Ad/PR. Many thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for this ARC which releases today, Aug 4, 2026. Book 3 in the Shadow of the Leviathan series.
Doesn’t everyone wish for change? But that’s the nature of the Empire, isn’t it. It’s so big and has so much momentum. Very difficult for it to shift. I would have thought dozens of deaths would do so. But perhaps not.
Another riveting Ana and Din mystery. This time Ana and Din are in the canton of Sapirdad in the third ring, an area that is, quite literally, based on the trade of blood and flesh, providing the empire with beef from giant modified beasts raised for their juicy, marbled meat. A Romeo and Juliet style tragedy has occurred, with the son of one of the leading families in the area being accused of the murder of a daughter of the other leading family, and Ana and Din have to try to make sure that the longrunning family feud doesn’t spill over into an all-out war.
Ana is as brilliant, unhinged and foulmouthed as ever, and Din is as fateful and longsuffering as always. The crime seems perfectly simple at first glance, but turns out to be far more complex and gruelling than anyone could possibly have expected. It is a thought-provoking, ingenious, gory, funny, sad and poignant mystery and commentary on human nature, industry, belief, and empire.
If you want fantasy with exquisite worldbuilding this is it. If you want a clever, twisted mystery, this is it. If you want unusual characters that will stay with you long after you finish reading, and a story with themes and morals that apply to the real world as much as to the Empire of Khanum, this is also it. Whatever your reason for picking this up may be, A Trade of Blood is entertaining, engaging and absolutely worth a read for any fantasy or mystery fan.
Fantasy – Mystery
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