This book includes:
- games/tournament that actually makes sense
- factioned society
- a battle for the throne
- cutthroat politics
- meddlesome gods
- childhood friends and teenage lovers turned enemies
- 30 + FMC

This book is fantastic. I went into this book mostly blind, and was totally impressed. The high stakes trails were riveting without every veering into the ridiculous. The tag line on this one is "the masterfully woven and breathtaking epic adult fantasy of cutthroat competition and imperial deceit" and I would say that is spot on. The FMC, Neema, is supremely dynamic and fascinating, full of flaws and strengths. I love the large ensemble cast of characters, and I appreciate that Hodgson took the time to develop each of their personalities to create a rich tapestry of desires and motivations and fears. This is a long book, so I am hesitant to share too much about my favorite parts just in case it actually spoils any parts, but I will say that I 100% recommend this book and am looking forward to book 2.

I listened to this book on audio and omg, this narrator is FANTASTIC. Not only did they do an expert job of using unique voices to differentiate between all of the characters, but their comedic timing was also pure gold. They are so talented. The audio editing and producing was also great, and definitely added to my enjoyment of the story.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Antonia Hodgson, and Hodderscape for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/
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This was simply amazing. How is it even possible that I didn't read anything from Antonia Hodgson before?
This is a long book (even in the audio version) and yet I enjoyed every minute of it. The world building with the guardians, the twist I had thought was coming and then a completely different one happened - this novel is pure entertainment. I would be ready to jump on Book 2, if it was available.

The audiobook is read by Daphne Kouma, and what she did with this novel, especially with Sol the raven, was magnificent. It was bliss to listen to her narration.

I both listened to the audiobook read the e-ARC, switching between them equally, both provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for that.

It took some time for me to get used to the POV(s), the characters, and the world. I felt more invested the more we got to see behind the façade that is presented to us at first. The reading flow got easier around the time Neema was introduced and when the narrative settled more in present-time events.
The story is told from an omniscient POV, with increasing appearances of a first-person plural POV woven into it. Both of these basically form one combined POV in this book, which may sound confusing, but it will make sense eventually. Once I got used to it, I did end up enjoying this narration style. I think it fit the story well, giving it a kinda whimsical and quirky touch that was delightful to read. There were also some footnotes sprinkled in.
The characters grew on me over time. I especially adored Neema’s animal companion Sol. Might have got a bit teary-eyed for the little guy, too. Neema and Cain felt quite a bit younger to me than their supposedly mid-thirties.
The second-chance romantic subplot was fine, even though their dancing-around-each-other without acknowledging the elephant in the room got a tiny bit tiring after a while.
I liked the stories within the story, and the way they are presented to us.
The murder mystery and courtly intrigue were interesting. The trial/competition for the throne less so. It’s part one-on-one combat and tasks set by the different factions that align with the values they follow. I could see the potential in the latter, but it wasn’t used in full. Even the fighting could have been interesting. I could see that there was tried to add stakes, but they were also lowered at the same time by world-building and plot elements. It also felt like we didn’t spend as much time as was necessary to actually experience the competition to feel properly invested. Maybe the problem also lies in having tried to add too many elements to the book, and not doing all of them the proper justice they deserve? Overall, the plot came across as slightly chaotic but still enjoyable.
We got a first impression of the world, and for that it was fine. Nothing groundbreakingly new world-building- and magic system-wise. The plot is pretty confined to that small island the competition is taking place in. I wish we could have explored the magic a bit more and developed a feeling that the rest of the world is being lived in. It felt a bit too much like empty space to me, but I think that might be rectified in the sequel.
The audiobook narrator made the story and characters come to life beautifully, and it enhanced the experience I had with this book. I also liked the music interludes that added epic and dramatic vibes.

Characters x4: 6.5/10 (Okay)
Relationships x4: 6/10 (Okay)
Atmosphere/Vibes: 9/10 (Excellent)
World-building/Setting x2: 4/10 (Mediocre)
Writing: ×4: 7/10 (Good)
Plot/Pacing x3: 5/10 (Average)
Audiobook narration: 10/10 (Outstanding)
Enjoyment x5: 7/10 (Good)
Total: ~6.38 = 3.25*

the raven scholar is an epic fantasy set in a Orrun, where every 24 years, a new emperor is chosen through trials. seven contenders are due to begin their trials when one of them is murdered. now Neema, a raven scholar, is forced to investigate a murder and participate in the trials and she’s completely unprepared. she will need to untangle a web of deadly secrets and uncover dangerous truths.

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING I NEEDED AND MORE OHMYGOD!!!!!!!!!! there is no way for me to describe just how much i adored this.
the writing style was so intriguing. it changed from third to first person and in other ways, but it wasn’t really confusing, it just make the story THAT much more interesting.

the political intrigue had me on the FLOOR!! like this is how you write good political intrigue with crazy plot twists. there was nothing i could predict and my mind was constantly reeling from all the information😩

i loved following Neema as the main character. she is smart, determined, resilient, and honestly so amazing and it breaks my heart that she doesn’t realise how amazing she is😭
every single contender was so interesting as well!! special shoutout to my man Ruko (who i pictured as Toji from JJK, so i could not not love him)

the relationships formed and developed in this book, both romantic and platonic, were absolutely perfect and i cannot wait to see more of them!!

the narrator also did an amazing job with this. they really brought the story and characters to life!

This book was.. MAGNIFICENT! (Iykyk)

An amazing adult, epic fantasy that I could NOT stop listening to! I loved the book, but I truly think the audio made it even more special! The different voices/accents, the emotion and the humour were all perfect! I already want to listen to it again to hear “Neeemahhh!!” By Soul. (Apologies I have no idea how they are spelt! 🤣

Thankyou Netgalley and Hodderscape for this ALC ❤️

Murder Mystery
Politics & Secrets
Reluctant Hero
Found Family
Second Chance
Closed Door Spice
Fantasy

This book had me so intrigued from the blurb and I couldn't wait to dive in.

At first it feels like there's a little bit too much going on, too many characters and different plot lines, but the further you go the more it starts making sense!

The book is also filled with twists and turns that had my jaw dropping!

The downside for me is the length of it. A 24 hour audiobook felt a little bit daunting to me. That being said, I absolutely love the narrator and I feel like she did a fantastic job!

4.5 ⭐️

This was an absolute delight!

The Raven scholar has everything I love: court intrique, witty characters, humor, interesting world building. I really really loved this and devoured this pretty long book in only a few days.

Most suprising to me was that I actually didn't mind the deadly trials trope. I think the scale of the trials worked in it's favour and some of them were quite smart and funny. I was excited every time to find Out what the challenge would be this time.

The cast of characters is so compelling. So many characters with different goals and motivations and while not all of them are "good" I couldn't stop myself for rooting for almost all of them.

The romance subplot was so funny and cute and didn't take over the story too much but I was kicking my feet every time we did get interactions between the MC and her love interest.

The lore was great and the book does a great job at subverting expectations. I thought the whole 8 different animal gods would be another trope but just like with the deadly trials the author manages to spin it in a new and interesting way.

The book does a great job of giving you just as much information to make you think you know more than the characters just to reveal another twist, which made for a very entertaining and engaging reading experience.

I listened to the audio version which was also done beautifully. The character work of the narrator was amazing and some of the added effects really elevated the experience.

I just had a really fun time with this book and recommend it wholeheartedly!

If a murder mystery and fantasy had a baby, this book is it! I had the pleasure of listening to an advance copy of the audiobook, and think listening made the story even more enjoyable because the performance was so solid. Actually hearing the tone and delivery of the quick wit and humour of the characters added an extra layer that kept me hooked! The beginning has a switch in character perspective that’s a bit disorientating, but it necessary to the story and world building and once I moved past it I couldn’t stop listening (bit of an issue as it’s a mammoth 24hrs listening time!). The plot is such an adventure, with so many twists that just as you smugly think you know what’s going on you realise theres still 8 hours or so to go - nothing was predictable!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton Audio, Hodderscape and the author for the privilege of listening to an advance copy in return for an honest review. I look forward to seeing The Raven Scholar being deservedly hyped all over Bookstagram and Booktok!

I really enjoyed this book so much. It did however take me a few beats to get into because there was so much to take in…. but I soon couldn’t stop listening and had to give in to the rich tapestry of characters and the build of the world and story. Loved it and I want more! Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the audio arc.

Book Review: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Hodderscape for this ARC and the audiobook!

I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing The Raven Scholar in both audiobook and physical formats—mostly because I just couldn’t put it down! From the very first page, this story grips you with betrayal, intrigue, and a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

We follow Neema, the Raven Scholar—an outcast, not particularly skilled at making friends, but fiercely intelligent. When an old enemy, one who has threatened to expose her deepest secret, is suddenly murdered, she is thrust into a deadly game of politics, lies, and corruption. In a system that claims to uphold justice, Neema must navigate a treacherous path to solve the murder—one that could expose the very secret she has built her life around.

Adding to the complexity, Neema is forced to work alongside her former lover, Cain, also known as the Fox. Their differences once drove them apart, but now they are thrown back together, uncovering conspiracies, battling for survival, and possibly even contending for the throne itself. And then, of course, there’s the raven that speaks to her—a presence that is equal parts chaotic, witty, and mysterious.

This book is fast-paced, filled with murder, romance, political intrigue, and a touch of magic. The world-building is rich, the characters are complex, and the stakes are high. Neema is a flawed but fascinating protagonist, making one questionable decision after another, yet her struggles feel real and compelling.

Overall, The Raven Scholar is a gripping fantasy read that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Whether you pick up the physical copy or the audiobook, this is a story worth diving into. Highly recommended for fans of political fantasy, morally grey characters, and, of course, talking ravens!

#TheRavenScholar #NetGalley #HodderStoughton #Hodderscape

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.

I really loved this book! It took me a little while to get into it, but once I had my head around the characters and the different schools, I was fully invested. The world-building was immersive, and the characters were so well thought out—you can’t help but root for them. My only complaint? Having to wait for the next installment to see where the story goes! A great young adult fantasy read that delivers on adventure, intrigue, and character depth

First of all, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for approving an audio version 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.

Aside from my struggle with the narration of the story, I thought the narrator did a great job. She gave the story a melody and gave each of the characters a different voice. I would like to hear more audiobooks narrated by this person.

The Raven Scholar is the first book in a new trilogy. We follow Neema Kraa, the emperor's High Scholar, who gets chosen to solve a murder all while there is a competition between seven contenders for the the throne of Orrun.

This is a fascinating mix of courtly intrigue, murder mystery, deadly competition and mystical beings that seem to have more influence on the world and its people than they might have thought. There is even a small amount of romance, but it's very much not the focus.

Neema is a great character to follow. She is witty, higly intelligent and ressourceful. And even though she is our main focus, we get different perspectives throught the narrative.

The audiobook is narrated by Daphne Kouma and she does a wonderful job. She gives Neema life and is very good at making every voice distinct and easily distinguishable. It was a joy listening to her.

The audiobook also uses musical cues between the different parts of the story, which makes it easy to follow.

I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy. I loved this so much!

Neema and Cain are great 😊

There is a competition and a murder mystery investigation. There is a lot of history which is intriguing, leading to the twists and turns of the story. I did enjoy learning more and more as I kept reading.

I really enjoyed the twist of the twist 😲

The Raven really are magnificent, I really enjoyed their perspectives. Especially Sol 😍

I listened to the Audio Book and thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story. I could clearly distinguish the different characters and I was fully immersed.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the book a whole lot more than I thought I would. Which is an odd thing to say, considering I requested it. But in the world of romantays and overused tournaments, this felt like a fresh breeze. And though it was more of a epic fantasy than romantasy, something I didn't quite expect, it was a story worth reading. The characters were well developed and fleshed out, and the narrator just added that extra layer, making them come out in the best way possible. I'm more than excited for the next book.

I was lucky enough to get both the digital and audio arcs and alternated between the two. I absolutely devoured this book.
It's so lovely to read something that feels fresh and exciting. We've seen trials/tournament structure before, but I really enjoyed it paired with the interesting pantheon and world building. I would have liked some more physical descriptions of the characters, as the book is very character-led, yet I found myself mostly making up how they all looked. The FMC is older, in her 30's, which is refreshing, and the romance is more of a structural element to the story rather than the driver. I did not see the mystery twist coming, and it was wonderfully set up through the book. Overall this was a lovely trounce through a new world, and I would likely pickup a sequel if it comes.

The audio narration was well done, the characters easy to tell apart. One thing I really did not enjoy was the use of echo for the raven voice. It was quite grating, and the difference in character was indicated well enough without it. The use of effects here felt quite juvenile and did a disservice to both the character and the narrator.

Amazing, I can’t wait for the sequel!! Literally so many parts of this book were so incredibly catching, I honestly couldn’t stop thinking about it. Especially Yanna, she haunted the storyline veeeery successfully!

This could be such an amazing TV series…

In "The Raven Scholar," when the current emperor prepares to abdicate, seven contenders (plus one yet-to-be-revealed contender) gather for the traditional tournament to determine the next ruler. After one of the contestants is murdered, scholar (official title) Neema must take their place and find the killer while competing in a series of challenging trials, while dark magical forces wait in the wings.

What I Loved:
Each contender's character is layered and distinctive, particularly Cain "the fox" who we see a lot of.
Neema is a great underdog, using her brain to compensate for her lack of training.
The tournament tasks are testing more than just strength or magical ability.
Magic system based loosely on the Chinese zodiac
Daphne Kouma's performance brings each character to life with distinct voices and emotional depth.

What I Didn't Love:
The action starts a little late in the story (except the prologue, which is essential)
Couldn't get a clear sense of place or time based on a tech level, food, or clothing

Overall I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5, rounded up to 4 stars. It's the perfect start of a trilogy for epic fantasy readers who value character development and political intrigue over romance. While there are romantic elements, they remain secondary to the murder mystery and tournament challenges. Fans of tournaments/magical competitions and court politics will sink their teeth into this story.

Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for providing a copy of the audiobook for my review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder&Stoughton Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all - I rarely listen to audiobooks, but I enjoyed this one! Daphne Kouma did a great job portraying all the different characters and made it easy to listen to it.

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. There is some romance sprinkled in it, but it’s very much not the focus of the story.

I really enjoyed the beginning. When I realised that the first chapter was actually more of a prologue, with a different main character than the rest of the book, I was a bit disappointed. I really enjoyed that first character and I kind of wish it had been her story to be told. But I got used to Neema quickly and I really liked her. I also appreciate that the beginning was quite straight forward. I was dreading some random reveals later in the book, and I’m glad to say that they didn’t come.

The story itself is summarized pretty well by the blurb. The emperor is getting ready to abdicate and seven contenders get together to fight in a tournament for the throne. When one of them is murdered, Neema has to take her place and find the killer. Simple, straight forward. Of course that’s not all there is, as the blurb suggests, the Raven waits in the wings and there is more magic behind the scenes.

I’ve come to dislike tournaments like this, but I actually enjoyed this one. The different tasks were interesting and sometimes quite different from what I expected. It wasn’t just about strength or magic, and I really enjoyed seeing the different aspects of the monasteries. The murder mystery of this story was also done quite well, with many different pieces coming together. I didn’t quite expect the answer and I’m happy that I didn’t.

The characters were awesome. Probably the best part of this book. First, there is Neema, scholar turned contender for the throne. She’s smart, disliked by most people at court and she has an important history. I loved seeing her stand up for herself. Even though she seemed to be so much weaker than the other contenders, she was a worthy opponent. Sometimes that felt a bit unrealistic to me, as she hadn’t trained for as long as the others had, but in a way all her wins made sense.
Next, we’ve got Cain, the fox. Oh, I loved him! He was fierce, sneaky, proud and simply sly. I always had fun with his scenes.
I’m not going into detail with the other contenders, but I enjoyed all of them. I really had the feeling that I knew them and even though it can be difficult to write so many characters at once, all of them were characterised very well and got enough time on page. All of them were way more layered than I would’ve thought.
And apart from the contenders, there are so many other interesting side characters! Easy to keep apart due to their quirks, without everything seeming too over the top. And all the different relationships were great. While Neema is obviously the main character, we get a handful of scenes from other POVs which really helped with understanding all the others.
The scenes with the Raven confused me at the beginning and I’m not sure whether I like the way it was presented. It seemed utterly unreliable, which is something that often frustrates me, but it did kind of fit the character, so I’m not gonna argue.

Something I have to criticize though is the world building. I do like the whole concept of the gods, and I adore the abilities of the different orders. I wish we had seen more of that! Houndsight sounds so useful - why didn’t Shan use it more? What about the magic abilities of the Visitor? And Cain’s abilities barely get explained at all and I have no idea whether it’s some kind of magic, or if he’s just trained very well. So while I do love the ideas, I wish there had been more magic in this book.
But the main thing to criticize is the actual world. I have no idea what it’s like. And this is a fantasy book, where world building is essential!
There is a map at the beginning of the book. It’s a pretty one. Looks similar to the continent of Asia. And overall, I would say that it fits. We’ve got an emperor and palaces, the orders are Dragons, Monkeys, Tigers, Foxes, which works for Asia as well. Hounds and Oxen fit everywhere, Ravens kind of as well, and Bears to the North sounds like Russia. And the empire is big enough that travel from one side to the other takes months. So far, so good. But if I’m right - why don’t we get more proof of that?
Look at a map of Asia. Russian culture is entirely different from Japanese culture. India is a very diverse country. While the culture is similar due to the prominent religion, people will still look different, dress differently, depending on whether you are in the tropics, or in the highest of mountains. Same for China. Looking at this book - sure, if it’s one empire, one religion, many things will be similar. That’s fine. But people will still eat different things, look differently, dress differently. And we barely get any descriptions of all those incredible cultures. I appreciate that we don’t get a stereotypical Russian character, or someone who’s very clearly Middle Eastern, but I would still appreciate at least some nod to all the differences on the Asian continent.
But it’s all the same. They all eat the same food, which barely gets described, but fits to no specific region and especially not Japan. There are mentions of almonds and nuts. Joghurt. Shrimp. Pretty little cakes. Coffee, tea. Whiskey. Keep in mind that this is still a kind of medieval world without modern trade.
I have no idea what the characters look like. I think Neema’s POC? And Cain is definitely white with red hair. Another girl is described as white and blonde, if I recall correctly? I honestly have no idea what everyone else looks like, except perhaps their stature. It might’ve been mentioned once, but if I get introduced to multiple characters at once and their looks never get mentioned again, I can guarantee you that after 700 pages, I won’t recall anything. No idea who they are. And the clothing does nothing to help. The workers wear overalls. Neema herself is described as wearing pretty dresses a couple of times. Some wear uniforms. One character wears a kilt at some point? I’m so confused. That’s just a huge mixture of cultures. Look, I don’t care if a book isn’t inspired by anything specific, if the author takes from a hundred different cultures. But I just want to know what I’m looking at. I really enjoyed this book, but I couldn’t describe anything at all.

The ending was pretty good. There were some twists that I really enjoyed as they properly took me by surprise. Some parts were a bit confusing at first, especially since I’m not entirely sure about the consequences of everything. But it was actually not as confusing as I expected. The ending was rounded enough that I’m not on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book, but I am curious as the bigger story is definitely starting up! Looking at the title of this one, I am curious whether it’s gonna have a different main character, or if we’ll continue to follow Neema.

Overall, even though it wasn’t perfect, I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to continuing the series!