The Tainted Cup is a compelling mystery from Robert Jackson Bennett. While this was my first book from him, it will definitely not be my last! The dynamic between Ana and Din was excellent and reminiscent of Holmes and Watson. Ana is very quirky, but has a brilliant mind. She is able to see cobwebs of connection that allow her to chase down overlooked leads. Din is initially a long suffering companion to Ana, but their relationship changes as the mystery deepens. Din is very clever, but both blessed and cursed with a perfect magical memory. This was such an interesting plot point, because it made it very hard for suspects to lie convincingly when their conversations can be played back word for word. 

Robert Jackson Bennett creates an original and creative fantasy world in The Tainted Cup. The world-building felt rich and included lots of interesting details. I really enjoyed the dialogue between Ana and Din, especially Din’s internal thoughts as he dealt with Ana’s idiosyncrasies. As the mystery unfolded, there were plenty of red herrings and misleading clues. At times, I truly found it hard to guess what was going to happen next and how/why the murder had been committed. Readers who enjoy a Holmes/Watson dynamic, murder with a twist, and excellent world-building should check out The Tainted Cup. I hope to read more stories about this duo in the future! 

Thank you to Robert Jackson Bennett, Del Rey, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.