First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC (and ALC)!

I was really excited to dive into The Raven Scholar. The premise is very intriguing —an empire ruled by divine animal factions, a deadly competition for the throne, and a murder mystery at the centre of it all. It sounded like exactly the kind of fantasy I enjoy.

Unfortunately, while there were interesting ideas, the execution didn’t quite land for me.

The book tries to combine several genres—epic fantasy, murder mystery, and political intrigue—but the blend never fully works. The pacing felt slow, and at nearly 700 pages, it dragged in parts. I found myself losing focus and re-reading sections often. I enjoyed the initial POV, but the early switch felt jarring, and I didn’t connect as well with Neema’s perspective.

There were also a few stylistic choices that made the reading experience feel disjointed. One that stood out was the use of modern slang and swear words in a world that otherwise leans toward high fantasy. I know this works for some readers, but for me, it broke the immersion.

The romance subplot didn’t particularly resonate either. And while I appreciated the diversity in the cast, I found it hard to connect deeply with most of the characters.

That said, there were things I enjoyed! The concept of the eight animal-based factions was creative and intriguing, and there were some clever, humorous moments that stood out. I especially appreciated Sol, who brought a much-needed dose of warmth and lightness.

I also alternated between the digital copy and the audiobook, hoping it would help me connect more with the story. While that didn’t change my overall experience, I do want to highlight that the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life.

I’ve seen many readers connect with this one, and I truly believe it will find its audience. If you enjoy slower-paced fantasy with political complexity, mythological themes, and a touch of mystery, this may very well be for you. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the right match for me—and that’s okay.

I was so excited to read this one. The blurb sounded amazing and I had read so many positive reviews, but I feel like I was reading a different book than everyone else 😅

Unfortunately I DNFed this one quite early on (20%) and to be honest, it was a struggle to get that far.

I found the storytelling very slow, and it really didn’t grip me as much as I had hoped. I was also a lot more interested in Yanas story than Neema. I just don’t think I vibed with her character. I found her very dull.

I wish I had liked this one more. But perhaps it just wasn’t for me at this point in time.

Absolutely unputdownable! This will go down as one of my top reads of 2025!

I loved the worldbuilding in this book with eight gods based on different animals who return to the world seven times to save it but the eighth time they come, they will destroy it. The people of the world take on the characteristics of the animals they pledge themselves to. It's a very intricate world with lots of detail and very cleverly done.

The characters are great. They are all flawed and make mistakes, but they grow. As the main characters develop throughout the book and answers come to light, the twists and turns are surprising. The answers that are found are shocking and not quite what was expected. The book kept me guessing all the way through.

The ending was good. It wrapped up nicely but definitely leaves it open for a sequel, which I will most certainly be reading.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

Oh my god. Y'all, I was blindsided.

This book is looong, and I have to admit that my attention span is very, very short these days. I did not think that I would fly through this massive book, glued to the page. It was just, simply, gloriously good.

Okay, let's admit it: The beginning is weird. The first three chapters are basically an extended prologue, and I was confused why I was reading a book about a girl named Yana when the plot summary had promised me a woman called Neema. Well, Neema takes over the main character part in chapter 4, and that is when the pieces well together and it clicked, and I was absolutely and irrevocably hooked.

The writing is amazing. The characters are all stand-outs. But it's the worldbuilding where this book truly shines. I wanted to curl up and build a nest in this world. There's just so much incredible detail, and it felt good and refreshing, and fleshed-out and lived-in and comfortable and dangerous and exciting. I haven't read about a world as alive and vibrant as this one in a long, long time.

Trials of any kind are always a good plot, at least in my humble opinion. And so are locked-room mysteries. This isn't really one of those, but sometimes, it feels like it, because we have this cast of characters, and we KNOW one of them is guilty. And it's exhilarating, and it's tantalizing. The plot is break-neck in the best of ways, and nothing feels rushed or drawn-out at all. Just perfect pacing all around, which is not easy in a book this long.

I'm trying not to spoil anything in most reviews; in this one too, but I just have to admit that during the last quarter of the book, I couldn't put it down. The plot twists were so good. I did not see a single thing coming. The plot - it was just so clever. Or at least it seemed to me to be incredibly clever (I do not have the best track record with guessing plot twists.) And everything came together so beautifully.

There are glistening bites of sparkling humor strewn all through those pages. The multi-aspected flock of sentient ravens. Pink-Pink the chameleon somehow being one of the most important characters (and, might I add: an absolute ICON). A fox god manifesting into physical being and complaining about his altar not featuring chickens. It's perfect. It provides just enough bite-sized levity to carry you through the chapters towards that blistering conclusion.

And now that I've arrived at it, and there's nothing more to read, I have to resign myself to waiting for the other two books in this series, which will seem like an eternity of being stuck in a magical fresco, with nothing to do all day except to chant my own binding spell that will keep me stuck to the walls. Great.

I am so sorry, but this book just wasn't for me. I tried three times to get past the twenty percent mark but just couldn't. I think the problem was that' I didn't connect with Neema's pov. I also think that the blurb doesn't quite match the story so I felt slightly misled. There are lots of positive reviews, but this book was not for me

The Raven Scholar is a whirlwind of intrigue, emotions, and intense character dynamics that left me reeling. I really enjoyed the world and the structure of their society. The idea of different communities based off of animals and their personalities was really cool and the world and lore felt very fleshed out.

The first chapter had me on the edge of my seat and I was completely enthralled in the story from the beginning.
I didn’t read the synopsis before starting and I really wasn’t expecting the book to take the turn that it did. (if you know you know)

Neema, the fierce and complex female main character (FMC), is refreshingly human. I loved that she’s not the typical badass snarky FMC that we’ve been seeing more and more lately.
She makes a lot of decisions that make her quite unlikeable to be honest but her development was so interesting to watch; her journey is more about perseverance and strategy than raw power, making her growth compelling.

The trials, though—wow. I normally hate trials in books and I do feel like they’re getting overused in the fantasy space but these trials were actually so interesting and I needed to continue reading. The other competitors did definitely add to my intrigue and my favourite was definitely Ruko.

Ruko… where do I even start with Ruko? He is a puzzling character—one moment I’m questioning him, the next I’m completely captivated. The constant back and forth between wondering whether I should hate him or love him added layers of tension and unpredictability to the plot.

The plot twist towards the end of the book had me almost dropping my kindle like i knew something was off but i was not expecting THAT!

Overall, The Raven Scholar took some sharp and unexpected turns, which kept the pages turning. I do feel like the book was slightly too long but the payoffs are definitely worth it.

Epic fantasy meets murder mystery in the best possible way. I had the best time and also no idea how to review this, so a rambling review it is :)

Emperor Bersun is near the end of his term, and the competition to find his successor is about to start. Each of eight houses dedicated to a different animal/god sends a representative to compete in the trials. When one of these contenders is murdered, Neema, the Raven Scholar becomes her replacement, the lead investigator, and the prime suspect in one fell (and unexpected) sweep. The stakes: life, death, and the fate of the empire. No biggie.

At 656 pages, this book is a chonker with lots of plotlines and characters. There are 80 chapters divided over 8 parts, and I can honestly say that every single one of those chapters carries its weight in the end (even if that is far from obvious while you read some of them). The characters all have depth and a clear individual identity. I was engaged and invested from beginning to end, and after finishing it and seeing where all the bits fit into the larger story I'm just kind of in awe of the author's craft. I don't normally read historical mysteries, but I might need to give the author's other books a go anyway...

If you're a reader of epic fantasy normally, read this. If you're not but you'd like to try the genre, I think this one is a good place to start. Fair warning though: it's the first book in a trilogy, and if the sequel is anything like this, I imagine we might be in for a little wait. (I'm realising ARCs are great in theory, but also mean an extra long wait for the next one).

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this title to review. All opinions are of course my own.

From the very first page, I was completely immersed in this world, captivated by its rich histories and intriguing characters.

The book seamlessly intertwines mysteries and thrilling trials, keeping me on the edge of my seat. As a fan of magical trials, I was thrilled by how well this element was executed—it certainly didn’t disappoint! While the protagonist was incredibly engaging, I was also drawn to the well-developed side characters, each adding depth and charm to the story.

This is a fantastic new addition to the fantasy genre, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book to discover what lies ahead!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodderscape for this eARC to review.

This was a tough decision, but I DNFed the book… I really like the first pov, Yana’s, but I lost interest in the story when it got to Neema. I didn’t connect to her and thus didn’t care for her goals and trials. Moreover, the book is way too long. The actual story, the one promised in the synopsis, only starts around the 20% mark, and that is far too late… This book could not keep me engaged. I might try listening to the audiobook, but I’m not sure it’s worth it.

After reading the synopsis I was so excited to apply for this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton I was granted this arc. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book early.

The story starts off with Yana’s POV but suddenly changes to Neema’s. While Yana’s story seemed very interesting to me, I didn’t connect with Neema’s story and would’ve preferred reading more of the story in Yana’s POV. Because of this I eventually did decide to DNF this book.

Because I’ve never dnf’ed before, this was a very tough decision. I do see aspects that other people could very much enjoy, but this book just wasn’t for me.

After bumping into a few things numerous times, I felt it was time to put this book aside because I wasn’t excited anymore.

I have seen loads of positive reviews so the story might be something for you! It just wasn’t for me and that’s okay.

What I did enjoy:
- The story is something I haven’t seen before and did intrigue me.
- ⁠Clothing and books were described vividly, those were easier to picture.
- The footnotes were a fun touch
- ⁠The location was at times explained quite clearly. In those times I could also envision that and enjoyed the ideas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to dive into this universe which sounded so promising! Sadly, it was overall pretty disappointing..
It’s all the more sad because I was really into it at first. I was intrigued and I absolutely loved the first chapters where we follow the first pov of the book: Yana Valit. Her storyline was so interesting! Then comes the second one; Neema Kraa but also, troubles. I had a bit of a hard time with her at first, and while I get where the character development was going, I wasn’t attached nor cared that much about her or the romance bits. I don’t think the pacing helped. It was pretty uneven and I was confused most of the time. At some point I didn’t feel like something was really happening. Only the end captivated me, but that didn’t save the whole boat.

I think the world building was based on so many great ideas and that this book had so much potential, but sadly I wasn’t won over by the execution.

I would rate that book 2,5 stars.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Okay, so this book is incredibly hyped and normally that means I dread reading my it, because it rarely lives up to the hype.

Thankfully, The Raven Scholar really really lives up to the hype. It will go down as a classic of the fantasy genre.
It has such strong main characters; all of them having their own very unique voice, which kept me thoroughly engaged throughout.
I love a competition based story; the trials meant that the story was constantly moving.

I can’t wait for the sequel!

This was a whirlwind of a story where to start. There’s a murder mystery, political intrigue, trials and competition. I loved the ravens and their POV. I loved Caine and Neema and was rooting for them to find their way back to each other. The magic system and world building was unique and complex.

I need the next book in this series I am still thinking about the ending and may dive back in to reread.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hoddler Books and Antonia Hodgson for the opportunity to read The Raven Scholar.
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First of all, this is quite a long read I didn’t expect to have 650 pages to read.
Sometimes I think some descriptions could’ve been skipped and weren’t necessary but overall it was such an amazing read.
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I like to have one main event but everything is set in the same place. I also really enjoyed to have "one" POV. I’m always confused when we switch narrators in other fantasy books.
The setting was VERY confusing at first with the palaces, the guardians and all the history but it was explained little by little and we could discover people’s real motives with the book.
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In the very beginning I kinda struggle to relate to Neema and most of the other characters but after a few hundred pages it got better.
I had no expectations for this book and was very pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it.
Some mystery is left unclear so there’s space to write more books. However I don’t know if I’d like another 700 pages.
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One of my favorite tropes is when a character is haunting the narrative and everyone else around. Especially with the whole "name editing" it’s really well done.
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Overall this was a 4.75/5 read, I think I would’ve liked it better if it was a standalone with 200 pages more.

Loved this. Fully on board with Neema and her life as a high scholar for the emperor. I savoured the story and actually read it twice, i found it that good. Have pre-ordered the hardback to have in my collection.

Bersun the emperor is retiring from the throne, he has served his maximum of 24 years and a festival to establish his replacement is held. One contender from each house of the Eight must compete in a series of games and challenges to win enough points to succeed the emperor. However, one contender gets killed and Neema not only becomes the prime suspect, but is instructed to replace the murdered contender. Everyone suddenly hates her and believes she killed Gaida, Neema herself also believes she did after someone spikes her with an hallucionagenic and tries to kill her, but did she? Or does Neema hold a higher purpose and may end up being the saviour of them all.

There are some fantastic side characters in this book, Cain who i may be a little in love with - I hated you before it became fashionable. Reku, after Neema kicked another contenders butt " I didnt expect you to interest me but you do, we have a lot to talk about". Littered with funny one liners throughout this is a challenging but engaging read and i really loved it.

I struggle to review this book - I found the characters, and world building very innovative but I struggled with keeping up with the story and the plot.

The Raven Scholar was a really pleasant read. The characters were intriguing and well built. The mystery was good but nothing special or memorable

Every once in a while a book comes along that's so unique and different it really wins a place in your heart. I was drawn to The Raven Scholar by the premise, devoured it for the humour and action.
Neema serves the outgoing Emperor as the Raven Scholar, dreaming of writing her books in peace when she accompanies him on his retirement. Only, during the trials to choose the new emperor, Neema finds herself a contender, battling to not only survive the trials, but perhaps, maybe even win?
This book had everything good fantasy needs and more. The worldbuilding and lore was so unique and different. I was hooked from the start and riveted throughout. There's betrayal, twists where you audibly gasp, humour, love, magic, dragons and a solitary raven.
I can't put into words how much I loved this book. A stunning cast of characters in a wonderfully exotic setting. This is one of my favourite reads of the year. A stunning piece of fantasy and I'm so excited and keen to see where it goes.
A must for any fantasy fan and a very easy five stars from me!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

The Raven Scholar is a glorious, hard to put down read. I laughed, I cried, I gasped and I smiled. Everything I like in story was packed into this well paced and uniquely written book. It has trials, mystery, political intrigue, some romance, a unique magic system and magical creatures, and a badass (and not teenage!) FMC. Neema is intelligent, brave and vulnerable, and makes choices that didn’t leave me despairing. The story told from a third person narration, but you don’t discover who the narrator is until later in the story which was such an interesting read. It’s also really funny, despite moments of high stakes, action packed tension. I loved it, and can’t wait for the next book. Magnificent.

For a fantasy novel, The Raven Scholar starts out relatively low key. There is no epic battle, the land has been at peace for centuries, the only recent rebellion quickly put down before it even got started. There is a minor hangover from that rebellion still to be mopped up, but while even that seems relatively insignificant, you know how it goes with fantasy novels. This is just the beginning of a trilogy, so you can be sure there will be ramifications down the line, and sure enough these events already come back to bite before the end of book one.
So what kind of a fantasy world does Antonia Hodgson delve into in her Eternal Path Trilogy? It's close enough to a Game of Thrones style fantasy, where there are powerful rival families in Orrun and there are religious and militaristic powers. The difference here is that you can choose which 'family' or anat of the Eight Guardians you wish to follow. There is the Way of the Bear, the Ox, the Raven, the Monkey, the Hound, the Fox, the Tiger and the Dragon. Their followers take on the attributes of their chosen guardian - somewhat aligned with the animal characteristics - but few actually worship their guardian or believe that they are 'real'. There is rivalry between all of the clans certainly, but they are all in agreement that peace serves their best interests. The empire is currently run by Bersun of the Bear contingent, but according to the constitution there is a contest between the leading contenders from each group every 24 years to choose a new ruler, and that time is now approaching.

In terms of drama to draw you into the world and its history there are two episodes - seemingly minor, as I said, but likely to become significant. The Raven Scholar opens with the exile of a young woman, Yana, the daughter of Andren Vallit, the Great Traitor who rebelled against the emperor. Condemned by her own twin brother Ruko, exile means certain death, but may we suspect that might not be the end of her story?

The other event is the situation facing the main character we follow in the book, Neema Kraa, a scholar from the Raven monastery whose calligraphy and knowledge of obscure historical customs and lore that she produces papers on are highly valued - so much so that she was tasked with writing the certificate of Exile for Yana. Although the 'anats' are open to all, not everyone is treated equally and since she is not from one of the High Families but a Commoner, Neema hasn't risen to the heights she might have otherwise. She now faces a dilemma over documents that have resurfaced and fallen into the hands of her rival Gaida. These documents reveal that she would have been expelled but for the sudden arrest and death of her instructor. The forthcoming ceremony and contest for the new emperor, largely organised by Neema, is going to be an excruciating experience for the Raven scholar.

That doesn't sound like it is much to go on, but there is certainly enough to keep you locked in and it is certainly never dull as the characters are given as much attention as the history of Orrun. Fantasy has certain conventions and styles, but it also has the capacity for great creativity and imagination and Antonia Hodgson has plenty of that. The warring kingdoms are sort of there (potentially), there's plenty of prophesy, a tournament, and there is a 'chosen one ' in an unlikely commoner, a bookish loner who no-one wants to be associated with, who (you could reasonably presume) comes to achieve her potential. All fine, but what Antonia Hodgson does with those conventions and how she reveals the character of the world is terrific. By the time you are a third of the way in, The Raven Scholar is totally unputdownable, taking on a thrilling momentum.

Needless to say, the contest is the centre of the turmoil that is about to be unleashed,. After 24 years of rule time for change of emperor, and each anat has put forward a contender. Ruko - who had his own sister banished at the introduction to the book - is now the Tiger contender, and as such a formidable candidate. Thankfully though the author spares us the dullness of fighting descriptions, keeping them mercifully brief or passed over entirely in favour of the intrigue they inspire in the imperial court, where clearly other strange events - not least the murder of the Raven contender Gaida - suggest that some other intrigue is beginning to play out. Not to be discounted either is the fact that there is magic in this world, practised by the Dragons who by tradition do not enter the contest for the new ruler. Neema also secretly possesses a magic book that tells her of an ancient curse that is about to be unleashed, a curse that heralds the return of the Eight from the Hidden Realm.

“May they remain hidden”, is the response given to anyone bestowing the blessing of the Eight. There is a reason the Guardians are feared as well as respected. There are however other family and clan secrets that have remained hidden, long histories that are revealed in original ways by Antonia Hodgson partly as a murder mystery investigation, but one where there are mysterious forces at work that suggest that the ascension of a new emperor how heralds an immediate danger to peace. And unfortunately, since the Raven contender is now dead, it is Neema, the bookish Raven scholar who is caught in the middle of a grand intrigue. Indeed a grand conspiracy wouldn't be too big a word for what is going on, and we are only at the beginning of it.

Like any good opening to a trilogy, The Raven Scholar is an impressive start that leaves you wanting more. Like any other good trilogy it also has a satisfying conclusion but opens up a lot of new directions. Some of those are potentially disruptive considering where we are left, but with some wonderful characters supporting Neema along the way including Cain, Benna and Sol and a few others who will remain nameless for fear of spoilers, you have a whole range of other possibilities, interest and humour aside from the sword and sorcery wars and intrigue carrying over to the next book. Can't come soon enough for this reader.