Spoiler-Free Review

A Drop of Corruption is book 2 in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. For my review of book 1, see below:

• Book 1: The Tainted Cup

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

What’s A Drop of Corruption about?

When a Treasury officer disappears into thin air, the Empire sends the eccentric Ana and her bemused assistant Din to uncover the truth – which may go deeper than they’d anticipated.

I love this dynamic duo.

There was much to love about this installment. A murder and a locked-room situation in a fantasy world, with a fantasy Sherlock-and-Watson duo leading the charge? Honestly, if Bennett keeps writing these books, I’ll keep reading them.

The character moments were the best. Whenever we had a chance to see a character be themselves or express something about their past, that was when it held my attention the most. And of course, the strange and eccentric Ana was the star of the show. Just as with book 1, I loved the dynamic between Din and Ana.

Speaking of characters, Malo was a great addition. Even as a side character, she had a distinct personality and background that made her a valuable contribution to the story.

This installment also seamlessly continued on the worldbuilding. I feel it’s rare to have such extensive fantasy worldbuilding in a story where grand wars and politicking are not the story, but instead a murder mystery. Just as with book 1, it’s a refreshing take on the mystery genre, because even while the characters are human with human motivations, the how involves new rules and logic and magic that we must incorporate into our theories.

The only reason my rating isn’t higher is that I found myself losing immersion sometimes, so I wouldn’t say I was necessarily compelled to fly through the chapters. Part of this may have been that, as an investigation, it felt like I spent a lot of time reading conversations as opposed to seeing any action or character development. And because a lot of information was relayed verbally this way, there was a deal of rehashing throughout. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for every reader, so just an observation.

Should you read A Drop of Corruption?

If you liked book 1, you’ll like this one too. If you like detailed fantasy worldbuilding with a seamless logic to it which impacts the mystery elements, this is for you.

While book 1 and book 2 are completely separate mysteries, book 1 sets up a lot of the world, magic, and characters. Reading book 2 without that foundation may be more difficult.

Mark your calendars: A Drop of Corruption releases April 1, 2025.