Welcome to Litsy!

Just as soon as I started this one, I knew it would be a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. As much as I liked the first one, I liked this one even more. If you like your fantasy with a healthy dose of murder & mayhem & mystery solving, you‘ll likely enjoy this series. Fantastic setting (really great world building) & two absolutely wonderful characters who bicker & complain & sleuth their way to the truth make this a really fun read. Can‘t wait for the next one!

Fell in love with The Tainted Cup so I had to get quickly into the sequel - Drop of Corruption. This is like Holmes and Watson in a fantasy world which also has a complicated Empire, political, class and race issues and a variety of villainry. The relationship between Kol and Ana is full of sarcasm and sass. The mystery is complex and kept me 100% involved - its great world building, character driven, fantasy mystery. My catnip!

I really liked the first book in the series and am excited to start this one.

The series continues from a tainted cup. The mystery is still riveting, and I love the truly crazy female Sherlock. The series includes a side of politics of empire that is becoming more interesting in this second book of the series.
I am looking forward to the next book already! The audio book narrator is also very good, which always helps.

This book was full of twists and turns and just when I thought I had it, I got a new piece that confused and befuddled me which I love when an author does that. The world building I loved is still present & this time more expansive as we are taken to a new canton for a puzzling disappearance that is actually a murder mystery full of political intrigue, blood, and power that falls to Ana and Din to solve.
#popsugarreadingchallenge

And another book I like more in audio version. I was more indulged, more interested in the story and the characters as when I read the first volume in printed form. The world-building once again is astonishing.
The audiobook was a good companion while doing work and chores, and even though my mind was elsewhere every now and then, I had a good time with this book.

Oh, what a tricky mystery. There were plots within plots within plots. I loved it. This was one was decidedly darker than the first book but equally as good.

My #aardvarkbookclub books came today. This one is so pretty.

I was so excited for this book from the moment I finished the first in the series, and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2025 reads continued

Caught up with some non fiction TBRs

DOC - this sequel is just as good, if not better than TTC. I assume there will be a 3rd of this fantasy crime mashup sometime in 2026. V.much loving this series.

I found this completely riveting. I read someone critiquing it because they said the very idea of “Sherlock Holmes in a fantasy world“ doesn't work, and I think that's to miss the point of what this is: it's a homage to the idea of Sherlock Holmes, but it is very much not a retelling, it's imagining how this fascinating, wild, awful fantasy world might grow that kind of intellect, and what it might be used for. The worldbuilding is amazing.

I am furious that I have to go to bed instead of reading more!

I've read 15 chapters so far and though I have stopped a couple of times along the way, I never actually wanted to. It's grabbing my attention even when I've generally found that my attention is fragmented and messed up (too much going on).

starting top right: rec‘d a pkg from the ever-sweet @AmyG — thank you, I‘m so excited!! ♥️🥰

The next two, clockwise, are #aardvarkbookclub books for this month.. most excited for the tagged!! 🤩 @AardvarkBookClub (pic stolen from your Instagram page 🥸)

Some books bought at Barnes & Page 1 (local used/new) this past weekend….

And last, this yummy protein bar that tastes kinda like those chocolate covered marshmallows 🤤

A good coupl‘a days ☺️

First book was a five for me, this book is a four. Still love the world, still love Ana, there is a new character who I enjoyed. Half a point off because one aspect of the mystery was very obvious to me. Half a point off because Din in this book has a bit of a change in personality that I don't think was entirely justified. Will I read the next one, absolutely.

An amazing sequel! i loved it even more than the first one and that's saying something given how many times i've read The Tainted Cup! a solid ten stars from me! a definite must read series for anyone who loves Sherlock style murder mysteries, unique worlds filled with dangers never before seen, and thrilling adventures. a solid 10 stars from me!

Ana and Din are in Yarrowdale to investigate the disappearance of a treasury officer. What seems to be a locked room mystery that might be solved relatively easily, given Ana's skills, turns into more victims and a case of political intrigue.

The world-building continues to be good. Yarrowdale is not part of the Empire, but the Treasury officers working there are, which is why Din and Ana had to be called in. This means that there are some ⬇️

#KAL partially

Sitting outside her feline highness #GhostCat sits on my leg. I only have my phone, but it has a few books on it. It's just that I don't like reading on my phone. 🤦🏻‍♀️ First world problems.

#CatsOfLitsy

#ARC #MountARC #NetGalley

Exciting times! Just got approved for this on Netgalley. It's probably not my next up, because I have some other eARCs I want to get to soon, but I hope to read it before too long.

This is a fun fantasy mystery series. This is book 2. I would recommend starting with the first book.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Pub date is 4/1/25
#ARC #Netgalley

A thrilling, fantastic, amazing continuation from the first book, with an even higher stakes case to be solved with an enemy smarter than even the illustrious Ana. the dangers are intense, the suspects are ever growing, and the body count is getting higher. I am already desperate for the next book, and this will absolutely be on my re-reads list!