The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan Book 1)

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, a Hugo Award–winning and national bestselling author, is a brilliantly crafted fantasy mystery that blends the intrigue of Sherlock Holmes with the inventiveness of epic world-building.

In the Empire’s border city of Daretana, a high-ranking officer is found dead in a shocking and impossible way—a tree has erupted from his body. In a world where magical contagions and the blood of leviathans cause strange transformations, even this death stands out as bizarre and terrifying.

The investigation is assigned to Ana Dolabra, a legendary and eccentric detective known for her unmatched intellect. Rumored to always wear a blindfold and solve crimes without ever leaving her home, Ana is both feared and admired. Her new assistant, Dinios Kol, has been magically altered to serve as her perfect aide—though he quickly finds Ana’s methods both baffling and brilliant.

As the pair delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a vast conspiracy that threatens the Empire itself. Din becomes increasingly fascinated by Ana’s genius while also realizing she may see far more than she lets on—including the secrets he’s desperate to hide.

With sharp wit, imaginative magic, and masterful plotting, The Tainted Cup delivers a clever, suspenseful, and original tale that redefines the detective genre within a richly fantastical world.