The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett

 


The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett. An unasked for book review. Book 1 of the Shadow of the Leviathan series.

Usually I include a Goodreads synopsis of the book I'm reviewing.  However, I am going to pass on doing that this time, because the synopsis of this book is both dull, and slightly inaccurate. The synopsis mentions magic, but there is no magic in this book, and a very basic description of the plot. I will instead include a portion of The Washington Post review:
A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett

“Great fantasy detective stories are too rare, but Bennett—[a] rising star of fantasy—more than delivers.”—Charlie Jane Anders, The Washington Post

The Tainted Cup takes place in a society and culture that has developed around the terror of Kaiju attacks, which are the Leviathan mentioned in the series title. These monsters change the landscape when they die, infesting it with many contagions and parasites, while also wreaking physical havoc and death when they break through defenses and make it inland. They have people called Apoths (short for apothecary) who can manipulate the bones, blood, and other leftover viscera from these Leviathans, and give humans different types of enhancements; the better to fight off the Leviathan attacks (as well as parasites and contagion). The world building in this book is great.  Imagine a world loosely based off of Japanese architecture and society, but that, as mentioned, has to defend against constant giant monster attacks from the sea.  This world is basically what I wanted Pacific Rim to be and explore.

Within this setting come two Holmesian characters, Ana Dolabra, a brilliant and eccentric investigator, and Dinios Kol, her assistant. They have to solve a series of gruesome murders before utter catastrophe occurs. 

I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, so anytime there's a story that is inspired by the great Holmes and Watson duo, I'm sold. I came in expecting a lot and I was, overall, not disappointed. I'd say my only quibble is some of the modern slang language that Ana occasionally uses (thank goodness it's very rare). The use of modern slang took me out of the world and the story, and I was disappointed that it was used at all. However, as stated, it was used rarely.  I couldn't put this book down, and my only overall regret is that the book just came out this year, so who knows when we'll see the Ana and Dinios characters again.

A total stay up to late page turner. I highly recommend!



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