This book was an absolute delight, I didn’t want to put it down, and I am really interested to see where the trilogy goes because I see countless possibilities ahead. The murder-mystery/fantasy mash-up isn’t new or revolutionary, but every part of it is done well, here. The world is interesting and exciting, combining old and new, so although there is neither electricity nor telephones there is bio-hacking and genetic modification. There are augmented humans, which is more of a sci-fi trope than a fantasy one, but, oh yeah, there are these ancient giant beings that live in the ocean and humanity needs to defend against them coming to land at all costs because as best we know they bring with them nothing but death and destruction. So the world looks like it could be one from maybe 19th century western Europe, but with a level of capitalist, pseudo-aristocratic plutocracy that parallels modern structures of inequity and power and with just enough fantastical elements to keep everything fresh and interesting but not convoluted or burdensome. Our main character is delightful, full of contradictions and surprises, and very genuine. His partner, the Holmes in this pairing, is eccentric and over-the-top, but as a character in this world she fits, and doesn’t feel forced or artificial. There is a handful of supporting characters who all fit one fantasy trope or another, but none feel like cardboard cut-outs, all have enough depth of personality for me to feel connected to them and to believe in them as people. The writing is sharp, with convincing dialogue and smart action sequences, and just a sprinkle of horror to keep you interested. It really does its job of giving us the interiority of our main character as well pushing the plot forward, and doesn’t get in its own way, which is exactly what I want in this style of story. It flows from scene to scene really comfortably, and it really did compel me to want to keep going as we came to the end of each chapter. The story itself is a lot of fun, revolving around a central murder mystery that isn’t mind-boggling difficult to piece together but that is fun to see as it unravels. The world is convincing and fun enough that seeing our protagonist grow and develop confidence in what is actually a high-stakes game is a lot of fun. In many ways it almost felt like a cozy mystery (which it is certainly not, with graphic violence, death, and coarse language), probably due to the wide-eyed wonder and innocence that radiates form our main character, and it seemed like a really comfortable fit. The relationship between our protagonist Din and his Holmes, Ana, is great, and it served as a nice central point for the rest of the story to revolve and evolve around, and I look forward to seeing their relationship grow as the series continues, as it tells an ongoing story of learning about your own self-worth, instead of feeling overwhelmed by what you perceive as your flaws or abnormalities. I will say that Ana does seem a little be too capable… Her habit of avoiding excessive stimulation by remaining blind-folded and in her room most of the time obviously disadvantages her, but once she has all the puzzle pieces she puts them together seemingly effortlessly. Since we experience this form Din’s perspective we still get to enjoy this journey and discovery, especially as he is tasked with doing the messy work of investigating and interviewing suspects and so on, but we don’t even see her have a doubt or possible misstep. It didn’t bother me with how things played out in this story, but as the series continues there is a little concern for her just serving as a deus-ex-machina character, so I hope she gets more complicated as we move forward. In this story, though, she is great, just the right balance of a brilliant smugness combined with a sharp tongue and a tender(ish) heart.

I don’t have anything else but praise for this novel. The world and characters are convincing and compelling, the prose is efficient and a joy to read, and the story is dangerous enough to keep you on the edge of your seat but cozy enough to have fuzzy slippers on while perched there. What’s most exciting is that our protagonist really grows and opens throughout the story, and when we end the world is wide open, with paths weaving together ancient mythologies and contemporary conspiracies. There are so many great stories that can be told with these characters and in this world, I can’t wait to see where it goes.

I want to thank the author, the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Robert Jackson Bennett has such a way with world building and magic systems. They are weird in the best way possible - like when you try and explain them, they sound insane, but TOTALLY make sense. Also the mysteries are fun and the driving force of the plot. Please read this!

I loved it!  I have extremely high expectations of Mr. Bennett due to the Divine Cities Trilogy, and this did not disappoint in any way, though it's a different kind of tale.  Earnest and humble main character Dinios is enormously likeable.  He's an apprentice to Ana, another wonderful and fascinating character.  She's a brilliant and highly regarded government investigator, but she spends most of her time blindfolded because vision is too overstimulating, and rarely leaves her home.  She unapologetically ignores social etiquette, trapping coworkers for lengthy personal interrogations when the mood strikes her, but she has a great protective and instructive relationship with Din.  This is a murder mystery, with more than one murder and more than one murderer, but it all fits together in the end very cleverly.  Maybe the best part is the wonderfully imaginative world, where the people are way more advanced in biology and genetics than we are, and almost everything used is organic.  Building materials, spare body parts, swords, keys, and human alterations of all sorts.  Dinios has been altered for perfect memory.  Other characters have alterations for mathematical capability, strength, size, speed, beauty, and all sorts of other things.  There are giant sea creatures with human faces that seasonally emerge and have to be killed before they destroy everything in their path.  It seems they must have been altered also, but that's a mystery to solve in a subsequent book.  There's also a subtle political subcontext regarding preservationist regulations.  Bennett sums this up wonderfully in his acknowledgements.  "Regulations have their uses, but we cannot allow them to form the jar that will eventually be used to trap us and pickle us in our own brine."  I agree.  I loved this world, these characters, and everything about this story, and I really hope there are more to come!

Highly imaginative. I really enjoyed the odd characters and the way the author developed them so that they seemed perfectly logical. Now that I've read the book, the odd cover is also just perfect. The mystery is intriguing and ongoing. Just when you think the mystery is solved, another aspect of it pops up. This is one of those books that you want to last longer and is a good candidate for a series. Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this review copy.

An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder in this sparkling fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

A great mystery from a great writer. Can't wait to see more in this vein.

Thank you netgally and the publishing company for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. If you love magic and crime then you need to read this book! Please go into this book without looking at any reviews so that way the twists and turns aren’t ruined. Happy reading!

Boy, did I like this book! A murder mystery with a wonderful group of characters and a fabulous world building!
The story is about an investigator and her new assistant. They are in a small town but called to a bigger city on the coast to investigate a crime connected to one in their small town. This town has a large wall that has been constructed to prevent attacks from leviathans of the sea. People in this world are categorized by the job they do and some have been enhanced to be able to better perform their jobs.
Ana, the main investigator , is very quirky to say the least. She makes unusual demands of her assistant, Din. He is new to this line of work but very dedicated to it. I enjoyed the world in which they live. The mystery was complex and interesting. This book was a lot of fun and I would highly recommend it! Happy reading!

This book truly captivated me! The author skillfully weaves an intriguing plotline that effortlessly pulls readers into the story from start to finish, leaving them hooked until the very end.

The standout feature of this book is undoubtedly the intricate world-building. Set in a unique Fantasy realm, the solid murder-mystery at the forefront adds an extra layer of complexity and intrigue, making the reading experience even more engrossing.

The author's masterful pacing is another noteworthy aspect. The story maintains a perfect flow, never veering off or lagging, which keeps the readers engaged and invested in the narrative.

Exceeding my expectations, this author was new to me, and I was unsure of what to anticipate. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the atmospheric storytelling and the captivating world the author created. It has left me eagerly looking forward to reading more from them in the future.

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to Robert Jackson Bennett, Net Galley, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Del Ray for generously providing me with an ARC of this book. The opportunity to delve into this enthralling world before its official release is one I cherish, and I wholeheartedly recommend this read to all fantasy and mystery enthusiasts.

First, thanks to Net-Galley and Random House for the e-Arc of The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Murder mystery with Fantasy? I mean come on, what's not to like here. If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, this is definitely a book for you.

This will be a spoiler free review; for now until release date.

This had a bit of a rough start, I'm not going to lie, that first chapter took me a while to get through, but once it gets going, there's no stopping.

Din and Ana are just great as detective & assistant to detective.
Din's ability to use scent to remember details perfectly and report it back to Ana was very well executed and I think that putting Din as the "narrator" of the story just fits the plot overall. Din was a bit dull and had a dry sense of humor that I just adored.

Ana is; how to say this; well she's very unique. She does things a certain way (if you're neurospicy you will understand.)
I was able to understand her character quite well. She also was always one step ahead of everyone and kept what she was doing/knew very close to her which made it all the more mysterious. Last but not least, her ability to read text by touch? I’m extremely jealous!

One of my favorite things about RJB is their ability to create an amazing magic system. I was blown away when I first read Foundryside, and once more I am blown away here with the magic and how augmentation with grafts, suffusions and potions work and how everything is explained and broken down in a way that it’s easy to understand. The worldbuilding is paced perfectly as well and things fall into place at the perfect moment.

Some plot twists I saw coming whilst others completely took me by surprise. I cannot wait for this series to continue.

Delightfully intriguing mystery with an oddball duo to solve it, what’s not to love? Din is training to be an assistant investigator, working underneath the totally bonkers (yet endearing) Ana to solve a series of connected murders.

I loved this! A perfect blend of mystery and fantasy—I don’t actively seek out whodunnits or murder investigation books, but this was incredibly entertaining. The fantasy elements were so brilliantly done; the world-building was seamlessly interwoven into our introduction of the crime scene, it was incredibly easy to follow and hilariously entertaining at the same time. Ana is a certified weirdo and a total gem; her eccentricities remind me of Monk or Sherlock Holmes—brilliant, but you wonder how the people around them haven’t killed them yet. Din was a lovable main character, with the perfect balance of heart and aloofness, and I look forward to seeing where he goes from here.

This was my first book from this author, but if his other books are anything like this one, I can’t wait to check them out. Fully fleshed out fantasy worlds, with unique and attention grabbing details—characters with big personalities that you can’t help but love—fantastic writing that keeps you laughing, on the edge of your seat, and fully engaged—and just a really well-written plot. Can’t get better than this!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

Agatha Christie meets Dystopia. I loved the fact that this was a fantasy with a multi-murder mystery. Or is it a murder mystery with a fantasy back drop? I prefer the latter, and I absolutely loved the fusion of the two genres into a well-told who done it, in a fascinating setting.

In Robert Jackson Bennett's latest novel, The Tainted Cup is the first in the new Shadow of the Leviathon series. Dinios Kol is a new Signum (detective) that has the unique ability of perfect memory which enables him to recall every picture and conversation, which comes in handy when at a crime scene. His boss is the hilarious and quirky Ana Dolabra, the primary investigator that has been called into the outer ring land of Talagray, where the main job of the Engineers is to protect the lands from the Leviathans during wet season.

Called in to investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Don't let the fact she won't leave her house fool you, she may blind fold herself but Ana sees incredibly well.

Together, they embark on an investigation that will lead them closer and closer to the inner ring, where the wealthy clans live with much protection, wealth, and peace of mind. Until a series of poisonings kill many, and comes a little too close to home.

The natural magical elements in this novel were amazing and original, the world-building exquisite, and the characters fully relatable. I rated The Tainted Cup five stars as I was fully immersed in the book, enjoyed the pace, plot line and most of all the people. One of my favorite reads of the year!

This was the first book I have read by Robert Jackson Bennett, and I have quickly realized that I have been missing out!! I think a trip to the bookstore for some back reads is in order after this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Ray, and Robert Jackson Bennett for an advanced readers copy. All opinions are my own.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery; Bennett didn't cheat (the clues were all there) but I was still caught by surprise by several developments.

This novel will likely be on my Hugo nominations list for 2024.

Honestly, I would not have picked this book up if I hadn’t gotten the email from Net Galley. I am not crazy about fantasies that force me to keep up with an ever-lengthening list of made-up nouns: however, I loved this book. It is at its core, a well-constructed high-stakes murder mystery. My all-time favorite book feeling is being surprised by a big reveal and then going back and seeing how the author laid out all of the evidence along the way. I think the plant augmentation-based society was interesting and the leviathan threat was compelling but I didn't actually care that much. I have my fingers crossed for a sequel and Foundryside just made it onto my tbr list.

Thank you Net Galley for the arc in exchange for a review.

I have been a long-time fan of RJB and was delighted to be given the opportunity to read this book!
The world building was great and I want more! I hope to read more about Ana and Dinios!
A fun murder mystery.

I just reviewed The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. #TheTaintedCup #NetGalley

It's a (foul-mouthed) female Sherlock Holmes mystery set in a world filled with augmented humans, plant security systems, giant mushroom air conditioners, titans looming at sea, and the murder weapon is a tree. Just the fantastically bizarre read I needed!

I don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers but the characters are unique, the world building is phenomenal, and the mystery is full of twisty fun. Everything is settled in this one but we are left with the possibility of sequels. I do hope we get them because I want more Ana and Din in my life.

*Thank you to Kathleen Quinlan with Random House Publishing Group for an e-arc*

So, I didn't really know what to expect going into this one. I haven't read any of Robert Jackson Bennett's other books (though they have been on my radar). What I got was this strange, fun mix of Lovecraftian-style vibes mixed with plants and mystery. In order to protect themselves from the leviathans lurking in the depths, the cities are walled off--think Attack on Titan, if you've ever seen that show before--with the elites living as far from the wall nearest the waters as possible. The people are also unique in that they use the blood of dead leviathans for augmentation. The main character, Din, is an engraver. Using specific scents, he gave engrave moments in his memory with perfect accuracy. He's essentially an apprentice, working together with one of the lead investigators, a woman named Ana. The relationship between Din and Ana is equal parts long-suffering and somewhat fond. I don't really want to say much more than this because there's a lot of world-building and it's honestly so much more interesting to experience it for the first time. Especially since the fantasy setting largely surrounds a murder mystery that was pretty interesting to watch unfold.

One of the things I appreciate most with mysteries is where the evidence is there, on the page, even if you don't necessarily catch it. So when the investigator or detective or whoever does the deducing, you can look back and think, "Ah, so that's what the information was there for. I remember that." I don't usually like novels where the mystery is solved outside of the readers knowledge by long-winded monologues. I mean, there are definitely some monologues, but the information is stuff that, looking back, you can find in the text. So I really appreciated it.

I will say, though, that there was one aspect of the book that bothered me. It bothered me enough that it affected my review, though I don't know if other people will necessarily see it as an issue. And maybe I'm being too sensitive, but it's something I feel I should articulate nonetheless. In this world, there are sex workers and they also make use of augmentations. They can be physical, but they're largely known for augmenting their pheromones, making them irresistible to anyone they come across. Which... okay. The problem is there didn't seem to be a lot of thought put into this whole thing beyond that. Ana makes a mention of how when someone with those pheromone augmentations enters a room, you can basically hear the sound of anyone with a dick popping a boner. Which.... ugh, okay. The problem (or, one of them) is that it doesn't seem like anyone without a dick is affected. So are the pheromones controlled by those wielding them? At times it seems like they can tweak the levels, but mostly it seems like a constant. Putting aside the issue of consent for both the augmented persons and the people they're around, how is it that only people with dicks are affected? Because Din, the main character, is either demisexual or asexual (with a seeming preference for men?) and he's still affecting strongly. Yet neither Ana or any other women seem affected. This just strikes me as weird. If this were just a passing mention in conversation, I would just put it aside and keep reading, yet this is actually plot-relevant and for the dumbest reason imaginable. Trying to be vague here, but while Din is doing some investigating, he enters the home of a woman who augmented her pheromones. She's part of the gentry, so she has a vested interest in what Din is investigated and, in trying to get information out of him, tries to use her augmentation to seduce it out of Din. When Din doesn't crack, she employs a sex worker (also a woman) in a scene that was just equal parts ridiculous and stupid. This sex worker is essentially wearing two thin, loose pieces of fabric front and back and, using their augmented pheromones, they... fan their scent at Din. So, our main character is sitting in a chair and the dining table with a raging boner, trying to keep his wits about him while I sit there uncomfortable and baffled. Like, it was just so stupid. Like, Din doesn't succumb and what happened to him is treated like the problem it is, but still. I feel like there was a better way to write that? I don't know how else to describe my discomfort than that the sex workers are just props in this story if they aren't background mentions and that feels a bit icky.

It's early where I am and I'm writing this review in a sleep-deprived haze, but I still don't know how else to articulate how I felt reading it. It wasn't quite enough to ruin the book for me because everything else was fascinating and fun, except for that. So, basically it knocked a star down for me and, while I will read the next book, if something like this happens again, I don't know if I'll continue.

I am seriously so happy I got this ARC. Funny enough, I didn’t even apply for it, I just got an email that it was available. And lucky for me I got that email! This book is one of a kind. It’s a crime mystery with fantasy and even some comedy thrown into it, and a seriously unique magic/science system. This book was incredible from start, middle, and end. I am thoroughly looking forward to future books in this series!!

I’m not a huge crime/mystery reader because sometimes I get a little freaked out by it but this book didn’t freak me out. It had body horror but nothing too spooky/horrific that I felt scarred reading it. Rather than being scared, I was more fascinated by the “contagion,” hoping that each page would give me more details.

Part of me wonders if Bennett watches anime because this vaguely reminded me of Gosick (an old anime that honestly I can’t even recall many details of) crossed with Attack on Titan. Ana, with her odd quirks, and Kol’s eternal suffering because of those quirks reminded me of Gosick and the leviathans definitely feel reminiscent of AOT. This is all to say that I love love love this book and I genuinely can’t wait for future books in this series!!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this novel

For someone who enjoys a good reimagining of classic stories this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. This may be an issue that I have with more the the fantastical elements of stories but the characters were impersonal, lacking buy-in from the reader. For those that want to continue to read this story, there needs to be a bit more expository exploration of the world before jumping right in with terminology and the like. I feel there is a lot of great potential for the story and the world that was built but I have a feeling it was a combination of lack of foundation and it not being my cup of tea.

I am interested in reading further in this world if it continues but I do hope there is a bit more subsistence (especially in the opening 20% of the story) that keeps me engaged.

I found The Tainted Cup to be thoroughly enjoyable.

I appreciated the characters as they were quirky and very human. Each had their own distinct personality and made distinct choices.

The world-building felt very unique to me. It was a combination of murder mystery, steampunk, and something else altogether. It was not completely fleshed out but you were given enough to understand that this is not the world that you know and that there are interesting tidbits still to discover.

Generally, I tend to read cozy mysteries more than this genre and it may be for that reason, but the plot of this story seemed new and fresh to me. I appreciated that the information necessary was there for the reader to solve the case along with the investigator.

I recommend this book if you're in the mood for a little something different.

The Tainted Cup
By Robert Jackson Bennett

Holmes and Watson but make it fantasy? Sign me up!

The world building is fantastic! Such an interesting concept, very nature based society with people getting enhancements of different kinds. And a giant sea wall to protect from the leviathans. I loved all the bits you get to learn about the world and society as you try to unravel the murder and the mystery that surrounds it.

I really enjoyed the main characters as well. Very Holmes and Watson relationship but with their own personalities and interesting quirks.

I’d be interested to try this author’s previous works as well.

Thanks so much to @penguinrandomhouse and @delreybooks for reaching out with this arc on @netgalley ! I received the arc in exchange for an honest review.