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.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Shadow of the Leviathan series, allow me to introduce you: Bennett has created a high fantasy world in which murder mystery is king! We don’t want romances and flowing capes and stuffy oligarchs (though there are touches of each, to be sure), we want mud and murder and monsters — and Bennett delivers!

I ate up The Tainted Cup, the first book in this series, and I dropped everything (all responsibilities included, I apologize) when I was approved for an ARC of its sequel. I was skeptical at best about The Tainted Cup, but five-star ratings and gushing reviews from several friends had me requesting it from the library. I’m not usually one for cozy mysteries, and Knives Out is cute, but it’s not a movie I feel drawn to rewatch. But Bennett has somehow woven both of those elements into a George R. R. Martin–worthy setting, and we lowly skeptics are hooked!

A Drop of Corruption centers around Dinios Kol, a Dr. Watson–esque assistant, and his Sherlock counterpart: Ana Dolabra. Both characters (as well as many others in the book) have been altered in some way (heightened sense of smell/hearing, ability to internalize memories, etc.) in order to serve the Empire. Din is an engraver, meaning he can memorize minute details about places, settings, or stories, and he uses that to aid Ana on her missions to solve seemingly impossible crimes. Ana’s alterations remain concealed (though we do get some teasers about them heading into book three!!), but she has an uncanny sense of deduction, leading her to solve crimes others can’t in just a few moments once the crime scene, suspects, context, etc. have been spelled out for her by Din.

In Bennett’s most recent story of this daring duo, Ana and Din have been tasked with finding out how a man in a locked room (a room from which no one was seen entering or exiting) has disappeared. Ana immediately uncovers that the disappearance was actually a murder, and the hunt is on for a killer and a plot far larger and far-reaching than anyone could have imagined.

Ana and Din’s banter and keen understanding of each other had me grinning and flipping pages, and a few new characters and settings (the Shroud is SO freakin’ cool) kept me hooked. I highly recommend this one to mystery fans who are feeling a bit bored with usual plots and storylines, and especially to those mystery skeptics like myself who need a good reminder of how fresh and fun the genre can be.

Thank you to Del Rey for letting me have an ARC of this book!
I read the first Shadow of the Leviathan novel thinking it was a one-shot, but I was so happy to see the return of Ana and Din and the amazing world the Robert Jackson Bennett has built. Continuing the story of Din (the slightly more bumbling version of Watson) and Ana (an even more eccentric Sherlock type) as they travel to unravel mysterious deaths for the empire.
I greatly enjoyed the supporting characters and new skills they possessed through the wonders of the grafts available in this world. The original mystery is solved rather quickly (which some reviewers have complained about) but it just opens up even more questions and mysteries that have the potential to bring the Empire to its knees. I greatly enjoyed the growth of Din and finding out more about the mysteries of Ana.
It could be. A bit hard to follow some of the world building if you hadn't read the first book, but as a continuation of a series I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to more!

Really enjoying the story, now that I remember what everyone's job is. I definitely should have done a re-read before starting this. I do like that each story (so far) in the series is kind of isolated. The characters are so fun and kooky.

Book #2 of the Shadow of the Leviathan series and seriously even better than #1. Robert Jackson Bennett knocks it out of the park with this one.
Ana Dolabra is back with her investigator/engraver Din and a murder mystery that could destroy the empire.
All with a fascinating cast of new characters, especially Malo, who I hope we see again and the most imaginative world building i've seen. Add to all this a horrific crime and it's impossible to look away
Hope this series goes on for quite some time
Thank you netgalley and Random House publishing

I thoroughly enjoyed returning to the world of Ana and Din with another enthralling mystery. This entry in the series brought us to the wild outskirts of the Empire, and we were introduced to another political situation with the Kingdom of Yarrow. Once again Robert Jackson Bennett leads us on a journey full of twists and turns of a new antagonist. I also enjoyed the character development we got with Ana and Din; their dynamic is so wonderful to read. I am excited to continue on in this series and look forward to what comes next! I strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery set in a fascinating world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House- Del Rey for providing an eARC in return for my honest thoughts and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.



It was great fun to enter Ana and Din’s world in A Drop of Corruption. Ana Dolabra is the Empire’s greatest detective and Signum Dinios Kol (Din) is her investigator. The pair is the Empire’s Sherlock and Watson. In this book, Ana and Din are working on the edges of the Empire. They need help with someone local, and that someone is Signum Tira Malo, Warden of the Apothetikals (Apoths).

The writing drew me into this novel. The characters are just as fun to read as in the first novel, The Tainted Cup. All the main characters are complex, well-rounded, and with every book the reader learns something new from their backstory. The dialogue is witty, snappy, and I found myself laughing more than once.

The mystery is a complex one, constantly tripping up the characters as well as me. The plot twists and turns; in this mystery Ana has met her match. The killer they seek is always several steps ahead, taunting them with clues and red herrings. The reveal was one I didn’t see coming, but all the clues were there.

If you like complex mysteries set in a fantasy world with populated with well-written characters, then try A Drop of Corruption. 5/5 stars.

I am so excited that I received an early copy of this. I liked The Tainted Cup but this was even better. I am not usually a big fan of mystery but this is like Sherlock Holmes fantasy and it’s so interesting. The world building is so good. The mystery aspect felt a little predictable, but the ending redeemed it and I am very excited for book 3.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.

*4.5 stars. Book two in this fantasy/mystery series finds Immunis Ana Dolabra and Signum Dinios Kol of the Imperial Iudex Special Division (the imperial institution for administering justice) sent to the port town of Yarrowdale in the north of the Empire, where a member of a delegation from the Imperial Treasury has disappeared from his heavily-guarded and locked room and is presumed dead. Ana quickly figures out how the murder took place but that only leads to more questions and secrets.

The fantasy world Bennett has created here is like something from the Dark Ages with the addition of certain augmentations that give the recipient special skills. Din's is to remember everything he sees and hears so he can report back to his boss. The pair of detectives is reminiscent of Holmes and Watson. Ana is the brains who thinks through everything they've learned while playing her lyre and occasionally taking psychoactive drugs while Din is the legs, running here and there, doing the interviewing, and putting himself in danger.

The killer is terribly clever and seems to be always one step ahead of the investigators. There is plenty of danger, intrigue and adventure to keep readers of all tastes entertained and guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters and look forward t0 more in this series.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc if this new novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

To start - I highly recommend reading the Author's note! I know it's typical to kind of glance at and move on when it comes to the author's note but this author has a great note.

This is part of a series and yet it can be read as a stand alone story without loss. The world is rich and immersive and well developed - I loved this. I also like the urban fantasy feel in the midst of a high fantasy book. The mystery is well written and leaves the reader guessing and anxious for resolve - so the tension in the book is almost perfect.

In short this is just fun! What a great and enjoyable read!!