The Tainted Cup

I was so lucky to get my hands on the ARC of The Tainted Cup, this has been not only my last read for 2023 but definitely one that deserves a spot in my top 3 for the year.
The murder mystery/fantasy mix is so refreshing, and even (as far as I understand) this is only the beginning of a new series, the book is fully enjoyable as a stand alone (thank you so much for that Robert Jackson Bennett!).

The empire is shadowed by a recurring danger - Enormous Leviathans coming from the sea during the wet season. In order to keep them at bay the empire has structured itself around a complex political hierarchy and built tall walls meant to prevent any breach of the creatures. Plants are everywhere and used for everything - they are used for buildings, to create everyday objects, to provide cures and enhancements for the inhabitants of the empire, and much more.
In this setting, we get to know Din, an engraver (someone able to memorize at verbatim what he sees and hears) employed by a quirky and incredibly talented investigator, Ana.
We find them in the third ring of the empire, a place usually kept away from most of the high life happening in the inner rings, yet something is about to break their third sector bubble, bringing them to the heart of the action.

I really annoyed the city books and hopefully this could be the start of a new series, great story with well written characters and world building

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the ARC !

"The tainted cup" was one of my most anticipated read for 2024, so I was delighted to get approved for an ARC. The cover, the blurb and the few reviews I had seen had all made me curious about this murder mystery fantasy, a genre I am liking more and more as time passes.
I'll start with the worldbuilding, the biggest strength of this story in my opinion. It's original, new (at least for me), full of wonder, lulinous and dark. Reading about a world where plants and fungi have so much space delighted me, as well as all the alterations side of the world, nearly SF but remaining well in the realm of fantasy. The political organisation was also well managed and interesting. The world is delivered bit by bit, never overwhelming but still dense enough to be a thrill to discover. It gave such a lush, full, marvellous vibe of a world, not nice but so interesting with the Titan's threat and the intriscasies of a world build around their existence and the power their blood gives.
Let me pursue with the characters. The story is told from Din PoV, a young altered man who has the ability to remember things to perfection thanks to the alteration he received. He is quite standoffish, quiet and really observant, the perfect assistant to Ana, the lead Investigator, easily overwhelmed by the outside world and a tad mad. The duo functions really well, I liked both characters, their dynamic and how the mystery is resolved thanks to both of the contributions. The neuroatypicals representation was, I think, well manage and allowed a great interplay between the invesitgation and a bigger, political and social side held within the story. Seeing Din grow, becoming more confident (and having a little fun time with a secondary character, a casual queer representation, I can't say how much it delighted me), was really all I was in for, along the resolution of the murders' puzzle.
I wasn't excpecting to like it so much and for it to be such an easy and fun read, I now want more of that world. Since it is not yet possible, I'll start another series by Bennett.
Great discovery, really !

Thank you for the advanced copy.

this was such a fun read! a Sci fi whodunnit, what's not to love?!

the taunted Cup follows an investigator and her series in a world which is at threat from contagions and big huge water beasts known as the titans.

it was so much fun and the representation was wonderful!

hope this becomes a series

Over view

This story was an amazing surprise and kept me hooked from the first page. Sherlock Holmes/Knifes out set in a high fantasy sci-fi setting. From the world-building to the ‘who don’t it turned full-blown conspiracy plot, I couldn’t put it down until every mystery was uncovered and solved.
The world-building was phenomenal and even though this story took part in only two locations the world felt wide and complicated leaving me itching to explore the universe of this story.
I’m very much looking forward to anything else set in this universe if there is more to come. I’ll be talking about this story for a long time to other book lovers. 5 stars.

Plot

There’s no better way to get a reader interested straight away than to drop them straight into a murder mystery. Detective Dinios Kol has been sent by well-known crime-solving detective Ana Dolabra to be her eyes and ears on the scene. This being his first murder under the detective he’s a little awkward in his bedside manner but he collects all the information from the disturbing scene with the help of his augmented brain which has been altered to remember everything he sees and hears.

The progression of the plot is steady and allows the reader to experience the investigations as they occur and experience the mysteries naturally. Although I couldn’t guess the answers to all the puzzles presented none felt too complicated and very natural. They were mostly helped by the POV style of writing Din, as he was used as the reader's eyes and ears, also, to make the reader feel like they were shadowing the detectives throughout.

Characters

As a first-person narrative, it was wonderful to be taken along from a rookie investigator, being introduced to the new concepts gently from the perspective of someone feeling a little out of their depth. Although, being from a POV we get little of Din’s internal dialog and motivations, leaving the reader feeling a little self-insert at times. His personality did shine through more as the story progressed and Din started to feel more comfortable in his new role and relaxed around his new eccentric master.

The reader gets to know Ana Dolabra, on the other hand, very well from the get-go. Rumors of being exiled for making too many enemies in the capital are completely believable with her seemingly erratic actions.
Throughout the plot, you learn to trust her completely and understand that whatever she has planned, she has her reasons and will always come out on top.

A big thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book!

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is truly something special. The story is pitched as a Sherlock-esque novel about a detective and her assistant trying to solve a series of very odd murders. While this is a very very good description, it's not where the author took his inspiration from - he credits the Nero Wolfe and the Hannival Lecter books.

The story follows an engraver called Dinios Kol (a human altered to remember everything he sees) as he is apprenticed to an investigator called Ana Dolabra. Ana is such a fun and unpredictable character and her mind creates connections between information that nobody else realises is significant.

The story starts after Kol is sent to view a murder scene that is so bizarre that only Ana would be able to solve it This murder is the catalyst that shoots them into a web of deeper secrets bigger than either of them can imagine. Trying to stay alive with massive beasts attacking the walls, poisonous politics and a possible contagion in the air, this story keeps you invested in the plot until the very last page.

I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to read more of these characters in the future. But for now, I'm going back and reading the Foundryside series by this author as well.

I love when a book has me pestering my friends, telling them about plot devices and tropes I discover I love when reading. This did that! I love a murder mystery. I love fantasy. I ate this up.

I know everyone says attack on titan vibes but I would also say if you like the Roman Empire then this is also for you (I for one have other civilizations I much prefer, but I did immediately recommend this to my friend studying Roman roads). There is something about investigating a murder in a structured empire setting that really gets you hooked. The cogs are misaligned and you want to know how to set it right.

I loved the rep in this book too. Din has dyslexia and Ana is neurodivergent. It is all well handled and I enjoyed their frank discussions and sass.

PS, the romantic subplot is more a subplot of a subplot but I loved every fucking minute of being drip fed the small interactions between Din and the potential person (I don't want to tell you who so you can be like ohhh am I seeing this?? too), Sometimes less can be more and these small scenes have turned it into fullblown ship. I will be looking for and if not writing the fanfic myself if needs must.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Murder mystery and fantasy in one book? YES PLEASE! I enjoyed reading this book so much! The world building was just great and structured very well, which made the whole mystery plot even better. I also loved the few romantic crumbs the author left for us readers and ate them up longing for more! The characters were amazing and quirky.
If the blurb speaks to you or not, pick up this book!

This was a fantastic start to this series. Never read RJB but have always wanted to and this was the perfect place to start.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for letting me review this advanced readers copy.

I was intrigued with the synopsis for this, but to be honest my expectations were mid. It’s a little outside my usual reading bubble.

This book destroyed those expectations. This was fantastic. I adored the main character; being in his head the entire time gave this story a very unique perspective.
I was worried about the magic system at first, buts integrated flawlessly within the world, so accessible to understand, and incredibly interesting.

If this synopsis sounds even vaguely interesting to you, if you love a good murder mystery, complex characters, and awesome representation; pick up The Tainted Cup!

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, the publisher and Net Galley.

I adored this book! Can’t recommend it enough. Murder mystery in a fantasy setting with botanical murder weapons, augmented humans and leviathans threatening to breach city walls! Oh my word it was such a wonderful and exciting book!

This felt like Sherlock Holmes in a dark fantasy setting. It was such an exciting and compelling murder mystery and seeing our main characters use their augmentations to solve a very complex mystery was fascinating. Din who is our main character is an engraver, augmented to have perfect memory recall. However he’s hiding a secret difficulty with reading and writing and a fear that he’s lose his post if he’s found out. I loved the way this was told from Din’s perspective and the student and master relationships. It allowed us to learn along with Din as his phenomenal mentor already deduces things and deals them out only when they’re ready. It reminded me of the Justice of Kings and the relationship between Helena and Vonvalt (which I absolutely loved!)

The looming threat of the leviathans added just the perfect tension to the murder mystery, making for such a race against time to uncover a complex web of past hurts, ambition and grudges. This was absolutely brilliant, I just loved the setting and the menace in the seas so much! It just made the book feel like danger was constantly looming.

I loved the human augmentations and the way we see this manifest in different characters throughout the book. Having the main character as an engraver with perfect recall was genius and I loved how this was used to pull the rug out from certain characters when they were caught lying! The added layer of Din having difficulty reading and writing but manifesting rare abilities in other ways made him feel so human and empathetic. It really balanced out his abilities whilst providing sensitive exploration of the experience of people with dyslexia.

I haven’t read anything by this author previously but I’m so excited to go look through their earlier work after reading this! I absolutely loved it!

The Empire has some problems to deal with. Leviathans are coming up from the deep to invade the land. The blood of the leviathans aids magic - good and bad. In an area near the edge of the Empire a high ranking officer is dead apparently killed by a tree growing within him. Ana is the investigator tasked with investigating the death. She has a reputation for brilliance and eccentricity probably in equal measure! Assisting her is Din (Dinios). He is her new assistant and not experienced. He is an Imperial engraver magically enhanced to have a perfect memory. It quickly becomes obvious that the problem is not simply a local one and Ana and Din must travel closer to where the leviathans emerge to seek the truth.

There is a lot to "learn" quite quickly here - dangers and mysteries - small and large - abound. That in its way kept me very engaged initially. There was a fresh feel to this. Ana and Din's relationship develops well in a measured fashion. They also both have secrets that they keep from each other but for how long. We learn far more about the Empire and its troubles in a satisfying - for me - way. The way Sublimes (Din is one) are enhanced is an interesting use of magic for example.

The whole gradual development of scene, people and problems was accomplished by writing of a very decent standard to me. This entertained and satisfied me as a read more than many books I read these days. As time went by, I became more and more engrossed in this story. The story is generally the world as seen through Din's eyes. I found the simplicity of this appealing. Ana and Din's relationship brings a tension and humour into this. Indeed Ana can be very dryly amusing (and annoy people!). She doesn't like the "elite of the Empire" and the feeling is generally mutual.

I tend to take publishers claims about books with a pinch of salt. The claims of a "Homes/Watson" pairing struck me as pretty unlikely. Indeed purists would find it laughable and yet… I do think there is something in this claim. The partnership is unusual/off the wall offering daring and brilliance. There are sharp minds at work here. It is also obviously something that both parties can more than tolerate despite or because of how different possibly they are.

Such well developed characters, a decent slice of magic, a plot to work out, strange creatures and crimes to solve! This ticks plenty of boxes for me. I'd not come across this author before. However I'm certainly aiming to read more of his work based on the writing, storytelling and characters in this book.

Robert Jackson Bennett is among my favourite fantasy writers, and has been since I took a copy of The Troupe out of the library and flipped for it. He’s put out something like eight or nine books now, and they’ve all been highly readable, and what’s more, highly imaginative. The core fantasy ideas here are plant magic and huge leviathans rising out of the seas (which I think we will learning a lot more about in coming books), but the form of the book is more like a crime novel, as it foregrounds a bizarre murder investigation in this world. The world building and characterisation are top notch. Ana Dolabra and Dinias Kol are two highly engaging characters, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of their cases

Loved it! It has great potential to become one of my favourite series ever.

This book convinced me we need more murder mystery books in the fantasy genre. Din and Ana have a very clear ‘Sherlock and Watson’ dynamic, but with its own take. The world building and the magic system were both wonderful!

I recommend this book whether if you like murder mystery or not, it’s a brilliant read

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the free electronic ARC of "The Tainted Cup" by Robert Jackson Bennett.
This is my first five star read of 2024 and my first encounter with this author's work. It was brilliant!
Join the eccentric senior investigator Ana Dolabra and her young assistant Dinios Kol in solving a mystery crime set in a high fantasy setting inspired by "Attack on Titan".
The murder Din and Ana are investigating at the beginning of the story is but a drop in the ocean of a larger conspiracy, one that brings them to the dangerous edges of the Empire, where they are in close proximity to the sea wall, the only thing keeping invading titans, here called Leviathans, from invading the land and wreaking havoc.
This entire world was extremely fascinating. From the beginning, we are introduced to the magical and flora that the people of this world utilize in their everyday life and survival, but which can also cause in some extreme instances a ecological-disaster.
Another interesting aspect of this world was their genetically-obsessed culture where humans are enhanced for different roles, such as engraving, the skill that provides Din with perfect memory, and many other physical and mental abilities that can determine options, profession and positions.
Despite all of this social system or because of it there was a subtle message in this book: "We do not pop out of a mold. We change. We self-assemble."
Not only did I fell in love with this world and the developing mysteries ( that the reader is best to experience on their own without knowing too much), but the main characters and the growth they experience through the course of this book was both captivating and endearing.
My reading experience was such a joy and I am looking forward to the next volume of the "Shadow of the Leviathan". Until then I'll make sure to explore Robert Jackson Bennett's other works.

"The Tainted Cup" is the first installment of "Shadow of the Leviathan," a fantasy series written by Robert Jackson Bennett and currently in progress.

Take a quirky detective duo in Holmes & Watson style, put it in a world building that winks at "Attack of Titan," add an intriguing and intricate story, a captivating and powerful writing, a labyrinthine and well-conceived mystery, mix it all together and you get just a vague idea of what "The Tainted Cup" is! An exciting, thrilling and surprising novel, capable of interweaving, in an original and skillful way, fantasy and mystery elements.  What can I say?! I loved everything about this book! Everything! It truly fascinated, captivated and absorbed me, making it hard for me to tear myself away from the pages. Seriously, the more I think about it, the more I cannot express anything but compliments!

The story takes place in the Empire of Khanum, a setting that, as mentioned above, recalls "Attack of Titan." The Empire is organized in a structure similar to a sequence of spoked wheels, placed one inside the other, of greater amplitude as one proceeds outward. The outer part of each wheel represents the curvilinear walls of the Empire, while the spokes serve as roads. There are three rings of main walls, plus sea walls bordering the sea. The wealthiest citizens live in the most inner rings, in wealthy conditions, while moving outward the poverty increases and the situation worsens. The reason for this arrangement? The huge and monstrous Leviathans, who during every wet season surface from the depths of the abyss to try to break down the walls and make their way into the Empire, destroying everything in their path. The Empire is divided into various military branches, with specific degrees of command, having different roles: defending walls, rebuilding collapsed barriers or reinforcing them, creating weapons, providing medical care, maintaining general order, and much more. Some servants of the Empire receive special grafts and suffusions, which alter their physical and mental abilities, giving them specific and different enhancements, with different side effects and risks. More specifically, the novel takes place in the Outer Rim, poorer and harsher, always at risk of breach during the wet season. It is a decidedly elaborate, extensive and complex world building, which intrigued me greatly! I found it original, well described, and full of potential. Of course, there is still a lot to be discovered, many nebulous aspects, but everything cannot be revealed right away. And I can't wait to read the sequels to learn more!

The story is strongly plot driven and revolves around the murder investigation. The narration proceeds slowly and quietly, with little action. Although the Leviathan are not the main focus of the book, playing a marginal role for now, their ominous shadow looms over everything. The inhabitants of the Empire live in anticipation of the wet season, fearing the possible collapse of the sea walls and the consequent entry of the Leviathans. And the situation is obviously even more critical in the Outer Rim, protected only by the sea walls. In my opinion, the author did a really good job of rendering the tense, anxious and uneasy atmosphere in this setting, making the presence of the Leviathans perceived, though without actually showing them. In addition, the book is full of political intrigues, subterfuges, deceptions, secrets, betrayals, rebellions, contrasts, rivalries, and much more, which completely gripped me. The unfolding of the investigation was sublime! I was amazed at the way the author managed to create a perfect puzzle, providing the pieces bit by bit, until the final explosive resolution! The interlocks are nothing short of exceptional, the attention to detail is magnificent, so much so that even though I guessed some plot twists, others escaped me and had me freaking out with their brilliance!

Ana and Din, the two main characters, charmed me! Din, protagonist with his only first person pov, is an engraver, a person magically altered to have a perfect memory. This talent makes him a living library of information, a sort of walking video camera, as well as the perfect new assistant to Ana, an investigator who is as brilliant as she is eccentric. Ana, who wears a blindfold much of the time. Ana, who rarely leaves the walls of her home. Their relationship clearly winks at the famous duo formed by Holmes and Watson, and I loved it a lot! Between irreverent banter, playful provocations and various jokes, they had me rolling with laughter! As mentioned above, the book is plot driven, reason for which the characters do not have much in-depth study. Or rather yes, they are well delineated, but in fact we know little about them, about their past. Okay, a little more information is given on Din, but in general they are two nebulous characters full of secrets. In my opinion, it fits, I found it in line with the narration and we will surely know more in the next books!

All in all, "The Tainted Cup" is a fantastic start to the series and I can't wait to read the sequel!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In creating the investigative pairing of Holmes and Watson, Arthur Conan Doyle set a crime fiction template that is still being widely used. That of the highly gifted savant investigator and their handy, more active offsider. In The Tainted Cup, Robert Jackson Bennet takes the Holmes and Watson tropes and translates them to a fascinating and complex fantasy world. Like the best of crime fiction, he then uses the investigation to explore and expose the world that his characters inhabit.
The Tainted Cup begins with a horrific death. At an exclusive estate in a remote part of the Empire, an imperial engineer is killed when a grass life plant explodes from his body. Dinios Kol, assistant to investigator Ana Dolabra is sent to examine the scene and report back. Kol has been enhanced to be an engraver, which means he has perfect recall of everything he sees and hears. Which is handy as Dolabra stays in her book strewn house and mostly wears a blindfold. Solving the case only leads to more questions and soon the pair are off to the local capital of Talagaray where similar murders have occurred. But all is not safe in Talagaray which is close to the walls which protect the Empire from giant kaiju-like monsters called Leviathans that come from the sea. As the threat from the sea grows, Dolabra and Kol find the threads of their investigation reach back into the past and go higher than is safe for them.
The Tainted Cup is a great fantasy novel and a great detective novel. The world that Bennett creates is one that is driven by the use of plants and additives derived from the very monsters that threated its existence. And he uses the investigation to reveal these details rather than relying on exposition. All of this is done sufficiently so that readers can then follow how the rules of this world impact on the resolution of the mystery.
And it is full of great characters. Dolabra follows in the mould of Sherlock Holmes – frighteningly intelligent, dismissive of authority, addicted to danger and subterfuge to prove her theories, and usually at least a few steps ahead of everyone else involved in the investigation. But Kol, as the one who gets into all of the action, is the character around whom the story revolves. And he works effectively as Dolabra’s Watson, he has his own talents and inner strength but also a few skeletons that he carries around.
As with all good mystery stories, Bennett wraps up the action neatly. But the action in this book was set in one small area on the fringes of the Empire. Not only that but there are some connections left dangling. The Tainted Cup feels like the first book in a series with plenty more of this fascinating world to explore. And through Dolabra and Kol a pair of engaging characters to continue to explore it with.

A Sherlock Holmes style mystery set in an empire under siege full of magic, deceit and murder. A unique and engrossing take on a classic crime story. I've never read Robert Jackson Bennett before but I'll definitely be picking up his backlist now.

I’m not sure that Robert Jackson Bennett has it within him to write a bad book. This, the start to his next series, does not disprove this hypothesis. In fact, it fully confirms it for me. I just might say that The Tainted Cup is my favourite yet, but that might well just be recency bias. Either way, it’s already made its way onto my best of 2024 list.

One thing that stands out for me about Bennett’s books is just how creative his fantasy worlds are. I don’t think there are many, if any, current fantasy authors who are doing it like he is. In The Tainted Cup, we have a Pacific Rim-type world, where an Empire is constantly under threat of attack by giant titans which come from the sea. Mix in a little murder mystery, some political machinations, and a genius (albeit incredibly frustrating) detective, and that gives you this book.

I have, in other reviews, said that I don’t often like the genius detective trope, where our genius detective oh so geniusly uncovers the truth (like a genius) because of some deductive leaps they’ve made that the reader has no chance of following because aspects of the mystery are not shared. I think where Bennett has succeeded in this is firstly that any deductive leaps that Ana makes are not out of the realms of possibility for the reader to guess. And secondly, that she’s so utterly exasperating for everyone around her that you can tell, even though she is a genius, she’s not being fawned over for it. And, a lot of the time, she delights in being difficult and annoying! Which, frankly, is just a lot of fun.

But Ana is not the protagonist of this book: that title goes to Dinios Kol, a character who it took only mere pages for me to fall in love with. I think Din might be my favourite of all of Bennett’s protagonists (again, this could be recency bias. Maybe I need a reread to ascertain the truth…). Din has, he believes, somewhat duped his way into Ana’s employ because of (redacted secrets here) and the story is not only a murder mystery, but also a balancing act for him, trying to hide the truth from Ana. Their dynamic too is very fun and I can only look forward to more of it in the next books.

What elevated this book for me, though, I have to say was the sheer anticipation of what Bennett can do expanding this world. This feeling is, I think, based on his previous works, where he lets you think you have a handle on everything and then blows it all up in your face with a sudden reveal. Everything you thought you knew turned out to be wrong. And The Tainted Cup, as a series opener, gives tantalising hints of what’s to come on that front.

So if you start any new series this year, let it be this one. You won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In The Tainted Cup we follow Din, an assistant investigator who is magically altered to have a perfect memory, as his mentor Ana is called to solve a mysterious murder, which they soon realize is but a part of a much bigger conspiracy.

Whodunnit type murder mysteries in fantasy settings are so much fun, and this one is no exception. The mystery itself is so intriguing and thrilling all the way through, as Ana and Din discover all sorts of corruption and treason, and it's very tightly woven with the political structures of the world, with themes of class and economic oppression, as well as the magic system based on plants and people biologically altered to have different skills and superpowers. The building tension towards the end, both within the murder investigation and in the world around them, made this book impossible to put down from beginning to end. I loved the ending, as well, it wraps up the plot of this first installment so satisfyingly, while also very clearly leaving more to discover within this world.

This is my first RJB book, but I've heard great things about his world building, and after reading The Tainted Cup, I'm bound to agree. The magic system, with grafts and alterations used to create people with all sorts of different skills, like super strong warriors, language and math geniuses, or Din with his perfect memory, is so cool and so unique, and ties nicely in with a world where all technology is based on plants and mushrooms. I also love how the magic and world building is present through all aspects of society in a way that feels very realistic.

As for the characters, I got really attached to both Din and Ana immediately. Din is as wonderfully normal as Ana is wonderfully eccentric, and they make for the perfect pair of mentor and side-kick. I also enjoyed that we're following Din's perspective, as it left room for intrigue and surprise around him not always knowing what Ana has already figured out, and also because he, as the assistant, gets in a lot more trouble. Aside from these two, there's also a central cast of people of different expertise working on the investigation, which was cozy, in a way, even though their work is quite gruesome. There's also excellent disability rep, especially for dyslexia, and just a smidge of romance. Not even enough to call it a romance subplot, because there's not really any plot, but it is really cute. And that's coming from me as an avid disliker of romance.

Overall, this book has everything: mystery and magic and fantasy politics, dark themes but also a bit of humour, great writing, lots of tension, and a little romance. Literally what more could you possibly ask for. It's been such a fun reading experience, and I can't wait for the sequel!

I was drawn to the Tainted Cup with the allure of ‘Sherlock Holmes fantasy’, and I think that is a perfect description for this novel. The dynamic between the brilliant but flawed Ana Dolabra and her new understudy Dinios Kol absolutely matches the Holmes and Watson relationship. In the first few chapters, you learn that Ana seems to struggle with sensory overload, and so relies on Dinios to visit crime scenes, interview witnesses, and report all information back to her. Dinios is an engraver; a person with a grafted alteration to allow him to remember every detail they see and hear. Ana can quiz Dinios about minor crime scene details in her own time (eg. was this window ajar? What hand did the witness wear her watch on? How many paces wide was the bedroom?) and make connections that no one else had thought to make. Aside from being a formidable crime-solving duo, this is an excellent method of displaying a neurodivergent character in a natural way, celebrating their strengths rather than focusing on them overcoming their weaknesses.

When a recent case transpires to be part of a much wider plot against the empire, the story turns into a mystery on a much grander scale, while maintaining that classic Sherlock feel; Ana is always several steps ahead of the rest of the cast and the reader, and I found the revelations of what she’s pieced together and what she’s known all along (without thinking to tell anyone else) to be well crafted and often very funny!

Make no mistake though – this isn’t just a murder mystery wearing a ‘fantasy’ hat. The world created in the Tainted Cup is absolutely fascinating! The world map at the start shows a land with an unusual East/West focus, with the richer members of society wanting to live as far inland as possible, away from the deadly Eastern Seas. Similar to Attack on Titan, huge defensive walls protect the empire from the colossal titans that are dredged up from the ocean depths and hurled at the walls every Wet season. The world features a ton of corrupt politics, and classist prejudice based on how many walls you can afford to live behind. The descriptions of the titans are awe-inspiring, and this factor alone wants me to revisit the world in future books. The altered individuals known as Sublimes is another interesting factor at play in the world – though I didn’t feel this was as well fleshed out as it could have been, the idea has plenty of potential. I want to hear more about how people live with these life-altering changes outside the context of a murder mystery.

This is a fantastic and engaging first novel in what I’m hoping will be a long and successful series, and I’m eagerly waiting for more instalments!

This is my new obsession and personality, I need more books in this series YESTERDAY.

This book has:
- absolutely unique biopunk world where people fight mostly with blades and cannons, but they use complicated piping systems for baths and fungi for air-conditioning;
- an empire with a strict governing system divided among various departments, that is separated from the sea by an enormous wall, which guards it from gigantic leviathans coming out of the deep (strong Attack on Titan vibes this one!);
- society where people can undergo physical procedures that improve their strength, dexterity, memory, sensitivity etc.
- wonderfully rich and well-paced plot that would be enough for at least three different books;
- complex and witty murder mystery, that evolves into something MORE;
- brilliant Sherlock & Watson duo, whose relationship is engaging and entertaining.

This book doesn't have: FLAWS.
Seriously, it ticks all of my boxes. I loved it.

No sabía ni cómo empezar esta reseña de lo mucho que me ha gustado The Tainted Cup, la nueva novela “detectivesca” de Robert Jackson Bennett. Así que lo mejor creo que será empezar por el principio.


En una suntuosa mansión aparece muerto un capitán de la legión, pero digamos que el cadáver presenta algunas características especiales, como que la causa de la muerte sea el crecimiento espontáneo y extremamente acelerado de un árbol desde su interior. Este comienzo, que tiene mucha fuerza, sin embargo me recordó a The Hexologists, por eso que dicen de que no hay nada nuevo bajo el sol. Y puede que sea verdad, pero Robert Jackson Bennett consigue ofrecernos una novela fantástica con un mundo muy atractivo y un misterio tan enrevesado como atractivo.

Me encanta por ejemplo la “pareja protagonista” aunque el punto de vista del libro solo sea el de Dinios Kol, el asistente de la detective Ana Dolabra. Y aquí, empezamos con los elementos mágicos, si el árbol hipervitaminado nos os había llamado la atención lo suficiente. Kol es un Sublime, una persona modificada para tener unas determinadas características, en su caso una memoria fotográfica que resultará imprescindible para las investigaciones de Dolabra. Y es que en el mundo de Bennett, el Imperio ha volcado todo su conocimiento en la modificación de los humanos para un objetivo común, evitar los ataques de los gigantes marinos que en la temporada húmeda despiertan de su letargo y se lanzan contra las murallas del Imperio. Otras modificaciones permiten tener un físico privilegiado, una capacidad matemática sublime o desprender feromonas que despiertan la líbido de cualquier persona que pase cerca. Lo que más me gusta es lo bien entrelazado que está el misterio con estas capacidades mágicas y a su vez con la estructura del mundo, funcionando como un mecanismo de relojería.

Esta construcción de mundo tan maravillosa lleva aparejada también la creación de unos personajes destinados a perdurar en la memoria. No solo los mencionados anteriormente, es que hasta el secundario más irrelevante está bien descrito y rezuma vida. De verdad que nos encontramos ante un libro que es muy difícil dejar de leer, porque el ritmo es endiablado, acechan misterios y peligros en cada esquina y el reloj va desgajando los minutos que faltan para el ataque del leviatán que puede acabar con todos. Es una novela trepidante, escrita con mucho oficio, un muestrario de la portentosa imaginación de un autor que quizá sea poco conocido por estos lares. Con decir que me he alegrado muchísimo al saber que solo era el primer libro de una serie, os podéis imaginar lo redonda que ha sido esta lectura para mí.

Another excellent book by Robert Jackson Bennett. It's a good and entertaining story with multidimensional characters and cool twists. I enjoyed reading it and appreciate the well-thought-out plot and the author's ability to keep the reader engaged. Worth a shot. Longer review to come.

Above all else, this book is really good fun. A brilliant fantasy mystery drawing on cyberpunk trappings - a secondary-world Sherlock Holmes with a dash of Neuromancer and The Locked Tomb. Ana and Din owe more than a little to Holmes and Watson, but Bennett takes a long list of influences (in the acknowledgements, Nero Wolfe and Hannibal Lecter are also cited) and works them into something which feels fresh. There’s a lot of humour to be found even among the despair of a civilisation constantly on the brink of utter destruction, and hope amid the onslaught of the leviathans which threaten the empire and its people. This first book of a trilogy wraps up its central mystery while setting the stage for more.

As soon as I finished this book, I wanted to start it all over again. That’s how much I loved “The Tainted Cup”. This is how you write a mystery-fantasy. The genres are mixed perfectly, there’s no too much mystery or too much fantasy.

A mix between Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, and Attack on Titan, in a dystopian world where leviathans are threatening the Empire’s peace, a duo of great detectives are trying to figure it out who killed a high imperial officer and the way they did it is the strangest of them all - with a tree erupted from his body.

That’s it. That’s the plot. Now read it again and tell me you’re not curious about this book. How can you not be?

Ana Dolabra is a brilliant and quirky detective. Very excentric, smart with a plain-speaking style and unusual methods. It’s very very hard to not love her immediately. She has a blindfold over her eyes almost all the time and she doesn’t need to be out of her house to solve her cases. She is very well constructed, very sarcastic and foul-mouthed, and she may be the only one who can solve this case and what is hidden behind it.

“-Now that I think about it, Din, I just might be going a little fucking mad in here.
-Very sorry to heard that, ma’am.”

Her assistant, Dinios Kol, is an engraver - he has perfect memory. He is very good at observing people and actions and he can remember ANYTHING. The duo is perfect and the characters are made for each other. We don’t know a lot of things about them, but I am sure that the author will explore more of their pasts in the future books.

“I reminded myself to hold my head high, to keep my expression scowling and stoic, like a real assistant investigator might. Then I had to remind myself that I was a real assistant investigator, damn it all.”

What I loved the most in “The Tainted Cup” was their relationship. I loved how well the complete each other and how well Ana knows Din. Their banter was amazing and funny, and even if she’s the boss, Ana never acts mean or superior towards him. I liked how she always asked for his opinion and how she always listened to him.

“Din, I am blindfolded, so if you’ve nodded you head, I’ve no fucking idea.”

They are some of the best characters I’ve ever read about. I love how the author showed the difference between their ages without making Ana look and sound old. She’s wiser than Din, but that doesn’t mean that she steals his winnings. I have a lot of thoughts about them, but I think it’s best to let you discover by yourself.

“-It pains me to say that it’s all far more tolerable when you’re around. You’re so grim and so serious and so full, Din, that you keep me very grounded.
-I will attempt to take that as a compliment, ma’am.”

The plot of the book is very complex, the story being more plot-development that character. The pacing is well-done, with great mysteroes, great twists and discoveries. The writing is easy to read, short chapters and great descriptions of the world, the story is very engaging, with puzzles and hints everywhere. And Ana seeing them all.

The book is definitely high-fantasy, but if you love fantasy AND mystery novels, this is perfect for you. My expectations were met and exceeded, with a lot of political intrigue and strange characters. I won’t even try to tell you about the flora and fauna in this book, because it’s just so interesting. I was reading and I couldn’t stop thinking how much I love it. The worldbuilding is very “Attack on Titan” inspired, which helped me a lot because I just started watching it! So it was easy to imagine the high walls and the cities and the houses inside those walls.

“What was the point of fetching food or fixing up your house of caring for your family when a titan could break through the walls and kill you and a thousand other like you in a matter of hours? What was the point of doing anything, really?”

It’s an unique adventure and book, and I was sad to see it end. I preordered the book immediately and I’m thinking of rereading it because that’s how much I loved it. I mentioned in the beginning of my review something about leviathans, creatures you don’t meet often enough in books. These are the Titans you meet in the story that are a threat to the Empire and its people. Although we don’t see Titans in action, only once or twice, I’m very curious about them, especially about something in particular. At the moment, they are a background plot and I’m sure we will meet them again in the sequel.

The ending left me with a lot of questions, but in a good way. I loved how everything about the murders turned out, but the story does not end there. More mysteries about the Empire and its people will come out and Ana, together with Din, will figure them out.

“The Empire is the people next to you, and before you. Bodies in boots on the wall, taking up posts served by the ancients. We are the fulcrum on which the rest of the Empire pivots. And we are all made equal and common in that service, and before its long history. Though perhaps I’m being sentimental.”

I had a lot of fun reading this one and I’m very glad I received an arc. I can’t wait to own the book as well, because the covers are just great. I chose the UK edition, because there’s a small Ana and Din with his hat on the cover, and I love them so so much.

Effectivement je n’ai pas encore terminé la trilogie des Maîtres enlumineurs, mais que voulez-vous ? L’attrait de la nouveauté, le train de la hype, ou alors c’est peut-être parce que j’ai demandé le SP sur Netgalley et qu’on me l’a envoyé ? Nous sommes de petits êtres faibles, nous les blogueurs. Voilà donc mon humble avis sur The tainted cup, le nouveau roman de Robert Jackson Bennett à sortir en VO le 6 Février.

Quand un officier est retrouvé mort avec un arbre qui a poussé de l’intérieur de son corps, on va faire appel à Ana Dolabra, une brillante et excentrique enquêtrice, pour découvrir ce qui s’est passé. Mais ce sera aussi la première enquête de cette envergure pour Dinios Kol, le nouvel assistant d’Ana qui a des pouvoirs d’ « engraver », sa mémoire parfaite peut retenir tous les détails d’une scène de crime, chaque phrase d’un témoignage ou chaque son entendu à un moment donné. Ensemble ils vont creuser de plus en plus cette affaire et mettre à jour un complot mettant en danger la sécurité de tout l’empire.

Comme promis dans les présentations du bouquin, on a là un roman policier qui s’inspire en partie de Sherlock Holmes, avec cette enquêtrice de génie, asociale, qui se permet des excentricités et s’amuse à déstabiliser son petit monde à chaque phrase. Son Watson est donc notre Dinios, qui sera le point de vue suivi par les lecteurices ici, assez récemment employé pour assister Ana et même encore un peu stagiaire sur les bords. Ce duo fonctionne évidemment très très bien et nous permet de suivre cette enquête pleines de révélations, de dangers et de rebondissements. Parce que l’aspect policier fonctionne extrêmement bien, le dosage des révélations et le rythme de l’enquête sont parfaits, on avance, on trouve des indices, on déduit, on récapitule, on s’adapte et on survit. C’est logique et naturel, on suit ça avec grand plaisir, l’auteur a bien bossé ses classiques et livre une partition exquise dans un genre pourtant casse-gueule. Il s’amuse à empiler des mystères les uns sur les autres dans une histoire à tiroirs avec des multiples mystères, de multiples coupables et des déductions improbables qui se tiennent pourtant.

Mais bien sûr ce bon Robert ne s’est pas arrêté là ! Parce que pour enrober tout ça nous avons un monde de fantasy extrêmement bien construit avec un empire qui se protège derrière plusieurs grandes murailles. Se protège de quoi ? Des léviathans immenses qui tentent régulièrement de percer les défenses humaines pour tout dévaster. Toute la société est construite pour résister à ces attaques, les ingénieurs et les « apothicaires » sont super importants dans ce petit monde. Niveau ambiance, on est aussi dans le dépaysement avec une atmosphère tropicale, on entre dans la saison des moussons au début de notre aventure, il y a une importance certaine des plantes et des champignons dans toutes les composantes de la société, les éclairages, les bâtiments, etc… On sent un univers pensé entièrement sur des piliers différents du notre, et ça se ressent dans plein de détails.

L’auteur utilise aussi ces éléments organiques pour nous proposer (encore) une variation fantasy de certains archétypes de cyberpunk puisque beaucoup de personnages, dont Din, sont « augmentés » par des procédés non technologiques, avec des substances, des parasites ou des spores qui boostent la force, la mémoire, l’odorat, etc… Tout cet univers est cohérent, inventif, dépaysant, et enrichit l’aspect policier autant que ce dernier l’enrichit. Ce n’est pas juste un décor pour mettre en scène un banal crime passionnel au milieu des champignons et des léviathans, non, tout est lié, l’enquête va mettre en valeur le worldbuilding et le worldbuilding va nourrir l’enquête pour nous emmener loin dans le délire de Robert jackson Bennett, et c’est un vrai régal.

J’ai adoré The tainted cup, j’ai suivi une enquête passionnante pleine de surprises et de dangers, je me suis attaché à ces personnages savoureux et hors-normes, à cette ambiance étrange et mystérieuse, à cet univers constamment au bord du gouffre. J’ai déjà hâte de découvrir la suite, et croisons les doigts pour qu’AMI soit déjà sur le coup pour une VF (même si l’année sera déjà chargée en Robert avec Les cités divines).

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 🐌

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!

I never know how Robert Jackson Bennett is going to surprise me but I know I will be surprised and have a lot of fun.
Foundryside is one of my favourite fantasy series, a sort of technofantasy.
This one is a mix of classic Holmes/Watson couple of detective and steampunk. There's an impossibile crime even for a fantasy and I couldn't stop reading and being entralled.
Loved it and hope, can't wait to read the rest of this series
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

An EASY 5 stars for me!

From the description I wasn’t sure whether I was going to love this (it felt like it could go either way) but boy am I glad I decided to give this a punt!

The world building was quite simply top tier. Complex, developed, unique, and utterly captivating. Likewise the magic system felt really well thought out (no vague all powerful and conveniently ‘random’ distributions of magical power). Characters were similarly well-developed and nuanced - no boring one-dimensional characters here. The plot also had me hooked and while I was able to predict quite a bit there were a couple of twists and turns I didn’t see coming which was a huge win for me!

I feel like I want to put together a longer review but honestly I have nothing else to say - I loved it. It had pretty much everything I look for in a book:
- Interesting and developed world building (including some believable politics)
- Clear and ‘realistic’ magic system
- Nuanced and likeable characters
- An engaging plot
- Good pacing (I feel like the pacing was really well managed actually)
- Well written

There will definitely be some further books in this serious, and I will absolutely be looking out for them as I want more already!
I also hadn’t read anything from Bennett before, but you had better believe I am going to look through the rest of his books because this was genuinely a brilliant read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

This was truly fantastic! Plot, pacing and characters all were top notch with never a dull moment.

The setting and magic system was as unique as it gets, add to it a few cynical characters and a mind boggling mystery and you have got a book which is equal parts entertaining and immersive.

Truly, looking forward to what's next in this series.

This has blown me away in an unexpected way!

Fantasy meets Sherlock. And the best kind of quirky Sherlock!

In "The Tainted Cup," we accompany Din, an assistant investigator with a perfect memory due to magical alterations, as his mentor Ana tackles a mysterious murder that unravels into a larger conspiracy.

Fantasy murder mysteries are a joy, and this one is no exception. The captivating storyline intertwines corruption, treason, and political structures, exploring themes of class, economic oppression, and a unique plant-based magic system. The rising tension keeps you hooked, both in the murder investigation and the evolving world. The ending is satisfying yet leaves room for further exploration.

My first dive into RJB's work, and the praised world-building is evident. The magic system, involving grafts and alterations for diverse skills, is uniquely entwined with a world relying on plant and mushroom-based technology. The seamless integration of magic into society feels realistic.

Characters like Din and Ana are instantly endearing. Their mentor-student dynamic adds intrigue, with Din's perspective allowing surprises and moments of tension. The central cast's collaboration on the investigation creates a cozy, albeit gruesome, atmosphere. The book offers excellent disability representation, particularly for dyslexia, and a subtle touch of romance that even a romance skeptic found cute.

With a blend of mystery, magic, fantasy politics, dark themes, humor, superb writing, and a hint of romance, this book provides a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience. I eagerly anticipate the sequel!

I have made an executive decision of making my his one my first five star read of this year. Any book that keeps me up until almost 3AM on a week night more than deserves the status!

The Tainted Cup is an excellent detective mystery novel set in a fantasy immersive world. It is the perfect mix between Attack on Titan with Sherlock Holmes, a combination that I never imagined it would work but it does, brilliantly.

The characterization, world building, and humor made this a unique and entertaining read that kept me hooked until the end. And even beyond, if there was a continuation available right away.

Something that, for me, deserves some relevance: The existence and acceptance of neurodivergence, queerness and/or just being different is flawlessly incorporated. It’s not loud, it’s not too much, it is just there without drawing undue attention to it.

My favorite character, and the one who left me with more open questions, is Ana. She is brilliant, full of mystery and in a society that is unnaturally enhanced, she doesn’t lose track of what it means to be human:

”The person an enhancement is paired with is just as important as what enhancement they get. And we get some say in what kind of person we are, Din. We do not pop out of a mold. We change. We selfassemble."

I’m very curious to how this series will continue. In this book, the murder mystery took a main role while the fantasy side of the story mostly functions as a backdrop of the plot. We only get leviathans from afar. I can’t wait for further development of this world and to see where the main characters end up.

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.