Name: The Tainted Cup
Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is an enthralling, inventive crime mystery fantasy adventure with a highly memorable lead duo. Read my full review.

The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett Book Review

Publication: Hodderscape February 2025. Originally published by Del Rey, February 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Crime-Detective, Mystery, Drama, Action-Adventure

Hugo Award for Best Novel 2025

The Tainted Cup Publisher Synopsis

Shadow of the Leviathan #1

An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder in this sparkling fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel – from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

A peculiar crime. A brilliant investigator. A mystery of epic proportions.

In an opulent mansion at the borders of the Empire, an Imperial officer lies dead – killed when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even here, 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 solve the crime is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricity. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory.

Soon, the mystery leads to a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself. For Ana, all this makes for a deliciously thorny puzzle – at last, something to truly hold her attention. And Din? He’ll just have to hold on for the ride.

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My Review

At the end of a busy year I found myself reaching for some fantasy, thinking I could do with a dose of escapism, and Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup has been on my TBR pile since its 2024 release. But what this title quickly reminded me, is that great fantasy novels are often powerful mechanisms to explore some of the most weighty themes and societal issues, and Bennett tackles more than a few in this novel.

But I’ll come back to these, and first cover the areas where escapism was delivered.

I found Bennett’s innovative, vivid and detail-fuelled world-building in The Tainted Cup enthralling. This world’s geography, flora, fauna and societal constructs are integral to the complex crime mystery its protagonists are seeking to unravel. Plus Bennett’s development of those protagonists — the enigmatic Ana and the endearingly resilient and resourceful Din — is in my opinion first classs. I was beguiled by their antagonistic yet symbiotic relationship, and thoroughly enjoyed the dry verbal barbs thrown by Din despite the power imbalance. That said, I did find Ana’s use of profanity unnecessary at times, her acerbic nature already well established.

The secondary and tertiary characters, which there’s an abundance of, are less well-developed though, and so at times their names and distinguishing roles were hard to keep track of.

The Tainted Cup‘s thematic depths

I am a sucker for social commentary and profundity interwoven in fiction. I admire it like art. So I found myself highlighting many passages in this text. Some highly topical favourites of mine included, this on perspective and psychology:

“For the empire is huge. Complex. Often unwieldy and slow. And in many places, weak. A massive colossus, stretching out across the cantons, one in whose shadow we all live…and yet it is prone to wounds, infections, fevers, and ill humors. But its strangest feature is that the more its citizens feel it is broken, the more broken it actually becomes.”

On cynicism in politics:

“What a tool cynicism is to the corrupt, claiming the whole of the creation is broken and fraudulent, and thus we are all excused to indulge in whatever sins we wish—for what’s a little more unfairness, in this unfair world?”

On balancing passion and endurance:

“It feels wrong because it is wrong, Din,” she said. “Civilization is often a task that is only barely managed. But harden your heart and slow your blood. The towers of justice are built one brick at a time. We have more to build yet.”

.

And, then just to lighten the mood when needed, which I felt Bennet does well in this narrative, this classic criminal investigators’ quip,

“That’s the problem with figuring sh#t out—eventually you run into someone who’d prefer all their sh#t remained thoroughly unfigured.”

and this wise world-weary view.

“But I am reluctant to assume maliciousness when incompetence is a better explanation.”

But The Tainted Cup‘s diversity representation and thematic exploration is probably what I admired most.

This ambitious fiction is far from perfect, but it’s got everything from your classic crime solving duo, corruption and conspiracy, thrilling action scenes through to dark comedy and even a dash of romance, all wrapped up in a verdant fantasy world. So, if you enjoy genre mash-ups, eccentricity and detail, Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup may well be your next great read.

I certainly look forward to reading Book 2 in this Shadow of the Leviathan series, A Drop of Corruption.