Such a great book. Probably my favorite book I've read this year.
I can say that the story has kept me gripped from the start to finish. There were no slow moments. And I really liked the writing style and how skillfully the humor was integrated into the story.
The plot was very interesting and well executed, with a lot of twists and turns that kept me entertained until the end.
The characters were well rounded. I enjoyed all the different perspectives. I loved following their relationships.
Can't wait to read the next book!

I don't know how to put into words how perfect this book was for <i>me specifically</i>.

Don't get me wrong - it's excellent all around, in particular if you love epic fantasy. It has the length and plot unravelling of the Mistborn trilogy mixed with the humour of the Discworld universe; an odd pairing if I ever saw one but it WORKS.

I cried, I laughed, I said <i>WHAT?!</i> at several points in the story. I can't believe I've read it so early that I now have to wait more than a year for the sequel.

I read this whilst on holiday and kept wanting to pick it up instead of socialise with friends I hadn't seen in over a year. THAT is how good this is. I don't even really want to go into much more detail to be honest, the synopsis gave me enough to know I would enjoy it (trials/competition for the throne, 8 different clans that send a contender? Sign me up), so I would recommend going in with just the synopsis having been read because once the story starts going it opens up a whole new world.

5 million stars. I've preordered an extra special edition just because I loved it that much. (Goldsboro, if you were wondering).

I read and listened the audiobook at the same time, and it really made the experience that much better. The audiobook is perfectly narrated, and it really gave more of that magical vibe when reading. The book itself is really interesting with a unique magic system, the trials were done in a very good way and the twists kept on coming. I can't wait to continue this series.

The structure of the empire of Orrun is based on a rich society in which each person chooses which faction represented by one of the eight mythological creatures to affiliate with. The characteristics of each faction and creature are also of great importance to the political aspect of the empire, making it the scene of much political intrigues.
In addition, the next heir to the throne will not be chosen by bloodline, but through mortal trials faced by a participant of one of the eight factions. And finally... let's also add the death of a contender to give the plot a twist... intriguing, right?


The story follows Neema (a trusted scholar of the king and member of the Raven faction) who suddenly finds herself having to take the place of her companion d&ath in the competition for the throne in order to discover the culprit behind the latter's murder. Neema comes from the 'poor' part of the kingdom and for this very reason, in order to reach her position and gain a minimum of respect, she has had to work, sacrifice twice as much as the others and perform morally questionable acts... only to risk losing everything with this assignment. I admit that I was not a big fan of Neema initially, but then, oh what a development she had! In the end I couldn't help but root for her.

The thing is this: Neema is the protagonist, but practically every single character in his own way shines in-depth, complexity and has their own history and motivations for their actions. Every one of them at some point in the story has done something questionable, however, you will find yourself rooting for them anyway and you will realise that the concepts of 'good' 'evil' in this book are decidedly nebulous.

✨It's been ages since I've read an epic fantasy and that's why I'm so happy to be back in this genre with "the Raven Scholar!".I found myself reading every single word of the 700 pages because nothing was left to chance and every single detail, character and event found itself to be vital to the plot further on answering all my questions!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Antonia Hodgson for the ARC on which this review is based.

From the very first chapters, The Raven Scholar captivates with its immersive world, richly detailed history, and conflict. The novel delivers an engaging mix of political intrigue, high-stakes competition, and a gripping murder mystery, making for a fresh and exciting epic fantasy experience.

The world is impressively fleshed out, with a deep history, cultural traditions, and an expansive society shaped by eight mythical beings. Citizens pledge loyalty to one of these factions, influencing their values and roles in society. This unique mythology adds depth to both world-building and character dynamics, creating a setting that feels both organic and expansive.

The plot centers on an emperor’s decision to step down after a reign of 24 years. The new leader will be chosen via a brutal competition between representatives of different factions for the throne. However, before the contest begins, one contender is murdered, forcing Neema Kraa, a brilliant scholar, to take their place while also unraveling the mystery behind the crime.

The character work is a major highlight. Neema proves to be a compelling protagonist, using intellect and strategy to navigate court politics and the dangerous trials. Cain, the sly and mischievous Fox contender, offers a delightful contrast with his humor and irreverence. The entire cast is well-developed, each contender feeling distinct and layered, with their relationships, shared history and rivalries adding further complexity.

The competition itself stands out for its originality, requiring more than brute strength or magical prowess. Many challenges rely on wit, strategy, and knowledge, keeping the trials fresh and unpredictable. The murder mystery is also well-executed, with numerous suspects, hidden motives, and satisfying twists that keep readers guessing.

Despite the high stakes, the book maintains a wry sense of humor, both in its narration and character interactions. This balance of intensity and levity makes the novel engaging and prevents it from becoming too heavy.

While the magic system is intriguing, certain abilities feel underexplored, leaving some elements feeling vague. I hope to see deeper exploration of abilities like Houdsight and maybe some newer ones as well. The aspects of the Guardians inc. Sol and Fox were an excellent addition and hopefully aspects of other Guardians are also explored.

The Raven Scholar is an epic fantasy that successfully merges political intrigue, competition, and a murder mystery into a fast-paced, engaging read. With compelling characters, sharp twists, and an intricate world, it is a must-read for fans of intelligent, high-stakes fantasy. Despite its length, it never drags, and its clever storytelling ensures readers stay hooked until the very last page.

This book was incredible from start to finish. From the intricate world building, intriguing magic system and flawed but fascinating characters, I was completely absorbed in this world from page one. There were several twists throughout that had me completely floored, and the narrative style flowed excellently with some brilliant comedic moments spread throughout. I can't wait for the next book!

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson is an intriguing fantasy novel set in the empire of Orrun, where the delicate peace that has lasted for twenty-four years is about to come to an end. The story kicks off when Emperor Bersun the Brusque’s reign comes to a close, and seven exceptional individuals – warriors, strategists, and thinkers – compete to take his place. However, things take a dark turn when one of them is murdered, and it falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor's brilliant and eccentric High Scholar, to unravel the mystery before the deadly competition reaches its conclusion.

What makes this book stand out is the unique world-building. The empire of Orrun is a complex, rich society where people align themselves with one of eight mythical creatures. Each faction has its distinct qualities, and these creatures are deeply embedded in the culture and beliefs of the empire. The idea of factions aligned with powerful creatures, each vying for influence, caught my attention right away. Neema’s role as High Scholar puts her in an unusual position, as she competes alongside the warriors, all while trying to uncover the truth behind the murder that threatens to undo everything.

The combination of a throne competition and a murder mystery adds layers of intrigue and suspense to the plot. The pressure is on Neema, not only to solve the crime but also to navigate the dangerous politics and ambitions of those around her. As she delves deeper into the mystery, Neema uncovers long-buried secrets, leading to a thrilling unravelling of dangerous histories. The tension builds as the trials progress, and readers are kept on the edge of their seats, wondering who will win and who will fall.

At the heart of this novel is Neema’s journey, which is not just about solving the crime, but also about her place in the empire’s future. As she battles against the other contenders and struggles to untangle the web of secrets, she faces the ultimate question: will she succeed and claim the throne, or will death be the price of failure? With the enigmatic Raven watching over her, the stakes have never been higher.

If you're a fan of epic fantasy, political intrigue, and murder mysteries, The Raven Scholar is a captivating read that brings together these elements in an innovative way. The world-building is immersive, the characters are complex, and the plot is full of twists and turns. Whether you're drawn in by the fascinating mythical creatures, the competition for the throne, or the compelling murder mystery, this book promises to be a thrilling ride from start to finish.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

One of the best fantasies I have ever read!

Whatever you think you know about this book going in... forget it. I recommend going in knowing as little as possible. The emperor's reign is ending and there's a competition to become to new one - that's all you need to know!

I have never read a Fantasy that was so fantastic at twisting every expectation and prediction I had. Every time I thought I had figured "it" out, I was thrown for a loop and left in awe of Hodgson's ability to keep shocking me. Yet it never felt forced - the unveiling of new information was natural and logical, just impressively surprising!

One of the most unique things about this book is how it is written and, without spoiling anything, I think the narrative voice is what has you engaged at all times.

I can't say anything else without spoiling any of the many reveals, so just know this: you NEED to read this book. The Raven Scholar is a masterclass in world building, mysteries, trials, and magic - all the best parts of a great Fantasy!

This book was a great read! Very engaging throughout. The mystery and fantasy blend lead to a great build up of intrigue in the world and kept me hooked. I would definitely recommend this book.

Title: The Raven Scholar
Author:
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ / 5
Release Date:

Let me start by saying that the reason it took me so long to finish this book is entirely my fault. The author made me fall in love with Yana within the first few chapters—I was immediately invested, already picturing how her story would unfold, even eyeing her potential love interest. And then… I realized she wasn’t the main character. So, I got mad and stopped reading for a bit.

But once I got over myself and gave the book another go? I was hooked.

The Worldbuilding:

Absolutely impeccable. The world was immersive, well-developed, and introduced seamlessly. The political system and religious structures were intricate yet never overwhelming, striking the perfect balance between depth and accessibility. This is some of the best worldbuilding I’ve read in a long time—it’s detailed without ever feeling overcomplicated, and I was fully captivated by it.

The Writing:

For some reason, it took me a second to adjust to the writing style—not because it was difficult, but because of the sudden shifts in perspective. The narration is always in third person, but it occasionally jumps between characters within the same paragraph, which threw me off at times. (That said, I read this as an e-ARC, so it’s possible the formatting is smoother in the final version.)

I especially loved whenever we were following the raven and its perspective, it was really cleverly introduced in my opinion, and I loved how it added another layer to the narrative.

The Plot:

From page one, I was completely invested. The political intrigue and mystery were chef’s kiss—so well done. I’ll admit I’m still a bit sad that we didn’t get to follow Yana and her story line because I feel like that could have been a great alternativ story.
But the story we did get? Perfection.

There was fantastic foreshadowing throughout, and while there were moments where I thought I had predicted what would happen, I usually only got half of it right—there were always more layers to uncover. It kept me on edge in the best way, and now I’m desperate for more.

The Characters:

This is where the book truly shines. Every character—no matter how major or minor—felt incredibly well-developed, with layers of complexity and deeply rooted motivations. No one was one-dimensional, and no one was purely good or evil. Every single character had done terrible things at some point, whether in their past or over the course of the story, yet I still found myself rooting for them.

Even the supposed antagonist had such a compelling backstory that I understood him. The emotional depth this added to the story was phenomenal—it made every choice, every conflict, and every moment of tension feel so much more intense. I honestly can’t put into words just how well-crafted these characters were.

The Romance:

It’s a minor subplot and largely pre-existing, so if you need romance to be central to a story, this might not be for you. But for those who enjoy a strong focus on political intrigue and character dynamics, the relationships (romantic and otherwise) add an extra layer of depth without overshadowing the main plot.

Final Thoughts:

This was easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year, and I will be recommending it to every single person I know. If you love immersive worldbuilding, complex characters, and a gripping plot filled with political intrigue, this is an absolute must-read.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodderscape and Antonia Hosgon for providing me with an eARC of The Raven Scholar.

3.75 stars

The Raven Scholar is a fantasy book with murder mystery, political intrigue and many, many twists.

It’s very atmospheric, with worldbuilding that is informative, but not overwhelming. Although, I do wish the Guardians had been explored more and I wish we had more descriptions of the characters overall, as I found it hard to imagine a lot of them outside of Neema and Cain.

I loved how unique the trials were and the system in how the new emperor/empress was chosen, and I loved the elements of wit and humour throughout. I loved the twists and I enjoyed the religion in the story too. I found the magic in the story very interesting, but I don’t think we saw enough of it - and Houndsight is a huge example of this.

The story did start a little slow for my liking, and I feel that the first chapter, although important to the rest of the story, should’ve been a prologue as it felt a little detached for me. There were also a lot of formatting issues with the ARC (which should be fixed by release), but this made it difficult for me to distinguish the POV a lot of the time (outside of Neema). The ending was fantastic, even though I found it a bit rushed.

Overall, despite this, I found the story incredibly interesting once it got going and the twists kept me on my toes. I’ll likely pick up the rest of the series to see what happens.

First of all, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for approving an eARC of this book.
I am very sorry to say that this was a DNF for me. The promise sounded very promising to me, but unfortunately the book failed to hook me from the first pages due to the constant descriptive digressions that took me away from the narrative. In the middle of a dialogue, there would be a digression about a character's clothes or a description of the interior of the palace. When the description was over, I had to go back to the question in the conversation because I had forgotten what it was about. When new characters are introduced, we get a digression about their past, present and future intentions. I found this to be tedious and unnecessary.
Also, I couldn't connect with the protagonist, Neema, who I didn't find very well portrayed, because of the over-telling; we're constantly told who she is, how she should behave to fit in with what people expect of her faction, how she should dress. I also found the dialogue uninteresting. I pushed myself to read a chapter, but I was not curious to read on, I closed the book and picked it up the next day and pushed myself again, with the same results, until I reached 30% and decided to abandon it because there was nothing left to keep me going.

Thank you to the publisher for the earc!
I don’t know what I expected from his book, but I’m sure it wasn’t this! I ended up really liking
this story and I cannot wait for the sequel.
The Raven Scholar is an epic fantasy and yes, it was fantasy not romantasy! I didn’t know
how much I missed non romantasy till now. It was so refreshing that the main focus wasn’t
on the romance between characters! Don’t worry, there is some romance, but the
tournament for the crown, an investigation of a dead competitor and many deep buried
secrets are the main focus of the story.
The book was very well-written. The style fit so well to the story, it was informative, but not
too condescending, funny, but not trying to over-do it. I laughed so many times at Neema’s
comments, her sense of humour was spot on. Speaking of Neema, I really loved her
character, I can’t wait to see where she ends up later.
I loved the world building, it was clear that the author spent time carefully creating
everything. There were so many twists and turns, and I admit, I did not see most of them. It
was such a well-developed story, no gaping plot holes, incomprehensible descriptions, it was
all clear without infodumping. The mythology was well explained, and it made sense that
some believed in it while others didn’t.
The only thing I did not like and the reason why it was only a 4-star for me, it feels too long. I
mean, it’s over 600 pages, it is long, but towards the end I constantly thought “okay, now this
is the end” and no, it still wasn’t over. So many things happened at the end, and while I was
reading, it was too much. Now looking back it all makes sense though!
Overall, it was really good (shall I say magnificent?) and seriously recommend it to everyone
who wants a well-written epic fantasy!

Thank you netgalley for this arc I fear this is my favorite book of the year.

The Raven Scholar is an epic fantasy taking place in a city where citizens can enter into the service of one of the 8 guardians in their respective monestarys upon their 16th birthday. All of which value different characteristics and traits. it is from these monestarys that the candidates for the rulers are chosen every 24 years. The book opens up with a brief pov from Yanara, a girl with an important lineage that continues to haunt the narrative. We then meet our main character, Neema Kraa, a raven then working as a low level official. We follow her rise and then involvment in the next competition for the throne, and the murder among the contenders.

I loved this book. It has clever writing and manages to be humourous while weaving an incredible mystery. The characters are all distinct and manages to suprise you in their depth. The early pov shift is utilized perfectly and managed to make me feel betrayed in the worst way. The book constantly makes you think that the mystery is solved, only to hit you with another mystery to solve. My only critisism which in hindsight was not a huge issue was that no other nation is mentioned. No external political rivals, trade partners, or allies in other leaders anywhere. and the map only shows the nation this book takes place in.

The Raven Scholar was a fantasy steeped in political intrigue, with a well built world and magic system, a wide cast of characters and, while I enjoyed it, there were a few issues that stopped it from being a 5* read.

I think one of the main things this book suffered from was the pacing. It was long, like soooo long. For the most part I didn't notice it because the story does sweep you up, but there were just too many parts where I found myself loosing interest and noticing just how long I still had to go. Hodgson does break all of these up wonderfully with plot twists, but there was so much I felt could have been chopped out to make this a much more entertaining read. And this is where my second issue comes into play. The story is told mainly from the POV of Neema, whose great, we love her, but it's also interspersed with thoughts from some of the other competitors, and these are some the bits I felt we could have done with loosing. Normally I love this kind of thing, give me all the character exploration, but the thing is, they didn't really add anything to the characters that we didn't already see from Neema's POV. I think they were meant to give us some insight into them, something to relate too, especially with the more morally grey characters but, for the most past, it didn't really give us anything new, or fresh, simply a scene from their POV that we didn't necessarily need.

Now, this isn't true of all of them. There were certain scenes that absolutely needed to be there, that added to the tension and the intrigue. But for the most part, we get all the relevant information from Neema herself. I knew from the first introduction that I would like her, would want her to succeed. As a Raven, she has spent her life studying the history of Orrun, someone more at home in a book than in a room full of people, but don't take that fear of the spotlight as a lack of drive, she wants power, wants to show all the people who claim she is nothing better than an orphan just what she can do, and that leads her to make some dubious decisions, but to also come fall into the trap of being a little naive. One of my favourite things about her though, and something that absolutely added some humour to the story, was her inherent need to correct people, or explain about something if anyone asked a question. It puts her in some truly hilarious situations, and I just loved the different ways people reacted to it. It's a book full of ambitious characters, but it's their decisions regarding those ambitions that show us their true colours, and Neema constantly regrets the decision she made to place her in the position she finds herself currently.

The strength in this book though? The world building. Hodgson really feeds us when it comes to the history and current politics of Orrun. The people worship eight mythical beings who each embody their own attributes and ideals, and when they come of age most members of society will pledge themselves to one of these beings. Hodgson really delves into these different orders, giving us insight into each, and showing us how their followers choose to embody the being they pledge to. There are so many moving parts in The Raven Scholar, we have the mystery of the murder of Neema's Raven colleague, the competition for the crown as well as a further mystery that starts to show itself around half way through the book and Hodgson does a great job at weaving all these parts together.

The narration added a wit and humour to the story, which brought some much needed levity at certain points, but also helped the story feel less bogged down. Hodgson's choice to narrate it in the way she does, having multiple POV's was both a good and bad thing... I mentioned the bad above, but there were certain parts, certain POV's where it just worked. The way she writes specific POV's makes it read almost like a voice over, like someone is telling you to 'watch there... that bits going to be important,' and I really enjoyed those parts, whilst others bring something extra to the story, a missing piece in a puzzle we had been looking for. She also breaks the story up with some truly brilliantly placed twists. Some I guessed at, but others that completely blew me away, and these really help propel the story, especially when it slows down in certain parts.

It really does feel like a throwback to old style fantasy's in a lot of ways. It has that humourous and adventurous style plot, a great blend of characters from obviously evil, to obviously good and everything in between, and so many moving parts you easily find yourself lost. If it wasn't for those pesky pacing issues that really slowed the book down in parts, I could easily see this being a 5* read, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it as a whole and I'm eager to see where the story will go in the next book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. This is honestly the best fantasy book I have read in a very long time. The world building was perfect, with a lot of detail given to the mythology of the world. The characters were rich, diverse and complex, and although the cast is reasonably large everyone felt distinctive. The plot was developed masterfully with multiple twists and turns, but handled so well that it never became confusing at all. What I loved most of all was the writing style, it worked SO well and the moments of humour shone out perfectly. To sum up, one of my favourite reads of all time, so go read it.

This is making my favourites list of 2025 and it’s February.

I don’t know how to even describe this book. I went in blind and was pleasantly surprised and in for a wild ride full of chameleon and talking raven friends. Political intrigue, a murder mystery and cover-up, and action-packed trials. Incredible characterisations and funny wit.

I have to mention the narrative style. I cannot pin it down. It changes focalisation, style, form. This was third person internal focalisation most of the time, fairytale adjacent at times, other times told in the first person plural. It shouldn’t have worked as well as it did. INCREDIBLE.

You start by thinking too much is going on. Too many characters, too many threads, too much. However, the page count fleshes out the story and continues to throw surprises and twists at you.

The characters are smart, all hiding their own agendas and motivations, most pushed and pulled by love.
There is romance, but it is sound background that it is barely worth mentioning - expect I ate every crumb.

I cannot gush about this enough and I haven’t even touched on the easy representation - LGBTQ+, Black representation, neurodivergence.

Arc gifted by Hodderscape.

This was an incredibly satisfying read. After reading and enjoying Antonia Hodgson previous historical mysteries I was expecting The Raven Scholar to be good but I was amazed by just how much I loved it.
It’s quite a long book at over 600 pages but it didn’t feel that long and it includes everything necessary for a brilliant fantasy story. There are fantastic memorable characters, an fascinating world and political system, magic, gods, dragons and above all, a brilliant plot. I expected it to be a murder mystery in a fantasy setting but The Ravan Scholar is so much more than that.
The book begins with a brutal exile that takes place eight years before the actual story starts but those initial events are integral to every thing that happens next. The dual plot of the trials to choose the next emperor and the murder mystery is intricate and full of surprises but it all fits together perfectly.
The world building is excellent but the best part of The Raven Scholar has to be the characters. Neema is our protagonist and is an unwilling contender for the throne, thrust into the spotlight when her fellow Raven is murdered. She is socially awkward and unpopular and many people believe that she committed the murder and even Neema herself wonders if she could have done it. She is determined that she will find out the truth of what happened though as well as perform creditably in the trials as she is determined not to disgrace the Ravan temple.
All of the other characters are just as well written even if we don’t get to know them as well as Neema. There are the usual mix of courtiers, politicians and fighters but they are all vividly portrayed and memorable. Even though there is quite a large cast of people, they all stayed distinct in my mind.
And then we have the Ravens. The Ravens have taken it upon themselves to look after Neema even though she doesn’t believe in them. I just loved the chapters told from their POV and the humour that they added to the story as well as the extra insights into what was happening.
This was easily the best fantasy book that I have read so far this year and I’m really grateful to Net Galley and the publishers Hodder and Stoughton for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If I could give this more stars I would as 5 doesn't seem sufficient! This was a LONG read but it never felt like a struggle and I was hooked the whole way through. I lost multiple hours of sleep to this book!

As soon as Neema was introduced I was all in. Never have I related so much to a protagonist in a book like I have with Neema. It was refreshing to have an FMC that was in her 30s and not an impulsive stabby hothead. I genuinely enjoyed Neema's love of precision and her methodical nature.

The plot was well paced, and the world building was really well done. The trials were good (I can't resist a book with trials), but the underlying murder mystery was brilliant.

It was also refreshing for the love interest to not be a brooding, smirking ball of repressed rage. Also, on a small side note, I would go to war for Sol.

The only issue I had with this book is... I didn't realise it was a trilogy, and now I have to wait for the next part. Everyone should be talking about this book.

This is the first in a new epic fantasy and when I saw ‘competing for the throne’ I was interested!! This is definitely more of a fantasy than a romance, but if you like epic fantasy, this one is for you!