4.5 stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading The Tainted Cup. Fantasy and mystery (especially Holmes & Watson-style mysteries) are my favorite genres, and this book is the perfect blend of the two.

The fantasy elements (I think this really leans more towards sci-fantasy) are relevant to the mystery without overpowering it, well-explained, and fascinating – I loved the premise of technology based in the alteration of organic matter. and the various kinds of abilities that the characters had acquired through alterations. I also felt like the way that the different abilities interwove with the imperial structure and bureaucracy of Khanum made sense and made for a compelling world that felt believable.

The mystery was equally strong, and didn't take a backseat to the fantasy worldbuilding. I appreciated the way the clues were laid out, and that there were continuously new clues throughout; it felt like I was trying to solve the mystery right alongside Din, which is my favorite vibe for a mystery. I think the solution was satisfying and I liked the way everything wrapped up.

Speaking of Din, I thought he was a great protagonist to follow: straight-laced, stoic, and competent, while also anxious and insecure. He was relatable and so easy to root for. I also particularly loved his relationship with his employer, Ana Dolabra. They have very different personalities, and it was clear that although their relationship was complex and sometimes difficult, there was a genuine sense of care and companionship there as well. Din also formed new relationships with some of the side characters that I think influenced the story in interesting ways.

I do have a few small quibbles with this book that I want to mention. First, there were a few moments of over-explanation, where I think the descriptions got a little too into the weeds. This was pretty minimal, though, and didn't take me out of the story too much. Second, I think the books themes are about as subtle as a brick to the face; if you don't like your messages super blatant, this may not be the book for you. However, I really liked the books themes, and especially its conversations about justice and power, so again, this didn't really take away from my enjoyment. Lastly – and perhaps the one thing that did take away from my enjoyment – I think a few of the character relationships outside of Din & Ana were a little underdeveloped. I loved the progression of Din's relationship with Miljin; however, I think that Din's relationship with Strovi was underdeveloped, given where it leaves off at the end of this book. I think I would've found it more believable if the characters had spent more time together, beyond a single evening of investigation and a handful of short conversations. I think that would've made the ending more impactful. Likewise, I would've liked to know more about Uhad, Kalista, and Nusis (and especially Uhad's relationship with Ana) as I feel like that would've made the last few chapters more gut-wrenching.

Those criticisms aside, though, I loved this book, and I absolutely will be continuing on with future books in the series. I would highly recommend this to mystery lovers wanting to get into fantasy, and fantasy lovers who like a unique magic/technology system.

This was my first read from Robert Jackson Bennett, but it certainly won't be my last. I loved this book so much. This was heavy on the mystery and set in a wonderful fantasy setting. Din and Ana have a Holmes/Watson kind of relationship - Ana is super eccentric and Din is a newly appointed assistant investigator. A mysterious murder unravels even more secrets and conspiracies. I enjoyed this thoroughly

The Tainted Cup is a murder mystery set in a unique fantasy world. It features an unlikely duo made up of an eccentric detective, Ana, who doesn’t like to leave her home and a young assistant, Din, who has never worked a murder case. We follow Ana and Din as they try to search for the truth and all while they hope the city's walls protect them from the real threat, the leviathans. The Tainted Cup is perfect for those that enjoyed Mark Gatiss’ Sherlock and Attack on Titan.

-4 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided by the publisher—Del Rey Books—in exchange for an honest review.

Bennett has written something here that is absolutely impossible to put down. The world in The Tainted Cup is a harsh one with biologically enhanced humans fighting off massive kaiju-like creatures to ensure humanity's survival. A little Attack on Titan with it's structure of walls and the corruption that can effect government and officials running the inner and outer walls. That is where a lot of the comparisons stop as Bennett builds a world shaped by altered plants, keys that open poisonous doors, and all all types of nearly magical "corruptions" that the blood of these towering monsters can cause. This is a stunning backdrop for a murder mystery where our photographic-memory-enhanced Assistant Detective point-of-view character, Dinios Kol, works with his boss and eccentric investigator Ana Dolabra to solve the murder of an Engineer in a small part of the empire.

I found Bennett's writing very funny and enjoyed his usage of vocabulary immensely (this is about the use of the word "fuck," which is deployed frequently to my personal delight). The actual way he builds the mystery works well and the world building reveals are the beautiful buds on a twisted and wonderful tree. This is an easy book to recommend.

This was, unfortunately, not my vibe. It's like…a fantasy fused with a murder mystery which could have been a fun mash-up…but the execution of it just didn’t work for me. The concept was interesting but the writing style was so mechanical. It felt like it was trying to be pretentious but also casually crude…it was weird. The dialogue was stiff and unnatural, the characters were one dimensional. Kol was pretty much devoid of personality, while Ana just seemed fake and forced. She reminded me of a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Captain Amelia from Treasure Planet…but in all of the annoying ways without any of the charm. I really struggled to get through this and definitely won't be wanting to read it again.

My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice level: 0 🌶️

Read if you like:
▫️gender-swapped Sherlock Holmes
▫️murder mystery
▫️sass and deadpan humor
▫️wholly original universe

This book was out of my usual genres, but was so good! Ana is just as eccentric and strange as Sherlock Holmes, but she is also delightfully snarky and has some great one liners. Din is a rule-follower and grudgingly puts up with Ana’s nonsense, but comments on her shenanigans with his dry wit. I loved their relationship.

My favorite part of the book was the world itself. Between the dystopian society, the enhancements that humans can undergo, the imaginative use of plants, and the threat of leviathans, I was fully immersed in the background of this book. The author truly brought it to life and created a vivid world that was well thought out and imaginative.

The world building was detailed, the characters were compelling, and the murder mystery had the right amount of twists to keep me engaged. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced science-fi fantasy read.

ARC: Thank you to Del Rey, NetGalley, and Robert Jackson Bennett for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett was flipping fantastic. It's so fun to read a whole new world by Jackson Bennett and I'm happy that I was given the opportunity to read it. As always, the characters are flushed out and three dimensional. The storyline was original and kept me entertained and intrigued the entire time reading it. Robert Jackson Bennett has a way of writing creating characters and worlds that you can't help but love. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great fantasy read.

The people of the Empire engage in magic of a sort: genetic enhancements give people superhuman abilities ranging from impossible strength to eidetic memory. One such person is Dinios Kol, an engraver — so named because he can "engrave" anything he sees or hears into his memory permanently. Now he's serving as the new assistant to Ana Dolabra, a brilliant but eccentric investigator who insists on wearing a blindfold at nearly all times and refuses to leave her home.

Their first case together in distant Daretana is a grisly murder: a nobleman killed after a tree has grown out of him. As Ana begins to put the pieces together with Din's help, the bodies continue to stack up. Worse still, there are leviathians at the walls, threatening the Empire and its people once again. And the walls are weakening... suspiciously so. Under Ana's tutelage, Din helps to solve a mystery that twists and turns through the Empire's upper eschelons — and learns more about his own abilities as well.

The Tainted Cup is a must-read if you're looking for Sherlock Holmes-style fiction that isn't yet another straightforward Holmesian detective. Ana and Din build on the Holmes and Watson relationship in their own way, adding a brilliant layer of fantasy worldbuilding. Moreover, the story's revelations about Ana and Din are just as rewarding as the mystery itself. While the book wraps satisfyingly, I would love nothing more than further adventures with this pair.

This is a story of murder, power, and revenge. It’s a genre mashup of fantasy, murder mystery, steampunk, with epic world building. The Tainted Cup is the first in Robot Jackson Bennett’s new series Shadow of the Leviathan. I was instantly hooked in this moody, atmospheric, fast paced read.

When a high ranking official is killed at a wealthy family’s country estate Investigator Ana Dolabra sends her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Koi is an engraver, genetically enhanced to map and remember every aspect of a location. The relationship between Ana and Din has Sherlock and Holmes vibes, playing off one another extremely well. As they gather information we become aware of social hierarchy, alliances, betrayal, all while their world is being threatened. I loved Din’s evolution, how he navigated the changing landscape.

This is a fantasy book for non fantasy readers in the way Addie Larue is. While there’s no doubt it’s fantasy, at the heart it’s about the mystery, the journey of this new assistant Din in a world that is quickly shifting. I recommend for those that love murder mysteries that have an extra element, and those that looking for dystopian fantasy. The series is scheduled to have three books.

I received an early copy from the publisher @delreybooks @randomhouse via @netgalley

I’ve never read this author before, but I’ll certainly be looking for his books in the future. A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this first of a new series introducing Detective Ana Dolabra and her magically altered assistant Dinios Kol. Both fantasy and mystery readers alike will love this unique setting and plot. Although “The Tainted Cup” is labeled as “Book 1,” this is a complete story. Thank you for the opportunity to read in advance!

The Tainted Cup
by Robert Jackson Bennett
Shadow of the Leviathan #1
Fantasy Mystery
NetGalley ARC
Random House
Pub Date: Feb 6, 2024
16+


Din is an engraver, magically altered to have a perfect memory, and with the use of scent, it's even more perfect. He is the assistant to Ana Dolabra, a brilliant investigator with major eccentricities, including, even though she's not blind, keeping herself blindfolded most of the time, and even more rarely, leaving her home.

Called to investigate the strange death of a high officer, Din discovers a tree had grown out of the man's body. Ana, upon hearing Din's perfect recounting of the death, recognizes the symptoms as one of the many contagions caused by the blood of the Leviathans.

An event identical to the officer's death occurs at the wall that protects the city and the kingdom from the massive Leviathans, allowing one of the monsters to breach the wall, but it's luckily killed before it reached the city. Din and Ana are ordered there, to investigate.


I liked the idea of this book and I was curious as I read. Monsters from the sea trying to come ashore, destroying everything that gets in their way. But their blood has magical properties that can distort and corrupt what it touches and the people have learned to use it, both for good and bad.

But fifty pages in, I was losing interest because there's no real backstory about the monsters, what they are, and it's only skirted over that the people had learned to use their blood. Also, I wasn't entirely sure what these people were: humans, creatures, aliens, robots... More of these details would have given me a reason to relate to these people, instead, I didn't.

I liked Din, Ana not so much. She came across as too smart and loved to rub other's noses in that fact. But that said, I pretty much figured out what was going on early in the story. As Din did all of the investigating, the pieces fell into place. Yes, Din did all of the leg work while Ana sat in a room.

There is some violence and gore but it's suitable for readers 16 and older who like fantasy and a little Sherlock Holmes and Watson mysteries.

Will I look for the next book in the series? Maybe. I guess it will depend on the blurb.

3 Stars

“Perhaps it is a wise thing, to prepare for death every day, just as the Empire prepares for death every wet season.”
———
I inhaled two books by Robert Jackson Bennett over the last week and a half, and both were excellent. I think I can call myself a fan now.
———
“Oh, people love the Legion, with their swords and their walls and their bombards. But though they receive no worship, it’s the maintenance folk who keep the Empire going. Someone, after all, must do the undignified labor to keep the grand works of our era from tumbling down.”
———
The setting is wonderful - a vast Empire where graft alterations of people for specific tasks and traits is common, and the borders of which are guarded by the colossal sea walls that are attacked every season by even more colossal Leviathans, and strange outwardly contagions abound, and where there’s a delicate interplay between politics and plain survival in the place that seems precariously perched on the edge of utter catastrophes all the time. And in this delightfully complex and well-realized setting we have a fascinating murder mystery that - of course - is only a part of grander scale events as our narrator Din, an apprentice assistant to an eccentric and brilliant investigator Ana, starts on his first murder case — that of an Empire official gruesomely murdered by a huge plant erupting from his body.

It’s very clever and addictingly interesting, and develops this world so well that I felt completely engrossed and absorbed in it. The plot moves along snappily without ever sagging, and the point is not the whodunit (that Bennett leaves enough clues to figure out) but the details of the plot and the complex picture of the world they build puzzle piece by puzzle piece. And I loved the interplay between our protagonists built on the contrasts that are wonderfully complementary - a pragmatic and level-headed apprentice youngster and a brilliant and cynical mad genius a few steps ahead of everyone, but never irritatingly so.
———
“For the Empire is huge. Complex. Often unwieldy and slow. And in many places, weak. A massive colossus, stretching out across the cantons, one in whose shadow we all live … and yet it is prone to wounds, infections, fevers, and ill humors. But its strangest feature is that the more its citizens feel it is broken, the more broken it actually becomes.”
———
This is a book that would be so much fun to reread for the sake of the details that will now stand out more as I know the plot resolution.

Fantastically delightful. 5 stars.

——————

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine, Del Rey for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing an ARC of The Tainted Cup.

This is my first completed RJB read, and I will definitely be going back to finish Foundryside!

The Tainted Cup is such a fantastic introduction to fantasy for those that enjoy mysteries. Placed in an Empire that faces the threat of creatures the size of mountains, Leviathans, each year with only walls and bombs to keep them at bay, a truly horrific murder occurs at a home of one of the Empire's most wealthy, and notorious, clans.

This is a classic "whodunnit" full of twists and turns, along with queer and disability representation! The world is so interesting, I would read a field guide just on the different plants!

I tend to avoid books written by men (sorry!), but I can't deny that RJB knows how to write an amazing story that completely brings you into a new world.

Thank you to NetGalley, Robert Jackson Bennett, and Del Rey Publishing for my advanced copy of The Tainted Cup!

This was my first book by RBJ--I can call him that now because he immediately jumped into my top author categories. I can't believe I haven't read any of his other books yet. They have moved up on my TBR after reading this one.

I always try to be patient when starting new books, especially fantasy, because the beginnings can be dense and the world-building can seem overwhelming to start. Not this book. We are dropped into the life of Din, an assistant detective, investigating a murder scene. Although the first few chapters were interesting enough as is, my true joy came from the introduction of lead detective Ana. She is eclectic, hilarious, potty-mouthed, and intelligent. What more could we want? Ana seemed almost akin to Sherlock Holmes and I could not get enough scenes with her. Easily my favorite character in this book, and I hope we see more of her in the future.

As a fan of both fantasy and thriller/mystery books, this had it all. I would say that new readers of fantasy would absolutely enjoy this book, as it has such a strong mystery plot as well. There are definitely parts where the fantasy side comes out and we get difficult names to pronounce, introductions to factions of people, or new locations, but it does not overwhelm the reader or hinder the plot whatsoever. This was highly consumable and I tore through it.

RBJ has created an epic murder mystery fantasy that is guaranteed to bring something new to readers. I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of the Shadow of the Leviathan series.

What an escape from reality!

When I read this was a mix of fantasy and partner detective storyline, I knew I had to read this one! The cover art alone is enough to get you involved.

This book is a slow building mystery with such fantastic world building that you’re completely taken away from your everyday life and fully immersed in this story. The nuance and care that went into all the details made this such a memorable book that I’m likely to revisit in the future.

The characters are quirky and mysterious, yet relatable and you really want to understand what is happening in their minds. By using the fantasy/sci-fi genres, it really brings in a multi-layered complexity to the tale. I was so interested in learning about augmentations to the point that I wondered, were I in a similar situation where that was possible, what I would choose.

Going into the book, it was my first book from this author and I was unaware of this being the start of a new series, but was excited to find out I would be able to return to this wonderful, scary, intimidating and cool other world.

Thank you to the author, Robert Jackson Bennett, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for this eARC of The Tainted Cup in exchange for my review!

What a fantastic blend of fantasy and mystery! The story immerses you immediately, without a lot of world building, in a place that feels really unique. The murders are like nothing I've read before either! My absolute favorite things about this book are the two main characters: Anagosa Dolabra is the investigator who prefers to stay at home and wears a blind fold, Dinios Kol who is her very new assistant, tasked with bringing back every detail of the crime scenes and interviewing all the pertinent people. As the mysteries increase, the duo leaves home and heads toward the sea wall where dangers loom from many directions and causes.
This was my first book by this author and I know it won't be my last. Thankfully, this is the first book of a new series! I look forward to future adventures with Ana and Din. Highly recommend.

An engaging start to a new trilogy. A woman who blindfolds herself but can figure out perplexing mysteries. Her new assistant with strange skills and a good heart. This detective team tackles and solves their first case and here's hoping there will be many more. Fun read in a fantasy setting.

The Tainted Cup is a wonderfully written fantasy book with a whodunit murder mystery as the plot. Din, an engraver who can memorize every facial expression, tone of voice and any piece of verbal information is an assistant to Ana, one of the quirkiest detectives in all of the Empire. Together they set off interviewing as many people as possible to solve the murders of ten engineers plus Blas.

As someone who does not read a lot of fantasy, this book was beyond my wildest imagination. An entire world created with complex characters and job titles.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s acclaimed Divine Cities trilogy came out shortly before I returned from a school-induced genre hiatus, and ever since, he’s been one of the authors I’ve been wanting to circle back to. I’ve heard nothing but good things, just hadn’t had the right push to the top of the TBR. The release of a new fantasy mystery novel The Tainted Cup provided just the push, and now I can see what the hype is about.

The Tainted Cup takes place in a secondary world with a deeply weird ecology. Worms are cultivated for their light, locked doors are guarded with flesh-eating vines only kept at bay by the right key, people receive implants to give anything from perfect memory to super strength, and all of society is organized around keeping back the leviathans that rise out of the sea during the annual wet season. And in this world, a man is found brutally poisoned in the house of one of its richest families. And unraveling the mystery of that murder may shake the land to its core.

The Tainted Cup is told from the perspective of an investigative assistant whose brain has been modified to yield perfect recall. He observes a scene and takes his observations back to the eccentric genius with the mind to put things together. As such, the telling is very much in the spirit of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, only with a fantasy setting, a more observant Watson, and a lady Holmes. And The Tainted Cup is the rare fantasy mystery that truly lives up to both genres. So often, a fantasy mystery is just a fantasy novel with a body at the beginning—mystery conventions regarding clues and suspects are followed irregularly, if at all. But here, every piece of evidence is delivered through the observations of the lead, and the suspects are all perfectly available for the reader to evaluate, even if the hopes of matching the in-universe savant are slim.

And it doesn’t just live up to the billing as a proper mystery, it’s a really gripping one. The initial crime scene opens up a host of possibilities and gives the reader a natural on-ramp into a strange and fascinating world. And it just keeps going from there. The investigator may solve little pieces of the mystery—she is a genius, after all—but there are always questions about the bigger picture that drive the plot forward, especially as the world enters the wet season and the external dangers get more and more severe.

As more and more pieces of the web are revealed, the excellent scenes with a detective showing off her skills are supplemented with some clandestine investigation and a handful of action sequences that keep the tension ratcheted up. All the while, the inexperienced main character learns more and more about himself and grows more confident in his role. It’s not necessarily a mind-blowing character arc, but it serves to buttress the action and mystery to keep the story engaging from start to finish.

Ultimately, The Tainted Cup was pretty much just what I wanted from a fantasy murder mystery. The mystery itself is intriguing, it’s well-paced with tension that ratchets up as the novel goes on, there’s a fun character dynamic, and there’s a satisfying ending that leaves room for more stories taking place in the same universe. “Drop everything and read it now”? Perhaps not. But an excellent example of a subgenre that’s rarely executed half so well? Absolutely.

Recommended if you like: fantasy mysteries, the Holmes and Watson archetypes, weird ecology.

Overall rating: 17 of Tar Vol’s 20. Five stars on Goodreads.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The Tainted Cup is the first mysterious installment in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, which follows Ana and her assistant Din as they investigate a mysterious death.

I think this is the first time I've ever read a fantasy mystery that's been the absolute perfect balance of both, and then some. I was genuinely enthralled the entire time I was reading this book. The plot was a fascinating puzzle and I found my expectations subverted at nearly every turn. It was fantastic. And more than the plot, I loved our main characters, Din arguably moreso, as well as their fantastic dynamic. I'm always going to be a sucker for anything that feels even remotely Sherlockian, and this book met and exceeded my expectations beautifully. I can't wait to read more!