Another amazing book! I love how unique this world is and how the mystery can be solved if you listen close enough. I didn't solve it, but I appreciate how it's possible!

The characters are unique in the second Sherlock Holmes and Watson-ish fantasy mystery. You don't normally get this sort of mash up of genre, but it works so well! I loved this sequel and highly recommend the series. The world expands and new features come up that play a key role in the story. I will never get enough of this series! Dinios Kol is a fantastic MC who deals with some of the most difficult people 😆

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC ebook!

A Drop of Corruption continues the adventures of Din and Ana as they solve mysteries throughout the Empire. This case takes them to the canton of Yarrowdale, which is on the outskirts of the Empire. A high ranking Treasury member is found dead, but no one knows how they could have left the tower where they were staying without anyone seeing, and with the room still locked from the inside.

As expected from RJB, the story is amazing. The worldbuilding is excellent, you get to learn much more about the Empire's history and its relationship with the surrounding nations. The mystery is great, and the Sherlock Holmes reveals by Ana are spot on. I actually thought this piece was an improvement over Book 1. It also delves into Din's emotional journey with his family and obligations and him finding his placed in the Empire.

My biggest stamp of approval is that RJB does a great job of keeping the mystery engaging, the whole book was gripping and kept me wanting to read more, while walking the fine line between telegraphing the reveals and having them be so out of nowhere it feels cheap. Sure, there were pieces I figured out before the book revealed it to me, but I got other pieces wrong, and never had the full story. For me, that's the sign of a good book! I hate when the reveal adds in new info I never could've guessed.

Overall, RJB delivers another enthralling read, and Book 3 can't come soon enough!

Great book, great series, great author! This series could be enjoyed by those who love fantasy as well as those who love mysteries. I really like the characters and hope that the author will write more in this world with these characters. This one kept me guessing as to who was behind everything, and it was very enjoyable.

I really REALLY enjoyed the first book in this series, and this one was even better (rare phenomenon). In this sequel, most of the worldbuilding was already done, so that we had more time to concentrate on the actual murder and on our two favourite detectives. I truly enjoyed this book, and would always like to read more from this author.

The sequel to The Tainted Cup builds on everything that made the first book great, and delivers even more of what I loved: a high stakes, super high fantasy setting with a mystery plot that’s genuinely clever and intricate. It felt a bit easier to get invested this time around, since we already know the world and how it works as well as the dynamic between Din and Ana. I still think the Sherlock Holmes comparison holds, especially since in this book we get to see a bit more of how her mind works as the layers of the mystery grow. I also really enjoyed Din’s arc in this one, he’s definitely becoming more unravelled, but in a way that’s fun for the reader (and not for Din). His backstory added some emotional weight and his perspective compared to Ana really sets the tone for the book. There were a lot of new side characters introduced and they were all compelling in their own ways. I really hope that some of them continue to appear as the series progresses. It made me feel so smart that I was able to predict portions of the mystery, but it was also so fun to see some of the bigger reveals that I had no idea were coming. Overall I think I liked this more than the first book and I’m really looking forward to what comes out next.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for this e-ARC that I chose to read and review

(As someone who couldn't finish the book I don't feel right giving it a 1★ since it wasn't a bad book hence why 3★.)

A Drop Of Corruption (Shadow of the Leviathan #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett is a fantasy whodunnit in which I sadly had to DNF at 46%.

I have had this book for two months now and I keep trying to go back to it, but for some reason I can't get into it. (I almost always finish a book under two weeks so two months of struggle is a lot for me.)

I love that there is lgbtq+ represention and I love the dark and gruesome detail added to the crimes. I also love the junglelike setting.

But for me, as much as I tried to like the world, it was hard to picture. Trying to understand everything that went within the politics of this world was hard to keep track as well. The pace is slow which is terrible for a reading slump. This is something comparable to the first book as well. Worst yet, I didn't care about MC nor felt compelled to care about anything in the novel.

If you like the classic detective mysteries mix with high fantasy, I do believe you will love this book. I have learned that I am not the biggest detective mystery fan and have been reading less high fantasy lately, so perhaps that adds to my dislike.

I appreciate Netgalley and Del Rey for giving me this opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review. I do see why people love this book, but this is why reading is so subjective. If you liked the first book and wanted to continue reading about the world and characters, I say go for it.

Robert Jackson Bennett gives us the further adventures of Ana and Din. There is murder, intrigue, lying, politics, scheming royals, power games, and many layers of secrets to keep/unravel. The mystery is challenging and unpredictable, the writing tight, and the characters are full of surprises.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC, apologies it’s late. I’m loving this series and hope there’s more! Not sure if this is what Jordan intended, but this gives me Holmes vibes and I love me a fantastical mystery. Very high fantasy, so maybe not the best for new to fantasy readers, but those deep in the trenches, this is for you!

So many times book 2 is just a builder book in a series and it suffers for it but not this book!
I love the Sherlock Holmes vibes in this one even more than the first.
The complicated web that the bad guy weaves and the way Ana and Dim work to figure everything out.
Ana and Din are the best duo and their dynamic only becomes more complex in this book.
I hope RJB plans to have many, many more stories with Ana and Din moving forward.

A Drop of Corruption - Robert Jackson Bennett
🪓🪓🪓🪓

*Spoiler-Free as Possible*

“I find myself in a storytelling mood, and I think I've a fascinating tale to tell. It is a story of corruption, betrayal, and murder”.

Murder mystery meets epic fantasy in RJB’s Shadow of the Leviathan series, and boy is book two is just as wild as the first. While we’re outside of the immediate dangers of the sea wall and the Leviathans, our story takes place in a part of the empire that might be just as, if not more, dangerous. A trivial disappearance grows into a terroristic threats that Din and Ana must solve the puzzle to stop in its tracks.

Though the focus is on Kol I can’t help but say Ana is my favorite character in the series at the moment. The absolute eccentricity that emanates from the page when she’s in the scene fills my heart with joy 😂. And me imagining her with Yzma’s voice from Emperors New Groove makes it even better. I’m just waiting for her to tell Kol to pull the lever. But not only does Ana bring some of the funnier moments in the book, she has her own darkness and mysteries that I want to learn about.

RJB teases us a little in A Drop of Corruption about Ana’s background and of the empire itself. We get more history of the empire and their ancestors, and I’m just craving more. I also need to know if my prediction of the Conzulate being the Leviathans is right or not. I need book three!! There’s this underlying condition in this series that’s just wanted to burst free with some overthrowing the government anarchy. I want this series to be more than 3 books to be able to explore more lore and politics.

Thank you Random House for sending me a review copy!

I’ll admit, I preferred the first book over this one. Not that the mystery in this installment was any less intriguing—if anything, it was even more entertaining in parts. We explored a new corner of this fascinating world, with fresh elements like the Shroud and the augurs (forgive me if I’ve misspelled that). I actually found myself more curious about the culprit and his whereabouts than I was in the previous book.

That said, I struggled to stay engaged. Despite my interest in the plot, I often found it hard to pick the book back up. Some sections felt slower than I’d hoped, and that really impacted my overall enjoyment.

The characters are still strong, and the dialogue remains witty and engaging, but I’m not sure that’s enough to carry me into the third installment. Still, I’d definitely be open to trying something else from RJB in a different series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Del Rey for the ARC.

RJB has charmed me again! A Drop of Corruption follows Ana and Din, the Sherlock-Watson duo, as they travel to the seaport city of Yarrowdale to solve a seemingly impossible murder. While A Drop of Corruption deviates from the traditional murder-mystery narrative, I think it works in the book’s favor. The audience knows who committed the crime halfway through the book, yet RJB manages to keep the intrigue alive and bustling. We know who the murderer is, but we don’t truly know who it is until the very end. The worldbuilding was weaved seamlessly into solving the mystery, and I once again found myself entranced by the universe that RJB created. Still, A Drop of Corruption is not devoid of parallels to the politics of our world. I applaud RJB for creating a fantasy that doesn’t let autocracies prevail in moral vaccuums, unlike many fantasy books today. I don’t believe I’m left quite as charmed as I was after finishing A Tainted Cup, but I am charmed all the same. I look forward to Ana and Din’s next adventure! 4.5 rounded down.

I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in it and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

4.5

I continue to love this series. The mysteries are truly top notch when compared to all of the other fantasy mysteries I have read. You can truly solve them yourself if you pay close attention, but they aren't easy by any means. The exploration of the world throughout the mysteries has been another thing I have been truly impressed by. Clearly, our characters have lived in this world longer than we, the readers have, yet by including different cultures, politics, and unknown characters we get a true understanding of how this world works without it feeling info dumpy.

The growth of Dinn and Ana's characters is very evident. Bennett has clearly taken time to really think through how the characters would grow in their careers but also with their interactions with one another. All of the characters have more going on than just the primary mystery, many of them have devastating backstories that we learn about throughout this tale. It makes them feel real and the stakes feel that much higher.

I can't wait for the next book!

One of my new favorite series! The second one lived up to my expectations!

It expanded the world with some answered questions, but also brought up new ones. I absolutely love the main character Din, and just want good things to happen to him, but it seems like stressful situations just keep happening. I hope he's able to get a little rest and peace of mind in the next book. This book had higher stakes and a new nemesis that seems to be the Moriarty to Ana's Sherlock. Ana, Din, and a few new faces must find the killer before realm-changing events occur. There were a ton of twists and a lot that you couldn't predict due to their world of augmentation, but a few that could be puzzled out. I can't wait for the next one.

Robert Jackson Bennett does it again. Absolutely loved the world building, characters, and the fantasy murder mystery!

“A Drop of Corruption” by Robert Jackson Bennett was one of my most anticipated releases of this year and it did not disappoint at all.
This world that Bennett has created is so imaginative, immersive and full of life that you do not even realize you are reading a book. I absolutely love Din and Ana and their quirky way of working together. I enjoyed the side character, Malo, a lot as well and hope we see her again in future books. I appreciated that this installment’s plot was different than book one and took us to a place outside of the Empire’s rule, that expanded the world building.

We are taken to the realm of Yarrow, a wild culture that is the last place that is not under the Empire’s thumb… yet. There has been a gruesome and impossible murder that only Ana and Din can solve. During their investigation, they uncover sinister plots in spades and a threat to Yarrow and potentially the Empire looms over their investigation. With the help of the Wardens of Yarrow, they must use all at their exposal to uncover their villain and stop this plan of mass destruction before it is too late.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys lush, descriptive story telling with a Sherlock Holmes style of deduction and crime solving.

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC Copy! 4.5 Stars rounded up because it deserves it.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series and was so excited to get my hands on this book, it took me a minute to get back into it and wasn't really feeling it when I first picked it t up, and that is not a fault of the book, I just knew that I wasn't in the right headspace for it at the moment, and I am so glad that I waited a bit to pick it back up, because the second time I absolutely flew though this book. It is not the typical fantasy that I am used to reading and that is one of my favorite parts. I love the characters so much and am I really enjoyed getting to know them more in this installment. Ana is such an eccentric sherlock like character that I just adore, and Din is growing more into himself as this story progresses. I am excited for the next installment in this series.

Robert Jackson Bennett did not disappoint with book 2 in this series! His characters are so unique and so fully developed that you are invested in them and their journey and relationship with each other. My only regret is that book 3 isn't out right now! Love it!!

Absolutely sensational, no notes. I loved the first book in the series and was skeptical about how good the second would be, how it would surpass the first but it did and how. The stakes are higher, the mystery is even more warped, and the ensemble of characters is absolutely intriguing.

A definite must read!!!