Book Review: A Trade of Blood (Shadow of the Leviathan 3) by Robert Jackson Bennett

 


5/5 stars. Thanks to #NetGalley and #DelRey for the eARC. The third book in the Ana and Din Mysteries explores a unique aspect of the world that we do not always see discussed in fantasy novels:  how the populace sources its food, and what that means for the average worker and the industry, in general. Furthermore, we get more backstory from both Dinios Kol and Ana Dolabra, along with more politics of the world of Khanum, and we get to meet one of Din’s relatives.

The story centers around the mysterious death of a young woman apparently murdered by her lover. The two families have a longstanding animosity because they are both involved in the cattle industry and have been competitors for generations. Ana and Din are sent to keep the families from going to war, as they also solve the mystery.

As always, RJB weaves a rich tapestry of the world, the families, and all the potential interactions that could have led to the unusual death. This is the first time that we see into the lives of people living further away from the ocean shield wall and the fears presented by the leviathan threats. We discover more about average working families removed from the day-to-day politics of this world. Bennett is a wonderful writer of rich, imaginative prose, and it is a pleasure to be immersed again in one of his stories.

I highly recommend this book, this series, and anything written by Robert Jackson Bennett. I have read several of his novels and have not been disappointed with any of them. #ATradeOfBlood


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