The Tainted Cup
Ratings211
Average rating4.4
Oh this was good. This was very good. The characters were so vibrant and complex yet thoroughly explored. The author tells you enough about the world and the magic to get you hooked, but leaves you with so many unanswered questions. Not in a frustrating way, but more in a way that keeps you wanting more.
The case is complicated to the point where I didn’t figure it all out but we’re given enough clues that by the end I was left feeling a little clever for picking up on some things, while also being shocked by the big reveals. This was the first murder mystery I’ve read but in my unqualified opinion it was very well done.
I will absolutely pick up the next book in the series as soon as it’s released.
Holmes-and-Watson style story meets epic fantasy universe. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm hoping it ends up being the first in a long series.
First book I've read in a while! I liked this. Sherlock Holmes but in a fantasy world, and some surprisingly magnificent worldbuilding too! Lots of humor.
-0.5 because I wish the main character had some more character, which sounds funny. We see glimpses, but his characterization isn't very strong. Looking forward to the next one though!
-0.25 because I figured out the mystery quickly.
I'll be checking out more of this author for sure.
A neurodivergent Holmes and Watson duo solving a murder mystery in a fantasy world where technology is all biological, where plants and humans and parasites are engineered to serve different purposes in this Empire to deal with everything from small but deadly contagions to large Leviathans outside their sea wall.
I didn't have many expectations going in and was pleasantly surprised! A compelling detective/mystery story in an original world with its own 'magic system'. The worldbuilding is very well done. It sucked me right into the story and leaves a lot of space/ aspects for further books. Looking forward to the second book!
This book was a wonderful little murder (and more!) mystery set in a fantasy setting with some very interesting and unique world building. The characters are all extremely compelling, even Ana, who is quite obviously an homage to Sherlock Holmes. Despite that fact, she manages to still stand out as her own true self, not as a cheap imitation, and it's hard not to love her, especially when viewed through the eyes of her assistant.
Contains spoilers
* Fun read
* Conspiracy is a bit too large, it doesn't make much sense by the end
* Characters have interesting abilities, but could be more going on internally
* Set up for sequels
Highly recommend - especially if you like Knives Out/Sherlock Holmes type mysteries but with a fantasy setting.
Real solid 4.5. Great murder mystery in a beautiful world with an amazing conclusion that ties up everything in a genius way
TL;DR: The Tainted Cup is a clever and entertaining blend of Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery, fantasy, steampunk, and kaiju. Robert Jackson Bennett’s worldbuilding and engaging plot deliver a fresh take on the murder mystery genre with plenty of twists and room for more adventures to come. A must-read for fans of genre mashups.
Food Rating: If The Tainted Cup were a dish, it would be an intricate, multi-layered cake with a mix of flavors. While the cake is a treat overall, a few layers might feel slightly overcomplicated or heavy-handed, leaving some bites more satisfying than others. Still, it’s a treat worth savoring, especially for those who enjoy complex and ambitious creations.
Bennett has proven himself to be a master of genre-bending storytelling with The Tainted Cup. This novel fuses classic murder mystery, fantasy, and a touch of steampunk, all while weaving in the grandeur of kaiju-like creatures. The story takes familiar tropes from Sherlock Holmes and reimagines them within a world brimming with magic and intrigue.
At its heart, The Tainted Cup is a spin on the detective novel. I enjoyed the intellectual thrill of unraveling a mystery appreciating Bennett's clever plotting and his incorporation of magical elements into the investigative process. The protagonist a brilliant, enigmatic sleuth reminiscent of a female Holmes is accompanied by a loyal companion who serves as the Watson-like chronicler of their adventures. This dynamic, while classic, is invigorated by the imaginative setting Bennett has created.
One of the standout features of The Tainted Cup is the worldbuilding. Bennett’s knack for blending disparate genres shines here, as the novel’s world feels both grounded and fantastical.The steampunk-inspired details - clockwork mechanisms, weapons, and alchemical contraptions mesh seamlessly with a society where magic is an accepted part of life. And then there are the kaiju. These massive, awe-inspiring creatures add a sense of scale and wonder to the story, hinting at forces far beyond the human characters' comprehension. The interplay between the mundane and the extraordinary is one of the book's great pleasures.
The pacing of the novel is another strength. Bennett balances tense, action-packed sequences with quieter moments of deduction and character development, ensuring the reader remains fully engaged throughout. The core of the story is compelling, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The book lays groundwork for future installments, teasing larger conspiracies and conflicts that promise to unfold in subsequent volumes.
Thematically, The Tainted Cup explores questions of power, corruption, and the cost of progress. The magical system, intricately tied to the novel's societal structure, serves as a vehicle for examining these themes. Bennett's nuanced approach ensures that the story remains thought-provoking without ever feeling heavy-handed.
holmes/watson set in kaiju/attack on titan world. very nice i like. (that's Borat from the smash hit 2006 comedy film, Borat).
Pros: unique world, interesting characters, complex mystery
Cons:/
Signum Dinios Kol is still an apprentice and only recently became assistant to the Iudex Investigator Anagosa Dolabra. So he’s nervous going alone to a murder scene and examining it for evidence. But he’s an engraver, altered to have an eidetic memory. The mode of death is horrifying and unusual enough that the investigation kicks up more questions than answers. When several other people die in the same manner in a city close to the sea walls, they go to investigate. But the wet season has started, and with the rains come monstrous titans, whose rampaging path has not always been stopped by the walls.
This is a murder mystery set in a very unique fantasy world. The first few chapters require a LOT of concentration, as you’re learning about the characters, the world, and the murder. Once the story moved to Talagray I found things easier to keep track of and really started enjoying the complexity of the case.
The Empire is large and complex. The book gives a real feel for the beaurocracy the underpins its workings and how important maintenance and the Legionnaires that man the walls keep it safe. I loved learning about the Sublimes and how various people have been altered to do specific jobs. I’d love to learn more about Apoths and their work in later books.
Dinios is dyslexic and needs to keep that fact hidden. His inability to easily read and write causes some problems with his investigations. He’s a serious young man and believes in the importance of what he’s doing. He notices everything, making him the perfect protagonist for a mystery novel.
Ana’s clearly autistic, and it’s interesting seeing how her direct questions and observations disconcert people. She absorbs a lot of varied information and is able to see connections others miss.
I appreciated that you’re given all the information the investigators have, so it pays to pay close attention. I found the case fascinating, with several interconnected parts, and enjoyed trying to piece things together on my own. I managed to figure out several things before they were revealed, which is always fun.
If you’re looking for a very different fantasy world and like a good mystery, pick this up.
Originally posted at scififanletter.blogspot.com.
Contains spoilers
This book has a intriguing story and a great environment. This is one of those books where I am very sad I am incapable of visualizing things in my head, because the environment seemed so cool and interesting, with al the weird plants and different kinds of people and the leviathans of course. I also really like the main characters, Ana and Din, both were very likable and had interesting flaws and strengths and their dynamic was very fun. I really liked the story, I breezed through the book, the mystery was interesting and there were some interesting stakes and I'm very curious about the rest of the world. (small spoiler) I also hope we see Strovi again, I was rooting for him and Din when they seemed into each other at their first meeting, glad they got together at the end, so cute.
I actually thought this book was a standalone, but apparently it's a series and I'm very excited to read more about this world and Ana and Din. (The story does wrap up pretty cleanly, so you probably could read it as a standalone)
The audiobook is so good! The voices that the narrator uses helps to distinguish between them, but also it helped to characterize them. I don't know that the voices will work for everyone, but I wouldn't have read the book if it wasn't for the audiobook. The author did a great job telling a Sherlockian type mystery while also building this world along the way. There is a lot happening in this book and lots of people and social structures to remember, so maybe I should have taken some notes as I was listening. I guess we will find out in book 2.
Such a great ride, Sherlock and Watson set in a Fantasy setting. Check out my review on the link below. 8)
Originally posted at youtu.be.
A great fantasy mystery. Set in an empire where great sea walls are all that separate civilization from annihilation at the hands (claws, fins, etc.) of the titans beyond, Dinios Kol is assigned to assist investigator Ana Dolabra in looking in to some strange and mysterious deaths...which may put the very existence of the empire in peril. Din is an engraver, one who has been magically augmented to have a perfect memory, and Ana is an eccentric if brilliant detective who wears a blindfold. This was my first book by Bennet and it was compelling, if sometimes confusing. I loved the world building and character development (Ana is amazing), although I sometimes felt a bit lost in the names and norms of the world. Overall I'm looking forward to the sequel as well as trying other books from this author. Thanks to the publisher for an eARC of this title.
4.5 ⭐️
Oh, what a great read this was!
We have one of the most original and atmospheric (understand creepy) world, surrounded by danger and full of all kinds of weird science/magic.
The story follows a young assistant investigator (for the lack of a better word) who works under the supervision of a brilliant, if rather odd, detective (also for the lack of a better word). They get pulled into a very mysterious and horrifying murder case which takes them to the very dangerous borders of their empire and turns out to be masking a way bigger plot.
I loved every minute of this book. The pacing was perfect, the characters were illustrious and funny, the reveals were numerous, and the questions they raised even more so.
I took away half a star, because I found some of the reveals to have been slightly anti-climactic (but only some of them).
Overall, a great read and I can't wait for more books from this series to come out!
I devoured this book....consumed it in a day.
A fantastic mystery in a fantasy world. Writing style reminded greatly of The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan, which was a very similar book and one that I also devoured and absolutely love.
Ana, our eccentric detective, is two parts Nero Wolfe and one part Sherlock Holmes, and is fantastic. Kol, her assistant, is smart and competent, and I expected his character to grow in future books.
Their relationship is fantastic. World Building is A+. And the mystery slaps, as the kids say now days.
This is absolutely among my top reads of the year so far and I look forward to reading the next installment. This was the first book by Robert Jackson Bennett that I have read, and clearly I need to read more of his work.
5 STARS
4.5 stars
Fantasy mystery where an investigator and her assistant, helped by enhancing abilities, try to solve a series of strange murders, in an empire whose external walls are threatened by terrible leviathans. As a fan of the author's previous Foundryside trilogy (though I still need to read book 3), I was looking forward to check out his newest work. As with his previous books, this fantasy mystery was a great read, with unique world building and very compelling characters, written in an evocative and smooth style.
I loved how the world and magic portrayed is centred around plants, brews, poison, contagion and special enhancements. The mystery itself was really interesting and I loved seeing the characters intelligently putting the pieces together. It felt very much in the vein of a classic detective story like Sherlock Holmes but the fantasy setting and quirky characters made for an intriguing story.
I loved the inclusion of queer characters, specifically in the mc as the author has done in his previous books.
This was an incredible read and I'm really looking forward to read the next book in this series.
