Being cognitively sophisticated and also long-lived has its dark side. The distinctly human style of navigating existence, our facility for reason, memory, empathy, and imagination, depends on a vast and still unfathomed network of cells in the brain. If too many of these cells die, we become unmoored. Memory falters, personality changes, language slips, the […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/02/22/the-dark-tangle-of-alzheimers-how-not-to-study-a-disease/

When Russian troops seized Crimea in 2014, German chancellor Angela Merkel, reporting on her conversation with Vladimir Putin, told President Obama that the Russian president seemed to dwell “in another world.” In a sense she was right: Russians and Westerners see the world quite differently, and our failure to understand Russia’s perspective made its actions […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/02/22/russian-exceptionalism-foundations-of-eurasianism/

I am the bat that vanishes under the bridge in late September. I’m the little dancer in night air, drunk on insects. See me over there by the couple drowning in each other on the bench under the pine tree? I am the velvet thing that brushes your earlobes. I am at home in a […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/02/22/after-michael-longley-after-amergin-gluingel-jim-moore/

Jorge Luis Borges’s short story “Averroës’ Search” begins one afternoon in twelfth-century Andalusia, in the shady Cordovan home of Ibn Rushd, later known in Europe as Averroës. The philosopher is at an impasse in his commentary on Aristotle’s Poetics: two words, “tragedy” and “comedy,” are everywhere in the Greek but opaque to the Arab, who […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/02/22/reimagining-al-andalus-on-earth-or-in-poems-calderwood/

In the summer of 2017, eleven FBI agents searched a small house in a run-down neighborhood in Augusta, Georgia, where a twenty-five-year-old NSA contractor named Reality Winner lived alone with a cat and a foster dog, neither of whom liked men. She’d mostly furnished the rental with exercise equipment, but she’d also hung up framed […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/02/22/open-secrets-bottoms-up-and-the-devil-laughs-howley/

Original source: https://www.squarebooks.com/book-post-fireside-reading-virtual-book-club

Original source: https://www.squarebooks.com/book-post-fireside-reading-virtual-book-club

Narrated by Andrew Fallaize, The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett blends fantasy with a murder-mystery detective case that pulled me in and never let go. The first in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, I cannot wait for more adventures with Ana Dolabra and Dinios “Din” Kol. You’ll want to add this first in trilogy to your audio library.

The Tainted Cup
by Robert Jackson Bennett
Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #1
Narrator: Andrew Fallaize
Length: 13 hours and 51 minutes
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x

A Holmes and Watson-style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett.

In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree 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, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must 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 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.

By an “endlessly inventive” (Vulture) author with a “wicked sense of humor” (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that’s at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new.

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The blurbs “A Holmes and Watson-style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist,” drew me and had me downloading The Tainted Cup. I was not disappointed! From the world to the characters, Bennett pulled me in and never let go.

The story takes place in an alternate world filled with magic and enhanced humans. When a high imperial officer ends up dead in the Empire, Ana Dolabra, an eccentric detective with an excellent solve record, is assigned to the case. Dinios “Din” Kol, a magically altered assistant, goes out and meticulously investigates the crime scene before reporting back to Ana.

I will leave you to learn more about Ana and Din. I enjoyed both of them and thought they made the perfect team. Ana is very much like Sherlock and Din, her Watson. We learn much about Ana and Din through Din’s observations. I enjoyed his voice and thought process as we found ourselves in dangerous situations.

The world is interesting from the walled off areas of the Empire to the Leviathan, who both enhance them and pose a threat. Power plays and twists kept me on edge. The story felt tight and flowed well with smooth world-building. Suspense, fear of discovery and attempts at stopping them were well done.

While the murder-mystery case was solved, there is much to learn! I look forward to more cases with this duo. I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Andrew Fallaize. He did such a great job of capturing the voice of Din, Ana, and other characters. I hope he continues with the series.

If you are looking for a thrilling mystery and adventurous fantasy, you’ll want to grab The Tainted Cup.

Amazon | Audible

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2024 Audiobook Challenge

Source

Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2024/02/the-tainted-cup-by-robert-jackson-bennett.html

Pilgrims of Stone and Saber, the opening installment of the Lodestone Chronicles by J. W. Wagner, delves into a Christian fantasy narrative centered around a young woman’s quest for her destiny. The protagonist, known as Pilgrim or Pruoschkinytees, is a princess whose life is upended when her father falls under the spell of a new wife in his harem. Furnished with a staff, saber, and a lodestone—a keepsake from her deceased mother—Pilgrim reenters the world of her birth. She finds herself in an involuntary marriage to General Gersham, her father’s confidant. Despite her attempts to escape, Pilgrim is persistently drawn back into this unwelcome alliance. Their deity, Ya-Beresh, guides Pilgrim and Gersham on a journey to locate a prophesied savior, Yarash-Ohr.

The novel explores themes of spiritual discovery and religious awakening, with the supporting cast adding intrigue to the narrative. Notably, the story includes elements such as gladiatorial battles and a shape-shifting dragon, contributing to the fantastical aspect of the book. The world-building takes an understated approach, focusing more on the characters’ internal journeys than on detailed settings or timelines. This leaves room for interpretation and personal imagination regarding the era and religious context.

While the romantic elements are central to the plot, they unfold in a unique and unpredictable manner, offering a fresh perspective on character relationships. The dynamics, especially in romantic situations, evolve in a way that may seem unconventional, inviting readers to explore the complexities of the characters’ interactions.

The protagonist, Pilgrim, is initially introduced as a figure of considerable independence, and her journey invites readers to witness the evolution of her character. This transformation, particularly in the context of traditional gender roles and societal expectations, offers a thought-provoking exploration of agency and self-determination.

The novel’s blend of elements, including magic, women in active combat roles, and complex personal narratives, provides a diverse tapestry that might broaden the horizons of traditional Christian literature readers. For those with more progressive views, the depiction of marriage, gender roles, and cultural norms in the book opens the door for meaningful discussions and reflections on these themes.

Pilgrims of Stone and Saber presents a fantasy and spiritual exploration blend with elements that will engage some readers while potentially challenging others. The narrative weaves through themes of faith, destiny, and personal growth, set against a backdrop of fantastical elements and complex character relationships.

ISBN: 1738151212 | Pages: 242

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/02/01/pilgrims-of-stone-and-saber/

A cop is in desperate need of help. A serial killer, a true mastermind, has been on the loose for months, leaving no evidence behind. The task force assigned to catch him is at a loss, but the cop knows the killer’s next target: his own sister-in-law.

Desperate for a solution, the cop turns to a man with a reputation for getting the job done: Smitty, a legendary hitman with a hundred different names. As the clock ticks down, the cop and Smitty must team up to take down a killer who has eluded the police for too long. But can they outsmart the elusive serial killer and save the cop’s sister-in-law before it’s too late?

Full of heart-pounding suspense and unexpected twists, B.R. Stateham’s ‘Smitty’s Calling Card’ will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/02/01/smittys-calling-card/