Focusing on an intricate plotted high fantasy novel whilst rearing small humans is harder than it looks. A Drop of Corruption, the second in Robert Jackson Bennett’s Ana and Din mystery series, deserves your attention and focus.

It is first and foremost a high fantasy novel. Within that world, we have our neurodivergent Watson and Holmes, solving crimes for the empire. After that, comes the politics. All three of these parts are so interwoven and integral to the story that one does not work without the other.

Where The Tainted Cup established the world, its rules and politics, its fantastical scope, its perils, this builds on that. We move from the titan’s path and the outer rings of the empire to a politically complicated neighbor. We go from the terror of the titan to how its power is distilled.

It is smart and complicated. The how and why of it all made me dizzy at times. Convoluted? A bit but when you can augment a genius’s already brilliant mind, it needs to be complicated. The plot is tighter than Spanx so, while dizzying in its layers, I think it works. The language is mostly accessible. I had to look up the odd word but the prose is far from purple.

The author’s note talks about the rise and ills of autocracy. It ties into the themes of the minds of men (and their limits), perils of leadership, and hubris. No matter how brilliant the mind, all men are susceptible to ego. It ties what we see on the page into our unfortunate present.

I have a long memory for what I read and Cup made an impression. Theresa were a few details I was fuzzy on but I never felt lost. If you’re a ‘read it and forget it’ kind of reader, revisit Cup before enjoying Corruption. The mystery was solved but there is a lot more Bennett can do with this world. I look forward to the next installment. 5/5

The second book in the series delivers just as much excitement and intrigue as the first. This time, readers are drawn into a fresh mystery that is both unpredictable and gripping.

Overall, this book is an excellent continuation of the series. It is full of mystery, strong character dynamics, and immersive world building. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The remains of a Treasury officer have been discovered in Yarrow, a northern canton yet to be annexed by the Empire. Sent to negotiate on confidential Imperial business, our victim barely makes it to town before he’s redistributed and fed to the river turtles. Murder isn’t the only crime at play though, as Yarrow is home to a Shroud of preserved leviathans that are harvested for the various reagents and elixirs that augment the peoples of Khanum—a macabre scientific feat that serves as a bedrock of corruption and targeted attacks.

Ana is called in to investigate and bursts onto the scene, fueled by a steady diet of tobacco and graphic expletives. She’s accompanied by her loyal assistant, Dinios, who, between inheriting the debts of his deadbeat father, a weak stomach, and tending to the inconsistencies of Ana’s lunacy, is having a rather hard go of it. Self-care looks different for everyone, but sometimes it’s unclear if Din can keep his wick stashed away and out of his various one-night stands long enough to lock in and solve the case. The journey for our duo is a winding one, as they navigate rotting innards, manic augurists, identity theft, secret twins, and Imperial polygamy all while trying to unmask a mass-poisoner who yearns to destroy the sacred Shroud. Along the way, the dynamic between Ana and Din deepens, a welcome development from book 1 while Din also finds new kinship in a rugged, foul-mouthed Yarrow warden who is a surprisingly endearing addition to the cast that I hope they keep around.

Equally intriguing is the mystery of Ana’s origins—her various augmentations, and the story behind her gluttony for blood and tubers. The denouement is how I envision a deranged Miss Marple fanfic to play out, where she unmasks the perpetrator while blindfolded, strumming two lyres, and double-fisting raw livers. Titan’s taint is laden with mystery, much like this installment, and while Ana is as unhinged and unpredictable as ever, these two qualities are invaluable as she and Din work to unravel the web of complex treachery spun by a monster that’s long been operating right under their noses.

5 stars for book 2 and now begins the countdown for they 3rd installment, of which I have no doubt will be as clever and enthralling as its predecessors.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s “A Drop of Corruption” arrives as a formidable successor, eclipsing the impressive groundwork laid by “The Tainted Cup.” This second venture into the “Shadow of the Leviathan” saga reintroduces us to the delightfully unconventional Ana Dolabra and her ever-observant companion, Dinios Kol, as they navigate an intricate puzzle within the remote confines of Yarrowdale. The core mystery, a vanishing act within a fortified room, morphs into a narrative that transcends standard locked-room tropes, infused with the fantastical undercurrents of Bennett’s meticulously constructed world.

Bennett’s talent for fusing the detective genre with high fantasy is on full display. The story unfolds with a meticulousness that mirrors the precision of a master craftsman, pulling readers into a realm where the inexplicable becomes tantalizingly real. Ana Dolabra, with her mind a whirlwind of brilliant, often unorthodox deductions, mirrors the legendary Sherlock Holmes, a figure whose intellectual prowess is as undeniable as his social eccentricities. Just as Holmes confounded and impressed Watson with his leaps of logic, Ana leaves Din, our narrative's Watson-esque figure, perpetually caught between admiration and bewilderment. Din, with his pragmatic outlook and steady temperament, serves as the reader's anchor, grounding Ana's flights of intellectual fancy in a relatable, often humorously bewildered, perspective. He observes, records, and attempts to decipher Ana's methods, much like Watson's chronicling of Holmes's, offering a necessary human counterpoint to Ana's almost otherworldly brilliance. Their interactions are relatable, delivering sharp humor and a profound examination of their evolving trust, forged amidst complex investigations and shared experiences.

“You… wish to wait for this killer to kill again?” “Well, I don’t want to, Din. I’d prefer it if I could just toss a stone out my window and strike this fucker in the head! Yet that is unlikely.”

The central mystery is a labyrinth of political intrigue and moral quandaries. Bennett’s capacity to craft a narrative that keeps readers guessing until the final pages speaks volumes about his storytelling finesse. The inquiry into the disappearing Treasury officer steers Ana and Din into a conspiracy that threatens the Empire’s very fabric, particularly the Shroud, a bastion where the volatile magic of fallen leviathans is harnessed. The stakes remain consistently high, and the intrigue intensifies with each revelation, ensuring the narrative’s momentum never wanes.

A particularly compelling aspect of “A Drop of Corruption” is Bennett’s dissection of institutional decay and the destructive force of unchecked authority. The author’s note, illuminates his views on inherited power and autocratic rule, adding a layer of contemporary relevance to the fantasy setting. Bennett’s world-building is nothing short of extraordinary, painting a vibrant and immersive portrait of an Empire grappling with decline and the dangerous allure of ancient, leviathan-derived magic. The setting is not merely a backdrop but an active participant in the narrative, shaping the characters’ actions and the unfolding events. The political tensions and the intricate web of alliances and betrayals deepen the story, transforming it from a simple mystery into a compelling exploration of power dynamics.

The characters are exceptionally well-developed. Ana’s sharp mind and idiosyncrasies are contrasted against Din’s grounded perspective, creating a dynamic that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Their partnership deepens, and the reader is drawn into their world, experiencing their trials and triumphs alongside them. The supporting cast is equally well-crafted, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the narrative. Bennett’s ability to infuse his characters with depth and nuance ensures they feel authentic and relatable, even within the fantastical setting.

“No. He has always been the Empire’s thing. He seeks trade, and wealth. As we say— Ika aḍakohsa la’i ika siki da parasi. He has a purse for a scrotum, and coins instead of balls.”

The pacing of “A Drop of Corruption” is expertly managed, maintaining a steady rhythm that captivates the reader from beginning to end. The narrative unfolds seamlessly, with each chapter building upon the previous one, leading to a satisfying and surprising conclusion. The intricate plot is masterfully executed, with each clue and revelation carefully placed to maximize impact. The ending is both unexpected and fulfilling, a testament to Bennett’s skill in crafting a narrative that is both unpredictable and satisfying.

“A Drop of Corruption” is a resounding success, a perfect blend of mystery, fantasy, and social commentary. This sequel offers a rich and immersive world that has me itching for the next installment in this exceptional series.

This series is an epic collision of mystery and fantasy!

This world is a continuation of the Ana and Din Mystery series. This universe is home to a male main character, Dinios Kol, (meet our Watson character), who is now a more experienced assistant to an eccentric, if slightly unhinged, investigator, Ana Dolabra (meet our Holmes character). Their dynamic is full of banter, as well as an undeniable friendship and sense of support between the two.

The mystery starts as soon as you begin page one and weaves throughout the story - taking the reader through a story with important details, insights, and ongoing revelations.

Power, corruption, and political intrigue are all included. Mystery and fantasy are balanced well throughout.

The fantasy components speak to heavily augmented persons who can smell, see, hear, fight, etc. MUCH more than the average human.

The neurodivergent representation in this book is well done, as are the softer LGBTQ+ elements.

If you don’t enjoy swearing in your books - you may not enjoy this story. But if you love a story that makes you laugh out loud at its humour get yourself a copy ASAP.

I’m grateful to have been able to step back into this world with book number two! I now impatiently wait for the third book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett.

Catnip. Give me more locked-room fantasy murder mysteries every year until I die. The book also dodges my feared potential trapdoor of spiraling the scope out too wide - Bennett slips in another little hook for expansion of focus but it's just enough to be intriguing, and so far only relating to character backstories rather than some world-changing superplot like some fantasy series devolve into. Top-notch work.

This is the incredibly satisfying sequel to The Tainted Cup, but I think readers could also enjoy beginning Robert Jackson Bennett's fantasy mystery sequence here. (They'll then immediately want to read The Tainted Cup, but as there are no spoilers, they'll be fine.) The investigative team of Ana and Din tackle another another complicated murder in another distant and volatile corner of the empire--the region is different, but the puzzles are equally delicious and the stakes are equally high. This one begins as a locked room mystery (in a decaying kingdom that is about to finally join the empire), but it turns out that the room, the lock, and the mystery are all more intricate than they appear at first. I was hooked from the first page, and, like other readers, I strongly suggest you read straight through to the excellent author's note (even more applicable today than when it was originally written).

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in return for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

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.

I absolutely devoured the first book in this series and was thrilled to start this second book. I wasn’t sure if this would be as good as the first… but it absolutely was. Bennett is an absolute master and pulling together a massive mystery with so many pieces. There’s a world building element that keeps getting deeper and I’m looking forward to learning more as the series continues.

I am so loving this series with Ana and Din! They have so many mysteries only they can solve, this one starting with a locked room murder in the kingdom of Yarrow which though is not part of the Empire, does contain the Shroud, a facility that researches and dissects the dead leviathans for new reagents and ways to survive and fight giant beings of the sea. I like that you learn more about the mystery that is Ana and they way she is, plus what keeps Din going and his own desires for the future. The evolving relationship between Ana and Din plus all the dark and twisty turns this book took made it easy to keep reading long past when I should have put it down. Their world keeps growing too and after this one which takes place on the coast of Yarrow, and the last which was by the sea wall (also on the coast), I am ready for a case that takes us to the inner realms of the Empire (especially after what we learn about Ana!).

If you want a super twisty murder mystery in the style of Sherlock and Holmes set in a fantasy empire shadowed by the giant leviathans of the sea attacking every wet season, then you will surely enjoy this series! I am already looking forward to see where the next book leads us and what Ana and Din must figure out to keep the empire safe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this fantastic book in an amazing series!

Ana and Din’s friendship make the book. The world remained absolutely fascinating, and while the mystery was interesting, it proved to be predictable which slowed the pace of the book. Din also proved a bit dim in this installment. The clues have been sprinkled throughout, but he refused to see! I am intrigued to see where the next book takes us and in what situation our characters find themselves.

A wicked clever immensely fun sequel that ups the ante further on a remarkably fun and imaginative series
The Tainted Cup hit my shelves in Feb 2024 and immediately cemented its place as one of the books of 2024, a position it never relinquished despite other impressive contenders throughout the year. Naturally, the hype and expectation for A Drop of Corruption was sky-high. I am happy to say A Drop of Corruption is even better - a wicked, razor-sharp book that is a crackling locked room mystery on the surface, hiding a deeper conspiracy encompassing the strains of belonging to an Empire at its very core.

“Vice & bribery will never be totally banished from the cantons. And the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist”

This time around, the eccentric and brilliant investigator Ana Dolabra and her assistant, the engraver Dinios Kol are sent to Yarrowdale, a canton at the very edge of the Empire to investigate an impossible crime - the disappearance of a Treasury officer into thin air from a locked room. Yarrowdale is a critical component of the Empire, a kingdom that signed a 100-year succession to the Empire (whose time is nearing now) and also houses the Shroud, a mysterious deadly island that serves as a high-security research facility enabling the Empire to harness the deadly magic of fallen Leviathans. Yarrow is an incredibly strategic asset to the Empire while still not being part of the Empire and there are rumblings of discontent even as the powers negotiate on what belonging to the Empire actually means. That is the simmering powder keg that Ana and Dinios find themselves enmeshed in. Complicating matters is the presence of an antagonist who is a match to Ana and is always a few steps ahead (in some cases, a few years)

“Little men with muddy, ugly little mind, who fall to common corruptions just like anyone”

Make no mistake, this is a book that starts off running and doesn’t slow down at all. While the murder mystery gets solved pretty quickly, it is just the tip of the iceberg. The book is pretty much unputdownable even as examining the motives of that missing officer throws light on the history of the Empire, its complicated relationship with the ruling classes of Yarrow, and what the Shroud actually represents. Secret, many of them classified, find their way into the light even as Ana takes it on herself to unravel this piece by piece with increasingly unhinged wicked delight

“You’ve all the prudence of an inebriated cow!”

Quentin Tarantino has this style wherein you know that the violence is about to erupt but he keeps dragging that moment, building the tension and the hype exquisitely until you can’t stand it anymore. Robert Bennett does something similar with Ana. Unhinged Wicked Chaotic Delight is what Ana unleashes and it is best served in small doses to maximum effect. Any moment that she is on screen, it is an absolute hoot - not because she is funny (she is) but because she is a proper agent of chaos. Delighting in unraveling expected decorum and conventions, and keeping people perpetually on the balance, Ana steals the show. When we first meet Ana, we are almost 10% into the book - he makes us wait and wait and her entrance is worth the hype. In the absence of Ana, Dinios Kol is our narrator of this world & while he does remain as bemused with Ana as he did in the first book, he has gotten used to her eccentricities a fair bit. He gets his own journey of sorts as he is conflicted about his duty and the manner of serving the Empire - his arc is a good one through the book even if it pales into significance next to Ana’s history and her role in all of this. But he is the beating heart of this story

“These giant, inexplicable things, thundering ashore, bringing so much death and strangeness with them. That’s what faith and the divine is, isn’t it? A line stretching from little beings like us, to the ineffable, the incomprehensible”

The author titled this series, The Shadow of the Leviathan, and each book has essentially done tremendous justice to the title. Everything that the Empire is all about has been because of the Leviathans and even (maybe especially)in death, these Leviathans continue to shape the narrative and the future of the Empire. While we don’t see them in this book, the Leviathan’s presence is always felt. The world-building from that standpoint feels very dense and lived in and bringing together Yarrowdale and Shroud lends to the denseness of it all. The enhancements and augmentations that the Empire works on due to the Leviathans are further explored here as we come across newer innovations. While it still doesn’t hold a patch to the tree exploding from a man’s torso as it did in the first book, there are still some amazingly etched sequences here as well. The author has painted a beautiful wonderful world but these books are concerned with the dirty happenings of the Empire down to its brass tacks - the dichotomy of that is what makes this series work. On the surface, the mystery and conspiracy can potentially find their place in any book or any world but juxtaposing them with this richly imagined world truly makes this series a very special one and one full of surprises that can spring anytime

“Why, it’s the….. the crushing disappointment of it all. The investigation ends. It’s all over now. No more riddles, no more need for imagination. And all was so small, at the end.”

There is a lot to love and genuinely nothing to complain about. I did recently learn that this was going to be a trilogy and so that is something I can complain about - There is just so much more I want to know about this world and so many more mysteries to uncover with Ana. Wicked, Imaginative, Chaotic, Unputdownable, and a lot of fun, A Drop of Corruption has rocketed up to the best book of 2025 already

Rating - 5 Leviathans on 5

A Drop of Corruption is the sequel the 2024 fantasy hit The Tainted Cup deserved. Not only are we dropped back into the brilliantly original and frightening world Robert Jackson Bennett created, but we are returned to beloved characters and introduced to new rising stars.

Our duo from book one are set upon another mysterious case that has them stretching their humanly modified powers to the limit to try and figure out how bodies are being abducted seemingly out of thin air. Of course there are larger things at play that our characters will have to unravel while keeping their own lives. Having Din and Ana back in my life feels so right that it pulled me back to this book time and time again.

I’m obsessed with the world that Bennett crafted and every time I return, I find more and more to love about it.

I am such a new Robert Jackson Bennett fan. I was picked to read the first arc in this series, so I jumped at the chance to read the next book. Ana and Din are such fun characters to read. The world that Bennett has created in these books sucks you right in. I look forward to reading more about this pair.

Can I give this 6 stars?? Wow I didn't think anything could top the first book but this one did! I am so obsessed with these characters but especially this world. It's so fascinating in every way to me and I cannot wait for more!

Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. I got a copy of this on ebook from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: This was an excellent follow-up to the first book in this series. I think I enjoyed it even more because we learned so much more about the background of the characters and about this amazing world. I was reading this at the same time as Alien Clay by Tchaikovsky and that probably wasn't the best decision since both books have some similar themes to them. However, I really enjoyed this.

Kol and Ana have been called to the canton of Yarrowdale to investigate the disappearance of a Treasury officer. The mystery leads them to a high security compound known as the Shroud. The Shroud is a mysterious compound where the Empire harvests fallen leviathans for magical bits that enable the citizens of the Empire to modify themselves to aid in their survival.

This book blends amazing world-building, intriguing characters, and a complex mystery together to make for an excellent story. This is an engaging read but not necessarily the easiest read; the plot and mystery are complex, and the world is complex as well. The world-building here really drew me in. Yarrowdale isn't officially part of the Empire...yet. However, Yarrowdale is of extreme strategic importance because of the Shroud and what the Shroud means to the Empire.

I loved getting to learn more about this world and how the bits from the leviathans are used to give the citizens of the Empire an edge in survival. I also adored getting to learn more about both Kol and Ana's background. Ana was a true mystery in the first book, and we are finally getting a deeper glimpse into her mysteries and background in this book, and it is absolutely fascinating. I also enjoyed watching Kol try to figure out the future path he wants to take, he never wanted to serve as an engraver, but the longer he stays working with Ana the more he starts to see how he is impacting the Empire in an important way.

The mystery was well done too. It tied in very nicely with the politics and overall world here. It keeps you guessing. I think the only complaint I have about this series so far is that sometimes the police procedural qualities of it get a bit too bogged down in details, but I suppose that is necessary to give readers the clues to solve the mystery. Sometimes all of the fine details slow the story down a bit too much for me, though.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this. I love the world-building here; this is an absolutely fascinating world. I also really enjoy the complex characters and learning more about the background of both Kol and Ana. The amazing world and characters, coupled with this very well done mystery, make this an excellent and engaging read. My only small complaint would be that I felt like some times there was too much time spent on the fine details of the mystery and this slowed the story down some. However, I am not a huge fan of police procedurals in general, so if you are, you will love this. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Ana and Din continue to be an entertaining and compelling crime-solving duo. Here, they are tasked with solving a disappearance which escalates into a murder case. I found my engagement ebbing and flowing throughout though I appreciate the impressive world-building and creativity. Loved Malo!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Firstly, the mystery itself was fantastic. I figured out most of the culprits and answers in The Tainted Cup, not that it took away from my enjoyment. In this sequel, however, I had a harder time keeping up with Ana's thought processes, and felt the mystery was smarter and even better written. The investigation, twists and turns kept me riveted. I actually think Bennett may be one of the best mystery writers I have read. His reveals and developments encourage a re-read, and always make me stop to reflect on earlier text, because his breadcrumbs are so perfectly laid. They were harder to follow to one result in this story, but once I had the answer, they fell into place.

Bennett's mysteries also contain some real scares and horrifying descriptions. What occurs about 1/3 of the way into this novel is as disturbing as any horror I've read. I love that genre as well, so I thoroughly enjoy his darkest ideas. That being said, Chapters 22 and 23 are especially unsettling. For a fantasy-mystery, this goes full throttle. I do think all fantasy and mystery readers can agree that the deaths in his books create real stakes, and that he explores the inevitability and destruction of nature in a terrifyingly beautiful way. As long as you're prepared to be a bit freaked out, it's pretty awe-inspiring.

As for the new cast, I grew to love Malo. She was the person I latched onto, as her growth was reminiscent of all the characters I loved in The Tainted Cup. She was introduced as a straightforward, two-dimensional archetype, but she evolved and blossomed, and I love her nuanced personality. Her rapport with Din was especially welcome in tenser moments.

My drawback with this sequel was the character infodump that it opened with. One of my favorite things about The Tainted Cup was the slow, mostly implied development of its characters. We were trusted to understand conversations and context clues, and it took an entire novel for us to know Din, which worked very well for me and many other readers. It feels as though the author summarizes Din's character here for new readers, which is a bit strange in a sequel. To be honest, the delivery was so much more heavy-handed that I didn't feel my former affection towards Din for quite a while. In example, many of us liked the subtle romance in book one, so Din's hook-up attitude was an unpleasant shift that seemed meant to YELL, "he's bi! Queer character!" There was a lovely slow burn gay romance in book one, so we don't need this reductive personalization to know Din's fluidity.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with A Drop of Corruption. The expository beginning kept me from giving this entry 5 stars, but I have loved my time in Ana and Din's world, and will happily continue with this series. My gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for allowing me to read this eARC. All opinions are my own, and as unbiased as possible.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This book was a little bit more complicated or challenging for me than book one. I absolutely loved the characters, old and new. The story developed a little slow but I loved the conclusion and Ana’s wits to solve yet another mystery with Kol’s assistance.

The second book follows Ana and her assistant in a locked room mystery but the book still has insane world/magic building throughout. The duo attempt to solve a murder but in doing so it also uncovers deep themes rooted around politics and morality that had me second guessing the whole time. I feel like since majority of The Tainted Cup was establishing the setting and magic system that this book was much more easy to follow. We were able to have more crumbs of knowledge regarding Din's background and although I would've also like to see more development from Ana, this was still very well done. RJB was the first author I read a thriller fantasy novel and I adore this series. Too often the endings or climax of a thriller genre is pretty easy for me to guess but for once I felt myself not knowing what was going to happen until it actually occurred which is a breath of fresh air. The murder mystery "whodunnit" theme was well written and plotted to give readers the expected shock factor while also making sense. Can't wait for book 3!