11 April 2025
The Tainted Cup Review And Book Club Questions
Reviewed by: Melissa Ng
Quick Facts
Book Publication Date: 6 February 2024
How I Read It: Borrowed from my local library
Where You Can Find The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett: Amazon Australia* | Kobo US* | Kobo Canada*
Content & Trigger Warnings: Death, blood, vomit, coarse language, violence, murder
The Tainted Cup Summary
In this fantasy setting, magic and science coexist in a society where bodies can be altered for memory retention, strength, and other enhancements.
When a high-ranking officer is discovered dead – with a tree growing out of his body – an investigation begins that leads deep into political secrets and scientific dangers.
The case is handed to Ana, an eccentric and reclusive investigator.
Her assistant, Din, is a recent academy graduate who has been magically altered to have a perfect memory. He becomes Ana’s eyes and ears in the field, and the person through whom we experience the investigation.
As more strange deaths occur, Ana and Din uncover a pattern, all while a much bigger threat, creatures known as Leviathans, lurk at the empire’s fringes.
What starts as a murder case becomes a larger conspiracy involving high-ranking officials, biological experiments, and the limits of the empire’s control.
The Tainted Cup Review
This was my first Robert Jackson Bennett book, and I have to say I’m impressed.
I’m a lover of the fantasy and mystery genres separately so it’s surprising that this is the first true fantasy murder mystery that I’ve read. I loved it!
It blends elements of classic detective stories with a vividly imagined world that feels unique. It was also surprisingly funny, which is rare for the fantasy and mystery genres.
What I liked:
✔️ Ana and Din's dynamic: Ana is brilliant, strange, and unpredictable. Din, with his perfect memory and naïve presence, balances her out nicely. Their relationship is professional but layered, and it made the mystery more engaging.
✔️ The setting and world-building: The empire’s use of magical alterations to enhance its citizens feels well thought-out. From memory enhancements to physical upgrades, the details add realism to a world that could have easily felt too abstract.
✔️ A strong mystery plot: There are clues, red herrings, twists, and clever deductions throughout. I appreciated that the mystery wasn’t overly obvious, but it also didn’t feel like it was hiding everything just for the sake of surprise.
✔️ Inclusive characters: The story features thoughtful representation, with Ana portrayed as neurodivergent through her emotional regulation and unique way of processing information. There are also several queer characters included naturally in the world, without needing to justify or over-explain their presence. It’s refreshing and adds to the depth of the cast without overshadowing the story.
What didn’t work as well:
❌ The pacing lags slightly in the middle: While the beginning and end are strong, the middle section felt like it paused a little too long before ramping back up. The reveal of a possible third murderer was one too many.
❌ The final reveal was dense: The last few chapters include a long explanation from Ana that, while necessary, felt a bit heavy. All of the mysteries unravelling at once felt a bit info dumpy.
❌ More Leviathan content would’ve added to the tension: The looming threat of the Leviathans stay in the background. Hopefully future books explore that threat more directly.
Final thoughts
The Tainted Cup is an excellent start to a new fantasy mystery series. It offers a clever take on the detective genre, set in a world that feels both strange and fully realised.
If you like Sherlock Holmes or Knives Out, I think you’ll really enjoy this book.
I’ll definitely be picking up Book 2 (A Drop of Corruption)* to see where the story — and these characters — go next.
Memorable The Tainted Cup Quotes
But this has been nothing short of an utter vomit of revelations!
But I am reluctant to assume maliciousness when incompetence is a better explanation.
The Tainted Cup Book Club Questions
- What were your favourite and least favourite moments in the book?
- How did you feel about the mix of genres - fantasy, sci-fi, mystery?
- Who did you think was the murderer at the start of the book? Did your prediction change throughout the book?
- What did you think of Din as a character?
- What did you think of Ana as a character? How does she compare to other detectives/investigators in books?
- What did you think of the representations in this book of queer and neurodivergent characters?
- The book is often described as a fantasy Sherlock Holmes murder mystery. How do you feel about that comparison?
- If you could be magically altered, what ability would you like to possess?
- Many of the characters kept secrets and were not truthful about their whereabouts or what they knew. How did this impact the investigation and how were Ana and Din able to overcome it?
- What do you think about the Leviathans? Do you think we’ll discover more about them in future books?
- Were there any reveals that shocked you?
- What do you predict will happen in A Drop Of Corruption (book 2)?
- Will you be continuing the Shadow Of The Leviathan series? Why or why not?
- If The Tainted Cup was adapted into a movie or TV series, which actors would you cast for each character?
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