A Drop of Corruption

An Ana and Din Mystery Shadow of the Leviathan, #2

by Robert Jackson Bennett

432 pages

English language

Published April 1, 2025 by Del Rey.

ASIN:: B0D4HRSDSJ

(7 reviews)

The eccentric detective Ana Dolabra matches wits with a seemingly omniscient adversary in this brilliant fantasy-mystery from the author of The Tainted Cup.

“Wonderfully clever and compulsively readable . . . another winning blend of fantasy and classic detection.”—Publishers Weekly

In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, a Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—vanishing from a room within a heavily guarded tower, its door and windows locked from the inside.

To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial detective, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.

Ana soon discovers that they are investigating not a disappearance but a murder—and one of surpassing cunning, carried out by an opponent who can pass through warded doors like a ghost.

Worse still, the killer may be targeting the high-security compound known as the …

The eccentric detective Ana Dolabra matches wits with a seemingly omniscient adversary in this brilliant fantasy-mystery from the author of The Tainted Cup.

“Wonderfully clever and compulsively readable . . . another winning blend of fantasy and classic detection.”—Publishers Weekly

To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial detective, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.

Ana soon discovers that they are investigating not a disappearance but a murder—and one of surpassing cunning, carried out by an opponent who can pass through warded doors like a ghost.

Worse still, the killer may be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud, where the Empire harvests fallen titans for the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.

Din has seen his superior solve impossible cases before. But as the death toll grows and their quarry predicts each of Ana’s moves with uncanny foresight, he fears that she has at last met an enemy she can’t defeat.

1 edition

heavyboots reviewed A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Shadow of the Leviathan, #2)

Even better than the first one

5 stars

In a weird Empire whose basis is genetic change wrought by titan’s blood and uniting to hold back these same monstrous titans as they try and migrate out of the sea annually, Ana and Din are a Sherlock and Watson pair, sent to solve crimes and dispense justice across the Empire.

This story sees them actually outside the Empire itself, where the titans’ blood is extracted, delving into an incomprehensible crime whose ramifications gradually become Empire-threatening if the criminal is left unchecked.

Absolutely great stuff, and even better than the first in the series in some ways. And the afterword by the author shows just how intentionally he has tackled certain subjects, which is also extremely impressive. I loved every word of it and hope he has a 3rd story in him of equal caliber!

matthewmincher reviewed A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Shadow of the Leviathan, #2)

Also great

5 stars

I loved the first one - this one only slightly disappointed but was still a great read. Ana and Din are great characters, and there's some good development and interactions between them here.

Introduced a potential (and relatively inevitable) Moriarty type character which escalated the stakes. The worldbuilding continues to be stellar - just the right mix of fantasy anchored in familiar concepts.

The mystery of this book was a little disappointing, but it was made up for by the series level plot advancements.

It felt smaller scale and more contained than the first book, and I kept waiting for it to kick up a gear and unfortunately it didn't, really. Still - great - and I look forward to the next.

Andy P.

rated it

April 9

chris b

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April 21

chris b

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April 21

Erik Thor

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April 22

Daniel Andrlik

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April 30