This is an amazing story. The world biking and culture crafting is insane. I adore the author’s attention to detail, even when it comes to some of the unsightly scenes. The characters are very intriguing and have a lot of depth. I love watching Din and Ana work together. The plot is such a twisty turn thing that it was so much fun to explore with the author. Truly an enjoyable story.

I'm not sure how I feel about this novel. I enjoyed the world and the main character. He was easy to follow and had wonderful wit. I even enjoyed his employer. The ending however I felt was a let down. It came out of left field but not in a good twisty way. I was confused as to why to handle it that way. It felt like there was a plot hole that was left open.

Thanks thanks thanks to the Random House/ Ballantine/Del Rey team for an eARC of this novel.

I'm not going to lie, I was unsure of this book when I first started. This was the first I've read by this author and I was a bit overwhelmed at first trying to remember everyone's names, what they did, and picture the lay of the land. I really found my stride with this one about a third of the way in and really enjoyed it a lot! Will be keeping my eye out for book 2!

The Tainted Cup introduced me to a new favorite genre: murder mystery set in a fantasy world! I absolutely loved this book. It hit the ground running right from the start, and didn't let up until the end. I loved how all the characters were quirky and had their own very distinct personality, which often went along with their magical abilities. The magic system in this book was also very interesting with people being assigned certain abilities based on their jobs, and also having the option to do body modifications to enhance your magic. The murder mystery itself was also really fun to watch unfold. I really felt like I didn't know who did it until the end, and that made it even more satisfying.

I will definitely be picking up more of Robert Jackson Bennett's books in the future, and I hope to see more books set in this universe.

4.5 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and Random House/Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an ARC.. This was a page turner with wonderful world building that captivates. We are introduced to Daretana where a high officer is dead through a strange means - his body was over taken by plants and a tree seems to be coming out of it. While the investigation proceeds, the Empire has strange contagions and there is a threat of Leviathans attacking their lands DInios Kol, Din, an engraver who has been magically enchanced with a perfect memory has been sent on his first assignment by investigator Ana Dolabra who is a bit eccentric and has quite a reputation.. Din's job is to observe and report back to Ana as much of the time she wears a blindfold. This first investigation leads to much more and it's unclear where is will lead them. Along the way, Din is learning about the world of the rich and powerful and all their secrets and schemes. Yet, Din is intelligent and more than capable but has a secret of his own. Din and Ana are quite different yet make the perfect team as they they complement one another. The world also is built with many different types of people who have certain qualities and biases and suspicions of the other cantons (provinces). There is also a legend of the hierarchy of the investigators, similar to the military, which also develops the world building. An enjoyable and interesting read!

Unforgettable page turner that had me thinking I was a detective. Sent it to by bestie who loved it as well. Wonderful read and can't recommend it enough!

Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup is the first book in his new Shadow of the Leviathan series. Taking inspiration from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, The Tainted Cup introduces readers to Signum Dinios Kol, the Watson of the book, who arrives to investigate a grizzly death. A grouping of trees appears to have grown up through the floor of a home, and up through the torso and head of a person. It’s all a bit reminiscent of Bryan Fuller’s dearly departed Hannibal.

The Sherlock Holmes to Din’s Watson is Ana Dolabra. She’s quirky. She’s brash. She’s outspoken. She’s very good at her job. And she prefers not to leave the house. Ana and Din must work together—okay, Din does most of the legwork—to solve the mystery of who is killing people with trees and why before more people get hurt.

Dolabra and Din are very well-defined, well-written characters with distinct, complete personalities and complex backstories that the narrative only just scratches the surface of in this book. Dolabra is at turns abrasive and off-putting, but also incredibly intelligent, capable, and respected in her field. While Din is largely sympathetic and relatable as a guy who seemingly just wants to do his job and do it effectively.

All of this is happening against a rich fantasy backdrop, or so the pitch for this book—and its place on bookstore shelves—would have readers believe. The people of Daretana and the Khanum Empire live under perpetual threat from the sea. Large leviathans periodically rise from the depths and attempt to ram themselves into the cities for reasons unknown. This has resulted in the building of large sea walls complete with heavy weaponry to repel these aquatic invaders.

Unfortunately for fantasy fans, this element of the story comes secondary to the mystery plot. This is a mystery novel set in a fantasy world, not a fantasy novel with a mystery plot. Maybe this balance will shift a bit in future installments, allowing readers more access to the fantasy elements of the world Bennett has so meticulously created. But while this may be disappointing for fantasy readers, readers who favor mystery novels and are fantasy-curious may find this novel an approachable way to dip their toes into the fantasy waters.

As someone who doesn’t often enjoy fantasy, I was surprised by how quickly I was drawn into the story. There’s just enough of a mystery that makes the story fun and the main investigator’s (Ana’s) quirks are odd enough that it seems like a real wonder that she can solve as much as she does without showing up to the scene or by relying on Din, her assistant. Din and Ana’s interpersonal relationship is wholesome and it’s just very wholesome to see how Ana supports Din’s growth.

20/10 recommend - I’m patiently waiting for the sequel!

An Imperial officer lies dead in a nobleman's country house. A brand-new investigator - Dinios Kol engraves what he sees in his memory using scents so that he can report to his boss Ana Dolabra exactly what he saw, heard, and smelled. Shades of Nero Wolfe and Chip Harrison but in a fantasy setting! The pair, having solved the how and part of the who, are then summoned top the next canton where a series of similar deaths have erupted, allowing a leviathan to breach the sea wall. A very nice twisty mystery with interesting characters! I will be interesting to see what Kol and Dolabra get up to next!

This book had great world building. This book kept me so intrigued. The characters and plot were great! Cannot wait for the next book!

If you’re like me and read a ton of fantasy then you can probably know the excitement of discovering a book that introduces a completely novel system of magic. From the start I could tell there was something special about this mystery story set in a lush and darkly surreal world. I loved the premise of magical flora and fauna that act as both malady and cure. The underlying story of an empire that is at constant war with savage leviathans that live beyond a massive sea wall is incredibly compelling and I wanted to know more. The writing itself is polished and the characters are unique without trespassing into the stereotypical. I don’t want to spoil anything but the ending feels like it was setting up for a series which I recently found out is the case and I’m absolutely thrilled! Thank you so much to Netgalley, Random House and Del Rey publishers for the digital ARC.

Once again, Bennett's world-building is amazing. I read this book as soon as I got hold of it, and couldn't stop. The characters were intriguing and the descriptions fascinating. I love the way the mystery plot evolved as we learned more about the world. Can't wait for the next installment!

I adore every world RJB creates and this one was certainly no different. This book has everything from monstrous leviathans, contagions, and people with special powers to alter themselves (my favorite part!). I loved the exploration of neurodivergence and embracing your differences when the world seems to be against you. This biopunk murder mystery is perfect for those looking for a fun reading experience. I loved every second of it!

It’s always the books I least expect that I end up enjoying the most. I had been on a romantasy kick for too long, so picking up this murder mystery was the perfect way to avoid falling into a reader slump.

If you’re looking for a book that has Sherlock and Watson vibes but in a purely unique fantasy setting, this is the book you want to read. As well as being a completely original world which was a pleasure to read from start to finish, the banter between the two main characters is so well done and humorous I found myself chuckling many times.

I can’t think of anything constructive to say on this story. The pacing was perfect, the characters developed, the plot wasn’t predictable, and there’s even a very sweet but small romance side plot in here for those that are interested in that kinda thing.

Would I recommend this book? Most definitely! If there’s a book that you should be adding to your TBR this year it’s definitely The Tainted Cup. I can’t wait to check out more works by this author.

Such a good book! This is a murder mystery set in a time before technology, which I really enjoy. I had figured out who the culprits were prior to the end of the book, but it did not diminish my enjoyment of it. The twists and turns and reveals were done well, leaving me quite excited for the future books in this series.

It has been a long time since I read a fantasy that brought so many aspects that kept my attention. This was a wonderful book with a gripping plot.

A fun romp and an interesting new world. Din and Ana reminded me of Berenice and Orso from Foundryside, both of whom I loved. The mystery was intriguing but the most interesting part to me is the Leviathans, I really look forward to learning more about them in future books. Achillean romance (g-rated) and only a tiiiiny part of the plot, though I'm sure we will see that develop as the book goes on. Just a short, fun, cute, funny, at times gorey magical mystery.

I have no idea what I was thinking when I requested this book - but I am so glad that I did. Monsters, and strange people operating under a weird government structure, a wet season and so many other things that were totally outside my sphere of comprehension, but when you boil it all down it is a murder mystery, told in the most ingenious and absorbing way.

So, if you are looking for an Agatha Christie, Hercules Poirot, Gregg Hurwitz, Anthony Tata, Nora Roberts, Daniel Silva, type of murder mystery, this is not going to be it. But if you are willing to put aside most of what you know and believe and stretch to unknown lands inhabited by transformed creatures, this is going to be a treat of immeasurable proportions.

The writing is great. The dialog contains substance and humor This was so clever it borders, no, it is brilliant. A million thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for a copy.

I really enjoyed this fantasy murder mystery combo - the world building kept me engaged and the murder mystery was well-paced. I was able to actually predict the ending, but the journey to get there was full of the unexpected. I would definitely recommend this as an entry point to the fantasy genre.

Absolutely loved the humor, mystery, action, and... flippance? I haven't read this author before, but now I'm feverishly looking at what books my local library has. I can't wait for the second one.