This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I wasn’t expecting a mystery with a bit of fantasy thrown in.
For me it felt a little stiff and I just wasn’t that interested in the story.

Essentially a police procedural featuring a Holmesish principal investigator and narrated by her Watsonish assistant, this in a fantasy setting: a world under threat from "titans," immense monsters that emerge from the sea during the world's rainy season. Many of the world's people (and apparently all who hold official posts of any kind, as well as the rich) are augmented in various ways -- to be stronger, faster, or sexier, to be able to perform complex mathematical calculations, or, as in the case of the protagonist, Dinios Kol, to remember in perfect detail everything he ever sees.

For me, it was Dinios who made the The Tainted Cup worth reading. He's clever, lonely, and sharp-tongued; most people, including his boss, see him as cold (spoiler: he's not); and, of course, he has a secret. I enjoyed the mystery here well enough -- I'm not a connoisseur and I'm not good at figuring out whodunit, so YMMV -- but found Ana, the investigator who's Din's boss, mostly just irritating. We're meant to see her idiosyncrasies as necessary to her functioning, and late in the book we're told in so many words that they are, but in the reading they seem affected: hence the irritation.

What chiefly annoyed me, though -- what, let's be real, drove me bananacrackers -- was the language. Between the misused words (no, a pair of attendants who accompany a member of the gentry are not a "coterie") and the strange-and/or-ungrammatical locutions ("being as" 18 times where "given that" or "because" belonged; "as such" for "consequently" or "as a result"; the godawful "off of"; "above suspicion" where "suspect" is clearly meant; I could go on), I spent way too much time grinding my teeth as I read. Decent copyediting could have made this a 4-star book, but decent copyediting was nowhere in evidence.

One other eyebrow raiser. In his afterword, Bennett says, "Regulations have their uses, but we cannot allow them to form the jar that will eventually be used to trap us and pickle us in our own brine." What a weird takeaway for a mystery that ultimately hinges not on the autonomous failure of regulations but on the corruption of regulatory bodies by oligarchs.

And yet I liked Dinios Kol so much, I'll probably read the next in this series whenever it appears.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC.

Personal rating: 4.5
Imagine Sherlock Holmes in the world of a more fantastical Attack on Titan. YUP! I absolutely loved this. It was weird, complex and I was so invested in the mystery. Sure, I had some minor cons but it was almost perfect.
Full review to come on YouTube

This book is a delight. I am a great fan of speculative mysteries, and I've read many Sherlock Holmes pastiches, but this is one is something special. I was intrigued by the world where almost everyone is altered in some way to enhance unusual qualities (our narrator Din is an engraver, which means his experiences are permanently written on his memory), all of which come with tradeoffs, and where the environment is constantly under threat from change too (both the monstrous Leviathons which can crush city walls and the more subtle taint of contagion frequently proves fatal). I enjoyed the characters, especially Din and his boss Ana. I did figure out some of the details of the mystery before Din did, but I enjoyed its complexity as well. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc. My opinions are all my own.

Everything about this book worked for me! The two genres (fantasy and murder mystery) are balanced really well: The Sherlock Holmes and Watson vibes are immaculate, and the world-building of this bioengineered world is very interesting.

The character work is probably my favorite part. It is so refreshing to read a quirky, whimsical, nuanced female lead investigator and be afforded the same societal accommodations usually reserved for male main characters (a personal pet peeve caused by some recent reads). The characters' neurodivergence and sexuality were not just diversity checkboxes -- they influenced the way the characters interpreted and interacted with the world.

Can't wait to read more of Ana and Din's sleuthing in the next book :)

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Din Kol wasn’t sure what his job would be as a new assistant investigator, but solving murders as the engraver and eyes for the eccentric Ana Dolabra is full of surprises!

While parts of the setting and story sounded like any regular Empire, they’re on constant watch for an attack of a leviathan from the surrounding waters. The threat from within the Empire is a poisoning that results in trees sprouting from the victim’s body! There isn’t much to be done other than being prepared for the next leviathan attack, but it makes a great distraction for whoever is doing the poisoning.

Din explained about some of the features of sublimes—characters with modifications that gave them special skills or altered their appearance. Din himself was in his position especially because he was an engraver. By associating memories with a carefully carried scent vial, he could recall everything down to the smallest detail. The memories then stayed with him forever. This helped him serve as a great assistant investigator to Ana, who preferred not to leave her home or remove her blindfold.

The story was unique and the characters were so interesting. The book is the first in a series about the Empire called Shadow of the Leviathan. It was an engaging and well-explained fantasy read which earned 4 out of 5 stars.

What an interesting idea pairing the fantasy and classic mystery genres! There is a lot of world building and a fascinating detective story. This book might be for you if you enjoy these genres.

Thank you to Del Ray Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The opener to Robert Bennett Jackson’s new series caught my eye in more ways than one: That gorgeous cover, and intriguing, clever, unique concept. But I was wary too: I didn’t end up finishing the Divine Cities trilogy, running out of steam before book 2.

No need to fear. The Tainted Cup, the first of his new magical mystery trilogy, is a rollicking, if a bit gross, good time. Din is a young assistant to the oddball but undeniably brilliant detective Ana, charged with investigating crime in a far flung province of an empire under the existential threat of an ocean full of rampaging Leviathans. When an important officer turns up murdered in the most gruesome of ways, Din and Ana (who spends most of her time blindfolded and refuses to leave her house – get caught up in an investigation that may lead to the most powerful families and a plot to undermine the very walls keeping the empire safe from their greatest threat.

Din is a great character, presenting to most as a quiet, green, rule-follower, but reveals himself to be so much more. A magically altered Engraver – he remembers everything he ever sees – his secret shame could destroy his career and threaten his attempts to move his family away from the sea walls. He and Ana, white-haired, wily, and an utter delight in her Sherlockian tactics, could easily keep me occupied for many, many adventures (though it seems Jackson has a contained plot in mind for this trilogy). I can’t wait to learn more about the workings of the Empire, the threat of the Leviathans in the next two.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 4.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House – Ballantine for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A gruesome murder, the threat of Leviathans at the gates, and a mystery has begun!

And what an mystery this is! I love that I never felt like there was a single info-dump in this book. The world is introduced completely organically, just as you read, you are exposed to all the ways this world is different than ours. The families, the power struggles, Leviathans, even the money system is all seamlessly introduced and explained and not overly detailed and doesn't slow down the plot at all!

And the story was amazing, I was hooked right from the beginning. The two main characters - I absolutely LOVE them! They are like two pieces of Sherlock Holmes. Ana is analytical and eccentric. Din is her new assistant, a trainee, that her engraver. Everything he sees, feels, smells or hears - he records every piece as a memory and can replay them back in full detail. He's been 'modified' and is there to assist in the investigation.

The story is well-plotted, I never felt like it got bogged down. The main characters were complex and realistic. I don't give out 5 stars easily, but this one definitely earned every one! I will be anxiously awaiting book 2!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

whew, what a ride! the tainted cup, i can say, is honestly one of the more original fantasies i’ve read in a long time, and that’s saying something. plus there is a murder mystery element — what more could a girl want??? forewarning: if you’re looking for romance, it plays a very, very minor part in the story, and honestly could have been taken out altogether. BUT it being included didn’t bother me at all because i was so captivated and drawn in by the characters, the twists and turns, and the incredibly interesting “magic” system… if that sounds like your cup of tea in any fashion then 10/10 would recommend! i absolutely cannot wait for the next one to come out!!

If you find yourself in a situation where you absolutely love high fantasy and want to scratch a mystery book itch, pick this book up stat.  The Tainted Cup took me by complete surprise.  I rarely—very rarely—read mysteries.  I find them very dull, as I can usually guess what’s going on, and the general setting and plot usually don’t cater to my taste because, well, I like fantasy books.  Bennett’s impeccable world and character building propelled me by force through this plot.  About halfway through, I didn’t care about the mystery—I just wanted to keep reading.  I’d say, for readers who hate fantasy but love mystery, or alternately hate mystery but love fantasy—this book is a great mesh of the two that proves a great crossover to whet the appetite for readers of both preferences.

To best understand the world building here, I’d have to frame the reference with some popular movies.  Pacific Rim (minus the mechs) and Moby Dick come to mind most, other than the obvious Sherlock Holmes.  Behemoth leviathans surge from the sea during wet seasons and plague the Empire.  Instead of moving farther inland, past the reach of the leviathans, the Empire stays right on the coast and builds walls to keep them out, chasing them to the sea and killing them to repel them each year.  It is in the midst of this chaos, on the brink of a wet season, that Dolabra and Kol begin their investigation into the murder of a well-connected officer.  

Kol possesses a magical alteration, as do most of the rest of the citizens and officers of the Empire.  This form of magic system, or I’d say genetic manipulation, spins the typical magic-grouping/ability-grouping systems I’ve seen in books before on its head a bit.  Though it’s reminiscent to me of the different factions in Divergent and the Grisha from Shadow and Bone, different MOS’s in the Empire form around what the members can do after they’ve been altered.  Bennett did a great job here making the magic system (or manipulation system) relevant to the story and not just a gimmicky, useless bit of fluff to bait readers.  

Within these parameters, the story in The Tainted Cup comes to life.  Bennett’s storytelling shines with brilliance.  I could not put the book down, especially past the halfway mark.  Kol and Dolabra made a perfect pair, and I absolutely cannot wait to read the future installments in this series.  

The drawbacks are few for me here, though the one or two there are resound significantly.  If a fantasy world goes so far as to create different place names, different names for months, different ways bodies work, and so on, it should stand to reason that the foul language in the new fantasy world should also be world-specific.  Dolabra and a few other characters use quite a lot of explicatives in the book, and they really do jar one out of the fantasy world.  Additionally, though the concept of leviathan creatures that come out every wet season to harass the land-dwellers is pretty fascinating, I didn’t really comprehend the reasoning for the folks living right on the coast and struggling to keep these beasts at bay every year with less and less effectiveness to continue to live where they live.  It would make sense to just not live right where there is constant, large-scale destruction.  The logic doesn’t really connect with me.  Perhaps the latter will be explained a bit better in future installments to the series.

My thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

Another character with a three-letter name that I would die for. Perfect.

Just such a solid read. While I wasn’t expecting there to be such detailed world-building in something I had just assumed would be a mystery, I’m glad I got a chance to read. The characters were so compelling, the mystery had the perfect amount of twists to keep you engaged and the world was appropriately complex. I will admit, I had to take notes to keep some of the lingo straight, but the worldbuilding is not overwhelming.

Such a fun time, I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this world.

4.5 stars

I loved this! It was not at all what I was expecting, having read and loved his Founders Trilogy. Although the story is definitely fantasy, it's a wonderful blend of mystery and fantasy.

At the beginning we are introduced to Signum Dinios Kol, an assistant to an Iudex (imperial administration for justice) investigator, and, you quickly learn, her eyes and ears. He is called to the scene of a grisly death, that of a prominent engineering officer, which also takes place in a ridiculously fancy house of a prominent family (basically the family that controls a large portion of the wealth in the empire.

There are a LOT of characters, but I knew that going in, and the author does a really good job of rolling them out slowly so that you're not overwhelmed. Still, as each character was introduced, I jotted down their name and basic info, and how they were connected with the case, and it really helped.

Without going into detail about this world (it's so much better for things to be introduced organically), you quickly learn that there are lot of politics that govern how this world functions, one of the reason the cities are arranged the way they are is because of the regular encroachment of huge leviathan monsters, and much day-to-day living centers around this survival.

Ana (Anagrosa Dolabra), the Iudex investigator, is wonderfully eccentric, and Kol and Ana act as foils to each other. Each of the characters have something to hide, including Ana and Kol, and it's so much fun trying to figure out the mystery as Kol unravels each clue. Naturally, Ana seems to be a step ahead of everyone, but either way, I love this duo so much and I am so glad this is a trilogy! Of course, now I have to wait patiently while the author writes two more books!

Either way, I found this to be a strong start to a new series with really interesting characters. While the murder is serious and gruesome, there are moments of humor sprinkled throughout, as well as sweet moments. There was even a little bit of romance thrown in, although that was a VERY minor part of the book (okay, it really only happened at the end, but I was kind of hoping for it). I was able to follow the mystery and while I made some correct predictions, I was kept guessing until the end. It was very well done.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After falling in love with The Founders Trilogy, I've been itching for another book written by Robert. Luckily, I came across The Tainted Cup on NetGalley and basically screamed for joy when I got accepted to read this one early. It didn't take long for me to find a buddy to devour this adventure with either.

From the very beginning, I fell in love with Ana and Din. They were such a fun duo to follow, and they both gave me Sherlock vibes. In their own way, made it work and it's safe to say that I also got some Watson here and there.

The overall mystery had so many twists and turns that it was hard to keep up with all the suspects piling up. I'm not even sure how Ana was able to pull it all out until the second she basically solved it. Which, wow - each little reveal was a bit mind blowing and definitely kept the pages turning.

In the end, I had so much fun reading this book and getting to know all the characters. I am so excited for the next book to be written because I definitely need more adventures with these two. Seriously, I need more and would like another one now

Thanks to Random House/Del Ray for an ARC of The Tainted Cup in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a solid 4 stars. The plot itself kept me engaged throughout the entire thing, and I was unable to put it down. I definitely get the Sherlock and Watson vibes between Ana and Din. Ana has become one of my favorite characters I've read and I'm super excited to get to know more about her. I found myself very intrigued with the use of body modifications as the sort of "magic", it definitely isn't something I would have thought of before. My complaints are solely with the writing. Certain words I felt were far overused (I won't list incase others will see this and look for it, and possibly ruin their enjoyment.) Also, The constant pauses in sentences like "I..
I thought" or "But... But" drove me absolutely insane. A few is fine but it seemed like it was at least once on every page. Some things felt repetitive like mentioning that Din was tall several times. And the "Romance" even though it was virtually nonexistent, felt very forced and almost like an after thought. That all being said I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequels.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballentine Publishing for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ana and Din are Bennett’s take on the Holmes/Watson relationship with Ana in Sherlock’s role and Din’s in Watson’s and it’s a pairing that works really, really well. Din, Ana’s new assistant, is an engraver, meaning he’s been altered to remember everything, much like Sherlock’s own mind. But he lacks the ability, and the knowledge, to put what he sees together. (Not like Sherlock) That’s Ada’s job. She takes his detailed reports and, at a rapid speed, can see patterns and connections that evade everyone else. Ada knows how to push Din’s buttons and takes great delight in doing so. She’s a strong character, but also morally grey at times in her pursuit of justice.
Din is an engraver, but also someone who has much to learn about himself. He remembers everything he sees and hears. As the story plays out, it becomes clear he’s more than an engraver. And that he harbors a secret that could cost him everything.
The murder mystery is well-written. The initial murder sets off a chain reaction with horrific unintended consequences. Even though the murders may be solved, what they set in motion may be impossible to stop.
It took me a bit to get into this book, but once I settled in, I had trouble putting it down. The ending was satisfying.
4/5 stars.

In the biggest mansion in Daretana, a high imperial officer is found dead....a tree erupted from his body. Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without ever stepping outside the walls of her home. Assisting her is Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective. As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.

This is the first book in a new series. I had never read anything by this author before, but after reading so many glowing reviews on all of his other books, and the intriguing premise of this one, I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did. The mystery kept me guessing, as Ana Dolabra's method of deduction gave me whiplash trying to keep up, and I will admit I did have a hard time keeping all of the names straight because there were so many. Ana Dolabra was absolutely delightful, and I really enjoyed Din's character as well. If you enjoy mysteries, fantasy, ,or a mash-up of the two, then you should definitely check this out.

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett seems to be very lyrical and written beautifully and has well developed characters, but I just couldn’t get into it. I really enjoy mysteries and fantasy, epic fantasy too, but there was just too much world building right away, and I guess I wanted to be eased more into it.

I have seen lots of wonderful reviews for The Tainted Cup, some likening it to the Knives Out movies, which I really enjoyed, so I may go back and try to read it again, and maybe I’ll be in a different mindset and really enjoy it.

I also read that the suspense really starts up around the halfway mark, so perhaps if I had continued I would have been able to finish it, and even have really loved it. But I just couldn’t push through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for the eARC of The Tainted Cup.

This is my first 5 star read if 2024!

When I started reading this book, I was worried that the world would be difficult to follow. The book starts us off with apprentice investigator Din looking into a gruesome murder. Someone had poisoned a high official that then sprouted a tree from within that official! Thus begins the plot of unraveling what happened to this official, which then opens up this world into a greater society. The store is brimming with politics all the while the society is also fighting a Leviathan that terrorizes the towns every wet season.

I really loved the world building and how people can take on grafts to adjust their powers or enhance their senses. Din as a character begins as an innocent apprentice, but he is an engraver - he records and engraves everything he sees. And he sees everything. It was great investigating through his eyes. At first I too as the reader saw what he saw and did not think much of it. But when he brought it back to his superior, Ana, she really played a pivotal role in deciphering and piecing together what seemed small or inconsequential in Din’s eyes to be part of the bigger picture.

I found Ana hilarious. She was crass and a little odd, but she was smart and clever. She also let Din be Din without judgement, she even helped him grow as a character- mainly his confidences. I also liked all the side characters like Milijin and Nusis. They added different layers of the empire and helped with building the world.

This was an exciting read and I couldn’t put it down. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series!

I love fantasy and mystery, and when I saw that this story combined both in a Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson style, I was eager to devour!

The tale opens with a bang - a body has been found with a tree exploded through it. We are introduced to this new world with interesting characters. Din, an assistant to a brilliant investigator, Ana, who has arrived to investigate the scene. Ana hardly ever leaves her home, so Din is responsible for gathering the evidence. I felt that their relationship was reminiscent of Holmes and Watson, but they didn't quite have the same quirkiness or delivery of deductions.

This fantastical world also contains many evils, not excluding monsters. Slow at first, the mystery finally takes off surprisingly with magic and cleverness. This being the first book in a series, it will be exciting to see what else Robert Jackson Bennett has in store.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.