I listened to the audio version and love that the author is one of the voices.
Such an interesting and vibrant story, I loved the world building and the story from the start.
The twists and turns were unexpected and am excited to see what happend even if the end was slower than the rest of the book.

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Hodderscape. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The Raven Scholar.]

Rating: 2.75/5

There’s a lot of hype surrounding this book, and many fantastic reviews, so before starting this I’ll mention that I’m likely in the minority of readers who didn’t enjoy The Raven Scholar. I went in with very high hopes and had this as one of my most anticipated reads of the year, but unfortunately my expectations were not met. Personally, I felt there were too many issues to overlook that contributed to this being an unenjoyable read.

When the current emperor of Orrun must bring his reign to an end, seven contenders from rival monasteries must compete to replace him. These candidates are the best of the best, but then one of them is murdered and the mystery is left to raven scholar Neema Kraa to investigate. As Neema falls deeper into the case, a chain of events are set in motion that could bring an end to the empire.

First of all, this book is long, perhaps too long, and that’s coming from someone who enjoys and regularly reads similarly sized books. I think that one of the main issues that contributes to how long the story feels is that the book tries to be too many things at once, and I never felt that we got a chance to focus on the most interesting parts of the plot. Considering how the book is set up, I thought we would get much more time spent with the trials, but a lot of them are glossed over and some even happen off the page. In and around that, there’s a lot of worldbuilding and information dumping which felt like too much all at once. There were many points where I said to myself, ‘this could have gone into book 2’, or ‘this would be a good point to end book 1’.

Next up are the characters, almost all of which frustrated me. I found it very hard to believe that the candidates for the trials were the best of the best that the empire had to offer, but in fairness to them, I also felt that the trials were poor tests of leadership when it comes to running an empire. Most of the time these people felt like young adult personalities in adult bodies and I struggled when imagining any of them as the new emperor or empress. That being said, I did like Neema, and I’m thankful that we had her as the main POV.

Finally, the worldbuilding and plot developments completely lacked impact for me. Some of the reveals felt like they were going for gasps more than anything, and the constant information dumping regarding the lore of this world got tiring very quickly. Again, I think that if a lot of this information was saved for a later book, and book 1 was spent really getting to know characters and experiencing the trials, I would have had a much better time.

Of course, this is just my opinion, and as I said at the start, it looks like I’m very much in the minority. It’s sad that I couldn’t enjoy this but I’m genuinely happy to see that so many others are having a great time with it.

A richly layered epic full of political intrigue, mystery, and deadly competition, brought to life through immersive worldbuilding and sharp, witty narration. The characters are complex and compelling, with plot twists that keep the pages turning and leave you craving the next chapter.

First I wanna thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this incredible book in advance.
What a read! The synopsis really intrigued me but I wasn't expecting for it to grab me right from the start. The incredible world building with the super unique magic system (the Eight and them being their Gods, the way some of them could be a part of someone or even possess them), the politics, the very interesting competition and trials they were in. Everything was so well done and our girl Neema, our FMC, she is a badass and she's so damn intelligent. I loved how smart she is from the start, how she evolved with the trials and how she solved one of the twists I didn't see coming AT ALL (the emperor one). I also really like Cain. He's funny as heck and so sweet, even if he tries to hide it.
The last few chapters with its twists and turns: with the emperor, with Ruko, with the Eight, with Nishtala (which I gotta say I really don't like, what an entitled brat).
I'm so looking forward for the next book 🙌🏻

Antonia Hodgson’s The Raven Scholar is an immersive and intelligent fantasy debut that weaves together political intrigue, mystery, and emotional depth. Set in the richly imagined world of Orrun, the story follows High Scholar Neema Kraa, a brilliant yet socially isolated protagonist thrust into a deadly competition to determine the empire’s next ruler. 

The novel excels in its intricate world-building, drawing readers into a society divided by sacred animal factions and steeped in history and lore. Hodgson’s attention to detail creates a vivid backdrop for the unfolding drama, from the grandeur of imperial politics to the subtle nuances of personal relationships. 

Neema’s character is a standout—her methodical nature and dry wit make her both relatable and compelling. The supporting cast, including the enigmatic Cain and the charming Sol, add depth and diversity to the narrative, each with their own complex motivations and backstories.  

While the novel’s length and the sheer number of characters can be overwhelming at times, the payoff is a story that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually satisfying. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for a gradual buildup of tension and a deeper exploration of themes such as grief, power, and identity. 

Overall, The Raven Scholar is a compelling start to what promises to be an exceptional series. Fans of epic fantasy with a penchant for political intrigue and richly drawn characters will find much to enjoy in Hodgson’s latest offering.

Thank you NetGalley, Hodderscape for an advanced readers copy in exchange of an honest review, all opinions are my own.

Now, this was a compelling, unique, magnificent read.

The way Antonia Hudgson wrote this book? We can't believe it how well she did it, how complicated it must have been, for her to weave everything together till the very end. The various trials all depending on the different animals, the fights we read about, the contenders battling to sit on the throne, the setting we were thrown in - everything felt magical, everything felt unreal. We loved how even the Chinese animals were thrown inside the book in terms of Eight, that was another keen yet subtle touch.

Neema doesn't want the throne, but we made her want it, we prepared her to want it, Cain wants the throne, but like all others, he's an obstacle, someone who just needs to go away. Just like all others, especially the Valit boy, that wrenched, heartless boy. Everyone was there for a reason, everyone expect Neema, who was thrown inside the competition. Oh how pleasant it was for us to watch her soar high in understanding and in denial.

We liked each contender, even if we have to admit the Cain Ballari has regretfully caught our eyes with great interest. Our magnificent sight has set in him, and we are eager to see what he and our darling high scholar, along with the others will do now after all that has happened.

What we regret to tell you now may sadden you. Why not 5 stars? Why a still magnificent 4.5 stars? Well, let us break it down for you.

The start of the book was too slow, we couldn't understand how long the prologue not prologue/first part of the book was. It simply was/and felt never-ending. Our interest peaked around 40% of the book, even the promised murder which sets things in motion arrived later than expected. Now, I see that a good book needs a good buildup, but we thought it was abused in terms of longness.
Even the many characters, while extremely diverse did n0t partially make our still goo hearts flutter with interest or/and excitement.

In terms of plot and especially of ending there's nothing to pick at with our beak, it simply was just as we are: magnificent, filled with jaw-dropping high stakes, secrets and revelations what will make you question your sanity and at times you abilities of investigators.

Can't you hear our wings flutter in excitement? Out screeches as we pick Hudgson for more? because we need more. This, our deepest friends, is only the start, and we can't await to read more of it.

This fragment of raven can't wait for more, you see?

Because we are magnificent.

4.5⭐️ 0.25🌶️ (all fade to black, very few scenes)

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance reader copy.

I think I may be in the minority of readers who didn’t enjoy this book.
The concept felt very promising and I was hooked by the beginning but then didn’t enjoy the character pov switch. After reading I understand why the author may have included this but due to the length of the book I wasn’t thinking about that character or their pov towards the end.

I got around 50-60% through and found that that’s when the pace got into some sort of swing. I unfortunately finished this to make sure I felt I gave it a chance.

As this is the beginning of a trilogy I wonder how much longer the other two books will be and if there will be similar pacing issues and a rushed ending.

1.5⭐️ rounded up to 2

Epic fantasy will always have my heart and Antonia Hodgson has given me a delectable meal of it with The Raven Scholar.

The world is beautifully rich in lore and politics that are unique and refreshing on the trope of gods vs humans. I was intrigued by the culture born from the different monasteries and how they influenced each contender in the battle for the throne. I enjoyed seeing each day dedicated to each of the Eight and how it demonstrated the different personalities of each of the characters as they underwent the trials, making them unique and three dimensional.

It was also really satisfying for how the dynamics between the monasteries were influenced by the natures of the Eight they represented.

Favourite characters: Neema, Cain Benna and Shal. Honourary mention for Ruko (he’s just a boy!)

Side note: Neema being black is very pleasing to me.

Very much looking forward to book 2!

I enjoyed the book and it has a nice build up but it just wasn’t for me!!! Releases on 17 April £9.99 on kindle version!

After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders will compete to replace him.

Trained at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal - Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth - the Dragon proxy - will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists - the best of the best.

Then one of them is murdered.

It falls to the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, darker forces are gathering.

If Neema succeeds, she could win the throne - whether she wants it or not. But if she fails, she will sentence herself to death - and set in motion a sequence of events that could doom the empire

If I only had one word to describe this book, it would be magnificent!

This book was so fun to read, I enjoyed every page of it. The book immediately grabbed my attention by starting the first few chapters with the tragic backstory of the Valit twins, Ruko and Yana.
After that, the story continues. It takes place in an empire called Orrun. Its costum is that every 24 years, a new emperor will be chosen with a dangerous tournament. In this tournament, one contender of the eight monasteries will compete to become the next ruler. Each of the eight monasteries is named after an animal, representing their Guardian. Each of these factions are known for their typical characteristics. If we look at a Raven, they are known for their knowledge and thus are known to be scholars, lawyers, and clerks.
The FMC Neema Kraa is actually High Scholar of the Ravens.
The reign of the current emporer is nearing its end, so it's time for the tournament. However, right before the tournament, the Raven contender (who also happens to be Neema's arch nemesis) is found murdered in her chamber. Not only does Neema have the task to find out who the killer is, but she also has to compete in the tournament as the new Raven contender...

I love how Neema's flaws are very realistic and recognisable. Each character in the book has their own characteristics that match their Guardian. This also made the world building quite easy to follow. This is why I think this book is very suitable to use as a gateway to high fantasy.
I've come to adore a lot of the different in the book. I do have to say that at certain points, the certain POV switches can be a bit confusing. Still, the book read away so easily for me. I love how I had a wide range of emotions during this book. Some scenes were very tense, and others were really funny. There's a lot of enjoyable banter during the conversations. Next to the adventurous tournament, there's even a murder mystery, politics, and a very little romantic subplot in this book. Even though this book tackles all these topics, they fit the plot perfectly. Also, I need to mention there are a lot of very good plot twists in the story! Even though the book is a little chunky, it definitely didn't feel like that. To me, this book has everything that I want; good world building,good plot, good vibes, and lovable characters. So, five stars from me, and I NEED the next book now!

This is a long book - it was around 200 pages before the story really got going. There is a lot of complex world-building, and it took a while to learn all the various orders and how society functions. I was intrigued enough to persevere and did enjoy it once the story was moving, but it was a slow start.

Once the murder mystery aspect picks up, it’s interesting to follow the story and speculate about the assassin. I found Neema a compelling main character, although the long prologue threw me, because I was ready to follow someone else entirely, and then suddenly the focus shifted to Neema out of nowhere. I suspect most readers will identify with the Raven monastery, but it was interesting seeing the primary traits of the other groups, and I look forward to seeing where the trilogy goes! I also found the narrative to vary - sometimes it was clearly the voice of an observer (no spoiler who!) but then it flipped back to normal third-person narration with no warning. This could have been a quirk of the eARC and the formatting may be different in print.
This is a book best suited to fans of long reads, high fantasy, and complex worlds.

Thank you to the authors and publishers for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley!!

When I tell you I YELLED when I was accepted for this book, I’m not being dramatic. I had heard so many good things about this and couldn’t wait to sink my claws (couldn’t resist that pun) into it.

This book is layered. Layered as an onion, some might say. There were many different aspects to the plot and character developments that were very surprising. There were multiple plot twists which had me HOOKED, and one moment you think you know what’s happening, then BAM it’s completely different to how you thought. One of my favourite parts of this book was the exploration of emotions, as well as the development of the FMC. Her battle with guilt vs duty is clear throughout the book, and every character seems to have their own internal battles going on.
I also really enjoyed the multiple POVs, it really added to the story and it felt as though we had so many different outlooks on many scenes. I also loved the fact that there were footnotes throughout the book which gave context in such a unique way. I’ve never read a book like this before, and it’s so completely different to others in the genre.
My only problem was that some points were hard to follow, and I did feel as though the pacing was quite complex at times but that could also just be because of my ADHD - some times I couldn’t put this book down, but some times I had to re-read parts to understand what was happening.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and it was something I think I’d read again and get a different interpretation which I love.

Rating: 4/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Thank you to NetGallery for allowing me a chance to read The Raven Scholar as an ARC. Wow where do I start. I so enjoyed this book and the folklore woven in.

This book was difficult to get into to begin with, I had no idea how the first chapter related to what I was reading but I’m glad I persevered because wow the twists and turns and events that unfold are incredible and worth the wait.

I am so looking forward to the sequel and where this story will go. There’s only one final question, which guardian would swear reality to?

- Epic Fantasy
- Magic
- Deadly Competition
- Second Chances
- Betrayal/Revenge

Thank you to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the eARC!

I'm so grateful I got the chance to read 'The Raven Scholar' ahead of release. What started as simple curiosity turned into full-blown obsession. I didn't expect to fall so hard for this story and its characters, but here we are!

This book follows Neema Kraa, a 34-year-old Raven scholar (finally, a grown protagonist!) who unexpectedly finds herself in the deadly game for the imperial throne. At the same time, one of the contenders is murdered, and Neema has to untangle the mystery, all while navigating court politics, secrets, alliances, betrayals, and trials.

Neema is one of the most compelling leads l've read in a while. She's intelligent, instinctive, and resilient, but also kind and deeply human. Her skills and strength don't come out of nowhere: we get to know her past, her struggles, and how she became the person she is. Everything about her just makes sense!

Also, the world is full of tension and misdirection: you never know who to trust. It's twist after twist, reveal after reveal, and just when you think you've got it figured out, the story pulls you deeper. The layers! The friendships! The betrayals! I didn't want to leave this world. It was so gripping, I only wish the book had been longer.

On top of that, we don't just follow Neema, the story shifts between characters (including the Raven itself!), giving us different perspectives and ambitions. Every character feels real and textured, with flaws and goals of their own. I fell for all of them - especially Sol (who has my heart) and Pinkpink (a close second).

Romance is there, but it stays firmly in the background. Honestly, I just wanted to get back to the main story every time something romantic happened. That's how good the central plot is!

I read this over the course of a week and I was completely immersed. 'The Raven Scholar' is rich, emotional, full of twists and just so addictive.
The perfect summer read if you love court intrigue, layered characters, and the thrill of not knowing what's coming next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

3.5 rounded up for goodreads and netgalley.
Overall, it is a very solid first book. The plot is well-built, even though some aspects of it were not of my liking — it is not a problematic plot by any means, it’s purely about personal preferences. The worldbuilding is compelling, and it probably is the strongest asset of the book. The weakest asset has to be the cast of characters for me, unfortunately. I had no sympathy for them, I found them rather unlikeable (and not the interesting sort of unlikeable, just the irritating one). The only character that I found gripping is only there in the first few chapters — her name is Yana. And I truly hated one character (for those who read it, it’s Ruko). The main character is also one that I strongly disliked throughout the book.
Despite that, I can see myself reading the sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Wow this was amazing. Epic high fantasy that was easy to understand and grips you from the start. Very detailed and well built world. Really transports you. I also loved the characters especially ruko and the trials element was so fun too.

I thought from the synopsis that I might enjoy this book but was really surprised by how much I got caught up in the story. It was truly gripping and the characters outstanding.

4⭐

Thank you Antonia Hodgson, Hodderscape & NetGalley for the ARC!

From an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy comes The Raven Scholar, a masterfully woven and playfully inventive tale of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar’s quest to uncover the truth.

This was surprisingly good. A very interesting and new epic fantasy. Information on the side – this really is more of an epic fantasy than a romantasy.

The protagonist is a smart individual who makes a compelling perspective. Compared to epic fantasy, this one has a tighter focus but it still felt grand and important in its own way

This book really caught me by surprise! The pacing felt a bit off at times, but I love the complexities of the characters.

If you love a book where everyone has a hidden agenda, no one is safe, and you will likely lose sleep trying to figure out who’s behind it all, then this is for you.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely be continuing this series going forward!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Epic fantasy is back, and better than ever. Antonia Hodgson has woven an intricate epic that defies genre constraints, blending political intrigue, murder mystery, and ruthless competition into a narrative as sharp as a raven’s beak and as unpredictable as its first flight.

At the heart of this queer-normative world is Neema Kraa, a Black, socially awkward scholar whose intellect and ambition make her both a tool and a threat. Through her and the omnipresent, delightfully meddlesome POV of a preening raven, we are plunged into an empire teetering on the brink of unrest. The current Emperor Bersun’s peaceful 24-year reign is about to end, and as per tradition, the seven Animal Guardian Houses send their best representative to compete in the trials to become his successor. But when one of them dies before the competition can even start, Neema is forced to find out who the murderer is; chaos, drama and mayhem follow.

The Raven Scholar starts at a slow-boil, clearly indulging in drawing out the finer details of its introduction, but I savoured every moment of it. The novel’s deliberate pacing is not a flaw but a feast, its richness unfolding through footnotes, mythos, and a prose style that balances biting humor with breathtaking depth. And while romance lingers in the margins—a lovers-to-rivals-to-lovers thread that teases the reader—it’s the smaller interactions and betrayals that steal the show. I also have to reiterate that the narrative voice is a DELIGHT. Even amongst enemies, there is a level of easy rapport and snarky wit that breathed so much life into this rich world and diverse cast, making it easy to fly through each page.

Hodgson is not simply writing fantasy; she's redefining it. This is the kind of book that lingers in the bones, setting a new standard for what the genre can be. The Raven Scholar is a triumph, and the Eternal Path Trilogy is already shaping up to be, you might say, magnificent.

I ended up fully immersed in this world, it was so intriguing. Epic Fantasy mixed with mystery, the plot kept me fully focused, it was beautifully written, I loved the world building and the character dynamics, for the depth of the story it was a surprisingly easy read. I can’t wait to continue the series!