Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing one of my most anticipated releases of early 2024, The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. I’ve had my eye on this author for a while and am so glad that I finally got to pick up one of his books.

In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible.

Called in to investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. His job is to observe and report, and act as his superior’s eyes and ears–quite literally, in this case, as among Ana’s quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times, and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home.

Din is most perplexed by Ana’s ravenous appetite for information and her mind’s frenzied leaps—not to mention her cheerful disregard for propriety and the apparent joy she takes in scandalizing her young counterpart. Yet as the case unfolds and Ana makes one startling deduction after the next, he finds it hard to deny that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the safety of 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.

Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.

***Thank you to Del Rey for providing a copy of The Tainted Cup via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

The Tainted Cup was everything I’d hoped it would be. Both the fantasy and mystery aspects of the story were spectacular, and I never wanted to put the book down. The plot, characters, and world-building sucked me in from the very beginning, and I stayed up until 3 AM because I could not sleep without knowing how things turned out. If that’s not a sign of a great book, I don’t know what is.

I was excited to read a murder mystery, and The Tainted Cup didn’t disappoint. The plot was twisty with plenty of puzzles. Nothing was quite what it seemed at first, and the investigation went to some pretty surprising places with far-reaching consequences. I was able to predict some things, but many of the reveals were great surprises. I particularly enjoyed the moment when I finally realized the meaning of the title. It was such a fun and brilliant aha moment.

The real standout thing in The Tainted Cup had to be the world-building, though. It was effortless and easy to digest while also being key to understanding the mystery. Everything about the setting was intriguing, and this book gave just enough information to feel satisfying and make me want more at the same time. The empire was a beaurocratic behemoth with the primary goals of containing contagions, creating human modifications, and defending against the leviathon creatures that crawl out of the sea to destroy everything in their path. It was all so fascinating, and I especially loved how they used plants in the architecture. The world felt alive and deadly at every turn.

The dynamic between the main character, Din, and his boss, Ana, was absolute perfection. Ana was ridiculously insane and made incredible deductive leaps based on the information Din collected for her. Din was a bit of a washout in his training, but his modifications allowed him to perfectly remember everything, which made him the perfect assistant to the investigator. Both he and Ana had secrets, though, and I enjoyed getting to know them both as the story unfolded. Din’s seriousness was the perfect counterweight to Ana’s chaotic madness, and I adored every scene where they were together doing their thing.

Despite being primarily a murder mystery, The Tainted Cup tackled some pretty serious themes, as well. It addressed how corruption can subvert systems meant for good and turn them into something ugly. The theme of justice, and how best to go about getting it, was explored, too. I especially enjoyed the commentary on what holds an empire or civilization together, and I’m always down for stories about taking the rich down a peg. There was a lot to think about beyond the plot and setting, but it was also super easy to just get lost in the puzzles and fantasy of it all if you’re wanting to turn your brain off and have a good time.

All in all, The Tainted Cup will likely end up as one of my favorite reads of the year. It was the perfect blend of fantasy and mystery, and both the story and the setting left me wanting even more. I need book two now, and this one isn’t even out yet. Therefore, I give The Tainted Cup a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Have you read The Tainted Cup or any of Robert Jackson Bennett’s other books? What are your thoughts? Let me know down in the comments and be sure to pick this one up on February 6!