Rating : 4.5 out of 5
Blurbs :
In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.

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 even stepping outside the walls of her home.

At her side is her new assistant, 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.

By an “endlessly inventive” (Vulture) author with a “wicked sense of humor” (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that’s at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new.

Thoughts :
This is a Sherlock holmes meets Attack on Titan in a fantasy world book. I enjoyed it from the very beginning to the end of the book. I love Dinios Kol and also Ana and also any other characters. It's amazing and I can't wait to read the second book. I hope it's gonna be out in 2025 so I don't have to wait for too long. Highly recommend this book to anyone else out there!

Good characters, good plot, good world-building, and good plot-execution! Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the advanced copy!

Investigator Ana Dolabra and engraver Dinios, Din, Kol are called into to investigate the disturbing murder of an imperial officer. As the investigation deepens, Din comes to some startling realizations. This case is more complex and involved than originally believed especially as it leads to the doorstep of an incredibly influential family. Also, Ana may truly be the greatest investigator in the empire which makes keeping Din’s secrets from Ana increasingly more difficult.

Bennet’s latest novel, The Tainted Cup, was a gruesome, botanical murder mystery masterpiece. This was my first book be Bennet and let me tell you, I was hooked! Not only was the entire premise interesting, hello death by spontaneous giant plant growth, but the world building and depth of enhancements explored was incredibly well done. Add to that, the prestigious investigator is an eccentric woman, and I am here for it. For a mystery, there were plenty of plot twists and turns to keep readers guessing throughout the story. Each time I figured out one aspect of the puzzle, I quickly learned that I only scratched the surface of the overall plot. This story does build on common lessons regarding power and corruption, but it’s demonstrated in an interesting manner. It’s hard to say which aspect of The Tainted Cup was the most interesting: the fantasy elements surrounding enhancements and the leviathan; the political intrigue and corruption; or the mystery itself. There were so many layers to this book that I would expect Bennet to only excel at one with others being added plot fluff but all three were expertly executed. I clearly enjoyed reading this book, but I do think this is one that will be even better on a reread. Then I’ll be able to appreciate all of the intricacies woven into this tale. I will definitely be picking up the sequel when the time comes.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an advanced copy of this mix of detective and fantasy genres creating something unique and page turning.

There have been many detectives in fiction that have solved crimes from a distance. Usually in their own house, enjoying a fine meal, fine flowers, a good book and a nice drink, leaving the investigating to others. Who could eat while trekking through crime scenes all day. The grunt work is left to able assistants, some with skills the noble detective does not have, a capacity to charm maybe, or pick locks. Or in this case an ability to remember everything seen, smelled, heard and touched, and in some cases tasted, perfectly with no mistakes, and never to be forgotten. The Tainted Cup is the first book of the In the Shadow of the Leviathan series by Robert Jackson Bennett and features a detective who avoids crime scenes, an assistant with a memory that never fails, but with plenty of secrets and a murder that could be a precursor to the destruction of the Empire.

Ana Dolabra is considered one of the best investigators in the Iudex, the administrative group that oversees the justice bureaucracy for the Empire. Ana is known for solving the difficult cases, usually without leaving her tower, though her recent posting to the far end of the Empire has people wondering. Dinois Kol, like many in the Empire, has been altered for the better of the Empire by being given the gift of perfect memory. As assistant to Ana, Kol can travel few the scenes of the investigation and report back perfectly everything he has seen. Though Kol has doubts if he is in the right position as he has problems he does not want so share. A murder has taken place in the home of a wealthy patron, an Engineer has had a tree sprout out of him, killing him. The case is solved quickly, but leave many questions, questions that bring the two away from their home and out to the outskirts of the Empire. Where great creatures attack the walls, and an even more savage crime has taken place Ana and Kol find their case might be larger and more dangerous than expected and if they fail, it might mean the end of the Empire and the ed for many more.

Robert Jackson Bennett has combined classic mystery with fantast and made an amalgamation that is almost perfect in every way. A book with amazing world building, a fascinating setting great characters, and a mystery that plays fair with the reader, and makes sense. I had no idea where this book was going at first, but after the first chapter Bennett is such a skilled writer, I knew I was in for the ride. And what a ride. At 432 pages this book flew by, and at the end I wanted more. The writing is really very good, funny with characters who are all different, and richly detailed. The conspiracy is different and told well, along with the magic of this world, and the threats to the Empire by murderers assassins and monsters from the deep. I really can't think of anything I would change here, as this really was a very, very good read that kept me reading and enthralled. This is only the second book that I have read by Robert Jackson Bennett, and I can't wait to read everything, and can't wait for more in this series.

Recommended for fantasy readers and one's who love mysteries. The characters are very rich and well developed, especially for fantasy books today. Role players will enjoy the ideas in also to borrow for ideas, or in hopes that a game system will be designed with this world in mind. A very strong start to what seems like a great series.

I loved this book. I have yet to read any other books by Robert Jackson Bennett, but they’ve been sitting on my TBR due to the amazing things I’ve heard about him. I couldn’t help myself when I saw that he released a Holmes and Watson Style mystery set in a Fantasy setting!

It took me a little bit to learn the magic system but this is honestly a good old-fashioned detective mystery that just so happens to be set in a pretty unique world with body and brain modification, giant killer sea creatures, and a pretty screwed up political system. I’m so pumped for a whole series focused on Din (our Watson) and Ana (Sherlock) and to learn so much more about this oddly unsettling world.

This was a unique read. Cozy fantasy is all the rage these days, as is cozy mystery. The Tainted Cup blends the two!

The world-building is excellent, the characters engaging, and the mystery unpredictable and interesting. I adored the eccentric Ana and the protagonist, Din, was equally engaging with a unique set of problems of his own that come to light as the story progresses. The only problem I had with it was how long-winded it could be with dialogue sometimes. A lot of tell instead of show in some places. Other than that, it was fabulous. Highly recommend it to anyone who likes cozy reads and would like this genre-bending series. I'm already excited for the next book in the series and this one isn't even out yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This INVIGORATING science fiction/fantasy murder mystery unfolds with well developed characters, possessing a depth that adds to the plot. Robert Jackson Bennett skillfully weaves a tapestry of suspense, engaging readers with a well-laid plot that keeps you guessing. The true brilliance emerges in the last 50 pages, where the story wraps up and weaves together in a conclusion that is open but not, while leaving room for future novels. BRILLIANT

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This captivating science fiction/fantasy murder mystery unfolds with richly developed characters, each possessing a depth that adds layers to the intricate plot. Robert Jackson Bennett skillfully weaves a tapestry of suspense, keeping readers engaged with a well-laid plot that keeps them guessing. The true brilliance emerges in the last 50 pages, where the story masterfully ties together, delivering a satisfying conclusion while leaving room for future novels (which I am very hopeful for)!!

Foundryside has been on my tbr for a while, but quickly jumped up a few spots after reading this!

This was not at all what I expected! Such a fun, entertaining and all-around delightful read.

The two main characters are fantastic and I absolutely adore them and their chemistry. They work well together. Dolabra is eccentric and loveable while Kol is serious and mostly solemn. It's perfect.

The mystery they solved together was fun...a tad gruesome LOL but fun. Definitely get this one on your radar. It releases February 6, 2024.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I admit that I'm rather biased because I've loved The Divine Cities and Foundryside series, but I thought this was an absolutely fantastic book. It features yet more of Bennett's wonderful worldbuilding, so many fascinating details all delivered in a way that never feel like an info dump, but like a truly lived in world. The mystery is deftly laid out, with just enough hints that I could get close to the solutions (though never exactly right) just before each part was revealed.

Highly, highly recommended.

I was very intrigued by the promise of a "Holmes and Watson–style detective duo taking the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist". Unfortunately, I never got around to experiencing any of that because I realized early on that this writing was not for me.

Sadly, I only made it about 3 chapters into this one. While that doesn't seem like a lot, and I'll agree that it really isn't, in my defense, the chapters were quite long. In these few chapters, a lot of breadcrumbs were spread around and rather than finding them intriguing, I found myself disconnected. It was too much uncertainty early on and not enough of anything for me to latch onto. I don't care about how or why this man died (especially because the little bit we know about him paints the picture of a not-so-great-dude), I don't care who this family is that owns a fancy home, I don't really like or care for Dinios and what his secrets are, and I've been given no reason to have any interest in getting to know anything about the investigator.

What really sealed the deal for me, though, was the unnecessary words that the author chose to make up. I read quite a bit of fantasy and I would say that vast majority don't have so many made up terms. I can't access my highlights at the moment, but I recall the month of "enig" (I think it was) and there were a couple of very strange animal names. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this, generally speaking, but I decided that this was not going to be for me.

I would have preferred to not give this one a rating, but netgalley requires it so I'll go with a 2. That said, I think that some people will connect with the characters very well and probably enjoy the story quite a bit, so please take my 2 star rating with a grain of salt if this story interests you!

I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of this book via netgalley.

Imaginative,
transporting, thrilling. Sherlock
in a kaiju world.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


I write haiku reviews but am happy to provide more feedback.

This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on The Tainted Cup.

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

4.5/5 stars

The Tainted Cup is a compelling and rewarding murder mystery in a high fantasy setting redolent of Attack on Titan and The Last of Us.

Robert Jackson Bennett is one of my favorite authors. Every time Bennet releases a new book in a new series, I feel it is mandatory for me to mention that fact. As a fan of The Divine Cities trilogy and The Founders trilogy by him, I believe he is another SFF author deserving of so much more recognition. When I need engaging and inventive science fiction or fantasy books, I know it is safe to always rely on reading Bennett’s books. And he never fails to deliver. I am a reader who loves reading fantasy novels, Japanese manga, or Korean manhwa. I love storytelling, period. And there is satisfaction in reading stories that blend these sources into their creation, intentionally or not. Like how My Hero Academia manga by Kohei Horikoshi was born of the author's love for Western Superheroes and comics. And in the case of The Tainted Cup, the first book in The Shadow of the Leviathan series by Robert Jackson Bennett, it felt like a mix of Knives Out in a setting inspired by Attack on Titan and The Last of Us. So what is the premise of The Tainted Cup?

“Oh, you’ve always got to smile a little, Din… Even during, you know, the abysmally fucking awful times.”


The Tainted Cup revolves around an eccentric detective named Ana Dolabra—an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities—and her long-suffering assistant, Dinios Kol—an engraver magically altered to possess a perfect memory. In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible. Din’s job is to observe, report, and act as Ana’s eyes and ears—quite literally because among Ana’s quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home. Din’s skill for observation and perfect memory with Ana’s impeccable deductions and mind, the two of them must cooperate to untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder that endangers the safety of the Empire.

“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 Tainted Cup rightfully belongs in the high fantasy genre due to its setting and world-building, no doubt about that. But if I were asked to recommend The Tainted Cup to readers, I would recommend it—more strongly—to readers who love reading murder mystery rather than fantasy novels due to the way Bennett structured the narrative. Of course, it would be even better if you are a fan of both genres, but fascination with murder mystery stories is more important here. I mentioned Attack on Titan (or Shingeki no Kyojin in Japanese) by Hajime Isayama earlier. The story in Attack on Titan begins with the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan destroying the wall of Maria. Due to this unforeseen event, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Levi, and many other characters in the series struggle to battle against the oppressive violence and horrors of the Titans. The Tainted Cup begins with something akin to that premise. Immediately after the murder mystery begins, a breach to the massive wall of their civilization is inflicted by a titan—called Leviathan in the novel. However, it is worth noting that The Tainted Cup is not an action-packed narrative centering on repelling the dangers the leviathan poses to the empire. The threats of the Leviathan loomed in the background, and I assume this will be explored further in the sequel. But at its core, The Tainted Cup is a murder mystery-centered narrative in a high fantasy setting, with a touch of The Last of Us owed to the Dappleglass contagion in the storyline.

“It’s not all walls and death and plotting! Nor is it dreary dispensations and bureaucracy! We do these ugly, dull things for a reason— to make a space where folk can live, celebrate, and know joy and love.


When we speak about detectives and their assistants in stories, it is difficult to avoid the names Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. This setup and duo are popular in murder mystery stories for many valid reasons. After more readers read The Tainted Cup, the duo of Din and Ana will remind readers of Holmes and Watson. Or, to make a comparison to a recently published fantasy series, the names Justice Konrad Vonvalt and Helena Sedanka from Empire of the Wolf trilogy by Richard Swan will be mentioned frequently. And none of these would be a mistake. Compared to The Divine Cities trilogy and The Founders trilogy, Bennett’s narrative in The Tainted Cup is more plot-driven rather than character-driven. Understandably. In The Tainted Cup, the story is narrated from the perspective of Din instead of Ana. Throughout the novel, we have not seen a lot of exploration into Din's character and background. With the exception of Din’s ability to retain memory and information as an Engraver, making him a living library of information, Ana is, in comparison, a more interesting character. Bennett himself has mentioned Ana is a mix of Nero Wolfe and Hannibal Lecter. But Din and Ana complement each other. Every investigation, clue, and report Din discovered for Ana, and every scene they were together, resulted in a relentlessly captivating reading experience.

“I have never liked the company of too many people, Din. I have always preferred patterns and the consumption of information to socializing. I have preferred and will always prefer staying in my residence and will avoid stimulation at all costs. This is simply who I am.”


If you have read City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett, then you will know The Tainted Cup is not Bennett’s first dive into writing murder mystery stories. And still, I was impressed by how everything clicked together in the last 13% of the The Tainted Cup. The barrage of revelations was absolutely thrilling. It made me feel as if I was watching Sherlock Holmes or Knives Out in a fantasy setting. Even if you manage to predict the perpetrator, one of the best things about a murder mystery story is finding out how every puzzle fits the bigger picture nicely. It is in the details. A good revelation or plot twist is not only about shock value. It also means when you reread a story or think back upon it, you can see the puzzles and hints laid out for you, whether you realize their existence or not on your first traversal. As Bennet said, a murder mystery story is largely a process of logistics and ensuring the timelines work and the right evidence fits in the right place at the right time. And all of these have been accomplished brilliantly in The Tainted Cup.

“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. I simply perform maintenance, in my own little way. And you have ably assisted me in that, of course.”


I was on a streak of books ranging from disappointing to good quality. The Tainted Cup stopped the streak. The world-building is fascinating. The storyline is entertaining. And there are still tons of mysteries about the Leviathans and the two main characters to be given in the next books. The Tainted Cup is the beginning of an incredible murder mystery series in the high fantasy genre. The duo of Ana and Din will mark their spot in the detective's hall of remembrance. I can certainly envisage The Shadow of the Leviathan series spanning many volumes, and I will be grateful. Bennett mentioned he had fun writing the novel and is looking forward to reading more murder mystery novels in the series. It is reflected in the narrative. I always find it odd that despite having murder mystery as one of my favorite types of stories to consume, as proven in many fantasy and sci-fi books with this plot included, I almost never read non-SFF murder mystery novels. And somehow, even though it is marked as a fantasy novel, I believe The Tainted Cup has ignited my passion to read more non-SFF murder mystery books. It has been a pleasure and an honor to read this book early, and I already can't wait to read the next book in the series as soon as it's available. If you love the sound of reading a murder mystery novel with a compelling duo in an intriguing fantasy setting redolent of Attack on Titan, read The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett.

You can pre-order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

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⭐️: 5 / 5

Publication Date: February 6, 2024

I want to thank Ballantine, Del Rey and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Some of the coolest aspects of this story, were our narrator, Dinios Kol and his somewhat eccentric boss Ana Dolabra. Both show neurodivergent behavior which I found a joy to read. The banter reminded me of the BBC portrayal of Holmes and Watson. The pacing was beautiful and kept me engaged as the plot developed and more drama came to light, I was audibly gasping at some parts. And probably one of my favorite parts was that the reveals at the end were satisfying and made sense! I never felt that it was out of nowhere and while I had some close guesses I was still pleasantly surprised.

As for my reservations, I wish that one subplot had been more thoroughly developed to make it feel less abrupt towards the end of the story. Aside from that thoroughly enjoyed everything else about this book.

Overall I loved this book so much! When I finished I was itching to start it over again. This is the first in a series and I cannot wait to read the next installment. I look forward to reading more from this author and I would absolutely recommend this book!

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- Murder mysteries
- Neurodivergent characters
- Fantasy-ish

⚠️ violence, body horror

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was fun, engaging, and left me wanting more. The worldbuilding was fantastic, it was robust and logical, and revealed in parts throughout that made it easy to digest while still informing the readers of the setting. Set in a fantasy Empire that is never named, main character Din is an engraver, someone who has genetically modded themselves to have perfect recall. He works as an assistant to local inspector Ana, a notorious shut-in who struggles with normal social situations. The set up is a typical Holmes and Watson relationship, but the author takes a unique spin on it, particularly with Ana's personality and Din's own abilities. They're investigating a gruesome murder that leads to a bigger conspiracy. I loved Din as a main character, his process is fascinating, given his enhancements that allow him to have a perfect memory, and his personality works really well and helps carry the story. His dry seriousness works perfectly with Ana's phrenic personality, and the two are a much more interesting match than the typical Holmesian setup. Ana's leap in logic are always explained well and properly foreshadowed, even when Din doesn't always realize it in his own narrative. I loved everything about this book and desperately want more from this series.

In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible.

As someone who isn't too well-versed in fantasy (and is honestly intimidated by it) this book was perfect. It is immersive but accessible and never left me wondering what was going on. The magic system plays a key role in the book, but doesn't lose the reader. Very entertaining and enjoyable read. When is book 2 going to be ready?????

In a world where leviathans rise from the ocean, march across land, and threaten civilization, Din and his boss, Detective Ana Dolabra, must find a devious killer whose murders are putting the world even more at risk.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s “The Tainted Cup” is a masterpiece of world-building. Told in the classic mystery style of the first-person narrative from the perspective of the detective’s assistant, this book has the tropes of Doyle and Christie that you want, but in a fantasy setting rich in complicated detail. I enjoyed how different everyone was, the science/magic of the grafts people receive to enhance their skills, and the looming threat that a giant beast from the sea could destroy the town at any moment.

I loved this book. I savored it. I’d wake up in the middle of the night and read, not so that I could fall back to sleep, but to see what would happen next. Looking back over my reviews of 2023, I’d have to say this is easily in my top three. I recommend “The Tainted Cup” to fans of both fantasy and mystery. I received the title from NetGalley.

I haven’t read any science fiction or fantasy in ages (years) and this came as a very pleasant surprise. A little confusing at first, but I quickly got involved in the story and am already looking forward to more. Intricate, interesting, different. A well-written narrative in a well-crafted and conceived new world. The story introduced several truly unique characters, and a plot that expands as it develops - the central mystery is resolved to satisfaction, but still hints at more to come. I look forward to reading more about these characters and this world. Recommend.

This was a nice fantasy novel that was built as a mystery. The main characters were out to solve a murder that turned out to be several murders--while also worrying about a leviathan breaching the walls of the city. There were many colorful characters and side stories. Very easy to read and the book was set up to be part of a duology or trilogy.

Dinios Kol's previous assignments helping imperial investigator Ana Dolabra solve payroll discrepancies did not prepare him their latest case: an unpleasant officer being dismembered by a spontaneous tree inside the swankiest mansion in the province. Ana's terrifying brain (she wears a blindfold to cut down on data input) coupled with Din's biologically enhanced memory make them a formidable duo, but the deeper they dig the more bewildering crimes they uncover. And it's the rainy season, so everyone is distracted by the imminent leviathan attack. A corker of a mystery set in a deliciously disturbing high fantasy world.

Imagine this: a fantasy novel with extensive world-building and a dynamic duo reminiscent of Sherlock and Watson. The case? Murder by plant. And oh, yeah. The Sherlock analog doesn’t go to the crime scenes. Instead, Watson must go and memorize everything, and then describe it to her. And Watson has a secret learning disability. Add in political corruption, rich people behaving badly in almost an organized crime type of way, and you have yourself a rollicking good time. And that’s what I had, reading this delight. Can’t wait to see what is next for Ana and Din!