A Trade of Blood

Shadow of the Leviathan #3
By Robert Jackson Bennett
** Publication Date 4 August 2026 **
4 stars


When you find yourself eyeballs deep in a book series, you simply cannot wait for the next installment to come out. I find myself this way with the Shadow of the Leviathan series. Time passes, and I leave Ana & Din behind. Then I get a notification about the next novel, and I simply cannot wait to wallow in it.


Book 3 finds Ana & Din investigating a strange murder in the town of Lacanthim. As always they have traveled a long way, and Ana is still as mercurial and odd as ever. Din is starting to experience certain mind tricks that Ana states are simply his enhancements maturing. To Din it is frightening. 


When they reach Lacanthim, they find the roads blocked by angry people. Apparently this murder has caused a long feud between the two gentry families to boil over. Castus, the son of one family, has taken the life of Zansay, a daughter of the other family. It was a brutal murder of which Castus has no memory. Certainly if one were to flay a person as one does cattle, you would remember it. However Castus has no memory. Add in that these are the children of the wealthiest landowners, it has become a cauldron of anger within the town.


In this novel we also finally meet one of Din’s family members. As Din essentially ran away from his family, his sacrifice, to try to provide for them, it is a surprise to both Din and his sister. No spoilers, as it is a relationship you will enjoy.


I truly do believe that this is a series where you ultimately need to start at the beginning to enjoy. There is so much backstory to Khanum and Ana & Din, that to jump in during book three would be challenging. While each novel does give a bit of backstory, picking up right here might be a bit unsettling.


I did enjoy this installment immensely. Bennett has done an incredible job of creating this odd land. It is both fantasy and mystery at its best. Ana is one of the oddest ‘humans’ I’ve encountered in a novel. Din is a trustworthy companion for Ana. Once again, I shall eagerly await book four.


Start at the beginning and enjoy your time in Khanum.