Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

The brilliant detective Ana Dolabra may have finally met her match in the gripping sequel to The Tainted Cup—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

In the canton of Yarrowdale, at the very edge of the Empire’s reach, an impossible crime has occurred. A Treasury officer has disappeared into thin air—abducted from his quarters while the door and windows remained locked from the inside, in a building whose entrances and exits are all under constant guard.

To solve the case, the Empire calls on its most brilliant and mercurial investigator, the great Ana Dolabra. At her side, as always, is her bemused assistant Dinios Kol.

Before long, Ana’s discovered that they’re not investigating a disappearance, but a murder—and that the killing was just the first chess move by an adversary who seems to be able to pass through warded doors like a ghost, and who can predict every one of Ana’s moves as though they can see the future.

Worse still, the killer seems to be targeting the high-security compound known as the Shroud. Here, the Empire's greatest minds dissect fallen Titans to harness the volatile magic found in their blood. Should it fall, the destruction would be terrible indeed—and the Empire itself will grind to a halt, robbed of the magic that allows its wheels of power to turn.

Din has seen Ana solve impossible cases before. But this time, with the stakes higher than ever and Ana seemingly a step behind their adversary at every turn, he fears that his superior has finally met an enemy she can’t defeat.

========
nominator: Melindam
official page count: 458

Volunteers

Melindam (TAC) NOM
Lexi (Garden)
Judith (Garden BU)
Judith extra entry (Garden)
Rebecca (R66)
Jenny (R66 BU)
Ashley (Iceland)
Angie (R66 BU)
Angie extra entry (R66)
Mary (Orient)
Cat (Silk)

Randomiser

There were 7 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

Ashley (Iceland)
Mary (Orient)
Rebecca (R66)
Angie extra entry (R66)
Lexi (Garden)
Judith extra entry (Garden)
Cat (Silk)

Timestamp: 2025-10-31 12:32:33 UTC

Chapter Breakdown

Date		Chapters 	%age	MPDQs
2 Nov		1 - 10		17%	Melindam (TAC)
3 Nov		11 - 20		33%	Ashley (Iceland)
4 Nov		21 - 29		49%	Mary (Orient)
5 Nov		30 - 39		69%	Rebecca (R66)
6 Nov		40 - 47		83%	Lexi (Garden)
7 Nov		48 - epilogue	100%	Cat (Silk)

Guidance for DQ setters
Aim for a reasonable number of questions: 4 - 5 is typical. Please don't post too many - any more than 7 gets unwieldy!
Use consecutive numbering of the DQs for your days. So, for example, if Day One is posted as questions 1-4, Day Two should start at number 5 etc.
Don't worry too much about your questions: you aren't being tested on how clever your questions are!
Hints and tips:
- Is there a quote that jumped out at you? Use that in a question.
- What about the characters - do they generate strong feelings? No feelings? - either way, we can explore that!
- What about that plot twist?!
- Explore the writing style: is there an unusual structure being used? what's the tone of voice like? or the point of view?

Want more information about how NBRC runs their Book of the Month discussions? Check out the information here

Yaay! Looking forward to this! 😊

Wish I could read this with all of you guys, but alas I could not wait to continue the series and read this one back in August! Enjoy :)

Judy wrote: "Wish I could read this with all of you guys, but alas I could not wait to continue the series and read this one back in August! Enjoy :)"

Same - bummer. You guys will have fun!

I'm in for DQ's - Team Garden

I’m in for DQs plus I’d like to use an extra entry.

Team Garden :)

I'm in for DQ's! - Team Route 66

Back up for Route 66!!!

DQ sign up! Iceland

Also, backup for Route 66.

I'd like to use an extra entry, as well, please.

I'm in for DQs if still available Team Orient Express. Thank you!

I'll chuck my name in - Silk Road

Breakdown has been posted!

In the event that a team can't do their day, and doesn't have a back up we'll move to the first extra entry volunteer. (if that makes sense - e.g. if Cat fails then Angie's extra entry will step up)

Happy with my day, thank you. :)

My day is perfect! Yay for my first time writing questions.

Woo! Excited!

I'm good as well

I’m good too, sorry for the late reply!

Day 1 - Chapters 1 -10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points? 😉
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?

2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others?

3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one?

4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow?

5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why?

Day 1 - Chapters 1 -10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points? 😉
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?

For the book! Though I tend to read series spread out over a longer period of time so I probably would have waited at least a couple more months to read this if it weren't for the BOM (the BOM, but not necessarily Wheel).
I loved Book 1, and here I am looking to see if RJB deepens both the world building and the characters. Would be nice if the secondary characters are as interesting as they were last time, too.

2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others?

I don't read many mystery stories except when they are exactly this: genre-cross Fantasy-Mystery! And then I really love it.

3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one?

I think this money situation will follow him through the whole series. Its the only thing that makes sense at this point and any other scenario that I can think of feels like it would be either narratively unsatisfying or just out of character.

4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow?

No idea yet. It seems like the King and his court just want to stay as separate as possible from everybody else, while still reaping the benefits of royalty.

5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why?

It didn't remind me of a real place so much as it reminded me of Ellen Kushner's Riverside. It's so similar in its imagined fancy history and its current moldy state that I would actually be very surprised if it's not an intentional reference!

1 - Chapters 1 -10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points? 😉
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?

This time I am just here for the BOM points as I read this just over 6 months ago and I would not have read it so close to the first time. However, I really like this series. The first is my favorite but this one is also very strong. This is a re-read so I will ignore all questions that ask to guess.

2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others?

I like locked room mysteries as they often have some fun solutions that are very creative. I did guess the magnet on this one when I first read it. I like mysteries that have neat endings. I am less interested in mysteries that become court room dramas or unsolved.

3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one?

This is a re-read for me.

4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow?

This is a re-read for me.

5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why?

Swamps and things that will eat you/dead bodies always makes me think of Louisiana, though to be fair my current state of Georgia, also has swamps and gators. I have read Riverside but it didn’t remind me of that but interesting reference from Alysa.

Day 1 - Chapters 1 -10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points? 😉
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?

I honestly am here for the points because I read this earlier in 2025. I don't have anything specific, but I know I always "find" something I missed the first time, such as clues that didn't pop out to me the first read probably will this time and that will help me remember more.

2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others?

I am a mystery/thriller/psychological thriller freak, so I love all kinds of mysteries. My favorite is a psychological thriller!

3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one?

I can't answer this since it's a re-read for me and I already know the answer.

4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow?

Once again, I already know the answer; however, my first time reading it I do remember that I definitely did think he was in cahoots with the smugglers, but mainly because SO many people in positions of authority and power are corrupt. It wasn't far-fetched to think he was too.

5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why?

The only place I can think of is Florida. It's the only place I've ever been to where I've seen anything even close to the description of Yarros. I went to an alligator farm so that's the only thing I can think of.

Day 1 DQ’s Ch 1-10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points? 😉
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?

I am here for BOM points, I didn’t know anything about this going in. I am glad to be reading it and will likely read the whole series, so yay competitive spirit!

2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others?

I think locked-room are usually more interesting than some of the other types but I don’t usually read detective-style mysteries. I think the fantasy element and humor in this make it more interesting than most.

3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one?

I have a feeling it is going to keep haunting him on way or another throughout the series.

4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow?

I think it’s too early to tell at this point but it is certainly possible.

5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why?

I wasn’t reminded of any real place but am curious to read some of the other answers.

Lexi wrote: "I have read Riverside but it didn’t remind me of that but interesting reference from Alysa.

I was thinking specifically of how the “Old Town” is presented here, like the buildings where everybody visiting from the Empire are made to live and work. Once fine but now damp and crumbling. It struck me so much that my mind jumped immediately to the world of Riverside.

Lexi and Vicki are definitely right about the swamps and swamp animals eating people being reminiscent of coastal southern U.S. states though. I would say maybe the jungle areas of South America too.

Day 1 - Chapters 1 -10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points? 😉
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?

I very much enjoyed The Tainted Cup, so it was nice to have the follow-up prompted so quickly :)
I guess I'm interested to see more of the world and its undercurrents

2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others?

Locked-room mysteries can get a little bit pleased with themselves, but I do enjoy

3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one?

I find the financial system too strange, with debts being transferred to descendants and the terms being changed on a whim. But I guess it's a point Bennett wants to make, so yeah, he's unlikely to get free, because the system won't let him, and he's not the person to steal to get out from under it.

4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow?

I think the King is probably only in it for himself, so if supporting the smugglers helps stave off the Empire and its taxes he'll do that, up to the point when it starts damaging his interests

5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why?

Not the swampy bits, but the dilapidation of once-great houses in the face of water and weather is not too far adrift from some British seaside resorts, which have fallen far from their Victorian or early 20th C peaks

Day 1 - Chapters 1 -10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points? 😉
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?
The Tainted Cup was my first book by RJB and I loved it, so I put book 2 onto my TBR right away after finishing. :)

2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others?
I like them, but mostly the golden age ones. :)

3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one?
They definitely feel like they are here to stay and will probably influence Din's life choices further, just as they had before.

4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow?
I'm quite curious whether we will meet the King at all and to see whether he is your usual ruthless and selfish ruler or whether they may be something else behind. At this point I suspect that he is involved for his own ends, using people and the discarding them. We shall see.

5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why?
For some reason I was reminded both of old, dilapidated buildings in Venice and the floating markets in Asian cities. I've never been in any of them, but the photos always seem so intriguing.

1. I read it on my own and loved it. I planned on reading A Drop of Corruption anyway at some point. Probably not right away though. I like to wait a bit longer to make the wait for the next book a bit shorter. I hope to meet one of Din's sisters at some point. I doubt it will happen in this book but I would be interested to meet them at some point.

2. I usually don't go for mysteries at all, so I am fine with whatever. It seems like it will move on from the locked-room mystery within the next few chapters.


3. I think they will definetly keep haunting him. Even in the first book they were somewhat solved/getting easier. Only for this book to immediately make them worse again. So I think it will be a continous problem for him for quite a while.

4. He could be. The King so far seems like a really selfish person who only cares about his own gain and not so much his people, so would not be much of a surprise if he were in cahoots with them.

5. It slightly reminded me of some fishing villages I saw in Scotland this year but I think the town is much bigger in the book.

DQs Day 2, Ch 11-20

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?

7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?

8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?

9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot?

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?

I think it is a scientist who worked on the Shroud and has access to technology/substances that can mimic and circumvent the blood test.

7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?

I don't think he is the imposter but I think it is someone he has worked with who also learned this language during their time on the Shroud.

8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?

I think it is related to what she told Din about people being physically unable to share certain secrets. I think she agreed to have this done to her in order to keep the exact manner of her alterations a secret. I also think she does not actually have any augmentation. The experiment that would have given her them failed and she can't talk about it due to the unable to say the secret thing. She is just naturally smart and the alteeration was suppossed to make her even smarter but it backfired and instead made her very sensitive to light etc.

9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot?

It is relevant to the murder. I think the smugglers are somehow involved in it and also the King's priest.

Day 2 - Chapters 11-20

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?

I've had a hard time with that because he can't just be, like, carrying a bottle of blood or something like that. It's got to be something quite complex, such as giving himself a huge transfusion of Sujedo's blood, but that would involve even more interventions, like something to make it so his body doesn't reject another blood type or whatever. IDK how "realistic science" this book might need to be, but whatever the explanation it still need to be possible "in world" and perhaps I'm not imaginative enough to guess at what that would entail.


7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?

It's pretty obviously an important detail! Some sort of code.


8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?

I thought I remembered something about a big reveal in Book 1 that she had not actually had any alterations and was just born this way?! But unless the author is ret-conning here, I am probably misremembering and it was more like most of her differences are inborn while there's at least one major thing that's not.


9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot?

Hard to say at this point if the corruption refers to the court of Yarrow, to employees of the Empire, or to both. To me it overtly refers to physical corruption, as in contagion or spoilage, so there's likely some double-meaning going on. Or maybe triple.

Qs Day 2, Ch 11-20

I will try but every one of these questions references guessing which doesn’t work as a re-read.

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?
I did not guess accurately the first time by this point in the book but did later.

7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?
Yes, clearly important and re-read.

8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?
In the first book, she indicated some of her issues with overstimulation and patterns were not a modification but that she was born that way. I think there is a difference between being born something different and being modified. Anyway, this is a re-read.

9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot?
Yes, clearly corruption is a major theme for this series after the first book so yes, all the physical and moral corruption and literal falling down buildings.

This book looks amazing!!! Is it in a series?

bookishworldreview wrote: "This book looks amazing!!! Is it in a series?"

This is the second in a series. The first is really good and is The Tainted Cup.

Alysa wrote: "Lexi wrote: "I have read Riverside but it didn’t remind me of that but interesting reference from Alysa.

I was thinking specifically of how the “Old Town” is presented here, like the buildings whe..."

Yes, I can see that. All the literary and real-world swamps. I think of the giant turtles as giant Alligator snapping turtles and that makes me happy.

Day 1 - Chapters 1 -10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points?
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?To be honest, I haven't read the first one yet(though it is on my TBR) so I'm hoping I can jump right in!

  2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others? 
I looooove a locked room style mystery!

  3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one? 
Hmm I think they will be used as great motivation to keep him working quickly and at the same make it hard to concentrate. I have a feeling it won't be easily resolved in this book.

  4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow? I love when we get a real look into how people feel about their government, when they don't have to put on a brave face.  Especially someone in public service. I am deeply suspicious of the King.

  5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why? Not necessarily, but I would like to read more about it.

DQs Day 2, Ch 11-20
6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?
I don't know, but I wonder if he is they are somehow related?

  7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?At first I thought it was just anxiety about losing whatever was in the box, but now I'm wondering if it's some kind of code. Or maybe it is a PTSD/stress response but still connects them.

  8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?I haven't read the previous book, so she is an open book to me and I'm very confused and curious. I really like her though!

  9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot?I;m sure it's all related somehow, but I really have no idea what is going on...there seem to be a lot of dead ends.

DQs Day 2, Ch 11-20

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?

I've no real guess right now.

7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?

Totally relevant. I wondered if they learnt it together in the Shroud

8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?

No assumptions here!

9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot

Clearly a concern.
I thought it was interesting to see that neither Empire nor the Kingdom are perfect societies, as well as the extreme reaction to the empire body hacking.

Day 2 DQ’s Ch 11-20

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?

I think Ana’s idea is a reasonable explanation but given all of the different augmentations available, I am sure it is more complicated.

7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?

I hope there is something more to it, a herring would drive me nuts especially how obviously it was pointed out in the text.

8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?

I did not read the first novel but am very curious to find out.

9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot?

I think some part of it will be relevant to the murder, either motive or means.

DQs Day 2, Ch 11-20

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?
I had no idea until it was actually explained. :)

7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?
I had ideas, but I have been proven wrong about them, obviously😅 , so I'm not going to elaborate.

8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?
This seems a bit like RBJ was making it up as he went along to fit his purposes on one hand, while on the other they fit into this world he's been creating nicely and are also interesting and move th eplot forward, so I have no cause for complaint .

9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot?
Considering the first book, I think it is both literary and figurative in this one as well.

DQs Day 3 Ch 21-29


10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?

11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?

13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?

14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Where there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?

DQs Day 3 Ch 21-29


10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?
I loved their dynamics in Book 1 and continue to do so in Book 2. While Ana is the superior officer, it is clear that she cares about Din more than for just a colleague, also a human being. I haven't feel any change so far, but think it is coming as inevitably they (and us) will be learning about each other.


11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?
Maybe I will be proven wrong again :), but I think that at least RJB wants us to think that Ana has (the same or) similar augmentations than those of the culprit.?? Curious to see.

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?
The "Empire" is such an intangible thing and we know so little about it, it's hard to decide.

13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?
Your guess is as good as mine. Why does he do anything? Is it something personal? Revenge? ... or part of the "save the leviathans movement"? Once again, curious about their motives.


14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Where there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?
While I absolutely love Murderbot, SciFi is not really my genre.Apart from the obvious Sherlock Holmes references, it didn't remind me of anything else.

10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?

I still see Din as her assistant. I don't think they are on equal footing yet and won't be for a while. Their relationship from book one to this one has grown. Ana seems to care more about Din and his problems.

11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?

I think she can't physically disclose it due to something done to her that permanently stops her from disclosing the details. I would want to have the power to read emotions like we have seen before. I think it would have helped to get a quicker confession out of Thelenai.

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?

It might have started out as something for the people but has very quickly become mostly about politics.

13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?

He might want to wait for an event/person to come to the city to make an even bigger impact.

14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Where there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?

Not really, only Sherlock Holmes

Day 3 - Chapters 21-29

10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?

I think maybe Ana has started to care about Din a little bit more on a personal level (and that's a maybe) but she still treats him as a subordinate in all the ways that count. He still has to fetch for her and clean up after her, which in itself prevents them from being equals, though one could argue that Din doesn't feel like he absolutely has to do whatever she says. He pushes his boundaries a little.

11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?

TBH I'm wondering if RJB will ever actually reveal Ana's supposed augmentation(s) or leave that as a permanent question.
Super hearing seems pretty useful here, so long as it's possible to dampen whenever you don't want to actively use it!

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?

Hard to say. And those motives aren't mutually exclusive, especially in any world where power CORRUPTS! Hehe.

13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?

No idea. Perhaps waiting for a symbolic time.

14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Where there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?

Nothing in particular, besides the obvious Holmes & Watson vibe (and that Riverside thing I mentioned in another set of DQs). As you say this "augmentation" thing is not uncommon in sci-fi/fantasy novels. Maybe just references anything where people have implants that give them heightened senses. But I think this series does it in an especially interesting way, with the biological agents coming from the Leviathan blood as opposed to anything resembling what most people would consider "tech" (like mechanical parts or computer chips and such).

DQs Day 3 Ch 21-29


10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?

I enjoy the relationship. They are clearly still in a hierarchy, but Ana has a fondness for Din (demonstrated by how she promised to support him) and is actually encouraging him to be more than just a walking recorder

11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?

I think it's a species of augury, or the inspo for that augmeno.
I guess they are keeping it quiet because the side effects are even less good than we've already seen

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?

It's certainly a good rationalisation for doing some very dubious things. The idea that something so apparently powerful would be for the wider good is nonsense. Politics and power would be the main driver

13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?

He needs to get into the Shroud, which isn't easy, with the time constraints and controlled entry

14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Where there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?

The creeping horrors of the environment reminds me of the Area X trilogy, though the rest of the vibe is very different!

Cat wrote: "The creeping horrors of the environment reminds me of the Area X trilogy, though the rest of the vibe is very different!"

Oh that's a good reference, Cat! I think it didn't occur to me because there's no link to alien worlds here... that we know of...LOL

DQs Day 3 Ch 21-29

10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?
I enjoyed them and their relationship. There is a really nice give and take between them and while Ana is the superior, she also clearly relies on and cares for Din. I appreciate how it grows across the series so far.


11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?
This is a re-read for me but I think Din’s memory is likely especially important for investigations and I already am sensitive to smells so I absolutely don’t want an improved sense of smell.

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?
I think this book is more about each person than the empire concept and the goal is how to make all the pieces work justly even with the parts. The Empire is Us after all.

13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?
This is a re-read for me.


14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Where there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?
This is much more fantasy and some body modifications, so it has never reminded me of Murderbot. I, however, can see the Area X for weird modifications and What Moves the Dead for fun with fungi (even though this was fish bones and plants) and Hollow Places for weird body modifications and creepy trees.

Day 3 DQ’s Ch 21-29

10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?

I really like their dynamic. I think their abilities really complement each other. Ana needs Din to gather and retain the information and Din needs Ana to put all the pieces together.

11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?

I don’t think Ana can say what her augmentation is, if she has one. If I were investigating this crime I think a combination of a fantastic memory and pattern recognition would be helpful. Kind of like what Din and Ana already have as two separate people.

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?

I think it was mostly politically motivated and they are using the benefits to justify it.
13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?

I really have no idea. Maybe he’s not looking to take everyone, just likes to over prepare?

14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Were there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?

This is of course similar to many detective series. But I was also reminded of Dune when they talked about eye color turning green if they had been exposed to the moss for a long time, this is similar to the spice in Dune. The helmets they had to put on also reminded me of Dune. The transmutation effects of the titans blood reminded me of Annihilation