What a fascinating story filled with wild imagery and gorgeous tapestry. Even the characters were unique and woven into the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

Warning this book will have to reading all night into the wee hours of the morning.

It is an Agatha Christie neets Sherlock Holmes novel with some added romance thrown in for fun. It also contains sci-fi/fantasy, and occult magic.

There is a lot of vulgar language, so if you are sensitive to that, you might want to take a pass. I just skipped over those unnecessary parts of the dialogue. I don't see why authors feel the need to add that to the dialogue. It is just an unnecessary distraction. One star removed for vulgarity.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend.

Four stars. Worth the read!

Tl:dr
Up for a murder mystery series a la Sherlock Holmes and Watson as the main character with Attack on Titan as a backdrop? Check the Tainted Cup out!

This book continues to prove Bennett’s greatest strengths lay in the world building and characters and it delivers in spades. For those who didn’t like the hectic pacing in Foundryside/The Founders Trilogy will enjoy this book since it is closer to the Divine Cities trilogy’s slower pacing.

The Tainted Cup follows Din, our new assistant investigator, as he goes around engraving murder scenes and testimonies into his memories to report to his boss Ana, an eccentric being. The world have altered people with specific ability such as Din, an engraver, who can remember everything.

The novel’s main focus is Din and Ana investigating the strange murder of a high ranked officer, as that occurs the Empire prepares itself for the wet season when the leviathans behind gigantic walls are the most dangerous. The attention Bennett gives to a world that regularly experiences expected destruction feels believable especially with Din’s growing anxiety as he approaches the wall when the murder case calls for him to broaden the scope.

For those who may worry the novel changes its genre from mystery to action due to the danger of leviathans, have no fear. Bennett doesn’t ever let the novel forget it is a murder mystery. The novel ends with a big bow on the murder case with plenty of open doors for the next two sequel novels.

Full disclaimer: I got an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Del Rey and NetGallery for the opportunity.

This wasn’t my favorite story. I unfortunately lost interest pretty early and just had a hard time getting into the story. I am thinking others may enjoy it more than me. The co

Thank you to NetGalley, Robert Jackson Bennett; and Del Rey for providing me an advanced reading copy.

Everything I love in fantasy meets everything I love in a classic mystery! I want more of these characters and this complicated, lush and monstrous world!

I received this from netgalley in exchange for a review.

This is one of those books I wish I had larger chunks of reading time to devote to it. I was almost instantly hooked with Din and Ana and learning this new world, which made it a bit difficult for me to focus on the actual mystery - it was a bit like being Din - I saw everything, but it took Ana to put things together. I really enjoyed it though, and I look forward to more books together. I want to know more of this world, and more about the secrets Ana has, and whether or not Din sees Kepheus again.

Mostly I wonder how Ana and Din are going to continue rotting out this corruption Din has now learned about in the world. And learning more about all the different changes that are made to some people, it’s fascinating!

"The Tainted Cup" by Robert Jackson Bennett is a spellbinding fusion of fantasy and classic crime fiction that immerses readers in a mesmerizing world of magic, deceit, and murder. Set in the enigmatic Empire of Daretana, where even trees can become instruments of death, the story follows the eccentric and brilliant detective Ana Dolabra and her steadfast assistant Dinios Kol. Tasked with investigating a bizarre murder involving a tree erupting from a high Imperial officer's body, Ana and Din unravel a complex web of mysteries that threaten the very fabric of their empire.

Bennett’s narrative skill shines through as he masterfully weaves together elements of magic, intrigue, and suspense. Ana Dolabra is a captivating character with a unique approach to solving cases, and her dynamic with Din provides a delightful blend of humor, tension, and camaraderie reminiscent of classic detective duos. The intricate plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats, leading them through a labyrinthine journey of unexpected twists and revelations.

The world-building is exceptional, creating an immersive setting that seamlessly blends fantastical elements with the intricacies of a classic mystery. The prose is elegant and evocative, drawing readers into the Empire’s vivid and sometimes haunting landscapes. Bennett's ability to craft a tale that transcends genres is truly commendable.

"The Tainted Cup" showcases Robert Jackson Bennett's storytelling prowess, offering readers a fresh and enchanting take on both fantasy and crime fiction. With its mesmerizing characters, intricately woven plot, and immersive world, this novel is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the art of storytelling at its finest.

LOVED THIS OFFBEAT Sci-fy Holmes-style mystery!

In Daretana’s there is a very wealthy family, when a high ranking officer is killed inside one of their properties - by a tree growing through his body, a emergency is declared and special and brilliant detective is assigned.

Ana Dolabra is eccentric, acerbic and beyond intelligent. She has chosen a strange student to be her assistant. As Ana steadfastly will not go outside and generally conducts her business blindfolded, Din, her new assistant is her eyes and ears in the empire. Din has the grafts that allow him to remember everything he encounters and just out of school he might be the perfect partner for her.

As the death toll rises. the idea that there is quite a bit more going on beneath the surface. Din needs to juggle a game of thrones-worthy clan as well as plenty of hidden enemies and his own personal secrets. Can the duo solve this mystery and essentially save the empire?

Just amazing what people can create! I love the world that has been built and cannot wait to return. Jackson Bennett drew me in easily and I have fallen in love with Daretana and every in it. If you love sci-fy, mysteries with complicated plots or just want to visit a new world, The Tainted Cup is for you! #RandomHouse #NetGalley #RobertJacklonBennett #Holmes

My favorite line in the whole book! - “The thing about war, boy, is while it happens, you’ve no idea what’s going on—and when it’s over, everyone spends the rest of your life telling you what you did.”

So, starting off, I was interested in this book based off of another review which I think read something like "a mix between Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes"

This was definitely giving off the best vibes of Sherlock Holmes style. To say that the lead investigator was eccentric is putting it mildly. The first few chapters of the book, I was kind of struggling with the world building but I caught on a little bit later. There's a whole lot of moving parts in this book, which made it really fun. The murder mystery had so many layers that I found myself surprised at some of the revelations.

I am impressed with the characters, since I seemed to like all of them in their own little quirky ways.

The ending was a total shock to me, I didn't see that coming at all.

I really got attached to Signum, especially through his struggles and the way he processed information. Ana was an absolute fireball, Every time she spoke I wondered what she was putting together in her head. I will be excited to read the next book when there is one. I am hoping to see more of what an Engraver can do.

A perfect melding of a couple of my favorite genre, blending SFF with murder mystery, The Tainted Cup was a book that I could not put down. The worldbuilding was quite clever, I half-expected a steampunk environment at first since the world seemed to have retrofuturistic technology and esthetics inspired by somewhat 19th-century industrial revolution era combined.
The character development was quite clever. Kol, our narrator is the perfect compliment to the idiosyncratic detective Ana. By the end, my foremost though on it was the quote “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” (--from Casablanca). And, as in all good murder mysteries, the supporting cast of characters were multidimensional. They were people with personalities and motivations and not simply tools to plug a hole in the plot.
There is a chasm in murder mysteries between an obvious who-done-it where you surmise the perpetrator just after finding the corpse, and in opposition, the mystery that doesn't jell where villain is thrown at the reader in the end with little clue and deemed a "curve-ball ending", but so many writers seem to hit one wall or the other. In The Tainted Cup, there is a good balance, adding dimensions and curves to the mystery but still providing clues and having Ana break down the clues to deduce the identity and motivations of the killer or killers.
(I rate it 4.5/5)
The author seems to like trilogies so I'm hoping that this book gets a next installment soon.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for access to The Tainted Cup as an arc! I was super intrigued by this one and really excited to give it a shot. I'm giving this a 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4 for Goodreads ratings!).

This book is strong in the sci-fi-murder-mystery vibes, which I can't say I have ever really read before, so I'd say that was quite the unique introduction. This book does have a lot of world building in the beginning as it does have strong sci-fi influences throughout the plot, which made the murder-mystery setting really intriguing! I also loved the character dynamic of Ana and Din; the eccentric-superior/easily-scandalized-subordinate trope is always a win in my book. The author describes them as a "Holmes and Watson style pairing", which I definitely saw in this unique sci-fi/fantasy setting.

I believe this book is the start of a new trilogy, but luckily, this book does not end on a wild cliffhanger; it simply ends with the possibility for the storyline to go wherever Robert Jackson Bennett feels inspired! The Tainted Cup is set to release in February of 2024, so be sure to keep an eye out if a sci-fi/fantasy/murder-mystery sounds like something you might enjoy :)

This is a very Sherlock Holmes meets dystopian and fantasy. Literally have never read anything like it. Kinda reminded me of that movie Knives out! Loved that it was a female Sherlock Holmes as we don’t read that often. & she has a mouth on her! Don’t start reading unless you wanna stay up until ungodly hours reading. Will absorb and suck you in immediately. A fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

I can't believe this book was over 400 pages because I blew through it like is was 150. This was a fun, entertaining, and interesting read. The mystery kept me guessing, the characters were different and interesting, and at times I even laughed out loud. I'm happy to see that this is the first in a series because I absolutely want to keep reading to find out what happens to these characters and to this interesting world that the author has created. Definitely lookig forward to more!

First off, thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

This was quite a fun read! Our protagonists definitely resemble the Holmes-Watson pairing, and in quite a unique way. The mystery of that crazy death, how it all spirals into so much more, how they come to discover everything, it was just all fantastic!

On top of that, this world has quite a unique 'magic' system that I found so very interesting. It was a little confusing to remember everything at first, but once I got the hang of it (and wrote out a couple notes), I kept hoping for more lore and world building!

Finally, the relationship between our two detectives. What fun that was! Ana truly was quirky and scandalous, and poor Din was just there trying to make things work out. It was so wonderful seeing their professional relationship and friendship grow. I also had a soft spot for one character that became close to Din through all this, but I won't spoil it for anyone.

All in all, quite a fun read, and I think this may be one I'd enjoy tackling again as an audiobook, mainly to hear the pronunciations of some of these crazy names. I also do hope we get to see more from this duo in the future!

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a book that I went in knowing nothing about it but the title and the description, and I was wowed. This is an intricately designed murder mystery with political intrigue in a fantasy setting that didn’t require a massive info dump to piece together this new world and its rules and language. I throughly enjoyed it and with the ending implying a sequel I will definitely be seeking it out.

As for the storyline, we follow Din, a detective’s assistant (Watson) who was changed and given the ability to remember everything he hears, sees and touches and is able to info dump that information to the detective who is a regular Sherlock. In this they investigate the murder of engineers, who maintain a wall from the leviathans (gross giants), and discover death, corruption, and conspiracies against the empire.

In this book you will find: LGBTQA+ characters, graphic death scenes, gay romance that appears at the end of the book, sherlockian style observations, altered people, description of corpses, fantasy plants, poisons, political intrigue, corruption and a whole lot more.

First of all, thank you Netgalley for letting me read this!

So, I'm not sure what it was about this that just didn't connect for me. I like the author. I read the Foundryside trilogy and loved that. This should have been right up my alley. Leviathans, a lady Sherlock character in a fantasy world. It was just ok for me though. i wasn't thinking about it when I wasn't reading and I didn't particularly want to pick it back up. I'm really not sure why. It wasn't bad by any means it just didn't hook me.

At the borders of the empire, contagions are abundant, and leviathans threaten the outer rings. The blood of those same leviathans is a key ingredient in magically transforming people to grant powerful abilities. Dinios “Din” Kol is one of those fortunate enough to have been altered. Due to his extremely enhanced memory skills, he has become an “engraver” and these skills are perfect in his role as a new assistant to Ana Dolabra, perhaps, the greatest living detective. And now that the body of a high-level magistrate has been found, murdered by means of aggressive plants exploding from inside his body, Ana and Din have been assigned the case.

While Ana brings her genius for detective sleuthing, she is also an eccentric who prefers to wear a blindfold most of the time so as to not let her vision interrupt her thinking. Din’s perfect memory is ideal for interrogating suspects and witnesses and is able to “play-back” the facts verbatim if required. Useful in discovering discrepancies, to be sure. The murder mystery is off and running, despite the fact that both Ana and Din have secrets of their own.

Author Robert Jackson Bennett has proven many times before that he is a master at building original fantasy worlds, demonstrating in-depth world-building with all the trappings you’d hope for. This first novel in a new series proves it once again. This is a rich world, with unusual circumstances, cultures, and motivations. The reader is plunged into the middle of it all, but Bennett is adept at providing the knowledge necessary for understanding without resorting to massive info dumps that bog down the plot.

Many reviewers compare the mystery elements of this novel to a Sherlock Holmes/Watson experience, but I think a much better analogy are the works of Rex Stout. Here, Din is the fact finder, the one who goes out and about gathering evidence much like Archie Goodwin. We get most of the story from his perspective. Ana, like Nero Wolf, largely remains behind and waits for the information to come in where she then analyzes, deduces, and brings her genius to bear.

The entire novel moves along swiftly as more deaths occur, and the danger level rises. Din discovers more about himself but his anxiety over his secret threatens to overwhelm him. I loved discovering new abilities in other characters, engineered enhancements like strength, amazing math skills, and another that I shall not divulge for fear of spoilers. There are numerous characters from all walks of life thrown into the mix and like many fantasy novels, the names are not common to our experience and can be tough to keep track of. This is “smart” fantasy to be sure, neither a D&D adventure nor a Hercule Poirot murder mystery. No matter what you call it, it is exceptional, and certainly a fun read. I look forward to the next book in the series, not only for another complex murder mystery but also to learn more of this unique world.

Highly recommended.

Step into a world where mystery meets fantasy, where a brilliant detective and her resourceful assistant navigate a realm of magic, deceit, and murder. Robert Jackson Bennett's "The Tainted Cup" offers a unique twist on the classic crime novel, weaving together eccentric characters, intricate world-building, and a captivating narrative that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. While pacing occasionally falters, the overall concoction brews to a satisfying 4.5-star rating.
Immersed in a dystopian setting, where plants serve as sources of light, clean air, and security, the story introduces Ana Dolabra, a renowned detective known for solving impossible cases without leaving her home. Assigned to investigate a baffling murder, where a high Imperial officer is found dead with a tree emerging from his body, Ana's eccentricities shine as she pairs up with her new assistant, Dinios Kol.
Din, a magically altered engraver with photographic memory, assists Ana in piecing together the puzzle of this seemingly impossible murder. As their partnership unfolds, the narrative delves into their unique dynamics, making the book feel like a delightful blend of Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, and a fresh fantasy world.
Bennett's strength lies in his masterful world-building and character creation. The bizarre murder scene is just the tip of the iceberg in a realm where Leviathan blood and contagions intertwine to produce strange magical effects. Ana's peculiar methods and Din's unassuming presence add layers to their partnership, making their interactions both entertaining and endearing.
The magic system's depth and the intricate plot maintain an air of suspense throughout the novel. Bennett's writing style engages with rich metaphor and evocative descriptions, drawing readers into a world that combines the allure of a classic mystery with the wonder of fantasy.
While occasional pacing issues surface, particularly in the first half, the narrative picks up momentum as Ana and Din delve deeper into the mystery. The revelation of the mastermind behind the murder and the scheme that threatens the Empire culminate in a satisfying climax that leaves readers hungry for more.
"The Tainted Cup" stands out as a testament to Robert Jackson Bennett's storytelling prowess. With a dash of Sherlock Holmes intrigue and a swirl of fantasy magic, this novel captivates with its unique premise and well-crafted characters. Despite minor pacing hiccups, the book earns its 4.5-star rating as a delightful blend of mystery and fantasy. A must-read for those who crave an imaginative twist on the classic crime novel.

Possible Triggers:
Death | Gore

Summary:
This is the first book in the ‘Shadow of the Leviathan’ trilogy.

Characters:
The story is told from Dinios Kol's point of view as he and Ana Dolabra, an investigator, work to solve murders.

Positives:
+ Let’s talk about these characters a little bit. SO freaking interesting. I love the way that the main character telling the story identifies suspects and colleagues with very distinct descriptors. Either pinning them with smells or mannerisms, or the colourful plumage and quirks of birds. As a detail oriented person I found it really refreshing to have a character remember people similar to a way i do - it helped me keep all the characters fresh in mind. I enjoyed the way we got to learn more about Dinios’ past and am excited to learn more about Ana when the series continues.
+ There is something distinctly satisfying about how the book ended. The last few chapters tied the story up amazingly while also leaving ample room and excitement for the next book. I was vibrating from so much hype with the reveal and ensuing shennanigans.
+ The setting was so freaking cool. What must it be like further in towards the capital of the nation? I am hoping that in the subsequent books we get to sample much more of the awesomeness we got to see so far. It’s exciting to see more books set in the jungle in the last few years.

Final Thoughts:
Oh my god, this book was amazing. I flew through it. Every moment was a delight to read, from the interesting new world as well as the eccentricities of the characters themselves. Ana and Dinios have such a fun dynamic relationship together. She is so comfortably eccentric and spikey. This is going to be another one of those partnership/friendships that is talked about along with other fantasy favorites like Locke & Jean. Come for the characters and mystery, stay because whatever you thought it was going to be, will be overshadowed by reality.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC! This was such a fun adventure. The world and the magic was so interesting. It was witty, clever, and had me truly invested in these characters. Would definitely recommend reading this!