Murder mystery meets fantasy in this thrilling novel series, essentially merging two of my favorite genres into one book. Although, The Tainted Cup marks the beginning of Shadow of the Leviathan series, I assure you it does not end in a cliffhanger and the mystery is solved by the end.

The vivid portrayal of the Empire, encompassing its people, their culture and socioeconomic classes, and the utilization of plants as a unique magic system, was phenomenal. Within this fantastical realm, we encounter a Holmes-Watson-like duo, Din and Ana. Din works as Ana's assistant . He handles much of the legwork and Ana is more of the mystery solver. While Din and Ana may be opposites, their complementary dynamic enhances the story, making it even more engaging to read.

When delving into any murder-mystery material, avoiding predictability is crucial to preserving the thrill and excitement. Fortunately, The Tainted Cup does not disappoint in this regard. Most of my predictions were a little off because of the unexpected twists adding layers of intrigue.

While the main mystery is resolved, there were quite a few unanswered questions linger, making me anticipate for the next book. Overall, The Tainted Cup is a captivating read, I highly recommend it, especially mystery lovers looking to explore fantasy. It serves as a good gateway to the fantasy genre for every reader.

What a change from his normal works! This was an enthralling fantasy mystery novel that branched out from Robert Jackson Bennett's other works. A kooky and unique story.

While this book started off a little confusing, it quickly started to draw me in. It’s fantasy, but not really in the way you’d expect. There’s a sort of magic system, but not in the typical sense. It’s one that’s rather hard to explain, but which I enjoyed. It involves people who have been given grafts to augment certain abilities – strength, memory, looks. These people can hold certain jobs and perform certain tasks, and all of this is integrated into the story and world very well. It might take a minute to understand at the beginning, but once you do it is quite enjoyable. This book also gave me major Sherlock Holmes vibes regarding the two main characters and the mystery in the plot. It’s not a bad thing – I love Sherlock Holmes, and it almost felt like a new take on the character, while still being completely original. There were also faint hints of Attack on Titan, though it isn’t a huge resemblance, and not nearly as depressing and such.

The book starts off right at the beginning of a murder investigation and throws you into the world of augments and their abilities. However, instead of being a simple murder investigation, it quickly becomes a much larger plot with many supporting characters and lots of threads to follow. As you move along, the leviathans are introduced - huge creatures that the world is desperately trying to stave off. Not much information is given on them - we don't why they do what they do or why they have changed over the years, just that they have. I'm guessing this could possibly be revealed in future books, along with more information on the Empire itself, and on our main characters. While there is a lot of info given on Din, Ana remains mostly a mystery. I am quite interested to see how this series continues and am looking forward to the next book.

To say I was excited for Robert Jackson Bennett’s latest release, The Tainted Cup, would be an understatement. I’ve been a fan of his writing since I first read his novella Vigilance in early 2020. He could write an encyclopedia, and I’d probably still be there on Day 1 to read it. Even so, The Tainted Cup couldn’t be more perfect for me if it tried. It’s one tangled web of spies, warring houses, and mysterious deaths. Did I mention literal sea monsters are trying to destroy everything?

If someone pulled all my favorite tropes, threw in my ideal character archetypes, and combined them into one book, it would be The Tainted Cup. There’s intrigue, ecological disaster, spores of a deadly infectious contagion, and cyberpunk-like body enhancement – all in an epic fantasy setting. Subterfuge abounds, and things are never quite as they seem. After a mysterious death, where a tree-like growth sprouts from the chest of an Imperial officer, some begin to suspect a murderer may be on the loose. There’s a team on the case, though, even if the investigators don’t look all that impressive.

I adored Din and Ana, the two Imperial investigators tasked with solving the murders in The Tainted Cup. The publisher markets the book as a Holmes and Watson-like mystery. And, yes, it certainly is that. I would argue Ana and Din have bits and pieces of several different mystery detectives and sidekicks, though. Din seems to have more of Agatha Christie's Hastings than he has of Watson, and Ana has quite a bit of Poirot. At times, Ana even has hints of Columbo, asking questions when she obviously knows the answer. Ana and Din pair so well together, and their friendship makes this book really special.

Aside from Ana and Din, the secondary characters, even the suspicious ones, make this story sparkle. The stand-outs for me were Captain Miljin, a worn-down former military officer, Itonia Nusis, a super-smart medical scientist, and Kepheus Strovi, a gentry-born man turned military officer. By the end of the book, I didn't want to leave them, Ana, or Din behind.

Final Thoughts:

The Tainted Cup is for mystery lovers, fantasy lovers, and those who love a genre-bending read. While it's a great murder mystery, there's so much depth to the fantasy world outside of the main mystery. With two more books planned, according to Goodreads, I'm sure this series will be talked about for a long, long time.

Rating: 5+/5 stars. I expect this to be one of my favorite books of the month, if not the year.

Thanks to Del Rey for an advanced review copy! All thoughts are my own.

*** blog post on Back Shelf Books will go live on February 7, 2024, (the day after publication) as requested.

Happy pub day to The Tainted Cup!

This was such a unique book! It’s basically mystery meets fantasy, and it reminded me of a video game - you know, the ones where you have to question all the villagers to solve who murdered the king or what not. The world building was complex and thorough, and I really enjoyed the place the author created. I loved the characters, especially Ana who was kind of a mash up of Benoit Blanc and Professor X à la Logan. And I thought the mystery was intricately plotted and fun to follow.

My only (minor) complaint was that there was so much going on that it felt a bit dense, but overall it I enjoyed this one of a kind mystery! Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC!

There seems to be so much promise with this series and I genuinely cannot wait to read more of it.I gave this a 4.5 star. It was super close to perfection, but there are a few moments around the middle that I didn't really find myself caring about much. Still, it was a ton of fun. The magic system is interest, but I also feel it kind of leans towards sci-fi. People and living things are being genetically altered to be able to do specific things that is needed. A ton of fun and intrigue.

The Tainted Cup is a Sherlock-and-Holmes-style murder mystery by fantasy author Robert Jackson Bennett, set in a dystopian fantasy world. In the Empire, all civilians live under the shadow of the Leviathans - great sea creatures that seasonally attack the walls and try to come ashore and wreak havoc. Rather than using electricity or metal, the majority of technological advances have been made with plants, whose growth and properties have been altered by the blood of the Leviathans.

The main character, Din, has been altered using grafts to become someone who remembers everything he sees and experiences, perfectly. As a result, he is the perfect addition to the Iudex - the portion of the Empire dedicated to solving crimes. When he is paired with Ana, an eccentric genius who spends most of her time blindfolded to avoid overstimulation, and sent to the very edges of the Empire as a trainee assistant, he is completely unprepared for the case that awaits him. A well-known, well-liked general has been found dead in a wealthy family's country home. The cause of death? A tree has sprouted from his chest and grown through his body. As Ana and Din work to solve the murder, they uncover more death and corruption. The only thing that seems to be missing is answers.

This was such a fun read! I loved the magic system in this book, it felt like plant steampunk, with superpowers. It was a really fun addition to the murder mystery - who could have seen in the dark? Who would be strong enough to do this? I enjoyed the twist on Sherlock and Holmes with Din having perfect memory and Ana being the one to make sense of all of his recollections. Highly recommended!

✅ Fantasy murder mystery
✅ Disability rep: dyslexia/neurodivergence
✅ Queer main character
✅ Sherlock and Holmes style investigative duo

Thank you so much to Robert Jackson Bennett and Del Rey for this ARC through NetGalley. The Tainted Cup is out today!

Intricate plotting and fun characters make this detective fantasy impossible to put down. A great start to the series. 5/5 stars!

Happy publication day to the Tainted Cup!

In this fantastical world, you follow Din, the assistant to Investigator Ana, as they unravel the mysteries of the Empire’s inner workings following a series of unusual murders. I never knew I needed a fantasy version of Sherlock Holmes, but I am so glad that it exists!

The world of the Tainted Cup feels like a mesh between Pacific Rim, Attack on Titan, and the Ghibli world of Nassicca. Bennett did a fantastic job creating a world that felt lived in and real while not making it overwhelming for the reader. There is not a single moment when I thought the world-building was getting in the way of the story, which can be hard to find in a lot of fantasy books.

I adored Din and Ana’s relationship throughout the story. The quirky investigator and her assistant have my whole heart and truly it’s their relationship and interactions that made this book fantastic! The mystery itself was captivating. Bennett writes in a way that allows the reader to fully participate in the investigation as well. Each revelation feels earned and makes the overall mystery so much more engaging than most. Get ready for a lot of twists and turns as friends become enemies and foes become friends.

I also love that this book is self-contained. There is no need to wait for the next book to finish the story and it was amazing to not feel trapped into reading a massive fantasy series. That being said I cannot wait to see more of Din and Ana's future adventures and more of this fantastical world.

This book is perfect for any fantasy lover and it lived up to the hype as my most anticipated read of the year!

Thank you so much to Robert Jackson Bennett and Netgalley for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Tainted Cup is a mystery, a fantasy, and political intrigue all rolled into one entertaining story. Dinios Kol is an engraver, physically altered to engrave his observations into his memory, using various scents to recall what he has seen and heard. As the apprentice assistant to Inspector Ana Dolabra he is called in to inspect his first death. Commander Bas died when a tree sprouted from his body. When Din reports back to Dolabra she recognizes this as a contagious spore that had previously spread and eventually destroyed a city. Living in the outer rim of the empire, there is a constant threat of a breach in the sea wall protecting them from the leviathans. When a large breach does occur, Dolabra and Din are called on to investigate. The breach was caused when several engineers working on the wall died in the same manner as Bas. There has been ten similar deaths of people who had been secretly meeting with Bas for an unknown reason. With the empire in danger, Dolabra and Din need to find the mastermind behind the threat.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s story has an air of menace but is also infused with humor. Dolabra is the most intelligent investigator in the empire. Conflicts in her past have resulted in her post in the outer rim. She is an intimidating character who prefers to be blindfolded as she works. Din has secrets of his own. He has trouble reading and failed most of his exams, yet his ability as an engraver makes him invaluable. He is Watson to Dolabra’s Sherlock and they make a wonderful team. This is the first book in the Shadows of the Leviathan series. While the characters and the setting are well developed, there is so much left to explore that it will leave you looking forward to future stories. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing this book for my review.

The Tainted Cup is my first book by Robert Jackson Bennett. I own his Founders Trilogy, but I haven’t read it yet. I am really excited to do so now. I went into this book pretty blind, and I’m glad I did. It’s a murder mystery with a whole unique fantasy world!

The world-building in this book was easy to follow. Considering it’s a unique world, I was surprised I didn’t get lost. It might be my heavy fantasy background. There are leviathans trying to break down the walls and take the cities. They have learned to use the leviathans blood to make all kinds of enhancements. It’s a really cool aspect of the story and where the murder mystery comes in. There are two different stories going on- the leviathans and the murder mystery. I think Bennett did a fabulous job working both of them together. I never had issues with the pacing, and read this one rather quickly.

My favorite thing about this book are the characters, Ana in particular. She refuses to leave her home and always has a blind fold. Yet, she sees and knows things that are almost impossible. Is she mad, or is she just a genius? The way her mind worked throughout the book was so fascinating, and this could be my psychology background talking. She was also very witty and helped break up of the tenser moments. Din is her apprentice in training, and I loved their relationship. His story was interesting, and I was happy with his character growth in the book.

I don’t want to talk about the murder mystery too much. I refuse to spoil anything, but I want to say that it was great! I’m pretty good at figuring these out, and there were things that surprised me! I love how we get a wrap up at the end. If there are future books (I hope so), it they would be a different case.

I had such a great time with this book, and I cannot wait to read more by Bennett! The heavy fantasy world really made the murder mystery a bit more fun. I really hope to see Ana again and her antics. If you are fan of either genre, you would enjoy this!

Many thanks to Del Rey and Netgalley for an e-arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Tainted Cup is my first read by Robert Jackson Bennett and it felt like a good choice. I wasn't sure what to expect since I knew a mystery was at the heart of the story and yet it was a fantasy. So often I feel that the mystery gets buried in service to the fantasy element. Not with The Tainted Cup. It felt like a solid mystery built in a fantasy world.

The book opens with the inspector's assistant (Din) going to inspect the crime scene where a dead body of an Imperial officer has been found. Din has been altered (the magic system here is very cool) so he can remember everything perfectly, so he's able to report back to the inspector (Ana-one of my favorite characters) without her ever stepping foot in the scene. (In fact, she spends a lot of the time blindfolded both at home and elsewhere, so that she's better able to receive the information versus being distracted by outside stimuli.)

The book takes place in a world surrounded by a series of walls protecting the empire from the sea--a sea full of leviathans that wreak havoc on the nation. No place is more dangerous than those in the outer rings, where our book takes place.

I think this book will appeal to people who love a good mystery. Also fans of fantasy. And if you're a mystery lover who'd like to dip your toes into fantasy, this would be a great start!

Pros:
- wonderful worldbuilding (bonus points for tons of in-world references!)
- interesting complex characters
- an intriguing Watson/Holmes dynamic

Cons:
- a slow start; it took me a bit to get invested
- a lot of characters were introduced very quickly in the first chapter that I had to really focus to keep them straight (although this could be a me thing)

Overall, this was an enjoyable book with characters that were intriguing. I'm interested to see if any other books take place in this world. Many thanks to the publisher for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Despite friends telling me I should read his work, The Tainted Cup is actually the first book I’ve read by Robert Jackson Bennett. And I have to say it was not exactly what I expected. This is as much of a mystery as it is a fantasy, perhaps even more so. Or perhaps I should say it’s a mystery set within a fantasy world. While there is something odd about his style (don’t ask me to elaborate further because I honestly can’t really explain it any better than that, lol) I have to admit that from the opening, where we are first introduced to Dinios Kol—new assistant to investigator Anagosa Dolabra, with the start of the investigation into a murder in which a person has been killed by having a tree grow right through them, I was intrigued. The book features quite the eclectic cast of characters as well as a well thought out mystery (though a few things are telegraphed). While I read a lot of mysteries as well as fantasy novels, reading the blending of the two, especially with it being more heavily weighted to the mystery side, was quite a fresh experience. I’ll be interested seeing where Mr Bennett takes the series. I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Tainted Cup.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2B0O1UMPUHNS9/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

There is a TikTok sound that I keep hearing that goes something like "What book did you know 20 pages in was going to be 5 stars" and this book fits that perfectly.

I requested this ARC because this book was on a goodreads most anticipated releases of 2024 list. I had heard of Foundryside but never read anything by Robert Jackson Bennett. I also didn't bother reading a synopsis so I had no read idea what this book was about going into it other than it was Fantasy.

This ended up being a Sherlock Holmes-esque murder mystery set in a dark Fantasy world. Our prospective character is Dinios, an apprentice investigator whose magical abilities give him a photographic memory. He works for Ana, who is the perfect amount of weird and bitchy (easily my favorite character). The investigation starts with a man who died because a tree explode out of his lungs (I'm sold on this fantasy world already).

The world building and magic system are unique and well done, the characters are intriguing, and although I've never been interested in a murder mystery in my life, I was quickly sold on this one. Give me a well written unlikeable female character and a sprinkle of a gay romance and apparently I'm sold.

I recommend this to readers who want a cross over between fantasy and murder mystery or those loving one and looking to explore the other.

Complex fantasy world meets Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot? Count me in! This book was not oversold in this description, it was absolutely an intriquing mystery where every little detail matters along the lines of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot set in a unique and fascinating fantasy setting that I could not get enough of.

Din is an apprentice to an eccentric, but extraordinary investigator, Anna, who has been banished to the furthest reaches of the empire where the greatest crime seems to pay fraud until one day there is a shocking murder of a high-ranking officer. It is soon clear that there is much more going on with this crime when more murders lead to a dangerous breach that threatens the entire empire and the lives of all who live within its walls.

I loved every moment of this book. I grew up reading every Agatha Christie I could get my hands on, and this perfectly captured a Christie style mystery in the best possible way. The devil is definitely in the details with this one and while I did catch a few of them, I certainly missed more clue than I caught, which is exactly what I want in a mystery such as this.

I would have liked more world building in the beginning of the book as I was a little lost on the fantasy aspect of the story for the first half of the book. However, it did all come together and start ultimately the world did make sense. The confusion I had with the world did not take away from the mystery, so I was still completely engrossed in the story even though I was a bit confused.

I am thrilled that this will be a series and I will be waiting anxiously for the next book in the series because I can already tell this is a series I will not be able to get enough of.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily.

This was super fun. Definitely fits true for if Knives Out was a fantasy. I've never read Robert Jackson Bennett before, and this was a great introduction. I really enjoyed that it was high fantasy with great world building and detail, but also easy to consume and a really fun ride. I didn't love that this book went with the looming villain vs present villain, as it did make the stakes feel a bit lower. However, the crime fighting detective aspects definitely made up for it and I don't think I've ever read a similar book which is really cool. The characters were interesting and complex, the pacing was fine. Not as quick as is my preference, but again, very consumable and kept me wanting to turn the page.

This novel is amazing and engaging. Every part of it is meticulously crafted and done very well. The fantasy and world building are excellent. The murder mystery and reveal is astonishing. The characters relationships and dynamics are refreshing. I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down!

The Tainted Cup is a sci-fi novel mixed with a good old fashioned mystery. I'm not a huge sci-fi fan but never felt like it was going to much in that direction. It's a great mystery and th writing is very visual that you can almost feel yourself jumping into the pages. The story revolves around a man found dead and Din an his boss Ana try to figure out is poisoning people with a plant that makes trees grow out of people. I never felt bored reading this book and recently found out that's only part one in a series. I highly recommend people who are not used to reading sci-fi give it a chance. I had no idea it was sci-fi when I started reading it and felt like maybe I should read more sci-fi. I won't give much more away because that wouldn't be nice in solving the mystery. Thank you to #netgalley and #randonhouse for the arc. Can't wait for the nect book in the series!

I love fantasy and murder mysteries so this was right up my alley! This book has such an interesting and unique world, political intrigue, and excellent main characters.

Ana and Din make quite the investigative duo. Din is an engraver, which in this world means he has been enhanced to have perfect recall. He starts out a little stiff and by the book. He is Ana's apprentice and trying to make a good impression. He also has a reading and writing disability, and I liked how it was portrayed and handled. Now I've seen Ana compared to Dr. House from the TV show and that's a decent comparison. But I'd liken her more to Edna from the Incredibles - whip smart, incredibly blunt, and about 10 steps ahead of everyone. She comes off a little unhinged in the absolute best way.

And the plot.. what started out like a simple murder mystery grew into a complicated web of interconnected crimes. I thought the author laid out just enough for the reader to be able to guess some things and for the reveals to be believable.

I really enjoyed the world set up in this book and am looking forward to more books set in it. It took me a little while to grasp, but overall it's very interesting and I'm eager for more.

I think my only complaint is it felt a little slow in the beginning. But I was also purposely reading slow trying to decipher the world. So may have just been the way I was reading. I probably could have charged forward a bit faster without losing any comprehension. But I love to pick apart a mystery and see if I can solve it before the reveal, so I was going quite slow and even rereading bits.

So overall, I think this was a really strong start to the series. Also, everything from the mystery does get wrapped up, so you could read this as a standalone. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy and/or mystery.

Thanks to the author, Del Rey books, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley for my advance copy of The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett.

Happy release day! The Tainted Cup is out now and I would highly recommend it for those who enjoy a good Holmes/Watson dynamic knee deep in a high fantasy world.

This book has a fantastic mystery and an immersive world. The humor and wit is dry, but I find that enjoyable. I loved the dynamic between the two main characters Din and Ana. I love that there is no romantic relationship between them just like in the TV show Elementary. You can tell they care for each other in their own unique ways and I really enjoyed the quips that came from that.

Din has been magically altered to be an engraver, so anything he sees he remembers and can recount exactly as it was which comes in handy when trees are sprouting from people and killing them in the process. And Ana, can solve a crime without ever leaving her room which is helpful because of some of her own unique quirks, but she needs Din's help to do solve this one!

The only things I found I didn't care for in this book are what I consider to be unnecessary swearing and a miniscule romantic relationship that felt like it was just tossed in there to check a box (not all books need romance!). Though there were some cute aspects of it that brought a smile to my face it did not add to the story in any way especially in relation to how the characters behaved the rest of the story and with how the book ended, but it is the first in a series so maybe the author will find a way to make it have more significance, though I honestly don't think it needs it. I personally feel this story and the dynamic between all the characters is strong enough on it's own without any sort of romance arc.
The swearing felt misplaced considering the world and who the characters are and how they behave, but others might not have any issue with it.

I will definitely be reading the rest of this series and can't wait to find out what happens next!