I enjoyed aspects of this book, namely Ana and Din, the contagion elements, and Din's magic as an engraver. The murder mystery was compelling, but I found the world, details, and terminology to be a bit dense.

Worth a read if you like epic fantasy with sci-fi vibes, and a Watson/Holmes dynamic. It gave me Dune and Out of the Silent Planet vibes. I'd highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator was great, and I found it easier to follow.

Thank you Ballantine / Del Rey for the advanced copy!

Robert Jackson Bennett crafted the best blend of two of my favorite genres, fantasy and mystery. He created fascinating world that our main character Din is trying to find his place in. While trying to prove he deserves to be working for the investigator, Din arrives at a murder scene that will change his life. Along the way we meet whimsical and haunting characters that broaden the fantasy world but also add pieces to the expanding murder case. Din is a lovalbe main character, and his boss, Ana, is even more entertaining. Her quirks are some of the best parts of the books.

While I did enjoy reading this novel, it never captivated me. I kept having to remember that I was reading it, signifying it wasn't my favorite.

What a book. Take your Sherlock Holmes and Watson and plop them down into the middle of a Weird Fantasy and you have the Tainted Cup. Body horror, leviathans, and exploding trees this little mystery is bursting with originality and gusto, all leading up to the solve of our elaborate mystery.

First off, huge thanks to NetGalley for the early copy to read and review. I've read Robert Jackson Bennett's Founders Trilogy which I also loved. The author has an amazing talent for creating worlds that are unique and all encompassing in a way that makes it easy to get lost inside, in the best possible way.
This story focuses on a series of murders that Ana Dolabra, an excentric investigator, along with Dinios Kol an apprentice investigator have been tasked to solve. The world they live in is one that most everyone has been augmented in some way, shape or form, to do certain tasks. Din is an engraver. Trained to memorize every word, site and event he tasked to engrave upon his memory. With this ability he can recall with perfect clarity all he has seen and heard. This makes him a valuable assistant to the investigator. The city itself is close to a heavily manned seawall put there to hold off attacks of titans, mammoth sized creatures that come from the sea. If they make it past the wall, there isn't much hope for anyone in the area.
This story was an absolute delight to read and I really feel like this story has much more to tell. I will definitely be recommending this book!

Ana is a brilliant eccentric detective. Din is her new assistant- he’s smart but has issues. Together they must solve the gruesome murder of an imperial officer who is killed by a tree exploding in his body. .. but that’s not even the root of the issue. Magic, body alterations, leviathans that kill populations and more gruesome murders make this Sherlockian like tale into a winner. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Likeable characters and interesting story. I stayed interested from the first page until the last. I look forward to more in this series and have already requested Bennett's work be purchased for our college library.

I thought this would be incredibly entertaining. It has the vibes of an Agatha Christie detective novel blended with fantastical elements, and how can you go wrong with that?

Well, for one, the chapters are entirely too long. I am not opposed to long chapters in the right kind of novel, but a mystery needs to be well paced and long chapters hinder that.

Within those chapters is the most drawn out storytelling one can encounter. I was incredibly bored and unable to see it through to the end, as the author failed to entice me. This is such an exciting concept, and I’m sad that it was such a dull execution.

I am immensely grateful to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved this whole premise, but I felt like I just could not get in to this world for some reason. I didn’t get all the Benoit Blanc and Sherlock Holmes/Watson dynamics that others mentioned.

But, I did enjoy the mystery aspect of this novel. So if you’re in to fantasy worlds and solving a murder, this would definitely be your jam.

The second in this new series, Bennett keeps knocking them out of the park. The only request I have is for MORE LEVIATHAN but I feel safe thinking that I'll be getting them. Please keep this one coming.

Wild.

This book is wild in the most amazing way. I loved a good mystery and the way that the author combines a mystery with fantasy is just fantastic. Plus for this being my first mystery with this much fantasy thrown in, my expectations are now high for any others.

You are left on the edge of your seat and begging to have the next book in your hands. I devoured this book so quickly and couldn't run to see if there was a sequel fast enough.

The world building was there and the characters developed well. Like when an Emperor dies from a tree coming from their body and you have to call Ana in to investigate. Well that's just something you don't see or hear about everyday.

This book lit my brain on fire. As soon as I started reading it, I could not put it down--and for months afterward, I was constantly looking for books that would make me feel like this book did. The worldbuilding is incredible, the characters are complex and difficult yet also a delight to spend time with, and the plot was propulsive and suspenseful. I will be reading the sequel to this book as soon as I possibly can. Easily one of the best books I read in 2024, if not the best.

There is a new crime-solving duo to follow: Ana and Dinios Kol. Set in a fantasy land besieged by leviathans, the two set out to solve murders that involve the high-ranking officials of the land. Are they the victims, or are they behind the attacks...or both? Dinios's keen eye and ability to remember all the encounters helps Ana put together the clues. Great first book in a new series!

4.5 stars. This is such a fun murder mystery set in a fantasy world. RJB writes such unique and intriguing magic systems and worlds to fall into. It has a great dose of humor and the mystery really keeps you engaged and guessing to the very end.

This is a quirky mix of genres…I liked it? ….but also had to work at paying attention as it was a bit complex at times.

A fantasy mystery with an almost science fiction feel but also knives out? I’m telling you, the genre bending is REAL! 😂

It truly is like a Holmes / Watson vibe but with an odd woman who only works blindfolded at home and her trusty sidekick, Din who is a magical engraver that has powers akin to a photogenic memory but with smell.

I’d give this a 3.5 cause it was so odd it was hard for me to get fully into but I rounded up because the overall story was interesting. I partially listened/ partially read this and I can tell you I preferred to read it. The narrator wasn’t my cup of tea and didn’t help when I was feeling unconnected from the story.

I love a good detective duo and it always ends up working for me. The mystery the vibes the characters all get a win for me!

Thank you Netgalley and DelRey for the EARC.
This was a 5 star read for me! This is a mystery series I can get behind! The magic like system being more based on science was wonderfully done and was refreshing. The mystery aspect was just the right amount of edge of your seat suspension but the small little details that are placed throughout the story were like you were right there trying to solve the case with them. The depth of characters and the quirkyness was masterfully written!

Actual Rating: 4.75

Wow! I went into this blind knowing this that I’d love anything by Robert Jackson Bennett. This was a great mashup of Sherlock Holmes, empirical fantasy and terrifying biological warfare. I can’t wait to read the next book to hopefully expand on the workings of the inner parts of the empire and the leviathan.

In The Tainted Cup we follow detectives in a fantasy world trying to solve a strange string of murders. I would say this book leans into murder-mystery fantasy and it was a fun time. The world building was done really well as well as the character development. It gave off Sherlock Holmes vibes and the banter between the two main characters was probably my favorite part of the book. I didn't feel as though we had any loose ends in this book and the mystery being solved wasn't unexciting. I would recommend this book to readers and can't wait to reconnect with the characters in book two.

Hooked from the beginning. This was such a well written story. It had so many twist and turns. I love books that I'm not able to predict the outcome and this was it. I was shocked to the very end. Great plot, characters, mystery, etc. Definitely recommend.

Robert Jackson Bennett | English | 410 Pages| Del Rey, 2024

This is the blue-print for the authors who want to mix fantasy and investigation plot properly.

I am not exaggerating. The 4.32 on Goodreads would never lie to you. RJB books are worth every penny and time. It will suck you into his world and by the time you found the exit door, it shuts in front of your face by the hard slam. I am trapped in his world. In his masterpiece, in Ana Dolabra and Dinius Kol’s never-ending riddles.

The riddle was riddling. The mysteries were on point. World building was magnificent. You will be given vast imagination of 50-60 something fictional country with the Titan threats and all magical-scientific vial of skills. Holmes-and-Watson-banter will be the main feast. It was all hilarious and clever. Although the book was all written from Dinius Kol’s POV, the narration made it possible to us for understanding the basic habit of each character.

Oh, how I keep mesmerize by the plot. The plot structures scream almost-perfection. I just find out some scenes feel so illogical but it sank by the time the plot progressed. If I must mention, it was the scene when Dinius Kol could perfectly read and decipher Ana Dolabra’s expression. But Ana was blindfolded. And how could you tell someone with covered-eyes, an expression of desperation? Curiosity? Excitement? Like how it appears so vivid by half of her facial expression only?

Tiny flaws, but it went overshadowed by the RJB’s later genius plot-twist. Exceptional. Brilliant.

I hardly slow down my reading pace. It was soooo great. If you love fantasy and investigations plot so much, then this book is waiting.

4.8/5 for me.