A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett, an excellent continuation of the series and I really want more! If you havent started this series yet you really need to Now!

Second in the series with Ana Dolabra and her assistant Dinios Kol. In this tome, a Treasury officer has disappeared in Yarrowdale; his quarters were locked from the inside. Was it a disappearance--or a murder? The high-security compound, the Shroud, is a target; the killer[?], most shrewd, is always a step ahead of the investigation into the crime against the Empire.

The book introduced many new characters--I particularly liked Malo. Every time Kol used his skills as an engraver, I was captivated.

A drop of corruption--moves the story forward--vice and bribery are prevalent. Mystery and fantasy are woven together.

New [just a few!] words:
apophenia--tendency to perceive meaningful conections between unrelated things
pauldrons--part of armor
thurible--censer/incense burner hung from chains
thaumaturgy--practical application of magice to make change in physical word using occult principles
chitin--fibrous substance consisting of polysaccharides and forming major comstituent in exoskeleton of arthropods and cell walls of fungi [phew]

I loved The Tainted Cup; this sequel not as much. Still kudos to the author for his imagination, descriptions of this other world, and storytelling.

Be sure to read the author's note! [I believe it resonates with the current state of affairs in the US.]

I love this series! It feels like such a unique take on a fantasy story with the leviathans and the mystery elements. It’s such a fun series and a great progression to the first. If you liked the first I recommend this one!

I was so happy to be back in this world with Kol and Ana, whom I adore. I thoroughly enjoyed all the new characters as well. The sense of place and descriptions of the stone buildings, and the forest, put the reader wholly into the world without bogging down the storyline.
Great pacing, lots of twists and turns to the chase, and a satisfying conclusion to all the loose ends.
I have been recommending Book 1 to my readers who don't think they like fantasy - it's a terrific "gateway book" and a terrific genre-crossing series.
Well done on Book 2 Mr. Bennett!

A gripping second installment in the series. The focal mystery is enticing, ongoing questions are satisfyingly answered, and the new questions posed will keep me coming back for more!

“A Drop of Corruption”* is the second book in Robert Jackson Bennett’s *Shadow of the Leviathan* series, following *The Tainted Cup*.

In this new chapter, we return to join the eccentric investigator Ana Dolabra and her trusted assistant Dinios Kol as they tackle a mystery that threatens to shake the foundations of the Empire. A Treasury official mysteriously disappears from a room locked from the inside in a guarded tower, and the disappearance turns out to be just the beginning of a case that intertwines sophisticated murders, political mysteries, and corruption that goes far beyond appearances.

Bennett never misses a beat! This second volume is a compelling and layered read, where the mix of mystery and suspense is expertly balanced. The author manages to combine a complex plot with a unique setting, providing the backdrop for an increasingly intricate investigation. His writing is sharp, witty, and full of that subtle humor that has won me over since the first book.

Once again, the investigative aspect is flawlessly constructed, giving us a mystery that keeps us hooked and allowing us to explore the Empire more deeply, with intrigue and the ever-present shadow of the leviathans.

Ana and Dinios continue to shine as the leading duo. Ana is a headstrong, unpredictable character with extraordinary intelligence, making her irresistible, while Dinios reveals a more human side, showing new facets of his character. Their interactions are brilliant, full of sharp and ironic exchanges. Their bond is one of the most fascinating elements of the series, blending action, introspection, and humor in a masterful way. In short: I adore them!

*A Drop of Corruption* is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed the first book in the series and for those looking for an investigative fantasy that keeps the tension high and surprises until the very last chapter. I can’t wait to read the next volume in this series, which has now become one of my favorites.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the e-ARC!

I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series when I requested this but I read it anyway, and I’m glad I did! With a new setting, mostly new characters, and a helpful summary of The Tainted Cup at the start, it works well as a standalone.

I loved the unique blend of fantasy and detective work-it’s refreshing and kept me hooked. The mystery was brilliantly crafted, with subtle clues woven throughout, leading to a big reveal that tied everything together in a deeply satisfying way. While I predicted a few elements early on, the twists still surprised me.

Ana is a fascinating protagonist, intimidating, powerful, and deeply flawed in the best way. The world-building is eerie and immersive, though the pacing dragged a bit in the middle. Still, the investigation kept me invested, and I’ll definitely go back to read the first book while eagerly awaiting the next!

An excellent followup to The Tainted Cup. A Drop of Corruption has a new thrilling mystery that explores a new section of the empire and the struggles they face. This time rather than facing the threat of sea leviathans, we get a look at what we use their bodies for and what their importance in creating the empire. The mystery is winding and full of surprises, just the way I like it. The mix of fantasy and murder mystery is fantastic. I also enjoyed getting to explore new facets of Din and Ana and their struggles with holding such a thankless position for justice. I continue to love the creative, if not macabre world these books spin and the dangerous mysteries they present. I hope we get more books in the series.

While I went into this book without having read the first one, the characters were neatly developed and had strong personalities. I believe reading the first book will only make this book better..

The story follows Din as he works through a murder case, and his supervisor Ana is there to assist. This was reminiscent of the show Monk with some Sherlock Holmes mixed in with a fantasy element.

I was unable to get into this story as it just felt slowly drawn out and I needed more from the story quicker.

4.5 stars! This is such a fun and unique mystery/fantasy. I believe A Drop of Corruption is even better than The Tainted Cup because the case that we go through is so much more complex and convoluted. You think you may have a theory but it goes some other way you never saw coming. It leans a lot more into the personal background of Ana and Din. I have very curious where the third book will take us in terms of learning more about Ana. Ana is definitely my favorite character, she is so weird and quirky (and disgusting) and hilarious! Malo was also a great addition to the cast of characters and I hope we see more of her. RJBs world building and magic system are top notch and I’m looking forward to continuing this series.

Firstly, I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy. The Tainted Cup was the last book I read in 2024, and I was obsessed. It instantly became one of my favorite books. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, yet I absolutely love this series.
In the beginning of a Drop of Corruption, I was a bit disappointed, because I was expecting more of Din and Strove's romance. But in the end, I was fine with not getting more of it in the second book. I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect them to be together again, but I can wait. Especially because the romance is not the only thing that makes this series so good. The mystery and the fantastic world are gripping, the characters are captivating, and the plot is engrossing. I preordered the audiobook and cannot wait to dive into this story again. I will certainly continue to read the other books of this series.

The Tainted Cup was such a delightful surprise when I picked it up last year. It nailed the perfect blend of fantasy and murder mystery, complete with a fascinating magic system and characters I couldn’t help but love. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I got my hands on an ARC for book two. I decided to kick off my year with it, hoping for another 5-star read—and let me tell you, it absolutely delivered. This sequel sets the stage for even deeper and more layered character growth. However, I think I enjoyed the first book more than this one; mainly because I miss Kepheus! But this was still a great story and Bennett has a way of writing characters that you can't help but love.

This story was complex and engaging and the prose was lush and brilliant. Part fantasy, part mystery and in part a manifesto on how power and greed can corrupt, the story of an Investigator for the Empire as told through the voice of her begrudging assistant is a marvel to read.

I don’t usually read books like this—in fact, almost never—but for some reason (which I’ve completely forgotten), I picked up The Tainted Cup and loved it. Ever since, I’ve been eagerly waiting for A Drop of Corruption, and it did not disappoint!

Once again, we follow Ana and Din as they’re sent to Yarrowdale to investigate the suspicious death of a treasury officer. I adored the Leviathans in the first book, and while they didn’t play quite as big a role here, the author’s world-building was still top-notch. This time around, we also get even more of Ana and Din’s backstory, which was really well done.

And can we talk about the new secondary characters? Malo and Javi—I see you! I really hope they make an appearance in future books.

If you love quirky characters, a good mystery, and fantastic world-building, this book is definitely worth a read!

Fair review provided in exchange for ARC received from the publisher.

A Drop of Corruption is a great follow up to the Tainted Cup with another tangled mystery that had me finish the book in one sitting. The pacing is great, with each new discovery in the murder case driving the book forward. Pieces seem to come together, only to be shattered as Din and Ana realize the killer is two steps ahead of them, building a momentum that makes it hard to put the book down. The revelations that lead to the book’s conclusions are satisfying, with enough hints throughout the story to lead to the answer if you’re paying close attention.

It’s great to return to the alien world of the Empire of Khanum, and the new tribute region of Yarrow is put on full display from deadly jungles to holy stone cities. Getting a look at a region not officially in the Empire and the resulting tension makes the world feel more lived in and real, and Bennet’s worldbuilding also gives more insight to the Empire itself through a deeper look into the order of the Apoths. While the stakes feel smaller than the first book, the work the author does on creating the new region helps make them matter.

The character dynamics also drive further investment in the case, as we get to know a whole new cast for the second mystery. There’s plenty of suspicions on each individual, and ever changing twists in the case create interesting new conflicts between them. Din has a satisfying arc for the book, wrestling more with his position and future. We get some more hints at Ana’s past, but she remains fairly static without much development in this installment. She still has great scenes and tirades following up her performance from the first book.

Overall the book delivers another great mystery, satisfying twists amidst a cat and mouse chase, and has me excited for the third installment.

Thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouse for the advanced copy.

Obsessssssssed. That's the best word to describe my feelings for this book, honestly. Robert Jackson Bennett has done it again and, really, somehow wrote something even better than the first book, The Tainted Cup.

A Drop of Corruption is meatier and more in every aspect compared to the first book in this new series. We follow Ana and Din once more, as they're now being sent to the Yarrow canton to investigate the mysterious murder of a treasury officer. Sounds simple, right? Nope - of course things aren't that simple! This book expands heavily on the mythology and cultures of this world but it never feels overwhelming or like an info dump because Bennett weaves in everything so expertly that it barely registers you've just read five new words and learned three new things about this world. I'm also endlessly fascinated by the leviathans of the world and hope we learn more about them in future books.

I love that even though there is a lot of the Empire's politics in these books (Ana and Din are employed by the Empire of course), we're kept to the outer rings of the empire where things are wilder and messier and scarier. Particularly this new area in this book, Yarrowdale, a 'free' kingdom the Empire has been in talks of acquiring for many years. Being in Yarrowdale forces Din to walk a fine line between his role for the Empire and as a visitor to the canton. I really enjoyed him as an outsider to this world that feels so foreign, freeing him to make observations of their ways and ask questions the reader has.

We got a lot of Din in the last book and not nearly enough Ana, in my opinion, but in this book Bennett finally gives us a deeper and more curious look into his unusual Sherlock Holmes-esque protagonist. I'm not going to spoil anything but I LOVED all the reveals for her and cannot wait to read more and see where these new revelations take us in future books. We also get to learn more about Din as well, though as the Watson to Ana's Sherlock, I'm not as interested in him haha

This is my current favorite fantasy world and I never want to leave and only want more. I dream of this in an animated way similar to The Last Unicorn or the cartoon The Hobbit. What a dream it would be to have a film of these books in that style!

I know it's still early in the year but I feel safe in claiming A Drop of Corruption as one of my top favorites for 2025. Unless I encounter a slew of bangers after this, I'm certain it'll make my top 5 for sure. I'm also aware it looks like it took me 3 months to finish this - I could have finished this in a day for sure but I wanted to savor it rather than devour, because I just didn't want it to end.

For fans of: Dishonored, Game of Thrones, medieval/Victorian-ish fantasy with giant mysterious kaiju/leviathan creatures :P

Even though I loved the Tainted Cup and gave it 5 stars, A Drop of Corruption was even better!
The world and the characters really came to life in this sequel.
I loved the development of Ana and Din’s relationship and the slow unraveling of the deeper mysteries at play for Ana’s character. Their banter is just as entertaining as in the first book and the portrayal of neurodivergent traits is done exceedingly well and not something often seen in fantasy

We start off with a locked room murder mystery that quickly dissolves into a tale with many twists and turns as our opponent is always two steps ahead.
As we follow Din and Ana into another part of this fascinating world that’s unlike any I’ve read before, we also learn more about its workings. I loved that there was so much information about the leviathans and how the grafts are created interwoven with the story.

I’m already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved Tainted Cup, and so was hyped when I got an eARC for one of my most anticipated 2025 releases.

A Drop of Corruption starts off with a classic locked-room murder mystery set in a new region, Yarrow. An independent monarchy soon to be incorporated into the Empire, it hosts the Shroud, the site where dead leviathans are processed into the unearthly grafts and alterations that fuel the Empire.

I really enjoyed the way this book incorporated a new detective trope and a new setting within the world, while also delving deeper into the lore behind the leviathans and the Empire’s dependence upon them. There’s a great balance between the mystery plot which kept me engaged throughout, as well as further development of Din and Ana, and their relationship. I loved it all, and the next book can’t come soon enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this eARC.

The mystery continues with Din and Ana! Fully immersed into the world of the Empire and all its secrets, there is a case that stumps not only our dear investigators but threatens the wellbeing of everyone in the Empire. Compelling narratives, tangible characters, and a fresh take on fantasy and mystery. Very excited for the next installment after the end reveal!

Ana Dolabra can adopt me and Dinios and I will be her disaster investigation children together. <3
The Empire is threatened by another murder! This time under very different but still SUPER suspicious circumstances and of course everything about the investigation is a tangled mess and nothing anyone knows is what it seems. Dinios Kol, however, has learned how to tend to his Immunis and has much better luck keeping Ana's mood under control. He now also trusts her instincts and so is left admitting he's not sure why he's here or what exactly he should find, but Ana said to, so he is. He's att the feet of the master, after all.
Once again, I am at the mercy of this series. The world-building is imaginative and thorough, the characters are firmly developed and we get so many more in this installment! The blurb does a great job of setting the premise and I will confirm it is a ride! If you liked The Tainted Cup, A Drop of Corruption is going to give you all the same goodies shaken up and cast into a very different feeling story. Its just what I wanted and Im very much looking forward to book 3!

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey - Random House for providing the advanced reader ebook in exchange for an honest review.