Synopsis:
Eccentric yet brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man’s innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with the award-winning The Tainted Cup.
In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilled, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos.
To deescalate matters, someone must do the impossible: prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him.
It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side – and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene.
As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal.
But even Ana’s uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead–with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton’s wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.
Review:
When art imitates life in a fantastical world, you know we’re screwed in real life.
Two lovers, from two feuding gentryclans, meeting secretly under false names. One is disembowelled, one flees.
Ana and Dee investigate.
How to keep a detective story fresh?
Uncover more dirty secrets about the ancient Empire, get Dee’s past involved via an impetuous sister, introduce magical fungi.
I wish we got more chance for Dee to develop some personal relationships. Similarly, Ana and Dee spent relatively little time together in this instalment.
Bennett is obviously concerned with the state of our world. I urge you to read the author’s note at the end which re-contextualises his inspiration.
The immense, rigid nature of the Empire makes it difficult for it to shift. Doesn’t this just reflect our current world and systems? We are all resistant to change even if climate change requires radical proactively.
We have the opportunity to follow detectives in positions where they can examine all the internal organs of the Empire here. It almost becomes meta if you think on it.
We get teased about Ana’s secrets but per usual are rebuffed. I wis e got more concrete details on the Empire’s past and the Emperor, as well as Ana’s mysteriousness.
The book ends with:
I half wanted to sprint back down the road and demand answers to my many questions. Instead, I sighed and returned to the main road to wait for a rider.
Dee, next time sprint as if a horde of intrigued readers are behind you.
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