Join a book club that is reading The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan)!
The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan)
A Holmes and Watson-style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett "Great fantasy detective stories are too rare, but Bennett--[a] rising star of fantasy--more than delivers."--Charlie Jane Anders, The Washington Post "A thoroughly satisfying delight from start to finish."--Amal El-Mohtar, The New York Times Book Review In Daretana's greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead--killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire's borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it's a death both terrifying and impossible. Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana's brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior--but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana's mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire's greatest detective. As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens 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. By an "endlessly inventive" (Vulture) author with a "wicked sense of humor" (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that's at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Titan's taint! What a ride, what a ride. I thought l'd outgrown enjoying murder mysteries but l'd never tried a fantasy murder mystery before, CLEARLY.
Bc this story was incredibly fantastical and refreshing!! I love Ana dearly and sweet baby Din is so, so easy to like as a MC. The world is v unique and the actual murder mystery was done well. You might guess some smaller things here or there if you pay attention to details but that's the point bc overall if you think you know whodunnit, no you really don't. I found myself hoping there was going to be a second book halfway through the story just so l could get more time with Ana and Din!
Thankfully there will be so suffice to say the second book will be picked up promptly đź’…
I requested a copy of the ARC from the publisher, Del Rey, on NetGalley and was approved in exchange for consideration of a review. All opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.
Having loved everything I've previously read by Robert Jackson Bennett, I didn't even pause to read the book description for THE TAINTED CUP on NetGalley before clicking the "Request" button!
While I adored the characters of Dinios Kol and Ana Dolabra - the intrigue of the mysteries these two raced against time to solve - the excellence of Bennett's writing - it was the world building that won top marks from me in this novel.
I was fascinated with the "rings" of the Empire that the citizens that populated this world. Depending on how wealthy you were - or weren't - determined your proximity to the sea walls. These walls were massive, and with good reason. Every wet season, these walls and those who were posted there, were all that stood between the titanic leviathans that came from the deepest part of the ocean to launch an attack.
In addition to the added danger of the start of the current wet season, there was great importance on plant life - mushrooms that were altered to take in the air of your home, cleanse it, then release it at a cooler temperature. Ferns that were made into paper and walls for buildings and homes that helped prevent bacteria and contagions. All organic life could be altered, including people. Certain grafts could be applied to make one stronger and larger, there were those that could alter one's brain so that they could remember everything they saw and heard.
THEN we have the mystery that is the heart of the story - who killed an Imperial soldier in the mansion of one of the Empire's wealthiest families? Why was he killed? It must have been something serious, as his death was horrifying - a literal tree sprouted from inside his body, killing him painfully as it erupted from his body. (Anyone else remembering when their parents told them as a kid if they swallowed an apple or orange seed, it would make a tree grow in their belly??) Of course, this leads to a much bigger mystery and the road to solving it is a bloody one.
I can absolutely see the comparison of Sherlock Holmes and it's warranted. Ana Dolabra is a brilliant investigator whose sarcasm, eccentric quirks and foul mouth combine to keep readers laughing throughout the book. Her assistant investigator, Din, is constantly in a state of bafflement at Ana's actions and never seems to get a grasp on her deductive reasoning abilities.
This book was incredibly fun and over much too soon. I look forward to seeing more of the Empire and its rings, but more than that, I can't wait to see what case Ana and Din will take next!
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Amanda L., Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E., & Jennifer M.
Having loved everything I've previously read by Robert Jackson Bennett, I didn't even pause to read the book description for THE TAINTED CUP on NetGalley before clicking the "Request" button!
While I adored the characters of Dinios Kol and Ana Dolabra - the intrigue of the mysteries these two raced against time to solve - the excellence of Bennett's writing - it was the world building that won top marks from me in this novel.
I was fascinated with the "rings" of the Empire that the citizens that populated this world. Depending on how wealthy you were - or weren't - determined your proximity to the sea walls. These walls were massive, and with good reason. Every wet season, these walls and those who were posted there, were all that stood between the titanic leviathans that came from the deepest part of the ocean to launch an attack.
In addition to the added danger of the start of the current wet season, there was great importance on plant life - mushrooms that were altered to take in the air of your home, cleanse it, then release it at a cooler temperature. Ferns that were made into paper and walls for buildings and homes that helped prevent bacteria and contagions. All organic life could be altered, including people. Certain grafts could be applied to make one stronger and larger, there were those that could alter one's brain so that they could remember everything they saw and heard.
THEN we have the mystery that is the heart of the story - who killed an Imperial soldier in the mansion of one of the Empire's wealthiest families? Why was he killed? It must have been something serious, as his death was horrifying - a literal tree sprouted from inside his body, killing him painfully as it erupted from his body. (Anyone else remembering when their parents told them as a kid if they swallowed an apple or orange seed, it would make a tree grow in their belly??) Of course, this leads to a much bigger mystery and the road to solving it is a bloody one.
I can absolutely see the comparison of Sherlock Holmes and it's warranted. Ana Dolabra is a brilliant investigator whose sarcasm, eccentric quirks and foul mouth combine to keep readers laughing throughout the book. Her assistant investigator, Din, is constantly in a state of bafflement at Ana's actions and never seems to get a grasp on her deductive reasoning abilities.
This book was incredibly fun and over much too soon. I look forward to seeing more of the Empire and its rings, but more than that, I can't wait to see what case Ana and Din will take next!
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Amanda L., Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E., & Jennifer M.
Cannot recommend enough on audiobook. This book is FUN. Where some of his earlier works felt a little slow and lore heavy—this book is slow and lore heavy but it doesn’t FEEL like it. It’s so fucking fun. I absolutely adore murder mystery—obsessed. And this book is like taking fantasy and mystery and creating this chaos child. Loved loved loved it. I want 1,000 stories of Din and Ana in this absolutely chaotic world of monster and alterations. It’s just so complex and vaguely Victorian and yet weird and magical. Read this book! Definitely read this book if you love Agatha or Sherlock; gays; and intricate plots with many villains. Cannot wait for many more!
This was a great into to fantasy for me! Set in a magical world, with fantastic character, the mystery component kept me grounded and allowed me to suspend belief just enough to enjoy the story overall. There were some parts that seemed just a bit too long, but overall this was a great read that had me laughing out loud and guessing until the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this eARC in exchange fro an honest review.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.