I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Drop of Corruption (Ana and Din Mysteries, #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett Series: Ana and Din Mysteries #2
Published by Del Rey on April 1, 2025
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 461
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads
The brilliant detective Ana Dolabra may have finally met her match in the gripping sequel to The Tainted Cup—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.
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.
Din has seen Ana solve impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and Ana seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, he fears that his superior has finally met an enemy she can’t defeat.
The more I read of Bennett, the more I feel that he can do no wrong when it comes to his books. From The Divine Cities trilogy to The Founders trilogy, I’m in awe of the worlds he brings to life. This series is no different.
A Drop of Corruption starts off with Din and Ana heading off on a new adventure. And yet, it feels very different to Tainted Cup. Where the first book had us in a propulsive motion from the first page, Corruption has a slightly more relaxed pace. There is still a strong mystery present but now, we are given the chance to really understand the characters. As someone who likes character depth, this was a win for me!
Speaking of characters, I love the continued Holmes-Watson dynamic. Ana continues to be her eccentric self but now, we get more hints into her backstory. Din also reveals his complexity here, as he faces some real hurdles. Not only his financial struggles, but his struggle to find his purpose were very relatable to me.
The worldbuilding continues to expand and give readers more spectacular wonders to behold. The biological systems are so unique – and a little unsettling, too. The political intrigue and history of the Kingdom also drew me in.
My one critique here is that the mystery itself didn’t shine as much as in Tainted Cup. It was still well planned and executed, but the stakes didn’t feel as high. Nevertheless, I enjoyed trying to keep up with Ana and Din.
Overall, this was another fantastic read by Bennett and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. And if I’m being honest, I hope it never ends!
