A review by tacochelle
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another book mashing two specific subgenres together to create something whole unique, and of all the authors to try this, Robert Jackson Bennett is an author I trust to do it well. I only read one other book by him before this, but it was during my years long reading slump, and I devoured The City of Stairs in one sitting it was so good. I'm happy to say The Tainted Cup didn't disappoint either. It combines a Sherlock/Watson duo with a fantasy world both plagued by and dependent on rampaging leviathans. The worldbuilding is fantastic and complex without being overwhelming for the reader. All the characters, both major and minor, were at least memorable if not really enjoyable to follow. The descriptions, dialogue, and action are very well written. It's a winner all-around. And I got accepted for an early copy of the sequel, which I will be bumping up on my reading schedule, I can't get enough of this world.
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