A Medieval Mystery with an Alchemical Twist
4.25 out of 5 stars
The Wrathful Cup of Scorn by E. A. Rivière, narrated by Jason L. Bishop, is a fantastic journey through 13th-century southern France, full of alchemy, intrigue, and an unexpected mystery.
As someone who doesn’t usually read historical fiction, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed immersing myself in this time period—the large manors, the sprawling kitchens bustling with staff, and the hints of early alchemical practices gave the story a distinctly vivid and charming flavor.
I loved how it was reminiscent of fantasy settings I’ve explored before but with an authentic historical twist that made it feel fresh and different.
Being the second book in the series, the narrative doesn’t spend much time re-explaining who’s who or what’s what—but that worked for me. I enjoyed diving straight into the action, and Rivière made it easy to get the lay of the land without much hand-holding.
I also appreciated the unique take on the mystery genre here. Instead of a more straightforward investigation, the story had an almost “spy mission” feel, with our protagonist, Bertwoin, infiltrating the château’s kitchen and trying to gather clues subtly and undercover. It made for an engaging and tension-filled plot that kept me riveted.
I must shout out to Jason L. Bishop for the fantastic narration. He really brought these well-crafted characters to life, from the powerful Sir Philippe to the desperate yet determined Bertwoin. There were so many layers to the characters, and Bishop’s narration captured each of them beautifully.
The story itself was fun, and I found myself particularly drawn to the unique atmosphere—a mix of mystery, historical setting, and the almost mystical elements that the alchemist brought into the plot. It was an immersive medieval whodunit that had me guessing throughout.
Book Description:
A plowman who fails to prevent a murder A corpse stolen while a priest prays over it A clever killer who must be caught in three days Cathar country, (now southern France), late autumn in the year 1200.
The alchemist sends Bertwoin to work in the château’s kitchen to prevent the murder of the visconte’s son.
Bertwoin fails. And before the alchemist can examine the corpse for clues, the killer commits the impossible crime of stealing the body while a priest keeps vigil over it. Now the murderer hunts other noble prey.
Then Sir Philippe, a powerful knight, accuses Bertwoin of being the killer. To prove he is innocent, Bertwoin and the alchemist must capture the murderer within three days.
The Wrathful Cup of Scorn by E. A. Rivière
Narrator: Jason L. Bishop
Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
Series: Carcassonne Mysteries #2
Published by Self Published on September 2nd 2024
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Format: Audiobook
I’ve loved reading since I was little when my dad would read me Dr. Suess books. Fast-forward a little and I noticed that he was always reading on his lunch breaks at work, and I wondered why.Then, I found a book that took me to another place and time, to another feeling,another sense of “being”.It was the first book that I ever fell in love with, and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.