The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
I finally read one of my anticipated releases from 2024. This book caught my attention from the first moment I saw the book cover and I knew I had to read it, but with so many other books I also wanted to read it took quite a while before I picked it up.
The Tainted Cup takes place in a fantasy world full of nature and human engineering, but not in the way you would expect. We get pulled into the world by the death of Commander Blas. He died in a luxurious mansion because a tree sprouted from the inside of his body. Within seconds a massive tree grew and even pierced through the ceiling. Din is sent by Immunis Ana to investigate his death. Din is magically modified to have a perfect memory as long as he smells the same smell. Behind Commander Blas's death, a whole problem unfolds itself which Din and Ana have to solve. The Tainted Cup is a story full of mystery and danger and will pull you in till the end.
“That’s the problem with figuring shit out—eventually you run into someone who’d prefer all their shit remained thoroughly unfigured.”
Robert Jackson Bennet, The Tainted Cup
This was the first book by Robert Jackson Bennet I read and it was a great one to start with. I loved every page of it and couldn’t stop reading. The plot was interesting and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. In between the high stakes, some moments made me laugh out loud before diving back down into the next encounter with trouble. The characters in this book are what made the book so much fun to read. They are absurd in some ways and definitely unique. Ana isn’t scared to do things in a fundamentally different way and even Din is surprised by her more than ones.
“So instead of committing robbery, I made tea.”
Robert Jackson Bennet, The Tainted Cup
I can’t wait to start the second book in this series as it will be published soon and if I am lucky I will be able to get my hand on one of the arcs. That why I don’t have to wait to long to start reading it.
I full 5 star review for me. Would have given it more stars if that would be possible.
