A DROP OF CORRUPTION - Robert Jackson Bennett


Investigator Ana Dolabra and her assistant, Dinios Kol, are called to Yarrowdale, a community at the far edge of the Empire, to investigate what appears to be an impossible crime. A Treasury officer disappeared, abducted from his quarters where the doors and windows were stilled locked from the inside and the entire building is under constant guard.

It doesn't take long before Ana and Dinios discover that they are investigating a murder when the officer's body is discovered. The murderer, it appears, has the ability to walk through walls and manages to stay at least one step ahead of Ana while targeting a high-security compound known as The Shroud. This facility houses some of the most brilliant minds in the Empire who work fastidiously to dissect fallen Titans in an attempt to harness the magic in their blood.

If The Shroud should fall to the unknown 'ghost' the entire Empire would be at peril as the Titan blood is what keeps the Empire in power.

If someone were to ask me who the best fantasy author is today, I would say Robert Jackson Bennet (and indeed I did recommend him to someone looking for Christmas gifts). I haven't read everything he's published (but I will), but everything I've read to date has been stunning.

We first met Ana and Dinios in the first book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, The Tainted Cup, and having them back for another mystery/adventure is thrilling. Lately Bennett has been publishing a number of trilogies, but I hope that the adventures of Ana and Dinios will continue far beyond three volumes.

Bennett's world-building is exemplary. I don't think there's anything in his worlds that we might realate to our present world, and yet somehow he makes his worlds real and comfortable (comfortable in that the reader is made to feel right at home - but his worlds are UNcomfortable in their tension and conflict (which of course makes for exciting storytelling).

Then Bennett gives us truly unique characters. The abilities that Ana and Dinios have are ... well, I could use a thesaurus, but 'unique' just fits the bill. I could easily encourage anyone to read this just for the CTPP quotient (that's "Cool Things Per Page"). What Ana discovers here and what Dinios has to go through, is riveting. 

So, exemplary worlds and outstanding characters ... all that's left is a plot that can hold the readers attention, and Bennett excels here, too. "Locked room" mysteries present a real challenge for a writer, and when done well, a delightful challenge for the reader. Of course this locked room mystery takes a pretty quick turn, but the discovery of what's happening seem to be always just slightly out of reach. Of course this makes it exciting as well.

I don't think you need to have read The Tainted Cup to enjoy this book, but you'll have wanted to just because both books are so good. 

Looking for a good book? Robert Jackson Bennett's A Drop of Corruption is the second book in his Shadow of the Leviathan series. Anyone who enjoys good, powerful fantasy and anyone who enjoys a locked room mystery, should give the book a read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

* * * * * *

A Drop of Corruption

author: Robert Jackson Bennett

series: Shadow of the Leviathan #2

publisher: Del Rey

ISBN: 9780593723821

hardcover, 480 pages

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