I think this would be a fascinating story for those who enjoy fantasy and sci-fi. I'm not a big reader of those genres, but I'm open-minded and tried this one on for size.

I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of it. The main characters are a bit like Sherlock Holmes and Watson - only with Sherlock being female in this story.

I found parts of the story and world building very confusing, but again, that could be because I'm not used to mystical worlds.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an e-copy of THE TAINTED CUP to review.

I rate THE TAINTED CUP three out of five stars.

This was great I loved the Sherlock Holmes Agatha Christie feel to this amazing mystery and a female lead with a second male as her backup RJB has done it again 5⭐️

This book was amazing!!!!!! It was fantasy, it was mystery, and it was almost as if I was reading something that would be in the world of Sherlock Holmes. He executed this book to perfection. I have officially added this to my list of Fantasy books that I recommend.

3.75 rounded up. Thank you netgalley for the arc despite how late I was to read it. I think what I loved most about this was our main characters. I loved how unhinged Ana was and just the overall banter and interacts Din and Ana have. I loved the worldbuilding as well, it felt like such a unique world that was refreshing. The rest however, it may have just been my brain dealing with all the stress lately but I had a hard time staying locked in with this in the last 40%. I don't necessarily think it's the books fault but mine so it mad it hard to celebrate the ending fully with big reveals when I felt like I'd missed information. But that's on my adhd brain. lol

What a unique book, I still can't quite wrap my head around how I feel about it. This is much more of a complex detective novel than a fantasy book, though the fantasy elements were the ones that I was by far the most interested in. This book truly is a weird mix of Attack on Titan and a more serious Knives Out. If you like unique characters, complex politics, and mystery books then you should give this a shot. Plus there's a very odd fungus/plant-based environment with a looming threat of leviathans rising from the sea in the background.

I'll probably read the sequel, though mainly to learn more about the backgrounds of the characters and the mystery of the leviathans.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

I enjoy stories that skillfully blend genres, and this book masterfully combines fantasy and mystery. The vivid descriptions and intricate world-building seamlessly align with the central investigation into the death of an important engineer. It creates an immersive experience that keeps you hooked. Overall, it’s a fantastic read!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the eARC. Wow, so much to unpack about reading this novel which I've learned is soon to be a duology. Cantons, leviathans, cracklers, bombards, and on and on, I need a syllabus! It was a joy to witness the world building and the creative mind of an author I've enjoyed reading. On to part two soon. Highly recommended.

I've heard this book is a wild one, which honestly only makes me want to read it more, I love originality - which is likely why I requested it in the first place (also the UK cover is one of the most wild beautiful things I've ever seen)

So i'm torn on this one. I enjoyed the concept and the characters, but it seemed to drag on at times. I had a hard time getting into it until about half way through, then I loved it. Despite that, I would still recommend this book.

I have enjoyed Bennett's writing style previously so I went into this with high expectations. My delight in this novel is the blending of genres. I am a fantasy reader if in the right mood for it but I am always a mystery/thriller reader. The blending of these two genres along with fantastic characters made this a terrific reading experience. Highly recommend!
#TheTaintedCup #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #DelRey

Officially need to read everything RJB has written...
Murder, conspiracy, body mods, and Leviathans, what more could a girl want?
The characters were interesting and likeable, making this a breeze to read and enjoy. The story itself was a semi familiar and fun whodunit.
I LOVED this unique setting. A big win for me was that the world building wasn't thrown at me in huge, overly complicated chunks. Instead RJB gives you enough information about this world and its workings in small bursts that are easy to digest AND thoroughly hold your attention.

Ive already got my preorders in and am looking forward to the audiobook as well!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House P.G.- Ballantine, DelRey for the eARC

Murder mystery in a fantasy setting? Sign me right up! This was my first Robert Jackson Bennett book and now I feel like I need more in my life. I completely devoured this book in no time. The world was amazing and I just needed to see Ana Dolabra and her ways. She was an eccentric genius and just made me remember my times reading Sherlock Holmes. Then adding in Dinios Kol *chefs kiss*. If you love mystery books and you are very unsure about fantasy, read this book! It is a great doorway into the genre. Read this book.

Murder-mystery in a fantasy world....love it! I liked this overlap of genres. Characters & world were well developed. I look forward to more books in the series.

Thank you Publisher and Netgalley for this advanced copy

The best book in 2024, The dynamic relationship is perfect, especially the banter between the student and his master. The mystery itself is a top notch!

I found the world building to be strained and the story moved very slowly. The magic system was obscure and I found the characters not at all engaging.

Robert Jackson Bennett is one of our most creative writers of fantasy and science fiction. His worlds are well thought out and unique. The Tainted Cup is such a novel. With it's nod to everything from Sherlock Holmes to Kaiju, it is an interesting and well thought out ride.

The Tainted Cup is a delightful murder-mystery set in a captivating fantasy world. Bennett expertly blends the elements of mystery and fantasy, creating an intriguing realm complete with a fascinating magical system. The characters are well-developed and engaging, while the murder plot unfolds like something straight out of a crime documentary. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and found myself completely immersed in its thrilling narrative. A must-read for fans of both genres!

The intial first few chapters were captivating but then by 20% it had comepltely lost me! Could not finish it

This was my first book by this author and after I first finished reading it I wasn't exaclty smitten with it, but a few days after finishing I just couldn't get it out of my head. The action and storyline were calling to me. If you enjoy fanatasy and a bit of mystery you will find this very entertaining. It kept me on my toes. I loved the professional relationship between Din and Anna and can't wait to see what the future has in store for both of them!