A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

Author : Robert Jackson Bennett

Book : A Trade of Blood

/ Fantasy , Mystery /

/ Shadow of the Leviathan Book 3/

Publication date : August 4, 2026

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Blurb:

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 spilt, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos.

To de-escalate matters, someone must do the impossible: 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.

My thoughts:

Absolutely brilliant and so addictive!

From the very first book, there's such a compelling and complex creativity in the worldbuilding, and I am utterly fascinated by the magic system he created. The world develops alongside the plot and the mystery in a way that feels natural; instead of overwhelming, it offers that alluring and giddy sensation of wanting more.

I was trying to solve the mystery alongside Ana and Din, but each time I thought I had a clue, there's a twist that pulls the rug from under my feet, keeping me guessing — and I loved every moment of it!

I can't count how many times the combination of Ana and Din made me laugh, and their chemistry remains one of my favourite aspects.

I loved The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption, but A Trade of Blood was even more in every aspect, and I was so delighted to return to this world and find it even more captivating than before.

Fantasy, murder mysteries, lush worldbuilding with a hint of horror — it just grabs you by the hand and doesn't let go until the last page.