I recieved a free e-arc through NetGalley. This is my own opinion about the book. And I liked to thank the publisher for a chance to review.

I would give this a 3.5/5 stars. I am not normally a murder-mystery reader but was given a chance to read this book and it seemed interesting. The plot is well thought out, the world is very well built, the magic is more a "science" and part of everyday living and is not an extra element to the world. The author does a very good job or repetition to help readers remember what is what. What lost my interest is how the dialogue to me is very monotoned to me. I couldn't tell the difference between characters by their speech and the urgency of the world was never really developed. The main character and his interaction with his master is very good but the other characters to me feel flat. There is no real action it's just a detective reading and plotting through evidence of a book and it was enjoyable to a point where to me it started to feel repetitive. Overall decent story to me probably won't continue the series.

DNF- I keep trying to read fantasy-type books and I just can't get into them. This book currently has a lot of good reviews on Goodreads so I love that it works for others, but it just wasn't for me.

If you enjoy fantasy and mystery, this provides nice mix of the two. Characters are well-developed, but a bit more could've been done with the world-building earlier on in the story. There was more humor than I was expecting. There were ample twists, but there was also an overabundance of cursing that really wasn't even needed. the large number of characters was a bit confusing on occasion. I did have the final reveal figured out in advance, but it was fun trying to figure it out.

Robert Jackson Bennett is easily one of my favorite authors currently writing in the sf/f field. His world-building is strong, detailed, and comes across so very real. His stories are complex and while not always described, there is clearly history and future to the current events. And his characters are unique and admirable for their honesty and directness.

In The Tainted Cup, Bennett departs just a little from his The Divine Cities trilogy and The Founders trilogy. The previous trilogies are definitely fantasies - high, dark, intricate. This, while still in a very Robert Jackson Bennett world, is first a murder mystery, and second a fantasy.

Dinios Kol is the new assistant (an engraver who has been magically altered via Leviathan blood, to have a perfect memory) to investigator Ana Dolabra. Ana's abilities are rivaled only by her eccentricities and few people want to be around her, much less act as her assistant. But the relationship between Dinios and Ana seems to be working well, though Dinios worries that if his boss ever discovered his secret being fired would be the least of his worries.

A number of deaths have occurred on the same day, but they all seem connected to the very unusual death of a High Imperial Officer, found dead in a well-fortified mansion/home of the district's wealthier citizens. His being there wasn't unusual - he would often stay there when in the area. But the nature of his death is unusual (even in an area rife with plagues and magic) ... a tree has sprouted from his body, inside the home.

Dinios will study and record his impressions from the scene (no easy task, given the cold reception he gets from the home's owner) and deliver his impressions to Ana. Ana, who doesn't leave the confines of her home and often wears one or more blindfolds in order to keep her other sense more vibrant, will sort Dinios' information to determine the killer.

The mystery here is solid, but really it's the characters, specifically Dinios and Ana, who really make this worthwhile (which is often true with a mystery series). It's not just their unique personalities, but the 'gifts' or abilities they've acquired, that make them fun to read. In this way, the world this is set in is so very integral to who the characters are, and again ... Bennett excels at world-building.

I hope that this is a long-running series and not just a trilogy. Dinios and Ana are a great pair and the revelation at the end (and the response to it) just makes me that much more eager to get in to the next 'The Shadow of the Leviathan' book.

Looking for a good book? Robert Jackson Bennett pens a top-notch mystery in a fantasy world that only he could create in The Tainted Cup giving us a tremendous reading experience.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Fantasy murder mystery is such an underrated subgenre, and The Tainted Cup is a great example of why publishers should publish more books in this subgenre.

The fantasy worldbuilding elements were really cool. It was fascinating how the “technology” in the world was accomplished by magic. And I loved the idea of the Empire struggling against the leviathans, which reminded me of the kaiju in Pacific Rim. The mystery was well done: The investigation was compelling and moved at a brisk pace, and all the clues fell satisfyingly in place at the end. I’ve been having a difficult reading year, yet I devoured this book in just a few days.

I really liked Din as a protagonist; the mysteries about his background formed another thread of tension in parallel with the main mystery that worked well. Also, how cool is it to see a gay male protagonist in an Adult fantasy novel like this? I enjoyed his relationship with Ana, the Sherlock Holmes-esque detective of the novel, as well. Though, personally, I wish her dialogue were written just a tad differently. I don’t have anything against swearing, but the combination of Victorian-like genteel speech with profanities didn’t completely work for me.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone else who has a craving for a murder mystery in a fantasy world, and I’d love to see what further mysteries Din and Ana solve in future books!

4.5 stars

Wow, this book, I am not sure where to begin. This is the first book in a new adult fantasy series, following the perspective of Din. It has so many great elements to it, great foreshadowing, some of them I did not even realize and had to go back and double check. I thought that it had great world building, the society, magic and structure pulled you in.
I found their use of magic fascinating especially how it was so unique with many pros and advantages but also a lot of consequences it seemed, the character Din, who in an engraver is a great example of this. There was a lot of information in this book to retain, the writing was spot on, it pulled you in and never felt like I was getting overwhelmed with all the info coming at me. I did have a little bit of a hard time keeping names straight of people, places and objects, I had to flip back and forth a bit to double check at times.
There were so many twists, turns, suspects, and motives happening. Din and Ana both were captivating, flawed, brilliant and very observant. They both really made this story. Not to mention the murder mystery that was happening, steeped in political landmines. It was great and I can’t wait for the next one. This book really stands out, highly recommend it.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

The Tainted Cup is a detective mystery wrapped up in a fantasy world. I am not sure that I would have picked this one up without the recommendation from the publisher, but I sure enjoyed it.

In Daretana, an imperial officer is killed. The investigator and her assistant are tasked to figure out the mystery. As they investigate, the mystery grows larger and larger. Is there a conspiracy in the Empire with one of the long-standing gentrypeople families? Pick this one up to find out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the review copy of this book.

“𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘺, 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴.”

WOW talk about a murder mystery. With the absolute most wild cause of death, investigators with a perfect clarity for details a truckload of chuckles, and a whole slew of suspects, The Tainted Cup was an absolutely fascinating read from start to finish. It’s no mystery that I Love Bennett’s work—Foundryside is one of my all time favorites books. The Tainted Cup is just another extremely unique story with a more scientific “magic system” and one hell of a mystery. Can I also just say how glad I am that this is going to be a series and not a standalone?

Dinios Kol is an apprentice investigator to a very eccentric, unique and intelligent Head Investigator with an abundance of quirks. He is also an engraver; capable of remembering every single thing he sees or hears. This world is full of different alterations people can get, including becoming an engraver, or beauty enhancements, fighting prowess, a whole assortment of different effects. This in effect with the looming threat of their walls being breached by massive Titan like beasts called Leviathans leads to a subtle tension throughout the whole novel that kept me so engaged.

The representation, as in Bennett’s other books, is here proudly. Din has a form of dyslexia, he can read words but it’s very difficult for him and he can’t use his ability unless read them aloud, which tampers with his work sometimes. It’s also a queernormative world which is the only kind of world you should have in a world of your own creation—by have prejudice when you could just not? Din is such a special character; respectful, nervous, determined as all get out, smart and capable—I found myself instantly rooting for him.

If you’re looking for a well done murder mystery but in a fantastical new world, look no further than this series and indeed anything else Bennett has written. A true gem of a read.

“𝘞𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘋𝘪𝘯. 𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘭𝘥. 𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦. 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦.”

Thanks to Netgalley and RHPG Ballantine Del Rey for gifting me an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

Robert Jackson Bennett is an expert at creating interesting new worlds, and The Tainted Cup is no exception. I loved that Bennett stepped into a new genre - murder mystery - with his own unique spin on it.

I was going through a bit of a reading slump when I started this one, so it took me a bit to get into it, but as my reading mojo slowly returned, it got harder and harder to put this one down, and I tore through the pages like dappleglass bursting out of the victim's torsos in this one!

Definitely will be picking up book two when it releases. This one really left me wanting a sequel and to see more of Din and Ana.

Did I mention the alphabet representation? Yep. I loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. There were a few times that I felt like things were moving a little slow for me, but overall, it was an enjoyable read. I loved Din and Ana were fabulous, and liked the way that they almost worked as foils for one another. I appreciated the representation of disability and how that played out in the story.

The mystery was well developed, and while I was able to guess several things, I never felt like I had figured everything out. There were a few plot ends that I felt weren't completely tied up, but overall, it's a cohesive mystery story in a really fantastic world. The world that Bennett has built here is really interesting - I have never read a fantasy world quite like it.

Definitely an enjoyable read. Highly recommend to fantasy fans who want a little mystery in their lives.

Rating : 4.5 out of 5
Blurbs :
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.

Thoughts :
This is a Sherlock holmes meets Attack on Titan in a fantasy world book. I enjoyed it from the very beginning to the end of the book. I love Dinios Kol and also Ana and also any other characters. It's amazing and I can't wait to read the second book. I hope it's gonna be out in 2025 so I don't have to wait for too long. Highly recommend this book to anyone else out there!

Good characters, good plot, good world-building, and good plot-execution! Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the advanced copy!

Investigator Ana Dolabra and engraver Dinios, Din, Kol are called into to investigate the disturbing murder of an imperial officer. As the investigation deepens, Din comes to some startling realizations. This case is more complex and involved than originally believed especially as it leads to the doorstep of an incredibly influential family. Also, Ana may truly be the greatest investigator in the empire which makes keeping Din’s secrets from Ana increasingly more difficult.

Bennet’s latest novel, The Tainted Cup, was a gruesome, botanical murder mystery masterpiece. This was my first book be Bennet and let me tell you, I was hooked! Not only was the entire premise interesting, hello death by spontaneous giant plant growth, but the world building and depth of enhancements explored was incredibly well done. Add to that, the prestigious investigator is an eccentric woman, and I am here for it. For a mystery, there were plenty of plot twists and turns to keep readers guessing throughout the story. Each time I figured out one aspect of the puzzle, I quickly learned that I only scratched the surface of the overall plot. This story does build on common lessons regarding power and corruption, but it’s demonstrated in an interesting manner. It’s hard to say which aspect of The Tainted Cup was the most interesting: the fantasy elements surrounding enhancements and the leviathan; the political intrigue and corruption; or the mystery itself. There were so many layers to this book that I would expect Bennet to only excel at one with others being added plot fluff but all three were expertly executed. I clearly enjoyed reading this book, but I do think this is one that will be even better on a reread. Then I’ll be able to appreciate all of the intricacies woven into this tale. I will definitely be picking up the sequel when the time comes.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an advanced copy of this mix of detective and fantasy genres creating something unique and page turning.

There have been many detectives in fiction that have solved crimes from a distance. Usually in their own house, enjoying a fine meal, fine flowers, a good book and a nice drink, leaving the investigating to others. Who could eat while trekking through crime scenes all day. The grunt work is left to able assistants, some with skills the noble detective does not have, a capacity to charm maybe, or pick locks. Or in this case an ability to remember everything seen, smelled, heard and touched, and in some cases tasted, perfectly with no mistakes, and never to be forgotten. The Tainted Cup is the first book of the In the Shadow of the Leviathan series by Robert Jackson Bennett and features a detective who avoids crime scenes, an assistant with a memory that never fails, but with plenty of secrets and a murder that could be a precursor to the destruction of the Empire.

Ana Dolabra is considered one of the best investigators in the Iudex, the administrative group that oversees the justice bureaucracy for the Empire. Ana is known for solving the difficult cases, usually without leaving her tower, though her recent posting to the far end of the Empire has people wondering. Dinois Kol, like many in the Empire, has been altered for the better of the Empire by being given the gift of perfect memory. As assistant to Ana, Kol can travel few the scenes of the investigation and report back perfectly everything he has seen. Though Kol has doubts if he is in the right position as he has problems he does not want so share. A murder has taken place in the home of a wealthy patron, an Engineer has had a tree sprout out of him, killing him. The case is solved quickly, but leave many questions, questions that bring the two away from their home and out to the outskirts of the Empire. Where great creatures attack the walls, and an even more savage crime has taken place Ana and Kol find their case might be larger and more dangerous than expected and if they fail, it might mean the end of the Empire and the ed for many more.

Robert Jackson Bennett has combined classic mystery with fantast and made an amalgamation that is almost perfect in every way. A book with amazing world building, a fascinating setting great characters, and a mystery that plays fair with the reader, and makes sense. I had no idea where this book was going at first, but after the first chapter Bennett is such a skilled writer, I knew I was in for the ride. And what a ride. At 432 pages this book flew by, and at the end I wanted more. The writing is really very good, funny with characters who are all different, and richly detailed. The conspiracy is different and told well, along with the magic of this world, and the threats to the Empire by murderers assassins and monsters from the deep. I really can't think of anything I would change here, as this really was a very, very good read that kept me reading and enthralled. This is only the second book that I have read by Robert Jackson Bennett, and I can't wait to read everything, and can't wait for more in this series.

Recommended for fantasy readers and one's who love mysteries. The characters are very rich and well developed, especially for fantasy books today. Role players will enjoy the ideas in also to borrow for ideas, or in hopes that a game system will be designed with this world in mind. A very strong start to what seems like a great series.

I loved this book. I have yet to read any other books by Robert Jackson Bennett, but they’ve been sitting on my TBR due to the amazing things I’ve heard about him. I couldn’t help myself when I saw that he released a Holmes and Watson Style mystery set in a Fantasy setting!

It took me a little bit to learn the magic system but this is honestly a good old-fashioned detective mystery that just so happens to be set in a pretty unique world with body and brain modification, giant killer sea creatures, and a pretty screwed up political system. I’m so pumped for a whole series focused on Din (our Watson) and Ana (Sherlock) and to learn so much more about this oddly unsettling world.

This was a unique read. Cozy fantasy is all the rage these days, as is cozy mystery. The Tainted Cup blends the two!

The world-building is excellent, the characters engaging, and the mystery unpredictable and interesting. I adored the eccentric Ana and the protagonist, Din, was equally engaging with a unique set of problems of his own that come to light as the story progresses. The only problem I had with it was how long-winded it could be with dialogue sometimes. A lot of tell instead of show in some places. Other than that, it was fabulous. Highly recommend it to anyone who likes cozy reads and would like this genre-bending series. I'm already excited for the next book in the series and this one isn't even out yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This INVIGORATING science fiction/fantasy murder mystery unfolds with well developed characters, possessing a depth that adds to the plot. Robert Jackson Bennett skillfully weaves a tapestry of suspense, engaging readers with a well-laid plot that keeps you guessing. The true brilliance emerges in the last 50 pages, where the story wraps up and weaves together in a conclusion that is open but not, while leaving room for future novels. BRILLIANT

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This captivating science fiction/fantasy murder mystery unfolds with richly developed characters, each possessing a depth that adds layers to the intricate plot. Robert Jackson Bennett skillfully weaves a tapestry of suspense, keeping readers engaged with a well-laid plot that keeps them guessing. The true brilliance emerges in the last 50 pages, where the story masterfully ties together, delivering a satisfying conclusion while leaving room for future novels (which I am very hopeful for)!!

Foundryside has been on my tbr for a while, but quickly jumped up a few spots after reading this!

This was not at all what I expected! Such a fun, entertaining and all-around delightful read.

The two main characters are fantastic and I absolutely adore them and their chemistry. They work well together. Dolabra is eccentric and loveable while Kol is serious and mostly solemn. It's perfect.

The mystery they solved together was fun...a tad gruesome LOL but fun. Definitely get this one on your radar. It releases February 6, 2024.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I admit that I'm rather biased because I've loved The Divine Cities and Foundryside series, but I thought this was an absolutely fantastic book. It features yet more of Bennett's wonderful worldbuilding, so many fascinating details all delivered in a way that never feel like an info dump, but like a truly lived in world. The mystery is deftly laid out, with just enough hints that I could get close to the solutions (though never exactly right) just before each part was revealed.

Highly, highly recommended.

I was very intrigued by the promise of a "Holmes and Watson–style detective duo taking the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist". Unfortunately, I never got around to experiencing any of that because I realized early on that this writing was not for me.

Sadly, I only made it about 3 chapters into this one. While that doesn't seem like a lot, and I'll agree that it really isn't, in my defense, the chapters were quite long. In these few chapters, a lot of breadcrumbs were spread around and rather than finding them intriguing, I found myself disconnected. It was too much uncertainty early on and not enough of anything for me to latch onto. I don't care about how or why this man died (especially because the little bit we know about him paints the picture of a not-so-great-dude), I don't care who this family is that owns a fancy home, I don't really like or care for Dinios and what his secrets are, and I've been given no reason to have any interest in getting to know anything about the investigator.

What really sealed the deal for me, though, was the unnecessary words that the author chose to make up. I read quite a bit of fantasy and I would say that vast majority don't have so many made up terms. I can't access my highlights at the moment, but I recall the month of "enig" (I think it was) and there were a couple of very strange animal names. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this, generally speaking, but I decided that this was not going to be for me.

I would have preferred to not give this one a rating, but netgalley requires it so I'll go with a 2. That said, I think that some people will connect with the characters very well and probably enjoy the story quite a bit, so please take my 2 star rating with a grain of salt if this story interests you!

I was fortunate enough to receive an arc of this book via netgalley.