Excellent plotting and world-building as always. I really enjoyed the locked room mystery, as well as the final reveals. The plot felt like a mix between a classic Holmes novel and True Detective S1, set in a world reminiscent of medieval India's first contacts with the British Empire. The world was imaginative and compelling, especially the megastructure involved and the "biological" aspects of magic. As a final note, this can also be picked up by someone who hasn't read the Tainted Cup, as the connections to the previous book are present but not critical. Overall, highly recommend it to any SFF reader who also enjoys mystery novels.

Robert Jackson Bennett hits it out of the park again with this sequel! I absolutely have adored reading this series so far and I cannot wait to read more of these characters. I was really excited to read more about Ana's backstory and see more about Din and seeing how their camaraderie develops. The mystery they solve was just was fun and interesting as the first book. Loved seeing Ana's process and the banter between Ana and Din is always so much fun to witness. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series if there is one and I desperately hope there is.

Reading this book felt like a gift. The world building is so unique and yet also so grounded in the weakness of humanity. I love the dynamic of Din and Ana, and how the author treats his reader; like we're unraveling the puzzle together, in real time and if you pay attention, and don't just glance over the words but really read you're rewarded. Reading this at the opening of 2025 is a somber event, esp in light of the authors note and I keep thinking in my head, this is known.

My rating is between 3-4 stars.

This installment didn't quite hit the same as book one did but it was a good read nonetheless. I was very happy to be back into this plant-ruled world. This one was quite fast paced at times, and other times it almost felt like it slogged but only briefly. The murders were grotesque. The world was unforgiving. The mysteries were scintillating. The cast, both old and new, unique. I do wish we could've had more character growth of Din. As our main pov, we of course were able to be in his head the whole time but I felt little growth to him. I didn't enjoy all the sex scenes or sexual innuendos in this one. I felt it detracted from the overall story/mystery - got in the way. Perhaps it just had more "screen time" than necessary, at least in comparison to book one's incredible execution. I enjoyed getting a bit more answers to this overall world and Empire but am also left with so many more questions. And I definitely would like more Leviathans in the next installment.

Loved Ana's ending line!

For those that enjoyed book one, The Tainted Cup, you’ll definitely want to pick this up come April.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the digital arc for my honest review. After that ending, I cannot wait to see what this duo gets up to next time!

A big Thank you to Netgalley and DelRey for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

"A Drop of Corruption" is the second book in the series "Shadow of the Leviathan" by Robert Jackson Bennett. I devoured and adored Book 1 for its excellent plot and intrigue with loveable quirky characteres and this sequel does not disappoint.

We encounter again our beloved duo of investigators Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol. Throughout the book their peculiar relationship as supervisor - employee is getting explored again, and is embellished and deepened by adding details of their past and present. Most notable Dins debts which are influencing his career intentions and Anas alterations. Their development throughout this book was organic and top notch and I very much enjoyed reading about them evolving throughout this story, All this without taking away substance or plottime from the main mystery. The banter around Dins, ahem, night time activities were very entertaining and not overbearing.

We meet Din and Ana in the Kingdom of Yarros; an area of the Empire that is both Empire and Non-Empire with high tensions in the air, both politically and metaphorically. The people of Yarrow have peculiar grafts and skills which does include lots os air sniffing (professionally), a monarchy and a strained diplomatic relationship to the Empire because of a 100 year old contract. The jungle atmosphere and the added mystery of the shroud and its particulars drove the point home very well.

The writing was captivating from the first chapter and I never had a bored moment. Dialogue was witty or solemn or rushed depending on the situation the characters were in - it felt excellently crafted. The description of the Shroud as a "living" thing was rather creepy but drove the point home exceedingly well. Knowing what they do to titans there, after we met them in Book 1, was a great addition to the overarching plot (that there is but which I cannot pinpoint). The tapping method for communication between the Augurs was such a great idea - like sign language just more abstract.

We start with right away with another mystery where Ana and Din are called to investigate. The mystery unfolds in a good pace - and in hindsight with lots on breadcrumbs to follow and to maybe pick up some foreshadowing. When the conclusion arrived I had a few GOTCHA moments, when I remembered a side mention in early chapters. It felt like nothing RJB writes is without intent. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat for 90% of thereading. I assume some of the new plot points that were introduced, will play a role in Book 3; the debt collecting agency, the fallout from the Shroud research... those are some too big things to just let slide.

The political and societal aspects of the Kingdom of Yarros seemed to be superficial at first, but as the book progresses more and more layers were added to the internal conflicts of the realm. I'm not quite satisfied with how the end played out, it felt rather unsatisfactory, but I suppose this it rather realistc and real-life-esque. Changes in government dont go smoothly or easily resolved, especially not in a kingdom that still observed slavery and had a ridig system for classifying their populace. I do wonder how strongly these happenings will affect the entire empire and how this will factor in the plot and conclusion of the trilogy.

I've had an absolutely excellent time with this book and on the possibility of repeating myself, I will recommend this series to nearly everyone! I was very positively surprised that this was such a strong book 2 - it definitely did not suffer from middle books syndrome!
5/5 stars - easily the best book i've read in 2024!

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett was one of my favourite books of 2024 so I was super excited to be approved for the ARC of the next book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series - A Drop of Corruption.

While I did have some issues with it, I’m rating it 4.5, rounded up to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I think the book could be a little shorter with bits that felt VERY long and I did have some issues with the swearing in the beginning of the book. To be clear, swear away, I’m not bothered in most cases but it felt so out of place sometimes it took me out of the plot.

I love this world and I will always be happy to come back to it. In this book we learn more about the Shroud which was mentioned in book 1 - here a few selected bright mind harness the magic from blood of dead titans. A treasury officer has been murder under strange circumstances bringing Din and Ana in to investigate how was the officer murdered and why. It appears that the murderer has links to the Shroud which poses a terrible risk to the entire empire.

I highly recommend this series to Fantasy fans, I really like the combination of crime investigation with Sherlock Holmes motives set in a fantasy word.

The book is coming out on April 1st 2025.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a free copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

This book was an absolute ride from start to finish. Set in a world where secrets can kill and the line between right and wrong blurs with every turn, A Drop of Corruption had me hooked from page one.

Ana and Din, the unlikely duo at the heart of this mystery, stole the show. Ana is sharp, unrelenting, and haunted by her past, while Din is the kind of partner you’d want watching your back—equal parts loyal and unpredictable. Their dynamic crackles with tension and humor, making every interaction feel like a high-stakes chess match.

The mystery itself? Intricately layered and brilliantly paced. As Ana and Din chase down clues in the sprawling, gritty city, the stakes kept rising. The corruption runs deep here, and every revelation felt like peeling back another layer of a rotting onion—equal parts satisfying and horrifying.

What I loved most was the world-building. Bennett’s descriptions are rich and immersive, painting a vivid picture of a city teetering on the edge of chaos. It’s dark, atmospheric, and alive with danger. You can practically feel the weight of the corruption that Ana and Din are up against.

If you’re a fan of gritty mysteries with morally gray characters, intricate plots, and a touch of noir, this book is for you. It’s smart, thrilling, and packed with twists I didn’t see coming. I’m already counting down the days until the next Ana and Din mystery drops!

Thanks to Random House Works & NetGalley for this advanced reading copy. I loved the first title in this series and was SO excited when a sequel was announced. This sequel did not disappoint. The mystery/whodunnit was great the whole way through & loved the twists throughout. I loved the character development of the main character and am so looking forward to the following sequels!!

A Drop of Corruption is a solid follow up that jumps right into the action. This the perfect novel for those craving a fantasy Sherlock Holmes. While I took issue at times with the characterization of some of the indigenous tribes, I also recognize it was part of the commentary of imperialism.

There is nods to heavier themes, that never get in the way of the action. I missed some of the character work of the first novel, but this was a fun time that left me excited for what’s next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another solid entry in the Shadow of the Leviathan series.

I picked up The Tainted Cup on a complete whim last year; mysteries aren't the usual books that I read. I'd been looking forward to the release of A Drop of Corruption, a nice contained mystery in a series that would provide a break from everything else I read. I was looking forward to getting back with Ana and Din and seeing more of these characters and their interactions with the world that Bennett has created. A Drop of Corruption is a beautifully done sequel - it builds on the back of The Tainted Cup, providing the reader with new information and revelations, while anchoring itself in the solid foundation of the previous work.

I've been on a bit of a mystery kick lately, I've watched a lot of Murdoch Mysteries and was getting a little bit familiar with the tools authors / writers use to drop clues and the number of ways that a mystery could be solved. I was worried that I'd disappointed myself by consuming too many mysteries too close to each other, as I'd figured out the 'how' of the Treasury officer's murder slightly before it got revealed on page. Then Bennett reveals the motive (which I hadn't figured out) and the second (and third) layers of intrigue going on beneath this murder. I kept on guessing at the faintest shadows based on no information and did not see Ana's deductions coming.

The characterization in A Drop of Corruption is beautiful work for a sequel. I appreciated how we still had Din and Ana from the previous novel, but they went through different trials in this book. Bennett didn't turn it into a lover per book, and it's been a year since the events of The Tainted Cup, giving our characters an opportunity to grow off-page. The new things that we learned about Din and Ana didn't make them seem like unformed characters in the previous novel, but allowed them to continue to grow in the weird ways that human beings grow. I really appreciate the non-linear character development done in this sequel.

I can see an entry for one more book in the series on GoodReads, but I'd probably read twenty more books.

I'm obsessed with this book! I really enjoyed the first book, and this was an excellent follow up, honestly, it gave me a bit of a book hangover, it was so good. I loved being back in this world, with these characters, and this latest case was so intricate and amazing! This, and this series, is one of my best books of the year, and it's one of my last reads of the year!

Din has gotten used to Ana, they've had a year of cases together under his belt, so he's not quite as subservient, and pokes at her from time to time, which was so lovely to read, in the midst of all the choose going on with this case. Not to mention, the stressors in his personal life, of if he should continue in this branch of government.

This mystery was absolutely incredible! The first book gave us a look into how brilliant Ana is, and how excentric. So to have a case that was causing her difficulty, to really push her to the limits, who seemed to be a step ahead of her...I couldn't get enough!

The first book was in an area shrouded by the fact that the Leviathans come and attack every wet season. This one takes place where they bring the leviathans after they're dead, to extract the blood needed to keep the empire going, which is a complex political situation, and a heavy part of the plot, with the kingdom supposed to be absorbed by the empire shortly, but the details aren't fully worked out. It was epic, and convoluted, and an amazing story.

One idea that this book brought up was the idea of kings, and just how bad they are. The authors note at the end, talking about the concept of kings and how they're viewed in this modern day society, and modern day versions of them, felt very pointed and so very accurate. Here's hoping the idea of them being a positive thing dies out, and dies out soon.

Loved reading this book and I can't wait for more from this series, and I really need to read more by Robert Jackson Bennett!

New installment of leviathan series and i’m OBSESSED with it. I couldn’t put up for how much i devoured every words in it.

Ana’s brilliance and eccentricities paired with Din’s outwitted and engraved memory had led the investigation into its resolution. Ana's unconventional methods and sharp intellect drive the investigation, while Din navigates the complexities of working alongside her.
Their relationship providing both humor and depth. We get to see more of their dynamic as they working together to unravel even bigger and complex mysteries happened in Yarrowdale. I literally had never feel dull nor bored reading these two. 😭🫶

I am deeply astounded by the expansion upon the world building and thus produced a fantastic and enjoyable adventure. It is truly so vivid and the characters feels alive to me as though their expression were described very well.

Thank you again NetGalley for providing me the ARC.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with the e-ARC for this book in advance in exchange for an honest review, because let me tell you I could not wait to get my hands on this book. Din and Ana were already two of my favorite new fantasy characters, and the world building here is just absolutely impeccable, so with the addition of the Yarrow culture and Malo’s character, this world is just so vibrant. I could not put this down, reading until 2 in the morning because I had to know what happened next, and just like The Tainted Cup, I figured things out at about Din’s pace, so I was always guessing. I genuinely can’t say enough good things about this sequel, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out. In my opinion, one of the most exciting new fantasy series’ that has come out in at least four or five years!

Another outstanding addition to the thrilling adventures of Ana and Din. The murder mystery element was very nicely done, with a series of unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout (mostly wrongly!). The world-building further explores Ana and Dins evolving relationship, while also revealing more about the Leviathans and the Empires origin, rulers and it's people.

Fantasy/Murder Mystery is quickly becoming my favourite genre, and Robert Jackson Bennett masterfully blends the two genres with A Drop of Corruption, creating another page-turner that hooks you from the beginning and is a must-read for fans of both fantasy and murder mysteries!

A Drop of Corruption could be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading The Tainted Cup first.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Some time after the events of The Tainted Cup, the dynamic detective duo of Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol are summoned to the canton of Yarrowdale, a place perpetually damp and moldy, to investigate the strange disappearance and death of a Treasury officer from a locked room. Naturally, the findings of Ana and Din lead to far more questions than answers, and the investigation spirals into a complex web of mystery, twisting and turning every which way.

I enjoy mysteries, especially in a fantasy setting, and I will be the first to admit I almost never know what’s going on in a whodunnit. I am merely along for the ride, and any predictions I make are based purely on vibes. Thanks to this, I did get one tiny little prediction right, but aside from that, I was reading this to be swept along on the tale.

I truly loved the worldbuilding in this book. Yarrowdale is a canton that the Empire doesn’t control, at least, not yet. A century-long treaty is almost up, and when it expires, Yarrowdale will fall under rule of the Empire. The citizens of Yarrowdale all have their own opinions on what they want to happen with their home, and so too does the Empire, which is struggling to stay afloat while dealing with the Leviathans at the outer walls.

We also get more insights into the characters of both Din and Ana, as they navigate the mystery, their allies, and each other. Ana is funny and eccentric as always, making some truly baffling decisions at times that Din just sighs and goes along with. Din is on his own journey this book, grappling with decisions about his career and future, while also trying to solve an ever-increasing amount of problems during the investigation.

I never reviewed The Tainted Cup here, so I never shared my thoughts on the writing quality, but my feelings about it are similar to A Drop of Corruption. The prose and descriptions are so lush and sumptuous. I’ve said before that I typically only pay attention to prose if it’s really bad, or really good, and this is the latter. The world’s magic and structure is centered around plants, and the writing never lets you forget that. I can’t remember where I said this, if I’ve written it down anywhere at all, but the atmosphere is really reminiscent of some of the areas in the video game Hollow Knight, specifically Greenpath, and in this book, the Fungal Wastes. And if you want another series that does plant magic really well, I would recommend The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri.

A Drop of Corruption gets a solid 4.5/5 stars from me. I never wanted to put it down, the story and characters had me hooked from beginning to end, and I just really enjoy the prose, which is something I don’t say about books very often. I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series!

“A Drop of Corruption” by Robert Jackson Bennett, is the highly anticipated sequel to “The Tainted Cup” and the second installment in the “Shadow of the Leviathan” series. This novel continues the adventures of the eccentric detective Ana Dolabra and her assistant, Dinios Kol, as they tackle a perplexing mystery in the distant canton of Yarrowdale.

The narrative centers on the enigmatic disappearance of a Treasury officer from a locked, heavily guarded room—a classic locked-room mystery with a fantastical twist. As Ana and Din delve deeper, they uncover a complex conspiracy that threatens the Empire’s very foundation, particularly the high-security compound known as the Shroud, where the volatile magic of fallen leviathans is harvested.

As in “The Tainted Cup”, one of my favorite reads in 2024, Bennett seamlessly blends both fantasy and mystery. This book is Holmes and Watson in a fantasy world, with sharp humor and witty banter. The complexities of this mystery and growth of the world makes this even more satisfying than its predecessor novel and it’s fun to see the evolving dynamics between Ana and Din. 

Bennett’s skillful character development shines through, with Ana’s brilliance and peculiarities providing a sharp contrast to Din’s sardonic demeanor. Their partnership deepens, offering readers a compelling exploration of loyalty, duty, and the personal costs of unearthing systemic corruption.

“A Drop of Corruption” is a masterful continuation of the “Shadow of the Leviathan” series, delivering a richly woven tale that challenges its protagonists with moral dilemmas and intricate puzzles. Fans of the first installment will find this sequel both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving them eager for the next chapter in Ana and Din’s journey.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and Del Ray for the eARC.

I loved Bennett's book The Tainted Cup, with its excellent characters and incredible world, so I was delighted to jump right into this. It lives up to the first book of the series, full of clever plotting and mysteries to be solved, and continues its welcome depiction of disabled characters. It's a thriller, and the plot moves fast and furiously. Protagonist Din and his mentor Ana are asked to solve a locked-room mystery that quickly spreads and engulfs the local monarchy and government bureaucracy, dangerous harvests, and the stability of the Empire served by Ana and Din. We also get more info about the world, which I find fascinating, and about Ana and Din themselves. You'll probably want to read the first book before this one.

This was everything I loved from the first book!

That being said, it didn’t quite blow me away like book 1 did, maybe because I read the ebook instead of listening? or maybe because when I read The Tainted Cup I had never read anything quite like it and a sequel by nature isn't quite so new and fresh? either way I still loved it.

The setting and magic are incredible. I’m very interested to see where the story goes next and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a big time jump in the next book. I almost wish this wasn’t a trilogy so that we could keep getting episodic stories of Ana & Din solving crimes. Their dynamic is just as interesting as in book 1 & the new side characters (especially Malo) were fantastic.

Somewhere between a 4 or 5 but I'll round up.

An astounding addition to this vibrant world. The setting is vivid, organic, evolved; the people augmented; but the core of the story is human. I’m so interested in learning more about Ana and her history. Din’s character and perspective is so immersing to read through.

As with The Tainted Cup, RJB has carefully crafted every inch of this to create an experience for us readers. I’ve found that he does an amazing job of engaging all our senses when we read, saying scent, sound, imagery to build the narrative.

A stellar sequel for fans of the first brilliant book in the sequel. The worldbuilding is expanded on well and the characters continue to compel readers.