This is an epic fantasy drama where nothing is as it seems. While on the face this is a mystery thriller in the style of Holmes and Watson, the duo of grizzled Ana and intrepid Din diverges as they uncover corruption and explore tangled paths.

At no point did I know where this story was going and I loved every moment of it. Din is funny, brave, oddly relatable, and Ana is strange, foul-mouthed, and keen. The world that Bennett has crafted is one to remember, rich in mythology and intrigue, and the layers of its politics and hierarchies are well-devised. It is a fascinating premise.

I can't tell you how much I loved the first book The Tainted Cup, such an amazing mix for fantasy and crime now book 2 is here with an equaly great crime mystery. After finishing this I am now on the edge of my seat for book 3. Amazing

Eeeeeek! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett, and it absolutely delivered! Packed with sharp wit, breakneck pacing, and unforgettable characters, this story is everything I hoped for and more. Bennett’s worldbuilding is top-notch, and I can’t wait for others to experience this engaging mystery and plot.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

If you haven't read The Tainted Cup, what are you doing here? Go read it—it's amazing! And the sequel is equally fantastic.

If by the end of book one you were excited to finally meet a Conzulate—the giant, ageless beings— ... well, you won't see them. The story skips the meeting and throws us straight into the next mystery. Some time has passed since the events of the first book, though the exact time jump is never specified.

This time, the intrigue revolves around an Empire representative who vanishes from his heavily guarded room—only to turn up dead miles away in a swamp.

I remember The Tainted Cup being a fairly transparent mystery—I guessed most of the twists long before Din did. A Drop of Corruption improves on that. Occasionally, I’d figure something out, and Din would voice it on the next page. The mystery kept me hooked right up to the end.

I was especially happy to see more of Ana in this book. And wow—she was creepy. I don’t recall her being quite like that in the first one. She remains an enigma, but we get more insight into her and her grafts.

Speaking of grafts, the world-building continues to be great. While this book doesn’t introduce modifications as extensive as the first, the ones we do see are fascinating in their own way. And if the first book felt overwhelming at times, this one is much more digestible.

The atmosphere is absolutely on point. I could feel gloom and doom in my soul.

I highly recommend this book! And if you're craving more fantasy mysteries, The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett is another must-read.

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

"The dead can never be restored...and the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist."
- Ana Dolabra

Robert Jackson Bennett has done! it! again!!!! Ever since reading "The Tainted Cup" last year (and then immediately following it up with the Founders Trilogy and the Divine Cities Trilogy) it's been beyond clear to me that he has a masterful handling of how to write a compelling fantasy novel. His techniques shine even brighter in "A Drop of Corruption", a mystery that pushes the world building all the way to the edge and back. Every character, setting, and detail feels full to bursting; not a single element is extraneous, and all work together to make a tight, snappy mystery that is inextricable from the fantasy itself.

In "A Drop of Corruption", we rejoin Din and Ana in an even more backwater part of the Empire solving an even more elaborate murder with even less evidence to go on. I thought finding a man dead with a tree in his chest was wild; we surge past that almost immediately. Our favorite investigative duo is joined by Malo, an Warden in the city of Yarrow with enhanced senses. She also has enhanced attitude, and her push and pull with Din is a highlight of the book for me -- giving him a chance to shine in banter with someone other than Ana helps a lot in making his character clearer.

Through the book, they discover an enticing web of mysteries; murder and robberies and impersonations that all stack on top of each other. Much like the Shroud -- a terrifying rig both built out of and built to hold the Leviathans the Empire is hunted by -- the story has layers which Bennett slowly but steadily peels back. Unlike other mysteries, he doesn't wait until the end to dump everything on the reader. The revelations are paced out, with a massive one arriving only halfway through the book. This keeps the flow steady and interesting; instead of building up the tension past believability before having Ana simply explain every single part at the end, Bennett feeds the reader naturally, so that the final reveals feel smooth and reasonable.

In my opinion, this book really shines in the world building. Something I've always loved about Bennett's work is his ability to make the fantasy elements integral to the story. Without the grafting and modification he's already established as the rules of this world, the story and the lynchpins of the mystery would fall apart. "A Drop of Corruption" is not a mystery book that someone sprinkled some fantasy elements into -- it is 100% a fantasy+mystery, and would fail entirely if even one part was removed.

This book is perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Agatha Christie, and bisexuality.

A Drop of Corruption was easily one of my most anticipated reads of the year after The Tainted Cup became a top 10 book for me in 2024. I had sky-high expectations—and Robert Jackson Bennett absolutely delivered. In fact, I may have loved this sequel even more than the first book!

The story picks up a few months after the events of The Tainted Cup, reuniting us with the brilliant, sharp-witted Ana and her ever-loyal, easygoing assistant, Din. While this book follows a similar investigative structure as its predecessor, I found myself sinking into the mystery and character development even more quickly, thanks to my familiarity with the world. And what a world it is! Bennett's intricate, richly detailed setting remains as immersive as ever, blending mystery and fantasy in a way that feels utterly unique.

One of the highlights for me was Din’s journey throughout this book—his unwavering loyalty, the unexpected situations he finds himself in, and his dynamic with Ana make for such a compelling read. Their partnership truly shines, balancing Ana’s razor-sharp intellect with Din’s warm, grounded presence. Ana, in particular, continues to be the kind of protagonist I love—relentlessly brilliant, unapologetically herself, and utterly captivating on the page.

As for the mystery itself? Even more layered and intricate than the first book. I was constantly on edge, trying (and failing) to predict where the story was going. Bennett masterfully weaves in clues, misdirections, and revelations that make for an exhilarating, unpredictable ride. This is the kind of book I can’t wait to reread just to see what details I might have missed the first time.

And while the mystery is the heart of the novel, the fantasy elements are just as strong. The worldbuilding is phenomenal—vivid, imaginative, and utterly transportive. The leviathans, the political intrigue, the atmospheric setting—it all adds depth and tension to an already gripping story.

A truly top-tier sequel, A Drop of Corruption takes everything I loved about The Tainted Cup and elevates it. If you were captivated by book one, rest assured—you’re in for an absolute treat with this one.

Huge thanks to Del Rey for the physical ARC and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I loved it. A worthy follow up to the first book and I am so excited to see what is next in this world and for these characters. Din remained a wonderful character and observer, and I love how the narrative is structured from the POV of the “sidekick” versus being from the mad genius (Ana). The mystery here and new area we explored was a delight and it was cool to expand upon the leviathan lore. Malo was a great addition and added some personality to the dialogue that I appreciated, since Din is absolutely a more subtle character. In the next book, I would love to continue to learn more about Din. I love the way the author seems to effortlessly weave in big ideas, themes, and philosophical questions. It doesn’t feel shoe-horned in or too in-your-face, it’s a perfect balance and added so much to this story.

A thrilling adventure from start to finish!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review


I really liked book 1, and was a bit afraid book 2 wouldn't be as good as the first, but this one is even better than the previous. I think because by the end, there are some personal revelations I wasn't expecting. Also, the author discusses something I was just talking to a friend this weekend, and it is what makes us human, and that our roots are the same since humanity evolved to populate the Earth. Whether we are gods, kings, servants or investigators, we human beings crave the same basic needs since when we lived in caves. And the plot takes place in a fantasy world, but the essence of what makes the plot move forward is very much similar to things that would happen in our world, too. The author's note in the end ties everything together, and makes clear the importance of writing stories like this.

Robert Jackson Bennett has done it again. A Drop of Corruption takes everything that made The Tainted Cup great (impossible murders, weird biology, razor-sharp wit) and somehow makes it even better. There’s a new impossible crime, more unsettling biology, and, most importantly, more Ana Dolabra - the world’s strangest mind.

This time around, Ana and her long-suffering assistant Dinios Kol are sent to the empire’s edges to investigate a treasury officer’s disappearance. And let me tell you - it’s a gruesome murder, because if there’s one thing Bennett knows how to do, it’s making sure every crime scene sticks in your brain. This one involves dismemberment, vanished body parts, and a killer who seems to walk through walls.

Ana solves the surface-level mystery in about five minutes, but the deeper they dig, the more tangled the case becomes. The stakes turn shockingly high. If they fail, the entire empire could collapse, and leave the world defenseless against the leviathans. No pressure. Someone out there is playing a game Ana isn’t used to losing, and Din finds himself torn between his duty as her “engraver” and his growing realization that being an investigator might not be the life he truly wants.

Now, for me the series works because we follow a brilliant and fascinating character (Ana) through the eyes of a much more bland one (Din). Din is to Ana what Watson was to Sherlock - a trusted assistant with some personality but not enough charisma to carry the series. A Drop of Corruption gives us glimpses into Ana’s past and hints at what she truly is. She’s still an enigma, but things get much clearer and much more exciting. Din, meanwhile, starts questioning his place in all of this. He signed up to be Ana’s eyes and ears to pay off his father’s debts, but as he gets drawn deeper into the empire’s ugly truths, he starts to wonder if he should be fighting to save it or choose a simpler and more profitable path.

The world-building continues to impress and remains one of the most inventive things I’ve ever read. The concept of Leviathans and the horrifying ways in which their blood transforms environment is cool. Then we have the Shroud - a living, organic space with peculiar properties. And the new characters fit right into this strange, unsettling world. Mala, for example, has an enhanced sense of smell (and more), which makes her an excellent investigator but also means she’s experiencing reality in ways that most people can’t understand.

Since Bennett doesn’t do one-note villains, the antagonist is ruthless, brilliant, and broken. Their backstory is a slow-burn tragedy that creeps up on you. If I had to nitpick, I’d say that the book is sometimes too detailed and repetitive in the middle. But honestly, when the writing is this good, why would I want to nitpick?

Ultimately, I’m satisfied, impressed, and desperately hoping we get another one in the series. Because if Bennett keeps building on this foundation, we might just be looking at one of the best fantasy mystery series of the decade.

A Drop Of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett really solidified this series on a list of my comfort series and I’ll be waiting for the future books with so much excitement.

This book follows our friends Din and Ana on their new investigation. Ahead of us is an impossible crime, a lot of local politics, a serious battle of wits, glimpses into very dangerous secrets, and a lot of wonderful pieces of lore and science.

And, in my opinion, this book is even better than The Tainted Cup. It takes everything The Tainted Cup did and does it better.

The mystery is very layered and intriguing. The new environment and local lore are fascinating. The pacing makes you want to read more and more and, in my opinion, the book doesn’t drag any section for too long.

The world is so vibrant and alive in this series. I’m not even a fan of hot tropical moist climates and such settings, but this book makes it so interesting and unusual, that I have a really good time with it. And I’m enjoying the exploration of this world very much.

The character dynamic is also really fun. And I especially like how Din and Ana’s relationship develops and becomes deeper. Din is a bit of a mess in this book, but I’m really enjoying his character journey.

All in all, the Shadow of the Leviathan series is a perfect choice for anyone who loves both mysteries and SFF. Such a great blend of genres.

Big thanks to @netgalley and @del ray for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

An incredible follow up to Tainted Cup, A Drop of Corruption continues the incredible character dynamic between Din and Ana. The mystery and world was built in such an intricate manner and is unique in the space of fantasy.

*** Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review *** but the way I screamed when I got approved for this….

Din gives me so much life as the main character - and Ana makes me laugh out loud. Bennett has created characters that are not only just as strong as the first book but they are better - more complexity, more dynamics, more peaks into their lore. The world he created is crystal clear in descriptions yet haunting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The mystery and world-weaving for the length of book + complexity of the story is second to none.

Just like Tainted Cup, Drop of Corruption delivers on all the things that make a 5⭐️ read for me -> fabulous characters, solid setting, dynamic plot, and the inability to guess where it is going.

You might not know this, but you need a Sherlock Holmes-esque fantasy murder mystery in your life. If you haven't read book one, The Tainted Cup, go read that now. Then, pick up book two, A Drop of Corruption. Both books are solid 5 stars for me and I'm not sure which I liked more.

The dialogue is clever, the mystery keeps you guessing throughout, and the murder is unsolvable -- unless you are Ana Dolabra and her faithful sidekick Dinios Kol. I can't get enough of the naturalistic setting. So much fungus. So much moss! This time we are in Yarrowdale, close to the sea and the Shroud. In this book, alongside the mystery, we learn more about Ana and her back story. She's got a lot going on.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey for a digital arc in return for my honest opinions.

This series exemplifies my favorite subgenre of fantasy murder mystery.

A cross between Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie set in a super unique fantasy world...what more could I ask for?

I loved watching Din grow, make new friends, and better understand Ana. Plus, I enjoy how Bennett is trickling the history of the world out to the reader.

I honestly expect to be rereading the two books sometime later this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely amazing. One of the best sequels I’ve ever read and it made me want more. Din and Ana are such a fun duo that I could read 5 more books just of them chatting, or Ana forcing Din into more compromising situations.

The fantastical environment elements ( fungus, mold, insane science, quite the utopian/ dystopian parallel) was so enjoyable. I truly enjoy learning about the world and all of the people in it. (Reminds me of The Will of the Many in certain ways)

I loved the ending, I thought it was perfectly balanced for the audience wanting more but also getting some more backstory into Ana as a character.

I especially enjoyed her soft spot for Din. I can’t wait to read more!

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the E-ARC.This book was a solid 4.5 stars for me. I need 15 of it today and they wouldn't be enough.
Ana and Din are two of my favourite characters of all time. Their combination is a disaster to look forward to. I especially loved how Ana kept looking after Din and guiding him till he made his resolve. Din was.a bit of a mess, but he kept trying with Ana's help till he reached his answer.
The world building, the characters, the plot, the mystery and plot twists that will keep you guessing till the end, everything is immaculate in this series. There is a reason for the title of the book that you will find within.I kept trying to include more, but I think I will spoil the book if I do so. Just do yourself a favour and read this book and its previous part. I will definitely need a physical copy of this book and will probably never shut up about it for a few decades.
I needed the next book in the series, like, yesterday.

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett is an utterly charming Holmes & Watson-style fantasy mystery novel. It is the second book in the Ana and Din Mystery series. This worthy second novel lives up to the thrills and adventure of the first book while building on the characters and giving them more depth. The characters are captivating and endearing, and the mystery kept me turning the pages as fast as possible! Bennett is a skilled writer and storyteller with a sharp sense of humor and a unique turn of phrase. The writing is intelligent and engaging, and the story quickly draws you into the intrigue and mystery. I am eagerly looking forward to more books in this series. You don't want to miss this book!

Another mystery solved by Ana and Din that will have you utterly consumed and on the edge of your seat!

4.5 rounded up to 5, arc received from publisher in exchange for honest review--

plot: 5/5
this plot seriously had me by the throat! its been a while since a book had so much control over me but i could NOT put this down!! the pacing and they way the mystery unfolded was just perfect. the mystery is definitely 90% of the plot and then the interpersonal stuff is like 10%.

characters: 4/5
i specifically loved ana's developments in this book and i always just adore her character because she's so insane. i had some suspicions about her and they were kind of confirmed, as much as they can be at this point so im contented hehe. i also really loved malo's character. i thought she added alot of personality and vibrance. i'm really looking forward to how her role develops in the next book.
the weak point here was din. it felt like he was very much the pov character as a tool. like he was there to observe everything, which is true to his on page purpose. but i just wanted to see more of ~him~ in it, like his personality. he has some good developments by the end but i feel like his character didn't have a ton of life.

writing: 5/5
rjb writes in a way that totally captivates me and transports me into the worlds every single time without fail. and they're worlds i would absolutely die in so stop it!!

overall: 4.5/5
fantastic continuation of the series and, as always, i will read anything robert jackson bennett publishes <3

It's a dense book. I took my time with it and it lived up to any expectations I had after book one. I enjoyed being back with Din and Ana, and I loved that we learned so much about what makes Ana, Ana. I don't remember her character being quite so condescending in the first book. I cringed every time she called Din and/or Malo, "child, children, boy, etc". But even in the end it is clear she is fond of Din and, even, Malo.

Din's journey was executed well. I wish I'd learned more about the relationship he left behind. Did that have anything to do with the decision he made in the end?

And I am delighted at the decision he came to, since it means we'll see more of this duo in the future. Sign me up! I can't wait to add this trophy book to my shelves!