Well, this book has officially cemented Bennett as one of my favourite authors of all time! I loved the Divinie Cities trilogy, but had some mixed feelings to the Founders trilogy, so I was excited to see how I'd end up feeling about this one. There were very high expectations - and they were definitely met!!
This was such a fun read - it starts of as a murder mystery with a Sherlock Holmes and Watson like dynamic between the main characters, but quickly escalates into a conspiracy that might threaten the empire itself. I tend to dislike murder mysteries in books of this size, yet this story had me at the edge of my seat and fully invested in the mystery all the way too the end! This is very rare for me with these kinds of plots.
The story shined through its characters though - Din is such an endearing main character, and I loved watching him grow and become more confident in his abilities. Ana on the other hand is one of the most hilarious characters I've ever come across. Truly no filter on that one. Yet, her relationship with Din was so lovely, and I'm always excited to see a deep, platonic bond as these two have develop!!
The worldbuilding was also top tier. Very interesting, but also terrifying. The Empire is a country separated off by enormous walls into three sections, with the capitol being the farthest inland. Why inland, you ask? Because enormous beasts regularly rise from the sea to wreak havoc like the horror version of kaiju! Fun, right? There's also a very scientifically magic system here (I hesitate to even call it a magic system) where people can get mental and physical upgrades to enhance their abilities. It's all very neat and well done, and I'm excited to learn more about this world and its characters!
Not even a single criticism here from me, so go read it!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

What an amazing story! This is my first book written by this author and I'm so intrigued that I will probably read his other works too.

This books has an amazing writing. The history is captivating and I really enjoyed it.
I love how Ana and Din are completely different from each other, but in the same time they're just perfect partners in crime.

The murder mystery was well written and had my atention until the last page. I also thing this book will be perfect for people who want to try to read a fantasy story but don't like complex world-building.

100% sure I will read other books in this seri es.

Thank you Publisher and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

This book was a sandwich of the tropes I loved. Mystery, Magic, pluusss This book had the best mentor-mentee relationship.

Last year I finally managed to read City of Stairs, after keeping it on my TBR for ages. And I enjoyed it, but I also decided that that would have been my last book by Robert Jackson Bennet, because his books, beautiful and compelling as they are, aren’t really the best fit for me. I can’t really say why it doesn’t work properly, either. I have read the whole Foundryside trilogy, and the first of his oldest series, and all of them have amazing characters, unique and so real and complex and not bidimensional at all. And all have the most fascinating world-building. And we also have a good plot and action to keep things going. And still… even if I can appreciate them on a theoretical level, I can see why so many love these books, on the pure level of enjoyment… here they lack something for me.
The only book that I truly enjoyed from the start to the end, and had an amazing time reading it, was the second book in the Foundryside trilogy. All the others always fell a bit short. So I decided to just let this author go. I appreciate his works, but they aren’t really for me.
And then this one came out and I kept seeing reviews for it around. And I was curious, obviously, but I kept my distance for a bit, because I was done with him. Up to a point, I can’t remember whose review it was but… I just was too captivated by it, and I had to try and see for myself, all my good intentions be damned. And do you know what? It worked! I had an amazing time with this book!

This book strongly reminded me of City of Stairs but, at the same time, it is highly original. The world-building is fascinating, and so vivid! We have an Empire that is constantly in danger of being invaded by Leviathans (okay, not really constantly, but once a year, every year so… not really good, right?), and the Leviathans’ part reminded me a bit of the anime Attack on Titan. There isn’t really a reason for that, it has more to do with vibes, I guess. Anyway, I was saying… the Leviathans. And they are not the only danger in this world, we have contagions and more. Strange animals and strange plants. That’s for sure.
But we also have a really advanced society, that managed to find ways to enhance and modify humans to create some ranks of highly specialized individuals. And this is not only reserved to the higher classes, even if usually they seem sort of reserved for government or military-related positions. Anyway, enhanced humans. And I know that this sounds more like sci-fi than fantasy, but the vibes and the world and all are still deliciously fantasy. And let me tell you that some of these mods are astounding! Sure, there is always a price to pay, but still… fascinating!

And the characters! Ana and Din are amazing as characters and they are amazingly well paired. The comparison between Holmes and Watson is strong, and it is accurate. I think that we could do without the Watson part because Din is not really so akin to Watson (if not for the immense reserve of patience he has to have), but Ana strongly resembles Sherlock Holmes. In a lot of ways. But still, she retains some bit of uniqueness that makes you keep reading for the pleasure of discovering more about her. To see more of her shenanigans. She was a blast! And Din is her needed counterpart. He is more sedate, he is young and inquisitive, but he has also strong respect for the law, at least up to a point. He is righteous, but not pompous, he is a breath of fresh air in his own right, and he is the one we follow around while the investigation is ongoing.
We have some secondary characters, and I think that here we have one of the reasons usually this author doesn’t work so well for me: we have some secondary characters who have a ton of potential, but they are totally eclipsed by the MC. And it is a bit of a shame to see so much potential wasted.
But, in any event, I enjoyed some of them too, and it was a pleasure getting to explore this mysterious and luscious world with them.

Last but not least, is the plot. This is, basically, a mystery in a fantasy setting. And the plot is so captivating! I started this book “by mistake”, because sure, I was planning on reading it this month, but not so soon, but then I was at work and I didn’t have the book I was currently reading with me, so I decided to try it out to kill the time (since I had it on my phone). The idea was just to read it for the 15 minutes I had to wait and then go back to it later on. I do this from time to time, so… no problem, right? Wrong! Once I started I could not stop!
I devoured it! I think that this is not only my favorite book by RJB but it is also the one I read the fastest by him. I simply had to keep reading! It is engrossing. Fascinating. And it is so hard to put down! So yeah, this book was a surprise, and for a lot of reasons. It works amazingly well, and it takes us to some interesting places, while in top-notch company. It’s really hard to ask for more!

The Tainted Cup is a wonderfully enjoyable read. The story weaves together magic, mystery, fun and thrill all together. The characters were engaging, the plot was racing, and I loved every page.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m very grateful to have received an ARC for The Tainted Cup.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eccentric investigator Ana Dolbara and her assistant and side-kick Dinios Kol are tasked with solving the mystery of grass that is spontaneously sprouting from a series of victims. All this against a backdrop of enormous Leviathans circling from the sea in this genre defying fantasy/sci-fi/mystery novel from Robert Jackson Bennett.

This is a brilliantly well written caper, set in an amazing and unique world and with a unique magic system.

I loved Ana’s character, her sarcasm and wit were a highlight and her and Din’s characters bounced perfectly off each other. It was great to see their teacher/student relationship develop into mutual respect and begrudging care for each other. I really could have done with more of their banter throughout.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think the pacing was a bit slow in the first third of the book but it really picked up after that. I look forward to the next adventure of Ana and Din!

Fantasy Holmes and Watson duo trying to solve the really weird, possible, murder of an engineer. Which doesn't only lead the duo of apprentice assistant Din and investigator Ana to the next big city over, but also closer to more murdered people and danger due to the closeness to the empires walls. Behind the walls the sea and the deadly leviathans are waiting.

Ana prefers living in isolation. She often wears a blindfold to keep the world out. She likes reading and cussing. And she loves a puzzle, because otherwise life is just boring. Din has to be Ana's eyes and ears during the investigation. Fortunately, he is an engraver, which means he was altered in a way that allows him to remember everything he sees and hears, and then report back to Ana.

I enjoyed the slowly unfolding mystery (although predictable) and world-building. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

My first R. J. Bennett fantasy adventure and I am currently wondering which of his books to pick up next.

I loved this book from start to finish! His story telling was easy to understand and felt really fluid which can be rare in the fantasy genre. It is a great book for fantasy lovers or even people who want to dive into fantasy but don’t know where to start.

The murder mystery itself takes the main stage throughout this book however the magic system was so gracefully placed in the story.

I loved the relationship between Ana and Din, it was so fun to read about a detective who doesn’t actually go out into the field to solve the mysteries and instead sends her apprentice to do it for her.

My one complaint is the story is narrated through Din however, I felt Ana was more developed as a character and I would love to see more of Dins personality shine through in the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc of this book

We have an unusual little ensemble story here.

An investigation into a death, where a tree has sprouted from the body of a officer and, obviously, this defies logic and reason. So Ana, and her new Assistant, Din, are brought in to figure out what is going on.

Ana is brilliant but Din has some special skills of their own, an enhanced memory which is perfect... and what a great skill for a murder investigation

Whilst all this is going on, there is also a threat of the colossal Leviathans breaching the city, and the city may not survive this.

All in all, there is a good story in this book but I sometimes felt there was a bit too much story all bunched together. Taking each part individually I thought it was great, but just seemed a little much all going on at once.

However, the characters and the leviathans were set up nicely and I would be intrigued to see how, the leviathans especially, are used more as the series continues

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the review copy of this book, it was released yesterday so out now if it sounds like your cup of tea (which our MC makes perfectly throughout the story...)

I've never encountered Robert Jackson Bennett but will be heading to check out the rest of his work now.

The story begins with a murder on a strange planet which an Investigator named Ana must solve with the help of her companion Din (Think Holmes and Watson)

If you want an easily accesible fantasy without too much complex lore or world building - an element of mystery - this could well be right up your alley.

This book features a fantastically diverse cast - Din being both gay and disabled. This is handled brilliantly - helping to normalise the presence of fabulous diverse protagonists.

4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Oh, what a ride. I must admit I wasn't the biggest fan of Robert Jackson Bennet's Foundryside, but The Tainted Cup was so consistently good throughout that it made me want to give the latter another go. I mean, what's not to like? I adore a self-contained, high-concept story, and this more than delivered: an Agatha Christie/Arthur Conan Doyle murder mystery transported into a High Fantasy setting full of Lovecraftian leviathans, conspiracies, and strong magic systems. Yes, please. I can't emphasize enough how it all just works, from the impeccable plot, the light but effective world-building, to the eccentric Sherlock/Watson duo at the core of it all. This book kept surprising me; whenever I worried the murder mystery would fizzle out, a new twist would jump at me from around the corner.

If you're new to the Fantasy genre, I'd definitely recommend The Tainted Cup as a safe but delightful entry point. You won't be disappointed.

Robert Jackson Bennett's "The Tainted Cup," a fantastical twist on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson unfolds as Engraver Kol, blessed with perfect memory recall, investigates the murder of a military engineer, leading him to the enigmatic Daretana. The complex mystery, is set in the captivating Khanum Empire, and keeps you engaged throughout. Bennett's immersive and descriptive writing, along with well-executed action scenes, showcases a skillful blend of hints and red herrings. The novel's conclusion sets the stage for an eagerly anticipated sequel. Gratitude to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Basically, this is about solving a murder while Lovecraftian monstrosity is trying to break through the walls of the city.

From the folk horror of American Elsewhere to the epic scale fantasy of The Divine cities trilogy, Robert Jackson Bennett always struck me as an incredibly versatile writer, one who doesn't stick to one genre. With The Tainted Cup he only confirms it because the blending of a traditional mystery and fantasy is done so seamlessly.
First, this novel manages to tick every box when it comes to things that define mystery novels:
- A quirky investigator with a knack for solving crimes and bad social skills. Even in this world, where augmented people are a regular occurrence, Ana fits the bill. Investigative and judiciary process in Khanum Empire is a part of military apparatus, so Ana is Immunis by rank, Iudex investigator by profession and batshit, completely baffling, by design.
-Naturally, there is a sidekick. We are following everything through Din Kol's eyes and part of the charm is the fact he is so young and new at this and absolutely has no idea what Ana is doing, but he is somehow the only one equipped to deal with her. Beside his natural observance and instinctive nature, he is harboring a lot of secrets and perhaps that's what makes this such an effective duo. Characters and dialogue, natural banter and humor were always Bennett's stronger suits and Din and Ana rival my favorite investigating duo of Shara and Sigrud.
There is a particularly gruesome murder that's whodunnit and howdunnit at once, there is a group of suspects, there are red herrings, there is a twist and everything culminating in a scene where Anna gathers everyone in a room and explains what went down. It was glorious and fun and Poirot would be proud.

But, it's the fantasy setting this whole mystery is happening in where Bennett truly shines. Khanum Empire is surrounded by great body of water where huge Leviathans roam and occasionally, during wet season, try to tear down walls build specifically to fight them back. And I made this connection when I was reading RJB's The Founders trilogy, but his settings really have a kind of manga/anime feel to them. There is a certain strange and wondrous vibe to the whole idea of people doing normal things and coexisting with this unexplainable creatures and occurrences, like Made in Abyss for example. And, hey, technically, Leviathan is Kaiju, right? :)
Their blood is also poisonous and where they fell it greatly alters the surrounding flora and fauna making it inhospitable for humans. But, their remains are also harvested and are used for altering humans in different ways. Din, for example, is an Engraver-someone whose mind is altered to remember every little detail he sees, hears, smells or feel which is handy when investigating a murder. There is a huge variety of ways Bennett incorporated all of this into a murder mystery. From deadly plants to body horror to the mere suggestion that you really don't want to know what worms can do, it is a rich setting, forever growing and altering and we barely scratched the surface. Khanum is also a class society and it comes off as a natural divide considering their situation. It is made clear that if Leviathans go through walls, they will annihilate everything in their way, so it's not that big of a surprise that lives of those closer to the center are valued more and thus, are safer than those on the fringes. This social aspect does come into play in several ways bringing another layer of complexity to the mystery plot of the novel.
What Leviathans really are is something, I suspect, we will find out in subsequent novels, and as much as I am intrigued, I like it in this novel as a part of the setting, an ever-lurking danger that can, in any given moment, render everything any character do non-important. And yet they keep doing it because it needs to be done.

So, basically, it IS about solving a murder while Lovecraftian monstrosity is trying to tear down the walls. And I loved every moment of it. :)

Oh my god I absolutely loved this book. I could rave about it for hours and I absolutely need to reread it and spot all the foreshadowing. Som much about this was just so damn clever- even the title is absolutely perfect.

The world was also fascinating. I am an avid fantasy reader but this was like nothing I’d ever read before. Definitely felt almost sci-fi at time and totally engrossing,. The only downside is that I want to know so much more than I do right now about how the world works and the history of it and what exactly are the leviathans

Din is an amazing POV character and they way we’re introduced to him using his skills as an investigator is so perfectly done and really sets the tone for the rest of the book. Ana is a one of a kind character and actually had me cackling at points but her relationship with Din was so wonderful to watch develop even if Din was completely clueless about it most of the time.

Every twist and turn to this book was somehow surprising yet felt entirely foreshadowed when I looked back over what I’d read which just made me love it even more.

The prose in this book is phenomenal- somehow absolute vulgarity becomes almost beautiful sounding? Very hard to explain but so magnificent to read.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

I am continuously surprised at how well RJB hooks me into a world, and before I know it I am devouring the story. I liked the Foundryside series, but this mystery fantasy mix had me in love immediately.

Firstly the characters are great. The central duo of main character and quirky master had a great sense of humor and dynamic that make for the most enjoyable moments throughout the book. And as I found with Foundryside, the more minor characters really shine through in their shortened screen time and you find yourself with a vivid image of these side characters.

The plot was deliciously complex, full of moments to world build and create a deep need for more of their world. I hope this turns into a 10 book series.

I highly recommend this to any reader who loves fantasy and mystery books, as this is an excellent mix of the two.

This is one of my most highly anticipated reads, so I had really high expectations for it. I mean a fantasy murder mystery by one of my favourite authors is kind of the perfect premise. I adored Foundryside - it has a firm seat in my hall of favourites, and The Tainted Cup has joined it there. Long story (or rather review) short - It managed to deliver on my hopes and expectations and then some.

Combining a unique almost alien setting with some masterful world building. This is a world where plants and growth could mean life or death. The very plants that could wipe out civilisations also provide grafts and enhancements that ensure survival. Leviathans - rampaging mountains, unseeing of anything in its path. The walls and the enhanced keeping the Empire out of their path. Daretana is a city in view of the last wall. The first swath of land to die should the outer wall fall.

In the opulent sector of this canton, an imperial officer lies dead, a murder. Din is engraver and assistant to Ana Dolabra - the investigator of Daretana. Following leads should take them to the murderer, but as always it leads to more.

This book also has some of the best dyslexia and neurodivergent representation I’ve read for awhile. It is incorporated into the story in a way where it’s not a good thing or a bad thing in itself. It’s just there, and there to be worked around if needed.

This is one of those books that I feel woefully inadequate to the task of doing it justice. So my review devolves into me just bugging you to read it. So please read it 🐌

If a Holmes style murder mystery piques your attention, or intriguing world building is your thing, THE TAINTED CUP by Robert Jackson Bennett is a must try. It'll be a while before I mentally leave this world in which mountain-sized leviathans rise from the seas and head out on a rampage in land, causing the empire to maintain and have walls and machinations to delay them long enough that they can be killed.

I admit I did find the character work lacking and the narrative confused between wanting to have the reader observe as the MC helps solve the central murder mystery and building tension in hindsight. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed it and I need the next book please.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of The Tainted Cup!

I really enjoyed this!! It has all the elements of a classic whodunit, with the world of a Jeff Vandermeer novel. I've never read anything quite like this!

The two main characters, Din and Ana, are dispatched to a dangerous province to investigate a series of murders that were carried out using an evasive species of grass and the murder weapon. They come up against corruption, attacks from leviathans, more lethal grass, and enemies with murderous intent.

I think my favourite part of the book is the relationship between Din and Ana. Ana is very reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes/Poirot/Benoit Blanc, whilst also being constantly swear-y, and Din is her long-suffering assistant investigator, who not only helps unravel the mysterious murders but who also manages to stop Ana getting into too much trouble (quite Watson-esque I suppose!).

I will absolutely be reading the next books in this series! This fantasy world is very rich/multi layered which made reading it a pretty immersive experience. I can't wait for more chaotic adventures with Ana and Din!

A really great start to a fantastic world. Giant Leviathans trying to gain access to the walls of the city. The Leviathans blood has changed species magically giving Din the ability to retain everything he sees and hears like a computer. Assistant to Ana a brilliant individual investigator. They check out the first unusual death by contagion which leads Din to find out more about the empire than is safe. When more unusual deaths occur, we follow a maze of clues and suspects. This is an exciting ride with many thrills of a world you don’t know what’s round the next corner but cannot wait to find out. Really great relatable main characters who get under your skin. I cannot wait for more visits to this fantasy world.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

There is only so much I can say about this book but I loved it. Adored it. Didn't want it to end. I am very keen on genre-blending and one of my favourites is the fantasy murder mystery. So when combined with one of my favourite authors, Robert Jackson Bennett, this was a must have. I was desperate for this to be a thrilling read and I really wasn't disappointed.

The characters are delightful. Dinios Kol is our main POV - poor hopeless, brave, unimaginative Din! A bit of a talent with Engraving but not so hot with people. Like everyone, he has a few secrets to hide but if he can just get through this job and finish his apprenticeship... I really enjoyed how Din progressed in this story. Ana Dolabra, his superior, is crazy but brilliant. Crabby and sarcastic, she quickly became my favourite of them all. Although these were the main characters, there were quite a few side characters. Some didn't really have much depth but most of them felt fleshed out enough to be real people and not just scenery. Miljiln was particularly strong and I really felt that bittersweet ending.

No matter how good the characters and the plot (both great), the real stars of this show are the atmosphere and the worldbuilding. The story is set in a city in crisis in an over-reached empire. Cue much plotting and scheming. During the plot, the ante is upped by the arrival of a Leviathan landfall. The results atmosphere was cloying, as panic and shortness of time became the prevalent emotions. The scale of the thing also lent much to the atmosphere. Wonderful. However, the diva of this piece is the worldbuilding. The author made some stunning worldbuilding in his previous trilogies but I think this is his best yet! The magic system had augments based on fungi and plants. Mycology in a fantasy book? Yes please! As soon as I read the first chapter, I was swept away. It is outrageous at points but the whole thing is extraordinary in its breadth.

It has to be said that this is not the most sophisticated or complicated mystery but with all the rest of the components in combination, it didn't need to be. I felt that the intrigue rattled along at a nice pace and the plot was exactly what it was needed to be. I have just noticed that this is the first in a trilogy and I am delighted to hopefully have more of the Ana/Din partnership. I am finally running out of superlatives but I must say that Robert Jackson Bennett would be firmly in my must-have list, if he wasn't already, and the Tainted Cup is one of my top 10 books ever. A must read for everyone!