Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for this Arc!

A world structure akin to Attack on Titan meets Eldrich horrors in this lush, botanical, body horror mystery.

If that sentence doesn't slightly appeal to you then reader look elsewhere.

I for one found this book to be an absolute delight. The worldbuilding is immaculate and terrifying, with man being grafted and willingly mutated with organic materials to enhance abilities.

The mystery is better off going in wholly blind like I did. I will say that it was satisfying and with each development I wanted to read on and on and on.

This is the first book in a new series by this author; and like his “founders trilogy,” it is off to great start. Where the previous trilogy opened with a “great heist” trope, this one begins with the “great mystery” trope that makes it hard to avoid a direct comparison to the my favorite detective adventures by the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe and Hercules Poirot. Here the great detective is an eccentric, Imperial Investigator, recently assigned to the boondocks of the outer regions. In a world where everybody is trying to move to the interior, it is presumed that some mysterious reversal of fortune is the reason for her exile. To aid in her investigations, she selects a local assistant/sidekick to serve as her “eyes and ears” and subsequently provides the PoV for the story (think Mr Watson’s diary) … but Din has a few secrets of his own, which only adds to all of the mystery … and there is plenty here: Why was Ana, the investigator transferred to the borderlands? How did Din suddenly and unexpectedly do well enough to finally get the success his so desperately needed? Who assassinated the military officer while he was visiting a villa of one of the most powerful families in the empire? Why and how did they do it? Of course, Ana is up to the task and solves mystery after mystery, often without leaving the confines of her own room (using just the observations reported back to her by her assistant Din). It is all a well worn and effective plot that still works for me when told as well it is here.

As good as the murder mystery is … I though the world-building was even better. The driving force behind the empire, is the destruction wrought by “Leviathans “ that periodically come ashore during the wet season. To defend against these “attacks,” the empire is divided up into walled cantons where the outer cantons use increasingly powerful bombards, guns and walls to turn back these sea titans. This whole scene had me making favorable comparisons to “Pacific Rim.” This adds yet another mystery to the plot (what are these abominations and why are they attacking). Next up is what could arguably be seen as the magic system, which could just as easily be seen as quasi-scientific biohacking. As part of the respond to these attacks, many people has augmented themselves to give them incredible (aka superhero) powers. Some of these alterations are temporary and some are permeant (and a few are inheritable, although the most extreme render the host sterile). The ones most frequently encountered in this story were Cracklers (strength), Axioms (human calculators), and Engravers (eidetic memory) … the later is what Din, the assistant investigator, is and the vivid description of his ability (and the his subsequent disability) helped make he a very relatable character. Additionally, the population was also divided upon by social function, with soldiers, engineers and iudex (justices) being the most prominent. All of this contributes to a very entertaining and natural feeling story that pulls you quickly through to the end (almost reading this in one sitting).

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#TheTaintedCup #ShadowoftheLeviathan #NetGalley

Imagine a plant spore rapidly growing inside you, causing a painful and disfiguring death.
Sounds awful - the author goes into enough detail describing this death to make my skin itch.
But was this contagion an accident or murder? That is the mystery that is at the heart of this new release.

The bulk of the story is told from Signum Dinios "Din" Kol's POV, who is assistant to the investigator. That investigator, Immunis Anagosa "Ana" Dolabra is an odd character, who spends most of the book blindfolded. So how does she solve the mystery? Great instincts using some solid reporting from Din.

As the contagion spreads and the deaths pile up, the race to determine who is behind it all and how the deaths connect is on. While some parts of this story felt a little slow and drawn out, I loved how the story comes together at the end as Ana puts the pieces together. It all becomes clear as to the who, the why and the how for all the deaths. Now it is just a matter of capturing the killer(s).

Overall, this was a captivating and unpredictable story from a new-to-me author. If you enjoy fantasy with a bit of mystery, check this one out!

"A Holmes and Watson-style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett.

In Daretana's greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead - killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire's borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it's a death both terrifying and impossible.

Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana's brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior - but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana's mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire's greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he's barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra - and wonders how long he'll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.

By an "endlessly inventive" (Vulture) author with a "wicked sense of humor" (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that's at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new."

Take what is standard and add a twisted tree.

DNF 30%

I’ve had Robert Jackson Bennett on my radar because I’ve heard a lot of good things about Foundryside, so when I had a chance to read The Tainted Cup I was excited to give it a try. Unfortunately this is a book that is not working for me. The world building and method of murder are all intriguing, but the pacing feels extremely slow and I’m not enjoying it as much as I’d like. I definitely see the Sherlock-Watson influence and can see it appealing to fans of Sherlock mysteries. I think I’m just not the right audience for this book.

I read RJB’s Foundryside several years ago, but left it a bit letdown and not really wanting to continue the series. I found its magic system convoluted, unnecessarily layered, and full of infodumps about why exactly something works one way and not another. Other people really dug it, but I thought the word salad it turned into was hard to follow. Having said that, I’m really glad I gave him another chance, because I think The Tainted Cup is something special.

Dinios Kol (or, Din to just about everybody in the book) is an assistant to Ana Dolabra, something of an investigator in the realm of Daretana. Rather like a certain Sherlock Holmes, Ana is very eccentric, a bit unreliable, and rather brusque and sarcastic to just about everybody around her, but is brilliant at what she does. Din is her eyes, ears, and hands into these investigations, and we follow him as he begins the investigation into the mysterious death of a rather prominent officer involving a tree mysteriously (and gruesomely) growing out of his body. The investigation quickly starts snowballing, and the two find themselves called to the very front lines of Daretana’s most dangerous battlefront against a most massive foe.

Right off the bat I like that, this time around, the magic system is much more subtle, requires less infodumping, and feels more organic (hehehe) to the plot and setting. Rather than it being the pivot point and purpose of the story like it was in Foundryside, it takes a bit of a backseat here where it’s still involved and necessary, but doesn’t feel like you’re being beaten over the head with it. I also really like the overall plot. Once upon a time I lamented to a friend that there was a distinct lack of fantasy murder mysteries. This is exactly in the realm of what I was looking for. It really does feel like a Holmes/Watson adventure, with clues and leads and a mystery that Holmes (Ana) solves early on and Watson (Din, our eyes and ears) struggles to keep up with. The last 10-20% of the book was my favorite section, where things click into place, suspects are hunted, and just enough is left teased and hanging for there to be both a satisfying ending and an anticipated sequel to look forward to.

There’s also a bit of a romance! It’s not a major plot and not a ton of time is spent fleshing it out, but it’s there, and I’m actually kind of hoping it’s continued in the next book.

Keep this one on your radar if you’re a RJB fan, if you’re like me and love the idea of a fantasy murder mystery, or if you’re looking for something fast paced and fun.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is a start to a new fantasy series to at opens with a young investigator looking into the death of a high officer who has had a tree burst from his body. The story takes off from there but that was enough to get me invested. This feels like Sherlock Holmes meets fantasy with maybe a sprinkle of Godzilla to spice it up. Din and Ana are big Watson and Sherlock vibes and I was living for it.

I really enjoyed this story for the most part. The magic system is very interesting and I love that the author kind of just drops you into it and you figure it out along the way. There aren’t big chunks of world building. The story feels like a fantasy but it also has a modern tone to it. The characters speak in a modern way which makes this book very accessible to many readers.

I also think the plot felt very contained in this book. It is a murder mystery so most of the time, we are following the main characters around as they look for clues. While there are a few other things going on that will be explored in later books, this book itself could almost be a standalone which is something I really enjoy with a first book a series. It gives the reader a good taste of what the story will be without it being a big commitment.

I do think there were a few parts that dragged in this book when our main character, Din, was interviewing people about the mystery. I think it’s mostly because there were a lot of characters introduced and it was hard to tell who to pay attention to but other than that, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see where this series goes.

I was not interested in the characters after I started reading this one. Others seem to love this book but not me. Thanks for the review copy.

“The Tainted Cup" by Robert Jackson Bennett is a gripping and imaginative fantasy novel that effortlessly combines elements of mystery and adventure.
Bennett's world-building in is superb. He paints a vivid and immersive setting, rich in detail and history. From the grandeur of the ancient cities to the dangers lurking in the wilderness, every aspect of the world feels meticulously crafted. The inclusion of magical elements seamlessly integrates with the overall narrative, adding depth and intrigue to the story.
The characters are complex and the whole plot comes together so perfectly!

4.25

The Tainted Cup is everything I come to expect from an RJB novel wrapped in a mystery that takes full advantage of the setting and bio-engineering mechanics introduced in this book.

Robert Jackson Bennett is so good and not touted nearly enough as a fantasy sci-fi author. He is also only improving as his career progresses. This is only the first in what might become a series, and I do so dearly hope that it does. The Tainted Cup can certainly stand on its own, but there is so much more world to explore and characters to unravel that I hope RJB decides to keep bringing us back to the Khanum Empire and Din and Ana.

First off, the setting simply oozes atmosphere. You can practically see the sepia-toned, film grain filters slipping down over the scene in the first few pages. One of my favorite things about RJB's writing is how his worlds become characters in their own right. You can smell the dank air, feel the humidity on your skin, taste the rot and corruption on your tongue. And the casual use of bio-enhancements, genetic alterations, body modification hits as both mundane and unsettling throughout the entire story. It felt like a grungier, washed out version of a Hayao Miyazaki animation. RJB always takes me to places I don't expect, and then keeps secrets of the world hidden for later books that totally blow my mind when revealed, even though they are being slowly uncovered along the way.

This story is in first-person from the perspective of Din (Dinios Kol), which on the surface may put you in the mind of Watson and brings about comparisons of Watson-Holmes relationship for this murder mystery. Din is the assistant to investigator Ana Dolabra, who does have some Sherlock qualities. However, Din's development and story is much more robust than Watson's and Ana has way more nuance and secrets than Holmes as a character. While there is certainly a focus on the murder mystery plot (which is very well done), the characters are fully realized and incredibly interesting. I was just as wrapped up in Din's conflict and story as I was in trying to find the clues to the mystery. And of course there are quirky, interesting side characters as well because it's an RJB story and everyone just adds to the atmosphere.

Layered in with the murder investigation and the characters' own mysteries is a military element with political intrigue. Oh, and actual Leviathan monsters that threaten the Empire. The story brushes up against Cosmic Horror without really feeling Lovecraftian. The monster/disaster part of the world building is a prime example of RJB holding back and leaving the reader with lingering questions (and desperately wanting more!).

If you go into this story expecting a full-fantasy Sherlock Holmes mystery, your expectations are going to be met and exceeded. I love Sherlock Holmes, and I love a good fantasy detective story. The Tainted Cup scratches that Sherlockian itch while not being like a Conan Doyle story at all. It is distinctly Robert Jackson Bennett and showcases some of his best qualities as a writer. I was thoroughly entertained the entire time I was reading.

So why not a full 5 stars? While the story and characters are entertaining, I was not impacted emotionally by them. The payoff is satisfying, but there are still lingering questions. The slightly under 5 stars is more in anticipation of deeper stories to come in this world and between Din and Ana.

Definitely pick this one up if you are a fan of fantasies with mysteries. The Tainted Cup is also perfect for those who love some superb world building. Combine these two, and I would much rather read more of Din and Ana than Harry Dresden. Obviously, if you're already a fan of RJB's other series then you probably have already bought this one too and devoured it or it's at the top of your TBR (as it should be).

Here's to hoping that another Shadow of the Leviathan story comes out soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for providing a digital review copy of The Tainted Cup in exchange for my honest review.

Classic murder mystery meets a rich fantasy world with complex magic and politics in Robert Jackson Bennet's book "The Tainted Cup". In a world where Leviathans kill and destroy all in their path, the Empire is the only thing holding them at bay. However, not all is as it seems when high ranking officials start dying mysteriously by plant contagions. Din and Anna work to investigate these murders, government corruption, and uncover a conspiracy.

In this fantasy world, people have the ability to modify themselves, either permanently or temporarily. These can make them smarter, faster, stronger... or in Din's case, he can remember every experience down to the most minor details. This makes for perfect recall of the crime scenes.

This book is witty, fast-paced, and full of beautifully crafted world building. I like the classic nature of the murder mystery, meshed with the rich fantasy world. Din's dyslexia is a welcome representation to see in a world of books that sometimes use modifications or enhancements to erase disabilities. It is also implied that Anna has autism. I cannot speak to the quality of either representation as a non-member of those communities, but I highly enjoyed reading both of these characters.

There is also some LGBTQ representation, both in Din's hinted attraction to a male captain and in the relationship of two minor character females. This book is perfect for fans of fantasy books with a little to no romance.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. The world building and mystery were intricately done and interesting to read. I loved rooting for these characters and can't wait to see where the story goes.

This is the fifth book I've read by Robert Jackson Bennett. I've thought all were quite good. This one though, this has me eager to read the next book in the series before the first is even published. It is a well-executed mystery set in a world of mysteries and wonder, and I found it hard to put down. I'm quite eager to learn more of this world, the leviathans that menace it, and the Empire that defends humanity. Very highly recommended for fantasy fans.

Daretana canton is at the borders of the Empire. Contagions are plenty, and the Leviathans can be a little too close for comfort. Dinios Kol is an engraver, a magically altered person who “engraves” situations into their memories and has been called to a prominent mansion where someone has been killed. The manner of death: a tree spontaneously combusted from the body. Kol’s superior officer Ana Dolabra doesn’t leave her residency so Kol must be her eyes and ears. As the case unfolds, it becomes clear that there is more going on behind the scenes than the host family wants Dolabra to know about.

When catastrophe strikes at the sea walls in Talagray during a Leviathan attack, Ana and Kol are called to save the Empire. Ana and Kol must determine the who’s, what’s, and why’s of eleven deaths before the next Leviathan attack or be prepared for more tragedy.

I really enjoyed this novel. It’s being compared to Holmes and Watson, and I agree. Ana is the perfect adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, especially because she has similar eccentricities. I loved the mind leaps that are so obvious once explained, but I also loved seeing Kol develop under Ana. I enjoyed the combination of mystery with fantasy. I really want to own a giant mushroom air purifier.

The mystery and plot were perfection. Robert Jackson Bennett wrote in his acknowledgment about “how America is now terrified of building stuff.” I understand this fear, because there are too many ways for things to go horribly wrong. The villain(s) and the motives are entirely too realistic. However, that’s what kept me going. I wanted to know how Ana would solve it, but also how Kol and others would react.

My only wish was that it was an audiobook, because I know I butchered some of the names, even in my own head.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

The Tainted Cup starts out as a murder mystery within a world with magical elements and unique world building. The writing style is beautiful and I think a lot of people would enjoy this. However, I struggled to get into this and I don’t believe it has anything to do the author or content of this novel. I think my mood reading tendencies just led to my failure of getting engrossed with the story - thus I didn’t finish this. I will most likely revisit this when the time is right for me and expect to thoroughly enjoy the ride!

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and the author for providing an early copy, I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

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.

this was unlike anything i’ve read before. the plot i found was so smooth sailing and intriguing from the get-go, which is to say the pacing of this deserves all the glory. and this having a murder mystery esque quality to it felt all the more satisfying because i was able to really picture it unfold.

usually a lot of fantasies i read nowadays have such an intricate, multi-layered magic system that goes over my head but with this one, it’s quite subtle and ingenious, but still poignant enough where you’re seated and paying attention.

very excited to continue ana and din’s story!

The Tainted Cup by Robert JacksonBennett is a fantasy mystery novel following Dinios Kol, an engraver (altered to have a perfect memory), who is an apprentice assistant investigator of only a handful of months to Immunis Anagosa Dolabra. This book is a combination of my two favorite genres, fantasy and mystery, and it really hit a spot I didn’t know what missing.

The story starts off with the unusual murder of a high ranked Engineer at the far out house of one of the wealthiest families in the Empire. It eventually leads to a suspected conspiracy to bring down the sea wall, among other complex plots.

As for characters, Din and Ana seem to be an odd pair. Ana is extremely quirky, preferring not to leave her residence and wearing a blindfold to reduce inputs. Din is her eyes and ears, engraving everything into his perfect memory. Ana is much a Holmesian character, who sees much even as narrator Din doesn’t. We also meet a slew of other interesting characters along the way who are memorable in different ways, and some I hope we meet again.

I adored the world, with leviathans rising to attack sea walls. It gave a sense of impending doom and that what Din and Ana did didn’t matter in the face of that doom. Yet they persist, and ultimately unravel what appears to be an extremely complicated plot.

I can’t wait for the next book of the series, I’m very much looking forward to learning their next case.

Favorite quote:
“Now … Now it feels frail, and imperfect, and improvised, and … and coincidental, ma’am. The wrong wind might blow it all apart, should it go untended.”

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC so I could give an honest review.

i requested this because i liked some of this author's previous books but i think i'm just not in the mood for mystery stories right now. might come back to it when i'm in a different mood and i'm sure it will be great for a lot of people but i'm just not feeling it right now

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

I really enjoyed this book! It's great blend of murder mystery and fantasy. The character and world building are great but it does start a little slow. I haven't read this author before but I'll definitely be adding him to my list!

Alright... I have a confession to make. I've never read a book by this author before and I didn't even recognize his name so I had no idea he is the author of what, I have heard, is some really absolutely incredible scifi/fantasy. So I've been literally telling people, just absolutely clueless, how im so surprised this book is so freaking great! Lmao.... aaaaaahhhgg.. that's my life. Apologies.

Now that THAT is out of the way, I will continue to heap praises on this marvelous read. This story takes place in a dystopian style world in which there are attacks from titans at an enormous seawall that protects this empire, while the people that live within make heavy use of plants for protection and control. However, sometimes, these plants can be used to harm as well.

The murder/mystery aspect (which was so fascinating) mixed with these very interesting details of the people, politics and, of course, the plants and their varying uses to enhance many humans, all this together makes just the best read. It's this author's brilliant ideas, especially the plants, their uses, and their side effects, but also the characters themselves who each are very well thought out and fleshed out in this story. Just the combination of all these factors, the smallest details to the main flow, the whole plot, idea, of the book... created for me a scary world definitely, but also a world I felt like I was in, literally inside of, every time I picked this book up (and, while frightening thought I very much so desired to be this enthralled.) Like I was walking by Din's side (the main character) the whole time and feeling like I was experiencing the exact same emotions as him. That's how real this felt to me.

So, if you can't tell, I loved this book. I am begging.... begging for more. Please!!!!

Out February 6, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!