THE TAINTED CUP Cover Reveal
I’m a big fan of Robert Jackson Bennett’s fiction. He’s a nimble author who dances between cinematic fantasy in FOUNDRYSIDE, incisive speculative fiction in VIGILANCE, and modern Lovecraftian sci-fi in AMERICAN ELSEWHERE.
So, when Del Rey announced his new upcoming novel, THE TAINTED CUP, alongside this gorgeous cover reveal, I was completely stoked. I mean, look at this beauty:
Bennett’s latest novel appears to be a Sherlock-ian mystery in a new fantasy world. His approach to magic and world-building in the Founders Trilogy is simply dynamite. I can’t wait to have my brain twisted into knots by this novel.
THE TAINTED CUP arrives Feb 06, 2024, which is too far away for my taste! But you can pre-order it now from Amazon [affiliate link] or BookShop [affiliate link].
About THE TAINTED CUP
An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder in this sparkling fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.
In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.
Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times—and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.
At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance.
Din finds himself at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and Ana’s mind leaps from one startling deduction to the next, he must grudgingly admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.
As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.
Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.
Fictitious Interview with Robert Jackson Bennett
I spoke with Bennett a few years ago about FOUNDRYSIDE, the first book in the Founders Trilogy. We take a deep dive into his writing craft and explore the themes and structure of that novel. It’s a great listen for readers and writers alike.
