Scan barcode
vigil's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
susanatherly's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Violence, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Blood, War, and Classism
snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
h0neypie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gore, and Violence
elfit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
What an imaginative world with a great "who done it?" storyline.
The world building was intriguing, a mixture of dark cottagecore, dark academia, and high fantasy all wrapped up in a mystery bow. The dynamic between Ana and Kol do give off a Sherlock and Watson vibe a la Benedict Cumberbatch but for my Anime/Manga fans I instantly thought of xxxHolic. A cunningly smart older investigator, and a young fresh out of academy assistant with a mind full of secrets, solving a bizarre string of deaths with a backdrop of giant threats, corrupts, and deadly plants.
I appreciated that Bennett threw the reader right into the world, no long description of the history and creating of this world. It caused my imagination to create a conclusion and then adapt as an item or location was described to me.
Unfortunately what did take me out of the story was the use of our real world curse words in a fantasy world. I didn't feel like it fit in the world. It did its purpose to convey annoyance, urgency, and the character's predicament, it would just throw me off, really.
Over all, I enjoyed this introduction to a new series and look forward to these misfits creating havoc and finding justice.
The world building was intriguing, a mixture of dark cottagecore, dark academia, and high fantasy all wrapped up in a mystery bow. The dynamic between Ana and Kol do give off a Sherlock and Watson vibe a la Benedict Cumberbatch but for my Anime/Manga fans I instantly thought of xxxHolic. A cunningly smart older investigator, and a young fresh out of academy assistant with a mind full of secrets, solving a bizarre string of deaths with a backdrop of giant threats, corrupts, and deadly plants.
I appreciated that Bennett threw the reader right into the world, no long description of the history and creating of this world. It caused my imagination to create a conclusion and then adapt as an item or location was described to me.
Unfortunately what did take me out of the story was the use of our real world curse words in a fantasy world. I didn't feel like it fit in the world. It did its purpose to convey annoyance, urgency, and the character's predicament, it would just throw me off, really.
Over all, I enjoyed this introduction to a new series and look forward to these misfits creating havoc and finding justice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Blood
mrtlives's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Minor: Drug use
applejacksbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
I received a copy from NetGalley for review.
So this book is very much a Sherlock Holmes/Watson type mystery, but instead of them chasing down the murderer together, Holmes has a mild case of agoraphobia and Watson uses smell to remember everything about a scene then reports back to Holmes to process everything. I ate it up. I find with reading Robert Jackson Bennett's books you just kind of have to bumble along with the story. They're highly entertaining and everything the Sci-fi genre should be.
I found the pacing in this sometimes to be a little too slow, but that didn't hinder the book. I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially Din and Strovi.
So this book is very much a Sherlock Holmes/Watson type mystery, but instead of them chasing down the murderer together, Holmes has a mild case of agoraphobia and Watson uses smell to remember everything about a scene then reports back to Holmes to process everything. I ate it up. I find with reading Robert Jackson Bennett's books you just kind of have to bumble along with the story. They're highly entertaining and everything the Sci-fi genre should be.
I found the pacing in this sometimes to be a little too slow, but that didn't hinder the book. I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially Din and Strovi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
nadiajohnsonbooks's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was a departure from my usual reading habits. When I read fantasy, it tends to be sweeping, swashbuckling, and romance-forward. This treasure of a novel was none of those things, but it was a delight from start to finish. The culture and politics of the world Bennett created are so rich and intriguing, and I'm dying to know more about the bizarre system of nature-magic that keeps their world turning.
Dinios Kol is an Assistant Investigator in the Iudex, the branch of the Imperial government that investigates and prosecutes crime. His brain has been altered through the application of magical suffusions to give him complete, perfect recall of everything he sees and hears, making him a useful tool for his boss, the eccentric, foul-mouthed recluse, Ana Dolabra.
Din is called upon to investigate a peculiar death scene on Ana's behalf: an Imperial officer has been found in a house belonging to the influential Haza nobles with a tree growing out of his chest.
Their investigation takes Ana and Din to the outer limits of the Empire, where heavily guarded sea walls are the only thing protecting the people from incursions of gigantic monsters who come from the deep. There, ten more officers in the Engineering division have died under similarly botanical circumstances.
This book manages to balance complex worldbuilding, dark and violent intrigues, and humor tremendously well, with Din playing the straight man to the other characters' eccentricities. He proves to be a competent investigator, but he's like the Watson to Ana's Sherlock, who keeps most of her intellectual machinations to herself until they can be revealed to the best possible dramatic effect. I loved to see the representations of neurodivergence, particularly with Ana (who has sensory issues, among other complex needs) and Din, who has dyslexia.
The conclusion of the mystery was so satisfying, and I quite enjoyed the dynamic between Din, Ana, and the other principal characters. And, as a dedicated romantasy reader, I appreciated that there was one teeny tiny little kernel of a romantic spark, which I have put in my pocket and will treasure forever.
I sincerely hope that Bennett will be giving us more of this world, and soon.
Dinios Kol is an Assistant Investigator in the Iudex, the branch of the Imperial government that investigates and prosecutes crime. His brain has been altered through the application of magical suffusions to give him complete, perfect recall of everything he sees and hears, making him a useful tool for his boss, the eccentric, foul-mouthed recluse, Ana Dolabra.
Din is called upon to investigate a peculiar death scene on Ana's behalf: an Imperial officer has been found in a house belonging to the influential Haza nobles with a tree growing out of his chest.
Their investigation takes Ana and Din to the outer limits of the Empire, where heavily guarded sea walls are the only thing protecting the people from incursions of gigantic monsters who come from the deep. There, ten more officers in the Engineering division have died under similarly botanical circumstances.
This book manages to balance complex worldbuilding, dark and violent intrigues, and humor tremendously well, with Din playing the straight man to the other characters' eccentricities. He proves to be a competent investigator, but he's like the Watson to Ana's Sherlock, who keeps most of her intellectual machinations to herself until they can be revealed to the best possible dramatic effect. I loved to see the representations of neurodivergence, particularly with Ana (who has sensory issues, among other complex needs) and Din, who has dyslexia.
The conclusion of the mystery was so satisfying, and I quite enjoyed the dynamic between Din, Ana, and the other principal characters. And, as a dedicated romantasy reader, I appreciated that there was one teeny tiny little kernel of a romantic spark, which I have put in my pocket and will treasure forever.
I sincerely hope that Bennett will be giving us more of this world, and soon.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Terminal illness, Blood, and War
luverbyrd'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
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror and Death
courtsport3000's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This is one of those situations where I start wondering if I read a different book than everyone else did. Or if I just missed out on something that everyone else caught onto within the story. Because I was so confident that I was going to love this read. SO confident. But I just ended up reading to finish rather than out of any degree of interest or enjoyment.
The one thing I really loved without fail was the worldbuilding. I constantly wanted to know more about the alterations, the titans, the class system. There was so much to take in and I couldn't get enough of it.
I was also especially interested in our main character, Din. He's quirky and likeable and just about the only character that felt fully fleshed out. We got peeks into his romantic life, his relationships with his family, his motivations concerning his career - he's a character that's easy to feel close to. Unfortunately, he was pretty much the only one I really cared about.
Everything else about the book just felt like background noise. Like the kind of story that keeps the reader at a distance to enhance the mystery, but instead just prevents becoming fully invested. It's not that I disliked the other characters or the story itself - I just didn't care at all. I didn't feel strongly one way or another. I didn't feel close to any of the characters. I wasn't especially engaged in the mystery element. I wasn't captivated by the Sherlockish revelations that kept enlightening us while we trailed along one step behind.
There's not much more to say. Tons of early reviewers loved this book and I hope most readers will. I wish I had been one of them because this felt right up my alley until suddenly it wasn't.
Special thanks to Del Rey for an ARC in exchange for review.
The one thing I really loved without fail was the worldbuilding. I constantly wanted to know more about the alterations, the titans, the class system. There was so much to take in and I couldn't get enough of it.
I was also especially interested in our main character, Din. He's quirky and likeable and just about the only character that felt fully fleshed out. We got peeks into his romantic life, his relationships with his family, his motivations concerning his career - he's a character that's easy to feel close to. Unfortunately, he was pretty much the only one I really cared about.
Everything else about the book just felt like background noise. Like the kind of story that keeps the reader at a distance to enhance the mystery, but instead just prevents becoming fully invested. It's not that I disliked the other characters or the story itself - I just didn't care at all. I didn't feel strongly one way or another. I didn't feel close to any of the characters. I wasn't especially engaged in the mystery element. I wasn't captivated by the Sherlockish revelations that kept enlightening us while we trailed along one step behind.
There's not much more to say. Tons of early reviewers loved this book and I hope most readers will. I wish I had been one of them because this felt right up my alley until suddenly it wasn't.
Special thanks to Del Rey for an ARC in exchange for review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse