THE TAINTED CUP and A DROP OF CORRUPTION ratings: five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Robert Jackson Bennett’s world-building is rock solid in THE TAINTED CUP (Penguin Random House, 2024) and A DROP OF CORRUPTION (Penguin Random House, April 1, 2025). The Empire in his fantasy/mystery Shadow of the Leviathan series, with its three rings, grabs the imagination without being too overwhelming for the reader. I’ve had a lot going on, and a Tolkien-scale map would have been too much to handle right now.
Ana and Din (hereafter A&D) are essentially superheroes, with powers derived from leviathan blood. Ana is so brilliant that she wears a blindfold to limit the amount of information she takes in. Her assistant, Din, has a better than photographic memory, “engraving” events on his brain and recalling every detail flawlessly for Ana. Din also has “muscle memory” which enables him to slow time and choreograph combat moves in his mind, in a style reminiscent of Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes.1.”Sherlock Holmes” the movie was released in 2009, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” came out in 2011, and there are rumors of a possible third film; pass the popcorn.
Together, A&D are the special forces of the Iudex, the judicial system of the Empire. The leviathans from which the officer class get their powers are also the greatest threat to the Empire; they are gigantic, and getting larger. If the leviathans breach the wall and come inland, they will kill a ton of people, and any blood that these monsters spill in the melee will poison and mutate every living thing. Amid such chaos, it’s no wonder A&D are called upon to solve complex murders, and they must both take care not to be murdered or manipulated as everyone jockeys for power and the ability to live as far from the threat as possible before the next leviathan breach occurs. Waterfront property is anything but desirable. The will to power is a huge theme, as there are always evil people looking to exploit dangers for their own gain.
I loved the first book so much that I jokingly demanded the second book out of library cataloging the morning after I read the first one long into the night. And because the catalogers in Tech Services love me (and no patron had it on hold) I brought it home and gobbled A DROP OF CORRUPTION up like salted-caramel-filled dark chocolate, to find it better, if possible, than THE TAINTED CUP. All I can say in this sleep-deprived state is wow.
Reading in context:
Ana and Din (hereafter A&D) are the best detective duo I’ve encountered since Cutter and Bliss in Paraic O’Donnell’s THE HOUSE ON VESPER SANDS (Tin House/W. W. Norton, 2021, also mentioned in this blog), which effectively has a detective trio with journalist Octavia Hillingdon. Cutter, Bliss, and Hillington returned on January 7, 2025, in O’Donnell’s sequel, THE NAMING OF THE BIRDS. In A DROP OF CORRUPTION, A&D pick up a third on their team as well, and I hope Milo sticks around! Her super-senses are a great compliment to Ana’s genius (her exact “enhancements” are a secret) and Din’s memory and fighting skills.
Another great fantasy-mystery with unique world-building that I really enjoyed is DEATH ON THE CALDERA by Emily Paxman, due out May 27, from Titan Books/Penguin Random House. Thanks PRH, for the DRC! My standard review declaimer applies.
What I’m reading right now:
In a book hangover/slump after these two bangers; waiting for a book to call my name.