Robert Jackson Bennett, acclaimed author of City of Stairs and Foundryside, embarks on a new and daring fantasy mystery series with The Tainted Cup, the first entry in the Shadow of the Leviathan series. Fusing the intrigue of classic detective fiction with deeply imaginative worldbuilding, Bennett redefines genre boundaries once again. Set in a bizarre empire where mutated creatures, parasitic plants, and grotesque rituals are routine, this book feels like a fusion of Sherlock Holmes, Dune, and The Expanse, dipped in spores and polished with political wit.
The mystery unspools not in a familiar city but within a fully realized, deeply alien world where investigative logic has to battle biological horror. Yet, through the stylized prose and clever plotting, Bennett ensures that the story remains focused on two highly compelling characters: Ana Dolabra, the reclusive, blindfolded genius investigator, and her assistant Dinios Kol, an “engraver” with a perfect memory and a gentle, observational narrative voice.
Plot: A Tree Grows Through the Murder
When a high-ranking Imperial officer dies in the most bizarre of ways—spontaneously impaled by a tree sprouting from within his own body—Imperial investigators are dispatched to solve what seems both a magical and biological impossibility. The case falls to Ana Dolabra, a legend in the investigative circles, though infamous for never leaving her home and for operating under strange personal rules—including wearing a blindfold at all times.
Her assistant and narrator, Dinios Kol (Din), is a freshly assigned engraver—someone magically modified to retain flawless memory and act as a walking, feeling recorder of all events. He quickly learns that Ana, though eccentric and gratingly direct, sees connections no one else can. As they probe into the officer’s death, the investigation leads them into a tangled web of conspiracies, engineered mutations, cultic rituals, and imperial secrets, all revolving around a horrifying biological threat tied to the blood of ancient leviathans.
The plot, as it develops, is remarkably nonlinear and laced with twists, evolving from a locked-room mystery into something more expansive and politically charged. While it opens like a genre mystery, it ends in full speculative thriller mode—bold, imaginative, and unsettling in the best way.
Characters: Two Minds, One Mission
Ana Dolabra
Eccentric. Elusive. Unyieldingly brilliant. Ana is a character you won’t soon forget. Blindfolded and confined by choice, she conducts investigations entirely through what others report—chief among them, Din. Her mind leaps across deductions with terrifying speed, often leaving readers (and Din) scrambling to catch up. Her fearlessness in confronting corruption, paired with her barbed wit and unpredictable moods, make her the most Holmesian figure in this fantasy homage.
Dinios Kol
Our lens into this grotesque empire. Din is a perfect Watson figure—sensitive, observant, reserved. His role is more than passive: his moral compass and emotional intuition often ground Ana’s eccentricity. His evolving understanding of both the case and Ana’s psychology is one of the book’s most rewarding arcs. The fact that he harbors secrets of his own only adds layers to an already rich dynamic.
Supporting Cast
Imperial magistrates, suspicious assistants, bioengineered agents, and a handful of ominous scientists and cultists fill out the cast. Each is sketched sharply, with unique traits that make them memorable without overwhelming the central duo.
Worldbuilding: Leviathans, Mutations, and Magistrates
Bennett doesn’t merely invent a fantasy setting—he bioengineers one.
This is a world ruled not just by politics, but by contagions, symbiosis, and magical biology. The empire draws power from “Leviathan blood,” a semi-mystical, mutagenic substance that influences both infrastructure and bodily transformation. Investigators and soldiers alike are altered—some with enhanced cognition, others with regenerative limbs or photosensitive skin. At times, the grotesquery borders on horror.
Highlights of the world include:
- Symbiotic architecture that reacts to environmental shifts
- Customizable body modifications as tools of the state
- Magical plagues and parasitic plant life, not just as background detail, but central to the plot
- Rigid class divisions and imperial bureaucracy, echoing Roman or Prussian administrative structures in a setting that’s wholly alien
What makes the world of “The Tainted Cup” feel especially vivid is Bennett’s use of precise, matter-of-fact prose, describing absurdities with a scientific tone that makes them chillingly believable.
Writing Style: Clinical, Clever, and Occasionally Cruel
In The Tainted Cup, Bennett writes in a controlled, restrained style—appropriate for a narrator like Din, who’s trained to report without embellishment. The writing mimics the clarity of observation, but occasionally slips into poetic introspection, especially when Din reflects on Ana’s brilliance or the existential dread the case provokes.
The dialogue crackles with dry humor, particularly from Ana, whose sardonic wit cuts through the dense science-fantasy setting. Here’s where Bennett’s craftsmanship shines: in balancing the cerebral tone with emotional depth, and in knowing when to let silence or ambiguity carry the weight of a scene.
Themes: Observation, Control, and Corruption
Bennett threads several themes throughout this mystery-laden narrative:
- Power and Control: Who holds control in a world where bodies and minds can be engineered or rewired? The Empire’s grip on its people extends even into their biology, and Ana’s rebellion lies in intellectual independence.
- The Cost of Intelligence: Ana’s brilliance is presented not as a gift, but as a burden. Her insight isolates her from others, and her blindness seems less a limitation than a symbolic refusal to look at the world on its terms.
- Memory and Identity: Din’s perfect memory raises questions about what it means to experience versus recall. Is identity rooted in emotion or precision?
- Science as Horror: The use of biological magic and mutation brings the genre closer to speculative horror. There’s a disturbing undercurrent: advancement at the cost of humanity.
What Works Exceptionally Well
- The Ana-Din Dynamic: Easily the book’s strongest feature. Their interplay brings humor, tension, and warmth to an otherwise dark narrative.
- Genre Fusion: This isn’t just fantasy—it’s mystery, sci-fi, horror, and detective fiction rolled into one.
- World as Character: The empire is as much a player in the story as any human. The world feels alive—twisting, pulsing, and decaying.
- Puzzle-Like Plot: Fans of deductive storytelling will relish the layering of clues and foreshadowing.
What Could Be Improved
- Exposition Overload: Occasionally, the dense worldbuilding in “The Tainted Cup” slows momentum. Readers unfamiliar with heavy sci-fi/fantasy jargon might struggle with some of the book’s middle chapters.
- Emotional Distance: Din’s role as an observer can sometimes keep readers at arm’s length from the stakes, especially during action sequences.
- Abrupt Climax: While satisfying, the resolution unspools quickly compared to the layered buildup. Some threads—particularly surrounding Din’s secrets—feel deferred for the sequel.
A Glimpse Ahead: A Drop of Corruption
Set for release in 2025, A Drop of Corruption promises to deepen both the empire’s bio-political horrors and the Ana-Din dynamic. If The Tainted Cup was the spark, Book 2 is poised to be the wildfire. Readers are left with questions—about Din, about Ana’s limitations, and about the broader Leviathan threat—priming them for what’s next.
Final Verdict: A Genre-Bending Mystery You Shouldn’t Miss
Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup is an arresting start to a deeply original series. It’s a mystery that respects your intelligence, a fantasy that dares to unsettle, and a sci-fi thought experiment that puts character first. While it may challenge some with its density, it rewards readers with a narrative that lingers long after the final page.
Whether you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, The Broken Earth trilogy, or Annihilation, this book offers a fresh, intellectual thrill. Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol may just become the next iconic duo in speculative fiction.
