Whoever Said I Was Wise?

Starting 2026 with a bang! The Tainted Cup was gifted to me by my boyfriend, I had never heard of it despite it winning the 2024 Hugo award, and I must say it was refreshing to go into a book completely blind.

The Tainted Cup, first instalment of the Shadow of the Leviathan series, is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I’ve seen it described as bio-steampunk Sherlock Holmes and it perfectly encapsulate the vibes. The book throws you headfirst into this very unique universe but manages to quickly make you familiar with it and its colourful characters. The style was a bit simple with a tendency to summarise the state of the investigation a bit too often but other qualities of the book make up for it. The worldbuilding is very interesting, I’ve loved Din, the main character, as well as his mentor Ana. Their dynamic is exquisite. Din’s voice reflects his nature - a being chemically altered to remember everything - and its inneherent tragedy. It’s descriptive and thorough, almost surgical, but the underlying melancholy that comes with never forgetting anything, even the worse memories, is never far to give more depth to the subject at hand.

The plot was enthralling and the investigation was thrilling to follow, with many twists - some I saw coming, some not at all! Which is a good balance to have in a mystery I think. There is an underlying political commentary, which is a nice addition to any fantasy.