Antonia Hodgson’s The Raven Scholar marks her debut in fantasy, and as an avid fantasy reader, I sincerely hope she continues writing in this genre—because this book was simply amazing.

No matter what you’re looking for in your next read, The Raven Scholar has something to offer. Want a richly developed fantasy world with intricate court politics? It delivers. Craving a murder mystery to unravel? You’ll find one here. Yearning for a high-stakes competition that keeps you on the edge of your seat? Look no further—this book has it all.

While reading it, I was impressed at how tight and thoughtful writing is. Every detail feels purposeful, and the various plot threads intertwine seamlessly as the story unfolds. Whether this is due to Hodgson’s careful planning, her editor being terrific at her job, or both; the result is a deeply satisfying narrative that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

The worldbuilding is equally remarkable. Vivid descriptions bring the island setting to life, and the rich history and mythology add layers of depth to the world the characters inhabit. Which, speaking of characters: they are fantastic (no pun intended). Neema is very refreshing as the main character, being introduced as someone who will hesitate (but consider) to do morally questionable acts and will take the rational approach when it comes to weighing the pros and the cons of her decisions. She is also a bit of a grumpy couch potato who gets excited at the prospect of doing mountains of paperwork instead of having to do something like interacting with other people or physical labour. The side characters are just as compelling, each colorful and nuanced in their own way. Special mention goes to Sol, who has effortlessly become my favorite animal companion in any fantasy novel.

As for the audiobook, I cannot praise Daphne Kouma enough. She did an incredible job narrating this book, despite its difficulties with the different PoV narrators and its fairly large cast of characters. Each character has a distinct voice, and she perfectly balances solemnity and playfulness, especially with the more whimsical characters.

Overall I LOVED The Raven Scholar. From its captivating story full of twists and turns to its beautifully crafted prose and charming characters. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for providing audio-ARC and eARC copies in exchange for an honest review.

i was so entranced by the storytelling, how all the plot points were expertly woven together and how realistic the characters were, i found it difficult to put this book down. even at nearly 700 pages, i wanted to keep going.

the characters were also very complex and compelling. neema, our beloved fmc, was very fun to read about. i loved sol and the other ravens, they added the right amount of comedy to the book.

cain was a bit of a confusing character for me. i couldn’t tell if i should trust him or not (and I’m not sure if that’s just me 😂), but it was one thing that i really liked. it made him realistic to me.

(side note: fenn was my favourite and i wanted more of him front and centre).

like with any long book, i found the first 150 pages difficult to get through. i almost DNFed it when @originsofstars told me several other people said to push through and it gets better. i’m glad i listened to that because this is easily one of the better books i’ve read this year, despite the rough start. and the start wasn’t bad per se, but it was slow paced which i was struggling with.

there is a lot of set up and world building at the start of this book before things get underway. there’s so much backstory, and it all pays a pivotal role in how the book plays out.

the climax and conclusion was so fast paced, intense and filled with plot twists and revelations. my jaw was on the ground for the last 15% of the raven scholar.

while I’m so happy to have read this early, I’m not looking forward to the excessively long wait i’ll now have to endure before the release of the second book 😂

adding to this, because i did have the audiobook: i struggled with the audio at first as it was too complex and so much was going on. i ended up putting it down and only picked it back up once i had a physical copy. i read and listened at the same time in order to fully absorb the story. there’s nothing against the narrator, she did an excellent job, this book was just too heavy and complicated for me at first.

An epic fantasy with spectacular world building and superbly individual characters, some lovable, some tolerable and some despicable. Raven Scholar Neema Kraa is an unlikely hero and she has to solve a grisly murder whilst completing side quests of great difficulty.

The audiobook version enhanced my enjoyment particularly when it comes to Sol’s voice.
I’m so happy to hear it is the start of a trilogy as I can’t bear to leave Neema and the Raven so soon.
I LOVE this book. It is Magnificent!

I’m still very new to romantasy and fantasy novels so I do feel like my review won’t be as helpful! I think the plot was interesting, not that difficult to follow if you’re a well seasoned fantasy reader but it did take me a while to fully get into it and hooked. I think there was definitely some great character development which was performed well in audiobook and made this more enjoyable for me. I will definitely give this a re-read so I can put together a more clearer review but overall would give this a 3.75⭐️ round to 4⭐️

What a great fantasy book. I know so many people will love this book. The Audiobook is incredible, the narration really enhances the experience and brought the characters to life. The book is 650+ pages but it didn’t feel dragged out at all.
The world is so immersive and the competition is tense and engaging. I loved the humour that was within the story and the banter. There are lots of characters that you get to know and I feel they are well developed. The murder mystery was a nice element in the book which was a nice change for a fantasy book.
I really hope lots of people pick this book to read. Can’t wait for book 2.

Tried and failed 3 times to get into this book. No idea why I just couldn’t get on with it, on the surface it’s just right but in reality it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Sorry, this is definitely a me thing and not a you thing.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review

4.5 stars.
A competition for the throne of Orrun, one warrior for each of the "gods" is elected and compete with brains and brawn against each other to become emperor. With a murder to be solved and politics at play, this book keeps you guessing for most of it.
The character development in this is amazing, they are heavily flawed and hard to like at first but as the story unfolds the complexity and facets of each characters personality shine through. You find that you can empathise and grow to love/like them, particularly Neema and Ruko. There is romance in this and you do root for Neema and Cain to get back together but it is fairly background and doesn't overpower the main genre.
I loved the point of view of the Raven and Sol, it added a fun quirky narrative which gave us comedy and insights we aren't privy to with Neema's POV.
The world building and plot built up political intrigue with a slew of characters and backgrounds that encapsulates a wider world.
The magic system was innovative and a lot rarer than what we usually see in most fantasy novels. I liked the way that it fleshed out the use of magic with legends and myths adding a broader hint to sequels.
All in all, a good time was had by all! I can't wait to see where the sequel leads us.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the opportunity to listen!

After looking at other reviews i can put my hands up and say that i didnt like this book and its a me thing.
It just wasnt for me- its not my typical type of fantasy that i like but thats my fault for not looking to it more before requesting.
I could not get into this at all and just never wanted to pick it back up

The audio book was done very well despite my feelings about the actual story!

Rating - 5⭐️

This was a MASTERPIECE 🙌🏻. It was MAGNIFICENT 🙌🏻 (iykyk😉). I need more adult epic fantasy books like this one 😩🙏🏻. Forget top 10 reads because this might just be in my top 5 reads of 2025!!!

Firstly, I need to praise the audiobook because it’s now added to my list of favourite audiobooks. I had very high hopes for this audiobook in particular because I saw MANY good reviews about it and you know I love a good audiobook. I can attest that this audio sounded just as good as those graphic audio productions. There was clearly a lot of effort put into the production and IT PAID OFF 👏🏻. There were some added effects in particular parts which really enhanced my listening experience. I even loved the short music playing on each part of the book. Daphne Kouma (the narrator) did such a fantastic job at narrating for a huge cast of characters and they were all given distinct voices which really brought them to life.

Now onto the plot aspect. I enjoyed the trials, they were each so intriguing and cleverly written. There was so much action-packed scenes and LOTS of political intrigue and I loved every second of it 🙌🏻. And don’t even get me started with the plot twists!! It was like riding a wild rollercoaster!!! SOOO many plot twists, SOOO many revelations, IT WAS MIND BLOWING🤯!! The author really had me theorising nearly every single chapter and I constantly ended up with my jaw dropped to the floor and gasping audibly from shock.

The writing style was definitely up my alley because the humour and seriousness were perfectly balanced for me. I’d be stressed one second and laughing the next😂. The different narrative styles this whole story was told in was AMAZING!!!! You could even say some of the narrative styles gave a bird’s eye view(😉) of the lives of the many characters.

Finally, the characters. I loved Neema and her clever mind!!! I felt like I was going on this journey with her to solve mysteries and uncover dark truths. You can also expect very entertaining talking animal companions!! All the other characters are quite mysterious and untrustworthy with different agendas and yet, I somehow came to love and root for some of them🥹🫶🏻. I think my favourite character was unexpectedly Ruko but you’ll have to read the book to find out why🤭. I honestly have a lot more to say about the characters but it’s better for you to go in blind and get to know them yourself🤭🤭🤭.

Overall, I loved the plot, the audio narrator, the writing style and the characters. This book was SOOO much fun, entertaining, and action-packed!!! This has so much potential in becoming one of my favourite series!!

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/
and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

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.