The Tainted Cup
By: Robert Jackson Bennett
My Rating: Four out of Five Stars
Best for: 18 and up

Watson and Holmes + Magic = Win!

The Tainted Cup is a really cool blend of a Sherlock Holmes-esc mystery with another of Robert Jackson Bennett’s clever and complex worlds of magic and alchemy. The novel features Din–our Watson–a young investigator with a sharp mind and secrets. Our Holmes is Ana, a tortured genius with a shaper mind, an even sharper tongue, and even more secrets. When a string of peculiar deaths rocks the region, Ana must solve the mystery while Din tries to keep from drowning as he finds himself way over his head, immersed in a world of shadows, secrets, and deadly magic.

Bennett’s world-building is as impressive as I’ve come to expect from him. His creation of a society where alchemy and technology coexist is both intricate and believable. Like The Founders Trilogy, I found the mystery and the world intriguing, but the complexity was hard to follow at times.

Ana and Din are a compelling duo. Ana’s logical mind and Din’s magically-enhanced observation skills are optimal story telling tools, and as they unravel the complex mystery at the heart of the novel I couldn’t resist the pull. The supporting cast is equally intriguing, which, when taken all together, led to a fascinating reading experience!

I didn’t love that the novel contains significant adult language. It’s frequent enough and harsh enough that I couldn’t listen to the audiobook–it’s easier for me to “read through” the language vs listening to it. There is strong violence as well, but no sexual content. This dad says The Tainted Cup is best for readers 18 and up.

Happy reading!