I love, love, loved the first book in this series, The Tainted Cup. It was wildly original, super well written, and just a blast of fun to read. I can honestly say the same thing about A Drop of Corruption. The world-building in this series is immense, but so well done that you really don't think about it too much. You take in what you need to know at just the right pace, and aren't left floating about in confusion. The Leviathans in question don't appear alive in this book, but their shadow and threat still covers the world and plot.

Ana and Din are fabulous main characters, and the reveal at the end about who (and what) Ana really is was SO well done. It paid off, and I am now anxiously awaiting the next entry in this series. I hope this one is longer than a trilogy, because the way that these books are written means that this could be a nice lengthy series if Bennett so chose. Feels almost like a fantasy Sherlock Holmes sort of deal.

I spent the whole book thinking I had the mystery figured out, but I was entirely wrong. Of course. I'm not that intelligent. BUT STILL. So enjoyable, and I can't recommend this one enough. Easily five stars!

Just finished the ARC copy of this and thought I’d share my review.

Firstly, I’m a tainted cup mega stan. I love the book and recommend it everywhere constantly, it’s a straight 5* for me so I was super excited for book 2. Book 2 definitely delivered but it’s not TTC level and I didn’t expect it to be.

In DoC we follow our two main characters from the first book but also a new character, Malo, an augmented warden who’s got enhanced senses of smell, vision and a very muscular right arm (clean your mind). A man has being murdered, only discovered because the flesh eating turtles already had their fill on other corpses, floating out the empire satellite state of yarrow. Upon investigating this murder, our detective trio discover a body overcome with mutation, growing a tree from the stomach, fish bones from the back and facial overgrowths. It appears they’ve rapidly undergone massive mutation but nothing we know of in the empire can do this. Could this be connected to the shroud, the source of all the empires reagents or is this a wild outpouring of contagion?


In my review of TTC I mentioned how the book feels somehow low stakes even though the world might end. In this book, that feeling is gone completely. It feels very high stakes throughout the entire book, a sense that the entire world could collapse through politics, contagion or just the empire losing its reagents and thus its power. I really enjoyed Malo’s character in this. I feel like in a lot of fantasy books the core struggle the characters face ultimately sources to them being incompetent but here all the characters are exceptionally competent, it’s a battle of wit, strategy and intelligence.

I truly do not know what to say about the ending/epilogue and I’m not talking about the resolution of the case. Iykyk what I’m talking about but I feel like this series could spin into a hundred different alternate universes based on the ending alone so I truly have no idea where the story is going from here. The ending to the actual case I really enjoy and it all made sense with what is drip fed to the reader along the way.


Ultimately, I gave a 4*, will buy the physical and will preorder the next in series.

This ARC was provided to me through NetGalley and the publisher, Del Rey. Thank you for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I received this ARC I cried. I loved the world and characters of the Tainted cup and couldn't wait to jump right back into it. Following Ana and Din, we are now in the country of Yarrow. This country has not become a part of the Empire but is used for the processing and distribution of Leviathan's blood.

In this politically strained country there has been a person found but not in a state they expect. As they go on this journey they make new friends, try new food (*gag* ifykyk) and solve a murder?

Overall this book was solid. I enjoyed the twist and appreciated that I did not see that conclusion coming. I loved the exploration of the medical/science aspects of this world. Our characters continue to deliver on their hilarious banter.

The resolution of this mystery was a bit bland and I understand why the author decided to go that way however my only wish would have been to make it a bit more interesting and a little less simple.

I will be continuing with this series and I hope it never ends. I have preordered this and can't wait to have the physical copy.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I have read[book:The Tainted Cup|150247395] the first book in this series and I recommend reading them in order. I think #2 still makes sense by itself, but it's nice to have the background of the first book. I don't read a lot of fantasy, but this one is really interesting with the science and powers that each different type of being has. I find it interesting how they can all work together with their different super powers instead of being jealous or weird about it. A thoroughly enjoyable book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review!

To say I was extremely ecstatic to have been approved for this e-arc is an understatement. The Tainted Cup is one of my favorite books and to be allowed back into the world early again was a DREAM. I found myself immediately enthralled by the extremely well-crafted and smartly written world. Not only were we given another highly detailed mystery that so neatly is resolved in the end, but were given a deeper glimpse into the backstories of both Din & Ana. The revelations surrounding Ana, that were revealed near the end of the story, were so intriguing. I cannot wait to see where the story goes with that. All the characters felt extremely well fleshed out and were highly enjoyable to read - especially the "villains". Malo is a new favorite and I just adored how she interacted with Din & Ana. The story had me both cringing with disgust and laughing out loud in the same turn.

I can say after this one I am firmly entrenched in the Shadow of Leviathan world and I cannot wait for what's to come.

Bennett’s previous novel, The Tainted Cup, was one of my top fantasy reads of 2024. The book brought to mind the classic detective stories of Rex Stout, featuring the brilliant detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin. The dynamic between Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol proved just as engaging. Plus, because this is a fantasy series, the crimes and mysteries they face are far more intricate than those found in realistic detective fiction.
A Drop of Corruption is just as thrilling as the first novel. The action shifts to a new region of the world, where Ana and Din investigate a crime that, as it turns out, is tied to big politics. Bennett keeps readers on the edge of their seats throughout and expertly delivers a satisfying conclusion to the investigation.
I also want to mention that Bennett has created a unique fantasy world, which he explores in even greater depth in the second book.

great addition to the world our author has created. good characters and a great story. this is better by far than many I've read lately. I look forward to more stories of this world

This was just... okay. I still maintain that the biggest strength of this series has been its world-building and development and that is continued in this book. I'd argue it's not quite as sprawling as the first book, but there's definitely a lot of fun to be had in seeing how the author continues to build on the world he's created.

However, there were a few things in this book that lessened my enjoyment as compared to the first one. For starters, I feel like the central mystery in this one was a little repetitive and slightly less satisfying of a conclusion. I think a large part has to do with the fact that the culprit was more or less identified pretty early on so it was more of a case of finding him. While cat-and-mouse chases can be satisfying, the actual character was slightly less interesting to me and aspects of that character made the chase less satisfying as a result.

Secondly, I feel like Din didn't get quite as much character development in this book. He felt a little static throughout. He's definitely hurting, which I get, but I'd hoped to see a bit more of a change that I didn't quite get.

The last two things are both related, so they're getting lumped together: because Din's hurting a little from being separated from his love interest in the first book, he ends up finding other people to soothe that hurt. That's valid--bro is pretty pathetic (and I say this with all the affection in my heart)--it's just that the author introduced a new... aspect to Din's abilities that kind of made me roll my eyes. Apparently, his abilities can trigger during sex and that makes him like SO good at it. If that had been the only thing, I would've just rolled my eyes and moved on. (Although, I find that I don't know if that quite works with some of the things the author's previously established with Din's abilities. Like, wouldn't having multiple partners actually overwhelm Din and actually make him kind of bad at sex? I guess if it's the smell of someone's specific sweat, then maybe? I guess? But I don't think that was made entirely clear in the text.) Unfortunately, the author also decided to be "funny" by also saying that Din... has a big "wick". I'm sorry, but 1. not everyone likes that and 2. not everyone enjoys penetration, so... what was the point??

I realize not everyone is going to be as annoyed by this as I am, but it definitely stood out. I'm just really tired of this trope. It would've been okay if it was just one or the other. Both together, though? Nope, that's a bit too much for me, thanks.

Overall, this was just... fine. I liked certain reveals for certain characters and I think the world-building is still so very fun. I'm definitely going to continue with this series. It's just that this book in particular felt like a very mid edition to this series.

4.5⭐. The Tainted Cup is one of my favorite books of 2024 so getting to read this book so soon felt like an early Christmas present. A Drop of Corruption continues so many of the things I loved about The Tainted Cup and also gives us more information about Din and Ana that I can't wait to see develop in the future. Robert Jackson Bennett continues to build a perfectly blended fantasy/mystery series. We get to explore a different part of the world in this book, which led to learning more about the world and politics. I really enjoyed Malo as a new side character and hope we get to see her pop up again in the future. I found the mystery to be more complex this time around but there were still little seeds planted along the way that had me putting at least some of the pieces together. Ana continues to be my favorite character - she had me laughing out loud multiple times - and I loved learning more about her backstory. Now to impatiently wait for the third book.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s A Drop of Corruption is a masterpiece of fantasy-mystery, blending intricate world-building with a compelling whodunit plot. Following Ana Dolabra, an eccentric and brilliant investigator, the novel takes us to Yarrowdale, where an impossible crime—a locked-room disappearance—turns into a high-stakes murder mystery. The story weaves tension as Ana and her assistant, Din, face a seemingly omniscient adversary who stays one step ahead at every turn. With themes of power, magic, and cunning, the book keeps you guessing until the very end.

Bennett's sharp writing and the dynamic between Ana and Din make this a standout in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. If you love intelligent mysteries with a dose of dark magic, this is absolutely for you! Perfect for fans of The Founders Trilogy or those who crave fantasy with a strong investigative twist. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the author and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy.

Typically, a writer's chosen genre and style necessitates sacrifice. A character study isn't as concerned with pace. A thriller uses flat secondary characters to keep the plot moving along. A fantasy novel sometimes allows the worldbuilding to eclipse internal motivations.

RJB is able to balance all fictional considerations without giving into the sacrifices. He is a sharp writer, especially when it comes to the setting. It doesn't matter if he's describing a small plant or the hierarchy of a decaying empire; every detail is well-considered and intriguing. The characters are given time to adapt and mature throughout the story (driven primarily but not exclusively by the main duo). Throughout, he sprinkles in humor, political discussions, and well-paced action scenes to keep the mystery from getting stagnant.

Now, that isn't Faulkner or Dostoyevsky, but it doesn't have to be. It's exactly what it claims to be: a big-hearted fantasy novel with excellent character development, an immersive setting, and a satisfying ending.

A Drop of Corruption by RJ Bennett, published by Random House Publishing Group is the second book in Shadow of Leviathan. The previous book is The Tainted Cup and I recommend to read the books in order.
A fantastic fantasy-thriller that had me from start till the very last page. Intriguing, literally unputdownable, 4,5 stars.
Blurb: The brilliant detective Ana Dolabra may have finally met her match in the gripping sequel to The Tainted Cup.
In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, an impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—abducted from his quarters while the door and windows remained locked from the inside, in a building whose entrances and exits are all under constant guard. To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.
Before long, Ana’s discovered that they’re not investigating a disappearance, but a murder—and that the killing was just the first chess move by an adversary who seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and who can predict every one of Ana’s moves as though they can see the future.
Worse still, the killer seems to be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud. Here, the Empire's greatest minds dissect fallen Titans to harness the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the destruction would be terrible indeed—and the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.

An amazing read. A drop of corruption will keep you guessing to the end. The world in this book is unlike anything I have read before and am eager to read more.

I liked this book, just not as much as the first in the series. I actually didn't even realize the second book came out and I was reading it, until I started noticing it was reading exactly like a book that I read before. After checking my Goodreads, I quickly discovered it was the second book.

This book reads similar to the first one, but follows a different mystery and crime. I think the first one had more fantasy surrounding the mystery and I liked that more. This book just seemed to be missing something that the first one had. And, again, I'm comparing this to the first book that I absolutely loved!

It was in no means a bad book. It was entertaining and the mystery was exciting to read about, but at times, I struggled to keep reading. I lost some interest and found myself reading just to finish it. I still think mystery and fantasy lovers will enjoy this book though.

Another great book by Robert Jackson Bennett!
Ana and Din, the Iudex investigators from the first book in the series, return and travel to the kingdom of Yarrow. Yarrow is soon to become a part of the empire due to an agreement between the King of Yarrow and the Empire. Din is sent to yarrow to investigate the disappearance and murder of a Treasury official of the Empire. Later, Ana arrives to lend her expertise. The investigation proceeds and the storyline becomes very detailed and complex. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Ana is just as mysterious and offbeat as she was in the first book! If you enjoy a good fantasy/ mystery, add this to your TBR list!

Thank you to for letting me read an ARC of this book.

As soon as I finished the first novel, I was itching to read this sequel. I think I liked the first novel slightly better but I did love how much more world building this sequel has. This author is phenomenal at world building!

Another excellent read from the master storyteller, RJB. I was so delighted to return to the world of Din and Ana! It's grim and a little gory, but it's filled with so much heart and hope -- the afterward was particularly moving, given the current state of the world.

I love the relationship between Ana and Din. Their banter never fails to make me laugh, and I appreciate how Ana lets Din find his own way while still subtly guiding him with hints and clues. Her own backstory has me so intrigued, that even if I didn't like anything else in the book, I would keep reading the series just for that.

I would be remiss in this review by not touching on the world building. It's absolutely insane, the level of detail given that this isn't a particularly long book. So many fantasies gloss over the little things, hoping the readers won't notice, and sometimes it works. But RJB doesn't do that. Everything has a reason for existing, and behind that reason is a glimmer of the history of the world. He gives us enough to make me say, "Oh, yes that makes sense," answering my questions without bogging down the plot.

And the pacing! It's snappy, and there's never a dull moment, even in the "down time" scenes that could otherwise be very boring. There's a purpose for every interaction and conversation, whether its to drive the plot forward or add a little more detail to a character, but there's never a scene that feels like a filler.

Overall, an excellent second book, and I'm so excited to see where this series goes next.

Picking up the sequel to a book you really, really adored is always both exciting and a little nerve wracking. What if it’s a let down compared to the lofty heights of book 1?

Happily, A Drop of Corruption is every bit as unique and wonderful as its predecessor! I absolutely devoured it and I was thrilled to learn more about our two main characters. The mystery was fascinating. The world this story is set in is so unique and continues to absolutely fascinate me.

Even better, I really enjoyed seeing the relationship grow between the two main characters and learning more about what makes Ana who she is… though I will say it’s just a taste that will pique your desire for more!

Can’t wait for Book 3!

Loved this!! With a little more flexibility now that the world is built, I thought it worked very well. I did sometimes struggle to remember absolutely everyone sometimes, but ultimately happy for the addition of Malo, who was wonderful.

I am interested to see how this series manages telling a larger story within these serialized chapters. Behind the larger world, I wish there was either more or less a connecting line with the previous installment—that may sound like a strange complaint, but the point is I think it could do to commit to either the Poirot/Miss Marple method of having books stand entirely alone, or make it a larger story with more of an overarching plot. BUT was very happy to learn more of Ana’s backstory!! Overall completely recommend

I have very little to say about this that isn't heart-eyed screaming, but I'll try my best.

This series just continues to be the most fun, and just utterly delightful to read. Everyone's favourite disaster bisexual Din is back (and even more of both a disaster and a bisexual), manically brilliant and eccentric Ana is here to teach more people that they should really be bowing to her, and there's another mystery that just begs for the sfx people behind Annihilation and Hannibal to take a whack at bringing this to some kind of screen. In short, if you loved the first book (and honestly, why wouldn't you?), then you'll love this one too.

There are so many highlights of this book, and first and foremost are Din, Ana, and their relationship with one another. We get some hints toward Ana's backstory here, and despite everything else going on, the heart of this entire story is the dynamic between Din and Ana. They bounce off each other so well and still are able to surprise one another (well, Ana is able to surprise Din, at least), and they're just such a delight together. And the supporting cast is so strong as well - I almost forgot to mention that, as Din and Ana are such forces of characters, but I felt the secondary characters were unique, complex, and contributed to the story.

Another standout across both books is the world building and the politics. The world is highly imaginative but more than that, the writing is so visual and does an incredible job of helping you picture it. This book adds more complexity to the politics of the world, as if they didn't have enough to deal with with just the Titans, c'mon. But this instalment does really add another layer to the lore and makes me want to know more.

Finally, the mystery! It's not enough to have fantastic characters and an incredible fantasy world, but we also get a twisty, well-paced mystery? Honestly, this series is SUCH a blessing.

I wouldn't recommend reading this without reading the first book, but I do love how each book wraps up quite nicely, no cliffhangers here. But that's not to say I'm not already impatiently waiting to devour the next book. This is quickly becoming one of my favourite series and I can't imagine that changing anytime soon.

Thank you to the publisher, Del Rey, and to NetGalley for the ARC.