Del Rey Books
The Tainted Cup
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HUGO AWARD WINNER - NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A Holmes and Watson-style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from acclaimed author Robert Jackson Bennett
"Like an endearing fantasy version of Knives Out . . . A great murder mystery is hard to pull off but Bennett structures his perfectly, and the fact that it's in a fantasy setting only makes it better."--T. J. Klune, The New York Times
WORLD FANTASY AWARD FINALIST - LOCUS AWARD FINALIST - EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, NPR, Elle, BookPage
In Daretana's greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead--killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire's borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it's a death both terrifying and impossible.
Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.
At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana's brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior--but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana's mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire's greatest detective.
As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens 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.
By an "endlessly inventive" (Vulture) author with a "wicked sense of humor" (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that's at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781984820709
EAN:
9781984820709
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
432
Authors:
Robert Jackson Bennett
Publisher:
Del Rey Books
This book is an extraordinarily captivating and meticulously crafted read that draws you in from the very first page. The depth of the characters and the intricacy of the plot keep you fully engaged, making it difficult to put down. Each word is thoughtfully chosen, contributing to a rich and immersive experience that resonates long after you’ve turned the last page — getting ready to read part 2.
This is the first book in what I hope will be a long series of mysteries in a strange, marvelous, perilous fantasy setting. [As I write this, two books have been published and a third is due out next year.]The book is narrated by Din (properly, Dinios Kol), recently picked to serve as the assistant to Ana, a senior detective in the empire's judicial system. There are echoes of Holmes and Watson, but the book is far more than imitation. I liked Ana very much, but I loved Din to pieces. He is driven and lonely and hard on himself.The many supporting characters are well drawn, whether heroic or villanous; I particularly liked Miljin and Strovi. The worldbuilding is superb: here be monsters indeed, and also terrifying contagions, and people profoundly altered to serve the empire's need: giants, people (including Din), with perfect memory, people with uncanny mathematical talent, the quick, the strong, the nearly immortal. All this with a murder mystery, against a backdrop of those with vast wealth operating outside the laws that govern everyone else.Five out of five dappleglass stars.About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Clever and fun.Post on Amazon as BennettClever and fun.Post on Amazon as BennettClever and fun.Post on Amazon as Bennett
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is a wonderful old-fashioned mystery wrapped in fantasy fiction. The world-building is both interesting and economical, and I loved the two main characters. While nothing here screams unique, the familiar beats of a murder-mystery investigation grounded me nicely in a fantastical setting.I appreciated that the author didn’t over-explain the world and didn’t weigh the story down with the investigators’ personal baggage. There was a problem. They solved it. Clean and simple. I’m absolutely in for the next problem they take on.
Excellent story.It's a uniquely realized setting, familiar but with that step sideways.I hugely enjoyed the characters. Shades of gray with bursts of color.Really, read this.
