Another excellent installment in this fantasy mystery series. No middle book slump here! I want the next one ASAP.

This second book felt like a bit of a step down for me after the first. It follows a very similar blueprint—right down to a familiar disguise—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it did make things feel a little predictable. While the first book kept me intrigued from start to finish, this one kind of lost its footing around the halfway mark and never quite found its rhythm again. The villain pops up pretty early, and from there it turns into a fairly straightforward chase that, sadly, didn’t bring much excitement. Not a bad read, but it didn’t quite capture the same spark as the first.

A Drop of Corruption is a solid follow-up in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. It builds nicely on the first book’s world, expanding the political and supernatural stakes, though at a slightly slower pace. Bennett’s world-building remains immersive, with layered characters navigating corruption and hidden agendas. The characters continue to evolve, especially the morally complex protagonists.
Great for fans of layered, atmospheric fantasy.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. I was not lucky enough to get the first one but was so excited to get this one early to read, even if I read it after the publishing date. The world building in this series is phenomenal and I can never quite tell where the mystery is going to go though I know I am going to enjoy the ride, Seeing the evolution of the underlying mystery of exactly what the Empire was trying to achieve in "creating" someone like Ana and how Dinios continues to support her and learn more is compelling. If I could just read this all the way through in one fell swoop, that would be the best and yet I still require sleep. I highly recommend this! 4.75 stars.

It's SO difficult to craft a mystery that is difficult to guess at yet makes perfect sense upon reveal - I guessed a few of the minor details of the mystery ahead of the reveal and it made me feel so satisfied. Ana and Din are such a fantastic duo. When crafting Sherlock and Watson-esque characters, there's a temptation to make them dislike each other or to have them constantly at odds. But while Ana and Din may not be perfect friends it is clear they care for each other.

AND THE LORE!!! I love gaining knew lore about the world... RJB has done an excellent job crafting his Empire, and Yarrow did not disappoint. The author's note was extremely interesting to read, and I'm curious to see how that mindset may influence future books (please let there be another). Fantasy, mystery, and bisexuals. Everything you could possibly want in a series!

I've never enjoyed a fantasy series as much as I'm enjoying 'Shadow of the Leviathan' so far. 'The Tainted Cup' was a spectacular introduction to this world and easily one of my favourite reads from last year. It seamlessly blended a high-fantasy setting with a gripping murder mystery, which was elevated further by the brilliant, unconventional detective duo.

Given how much I loved the first book, I had high hopes for 'A Drop of Corruption', and I was pleasantly unsurprised to find that it not only matched but exceeded my expectations. Once again, Bennett has crafted an exceptional mystery with superbly executed plot twists. Every reveal feels both shocking and inevitable in hindsight — a testament to how well he constructs his narratives.

Din, our assistant investigator and bisexual disaster, is easily one of my favourite characters of all time. In 'A Drop of Corruption', we see him grappling with feelings of inadequacy in his work, questioning whether he is truly having an impact. This crisis leads to him making, shall we say, questionable decisions, which are all the more entertaining considering how emotionally repressed he is. I loved watching Ana gradually prove him wrong throughout the book; their dynamic remains the heart of the series.

The main thing missing from the sequel, and I'm sure many will agree with me, was Strovi. I completely understand why he wasn't present, given the direction of the plot, but I still found myself longing for his return. I can only hope he will be a prominent character in the final instalment.

Overall, 'A Drop of Corruption' is an absolute must-read if you enjoy murder mysteries and fantasy settings. I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

Ana and Din are back in another murder mystery and oh my, this one has surpassed my expectations and I love even more than I did the first book.

"Because you are a reasonably smart boy. I suspect you will come to realize what many Iudezii eventually learn - that though the Legion defends our Empire, it falls on useless to keep an Empire worth defending."

In my review for The Tainted Cup, I compared Bennett's masterful world building and magic systems to that of Brandon Sanderson's. That comparison still stands. A unique blend of fantasy and murder mystery, the mystery is full of twists and turns and red herrings without a singular dull moment. I am proud of myself for being able to deduce a good amount of the twists, but I love even more than a lot was left for me to discover.

"And all the world a savage garden, mindless and raging."

In this sequel we get even more insight into Din and his struggles. From his debt to his sleep deprivation, from his need to find validation and connection to his disillusionment in the justice system he is a part of. Ana is as always a delight. Bennett excels at his character work.

I honestly don't think I could ever get enough of this series and this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett is the second book in the Leviathan series. This book combines a cozy mystery with a fantastical fantasy world flawlessly. Ana and Din are utterly brilliant in their methodology in solving their latest crime. I found this one harder to put down than the first and am breathlessly awaiting the next book!

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett picks up right where The Tainted Cup left off, reuniting readers with Ana Dolabra and her assistant Din in a thrilling new mystery set at the very fringes of the Empire. A Treasury officer has vanished without a trace from a locked room under constant guard a seemingly impossible crime. As Ana and Din delve into the case, they find themselves racing against a cunning adversary with ambitions that threaten not just lives, but the very fabric of the Empire itself. Their foe seeks to harness the volatile magic blood of a fallen Titan and unless Ana and Din can unravel the mystery, the consequences could be catastrophic.

This was easily one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I absolutely adored The Tainted Cup, which landed firmly in my top five books of last year, so the sequel had a lot to live up to. When I saw A Drop of Corruption listed on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to request an ARC and to my delight, I was approved. I held off publishing this review until after release, as I wanted to the beautiful special edition from The Broken Binding in my hands to visually showcase on my social media. However enough of that let’s get into the review.

Robert Jackson Bennett wastes no time plunging us into another intricate mystery, one that not only ups the stakes but also deepens our understanding of the central characters. Din continues to grow in his role, struggling with his position as Ana’s assistant and questioning whether he’s doing enough for the Empire. His inner conflict around purpose and legacy adds emotional depth to the narrative. Meanwhile, Ana remains the brilliant enigma she’s always been but, in this instalment, we begin to uncover pieces of her haunting past and the magical alterations that have shaped her. Robert Jackson Bennett skilfully peels back her layers, showing a more vulnerable side of the cold and calculating detective. Even Ana finds herself tested this time, facing off against a foe whose intelligence and resourcefulness match her own a rare and refreshing twist that keeps the tension high throughout.

The themes of justice and moral accountability are front and centre in this novel. Robert Jackson Bennett explores the idea that no one, no matter their perceived importance or intentions is above the law. It’s a powerful message, woven seamlessly into the narrative without ever feeling heavy-handed. The pacing is relentless, lending an urgency that mirrors the danger our protagonists are facing. Every chapter pushes the story forward, and the inclusion of a map at the beginning was a great touch as it helps ground the reader in the new setting of Yarrowdale, a region beyond the Empire's borders with its own rulers and laws. This expansion of the world was fascinating, giving a glimpse into what life is like outside Imperial control and highlighting the broader political tensions at play.

Ana remains a standout character. She’s like a magical, eccentric Sherlock Holmes unpredictable, razor-sharp, and endlessly fascinating. Her deductive skills are mind-boggling, often piecing together complex truths from the smallest of details. What makes her so compelling, though, is that she’s not infallible. Unlike in The Tainted Cup, where she seemed always ten steps ahead, this time she’s forced to adapt, outmanoeuvre, and fight for every clue. I especially loved her witty retorts and her fearless ability to challenge even those in power with nothing but the force of law and intellect. Yet Robert Jackson Bennett balances her brilliance with genuine humanity, portraying her almost as a maternal figure to Din always protective, demanding, and quietly loving in her own way.

Speaking of Din, his arc in A Drop of Corruption is deeply satisfying. We see him wrestling with personal frustration, torn between duty and the desire to make a real difference. Haunted by his father’s debts and disillusioned by a system that doesn’t seem to reward righteousness, Din questions his path. Watching him slowly realise the importance of his role even if it lacks glamour and how it still contributes meaningfully to justice and change is one of the book’s most moving threads. His evolving bond with Ana is heartwarming and poignant, a found-family dynamic that adds emotional weight to the story. Their relationship feels like a mother-and-son bond, growing stronger and more complex as the novel progresses. It made me even more invested in their journey and more desperate for more books with these two remarkable characters.

One of the aspects I loved most was how Robert Jackson Bennett doesn’t simply focus on who committed the crime, but why. The motivation behind the mystery becomes the real heart of the narrative, and the slow unravelling of the antagonist’s true purpose is masterfully done. The villain is more than just a plot device he’s a mirror to Ana, equally brilliant and dangerous in his ideals. The back-and-forth between them creates a cat-and-mouse game that is thrilling to witness. There are genuine moments where it feels like Ana might lose, where the case seems unsolvable. These stakes and the sense that our characters are truly challenged make the conclusion all the more satisfying.

In short, A Drop of Corruption is a stunning follow-up to The Tainted Cup. It’s a gripping, fast-paced mystery wrapped in rich worldbuilding and deep character work. Robert Jackson Bennett has taken an already excellent series and elevated it with emotional depth, philosophical complexity, and genuine suspense. I truly hope this series isn't confined to just a trilogy as there’s so much potential for these characters and this world to grow. With the layers being added and the stakes rising, it deserves to span multiple books and build toward an epic, unforgettable conclusion.

https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/review-a-drop-of-corruption-by-robert-jackson-bennett-kbr

Having enjoyed Robert Jackson Bennett's Foundryside series, was keen to jump in to his latest, a foray into detective mysteries of old set in a fantasy world. This second entry in the series is not as strong as the first, but it continues to develop its compelling characters and a very comprehensive worldbuilding. Whilst the mysteries themselves could be better, its the two main characters that keeps you coming back to the series. Overall, a 4 out of 5... wouldn't call it amazing, but good enough to ensure I'll be looking out for the next entry. And that's saying something. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The Second Chapter of the Shadow of the Leviathan saga continues the work of Robert Jackson Bennett in trying to create a strange hybrid between Fantasy and Mystery. Here we observe an increase in world building and suggestions, with the representation of a whole new region I find intriguing for the similarities to locations like Indonesia or Perù, while never abandoning this mix of Eastern and African-like cultures for the description of the Empire. This sequel, in the name of “A Drop of Corruption”, gives more attention on political autocracy, trials to overthrow the order and the necessity of working for who we find are not right, never however exploring the consequences but ending the whole with only the resolution of the case. Even this time, in a similar way with the previous book, the balance between the two souls of the narrative is still not manifested, with the overabundant style of writing and of representation of the scene never helping the interest of the reader.

FINAL VERDICT: ⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!

Robert Jackson Bennett delivered another incredibly clever and well constructed story in the Ana and Din universe. The characters are outrageously good and the world building is very good. I always worry that a second book in a series is often a less engrossing read than the first but this is simply not the case for ‘A Drop of Corruption’. In fact, it’s even more intriguing, mysterious, tense and makes a wonderful addition to the Shadow of the Leviathan series.

Ana and Din find themselves back to trying to solve a most impossible locked room crime against the backdrop of an eclectic and dangerous city. With no shortage of potential enemies and increasing danger they find themselves trying to unravel a complicated mystery. The magic of this second novel is learning more about Ana and Din, which as their characters develop, means they are more endearing than ever. This is such a great series and I cannot wait to follow these characters to their next challenge.

A Drop of Corruption is a smart, twisty follow-up to The Tainted Cup that totally delivers. Ana and Din are such a great duo, and the murder mystery kept me guessing the whole way through. The world is strange in the best way, and Bennett somehow makes biopunk fantasy feel effortless. If you liked book one, you’ll love this!

This book was better than The Tainted Cup. It was high fantasy with so much detail, and I could feel the tense atmosphere throughout.

There are a lot of complex characters in this book, but Din and Ana remain my favorites. I love their banter and comfortability in their relationship which I feel keeps evolving into found family.

I cannot wait for the third book to be released! Though I suppose I have to wait about a year.

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

4.75⭐️

I enjoyed A Drop of Corruption even more so than A Tainted Cup! This whimsical, yet gripping murder mystery takes many twists and turns as we try to unmask our true villains.

The fact that RJB is so successfully able to keep the reader on their toes with the whodunnit while exploring a refreshingly unique fantasy world and very slowly peeling back the layers of our two main characters, is a testament to his skill as a writer.

The plot felt complex, filled with twists and turns you would expect from a whodunnit, and is expertly woven, putting in the same class as a Sherlockian novel. I struggled at times to keep up as I was mainly doing the audio, but once I switched to immersion worked much better for my brain. I loved the audio narration and would recommend it as an immersion read for those interested.

Ana is absolutely hysterical to me, and I love her and Din’s slowly deepening (platonic) relationship. They so clearly care and respect each other and navigate each other’s neurodivergence and queerness in a subtly beautiful way. I loved Malo as our new character, and I hope we get to see more of her in future books. While I was happy to get more character work with both Ana and Din, and maybe Robin Hobb has spoiled me, but I still wanted to explore more of them both. I’m hoping this is something that we will slowly get more and more of throughout however many books RJB plans to write.
I love how through Ana and Din we get to explore the importance of Public Service work, and the immense value of those who “fight the good fight” to keep people in power in check. I think my one other small criticism that I hope will also become clearer, is the characters (and authors) ability to critique their Empire, and the nature of empire. This book spends a lot of time critiquing the neighboring monarchy, and the evils of having Kings, while having less introspection on their own Empire in comparison than I wanted. The Authors Note at the end did a fantastic job tying our world’s rise in autocracy to the Corruption we see here, and so I hope this theme will become more forward in future books instead of coming off a just a tad “pot calling the kettle black”.

I eagerly await more from this world and am excited to check out RJBs other works!

3.5⭐️ I knew I would enjoy this!!⊹₊⋆

I had a great time reading this book. Especially in the beginning, when the mystery was fresh and the story was panning out for the reader, RJ Bennett can capture his audience! It feels like watching an episode of your favourite crime series, but make it fantasy ⊹⋆𓍊𓋼𓍊𓊝𓄹𓂃 which is so fun. Even though I liked the first book a bit more than this one, I must admit this series has so much to offer and such detailed world-building! I am in awe of how much work has gone into writing this series. Every chapter, every hidden message, politics, rankings, ability, magic, etc., has been well thought out and written!

Also, I liked how the mystery in this book felt like it was on a greater scale and much grander, with a solid answer by the end. Even though the pacing dragged out from 30% through, and I was able to guess most of the twists, nor did I feel surprised by the reveal of who'd done it, I was still hooked from the 70% mark again and couldn't put the book down until I finished it!!!

In this book, we have a new character, Malo, who is introduced at the beginning of the book. An augmented werden _as called in this world _is an individual who has enhanced senses of smell and vision. She is probably my favourite character in this story! Her presence made so much sense in the story and made it more enjoyable and engaging for me. She felt more like a main character to me than a side character. The missions and quests Malo and Din went through in this book were also much more high-stakes. The overall atmosphere felt more high fantasy than TTC, with more politics involved and a sense that the "end of the world" is coming and the whole empire might collapse faster than ever.

This series is usually compared to the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson duo; however, for me, this feels like a completely different dynamic between the two characters. Are they two smart characters working together? Yes. Does one feel more socially awkward than the other? Yes. Is Ana as smart as Sherlock? Hmm, I don't feel that. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦/𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵! Albeit a genius at work! Is she cool to read about, and do I enjoy her as a detective solving crimes? Yes, very much! So I guess what I want to say is that I'm a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes stories, this story feels like a completely different team with different characteristics, and I think it should be enjoyed for that!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group—Del Rey and Netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review! #ADropofCorruption #NetGalley

Just as twisty turny as the original. Fun world building in taking the author’s weird mold and mushroom based world as the norm and making a traditional medieval stone castle the weird little subculture. I feel like the author does a good job of making me feel smart and allowing me to figure stuff out a few pages before the protagonist.

I was basically obsessed with the first book in this series, so of course I was more than a little excited to read the second one. And I'm happy to report that "A Drop of Corruption" is as amazing as I hoped, even though I liked the first book just a bit more.

We return again to Dinius Kol, Iudex assistant to the brilliant and mysterious investigator Ana Dolabra. I adored their relationship in book 1 and it continues to be the heart of the books, even though Din still dreams of leaving the Iudex to join his lover in the fight against the mighty Leviathans. Protecting people from monsters is, after all, so much more bombastic than investigating crimes committed by horrible people.
The crime this time leads the two of them to Yarrowdale, a city very different from what we experienced in book 1. The hostile nature of this old and storied place at the very borders of the empire creates a very unique atmosphere that adds to the intriguing mystery that is presented to us: A treasury worker of the Empire has been abducted and killed in an absolutely impossible manner that noone can explain, so of course the Empire sends the one investigator specialised in solving impossible and inexplicable crimes. It's a great and layered mystery that keeps you guessing all throughout, though it's not the kind of mystery that wants you, as the reader, to figure out the clues yourself. It very much relies on Ana's brilliance once again, and while I can absolutely see this dynamic going stale at some point in the series, her characterisation and Din's experiences keep that from happening for now. While Ana is the star of the show, Din remains an amazing protagonist with deep issues and insecurities, and I enjoyed that he more and more starts to question the Empire's choices and way especially when it comes to his own identity within it. I also loved Malo as a side character and hope to see more of her in future instalments, same with Kepheus though I do think the chances are a lot slimmer in this case.
There's also a depth of themes woven into the world-building and the narrative, and I especially recommend actually reading the author's note of this one (not that I ever think you shouldn't read those). "A Drop of Corruption" does vehemently and cleverly criticise autocracy and the love for it in the fantasy genre, where kings and gods and their divine rule are beloved genre staples.

So yeah, there's a reason I bought RJB's entire backlist after falling in love with "The Tainted Cup", and this second book in the series proves me right. His writing and structuring of his stories just really work for me and I absolutely loved every second of reading this book.
Cannot recommend highly enough.

Quick Thoughts Reviews

📖 what’s a letter that starts with W E D N E S D A or Y that describes your day so far? For me, it’s struggling, as in, struggling to figure out what to wear 🤣. I have changed my outfit three times & I’m about to go back for a fourth.

🌼 Broken Souls & Bones has a lot of potential on the romance front: forbidden attraction, betrayal, secrets. The fantasy parts, though, are a bit hard for me to follow. Still, if you’re in the mood for a solid introductory book with 🔥& a cliffie, you might want to read this one. 4 ⭐️, out 04/29. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.


🌼 A Drop of Corruption (part of the Ana & Din series) is book 2 of a Sherlock Holmes re-telling with a whip-smart, mysteriously augmented Sherlock & a Watson who’s both part & not-part of it all. This series is fantastic, you all. The mystery & the character development are there; a perfect combo. 5 ⭐️, out now. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)


🌼 A Fate Forged in Fire has a secret princess heroine with a temper, a marriage of convenience, & dragons! The vibes in this one skew a bit too dark for my taste, but this will make a super satisfying fantasy for someone! The tension between leads is a big part of their dynamic. 3.5 ⭐️, out 05/27. (Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

JUST as good as book one, I may even prefer this one, because I was already familiar with the world and the missing person case was more intriguing to me personally.
I love that even though we are in the same world we get a very unique new setting. I could follow the MCs through case after case and would not get bored. Highly recommend you check this series out if you haven´t already.