“Perhaps it is a wise thing, to prepare for death every day, just as the Empire prepares for death every wet season.”

In a backwater canton, too close to the sea walls where leviathans try to come ashore every wet season for comfort, an officer of the Imperial army is murdered in a bizarre fashion--a tree has sprouted from his body. Investigator Ana Dolabra and her assistant Dinios Kol are assigned to the case, and their investigation soon leads them to Talagray, a city bordering the sea walls, just as the wet season begins. As they dive into this mystery, they discover a conspiracy that involves ten dead Engineers, a dangerous contagion, and a destroyed canton. What begins as a single murdered officer evolves into a plot that threatens the entire Empire.

“For if my conjectures prove true, we shall unmask a murderer—and a great deal more than that. Or we shall get all our throats slit.”

I loved this. It was a wild ride from start to finish. This is a murder mystery set in a sci-fi world where people are altered to have special abilities and giant monsters emerge from the sea every year. In any other book, the focus would be on the sea leviathans. Instead, we get thrown headfirst into a conspiracy that involves several murders, mysterious keys, poisons, and corruption. Every time I thought something was solved, a new mystery emerged. The plot, once it started, continued without stopping. I could not put this down. This was a masterfully plotted book, where I felt the only stones left unturned where the ones left for the sequel book. The ending felt abrupt, but only because I so desperately wanted more. I eagerly anticipate the second book in the trilogy.

The characters here were phenomenal. I adored Ana from the moment she was introduced to the very end. She's a delightful mad genius, while Din is an inexperienced but pragmatic assistant. They play off each other incredibly, though I admit that I expected Ana to be the protagonist from the description. However, Din did not disappoint; I would not trade his narration for anything.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey and Robert Jackson Bennett for the opportunity to review an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars
includes: a dyslexic protagonist, hints at a queer character/romance, and a phenomenal murder mystery
book recommendation: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (for another excellent plotted mystery)
song recommendation: Jessica Jones Main Title - Sean Callery
TW: body horror

Robert Jackson Bennett's "The Tainted Cup" is not just a detective story, it's an immersive experience that blends fantasy, mystery, and intrigue into a potent concoction that will leave you breathless. Stepping into the world of "The Tainted Cup" is like entering a captivating painting; vibrant and detailed, with shadows lurking at the edges.

The story revolves around Ana Dolabra, a brilliant and eccentric detective whose methods are as unorthodox as her blindfold. Alongside her is Dinios Kol, her ever-faithful assistant, whose enhanced memory serves as a perfect foil to Ana's intuition. The murder they investigate is unlike any other: a high-ranking official found dead, a tree inexplicably erupting from his body. This seemingly impossible crime sets the stage for a thrilling chase that delves into the heart of political corruption, ancient magic, and the true cost of power.

Bennett's world-building is masterful. He paints a vivid picture of a society grappling with the remnants of a leviathan attack, where magic mingles with technology and danger lurks around every corner. The characters, both major and minor, are richly drawn, each with their own motivations and secrets. Ana Dolabra, in particular, is a captivating protagonist – sharp, witty, and shrouded in mystery. Her dynamic with Dinios is one of the highlights of the book, providing both humor and emotional depth.

The mystery itself is intricately woven, with each new clue leading to a deeper layer of conspiracy. Bennett keeps you guessing until the very end, masterfully juggling red herrings and unexpected twists. The resolution is satisfying, tying together the various threads while leaving enough room for further exploration in future installments.

"The Tainted Cup" is more than just a detective story; it's a commentary on power, corruption, and the human condition. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, leaving you eager to dive back into this captivating world and unravel its remaining secrets. If you're looking for a unique and engrossing read, "The Tainted Cup" is an absolute must.

This book was absolutely amazing! We are following Din, assistant investigator of Ana who is so eccentric, hilarious and intriguing. The mysterious death of a man found with a tree growing out of his chest reads very much like a Sherlock and Watson situation. The world building is very interesting and the author did a fantastic job of describing the setting without confusing the reader. The pacing was perfect, there is queer representation and I cannot wait to read the second book and hopefully learn more about the Leviathans and this world.

This was a fun, twisty murder mystery set in a fantasy world. The Sherlock Holmes-Watson pair in this mystery are head investigator Ana Dolabra and new assistant Dinios Kol. The story is told from Kol's point of view which I thought was an excellent choice.

Dolabra and Kol are tasked with investigating the bizarre death of a high ranking official at an influential family's mansion. Kol has been enhanced to be an engraver who is altered to remember everything that he encounters. At the same time, it is the rainy season when huge leviathans come towards the land of the empire with only the enormous sea walls for protection. Is this murder and a recent breach at the wall related? It is up to Ana and Din to find out.

The world building and pacing in this book were excellent. There were many clues sprinkled throughout but plenty of twists that I didn't see coming. Everyone seems to have a secret and it was fun to read about Din's reactions to everything around him and working on his first case. I think that fans of mystery or fantasy can find something to like here. I loved the characters of Ana and Din and look forward to reading more adventures.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

If you love fantasy novels and murder mysteries, The Tainted Cup is the perfect read. While I felt it was a little hard to get into, I ended up hooked. I loved the characters, especially Ana, whose dry wit was my favorite part of the book. I would have preferred more world building, as I think it would have made some aspects of the book less confusing. Overall, I thought it was a fun and engaging read. Din and Ana are an investigative duo that I can’t wait to read more of. I’ll definitely be back for the next in the series!

An imperial officer in Daretana is killed when a tree erupts from his body. Beyond the Empire’s borders, illness, contagion, and the blood of the leviathans create impossible damage. Ana Dolabra is the brilliant but eccentric detective sent to investigate the death, and she has the magically altered Dinios Kol as her assistant. She's odd but effective, and he's often perplexed by her abilities. The two begin to close in on the murderer, uncovering a scheme that threatens the Empire. Din also wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe.

This is the first book of the Shadow of the Leviathan series. (If this is like his other works, it'll be a trilogy.) When we open with Din arriving at the scene of the death, Ana isn't even present. She prefers to draw conclusions while in her own home, far from the scene, and military officers are understandably surprised. In this opening we learn about the military ranks, the alterations that can be had through magic or money, and the way even in fantasy worlds, there's the desire to haze the new guy. Din's skill as an engraver is fascinating: the magical alteration gives him an eidetic memory, and he has trouble reading. He has his workarounds, and we have a very good picture of his life and the world he lives in within a short period of time. The little details that he sees are pulled together rapidly to paint a picture of how and who killed the officer, but that opens up more questions than answers.

This is a murder mystery set in a fantasy world where augmentations serve the greater Empire. The areas closest to the water are most at risk of leviathans breaching the walls and coming ashore, killing thousands due to their sheer size and the aberrations their blood will create. At the same time, the elite families and the military rub shoulders, jockeying for power and trying to get more prestige and money. Din is a stickler for rules, which at once hamstrings and saves him; we discover eventually why he has trouble reading, why certain tasks are easy for him to mimic, and why Ana selected him to be her assistant in her great work in the area.

This is such a fascinating and engrossing read; I devoured the novel quickly. I love the details in the world-building, how the minor details we think are just descriptions of the areas actually are important in Ana's case as she searches for the truth and justice. Sometimes justice can't be achieved, as the function of most offices is to maintain the Empire for the ordinary folk to continue living. At other times, justice comes after all.

Read 2.19 - 2.20.2024
DNF @30%

This book just wasn't for me. I am still rather new to the Fantasy genre and I have found it has to grab me from the very first or I am just not into it and unfortunately, this did not grab me and I spent a good portion of the 30% being slightly confused at just what was going on [the world-building was just not enough for me I guess], along with being completely put off by [what I have deemed] the gratuitous language by the one character [that also seemed V E R Y jarring with both the world and with how everyone else spoke] and not really loving any of the characters. It is disappointing as I am always hopeful that I will find a new Fantasy series to like/love; it is not to be with this one.

I have given this two stars because there were some moments that I enjoyed what I was listening to [a HUGE plus to an excellent narrator; I highly recommend him] and also, I can see how anyone who truly loves the Fantasy genre would get into this book and I would recommend it to those I know who fit that bill.

I was asked to read/review this book by the publishers and I'd like to thank them [Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Del Rey] along with NetGalley and the author, Robert Jackson Bennett for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my very first by RJB and it certainly wont be my last. Every bit of hype that I have heard surrounding his writing is absolutely true!

Gritty and engaging,The Tainted Cup, is a story and world that readers will become fully immersed in. It boasts an accessible but intriguing magic system that will appeal to both veteran and new fantasy readers. The plot is twisting and fast paced, giving the story an addictive quality. The Characters each felt multidimensional and delightfully flawed, a few walking the line of unlikable. The World-building really drew me in with it's layered and evocative fantasy setting. Much like the magic system felt incredibly accessible without being "dumbed down".

This one is worthy of your 2024 TBR!!

Wonderful, exciting story with beautiful imagery. It was great to retreat from reality and be totally immersed in the world the author created. Fantasy is not one of my favorite genres, but this book may have changed that fact. It is so much more. A murder mystery, colorful, interesting characters, and witty dialog made for a fun and enjoyable book. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

This was a really fun and interesting novel. I thought it was very unique and enjoyed the characters immensely. I am looking forward to the next one.

I loved this book! This was my first book from this author and will not be my last. If you like the Holmes/Watson dynamic you'll probably enjoy this book as it had those elements, wonderful world building filled with cool and deadly plants, and a sprinkle of Pacific Rim/Godzilla mysterious monsters.

4 Stars!

My recent foray back into more and more fantasy stories has brought to my attention Robert Jackson Bennett, and my first novel with this author was a very nice win!

Bringing to life a truly unique world, Bennett has created an intricate universe where a mighty Empire rules, and its power over its citizens depends on the confidence they have in the ability of that Empire to protect them. Unfortunately, the Empire is under constant threat of powerful sea creatures known as leviathans who yearly try their beastly best to destroy and conquer the landscape. The only thing keeping them at bay are specially designed fortifications bordering the coastline. It’s not a far stretch to realize that massive amounts of manpower and resources go towards protecting the country, and it will come as no surprise that corruption willingly comes along with it.

Supporting this set up is an intricate class system with a very distinct line between the haves and the have nots, and our hero Din is squarely in the have nots being a low ranked Imperial officer with very limited life choices. He’s gone through extensive training and preparation having become an Engraver, one with the ability to remember everything he sees, hears, and experiences. This makes Din the perfect person to be the apprentice assistant to the infamous investigator Ana Dolabra. She’s eccentric, brilliant, and not afraid to step beyond propriety and protocol to find the truth, so when a prominent officer from the renowned Engineering team has a sudden gruesome violent death, she and Din are assigned to figure out the hows and the whys.

What originally pinged my radar about this book was the promise of a Holmes and Watson type dynamic which holds a very soft spot in my heart for such tales. Ana definitely has unorthodox methods, and by-the-books Din is a foil for her, stating the facts (amongst often reminding her of the rules) so her ingenious mind can make astounding leaps and bounds to bring about the killer. Admittedly, this started off a bit slow, what with new words and terms and trying to gain a basic understanding of this unusual world and its people who are often grafted with abilities to help them in their profession or suffused with talents to hone their skills. However, as more is learned through the investigation, the sobering truth that the very safety of the Empire is at stake really fueled my reading momentum as the last half of the book was hard to put down.

I highly enjoyed the smart writing, the layering of the plot’s twists, the intriguing cast of characters. Equally captivating was the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, which was tentatively resigned at first on Din’s part, but slowly turned into more, making me look forward to the strengthening of their entertaining working (not romantic) dynamic in future books. Though this is heavy in tone with the feeling of constant danger and touches of horror and treachery, the bits of exciting action, biting banter, and some well placed humor throughout was a nice counterbalance.

Again, this world and the caste system is fascinatingly complex. It’s idealistic at times, cynical and sad often in contrast, but hopeful in the loyalty of many that serve the Empire. I loved the ending as it hints at more to come, possibly a larger threatening conspiracy, and Ana definitely has set her sights on the inevitable fight to come, dragging poor Din along whether he wants to or not! Hence, I impatiently wait for Bennett’s next installment which is sure to reveal more of the dirty underbelly I suspect we readers only got a glimpse of!

Thank you to the author and Del Rey of Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a review posted on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6278972332

I really enjoyed this story! Once I was able to get an understanding of the world then I was able to get into the mystery. I was very surprised by how everything turned out but it was a great read!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for my free copy in return for my honest review!

In this fantasy mystery, a high-ranking imperial officer is gruesomely murdered in a mansion on the outskirts of the Empire. Eccentric detective Ana Dolabra and her new assistant Dinios Kol (an Engraver - who has the capacity to remember everything he is told/sees by taking a whiff of a scent kept in viles (wouldn't we all love this ability?) are dispatched to solve the impossible crime.

Dolabra's brilliant deductive skills are matched only by her bizarre tendencies, like never removing her blindfold in fear of being over stimulated. As the odd pair investigates and uncovers a sinister plot that threatens the Empire, Dinios struggles to keep his own secrets safe from Dolabra's piercing intellect. With rich world-building and an intricate puzzle to unravel.

With its eccentric leading lady, creative worldbuilding, and escalating stakes, The Tainted Cup is a riveting fantasy mystery questioning who to trust. Diabolical machinations hide behind every corner as Dolabra races to prevent catastrophe, with the charming yet wary Dinios attempting to shield his own buried past.

Mystery, fantasy, sci-fi? Yes please! I was very impressed with this book. It honestly went over my head a few times. I just really struggled to visualize the world and some of its elements. However, the main characters are so fun and interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This had such an interesting premise and I had high hopes. Unfortunately, I struggled to finish. I enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes/Watson vibe, but our main character was so foul-mouthed, and her side kick just didn't invest me in the story either. There was a lot of world building, but I don't know if there was too much information to absorb or if I just wasn't in the right frame of mind. It totally could have been an "it's me" scenario.

Some people will totally gravitate to this book and the writing was not bad...it just wasn't a hit with me.

2.5 stars

This was a really great time. I wasn't sure what to expect when I was sent a link to this book and asked to read it. This was a great mystery and I had a great time with the world building and the characters. I definitely will be reading more of Bennett's works in the future.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so much fun! I loved the interesting world, the characters, everything. It did take me a long time to finish but it was definitely not because I was bad. It was entirely me just being lazy to read. I would highly suggest going into this blind like I did, I was asked to read this, and I’m so glad I did! If you do pick it up, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

9 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2024/02/20/the-tainted-cup-by-robert-jackson-bennett-review/

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<i>” Just wish to comment, ma’am, that, ah, I’ve no idea what’s going on anymore. “</i>

—

While it took me a bit to get into, the Tainted Cup delivers a thrilling plot, a mind-bending mystery, and fantastic world-building over the course of its 400-odd pages.

When a book is really good, the resulting reviews (rants) are either really long or really short. Yeah, I could probably rave about it as the next fantasy Holmes and Watson (as one is very much on narcotics, and the other only ever has a tenuous grasp of what’s really going on), I’ll keep it to a minimum, I promise. The pairing of Din and Ana make such a good team! Ana as a bit aloof, eccentric, and… borderline insane, and Din as quiet, observant, but harboring secrets of his own within.

No notes about the mystery—I thoroughly enjoyed it! No real notes regarding the plot—some hiccups here and there, but nothing to put you off it. The world… took me a bit to get into. It’s different—everything biologically based (such as the technology and infrastructure) that we don’t see too much outside of science fiction. There was a bit of a learning curve in the beginning, really the only thing that held this back from being the perfect new series to fall in love with. Don’t get me wrong, you can still fall in love, it might just take a little.