This is one of the most unique fantasy novels I have ever read! I was a pretty big fan of Foundryside and was excited when this novel was announced and DAMN did it live up to the expectations I had.
RBJ is a true master at world building, and it really shines through in this novel. It very much reminds of of Attack on Titan in a way (big ass titans trying to bust through strong ass walls) but there’s so much more to it than that.
The characters were all very well done, each had their own distinct personality (Ana is my fave, but our MC is a SUPER close runner-up).
And the MYSTERY. Oh my god. I don’t really enjoy mystery novels as they normally don’t have me gripped to the edge of my seat, but this mystery was so intriguing and muddling that I literally could not put the book down at the 200 page mark. It was impossible. I’m also slightly convinced that RJB is a genius after reading this…

4.25 stars

I'm so excited for another series from Jackson Bennett and this was a fantastic opener! The world is unique and interesting, I have questions about how things function and the other ways people can be 'altered' that I think will be answered in future installments. The duo of Ana and Din was perfect, one is eccentric and a very Holmes-like character, the other is more practical and keeps their partner on track.

My only reason for lowering this a tad was that I struggled with so many characters to follow who was who (and the names aren't familiar so it was hard to remember), so the reveal wasn't quite as exciting as I couldn't really suspect anyone.

I can't wait for more of these!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the copy.

A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett
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Really enjoyed the style of this book. The flow and cadence. The Sherlock and Holmes style mystery between Anna and Din. Anna is a very unique, brilliant character that uses all her senses but sight though she has it. Like her I have been known to interrogate people for hours while laying on the ground blind folded… hmm that didn't sound right.
Very intrigued by the leviathans that they were being protected from and the hierarchy in their society. Also the tree branches, iykyk.

Loved it. Very compelling fantasy world, interesting murder mystery, interesting protagonist. Everything was well-explained and I enjoyed it throughout.

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett.

Fantastic! Two of my favorite things mashed up nicely, fantasy and murder mystery! I'll be honest, at first I wasn't sure if I was going to like Ana. But she grew on me and our MC Din is a delight.

My favorite thing about this book was the rich worldbuilding. Massive, giant leviathans that come from the sea and attack the walls of the Empire. Various augmentation like being able to recall every little detail, or being stronger, having the nose that can scent like a hound, etc. And the mystery itself, a tree sprouting from a body.

I was so excited to get this arc from netgalley because i could just tell that I was going to love it. Definitely going to add the physical to my shelves in the future. I cant wait for a sequel! There better be a sequel.

Thank you to @randomhouseballantine and @delrey and the author for this e-arc to review.

DNF 33%

I was honestly enjoying this book, I found the premise of it really interesting. The worldbuilding was super cool, all of the powers were unique, and I liked that it was essentially a murder mystery set in a fantasy world.

The only reason I dnfed this book was because it was taking me forever to read only 100 pages (almost an entire month), and I normally can read very fast. This is not a book I wouldn't recommend, I think that some people will like it very much, it just wasn't for me right now. I might pick it up when I have more time in the future, maybe when the series is complete, because I am curious about how everything will end.

Robert Jackson Bennett has always been an author whose work I have admired. In fact, his Divine Cities trilogy is included in my 10 Favorite Fantasy Series of All-Time and is a dark fantasy masterpiece. His second series The Founders trilogy was very different in tone and setting but also garnered a ton of praise in fantasy circles. So obviously when I heard that he had a brand new book and series coming out I jumped at the chance to get a copy and read it. What I discovered is that Bennett has done it yet again in this his third unique world and has delivered one heck of a thoughtful and magical fantasy mystery story.

The first thing that I will say about THE TAINTED CUP is it is very much a procedural murder mystery at its heart and I found that part of the book to be utterly compelling. But there's also the bonus factor of this still being a Robert Jackson Bennett fantasy so we are treated to some awesome elements that only his mind can deliver like giant leviathans who have threatened the coastal cities so much over the years that they had to erect a huge sea wall to protect them from random attacks. This threat is still very much an active one and so picture this as a backdrop while also dealing with the main story of the murders that have taken place. Bennett's worldbuilding is truly second to none and it has only gotten better in this his third series.

Added to the mystery and incredible worldbuilding are characters who are somewhat complex and morally gray. Bennett also performs the little trick of having the main character and POV be the understudy of the legendary investigator. It's almost the same method that Richard Swan used so effectively in his Empire of the Wolf trilogy and I have to say I really like this technique as it allows for us to experience the words and actions of Ana filtered through the doubts and inner dialogue of Din, who is working very closely with her to solve the mysterious deaths. It's almost like having two main characters and it gave the story such wonderful depth.

I will say that the middle of the book slowed down a bit and there was a time when I feared that it would stall and my enjoyment would be lessened. I mainly attribute this to the necessary dialogues taking place with regard to the murder investigation interviews. The action and intensity slowed down considerably during this section. However, the last 75 pages or so kicked everything back up and the book finished in spectacular fashion to say the least, leaving me wanting that next book in my hands as soon as possible.

Ultimately I really enjoyed THE TAINTED CUP and found it to be an interesting murder mystery set in a super cool world filled with sea monsters and influential cabals who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. If you enjoyed books like The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells and The City and the City by China Mieville, you should find much to like in this, Robert Jackson Bennett's latest offering.

I hate to say this, but this novel was a DNF for me. For 42% of the book, I tried. I really tried, but I just couldn’t get my footing in the author’s world. It comes down to two words: incongruous content.

I couldn’t make sense of the choices made in this Bennett’s world-building. Common concepts: tree, worms, lanterns, suddenly became “mai-trees” “mai-worms” “mai-laterns” for no discernible reason. The author use miles, but then introduced “smallspan” as an unexplained type of measurement. He used the term “month,” but gave them all different names like “Egan” and “Skalas,” which made creating mental timelines for the events Din and Ana were discussing impossible.

If that seems nit-picky, you’re right. It is. And I could have gotten past that…but then I was introduced to Ana and her consistent use of the “f” word. That expletive was sprinkled through the narrative like “Salt Bae” sprinkling, well, salt. Let’s just add a few here and a few there and then some more….And it ended up just as bitter tasting for me. Brandon Sanderson creates new cuss words for his characters (see: Steelheart’s “sparks”). We get what they’re saying, but it doesn’t break the narrative voice. I just don’t understand why the f-bomb felt like a good choice for every fifth word out of Ana’s mouth.

My final side-eye to the narrative comes with the use of titans and leviathans. Bennett put so much effort into creating this world with the different zones/cities (“cantons”) all of the many names for the military ranks and then includes the concept of the leviathan, a creature/character so strongly connected to the world that we know. With that inclusion, I felt like the author straight-up booted me out of his world and told me to “go back where you belong.” Which I did. 42% of the way through.

I appreciate NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Robert Jackson Bennett, Quill to Live favorite, is back with a brand new series about a pair of detectives in a world threatened by enormous sea monsters. The Tainted Cup is the first book of the Shadow of the Leviathan series and it is overflowing with dark, damp, leafy mysteries. These shadowy secrets contrast perfectly with the vibrant warm cast, all of which have full rich personalities that shine like beacons in this terrifying and stressful world. To top it all off, the beating heart of this story is a murder mystery in the style of Holmes and Watson. All of Bennett’s stories have featured delightful mysteries, but The Tainted Cup finally takes them and puts them on center stage.

So what is The Tainted Cup about? Well for one, a horrifying murder in an opulent mansion. With seemingly no warning, a high Imperial officer lies dead when a tree spontaneously erupts from his body. This is greatly surprising to everyone, but not as surprising as it could be. This world is one of alchemy and biomancy, where people from many walks of life get grafts to alter their bodies for jobs, combat, and pleasure. Grafts fundamentally change your biology, granting you things like super strength, eidetic memory, or academic aptitudes. But, even knowing all that, a tree exploding out of someone is a mystery. It likely is a deadly contagion; alchemy gone rogue or the blood of the Leviathans working strange magical changes. Oh did I not mention the Leviathans?

Society at large in this world is structured around fighting an endless stream of gigantic sea Leviathans. One season a year, they try to push their way up into the central area of the Empire, and each year the army and engineers of the empire repel them. But, every year the Leviathans seem to get bigger and harder to repel – thus the grafts of the Empire must get stronger to combat them. Anyway back to the mystery: called in to investigate is the brilliant and eccentric Ana Dolabra. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically grafted to possess a perfect memory. Due to some complications on Ana’s part, most of the sleuthing is done by Din and most of the solving is done by Ana. It’s a pairing that works incredibly well in the format of the story, as we spend all of our time in the fabulous mind of Din as he feeds information to Ana who slowly pieces together what happened.

As always with Bennett’s work, the characters are a great time. The setting is so bleak and upsetting that they really stand out against the dark. Din and Ana have great chemistry and their back-and-forth dialogue is witty and fun. The myriad of support/suspects are all dramatic and interesting, each possessing secrets that must be uncovered. Each character has their own little quirks and personalities, but they all feel like they contain a heaviness that just pervades the story. These are people who live in constant fear of immediate violent death at the hands of forces they can barely fight or control and it shows in the traumas and coping mechanisms of the people who inhabit this world. Some have vices that are disastrous toward just themselves, and others (like the rich) have crutches that are a problem for everyone. But, it wouldn’t be a Bennett novel if the rich weren’t being super problematic and I am here for it.

Speaking of great pervasive ideas in The Tainted Cup, the themes are absolutely on point. There are a number of central ideas in this story and they all feel like they pop out with clever insights through attention to detail on Bennett’s part. The biggest theme is around cause and effect, or how changes in an ecosystem have larger magnified effects. Grafts change your biology and can cause huge unexpected changes in the body. Biologically modified flora and fauna in the series are carefully studied before they are introduced to the wild. This is because previous less controlled experiments and changes to the world reaped horrifying results and untold deaths. The Leviathans themselves represent enormous mobile ecological disasters. Killing one saves the Empire from being run over, but even in death the Leviathans decompose and release alchemical agents that alter the land in wild ways. The Empire has entire military divisions for the study of ecological and alchemical change. There is a real scientific vibe throughout every one of the characters involved.

The mystery itself is enjoyable, but I think it could have been slightly grander given the focus of the book on investigation. A large portion of the book is devoted to establishing how people live under the Leviathans and it pulls the focus away from the case a bit. Yet, this presented more time for character introspection which was the best part of the book. Given that this is clearly supposed to be a mystery series I was hoping for who-dun-it to be slightly more interesting, but it’s still pretty great so I have very little to complain about. The Tainted Cup itself is a very well-contained story but is clearly planting seeds for a larger series spanning mystery. Although the first book stands well on its own, it does feel a bit like the tip of an iceberg and it left me wanting to read the next installment immediately.

As always, the Bennett trademarks are here. 1) a wonderful world that blends fantasy and modern society to create a place that feels like I could live without it being urban fantasy. 2) Deeply visceral action and a nice helping of horror mix into the story to make the entire experience of reading the book feel constantly edge-of-the-seat. 3) Characters you adore will shatter your heart at an unspecified future point in the story. 4) It is full of smart commentary on current society–generally reflecting worker class dissatisfaction with how the elite rip all the resources from the world and leave our children a burning husk to live on. So, great times all around.

The result of all of this is another banger of a first book in a series that will likely rate among my favorites. It is a safe bet that The Tainted Cup will be one of the best books this year and I wholeheartedly recommend it. I have only known Din and Ana for about a week and if anything bad happens to them I will be sending a very strongly worded letter to Bennett. Anyway, read this book, it won’t disappoint.

If you’ve been looking for a Sherlockian style mystery paired with a fantasy setting with incredible world building, run out and pick up The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet!

Our Sherlock character, Ana Dolabra, is called in to investigate the death of a high Imperial officer after a tree spontaneously bursts from his body. Ana’s incredibly brilliant yet eccentric to a fault, so she often rubs people the wrong way.

Her assistant, Dinios Kol, is an engraver, a person who has been magically altered to possess perfect memory. He’s sent to the scene of the crime to observe and report back to Ana, who rarely leaves her home. But Dinios has secrets of his own, and he’s afraid that if Ana finds out, all he’s worked for might fall apart.

If you’ve read The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennet, you know that he has an amazing imagination. He can create worlds that I’ve never seen before in fantasy. He’s done that again in The Tainted Cup. In fact, it’s hard to decide if I enjoyed the inventiveness and intricacies of the magic and political structure of the world, the banter and growing friendship between Ana and Dinios, or how the complexity of the mystery and plot.

I usually find in a fantasy that contains a mystery, either the fantasy or mystery element is lacking. Not so here! Both are equally as strong. The Shadow of the Leviathan series still has so many mysteries and aspects of this interesting world to uncover and explore, that I’m insanely excited to read the sequel!

Highly recommended!

*Thank you to NetGalley and DelRey Books for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

“Perhaps it is a wise thing, to prepare for death every day, just as the Empire prepares for death every wet season.”

In a backwater canton, too close to the sea walls where leviathans try to come ashore every wet season for comfort, an officer of the Imperial army is murdered in a bizarre fashion--a tree has sprouted from his body. Investigator Ana Dolabra and her assistant Dinios Kol are assigned to the case, and their investigation soon leads them to Talagray, a city bordering the sea walls, just as the wet season begins. As they dive into this mystery, they discover a conspiracy that involves ten dead Engineers, a dangerous contagion, and a destroyed canton. What begins as a single murdered officer evolves into a plot that threatens the entire Empire.

“For if my conjectures prove true, we shall unmask a murderer—and a great deal more than that. Or we shall get all our throats slit.”

I loved this. It was a wild ride from start to finish. This is a murder mystery set in a sci-fi world where people are altered to have special abilities and giant monsters emerge from the sea every year. In any other book, the focus would be on the sea leviathans. Instead, we get thrown headfirst into a conspiracy that involves several murders, mysterious keys, poisons, and corruption. Every time I thought something was solved, a new mystery emerged. The plot, once it started, continued without stopping. I could not put this down. This was a masterfully plotted book, where I felt the only stones left unturned where the ones left for the sequel book. The ending felt abrupt, but only because I so desperately wanted more. I eagerly anticipate the second book in the trilogy.

The characters here were phenomenal. I adored Ana from the moment she was introduced to the very end. She's a delightful mad genius, while Din is an inexperienced but pragmatic assistant. They play off each other incredibly, though I admit that I expected Ana to be the protagonist from the description. However, Din did not disappoint; I would not trade his narration for anything.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey and Robert Jackson Bennett for the opportunity to review an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars
includes: a dyslexic protagonist, hints at a queer character/romance, and a phenomenal murder mystery
book recommendation: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (for another excellent plotted mystery)
song recommendation: Jessica Jones Main Title - Sean Callery
TW: body horror

Robert Jackson Bennett's "The Tainted Cup" is not just a detective story, it's an immersive experience that blends fantasy, mystery, and intrigue into a potent concoction that will leave you breathless. Stepping into the world of "The Tainted Cup" is like entering a captivating painting; vibrant and detailed, with shadows lurking at the edges.

The story revolves around Ana Dolabra, a brilliant and eccentric detective whose methods are as unorthodox as her blindfold. Alongside her is Dinios Kol, her ever-faithful assistant, whose enhanced memory serves as a perfect foil to Ana's intuition. The murder they investigate is unlike any other: a high-ranking official found dead, a tree inexplicably erupting from his body. This seemingly impossible crime sets the stage for a thrilling chase that delves into the heart of political corruption, ancient magic, and the true cost of power.

Bennett's world-building is masterful. He paints a vivid picture of a society grappling with the remnants of a leviathan attack, where magic mingles with technology and danger lurks around every corner. The characters, both major and minor, are richly drawn, each with their own motivations and secrets. Ana Dolabra, in particular, is a captivating protagonist – sharp, witty, and shrouded in mystery. Her dynamic with Dinios is one of the highlights of the book, providing both humor and emotional depth.

The mystery itself is intricately woven, with each new clue leading to a deeper layer of conspiracy. Bennett keeps you guessing until the very end, masterfully juggling red herrings and unexpected twists. The resolution is satisfying, tying together the various threads while leaving enough room for further exploration in future installments.

"The Tainted Cup" is more than just a detective story; it's a commentary on power, corruption, and the human condition. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, leaving you eager to dive back into this captivating world and unravel its remaining secrets. If you're looking for a unique and engrossing read, "The Tainted Cup" is an absolute must.

This book was absolutely amazing! We are following Din, assistant investigator of Ana who is so eccentric, hilarious and intriguing. The mysterious death of a man found with a tree growing out of his chest reads very much like a Sherlock and Watson situation. The world building is very interesting and the author did a fantastic job of describing the setting without confusing the reader. The pacing was perfect, there is queer representation and I cannot wait to read the second book and hopefully learn more about the Leviathans and this world.

This was a fun, twisty murder mystery set in a fantasy world. The Sherlock Holmes-Watson pair in this mystery are head investigator Ana Dolabra and new assistant Dinios Kol. The story is told from Kol's point of view which I thought was an excellent choice.

Dolabra and Kol are tasked with investigating the bizarre death of a high ranking official at an influential family's mansion. Kol has been enhanced to be an engraver who is altered to remember everything that he encounters. At the same time, it is the rainy season when huge leviathans come towards the land of the empire with only the enormous sea walls for protection. Is this murder and a recent breach at the wall related? It is up to Ana and Din to find out.

The world building and pacing in this book were excellent. There were many clues sprinkled throughout but plenty of twists that I didn't see coming. Everyone seems to have a secret and it was fun to read about Din's reactions to everything around him and working on his first case. I think that fans of mystery or fantasy can find something to like here. I loved the characters of Ana and Din and look forward to reading more adventures.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

If you love fantasy novels and murder mysteries, The Tainted Cup is the perfect read. While I felt it was a little hard to get into, I ended up hooked. I loved the characters, especially Ana, whose dry wit was my favorite part of the book. I would have preferred more world building, as I think it would have made some aspects of the book less confusing. Overall, I thought it was a fun and engaging read. Din and Ana are an investigative duo that I can’t wait to read more of. I’ll definitely be back for the next in the series!

An imperial officer in Daretana is killed when a tree erupts from his body. Beyond the Empire’s borders, illness, contagion, and the blood of the leviathans create impossible damage. Ana Dolabra is the brilliant but eccentric detective sent to investigate the death, and she has the magically altered Dinios Kol as her assistant. She's odd but effective, and he's often perplexed by her abilities. The two begin to close in on the murderer, uncovering a scheme that threatens the Empire. Din also wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe.

This is the first book of the Shadow of the Leviathan series. (If this is like his other works, it'll be a trilogy.) When we open with Din arriving at the scene of the death, Ana isn't even present. She prefers to draw conclusions while in her own home, far from the scene, and military officers are understandably surprised. In this opening we learn about the military ranks, the alterations that can be had through magic or money, and the way even in fantasy worlds, there's the desire to haze the new guy. Din's skill as an engraver is fascinating: the magical alteration gives him an eidetic memory, and he has trouble reading. He has his workarounds, and we have a very good picture of his life and the world he lives in within a short period of time. The little details that he sees are pulled together rapidly to paint a picture of how and who killed the officer, but that opens up more questions than answers.

This is a murder mystery set in a fantasy world where augmentations serve the greater Empire. The areas closest to the water are most at risk of leviathans breaching the walls and coming ashore, killing thousands due to their sheer size and the aberrations their blood will create. At the same time, the elite families and the military rub shoulders, jockeying for power and trying to get more prestige and money. Din is a stickler for rules, which at once hamstrings and saves him; we discover eventually why he has trouble reading, why certain tasks are easy for him to mimic, and why Ana selected him to be her assistant in her great work in the area.

This is such a fascinating and engrossing read; I devoured the novel quickly. I love the details in the world-building, how the minor details we think are just descriptions of the areas actually are important in Ana's case as she searches for the truth and justice. Sometimes justice can't be achieved, as the function of most offices is to maintain the Empire for the ordinary folk to continue living. At other times, justice comes after all.

Read 2.19 - 2.20.2024
DNF @30%

This book just wasn't for me. I am still rather new to the Fantasy genre and I have found it has to grab me from the very first or I am just not into it and unfortunately, this did not grab me and I spent a good portion of the 30% being slightly confused at just what was going on [the world-building was just not enough for me I guess], along with being completely put off by [what I have deemed] the gratuitous language by the one character [that also seemed V E R Y jarring with both the world and with how everyone else spoke] and not really loving any of the characters. It is disappointing as I am always hopeful that I will find a new Fantasy series to like/love; it is not to be with this one.

I have given this two stars because there were some moments that I enjoyed what I was listening to [a HUGE plus to an excellent narrator; I highly recommend him] and also, I can see how anyone who truly loves the Fantasy genre would get into this book and I would recommend it to those I know who fit that bill.

I was asked to read/review this book by the publishers and I'd like to thank them [Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Del Rey] along with NetGalley and the author, Robert Jackson Bennett for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my very first by RJB and it certainly wont be my last. Every bit of hype that I have heard surrounding his writing is absolutely true!

Gritty and engaging,The Tainted Cup, is a story and world that readers will become fully immersed in. It boasts an accessible but intriguing magic system that will appeal to both veteran and new fantasy readers. The plot is twisting and fast paced, giving the story an addictive quality. The Characters each felt multidimensional and delightfully flawed, a few walking the line of unlikable. The World-building really drew me in with it's layered and evocative fantasy setting. Much like the magic system felt incredibly accessible without being "dumbed down".

This one is worthy of your 2024 TBR!!

Wonderful, exciting story with beautiful imagery. It was great to retreat from reality and be totally immersed in the world the author created. Fantasy is not one of my favorite genres, but this book may have changed that fact. It is so much more. A murder mystery, colorful, interesting characters, and witty dialog made for a fun and enjoyable book. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.