deserves all my attention as this was the follow up to my favorite read out 2024 and I know its only April but this is right at the top of my favorite read of 2025. Seriously, can Robert Jackson Bennett do wrong with this series? So far, no, no he cannot.

In the far edges of the empire a mysteries murder has taken place. Mysteries enough to bring in the top minds meaning Ana and Din are on the job. This starts out much like the previous book but these are investigators so that is to make sense but it rather quickly blossoms into a much later story. Yarrowdale is an interesting setting for the story, hints of the empire looming on the horizon but it allows to broaden the world. We got a lot of the Empire in the previous book and this lets us explore in a way the history of the world. Din is such a sweetheart, he is struggling with his job, wanting to do more to save the Empire, be on the frontline seeing his job isn’t doing enough for the Empire. He’s come a long way in his development from the first book, more confident in who he is as an investigator more than happy to disregard Ana’s instructions when it doesn’t suit his current needs. Din has come a way from someone who seemed to be constantly questioning his place.

One of my favorite things about this series is Ana, I loved her in the first book and I adore her in the second. Its been awhile, Ana and Din have had more adventures but still much like Din we are left wondering who Ana really is. One thing I hate is when books drag out a mystery far longer than need be and Robert Jackson Bennett seems to understand this perfectly. We learn so much more about Ana both through Din’s interaction with her and the knowledge she passes on to him about her history. It was great to learn so much more about her, things that explain some of her strange behaviors and perhaps why she is as brilliant as she is. Also that much of her behavior are not some strange funny quirks to make her a quirky character, they are deeply rooted in who she is. We learn more about this and there is still so much left to explore about Ana, we now understand a little more about her.

Din and Ana’s relationship has evolved since the last book, they have worked together more and appear to have a tighter bound. Its clear how much Ana relies on and cares for Din even if her personality is so brusque she does treat everyone the same yet you feel how she seems to care for Din. Not just to serve her own purposes, as always she would respect if he wanted to leave even if she might put up a fight. The things she does don’t only serve her own purpose, its clear she does it from a place of concern and caring and you know Din knows this.

The plot and pacing move along at a great pace, for an almost 500 hundred page book it knows how to pace itself. The book never spends too long on the initial murder mystery that brought Din and Ana to this new town as the bigger mystery unfolds yet it is never forgotten. It swings back to explain further on what happened as new clues and information is brought up. I loved how it handles the differences between the Kingdom of Yarrowdale and the Empire both have their flaws, the blind loyalty to a bloodline, the willing to destroy in the name of progress. Both have their flaws but I liked how they were explored in the store. There is a much deeper look at the leviathan and the terrible things that must be done to dissect and gain from them. I felt deeply for the augur characters, they are so deeply impacted by their work, driven nearly mad all for the advantage of others. It something these books do so well, even though they are just secondary characters they are given depth and we want better for them.

This is a great new addition to the series, giving answers but setting up an even bigger story. Highly, highly recommend.

A Drop of Corruption is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. It is one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, and it did not disappoint at all. It is definitely one of the best sequels I have ever read. Robert Jackson Bennett’s worldbuilding in this book is incredibly unique and truly stands out. With well developed characters and a compelling mystery, you simply can't put this book down. I love this series so much, and I can't wait to read the next installment. I will definitely be rereading the first two novels very soon as well. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In A Drop of Corruption, Robert Jackson Bennett continues to build upon the fascinating world he created in The Tainted Cup, bringing Ana Dolabra and
Dinios Kol to investigate an unusual disappearance in a city caught in the mechanations of both its current ruler and the whims of the Empire.

Locked room mysteries are my personal favorite type and I thoroughly enjoy attempting to figure things out while the characters do so. I adored how the plot of A Drop Of Corruption propelled forward as truths were uncovered and how even the most minute detail could eventually play a role in a massive revelation.

Ana and Din are a still wonderful duo: with Ana’s unconventional behavior and methods balanced by Din’s more pragmatic mindset. Din’s portrayal is a more vulnerable one: slightly disillusioned with overall impact of his role, quietly yearning and dealing with the stress of a troublesome issue.

While Ana still remains very brilliant and slightly imperceptible, certain information provided offers a slightly better understanding of her character, while raising interesting questions relating to her overall intentions as well.

Although serious themes pertaining to justice, the benefit of the many at the expense of the few and the effects of the rule of kings upon their people are presented within A Drop Of Corruption, there are still some moments of levity that are appreciated.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s author’s note is also immensely relevant especially in this current climate. I thoroughly enjoyed A Drop Of Corruption and I’m greatly anticipating the next book in this series.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Del Rey, Random House Worlds and NetGalley for providing access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is a phenomenal continuation of this series. It feels very Sherlock Holmes in a fantasy world. I would recommend this to everyone who enjoys fantasy and crime thrillers.

If you haven’t read The Tainted Cup, do so. If you’ve read it then I highly recommend reading A Drop of Corruption. I instantly fell right back into step with Din and Anna, though this time they are in a foreign land investigating another impossible murder. Thank you to Random House Publishing for this ARC.

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to read the first book in Robert Jackson Bennett’s Shadow of the Leviathan series, The Tainted Cup. And I fell in love with it. Which was both awesome and slightly scary: awesome, of course, because I got to read a great book; but a bit scary because the bar was set so high for any sequels. Happily though, I’ve just finished an advance review copy of the next book, A Drop of Corruption, and it lives up to the challenge.

At its roots, Corruption is a natural follow-on to The Tainted Cup. The Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin relationship between Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol holds true, although there are occasional hints of Sherlock Holmes as well. Ana is still eccentric, enigmatic, and brilliant; while Din remains snarky and quietly competent, even if he is sometimes unable to figure out exactly where Ana’s thoughts are headed. And I’d be content just with their by-play, and the mystery itself, and some of the newer characters, like Signum Malo, whom I hope to see more of in future books. (Note: please please let there be future books…)

Corruption doesn't stop there, though: there is more to the mystery (the mechanics of the locked room puzzle that notionally kicks off the story are rather quickly resolved, almost as an aside), more to the world-building, and more to the characters. And much more to the political background, which is an underlying, serious, thought-provoking commentary on – how shall I say this – the corruption and the stifling of ingenuity associated with autocrats and autocratic government. Which could be rather depressing, but there are also countervailing moments of optimism, not least of which is one of my favorite quotes, with Ana speaking to Din: “Because you are a reasonably smart boy. I suspect you shall come to realize what many Iudexii eventually learn—that though the Legion defends our Empire, it falls to us to keep an Empire worth defending.”

Overall, A Drop of Corruption is a worthy and wonderful successor to The Tainted Cup, and I highly recommend it, both for mystery lovers and for fantasy readers.

And finally, a few practical notes: First, just go read it – and definitely don’t skip the Author’s Note once you get to the end! Second, although I imagine a new reader could enjoy A Drop of Corruption by itself, the experience will be much enhanced by reading the first book first. And third, my deep and sincere thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the review copy.

RJB writes a damn good fantasy. This is his second in the series and just as amazing and all consuming as the first one. The main characters are complex but relatable and I feel like the mystery in this one was even better than the first. Do yourself a favor and read this series and then make sure to read the authors note at the end. It was perfection.
This is a far too underrated fantasy!

This is just a tad too long, because Din spends too much time whining about his lot in life. This seems to be resolved by the end, so hopefully we can all move forward. The mystery is fascinating, though unsolvable by the reader. Another fine adventure and if Din can continue without the constant complaining, I am happily along for the ride.