I’ve been pining away for this book since I finished The Tainted Cup last year and of course it didn’t disappoint. Sophomore novels in an ongoing book series are not the easiest task to complete and stick the landing, but Jackson Bennett makes it look easy. 

A Drop of Corruption runs about fifty pages longer than The Tainted Cup, and I suspect it’s because ADoC has to do the double duty of intense character work on Ana and Din as well as the intricate plot work involving a murdered Treasury officer, government secrets, and a shadowy opponent who confounds Ana at almost every turn. Since Din is our main protagonist, we are always privy to his characterization developments, which shift and evolve as the plot builds and the story unfolds; but Ana’s evolution as a character is driven almost harshly by the plot and worldbuilding, like she’s being backed into a corner. They’re both put through the wringer, physically. Emotionally? Well, it’s always a little hard to tell with Ana. With Din, though? He has some revelations. 

The plot looks straightforward, but as the book goes on there is just layer after layer and the whole puzzle becomes more and more complicated. For every problem solved, three more become apparent. The thing is? I found the whole book really predictable but didn’t care. I guessed plot points hundreds of pages ahead of time. Still didn’t care. I was having far too much fun with Ana and Din and loving the journey so much I couldn’t care less if I knew how the story would end. That’s how good this book is. 5⭐️

I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Stars Review/Action-Adventure/Adult Fantasy/Body Horror/Book Series/Dark Fantasy/Fantasy/Fantasy Series/LGBTQ Fantasy/Mystery/Political Fantasy