Synopsis
In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, 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 investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities.
At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. His job is to observe and report, and act as his superior’s eyes and ears–quite literally, in this case, as among Ana’s quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times, and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home.
Din is most perplexed by Ana’s ravenous appetite for information and her mind’s frenzied leaps—not to mention her cheerful disregard for propriety and the apparent joy she takes in scandalizing her young counterpart. Yet as the case unfolds and Ana makes one startling deduction after the next, he finds it hard to deny that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.
As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.
Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.
Review
Ever since I picked up City of Stairs for the first time, I’ve admired Bennett’s ability to craft fantasy worlds that feel fresh and creative while also telling a compelling page-turner of a story. I’m happy to say that The Tainted Cup was no exception, despite having a very different feel than previous books by the author. It’s a murder mystery set in a fantastical empire in which giant leviathans frequently cause havoc and people are capable of enhancing themselves with magical powers that come with serious downsides. Honestly, the story ticks so many of my personal boxes that it was hard not to fall head over heels in love with this series.
The story starts with our narrator, Din, being called to investigate a bizarre murder in which a tree has spontaneously erupted from the victim’s chest. It isn’t long before the mystery grows a lot more complicated, and the heightening stakes ensured I was glued to the pages as the story unfolded. The melding of fantasy and mystery elements is perfectly balanced, with the kind of layered mysteries built into the world itself that are just narrative catnip to me.
The characters are excellent, too. The narrator, Din, is very much out of his depth in this situation, but he’s adaptable and likeable and has the very handy talent of being an engraver – namely, someone with a magically enhanced perfect memory. Handy for a detective! His mentor, Ana, is a foul-mouthed eccentric genius Sherlock Holmes-esque character with an intriguing past, and the supporting cast is equally well-drawn. Mostly, the story is pure fun, an entertaining adventure that’s also so well done that I can’t help but be fully on board with wherever the series goes next.
The ingenious plot twists, weird and creative magic and well-written character dynamics make this a standout read and a story I’ll be sure to continue. I’m more than ready for Book 2!
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