The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan Book 1) by Robert Jackson Bennett. Del Rey, 2024. 978-1984820716. 432pp.
The book opens with a gruesome death. It turns out to be a murder, which leads to the discovery of what is probably a broader conspiracy against the empire that builds the walls and keeps the giant monsters (leviathans) out. Its protagonists are a bookish investigator who prefers to go blindfolded and her assistant, who has been altered to have a perfect memory. (Many specialists working for the empire have been altered significantly, giving them abilities beyond those of normal folks. Others have merely been tweaked a bit to increase their chances of survival.)
I haven’t enjoyed a fantasy novel this much in years. I was talking to a friend who read it, and said it reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes story; she immediately corrected me and said it was more based on the Nero Wolf / Archie Goodwin model, where the detective sends out his trusted assistant to bring back information. (She’s right.) And it’s fun; the assistant is a complete fish out of water with an innocent heart, a secret, and a special gift. His boss is also beyond odd, and she even has an enjoyable potty mouth.
An excellent sequel, A Drop of Corruption, was published in January of 2026, and a third book in the series will be out at the end of summer. I’m recommending them all to everyone who will listen.
Winner: Hugo Award for Best Novel (2025), World Fantasy Award (2025).
2 thoughts on “Book Review: The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan Book 1) by Robert Jackson Bennett”
Allyson Russell
Dude, yes. All the yes! I love this series and I’m so excited for A Trade of Blood coming out in August. Although some might not enjoy the body horror aspect, because things get kinda…squishy? These are such intriguing mysteries that I can get beyond that part. The world is so dense politically, biologically, culturally, and yet Bennett doesn’t bore us with tons of expository. It feels like part of the mystery is discovering the world in which the murder is set. I’m so excited to see you spotlight this series, and like you, I tell anyone who will listen to read them!
Gene Ambaum
Just finished an advanced copy of A Trade of Blood and it’s amazing, too! Worth waiting for for sure. (I’m not a fan of body horror — someohw these books don’t feel like they belong in that genre, or at leaast they feel like they’re only sneaking in aspects of it. Who knows, though, I may wake up one day and find I’m a fan.)
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