Reviews with content warning for Classism - The Tainted Cup

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

22 reviews

mariakureads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

My first favorite read of the year!!!
This was just fun from the first paragraph! It was fast, action-filled, and full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The dialogue is fast-paced, well-written, and witty. I was in love with the first-person POV of Din, the "Watson" to Ana, the "Holmes" if you will of this mystery thriller, they have such an interesting dynamic, which I loved as he's her apprentice and so about the book vs her more dynamic vibe that I can't get over how much I loved reading about her from his perspective because there's just so much truth coming across that she feels real.

Bennett's use of language to create the world's, characters, backstory, and tension was atmospheric and his choice of the first person POV gave, me the reader, a front seat to what Din saw and experienced and I love that feeling.

I didn't know what to expect as this is my first read from this author but not my last! I need to know what else Ana and Din get themselves into as Ana is still very much a mystery as she was at the beginning of the book, actually more so.

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korpney's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

blewballoon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was my first time reading Robert Jackson Bennett, but I've heard lots of good things about their writing. This didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the "biopunk" universe where technology was based on plants and biology. I liked Dinios Kol and Ana Dolabra very much, which I had been a little worried about before reading. They charmed me quickly and I enjoyed their conversations. I wasn't really trying to solve the mystery, but I did manage to put together some pieces for myself before the reveals. When I talked about it with my friend, they said that sometimes fantasy mysteries are a bit easier to solve because the author has to explain how the world works, and what they are required to point out and explain for things to make sense tends to be relevant to solving the mystery. I listened to this on audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job, but I do think it made it a little harder for me to follow all the unusual names and keep things straight. With regards to content warnings, there is a fair amount of body horror and gore, but (extremely mild spoiler)

there was one weird gross sexual scene that I'm not sure how to accurately content warn about. I'll file it under Sexual Harassment I suppose? I found that scene unsettling.

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aileron's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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susanatherly's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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kchantry's review against another edition

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adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Also on Snow White Hates Apples.

I stepped into this book without any expectations (I know, silly me because I’ve not read an RJB book before) and came out devasted by how much of an absolute stunner it is. From lush imagery and rich worldbuilding to a tense murder mystery that keeps the pages turning, there is so much to gush about when it comes to The Tainted Cup and if I had a stronger lyrical bone in my body, I would write an ode to it.

What I loved about this book is not limited to just the aforementioned points. I adored the seamless blend between mystery and fantasy — how everything felt different yet familiar at the same time. It was both comforting and refreshing to experience the common elements of a murder mystery book in such fantastical ways. Moreover, the presence of enormous leviathans that are both boon and bane to the world brings to mind Attack on Titan , Pacific Rim and other similar works. So, if you’re a fan of those, this book would definitely tickle your fancy. Doubly so if you’re a fan of murder mysteries as well.

Other than that, I also greatly adored the neurodivergent characters, the Holmes and Watson-style detective duo that’ll, without fail, make you tender-hearted. In a world where people can readily augment themselves in so many different ways just so they’re perfect for specific tasks to keep the Empire functioning, the characters here are still faced with their own relatable trials and tribulations. Our protagonists — or more evidently Din as he has yet to reach the status Ana has achieved — have to work doubly hard to gain worth and recognition. Being dyslexic has resulted in him failing all but one test which earned him the status of being an engraver. However, despite his hard work and capabilities, being dyslexic is also a dangerous flaw for an engraver to have because memorising everything is their speciality.

These struggles add a new layer of depth to the story as no longer is it simply about human survival against monsters, but also human survival within systems where power makes little allowance for differences that don’t benefit those holding the reigns. It is a complex world filled with many moments that impressively come to a circle — a compelling, multilayered book that resonates and echoes events that have happened in our reality.

I cannot wait to see where the next book in this series will bring us.

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review! The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is available at all good bookstores.

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sarrie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

TL;DR: Such a slow build but I really think it was worth it. A Holmesian mystery with lots of fantasy and plant magic/science!

The Tainted Cup is not the book for people who get weirded out by plants and mushrooms. I’ll just open up with that one. The whole premise of the mystery here is that a government official is murdered by means of a giant plant erupting from his body and devouring it whole. And that isn’t the only time it happens.

Our primary PoV is Din, a newly assigned assistant to a quirky and exiled investigator named Ana. Din Encodes memories, recalling them with a smell assigned to each memory. This means he can recall with exact precision the way something looks, feels, tastes, smells, etc at a prompt. Ana uses Din to review crimes and she solves them (think Sherlock and Watson with a much more involved Watson). Ana herself is odd, insisting on living mostly blindfolded though she’s not blind, and with augments that allow her to read ink through her fingertips.

These two odd characters begin small, investigating the murder of a visiting government official and end up moving to a military border town. This border town keeps out the leviathans that come from the ocean, a fascinating and deeply unnerving backdrop to even more gruesome plant deaths.

This was a slow mystery, building in tension and parts till an INTENSE ending. I genuinely had the thought a few times ‘Perhaps I should DNF’ but I kept going and it was so worth that build. If you don’t mind a slower start, I can’t recommend this enough.

5 out of 5 giant air conditioning mushrooms

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devynreadsnovels's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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kimwritesstuff's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book was a little bit of a slow burn for me. I had a difficult time understanding the alterations and the complex government system. In all honesty, I think there were parts I still didn't understand after I finished the book. However, I still found it to be a pretty enjoyable read, and by the end, I was flipping pages so fast to see the conclusion.

While other characters in the book have had alterations done that make it so they can see in the dark or smell contagions, Din has been altered to have perfect memory and recall. These alterations seem to be a combination of magic and technology. It wasn't ever really explicitly stated. I don't think that's a bad thing; it gives the world room to build across other books. There were several minor plot points that make the world seem magical, like how many worm species a person could get or the highest level of "government" personnel basically living forever while also being as large as a house. It's also made clear that the leviathans have earth-altering blood and are studied to help with grafts and other scientific advancements.

This book at its heart is a murder mystery, and it's done very well. While we have a suspect pretty early on, the book continues to draw the reader in by slowly revealing new deaths and new angles. The author does an excellent job of relaying the stakes and of making Din's anxiety pop off the page. Din has dyslexia, though in this world, there isn't really a word for it. Din worries that his difficulty reading and writing will cost him his apprenticeship or make him bad at his job. This constant fear ups the stakes several times while he's looking for clues. His boss Ana is too sensitive to the world and, as such, Din must be the eyes and ears.

One other thing I really didn't enjoy about this was that the author continually mentioned the size of Din. Almost every chapter had mention of Din's height. It was kind of annoying. No one's inner monologue refers to their own height that frequently. I'm tall, and I don't constantly compare myself to others. It was a weird character quirk.

Overall, I had fun reading this even though the beginning was a bit of a slog to get through. It felt like I was reading the second book in a series and that there was something I missed from the beginning.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for the ARC.

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