This was such an entertaining read!

Going in, I was expecting this book to be in the same vein as Bennett's earlier work City of Stairs, opening with a murder mystery that eventually leads to a fantasy epic. Turned out very quickly that this was not the case. The Tainted Cup is rather the opposite, a proper murder mystery that borrows a fantasy setting, which means we're in for a completely different set of surprises -- a page-turner with lots of puzzles, traps, big twists, and dramatic reveals.

Thanks to the fast-paced plot, this book was a surprisingly quick read for me despite its length. The writing is pretty "light" as far as fantasies go, without too much worldbuilding to slow things down, and once the suspense started to pick up around the 50% mark, it was hard to put the book down. Some of the mystery puzzles were quite clever as well, and my favorite was the search for the paper miller around the middle of the book, which gave me a big "ah-ha" moment.

I did see some of the final reveals coming relatively early though, and I wished more clues could be better hidden and more mind-blowing (or maybe I'm just spoiled by all the detective tv shows that shaped my taste differently). But overall the puzzles and twists were fun, as were the character interactions. I even laughed out loud a couple of times from all the dry humor.

I'm curious to see where Bennett plans to take this series next. In this first installment, the fantasy side of the story mostly functions as a backdrop of the plot (magical animals and plants, people with augmented abilities, etc.), and we only get to glimpse a leviathan from afar for about one page. But as Din and Ana's adventure continues and future investigations ensue, I'm sure there will be more to learn about their world, as well as their own backstories.

Thank you RandomHouse and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I love murder-mysteries, I love fantasy, so obviously I’m going to love a fantasy murder-mystery. This was a fun and witty read, reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Pirot, but taking place in a completely unique world. Din and Ana, an unlikely duo of government investigators, chase the tracks of an unknown killer across the empire, all while dealing with invading leviathans, deadly contagions, and other augmented humans. The world building is unique, but it does come together to make a fascinating backdrop and interesting factor in the solving of the mystery. I loved the dynamic between the two and the relationship we see develop as danger develops and stakes begin to rise. Not to mention the banter between the two. There is a very small romance subplot (not between Din and Ana) that had me kicking my feet and giggling. I will admit that I previously tried one of Bennett’s books; Foundryside, and while interesting I couldn’t really get into it due to the pacing and ultimately left it unfinished (although after this I may give it another try) . This book does not have an issue with pacing, with each moment building to the next. I really hope we see more of these characters and this world because this was a good read, and I think there’s a lot of potential here.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This was a great fantasy book. It was a fun and exciting read.

Loved this fantasy world that was really well developed. I’m really hoping for a second adventure with Din and Ana.

This book is such a fabulous ride. This steampunk-y "Sherlock Holmes set in 'feudal Japan meets Roman legions'" has great character development and world building throughout. I am new to the Fantasy genre and sometimes get lost in all the world building, but the unexpected twists and the well-written crime/mystery kept me turning the pages. And I loved seeing Holmes, Watson, and even Moriarty characterizations in this new world. The entire time I was reading, I knew that I needed to share with my husband, who is the Fantasy and Science Fiction reader in the household. He read this in 2 days and loved it and can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thanks to #PenguinRandomHouse #Ballantine #DelRey #TheTaintedCup for gifting me this ARC and getting it on my radar.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. This book is outside my typical genre but it made me want to seek out more of its kind. It has fantasy laced with old school mystery vibes.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am so glad that I gave this book a chance despite not having read anything by this author before! The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is what would happen if Sherlock and Watson took place in a world with magic. The story revolves around Din, who has recently taken up a new job as the assistant to an eccentric detective named Ana. When someone is murdered by a tree sprouting spontaneously from his body, it's up to Ana, with Din's help, to find the murderer. As the stakes get higher, and the investigation gets deadlier, it becomes clear that this isn't just a run-of-the-mill murder. Will Din and Ana be able to solve the case?

Here is a humorous excerpt from Chapter 1:

"I cleared my throat in what I hoped was an authoritative manner, and said, "Signum Dinios Kol, assistant to the investigator. I'm here about the body."
The princeps blinked, then looked me up and down. Being as I was nearly a head taller than him, it took him a moment. "I see, sir," he said. He gave me a short bow - a quarter of a full bow, maybe a third - but then did not move.
"You do have a body, yes?" I asked.

Overall, The Tainted Cup is amazing and innovative blend of mystery and fantasy that will appeal to fans of Magic for Liars or Howl's Moving Castle. One highlight of this book is how it effectively combined the genres of murder mystery with fantasy. Another highlight of this book is how funny it is. There were lots of moments of humor, especially the interactions between Din and Ana.

One final highlight is just how much fun this is to read! I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. One thing I need to mention is that the book is told from Din's perspective, not Ana's, which wasn't really clear from the synopsis. Anyway, I will definitely be tracking down the author's previous books and will read anything that he writes in the future. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy or detective stories in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in February!

Thank you to Netgalley & Del Rey for granting me my wish to read this e-arc...in exchange for my honest review!

I described this book to my friend as pacific rim (minus the robots)-attack on titan-body mod nature magic all had wrapped up in an Agatha Christie/Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery.

This extremely poor description doesn't even hit the tip of the iceberg of how fun and horrifying a time this book was. Despite the murder mystery being complex and the world building extensive it did not feel inaccessible. I didn't feel overwhelmed reading at any moment and was thoroughly enthralled. I found the story being from the perspective of the "engraver" to be an extremely smart choice. It allowed RJB to fill in world building/plot info organically. It didn't feel forced.

Upon finishing this book my exact words to another friend were "I inhaled it. I have like no constructive criticism, my critical thinking skills just *poofed* away -- I just got sucked it. RJB created a really wild ride."

I loved it and cannot WAIT for the next ones.

This book is astonishing on all levels. It’s a gripping mystery, a fascinating character study, and a world building masterpiece. It starts on page one with a body and an assistant investigator, and does not let up until almost the end. Who killed this man by having a tree erupt from his body, and why did they do it at the mansion of one of the empire’s richest families? Why does the investigator herself never leave her house and spend most of her time blindfolded? And what is wrong with her assistant, the narrator, who can remember everything but cannot seem to read or write? After just having finished the Founders trilogy, it appears that Robert Jackson Bennett can write heists (Foundryside), war novels (Locklands), and now a perfectly plotted mystery. I am all ready to follow him wherever he wants to go next.

Annihilation meets Sherlock Holmes in the world of Pacific Rim.

What a wild, unique ride! This is nearly the perfect mix between a verdant, sprawling fantasy backdrop, and Doyle- and Christie-like murder mysteries. With an amazing protagonist with a special set of skills, and her trusted assistant investogator, with a secret of his own, the tension is ratcheted up by an impending walking disaster depending upon the city.

I LOVED this book, and while portions of it did my mind in (hard to do real fantasy world-building while laying the clues for an empire-ending conspiracy), ultimately I cannot WAIT for Ana and Fin to return...

And this one isn't even out yet!

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for providing me with the ARC

Robert Jackson Bennett is one of my favorite authors and, in my opinion, is criminally underrated as a worldbuilder in the fantasy genre. I absolutely flew through this book and read it from start to finish in a day. The magic system really shines in its creativity, taking seriously the premise of "what if we bioengineered plants to provide all of our infrastructure needs and also used them to bio-hack our bodies to give us superpowers?". Also, there are leviathans.

I found this novel to be well-paced, although the first few chapters were a slow build. This is probably an artifact of easing into the world RJB is creating, and because we arrive in the story just after a moment of violence, rather than during the violence itself. The pace picks up quickly, however, and then moves propulsively through the central mystery.

I really appreciated the character work in this book, which helped to establish strong connections to the two main leads. The relationship between Ana and Din is compelling, invoking the best of the genius detective/long-suffering assistant trope without either of them ever veering into caricature. Unlike the Founders trilogy, which I also loved, but at times found to have a jarring mix of camp humor and violence, the Tainted Cup was able to keep its moments of humor in balance with the darkness of the plot. It would have been nice to get a bit more into the psychology of the central villains and few more breadcrumbs about the broader lore of this world, but hopefully we will see more of that in the next books. The murder mystery plot is intriguing, and the clues are laid out in such a way that an attentive reader can put most of the pieces together before the big reveal without everything being too obvious.

Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this book, and can't wait for the next in the series.

Ebook/Fantasy: I want to thank Netgalley for a copy of the book. This book doesn't publish for a while, so no spoilers. To me, this was one of the better literally fantasy realms. It reminded me a lot of the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher I enjoy so much. I can actually picture this novel as another part of that world. This book deals with a murder investigation, which always livens a book up.

This is a twisty murder mystery set in a wholly new fantasy world of bio-engineered plants and people, threatened every year by rampaging titans from the sea. The characters were fun and deep, with plenty of flaws and hidden back stories. The mysteries were good and kept me guessing until the end.

I enjoyed it immensely.

RJB is such a good gateway author for people who are looking to get into fantasy, but aren't ready or don't want to dive into the deep end. I'm always so impressed with how accessible his storytelling/writing is. It has a highly immersive quality, but never to the point where you are in over your head.

The particular magic system in this book is subtle. It plays a significant part in the story, but it doesn't demand attention. It feels natural and is integrated very well into the setting and plot. It lends well to the murder mystery atmosphere and provides a good vehicle for the two main characters to really shine.

I also really enjoyed how this feels like a self-contained story within the series. I have no idea if this is going to be the pattern moving forward, or if there is going to be a more central/connected plot across the following books, but I'm super excited to see what mystery Din and Ana are going to solve next regardless!

What a fantastic read! A little bit of Sherlock Holmes vibes but set in fantasy world. Thrilling and mysterious tale of deceit, corruption and murder. And there is Ana and her assistant investigator Din to solve it all. I hope there is another book coming soon!
I received a free copy of this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ever heard of death via plant? Probably. But death via a tree growing from inside someone in a matter of minutes? That's new.

When a high-ranking official is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Ana and her assistant Din are called to investigate. Along the way, they discover that this death is just one in a dozen, and race to uncover the assassin before they can strike again.

This book was absolutely unhinged in the best of ways. Ana is eccentric, cusses like a sailor, and a nuisance to the general population while being absolutely brilliant. I adored her. Din is uptight, black and white, and constantly exasperated with Ana's shenanigans. It was the sunshine x grumpy trope but in a platonic relationship. It reminded me of Sherlock and Watson if you gave Sherlock Holmes an overload of caffeine.

The mystery was very clever and had so many twists and turns. At first, the combination of a dystopian world and plot seemed like too much, but the author did a great job of including both in a way that made sense. The mystery is intricate but entirely plausible and put together in a way that you can combine the clues yourself.

If you love dystopian novels, iconic detective sidekick teams, and brilliant mysteries, I'd recommend this to you.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballentine for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Ana Dolabra is a unique investigator in a world of the impossible. She wears a blindfold to avoid distractions as she “sees” the facts present themselves clearly in her mind. Her assistant, Dinios Kol, is an engraver, a person who memorizes exactly what he sees and hears while seeking the facts surrounding any incident he is investigating as part of his job. Din is Ann’s constant companion while they investigate the strange events surrounding the death of a high imperial officer who died as the result of a giant tree sprouting from within his body, tearing him apart. Just the tip of the story, this death signals a change in the Empire that could lead to its total destruction.

This is a fascinating story of subterfuge and wits battling it out in a world that is, itself, bizarre. A little unsure when I started reading, I was soon engrossed in the brilliant and unpredictable storyline woven by the author, Robert Jackson Bennett. A must-read book for all mystery lovers.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House, and Robert Jackson Bennett for an advance copy of The Tainted Cup. This is my honest review.

4.5/5 - In full disclosure, I went into this novel completely blind; fantasy is one of my least-read genres and had I not received an invitation to read an early copy of this novel, I would have completely overlooked it. Needless to say, one weekend and 432 pages later, I'm very glad I did.

"The Tainted Cup" is a unique story that blends elements of fantasy and mystery wonderfully. We open on the remnants of a brutal death in the canton of Daretana, where assistant investigator Dinios "Din" Kol has been called to inspect his very first crime scene. Din is an engraver, a being altered to have near-perfect memory, and his skills are put to use as he works with Ana Dolabra, an eccentric and at times incomprehensible investigator, to understand what underlies the murder. Their search takes them across the Empire as each discovery leads to even more questions, and the loyalty of the Hazas, one of the most powerful families in the empire, is deeply questioned all while corruption within the very pillars of their society is brought to light.

I have to commend Robert Jackson Bennett for the incredible world-building and imagination employed within this novel; the complexities of the different cantons across the Empire, the different political and military structures that are developed, setting the frequent attacks by Leviathans against the borders, the many types of alterations and grafts that enhance different abilities in individuals... There was clearly a lot of thought that went into the structure of this world, but it was all introduced in a well-paced and understandable manner for readers. His prose is descriptive and complex, and the action scenes had my heart racing in a few passages. For mystery lovers, Bennett also does a great job of throwing in small hints and clues, with plenty of red herrings of course, that tie together incredibly well at the end. What I loved most however, is his development of our protagonists Ana and Din and the eventual trust and respect they develop for each other after their near-death trials and tribulations.

The ending of this novel is well set up for a subsequent one - and I'm excited to see what the rest of the Shadow of the Leviathan series has in store!

Start with the first murder by a tree growing out of and consuming the body of an official of the Empire couple that with fantastical individuals altered with enhancements to give them extraordinary talents and humongous creatures attempting to breach the sea walls, you find yourself immersed in a clever, fast-paced novel. It has elements that will appeal to most readers from murder mysteries, fantasy, political power, plots and corruption, magic potions, contagions, science fiction, adventure, duty to save the Empire, trust, friendship and plenty of twists and turns.

Kol Dinios is an engraver who has been altered to remember everything he sees, hears, smells, etc. He has been selected as an apprentice investigator to Ana Dolobros, a brilliant, eccentric investigator with a past, who prefers to be blindfolded and alone to process what she has heard or read through her fingers. She is assigned to uncover the mysterious death that occurred on one of the estates of the most powerful clan next to the Emperor. Along with death a contagion is discovered. Could this spread throughout the Empire? As deaths mount and intrigues abound, the quest for answers has an immediacy. The wet season is imminent, bringing mass evacuations with the threat of the leviathans breaking through and causing death in its wake. Can Ana and Kol unravel the mysteries and stop the threat to the Empire?

Kol and Ana, think Holmes and Watson, are aided by a former legionnaire, now an assistant investigator, whose body has been enhanced by strength. He had belonged to the department of fighters, There are other players who belong to the department dealing with medical alterations, others to the engineering department dealing with maintenance and enhancements to the sea wall. Along the way, there are interesting characters whose alterations will surprise you and add to the fantasy.

I really enjoyed the creativity and plot twists, Although this is the start of a series, it is a standalone novel. You don’t have to be afraid that you will be left without resolution. To me, that is important.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this advance copy.

Absolutely fantastic new (hopefully series!) debut from Robert Jackson Bennett. Between the Knives Out cinematic universe, Kenneth Branagh's obsessive revival of Hercule Poirot films, and countless other streaming miniseries, it feels like we've been pretty inundated with new murder mystery works. However, RJB manages to keep this novel feeling fresh and interesting, with a rich new world, layered political intrigue, and a deep, surprisingly non-cliche cast of characters. There's a pretty ambitious scope here - simultaneously introducing a totally new fantasy world and magic system and building up a whodunit is a lot to juggle - but the resulting story and revelations feel balanced and earned. The pace is excellent, with just enough carrots on sticks (between character interactions, new clues / leads, and nuggets about the broader world) to keep the pages turning. At the same time, there's enough balance between these different elements that the "murder mystery" in question doesn't feel like the only thing of consequence.

Hallmark themes from RJB's two other main series - an interest in systems of government, bureaucracy, and organization, juxtaposition between small humans and massive, looming creatures/constructs/gods, an intentional-feeling deviation from the typical hallmarks of "Western" fantasy - all show up in The Tainted Cup, though RJB seems to have new things to say on each of those elements. There's also a strong resonance with themes from China Melville's excellent "The City and the City", with detectives struggling against larger, seemingly unknowable forces and the sort of existential dread that it takes to deconstruct a murder step-by-step.

If I could levy a single critique (with the most implied of spoilers), it would be that the final revelation at the end of the novel doesn't get quite enough room to breathe in scope of the broader work. The reveal of the primary antagonist is certainly satisfying (if a bit predictable - but that's almost inevitable in these works), but I felt that there were quite a few emotional and thematic consequences for our main character that deserved a bit more exploration. That said, the point of a murder mystery is very rarely the conclusion, and more than anything, I hope we get even more follow-up stories to see these excellent characters grow.