Yep. Yep. That's the stuff.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Robert Jackson Bennett cemented himself as an auto-read for me from now on. I love this world, everything about it. We desperately need more fantasy murder mystery, and this is a prime example of it executed near flawlessly. Book 3 can't come soon enough!

Robert Jackson Bennett’s “A Drop of Corruption” is the follow-up to “The Tainted Cup.” In this sequel, we return to the world of detective Ana Dolabra and her assistant, Dinios Kol.

This time, they are investigating a disappearance, theft, and murder in Yarrowdale, an outlying kingdom which may soon join the empire. Ana is put to the test by the mechinations of the criminal, and Dinios has a hard time keeping up but proves himself again and again. “Will we ever solve this mystery?” is the question hanging over the story from beginning to end, and the reader feels the weight of it.

Like “The Tainted Cup,” I loved “A Drop of Corruption.” It is very true to the original world-building, and mystery keeps one intrigued throughout the book. The supporting cast is interesting, and as always, Ana, through the eyes of Dinios, is an engaging and enticing character.

Author Bennett has definitely found his genre, and I look forward to following these two on more adventures. I received this book from NetGalley.

The only thing "wrong" with this book was the lack of living leviathans! Bennett's newest world is a ton of fun, and so far both books do a great job revealing just enough about the empire and the beasts that threaten it. The twin reveal was great and I really want to find out more about Ana. I look forward to the next one!!!

"Flesh becomes as leaf, and leaf as bone, and so on. All is warped."

Thank you so much to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the ARC of A Drop of Corruption, the second instalment of the Shadow of the Leviathan series.

Ana and Din are back and are just as chaotic and wonderful as they were in The Tainted Cup! A Drop of Corruption starts out as a locked-room mystery, but branches out into a murder plot so calculated that it's as though the perpetrator can predict the future.

I love the world of this series, it's so detailed and unusual. It does of course give me Jeff Vandermeer vibes, but I think I prefer these books to the Area X series (bold claim for me!). RJB writes with such humour I find myself laughing out loud when I read these books, which is something I feel like you don't get very often in a fantasy world like this one. The story has so many twists and turns I felt like I was left guessing right up until the end, which I also enjoy because it feels like you as the reader and Din (the narrator) are discovering clues and information together.

A Drop of Corruption has excellent pacing, an engaging and complex plot, and some truly great science fiction writing. Go and read it!

“A drop of corruption” is a second installment in the “Shadow of the Leviathan” series by Robert Jackson Bennett.

It’s a story of two detectives - a huge eccentric Ana Doloraba and her assistant Dinos Kol. Kol is an engraver, and therefore had been modified to have an absolute memory. That’s what makes him a great investigator. They live in a world where the blood of Leviathans can make magic, but those monsters are also a huge danger to the whole society.

In the second installment the author shows us a slightly different part of his universe. He introduces new places, new characters and new problems to solve.

“A drop of corruption” extends the world that was created in the first book whilst keeping it still somehow connected and entangled with the whole empire. As the title may suggest, politics will also have its part in this volume. From the beginning till the end you can feel that everything was meticulously planned and you just need to wait and see how this intricate web of conspiracies untangles.

We’re also getting a bit more background story of the main characters. Even though it still isn’t the whole picture, it gives us a desire to know more.

Rober Jackson Bennet like no one knows how to create a unique and interesting magical system. When you combine it with amazing character work and intriguing investigation you’ll get a recipe for amazing entertainment.

Overall this series is a very pleasant read, especially for fans of fantasy and detective novels.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide a review.

This book was a wonderful continuation in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. Ana and Din are such complex and fascinating characters and their relationship and dynamics are so fun to read. The world that RJB has created is extraordinary and complex with creepy horror elements and a fascinating political system. The mystery in this book was gripping, fast paced and winding and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. If you liked book one, I definitely think book two is just as good, or possibly even better.

Wonderful! Ana and Kol are two amazing characters and this series is one of my favorites. A fantasy/mystery that grabs you and keeps you invested in an unforgettable world with incredible imagination. I can't wait for the next one.

In this followup to The Tainted Cup, brilliant detective Ana Dolabra and her bemused assistant, Dinios Kol investigate a mysterious crime on the outer reaches of the Empire. A treasury officer has disappeared into thin air from a locked and guarded room. As Kol and Dolabra investigate, they come to realize their opponent is devilishly clever and has a grand plan involving murder, royalty, and a substance that could bring healing or destruction to thousands of people. Bennett keeps things moving and provides a good dose of humor amidst the action and intrigue -- as well as a commentary on the evils of authoritarian rule. Recommended.

Locked room mystery? Check. Incredibly jaded sidekick? Check. New entertaining side character? Check. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you should enjoy this one.

Many sequels pick up right after the first book ends. This isn’t that book. Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol have now been working together for over a year. Dolabra’s methodology is no less zany, and Kol’s sarcastic sense of humor helps him survive the messiness of these investigations. They are once again thrown into a mystery that seems small, but grows. Without spoiling the plot, I’ll say that there is one beautifully macabre murder that the characters are tasked with solving that was described so well you could see how everything happened. I’m sure it will be even better on re-read.

Thank you to Random House / Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC. As always, all opinions are my own.

Best reading experience for me is gobbling down this book right after I finished The Tainted Cup. It's so enjoyable to see Din and Ana solving mysterious gruesome most unordinary crime in far away land. In this sequel, we were brought to Yarrowdale. A part of the Empire but not exactly part of the empire. It revolved around kings and natives and empire "experiment" with the leviathan's carcass.

I felt like Din is more colorful in this book. We see more other side of him including his background. And Ana!!!! Omg. The eccentric Ana is back with even more mind-bending problem solving. Not only that, it's her vulnerability also that stole the spotlight. I love their dynamics so much. And I love how they have a new lovable friend to the group.

Same as the previous book, it started of as a gruesome murder, led to clues and investigations. However, in this book the interviews are followed with more action and field-investigation which is nice!!! The focus is in the apoth. We see more of their wonders.

Then the scheme👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾 the clues ar here and there along the way. The revelation is satisfying. I enjoy this so much.

Thanks so much Del Rey and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for honest review 🩷

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for allowing me to access this novel in advance in exchange for an honest review.

The Tainted Cup completely won me over last year. I'd never experienced a mystery set in a fantasy world before, and it blew me away! So, I was absolutely thrilled to dive back into that world with A Drop of Corruption.

Just like in the first book, the worldbuilding here is exceptional. The setting is richly detailed, but never feels overwhelming with exposition. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, allowing you to piece together the subtle clues leading to the satisfying final reveal. The characters are always a hoot to follow, especially Ana, as she remains my favorite.

This is a complex and engaging novel that kept me hooked from beginning to end and I had a great time with it.

Also! What a beautiful cover!

A layered fantasy mystery that was gripping until the very end.

The author has a true talent for this genre!

In the sequel to The Tainted Cup, we see Ana Dolabra with her assistant, Dinios Kol, trying to solve the disappearance, turned murder of a member of the Treasury. Even more upsetting, the killer is also targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud, where the Empire's greatest minds dissect fallen Titans to harness the volatile magic found in their blood. The whole Empire could fall to ruin if the killer gets their hands on this. The only problem I have with this duology is that I want more! I love Ana as a character and the way she solves crime. The pacing was fast, and these two investigators are awesome. I love the crime fantasy genres together! Robert Jackson Bennett has definitely got a fan out of me!

4.5 stars

This was a wonderful second installment in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. I enjoyed it even more than the first book, especially because it gave a deeper look into how the Empire relies on Leviathans even while under threat from them. I'm still waiting for an answer on why exactly these titans keep attacking the Empire, but hopefully that question will be answered in the third book.

The mystery itself was a highlight of this book, as Bennett is skilled at keeping his readers on their toes through the very end. I was also impressed with the way he balanced the mystery so perfectly with character development and the deepening mentor-mentee relationship between Ana and Din.

Bennett also used this book to convey important messages about human nature, including a timely critique of autocracy that was evident in the plot, characters, and setting (and was elaborated on in an important author's note at the end of the book).

Between the mystery, Ana's and Din's brands of humor, the character development, and the broader messages, this was a standout novel, and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

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

Thank youuuuuu RJB for this book! I spent several late nights reading this because I just couldn't put it down. Many of the questions I had after reading The Tainted Cup were answered, especially in relation to how titan's blood actually functions to help make grafts and other useful things in this universe. We also got some more info on Ana and what she is...I truly love this universe and how it is centered around using plants for nigh everything. Certain scenes with the "kani" reminded me of Annihilation with how creepy it was!

I love how Ana and Din's relationship is developing, with Ana being almost a big sister to him (albeit a very mysterious one). This book had more humor than the previous one, which I appreciated too. I am glad we still got lots of Din going around doing Ana's "dirty work", because writing about a genius who can just deduce everything isn't interesting on it's own. I look forward to the next instalment in this universe!

The epilogue felt a bit on the nose regarding Ana, but I understand that not all readers will have felt that the hints throughout the story were enough.

I feel very privileged to have been able to read this in advance, thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy!

I was so excited to return to this world with Ana and Din. Ana is hilarious with her weird habits that we get some more info and hints about! And Din is the perfect quirky assistant to her with his augmented perfect memory. This world is a fascinating place and I really hope we get an indefinite series of Ana and Din mystery adventures where we continue to explore different cities and see these two solving the crimes and doing their part to make the empire slightly better.

Ana’s appetite is quite funny and relatable at times.

“Great thought, after all, works up a great appetite.”

In addition to the tantalizing mystery we get pulled into some political intrigue from the High Court of Yarrow, much to Ana’s dismay.

“It seems we are now in the business of court intrigue!” said Ana. She wrinkled her nose. “How trite.”

Oh and because I just want to reiterate how much I love Ana’s character:

“Oh, right…Yes. Yes, that, too, I suppose. It would save me some paperwork if we kept them all alive.”

We meet some new characters that may lead to potential for some recurring appearances, but we did not really get to see anyone from The Tainted Cup, though there are some mentions.

Overall I had a blast reading this and really took my time with it savor every moment. This is what I love to see in fantasy stories. This is what I love to see in mysteries. And to have them both together is *chef’s kiss.*

A fantastic follow-up to the Tainted Cup! Ana and Din find themselves on a new adventure set in the Leviathan's universe, venturing into Yarrowdale. I enjoyed that this is a "standalone" adventure in the midst of a big world. Din once again proves to learn more about the Iudex, Leviathans and being a bisexual disaster. Ana continues to be a riot with her quips and amazing powers of puzzle solving. The villains in this story are both fascinating and frightening in what they are capable of. It is once again a game of chess where Ana and Din are trying to stay ahead before its too late.
Bennett excels at writing unique and charming characters. Getting to know more about Din and Ana and new characters was great to read. Ana continues to be crass and hilarious.

My biggest gripe is just "me" things. A lot of dialog spoken is a string of "I said" and "she said" which feels really repetitive and lazy, but the content of the book overshadows this concern.

Learning more about the Leviathans and their augment abilities was fascinating, and seeing just how devastating the stakes are becoming in this world was great. This book really builds on the lore of TC and gives us new insights on a problem faced previously.

I look forward to the third installment and cannot wait to see where Bennett takes this story and what will happen next. I am not one for mystery but the vibes this book brings out are phenomenal.

4 stars

If you're coming to this book because you thoroughly enjoyed _The Tainted Cup_, its predecessor, I think you will be pleased. I know I am!

Din and Ana are back at it. I almost don't care what the plot of these books is anymore; I'm that into both of these characters. If they're present, I'm here to read them. I'll add that this genre is very hit or miss for me, but these books have been consistent hits. Prospective readers need not love the genre; these can work across reading preferences!

In addition to excellent characters, the mystery, the setting, and the general world building are more reasons to absolutely love both this book and the duology as a whole. I can't wait to devour the next installment!

I was so grateful for the chance to read this in advance, as I loved the previous entry in the series.

This volume feels like it has less of the neurodivergent representation that struck me with “The Tainted Cup”, but the mystery was wonderfully done. I had suspicions about the resolution multiple times throughout the story, but was wrong. Still, when the plot resolved, it felt fair and earned.

There is definitely a place for this series in our libraries’ collection!

Robert Jackson Bennett's second installment in the Shadow of the Leviathan series was a strong follow up to the stellar "The Tainted Cup". Din and Anna are back again navigating murder, deception, and (as the title hints) corruption. This time, the pair of investigators find themselves in Yarrowdale, far from the reach of the empire, and investigating a terrifyingly cunning killer with plans to destroy the world Din and Anna know. The stakes of this case are made all the higher by the backdrop of Yarrowdale: the shroud hanging in the distance, mysterious and full of leviathan blood. Din's character development can really be felt as he struggles with his past, his future, and his relationships with the people and community around him. A Drop of Corruption highlights Jackson Bennett's ability to not just write phenomenal fantasy and mystery, but also his skill at crafting tense tales of espionage that weave through his genre-bending character dramas. After reading, I was reminded of the joy "The Tainted Cup" gave me and got sucked into a Robert Jackson Bennett binge for weeks before I felt satisfied.