I’m so torn on how to rate this! I thought the world and magic/SciFi elements were fantastic. But this type of story very rarely really really works for me. This was all plot and sleuthing with very little character exploration and relationship building. Which is a shame for my personal taste because these characters were great. Ana and Din are extremely likable, I just wish we got more from this aspect. I also felt like this was a little long for the story being told, but I’m still interested enough in this world and these characters to pick up the next book in the series when it comes out! Although I felt the same at the start of the Foundryside series by this author and unfortunately those never ended up fully connecting for me either.

If you grew up on The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, odds are you'll love The Tainted Cup. The plot was so well done, with excellent twists, turns, and reveals around every corner. What really makes this book stand out, though, is the incredibly unique world that Bennett has created. An empire plagued by monstrous Titans, a science-based magic system, and a plant-based infrastructure all led to the perfect setting for this story that was full of intrigue and corruption. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this world will hold!


My one flaw with this story was a strange inability to connect with the characters on an emotional level. I enjoyed Din's stoicism, especially paired with Ana's exuberance, but something kept me from fully caring about them in the way I typically do. I'm extremely hopeful that spending more time with them (and maybe Strovi?) in book two will help that final piece click into place!

I found the world-building of this book overwhelmingly massive and hard to follow. While the premise sounded super interesting, with the sheer amount of information being dumped at me, I really couldn't find it in me to care about the mystery of what was happening because I was getting confused just trying to understand the hierarchy and structure of this world. I found myself feeling like there was just so much information being thrown at me and so little reasoning given as to why I should care about any of it.

Incredibly fun read. Sherlock and Watson solving crimes in a delightfully plant-filled empire reminiscent of Attack on Titan with walls to keep out the leviathans. The relationship between Ana (Sherlock) and our protagonist Din (Watson) was wholesome and entertaining. Fantastic writing that kept me hooked and desperate for the next episode of their adventures.

Really interesting worldbuilding and the mystery and plot were extremely engaging. I could have done with a bit more character development as that's what I prefer in books and this book was very plot heavy. But I think that the next book might open up a bit more with the characters (the two main characters opened up a bit more to each other toward the end), so I'm definitely planning to continue with this series.

In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Assigned to investigate the incident, Ana Dolabra and her assistant, Dinios Kol. They must investigate quickly as the Empire itself is at stake. This is set in a different world that is entirely unique and well world delving into.

The Tainted Cup by the author of the Lockland series has drafted an intriguing murder mystery mixed with fantasy with a bit of monster hunting. In The Tainted Cup, we meet two quirky characters that embody Waston and Holmes, but one is Din, an engraver (who can memorize things and repeat them), and Nan, who you think has augmented herself but is just very quirky. Din and Nan are on the hunt to figure out how people are being killed by trees while also trying to survive the wet season when leviathians (think Godzilla) are attacking and breaching the walls. I would have liked a bit more about the Leviathans, but I did find the murder mystery to be quite interesting, and it gave us a chance to learn more about the magic system and establish our two main characters very well for the next book.
The Tainted Cup is an excellent start to a series that looks like we have a new case in each book and more about the leviathans that threaten this world.

The Tainted Cup is the first book in a new series by Robert Jackson Bennett. The story follows eccentric detective Ana Dolabra and her new magical assistant Dinios Kol. They have been assigned to investigate a series of magical deaths that are a threat to the safety of their world.

I am a huge fan of Robert Jackson Bennett's Foundryside series and was so excited to get to read this book early. The characters are compelling and the world is so interesting. I really enjoyed the mix of mystery and fantasy. I absolutely be buying a physical copy of this book to do a reread. I'm so excited to see where this series leads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random. House Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Robert Jackson Bennett is such a talented author. The worlds that he builds are so real and feel like they are lived in, rather than created. This book is absolutely amazing. From the characters, to the mystery at the heart of this book, to all the details of the world, I loved this book.

I was hooked on this book from the start!

The world building was phenomenal and I absolutely loved the murder mystery aspect. Every chapter brought new twists and turns that had me not wanting to put the book down. Every time I thought I had the mystery figured out something new would happen that would turn it all upside down, which was so interesting!

I also really appreciated the inclusion throughout the book. The overarching theme that being different isn’t a bad thing and that we all should be accepted for who we are was wonderful.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy and/or mystery novels! I loved it and can’t wait to read the next in the series. This was my first book by the author and it 100% made me want to go read more of their backlist!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.

Ive put off writing this review since finishing about 3 weeks ago, not because I didn't enjoy this book but because I needed time to take in the whole of what I read. I LOVED this book and it was easy to give this 5 stars. Sherlock holmes/knives out meets botanical fantasy.
RJB was able to shape and build such a detailed and enthralling world.
The banter between characters and the overall mystery is captivating and I was immediately transported while reading this. Botanical weaponry and Leviathans!! seriously what more could a fantasy gal ask for. Im so excited that this is going to be a series and I am impatiently waiting for the next book!

Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a mystery unlike any other. Or is it a fantasy unlike any other? Either description is accurate. Robert Jackson Bennett presents a mind-boggling story full of twists and turns, as well as a rich fantasy setting.

Dinios Kol (Din for short), is the legs for infamous detective Ana Dolabra. He’s also much more than that, being an intelligent assistant who possesses an interesting skill. In a world where people can be magically altered, he has been changed so that he has the gifts of an engraver. Basically, he uses different scents to magically recall everything in perfect and minute detail. It isn’t just sights but sounds and even smells. It makes him an invaluable ally- or else a dangerous enemy.

Ana is asked to investigate an odd and extremely gory murder: that of a man whose chest has suddenly become a planter for a spontaneously sprouted fully-grown tree. This macabre mystery is much bigger than an isolated incident and, that’s not the only problem. There are giant leviathans poised to breach the walls that stand between them and total destruction of the Empire, making time a commodity that is both precious and short. The story is fast paced with a sense of desperation and a ticking clock that makes the book even more compelling.

There are lies, vendettas, political entanglements, and enormous monsters. What else can you ask for in a mystery? And as much as I loved the plot and mystery itself, the characters are even better. The small cast of assistants and suspects are all well-crafted, with each having their own mannerisms and motivations. I’ve read mysteries where the suspects are boiled down to their vocation and nothing more. That is far from the case here, with even the smallest bit player having a richly developed personality.

Ana and Din are both fantastic, although Din stole the show. He had so many layers to his personality that I know there’s even more to him than we are privileged to see in this book. He’s extremely likeable, but there are enough questions about him to make you wonder whether he is exactly what he seems.

I could blather on at length about all the moving parts that combined perfectly to craft this book (holy wow, did I love the magical alterations!), but I’ll save some for you to discover on your own. The Tainted Cup is criminally good!

Well written, and an interesting plot. Was a bit slow for my liking and overal not something I enjoyed. But th me writing was great and I could see many people loving it.

I don't read much fantasy and I love it when the books I read from this genre are this good! The worldbuilding was quick and easy to follow, and the lead characters were very engaging! In a world where everyone has magical enhancements, Inspector Ana Dolabra and her new assistant Dinios Kol are trying to solve a murder that appears to have deep-rooted political overtones. Ana's background is mysterious, and Kol is an apprentice hoping to earn his promotion on this case. Their relationship has depth and grows over the course of the story, in this case the Holmes/Watson analogies are accurate. Come for the fantasy, stay for the murder mystery! I look forward to more in this series,
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!

I loved this???? I had never read anything from Robert Jackson Bennett before but have heard phenomenal things about his other series Foundryside (which I will be reading next) and so I felt like going in I had decently high expectations just based on the author alone. Then add in the fact that this is a murder mystery and there's massive kaiju in the background and it's literally a book written for me.

I'm glad that all of these expectations melted together and ended up with a fantastic time because this was great. I loved all of the characters, especially our Sherlock/Watson dynamic with Dinios Kol and Ana Dolabra. The mystery was layered and complex (conspiracy on conspiracy on conspiracy) while being still entrenched in this very cool fantasy setting. Once I got past the initial setup I flew through this book and basically read the rest in an entire setting.

A half star knocked off because I was slightly confused by how the world worked and I needed more kaiju content but I could definitely see this bumped up to 5 stars on a re read and I will 100% be reading the next book in the series. I want it now!!


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

So I’m given fantasy Sherlock Holmes and you don’t expect me to get hooked?? Shame. The mystery duo is one we’ve seen before but this one might be the most unique take I’ve seen yet!! Ana Dolabra is our eccentric detective, blindfolded majority of the time, she’s mental but in the best way possible. Dinios Kol is the logical assistant, an engraver who is able to memorize and recite everything from memory- especially when using a scent to remember a situation. It’s genius!!! The story has so interesting- the world was built enough that I was able to feel satisfied- and the reveals were worth the wait!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have not been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it!

This is the first book I've read by Robert Jackson Bennett, but it certainly won't be the last. I thought this book was stunning. The plot is engrossing, the characters are well-fleshed out, and the world is imaginative. I seriously can't recommend this book enough. Please do yourself a favor and read this immediately!

I was so impressed with how satisfying the mystery component of this book was! Often times, if mystery is not the author's main genre, they can be a little flat or not well executed, but I found the plot of this to be excellent. I also quite liked the fantasy world building and overall atmosphere. The only thing that kept me from fully loving this is that I personally am pretty tired of the Sherlock/Watson character dynamic. It was pretty well done, but I just am a little bored by it unless there's more nuance or innovation to that trope

Overall, highly recommend! This was really entertaining & well done

CW: for my fellow fungiphobes, there is a lot of spore talk in this

Rating 3.5 stars.

This is like if a high fantasy Attack on Titan were a murder mystery, where the foliage is just as dangerous as the Titans.

When an Imperial officer is found murdered, speared by the roots of a tree through his torso, the Empire is at a loss as to who or what the culprit could be. Enter Dinios Kol, fresh from his military training and fitted with a magical alteration that allows him to "engrave" memories into his brain assisted by scents so that he'll remember even the most minute details. Din is assigned to support the lead investigator Ana Dolabora, whose intelligence and skill are a great asset to the Empire. As the pair start to connect the dots of this case, secrets are discovered and more questions begin to arise leaving them to wonder who they can trust. All the while, an enemy of epic proportions lies in wait at the Outer Wall.

Robert Jackson Bennet took us on quite the roller coaster in The Tainted Cup. The magic system was subtle and the mystery of it all was at the forefront. The author is adept at describing the environment and the suffocating feeling of the wet, hot, heavy humidity of a tropical jungle climate was ever-present. Din's alteration was fascinating to watch in action and I'm unsure if it's intentional for the sake of future books, but Ana's are still a bit of a mystery. The characters are an interesting crew, and I hope that in the next book, we get more of their background. It was difficult for me to read most pages with Ana - her use of contemporary curses was puzzling, and the sheer frequency of her cursing was so very hard to stomach, as speaking this way is not realistic, nor does it add anything to her character or the story. There was also some modern slang: "You sound a touch shook there, Din" which was strange and out of place with the setting as it was.

The story itself is rife with mystery and full of Sherlockian intrigue. The action scenes were thrilling, and the way horticulture was weaved throughout was an enchanting aspect of the plot. I had fun reading it, and I look forward to seeing where it takes us in the books to come.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC, which I received in exchange for my honest review.

As expected at this point from RJB, this was a fun book. A unique magic/science system and a murder mystery with twists that actually made sense! The world building wasn't as thorough as some other fantasy books, but I thought it was handled well without an info dump, but instead getting tidbits as the investigation went on. I expect much more detail as the series continues.

The Watson/Holmes dynamic was right up my alley, with their interactions easily being the highlight of the book. If you enjoyed the Clef's humor from The Founders Trilogy, I think you'll enjoy the humor in this book as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC, even if it means a longer wait until I can read the sequel...!