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A review by megliz
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
A Sherlock and Watson style dynamic set in a bio-punk fantasy world. Ana Dolabra is an eccentric neurodivergent investigator who hires an assistant, Dinios Kol, a neurodivergent bisexual disaster. Together, they solve a murder that uncovers a larger conspiracy.
While the series is really grounded in the murder mystery, it is set in this insane fantasy world. I call it bio-punk because the magical elements are biologically based. People in this world are enhanced using biological contagions and blood of creatures called Leviathans. Kol is an engraver who possesses a perfect memory. Others can be enhanced to have better sense is a smell or be stronger. The world has contagions that are all biologically plant based. Even the way they live, the houses they live in are plant based. This world was just really unique and fascinating to read.
At its core, the story is a murder mystery. It just so happens to be set in a fantasy world. The mystery is the main focal point of the story. This wasn't a mystery that you could see hints of and solve halfway through. You only uncovered things as the character told you. I like to be solving the mystery with them instead of kinda just being told the answers. However, it was still gripping and exciting with a lot of twists to keep me entertained.
I am very excited for book 2 to come out. I don't know if there's an overarching plot between all of the books or if they're just going to be individual mysteries, but I am still counting down the days.
A Sherlock and Watson style dynamic set in a bio-punk fantasy world. Ana Dolabra is an eccentric neurodivergent investigator who hires an assistant, Dinios Kol, a neurodivergent bisexual disaster. Together, they solve a murder that uncovers a larger conspiracy.
While the series is really grounded in the murder mystery, it is set in this insane fantasy world. I call it bio-punk because the magical elements are biologically based. People in this world are enhanced using biological contagions and blood of creatures called Leviathans. Kol is an engraver who possesses a perfect memory. Others can be enhanced to have better sense is a smell or be stronger. The world has contagions that are all biologically plant based. Even the way they live, the houses they live in are plant based. This world was just really unique and fascinating to read.
At its core, the story is a murder mystery. It just so happens to be set in a fantasy world. The mystery is the main focal point of the story. This wasn't a mystery that you could see hints of and solve halfway through. You only uncovered things as the character told you. I like to be solving the mystery with them instead of kinda just being told the answers. However, it was still gripping and exciting with a lot of twists to keep me entertained.
I am very excited for book 2 to come out. I don't know if there's an overarching plot between all of the books or if they're just going to be individual mysteries, but I am still counting down the days.