Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 15/11/2024
Published by: Hodderscape
ISBN: B0CH1MXCKQ
‘The Tainted Cup’ is a brilliantly crafted murder mystery with an entertaining detective-sidekick duo and a creative fantasy world.
Similar read: The Silverblood Promise by James Logan
Cover:
While I wasn’t immediately captivated by this design, it is intriguing and nicely captures the story’s atmosphere and creative world.
Writing:
The atmospheric writing is packed with vivid details and a touch of wit, making it effortlessly immersive. Although the worldbuilding is pretty soft, it gradually evolves into a fully developed setting with contagions, body augmentations, a defined military hierarchy, massive leviathan creatures, and much more.
The towers of justice are built one brick at a time.
Storyline:
The story dives straight into the murder investigation, unfolding at a leisurely pace into a complex case filled with clever twists and turns that keep it engaging. Besides this, the exploration of real-world societal issues like systemic injustice and disability struggles adds depth to the storyline. The mystery’s resolution is also expertly handled, reminding me of the exciting reveals in Agatha Christie’s Poirot series and smoothly setting the stage for the rest of the series.
Main character(s):
I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic and contrast between Dinios and his boss, Ana. Ana’s bold and quirky personality made the story more vibrant, and her intellect was an incredible force that brilliantly drove the mystery. Dinos equally stands out as his character is initially shrouded in mystery, which gradually unravels as his backstory, personal struggles, and insecurities come to light. This made his character realistic and relatable, plus fueled some heartwarming character growth and self-discovery.
What a tool cynicism is to the corrupt, claiming the whole of the creation is broken and fraudulent, and thus we are all excused to indulge in whatever sins we wish
Secondary characters:
Several characters have distinct personalities, roles and motives that help drive the storyline. However, none left a strong impression on me, and the unusual names of the characters made it challenging to remember who was who.
Narration & Audio:
Andrew Fallaize’s nuanced performance truly shines in the conversational aspects of the story. His character voices, distinct accents and subtle changes in tone, inflexions and pacing infused the characters with personality and created a great listening experience.
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