One of my new years resolutions was to keep on top of book reviews this year. Chemotherapy is making that difficult, since my primary side effect is achiness in my fingers. So, not only is typing super slow but holding up a book, even a kindle, in a way that’s comfortable for me has been a challenge, lol. You should see the pillow/phone holder/other pillow setup I’ve got. It’s fantastic.
Thanks to the author as well as Del Rey via NetGalley for the review copy!
In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible.
Called in to investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities.
At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. His job is to observe and report, and act as his superior’s eyes and ears–quite literally, in this case, as among Ana’s quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times, and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home.
Din is most perplexed by Ana’s ravenous appetite for information and her mind’s frenzied leaps—not to mention her cheerful disregard for propriety and the apparent joy she takes in scandalizing her young counterpart. Yet as the case unfolds and Ana makes one startling deduction after the next, he finds it hard to deny 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.
The Tainted Cup is the story of Din, who is the apprentice to a master investigator named Ana Dolabra. Out in the remote wilds of the world, an imperial officer is found dead in the strangest way: a giant tree grows from him, seemingly out of nowhere. It is up to Ana and Din to find out what happened.
I really enjoyed this one. It had plenty of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, which kept me very enthralled in it until the very end. I loved the way the story came to light, and how tiny clues were uncovered and seeing Din and Ana put them together. This world has all kinds of special bodily upgrades used for various personal upgrades. For example, Din has photographic memory, that he uses to collect evidence for Ana. This ability is so trusted that his memory can be used as evidence in court. It’s interesting seeing what abilities others have and how they use them.
I really liked Din as a character. He was easy to root for and I was always interested in his exploits. Most of all though, Ana Dolabra was my favorite character. She is hilariously foul mouthed and often inappropriate, and that is just the kind of character I latch onto.
This was an interesting mystery from beginning to end, and I’m looking forward to reading more into the series! I had 4.5/5 stars of fun with The Tainted Cup, and I can’t wait for more!
superstardrifter 
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