The Tainted Cup is a new kind of masterpiece from Robert Jackson Bennett. This murder mystery kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out what the HECK was going on.

First off, the world building, as usual for a Bennett book, is absolutely fantastic. The Empire of Khanum was built by the fear of giant monstrous titans who repeatedly attempt to breach the walls built to keep them out. Not only are these titans huge, but their blood and bodies change the very land, allowing advancements in alchemy and specialization that would otherwise not be possible. This world in which plant matter has been utilized for things such as walls, air conditioning, and even personal alteration is extremely creative, but not so otherworldly as to render it as foreign.

The characters have the characteristic wit and humor of Bennetts previous novels, in which sarcasm, intelligence and a few well placed crass remarks rule. Inspector Dolabra is one of my new favorite characters with her brashness and insulting manner. She doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what she is, which is incredibly perceptive and able to make sherlockian leaps of reasoning. Her counterpart, Din, is just as delightful and his arc from stiff rule following engraver to relaxed rule breaking investigatory assistant by the end of the book is very rewarding. As always, the inclusivity of disability and lgbtq+ themes are appreciated, especially as they are just fact in the novel and not overstated or expounded upon unnecessarily.

The mystery itself, as previously noted, was complex enough to provide a significant force to want to read more and more to find out what was happening, and the ending was extremely rewarding. There were a few things I was able to figure out myself, but a lot of aspects were a welcome surprise.

Overall, this book was a 4/5 namely because the beginning was a bit slow and I didn’t love it quite as much as the Founder’s Trilogy. However, this is absolutely another slam dunk for Robert Jackson Bennett, and I can’t wait to read the next installment of this series.

tl;dr
Come for the cool worldbuilding, stay for the twisty mystery.

Thoughts
Is this book really 432 pages long? Because I raced through it in a day, and it felt like it moved so quickly! I've always been impressed with RJB's world building, but this one might be my favorite yet. What do we call a world where plants provide light, vines are cultivated to be deadly security systems, the rich can afford large mushrooms that regulate the air temperature, and the murder weapon is a tree? Ugh, I love it. There are also strong notes of the usual "big monsters threaten humanity" suspects - Pacific Rim, Kaiju No. 8, and most evidently Attack on Titan, but this story chooses to move the first responders into the background and spend more time on infrastructure folks and a detective/assistant pair.

And what a stunning pair they are. Fans of the eccentric detective+earnest put-upon assistant, get ready to enjoy yourselves. Ana is a genius in all rights, but never in too much of a magical way that it seems she arrived at her conclusions unfairly. The clues are always available, and I did manage to pick out a couple reveals before they were dropped. As our POV character, Din is easily my favorite - his dedication to justice makes him very easy to cheer for, and I appreciated that he wasn't portrayed as completely brainless.

Despite all the giant monsters attacking in the background, this is a mystery first and foremost, and I appreciate that the narrative commits to this. I suspect that the mystery and the background plot will eventually merge in future books, but for now, I was happy just to read a really solid mystery with some great twists, and a really cool detective.

Excellent start to the new series. This story was a gripping blend of fantasy and mystery. Lots of super fun twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. Vibes feel like Attack on Titan x Sherlock Holmes. Will post on Amazon when the book releases. Thank you so much for the chance to read early.

3.5 stars rounded up. “The Tainted Cup” was my first exposure to this author and I probably should have started with one of his earlier works, as it wasn’t for me as much as I had hoped, but I stayed for the brilliant murder mystery, so it still had enough going for it to keep me guessing and entertained.

My main issue with it was that for about the first 40% of the book it felt so derivative of Attack on Titan that it almost read like fanfiction. I say this not to disparage fanfic, there is plenty of well written fanfic out there, but I expected a bit more deviation from the universe for an original novel. If you loved Attack on Titan, though, you’ll love this.

Then it gets deep into a murder mystery that has at its core a complex conspiracy and the universe finally opened up more for me. I did like Ana, the female version of Sherlock Holmes with her aversion to social events and fondness for sensory deprivation through blindfolds, and Din, her young assistant Engraver who’s been genetically modified to have a perfect memory.

The story is told from Din’s point of view, which was a clever way to build suspense; he’s only four months on the job as an apprentice when murders, contagions and breaches of walls by leviathans require more of him. I just felt their characters were a bit flat and needed more development. Character took a back seat to the mystery, I felt.

The mystery, though, was quite compelling and unpredictable, and I enjoyed the twists and turns that the plot took and the way Ana kept her cards close to her chest but was one step ahead of everybody the whole time. I love well done political intrigue and this executed a geopolitical conspiracy, with its tentacles in every corner of society, perfectly.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This right here, this book made my entire week. I got the e-mail from Netgalley and they offered me this book that I didn't even know was coming out let's just say it made my entire damn week(it only took me four days to read).
It takes a bit to peg this book but that's one of the many reasons I love RJB. It's Sherlock Holmes(if Sherlock had a filthy mouth) meets a fantasy/sci-fi world where people can upgrade themselves and they live under constant threat of giant sea monsters that can destroy the empire. It works, trust me.
I'm not great at describing the plot of any book without sounding like a babbling fool and you can get the broad strokes of the story from anywhere. I will say this is the most enjoyable book from RJB since The Divine Cities. I don't wish to knock The Founders trilogy which I enjoyed quite a bit but The Divine Cities blew me away and so did The Tainted Cup.
Come for the great characters but stay for the amazing worldbuilding.

I was so glad the publisher reached out to me to review this book. This book checks all of my favorites: mystery, fantasy, world building, and part of a series (glee!). I’m really glad the author chose to provide all the details of the book early on, so the reader could have the action and intrigue for the remainder of the book rather than getting bogged down and having to slog through mid-book. The characters were great and there was nothing I didn’t like about this book – it just flows, and keeps you wanting more. And, very important, the details are not overwhelming and while intellectually stimulating, the average reader will not be left in the dust trying to figure out what the author is saying.

The story is essentially a crime novel, but with its own twists. A detective, Ana, and assistant , Din, are summoned to solve a murder near the border of the Empire; an Imperial officer is dead because a tree has torn out of his body. This duo is quite unique, as Ana wears a blindfold and never leaves the confines of her home, yet her knowledge and intellect for the job is uncontested; she uses Din, who has a steel-trap memory, for her senses . The two complement each other wonderfully and together they solve the mystery and learn there may be a much larger threat at hand.

I received this Arc from NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine/Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.

Inspired by Sherlock Holmes we follow Ana (Sherlock) and her assistant Din (Watson) trough a fantasy world to solve a murder and unravel greater conspiracies. It’s cleverly written and the world building reminded me of steampunk but think of organisms instead of cogs and steam. The main characters were all great and it was fun to solve the clues. 1 star less as the reader is dumped into an unfamiliar world with not enough explanation which made it hard to follow in the beginning and some lengths in the middle/end of the book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with the earc

I loved the first half of this and the last 15%, but I got pretty lost in the space between. I'm not super thrilled about the title spoiling one of the mysteries, either. I wish we knew more about the villain(s) earlier on, tbh, as the villain is the key to writing a good mystery; otherwise they end up coming out of nowhere in the end. I liked Din's love interest. I'm curious about Ana's background. I think the ending sets up a sequel well. I would have liked to see a skoosh more about what Din fears and enjoys, as he seems a little more robotic than I'd prefer. (I mean, give the man a hobby?) The worldbuilding is interesting, though I'm not clear on how the economy works with such a rigid caste system. Maybe the sequel will reveal more.

Full transparency, this isn’t a book that would have been on my radar had it not appeared in my inbox but I’m glad it did because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Love a good (platonic) partnership and Ana and Din delivered. They work very well both as individuals and as a team—and occasional personality foils to each other.

The world itself is given to us in slices. I guess it qualifies as a minor gripe to say that we don’t see a ton of depth to the political and cultural allegiances developed in this particular book. Because the story we are telling is so contained that aspect felt slightly thinner than I’m used to in fantasy novels. However, it’s enough to orient us to the world and it feels as though there’s plenty of space to expand in future entries, which is great.

The magic system is 10s across the board. Very interesting, very unique, I especially appreciate how Robert showed the interaction between the various enhancements the characters have and their neuro disabilities. I love the inclusion of the leviathans and the mystery of why they keep returning and are getting bigger.

Every aspect of this book is presented to the readers as an opportunity to depuzzle the mystery. From Ana, to the magic system, to some of the things Din himself is trying to hold close to his chest, and of course the main plot, nothing is just handed to the reader. And the mystery is INTERESTING. Which is a novel experience for me, because I haven’t often read and enjoyed murder mysteries. The twists and the turns, the conspiracies… I ate it up.

Finally and most importantly, this book is FUN. Love fantasy that’s brave enough to just have a good time tbh, all I’m looking for from the genre right now. If you enjoyed the Art of Prophecy or were overly sympathetic to the deviant’s in Marvel’s Eternals this book is for you. If you’ve yet to encounter a dyslexic character in an adult book, reason enough to check this out. Just a good, solid, quick read with entertaining characters and a unique magic system. Definitely will check out the next.

'The Tainted Cup masterfully blends detective intrigue with fantasy, echoing the iconic dynamics of Holmes and Watson. Din, with his impeccable attention to detail, pairs brilliantly with the thoughtful Ana, making their interactions the narrative's highlight. While the tempo may wane slightly during Din's solo ventures, the overall charm remains intact.

Bennett's prose is crisp, adorned with rich imagery and authentic dialogue. His nuanced humor enriches the tale, ensuring a delightful read from start to finish.

The standout features of this novel are its impeccable pacing and intricate world-building. From the first page, readers are ensnared by the captivating universe Bennett crafts. At its heart, this book remains a murder mystery, even as hints of broader issues linger on the horizon. The narrative never loses its central focus, ensuring a tight, engaging plot.

'The Tainted Cup' showcases Bennett's unparalleled storytelling, creating a realm that feels vast, yet intimately familiar. I am very much looking forward to the continuation of this enthralling series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and the author for the advance copy.

This was definitely different from the books I normally read, but sometimes it's a good thing! I love to read about different and unique magic systems. Also, who doesn't love a good murder mystery!? So once I received this ARC I was more than ready to dive into a different story and this book didn't disappoint. I appreciated the world building in this book because it wasn't over complicated and hard to follow. Ana is quite the character and just may be my new spirit animal. Her and Din giving off Sherlock Holmes and Watson vibes was fantastic. I loved the politics and banter. I will give a more in depth review as not to give away spoilers closer to release day!

Thank you again for the ARC

I had the privilege of being invited to read "The Tainted Cup' by Robert Jackson Bennett via NetGalley and I am very grateful. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the approval to read.

What an entertaining read! I am trying to be more mindful of my ratings. Every book starts at 3-stars for me because finishing a novel deserves a "I like it' start. If the critiques and quibbles pile up, then I take stars away. If the quality starts to assert itself, it goes up to 4 and then it has to be something that is special for me that earns the 5-star.

'The Tainted Cup' earned a 5-star rating from me. It scratched an itch that I'd been having since I finished all of Midsomer Murders and a nostalgic re-watch of the 1st season of Columbo.

Not that 'The Tainted Cup' is exactly like those two series as this is a murder mystery set in a fantasy world that has unique stakes of its own. However, it tapped into what I liked about those series. Even if I might figure out who the culprit is, I still want to know the how and why and in a way that keeps me engaged with characters that I want to spend time with even if they can seem bonkers at times.

The story opens with an assistant investigator being led to the scene of a gruesome death of Commander Taqtasa Blas. The death involves a poisoning from a thing called 'dappleglass' which causes the person who is exposed to it in a certain way to be killed from a tree growing from within.

The first chapter did require patience because it is dense with details. It was the chapter that took me the longest to get through. I was a little worried the rest of the book would be like the first chapter because I was thinking I was in for a slow read.

That was not the case as the pace picks up progressively until there was that wonderful moment in a story when I knew I was all-in and I'd be done sooner rather than later because I wanted to know what really happened.

The story is told in first person by Dinios "Din" Kol, the young assistant to the newly appointed Iudex investigator to the Daretana canton for an office that has been newly established. There are rumors that his boss was banished from one of the Inner Rings because she's too much to handle.

To be fair, Anagoza Dolabra is a handful. She's hyper on details. She doesn't like to go out. She wears blindfolds while in conference with others to help her focus on details. She's got quirks that border on annoying but they will payoff too.

In this world, the people are augmented with various grafts and potions. It is a chosen requirement because each citizen has a role to play in keeping the Empire going and also because they can be exposed to deadly stuff at any turn. The reader also learns that those who live near the coast must also deal with the leviathans who come from the sea and are a real threat during 'the wet season'. Of course, this death which turns into a murder investigation is happening as they head into the 'wet season.'

The book comes in lean at 350-ish pages. There is no padding so each chapter builds on the other and the narrative flowed easily. All the details in Part I set up for Part II when it moves from Daretana to Talagray canton and that is the pattern.

It also helps that Din is an earnest and reliable narrator. He has his humor but there's a lovely lack of snark to him that I could appreciate. He wants to do well and he wants some justice to be served.

Each character is given just the right amount of time to serve the plot. If I did have a critique, it is that there is one named character who I wish had been an active character instead of a name that kept coming up. On the other hand, I really like the judicious use of Ana, the eccentric lead investigator. Too much of her and it would have gone south for me. She is who she is which is a handful so it was good for me that she doesn't dominate the story.

The mystery and machinations all come together in ways that are surprising yet make sense once revealed. This is Book 1 of a series, but I am thankful that this opening entry has a conclusion for its events. Yes, I want another book in this world. I want to know more about the leviathans and how they came to be such a threat and the impact as well other mysteries to solve.

I haven't read a book by this author in years. I think the last was "City of Miracles' in 2017-ish, but I'll be looking up more from him. This was an honestly enjoyable read. It had a narrator whose story I wanted to follow. It had characters that I was interested in (honestly, Miljin better come back). The world that was detailed layer on layer until I was no longer thinking "What is that term again?" because I just knew what it meant. I loved that the first chapter's details wasn't just for show and that they did matter throughout the narrative. Just a super satisfying read and that's why it earned a 5-star for me.

I throughly enjoyed reading every page of The Tainted Cup. The world Bennett portrays is fascinating and vital. He creates a unique environment without needing pages of info dumps. The mystery is involving even if the villain is fairly obvious, the method is not.
I hope that , as is hinted at the end, there will be a sequel . The central characters are people I would like to know better and with whom I would like to spend more time. The political structure was hinted at but I would like it fleshed out in further volumes.

Thank you to the publisher for an early ARC for an honest review.The story of Din (Watson) and his boss Ana (Holmes) is slow, though well fleshed out. I can foresee that a lot of people will like the comparisons of True Detective I received from this one, but not my jam. The characters just didn’t grab me early on unlike Foundryside. I also thought the climax had a lot more energy than the first third of the book, it would be nice is that was sprinkled in a bit more to liven up the pages a bit.

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett has such an intriguing premise and, for the most part, lives up to what it promises.

Ana and Din really did feel like a duo in the style of Watson and Holmes but with their own eccentricities. The banter between these two and some moments like that lock picking scene were the highlights of the book for me and I enjoyed how much Din learned from Ana and how he surprised her in return. I do think that if you’re looking for this relationship to develop or change over the course of the book, you’ll probably be disappointed.

The book starts with a seemingly small and normal case, if not made prestigious by happening inside the home of an incredibly wealthy family but expands and takes the duo to various places. I like that as you read, you’re given clues through worldbuilding and rewarded for learning about this world, which felt fun and makes the reader more invested. One of my biggest pet peeves is terribly done exposition and I’m happy to say that The Tainted Cup avoids this and expects you to pick up on things as the story progresses. At times, Ana and Din will talk about recent clues, which gives you a refresher.

If you’re looking for a smaller and more intimate murder mystery, this is not it. As Din and Ana continue investigating, the mystery becomes more complex and more players enter the picture. I liked this for the most part since it lent a sense of danger and more pieces to play with but I do think most of these side characters were very shallow and uninteresting. One of the best parts of a mystery is having the suspects impart strong first impressions and then unraveling their secrets and personas as you go, which The Tainted Cup lacks.

The pacing also wasn’t for me, especially during the latter half, and I find it dragged a lot when Ana and Din weren’t together. I don’t find Din that interesting by himself and he really shone when in the same space as Ana. Things felt so slow when the two weren’t playing off one another. The reveal and ending was pretty underwhelming for me and I really wish that the climatic moment had been stronger.

Overall, The Tainted Cup is an interesting mystery set in a fantastical world. It shines when its two lead characters are together and in the worldbuilding, but many of the characters fall flat and ultimately that led to an unsatisfying ending.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review has been scheduled to be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and my blog on January 23, 2024.

I have still never met a Robert Jackson Bennett book I didn't like. This book does so many things so well that it's almost hard to know what to highlight first, but underneath all of that it's just so damn competent. It's paced perfectly, the worldbuilding is all internally consistent, and the dialogue and narration never feels stilted. I know this sounds like damning with faint praise, but I just read a novel by an established author with a bunch of great ideas that failed in those things, and I really appreciate them in their presence. Over and over again, Bennett hits the balance just right.

At it's heart, this is the platonic ideal of a Sherlock Holmes story. Din, our narrator, is the essence of Watson, biologically modified to remember everything he sees and be able to report it perfectly, and he is all action. Ana, his boss and our Holmes figure, is the opposite: all thought, while she sits in a low-stimulation room and compiles information. Din has no sense of humour but is still fun to read and is self-flagellating for a reason that is neither dumb nor unforgiveable; this is a hard balance to strike. It felt to me like good neurodivergent/learning disability representation, too, where the autism coding of one character is presented as neither superpowering nor crippling. All of the characters we meet are keenly observed, with just enough small details to give us a strong sense of who they are.

It's an incredibly readable book, with prose that is descriptive but not overwrought, and dialogue that always feels believable. It's a tricky thing to hit the right balance between interesting terminology and intelligibility, but Bennett does it well. The book is no first-person-snark, but it is still funny, and it's lovely to spend time with these characters. Like Bennett's last trilogy, it's just casually queer without feeling like it's trying too hard to be. The pacing is pitched just right, with consistent onwards momentum but room to breathe. There's a good balance between mysteries I could and could not figure out in advance, and of course it all made sense in hindsight. The worldbuilding is unique and fascinating, with some interesting things to say about environmental interactions with capitalism.

With Bennett's last two trilogies, I've felt that they can have the tendency to get too high stakes by their end, with world-ending magic that makes it hard to identify with the characters at their heart. I can totally see how this could go that way - there's plenty of hints that have been dropped about some of the mysteries of the world - but I'm really looking forwards to reading what comes next. Every one of Bennett's trilogies has been better than the last, and it's just such a joy to read.