Conspiracies and a murder mystery in a fantasy/sci-fi setting, this may be my new favorite genre.

The Tainted Cup is a great start to a new series. Kol/Din is your typical newbie investigator under the tutelage of the slightly deranged Ana. Their relationship reminds of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, especially the BBC version from the 2010s.

I really liked the world building. We are introduced to a magic/technology that felt refreshing. The map and military ranks at the beginning of the book really helped. I kept referring back to them as the story progressed.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballintine for allowing me to read the ARC.

This is my first book by Bennett so I went in not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised to find a blending of my favorite genres: Fantasy and Murder Mystery. I think it's better to go into this book knowing as little as possible for maximum enjoyment. I refer to this fantasy style as "accessible fantasy" and I think that makes it a particularly good one for beginners to the genre. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for this ARC.

Oh, I wish Robert Jackson Bennett would write dozens more books in this world! In the Acknowledgements, the author notes to my delight that he really enjoyed writing this book and plans to write more murder mysteries. I hope that at least a few of those can include Dinios Kol and Ana.

The murder mystery is satisfyingly complex and well executed--the book works great on that front--and the world-building is outright jaw-dropping, but the dynamic between pragmatic, even-keeled Dinios ("Din") and Ana, a fascinating, abrasive mad genius, is my favorite part of the book.
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"Why the hell didn’t you tell me you knew how to pick locks?”“Oh,” I said sheepishly . “Well. I don’t really know how, ma’am. I just memorized the movements to unlock three basic types of locks.” She stared at me, outraged. “That … That is basically the goddamn definition of ‘knows how to pick locks,’ boy! What an absurd thing! What the hell else do you know how to do?” I handed her the cup. “I do seem to be developing a talent for tolerating verbal abuse and mad questions, ma’am.”
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On the "murder mystery with investigating duo" front, I *really* appreciate that Din's character wasn't written to be frustratingly slow-witted or credulous in order to let the reader feel superior. He doesn't have Ana's sparkling (read: caustic) brilliance, but no one does, and it's just as well that there's only one Ana. Din is reliable and observes social conventions that Ana can't be bothered with, and the ways in which he's naive are due to lack of experience: he's young, this is his first posting, and he's barely out of training.

The world-building... Is staggering: the empire and how it works, the structure of civil and military service posts, the absolute alien-ness of the copious alarming plant life, the reason the entire empire is huddled behind seawalls, how people have gone about altering themselves, This world is aggressively organic and the sense of small humans trying to carve out survival in an alien unfriendly jungle is almost claustrophobic.

I absolutely loved it and will be getting a hard copy when it comes out. I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. My opinions are my own.

I've had my eye on Robert Jackson Bennett for some time now because his books always sound so intriguing, but The Tainted Cup is the first of his that I've read, and I am so glad I did. His utterly original world building and refreshing premise made me feel like I had stepped into an entirely new reality, and I enjoyed every second of it!

I had no idea what awaited me with this book. Murder mystery high fantasy?! Never read one, so I greedily signed up. The magic of this story was incredibly evolved, the characters were dark and shifty (besides Ana, I can’t wait for y’all to meet Ana) with secrets coming out at every single turn. Leviathans? Genetically altered humans and poisons? A contagion that was once contained and should have been no problem? It’s got it all.

Overall this was a fun read, and I’m interested to see where this story goes in book number two!

4.25/5 Stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this novel. I am glad to report that it was an easily devourable mystery set in an equally intriguing world.

The story starts immediately as you meet the characters and the mystery they are trying to solve. The story and world building happen so simultaneously and seamlessly that it makes for a smooth and intriguing read. It was exquisitely done. I never felt like the world building took away from the story telling or vice versa. If you love, mystery and have been curious about fantasy absolutely recommend you pick up this book.

We meet our main character Kol who is tasked with helping solve a murder while in his apprenticeship and navigating his current station. The mystery instantly builds and kept me turning pages. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and how the story came together.

If you love mystery novels, fantasy, great characters, and amazing simultaneous world building I would absolutely recommend picking this book up. This book made me want to read this author’s others books! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am thankful to be gifted this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. As much as I love mysteries, dystopia and fantasy novels, this did not come close to my expectations. This was a complete struggle to finish, The characters were flat, and honestly, the amount of MODERN curse words the characters threw around like candy was very out of place. I did expect some sort of romance but NOPE! They are all too invented in the ill-described Titans that may infiltrate their land.

The different levels of superiority/ranks were difficult to remember, even with the guide on the first page.

Ana was a whimsical character I really wanted to like, but her development made no sense. I could not keep track of when she was wearing a mask and when she wasn't. If this is not important to the storyline (which I don't think it is) just leave that out. She could have been so much more eloquently developed in her "Nancy Drew" roll.

Let's not even get started with Din. He was the whipping boy and slave from jump street and added nothing to the plot. His best contribution to the novel was being able to play off Ana's snarky comments and using dry sarcasm. Definitely not a character I enjoyed. He did not deserve his position and came off as an imbicile.

We start the book at a mansion "murder" that was basically forgotten about until the resolution. Why is a tree sprouting and grotesquely murdering someone within the first chapter? Why did that not get investigated more thorough? Why does Ana leave her whipping boy to investigate when SHE is the lead? She doesn't even enter the place. It just makes no sense in a story line.

Due to the fact I have a due diligence to write my opinion on this novel, I finished it. But there are so many other books in this genre I would have preferred. If you want to be up there with Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, and JK Rowling, this series will need a lot of work.

I loved this book. A good mix of fantasy and mystery. The quirkiness of the two main characters and the overarching plot was so reminiscent of Holmes and Watson. I enjoyed the use of plants in the world building. I wish the leviathans had played more than a background role but hope this would be further explored in future books. Definitely worth your time and I’ll be on board for the rest of the series for sure.

It's my habit to describe a book like this by comparing it to similar or similarly themed novels, but I'm having trouble finding a fit that feels right. Instead I'll say that, though I don't understand why he gave so much of the endgame away right there on the cover, this was otherwise utterly compelling.

eARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes.
This was so so good. A delicious murder mystery with a fantastic fantasy setting. This works well as a standalone but I'm hoping for many more in this series. Our protagonist is an investigator assistant in training, trying to hide that he's dyslexic and had to cheat to pass his exams, while his mentor/the investigator is an eccentric genius. It's giving both Sherlock and Watson as well as Knives Out in a fantasy world where the empire tries to stay strong behind its walls and defenses despite kaiju (leviathans) coming out of the ocean. The worldbuilding is strong, and not so heavy handed that you're lost for the first hundred pages. The magic system is interesting, and not overly complex. I think this would be a great entry level book for people who haven't read too much fantasy, but I read quite a bit and I also loved it. I haven't read any other books by this author, though this definitely made me want to read more! Overall, highly recommend. Immensely satisfying.

The Tainted Cup was such a delight. I loved learning about the characters and how they all interacted. A mystery built into a fantasy. I absolutely loved this!

This was a fun read! A murder mystery meets fantasy was super unique, I really enjoyed following along for all of the twists and turns the novel took while learning the magicking system. It would definitely be a great read for someone who wants to dip their toes into fantasy or someone who is looking for a fantasy that isn't heavy-handed.

Mystery book set in a fantasy world, this reminded me at times of the board game "Clue" as well as the movie "Knives Out" and the works of Agatha Christie. Great world building that took me some time to get straight but the characters were enjoyable especially the quirky investigator Ana Dolarbra and her assistant Dinious Kol who has a photographic memory. The mystery. begins with a high empirical officer found dead with a tree growing through his body. I enjoyed the use of plants in the book and their role in the magic system.

If you enjoy books with puzzles, twists and reveals this is mystery for you. I like books that make me think a little about what is going on and enjoyed the different setting and characters. There is some foul language which isn't a problem for me but made me think of a more modern setting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

This book was so good. I have been meaning to read the other series by this author, but jumped into this one first. The worldbuilding here is unique and I love the incorporation of magic, nature, and mystery. This was a very different kind of mystery book. I also loved that the main character has a disability and is still presented in a respectful way while highlighting additional strengths they have. I honestly didn't know where this book was going to go page after page. I can't wait to see more in this series.

What an absolute blast to read! Extremely interesting plant based murders, leviathans lurking beyond the walls to destroy them all and a Sherlock/Watson duo solving the mystery? Sold. While I did have to back track now and then for world building, I never found it to be over the top or distracting and it was all together a fun mystery/fantasy.

Somehow Robert Jackson Bennett has written an incredibly complex and gripping fantasy murder mystery plot, that is still completely accessible to readers less familiar with fantasy. I truly enjoyed this book more and more the further into it I got. Bennett has an absolutely incredible handle on character. In particular, the character of Ana is beyond entertaining throughout the book. Another thing I loved about this book was that the mystery plot was so well written that I, as reader, could make some guesses and feel invested, but I couldn't truly figure it out myself. Overall, The Tainted Cup kept me engaged and interested to the very last page. The elements of character, high stakes plot, and complex world building came together in a smashing success for Robert Jackson Bennett.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

“The Tainted Cup” by Robert Jackson Bennett is a uniquely, imaginative story with elements of Holmes and Watson that bring these characters and world alive. We follow Investigator Ana Dolabra and her assistant investigator Dinios “Din” Kol in a twisted case of murder, corruption, and betrayal. The world building is lush and full, providing the reader with an ease of understanding the story as they are immersed within. Dolabra is blunt, abrasive, and hilarious. Din is newly graduated, has just gotten his grafts and alternations to be an engraver (someone who is able to recall all information they have heard or seen with perfect recollection) and thus, is unsure of himself. Despite his insecurities, Din is above all else, loyal, passionate and will do everything in his power to get the job done. Both characters are complex, and we see those layers peel away and reveal themselves to us as the story unfolds.

The start of the book is that of a murder. An unusual and gruesome murder of high-ranking commanding officer Blas. We quickly learn that this officer has a present and past of dubious deeds. The case is quickly closed, or so it seems. As the empire is at the brink of possible destruction with the upcoming wet season, when the monstrous leviathans of the sea attempt to make landfall to destroy all in their wake, a breach to the outer walls protecting the empire has been discovered in the next canton (village) over. This breach was caused by a series of deaths, deaths that are the same as commanding officer Blas. Dolabra and Din are asked to make the trip to the next canton to try to solve this new mystery. They quickly determine that the first death in their own canton is just the tip of a very vast iceberg that is full of rot, corruption, and deception among the empire’s gentry and by others closer to home. While the empire’s legionnaires fight to keep citizens safe from the titans beyond the walls, it is up to Dolabra and Din to uncover the truths quickly to help save the empire from the killers within.

I highly recommend this book to fans of mysteries with complex elements and quirky characters. I laughed many times at the things Dolabra says and just really enjoyed everything about this book.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! What an amazing immersive experience - a completely new world filled with mystery, intrigue, sea monsters and blind folded ladies cursing in every sentence!

This story takes place in an alternate Medieval land where people go through alterations to their persons and minds in order to become “better” at skills. For instance, our narrator, Din, a young investigator has gone through a transition so he has a photographic memory and helps Ana, an investigator who uses him as her eyes while she blindfolds herself in order to heighten her other senses while she is solving a crime. There are poisonings, espionage and hierarchies to dismantle, all while keeping everyone safe from the leviathans (sea monsters!) that await the citizens every year…

I found this book to be a great fantasy/mystery, but it did take me a little while to get into as there are a lot of made up things that took a little bit of time to translate in my head. Also, and this is. Just a personal preference, their is a lot of swearing so it may or may not take you out of the story if that is something that bothers you. I was ok with it but I know it can feel too modern for these types of words.

Characters in this book died in a truly horrific manner. Ana, the detective, and Din, her assistant are chosen to discover the perpetrator. Good world building, political treachery and danger to the empire complicate the problems of finding answers. I loved Ana, and her eccentric habits. I also liked Din, who was new at being an assistant detective. He was a bit uncomfortable in his job, but he was very good at what he did. There is a hint that there may be a sequel, and if so, I will be happy to see more of Ana and Din. I think my high school students will truly enjoy this one. I received this as an arc from NetGalley and am under no pressure for a positive review. .

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey publishing for the ARC. Sadly, this one was not for me and a struggle to finish. I usually like fantasy but I have found that there has to be strong world building from the get go with good exposition. I felt that was lacking with this novel and it was so hard to keep track of characters, how things worked, plot etc. Pacing felt clunky and it was hard to engage with the characters.