Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC.

This book may contains:
- politics
- botanical body gore
- general body horror
- spice (just a little, very subtle)

This book is an easy 5 stars for me. I really love Din and Ana's adventure in solving murders and crimes. And I think it's safe to say that this book can be read as a standalone (you don't really have to read the 1st book to understand it, BUT, I suggest you to read the 1st book because in my opinion it's a little bit better than this one).

It follows Din and Ana's next case which took place in Yarrowdale. A man mysteriously vanished into thin air, and then found dead (well, rotten) days later, far from where he vanished. The author did a great job making us keep guessing who actually killed this man—and why.

We also learn many things about Din and Ana's background (wait, did I say we know something new about Ana? YES I DID?!). Just like the first book, the dynamic between these two investigators are just perfect *chef kiss* I also love Din and Malo platonic relationship, feels like Din just found a little sister who will roast him at any given circumstances😂

Honestly, I can't wait to read a dozen more of Din and Ana murder mysteries😌

We're back in the land of the Leviathans in Drop of Corruption, #2 of the Shadow of the Leviathan series. The Empire both fears and needs these great sea creatures in order to survive, and any threat to them is a threat to the entire Empire.

Once again our eyes into this world are provided by Dinios Kol, an Engraver with a mind altered to remember (and record) all that he experiences. Din is assistant to Ana Dolabra, the brilliant, blindfold-wearing investigator. Together the two solve complex imperial deaths for the Empire. And in Drops of Corruption, there are a lot of murders to investigate.

The world building in this series is fantastic, from the Leviathans to the Empire (and its hierarchy) to the altered states (Din forgets nothing, there are those with other enhanced senses), to the seas and the technology of the realm. The fantasy genre usually is not one of my go-to's, but the character building, the layered mysteries and the completely inappropriate Ana and the earnest, resourceful Din all pull me in.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the Advance Reader Copy. (pub date 4/1/2025)

This book reads very much like the first. Characters continue to grow believably, everyone has reasonable motivations, everyone feels real.

My only complaint is the troupe of "genius predicts things that aren't predictable'. I understand the villain is magically genius, but there's certain things that can't be predicted without background information, something that comes up organically in the plot. So when a major plot point gets all hand-wavy mystical guessing, it takes the power away from the villain, makes him lucky instead of scary.

This was a great continuation of the series that introduced a new setting, new characters, and added to the complex history of our main characters. I loved the new mystery and the intrigue around what goes on with the people and research of our new area. I also liked that introduction of more the more political side of the world and learning more about how the government works. Everything about this book is just weird and I love it.

Robert Jackson Bennett is back! And he’s advancing the stories of Ana and Din, an imperial investigator and her assistant. Regular readers know how much I adore RBJ, and I’ve been extremely excited for this next release.

_A Drop of Corruption_ rejoins Ana and Din months after the events of _The Tainted Cup_. They’ve been traveling the empire solving crimes for months, but this latest is a bit different. Specifically, it takes place in Yarrow, a tributary state to the East of the Empire. Ana and Din are there to investigate a mysterious body - and the disappearance of an Empire diplomat… Perhaps predictably for an RBJ novel, things get political quickly.

I’ve repeatedly shared that Bennett is one of my favorite modern fantasy authors. His blend of fantastical surroundings and hardcore political intrigue are the perfect amount of complexity to keep me engaged. And when you add mystery to the mix - let’s just say that my anticipation has been high.

## When worldbuilding meets mystery
Now, just because RBJ is one of my favorite fantasy authors does not mean I’ll let him off the hook on mystery. (In fact , it may give me slightly higher expectations…) I like my mysteries fair play - that is, fully solvable with the facts and information given in the story. This is frequently tricky to pull off - many modern mystery writers “prove” the point in a specific chapter. It’s even harder in a fantasy setting, where different rules govern the world and the physical possibilities.

_A Drop of Corruption_ falls prey to this challenge. I’ll keep this spoiler-free, but the mystery relies on many elements of the fantasy setting that were not immediately clear to this reader. This is true both in the literal sense, but also in a broader sense. Several components of both Yarrow and imperial culture required detailed explanation, which frequently only came once Ana pried after it. Other components required understanding of physical clues - but it’s hard to make assumptions about physical constraints in a fantasy setting. The result was that Ana leapt to conclusions that were practically impossible for a reader to draw, based not only on her augmentations but also existing in the fantasy world.

From a fantasy standpoint, this level of detail is not necessarily bad. In fact, it’s one of the elements that I love most about RBJ’s writing - the sense that the world has been fully fleshed out. But from a mystery standpoint, it can be very tricky to keep both “baseline” Imperial facts and “new” Yarrow facts in your head for evaluation. In contrast, several side plots, which required simply human understanding, were much more accessible and solvable.

## Politics, fictional and real
BUT. All this worldbuilding, as usual, allows RBJ to establish the themes he’s most interested in exploring. Here, it’s an exploration of power and the lengths individuals and nations will go to keep it, alongside the usual exploration of colonialism.

I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy that explores colonial themes lately, so you’d think I’d be tired of it by now. But _A Drop of Corruption_ has a different twist on the theme. Yarrow is a tributary state of the Empire, and one with deep economic ties to its partner / colonizer. It’s in Yarrow that fallen Titans are dissected, harvested, and researched. Yarrow relies on the Empire for its prosperity - and the Empire relies on Yarrow for its science.

This means that Ana and Din’s case - the disappearance of a Treasury officer and diplomatic envoy - moves from simply criminal to political. Much of _A Drop of Corruption_ is devoted to untangling this political context. Ana and Din’s criminal seems to have access to the best research in Yarrow, and almost supernatural levels of intelligence. So untangling the origins of the crime requires upsetting already-tense relations on both sides of the border, and constantly testing the bounds of Imperial vs. Yarrow hegemony.

The result is a story that explores the temptations of tribalism and autocracy. This message is woven more subtly through the start of the story, but comes through loud and clear by the end. Did it hit a little close to home given the state of the world? Perhaps. But that’s maybe when we need that story the most. I wrestle with the ending - I’d love for the Empire to be a better governing body, and a fast resolution there would be _so satisfying_. But that’s not how lasting improvements are made - words that bear repeating in these turbulent times.

## Political fantasy with a mystery flavor
To be clear, I tore through _A Drop of Corruption_. Ana continues to be her creepy, frustrating self. We learn more about Din in this installment, and it’s fun to explore the Empire with him. Together, the pair make a memorable crime-solving duo, creating political havoc everywhere they go. It’s easy to get lost in the twists and turns of the crime-solving without realizing there’s a bigger political plot afoot. And for many a fantasy mystery reader, that’s the sweet spot.

If you like the sound of a political fantasy with a mystery twist, I continue to recommend this series. If you’re looking for a more fair-play mystery, it may be less of a fit. For me, _A Drop of Corruption_ was everything I was hoping for.

Until next time, stay cozy, and stay curious!

“What are we, if not instruments in service to one another?”

Oh man, this series is truly incredible, relevant, and important. I would read countless books of Ana and Din fighting the good fight. RJB’s author note sums up my feelings about this book and our current political landscape beautifully.

Because all the characters in this story-like all of humanity, apparently-have a little blank spot in their heads that says, "Kings. What a good idea." The idea is powerful, and seductive, and should not be underestimated. To be a civilization of any worth, however, means acknowledging the idea-and then condemning it as laughably, madly stupid. May we come to live in such a worthier world, and soon.

4.5 stars, thanks NetGalley and publishers for the ARC!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of A Drop Of Corruption.

I'm usually a little hesitant with second books in a series, but A Drop Of Corruption exceeded my expectations. What's not to like? A fantasy mystery, quirky characters, and great world building.

I enjoyed learning more about the world and getting deeper into the leviathans. Pacing was good with reveals and twists to keep me reading.

Can't wait to see how the story continues in book 3.

I was so happy to get this book! Can I request the 3rd yet? I don't love some of the character developments but I guess that's part of the story-this series blows my mind at the world building and the mystery. I had to relisten to the ending to make sure I didn't miss anyhing and I love this book!!!

“And the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist.”

The second book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series was a great addition to the storyline. It answered a lot of the questions from the first while still leaving some things open for the future. I did find some of the twists predictable, but I enjoyed the ride nonetheless.

Din was the perfect awkward lover boy throughout this book and I wouldn’t change him for anything. Ana was her usual badass self. Malo was honestly such a great addition, she added a new element to the character dynamic between Din and Ana.

I cannot wait to see how book 3 goes. Fingers crossed Din and Kepheus cross paths!

*Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

The fact that I guessed multiple components of the crime makes me feel pretty dang cocky, mk? Call me for all of your mysteries!

But Ana and Din are back, baby. And this time it's with a locked room murder that no one can crack. The narration was amazing and really kept me engaged in the story, which was a feat seeing as it's over 15 hours long. We also got to meet the best Warden side character who I'd love to see again in the future. I just felt that there were so many worldbuilding components in this installment and I could've done with one less thing to keep track of amidst all of the mysteries.

I love the creativity and world for this series! I was worried I wouldn’t remember enough from the first book given how long ago I read it, but it came back to me as I read and there were callbacks to the events from A Tainted Cup too.

I thought Ana was much better in this book, previously she felt a bit cartoonish to me with all her maniacal grinning and blurting random things out. While she still does that a lot, it was better integrated into the story and a tad more subtle too. The mystery aspect was really well done and while still a complex plot, I thought it was much easier to follow this time around. I appreciated having the military command levels and maps at the front of the book too.

One issue I had in book one with the writing style sadly is back here too - it’s 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 repetitive. There are also excessive descriptions for unimportant things and remembering verbatim something from an earlier chapter. This book also has a lot of focus around his sex life which added nothing to the plot and I could have done without. For a longer book, the amount of description and repetition had an impact on the pacing, making it feel quite slow at times, even with a lot going on in the plot.

I don’t want this to come off like an angry rant becayse I really liked the book! It just brought it down from a 5⭐️ everyone must read this to a 4⭐️ I really liked and recommend this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the DRC

⭐️: 5 / 5

Publication Date: April 1, 2025

I want to thank Del Rey and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book thankfully came with a prologue that helped remind me of our main characters. I will admit that I didn’t reread the first book prior to reading this one, but I felt the prologue did a wonderful job of easing me back into this world.

I loved getting to visit a new part of the world that we had learned about from book one in this series. We’re transported to a part of the world where the presence of the empire can lead to contentious interactions between the locals and the imperial officers including both Din (Dinios Kol) and Ana (Ana Dolabra) our favorite investigative duo in all of the empire. The mystery which unfolds in this particular book is beyond any I had ever read before, and it involved going to new extremes for both Din and Ana. I liked getting to learn more about both of these character’s backgrounds and some of their motivations for why they are in the Iudex.

As for my reservations, I cannot think of any. I felt that this book had well thought out plots and subplots throughout.

Overall I thought this was a stellar follow-up to the first book. I would happily recommend this book. I think a 3rd book is planned for the series and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- Murder mysteries
- Neurodivergent characters
- Fantasy-ish

⚠️ violence, body horror

Dinios Kol and Ana Dolabra are back to solve a mysterious disappearance, this time in the canton of Yarrowdale, which is not officially part of the empire. A treasury officer from the empire working to facilitate incorporating Yarrowdale has suddenly vanished. Kol and Dolabra's investigation will take Kol into the backwaters, the high city, and the mystifying Shroud to find clues to the disappearance. Of course, the case is much larger than the missing officer, and leads us into court intrigue. This story leads readers to contemplate what the point of a king (autocrat) is and why we keep thinking they're a good idea, and what it means to show up for each other. I can't wait for another installment in this series.

This was a solid sequel to The Tainted Cup. It featured a good Holmes and Watson style case with plenty of mystery and intrigue. There were a lot of new characters to go along with Ana and Din, and a new setting. But while it was solid, there were still a few things it lacked.

Ana is the equivalent of Holmes - a brilliant mind and lots of eccentricities to go with it. The problem is, there is way too much telling and not enough showing when it comes to her. I get that she claims it's too hard for her to go out and interact most of the time, but every time she had a conversation with Din and Malo, she snapped at them. Literally. It says it on damn near every page of the book. It made it less enjoyable to read her parts, as she was so irritable throughout the book. She did have some good banter with Din, but not nearly enough to cancel out the rest of their interactions. I love Sherlock Holmes in his many iterations, but I really struggles with Ana this go around.

There was a section a little over halfway through where this book really dragged as well. There's just so much going on but the pacing doesn't match - it can be really slow at times, and then blazes others. A more even pacing would have helped. I wish we could have spent a little more time at the Shroud learning about the Leviathans. There's still so much that isn't explained. And while I know it really isn't the same at all, every time they mention the Leviathans, I think of Attack on Titan. An odd connection, but it's there.

I am still looking forward to the next book. This is a unique fantasy world with mystery weaved in. While there were struggles with this book, it was still overall quite good and sets the next one up well.

Please auto-send me whatever books Robert Jackson Bennett writes because I am always obsessed with them.

I loved the Tainted Cup and told many people it was my favorite read of 2024... and yet A Drop of Corruption is EVEN BETTER. This is an easily approachable fantasy series -- but without sacrificing the rich world-building. Though I often roll my eyes when I see novels compared to others, folks aren't wrong. This does feel like a fantasy version of Sherlock Holmes, but Ana is a much more compelling character to me. The mystery itself was rich, layered, and filled with twists that kept you guessing.

Once you start, you won't want to stop.

My biggest challenge is to take time out from re-reading this novel to complete my review. I give it 4 ½ stars as I quite enjoyed my first read of this novel. On my re-read, it gets closer to five stars as my enjoyment with this novel keeps growing as I start to see how well-crafted the novel was to get to the end with the great reveal, like all good traditional mysteries have.

This novel is a fantasy mystery with a large dose of horror and Sherlock Holms and Dr. Watson vibes. The novel contains some dark humor at times especially with the interplay between Din and Ana.

The mystery begins with an empty-locked room, several stories up, where it is discovered that a Treasury officer for the Empire has disappeared what appears to be in thin air. The windows remained locked. For protection, as the empire is under threat, the Treasury officer was under constant guard. Also, there are gnawed on body parts that have been discovered tied to this missing Treasury officer. To solve the case, the Empire sends the great Ana Dolabra, with her assistant Dinos Kol to Yarrow, at the edge of Empires influence and not under Empire rule, but the Empire has been in the process of working towards annexing Yarrow as it houses in its harbor a valuable magical resource, the corpse of a giant leviathan, and more importantly, its blood.

Din is known as an engraver, through bioengineering, able to remember everything he experiences by tying them to special scents he inhales from vials. When repeating what he has seen and collected in interviews, it is as if he is possessed by a computer. While Ana is brilliant at solving mysteries, Din is the individual that does all the leg work, which can be dangerous and helps collect evidence that Ana then uses to solve mysteries.

The author’s imagination and creativity within these pages is something to behold. His imagery of gruesomeness, including some very disturbing images of body horror, mixed with just enough comic relief through dialogue is masterful. Also, in these pages you will be introduced to new characters, like Malo who has heightened senses of scent and hearing to when someone is talking she can hear by listening to the beat of their heart combined with their scent to determine if that individual is lying or telling the truth.

But what makes this novel and the series memorable and a delight are the two investigators: Din and Ana. Din, as mentioned is an engraver and master swordsman because he has the ability to remember any skill, is the traditional reluctant hero. He has financial difficulties with creditors literally stalking him and worried that in his line of work he may not be able to pay them off. He admires Ana, a legendary investigator, but is struggling with his sense of worth and the repeated images of brutality he is witness to in his line of work. He can be nonchalant in his statements regarding violence, but this may be just a coping mechanism so he can maintain his sanity. He is wondering if what he does dealing with finding answers from the dead is as fulfilling as if he was fighting on the frontlines as a soldier against the giant leviathans threatening the outer gates of the Empire. Din is also searching for happiness and love. He is alone in the world for the most part, except for Ana, which his world revolves around when they are working a case.

Ana is socially awkward with an addictive personality, a recluse, a lover of the arts, and the greatest living detective of the Empire. Her ability is to take information and create patterns where others cannot see the patterns is legendary. She becomes focused on the evidence to where she literally blindfolds herself while Din regurgitates what he has learned back to Ana or, while rare, when she is out in the field with Din. She can be obstinate and crass. Also, her primal culinary desires leave others, including Din, horrified.

The interplay between Ana and Din is addictive to where I finished the novel and had a desire to immediately re-read it again to sedate my need to visit these characters again.

With an interesting mystery in a creative fantastic world of bioengineering and botany that develops into an even more interesting larger mystery full of political intrigue, this novel has it all. Also, the novel touches on themes of personal freedoms, altering oneself physically for the greater good, and Imperialism that are interesting to reflect on.

Now if I could just stop re-reading this novel, so I can get on to other novels in my TBR.

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

4-4.5 stars
A Holmes and Watson style murder mystery set in a very well-developed fantasy world. The seemingly simple murder that Ana and Din are sent to investigate turns out to be something far larger and more dangerous. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is complicated and twisty.

This is the second in the series and while I think it can be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend reading The Tainted Cup first to better understand the main characters and the world they inhabit.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free e-ARC of this book.

Robert Jackson Bennett has again written an extraordinary and terribly clever fantasy with sci-fi elements. In this sequel, we are away from the seawalls and in the kingdom of Yarrow and the Shroud. The nuances of political intrigue and colonial relations are layered and interesting, especially as they seem relevant to modern day politics and perspectives. Throughout this book, I was astounded by the creativity and level of detail not in just in the unraveling of the complex mystery itself, but in the minute details of world building. Bennett has created a beautiful and dangerous world of monsters, greed, and fascinating human augmentations.
I appreciated seeing Din’s growth in personal and professional assuredness in this sequel as an assistant to Ana, and well as witnessing his emotional development and realignment of motivation and priorities.
While I didn’t find this book as captivating as The Tainted Cup, I still found the story to be exciting and mysterious, full of twists and turns and many chuckle-worthy moments that make our characters so endearing.
Posted on goodreads

I loved the first book in this series and A Drop of Corruption didn't disappoint.

Positive: Malo was a wonderful addition to the story. From the very first chapter, I was charmed by her brute honesty. I like Din as a main character, but I'd honestly prefer Malo. Maybe a spin-off?

Negative: I was thoroughly put off by the fact that men's genitals are referred to as "wicks." When it first came up, I gagged. I just—was that really necessary?

Bring on book 3!

"Tell me, Din! Tell me what it looks like"

Another amazing story with Ana and Din, detectives in their world of some of the most heinous and baffling crimes. In this installment, we get a new realm full of new characters, a different sector, and new augmentations.

And I loved every bit of it. Ana and her amazing ability to see all the steps and how it all comes together. Din, able to maneuver any social situation and, yet, make a simple tea for Ana. I loved the addition of so many of the new area's characters and their added personalities. I hope we see more of them.

And we learn more of the titans and the way they are utilized but also the way they are dangerous. This world is so rich and fascinating and, yet, the author never buries us in details or info dumps. The plot is always moved along by something new and interesting while still focusing on the mystery and the current threat. And all through it, we learn more about Din and Ana.

Many things are revealed in this one. I am worried this will be at trilogy - and as I await the next installment, I'm also hoping beyond hope that it is not the end. I will absolutely buy the audio and re-read this series as an audio and enjoy it all over again!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.