Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

47 reviews

woolerys's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Writing - 4/5 

Plot - 4/5 

Characters - 4/5 

World-building - 3/5 

Personal tastes - 3/5 

TOTAL: 3.6 

 

When they found the accomplice and the method for the opening murder in approximately two chapters, I correctly guessed that that murder was only the tip of the iceberg. This fantasy mystery is narrated by the investigator’s assistant, who has undergone a procedure to become an “engraver,” ie someone with perfect recall. Except he’s also dyslexic and can’t remember text unless he reads it aloud to himself—a fact he’s determined to conceal as long as possible. The investigator herself is extremely direct, prone to sensory overload, and way more competent than people initially give her credit for. Overall highly readable, and I thought it made a decent attempt at bringing neurodiversity into the genre in a beneficial way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Body horror

Specific content warning for death via rapidly-growing plants, and for a minor/in-the-past description of an infestation that reads a bit like a description of an epidemic.

iaraya's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Gore, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

heather667's review against another edition

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Drug use

caidyn's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Oh this was a fun start to a new series. The world is super intriguing, and I enjoyed the characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder

eleana_p's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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

5.0

A fantasy murder mystery?! I gobbled that up so fast! Thoroughly enjoyable in every way. I really liked the world building and the characters. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Gore

mar's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

OKAY. BANGER

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder

elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism and Bullying

lbelow's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious

4.75

An excellent book and a compelling start to a new series! I'm not often one for Sherlock/Watson duos because a lot of authors take that kind of "smart" to mean "callous". And there's no denying that the Sherlockian character in this book is weird AF (and I suspect on the autism spectrum due to her sensory issues), but she also does things like take the time to check in with Din after he's had a near-death experience. The other thing I loved: the disability rep. Din is dyslexic and that reflects in how he navigates the world as well as the workarounds he comes up with to capture information. 

This world is just as weird and unique as its main characters. And it's introduced with just enough finesse for the aspects of the world explored to tie back to the plot. As for that plot, some of the twists I guessed, and at least one important piece I did not. With the way that information is presented in this book, that makes me excited to reread this and pick up on the clues I missed during the first pass. 

I recommend this book and will be searching out more by this author! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Drug use

kwthor's review against another edition

funny mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Mental illness and Sexual content

magnus_iskander_reim's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Genocide