Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett Series: Shadow of the Leviathon #3
Published by Ballantine, Del Rey Books on August 12, 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilled, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos.
To deescalate matters, someone must do the prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him.
It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side—and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene.
As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal.
But even Ana's uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead--with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton's wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.
I have really loved all the books in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. I chose the ebook version again even though I have been purchasing the audio versions. I am excited to read this author’s backlist also.
The world and characters are rich with complexity but it is easy reading. I love the mysteries and the cleverness. We continue to learn more about Ana and Din also. The pace was comfortable and kept me engaged, even in a longer book. They are back in part of the world Din is familiar and his sister is part of the story.
This fantasy world has augmented human, political classes, and huge monsters. We learn about some of the different types of augmentations which also divides them somewhat into the kind of work they perform. Travel between regions seems to take time and they travel by cart or by horse. People seem to only be knowledgeable about their own area and not well traveled unless they are more wealthy or travel for work. But usually investigators do not travel and stay in their own region.
Thee is more history and sort of mythology in A Trade of Blood. It’s a bit tragic how two families have fought back and forth in their business to be the wealthiest and take everything from the other family. These scientific discoveries are huge and allow them to have great business. Now it appears the last heir of one has murdered the daughter of the other family. They had been seeing each other secretly for at least a year.
Din does not really want to reconnect with his family. He is also worried about his own aging. But he goes out and gathers the information so Ana can figure out the solution. It’s a sad, sad mystery perpetrated by greed.
This series is excellent and I really hope for many more books. There is much to learn about this world and Ana and Din themselves.
About Robert Jackson Bennett
Robert Jackson Bennett is a two-time award winner of the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel, an Edgar Award winner for Best Paperback Original, and is also the 2010 recipient of the Sydney J Bounds Award for Best Newcomer, and a Philip K Dick Award Citation of Excellence. City of Stairs was shortlisted for the Locus Award and the World Fantasy Award. City of Blades was a finalist for the 2015 World Fantasy, Locus, and British Fantasy Awards. His eighth novel, FOUNDRYSIDE, will be available in the US on 8/21 of 2018 and the UK on 8/23.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-COYER
Wonderful review! I pre-ordered this because the hardcovers are so beautiful. I wonder how long the series will be?
It can go on for years and I’ll just keep reading it.
I am waiting foe my copy
I hope you enjoy it!
Great review, Anne💜 Love when you can’t wait for the audiobook to continue a series.
Thanks Jonetta. I really like all the detail of the ebook for these.
This one struck me as very sad, too. Still, it was wonderful to get a new installment in the series. Great review, Anne!
Thanks Sophia. It made clear some truths about the greed and maybe a few too many parallels to real life in that way.
Hopefully they figure out who the real killer is.
oh yes, never fear. They always figure it out.
Ah! I’ve had this series on my TBR since the first book, and now there are three. I need to make time for these books. Thanks for the review.
My response got lost in the blog rollback. It’s a really good series I think you would really like it.
Anne…this is such an interesting series. You never know what is going to happen next. I kinda missed seeing more Leviathans though.
Ana and her strange traits are still wonderful to me. I’m a little worried about Din though.
Thanks Robin. I think my response to you got lost in the rollback. Anyway I really enjoy the series. We got a bit more on Ana this time and Din and his family. I like that. I eagerly await each book.
Re-commenting because of the host issues. I loved all the horror elements in this one.
Also new response after host issues. It really was horrorish but I enjoyed it with the mystery and favorite characters.
It was a sad book, wasn’t it? But I’m so impressed at how Bennett weaves all that complicated worldbuilding amongst the murder mystery. I’m sure this one is going to make my Outstanding Reads this year…
yes every book is impressive. Even with the details it is still easy to read too.
I loved this one! I agree, the story is rich and complex but easy to read even so. The story made me want to become a vegetarian! So similar to today and how animals are mistreated for greed!
Thanks Rachel. Well right now the vegetarian is challenging unless you can grow your own. Greed and corruption are a big problem.
Yes, and also the cut backs with oversight thanks to the idiot in power. Whatever I can’t get from my garden we’ve been buying at the local grocery store that stocks locally grown produce and they also sell local eggs from pasture raised chickens. I won’t buy eggs that aren’t from pasture raised chickens anymore after I’ve seen how they treat the chickens otherwise. Cage free doesn’t cut it. It’s insane how they can make it seem like they’re treating the chickens humanely with that phrase! I’m also looking into humanely treated chickens for meat as well. I heard Tyson treats their chickens very cruelly! And all this comes down to greed, too! It’s despicable!
Idiot in charge is accurate on many levels. As soon as they get a little power they exploit it. It’s really hard because many places even farmer’s markets or that aren’t actually local always. You live in a great area for it though.
Love the cover of this! And glad you’re continuing to enjoy the series. It’s also nice when we find an author we then need to go read the backlist for!
Thanks Lisa. It’s really a brilliant series.
Honestly…this series sounds like a great book for book club!
Maybe. It’s very detailed and complex but yet easy to read.