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!

The Raven Scholar has blown me away. This is going to be a huge hit, calling it now! It's the kind of epic fantasy that just sucks you in and doesn't let go. The world-building is just stunning – so detailed and immersive, you feel like you're actually there. And the characters are so well-developed and complex, you genuinely care about what happens to them. I loved the way Hodgson wove together the mythology, the murder mystery, and the competition – it all felt so organic and compelling. Plus, the writing is sharp and witty, with a touch of humor that I really appreciated. It's a long book, but honestly, I was sad when it was over. My only complaint is that I have to wait for the next one! Highly recommend this for any fantasy fan.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

Rating: 4 stars

With its vibrant world, drama-filled storyline and well-developed characters, 'The Raven Scholar' quickly evolved into a captivating listen despite a slightly rocky start. 

Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The story kicks off with crucial backstory and immersive world-building, creating a rich but ultimately information-dense foundation to wade through. Fast forward eight years and the storyline picks up with lots of drama, action, and tension as a treacherous competition for the throne is rooked by the murder of a contestant and long-laid schemes. While some aspects felt familiar from other Young Adult fantasy reads, Antonia Hodgson's unique flair and engaging writing style breathed fresh life into these tropes, elevating them to match the epic scope of the narrative. I devoured every twist and turn and was impressed by the creative world packed with mythology, history, and political intrigue. I also thoroughly enjoyed the clever humour woven throughout the story and the petty courtly posturings. What's more, themes such as loneliness, ambition, and social class added to the story's depth and enriched the characters' journeys. 

"in times of light in times of shadow seek for one small pearl of joy and you shall find it"

It was actually the well-developed and realistically flawed characters that first drew me into this story. In particular, the Raven guardian, with their larger-than-life ego and comic relief moments, was an immediate highlight. Then there's Neema Kraa, the main character, whose ambitions, painful loneliness, and quirks are relatable and compelling. Several secondary characters, including Cain, Benna, Ruko, and Emperor Bersun, also left a strong impression, as their detailed backstories and evolving connections with Neema enhanced the story. Even the romance was refreshing light, with an adorable and realistically messy development that never overshadowed the main storyline. I certainly can't wait to see what lies ahead for each of these characters!

"no diamond ever shone as brightly as an open heart"

Daphne Kouma's narration contributed significantly to the immersive quality of this audiobook. Her ability to deliver varied accents and fitting vocal nuances brought each character to life, making it easy to distinguish between them and adding emotional depth to their experiences. Clever production effects for the Raven and atmospheric music at the start of each part of the story further heightened the epic atmosphere of the narrative and made it even more immersive.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stougthon Audio for the ARC

The Raven Scholar is a interesting fantasy novel with a good romantic sub-plot, a murder mystery and several trials. It's divided in several parts that each ends with an unexpected twist. What was interesting was the parts were we got the story about the raven and the fox and their POV. It blended seamlessly with the other narrative and present timeline. It also provided more intell to the story. It was fun and interesting, but I also lost consentration and interest at times considering how long it was. This is though a me problem. Otherwise a great and fascinating novel!

My Rating System:
Enjoyment: LOVED this, i had such a fun time reading it and didn't want it to end. I love the setting and the trial aspect. It felt like a plot I have read a lot but done in a way that kept me interested and surprised at every chapter. I especially enjoyed reading this via audio, the narrator did an exceptional job - 5 stars
More?: i need to stop reading arcs of first books in series, i need the second book immediately - 5 stars
Criticisms: i have a few criticisms, mainly i wish there was a little more diverse rep. there's such a rich cast of characters in this story who i feel we get to know so well, having some diversity in the characters would've benefited the story and brought up my rating - 3 stars
Rereadability: i would absolutely reread this book, i think i'll pick it up again before i read the second book to refresh - 4 stars
Average Rating: 4.25 stars (rounded down)

So it doesn’t happen too often that you read a 700+ page book and yet still crave more! This book was absolutely incredible and a very nice surprise because honestly my expectations weren’t that high and the blurb did not exactly attract me that much. And now it has very quickly made its way on my list of all time favorite books, absolutely amazing!!!

The writing was so smooth and good in that very specific way that just pulls you in and keep you in for as long as it takes to finish it, making 700 pages feel way too short. The author has a way of writing epic/high fantasy mixed with murder mystery mixed with lots and lots of lore and a sprinkle of romance and yet it does not feel forced or cliche or tiring. Every plot twist, every new chapter every turn of the page made me so excited, it was a perfect mix of all my favorite parts of all my favorite books. Something that on paper would sound not that good or too much and yet Antonia Hodgson made it work.

The narrator really gave life to the world and character and did it so perfectly that it really felt like being transported in the world of the book.

The world building was incredible and so deep and yet somehow without being boring, the characters backstories were so intricate and yet your able to keep up with everyone, the mystery and the plot twist are both unpredictable and predictable in exactly the perfect satisfying way to soothe your little detective inside.

I loved Neema as a main character, I was ready for her to be a pick me and a pretty stereotypical main character whining abt being hated but, surprise, she was not. The way she was written made her feel so real to me, her choices so human and her struggles annoyingly realistic.

And more than that, I absolutely adored Cain. His energy and just the traits of the foxes is just what I adore to read about. Lots of humor and lots of heists and mysteries.

It has an amazing intriguing new world, with animal inspired lore and Gods, amazing concepts and an interesting history, lots of information that just goes by naturally, realistic characters I adore, mysterious animal companions, littered with plot twists, Court intrigue, murder mystery, trials for the throne, a splash of humor, a touch of romance, a brush of found family and friendship and a very interesting narration style that immediacy drew me in. I’m already going to go beg for a sequel, it’s sooo good!!

The Raven Scholar presents some truly captivating themes and introduces unique aspects to trials that I found quite enjoyable. I was particularly impressed by the concept of the book. However, I found the overall plot to be rather slow. It took a considerable amount of time to gain momentum, and even then, it didn't progress at a pace that kept me fully engaged.

Despite the characters being well-developed and well-written, I struggled to connect with them on a deeper level. Perhaps it was the pacing of the narrative or the way their stories unfolded, but I didn't feel that emotional connection that makes characters truly memorable. That being said, I appreciated the effort put into crafting their backgrounds and personalities.

One highlight for me was the audiobook experience. The narrator did a fantastic job, with clear differentiation of voices and a calming reading style that made it a pleasant listen. The quality of the narration certainly added an extra layer of enjoyment to the story, even when the plot itself felt sluggish.

Overall, The Raven Scholar is a book with a lot of potential and some intriguing elements, but it didn't entirely live up to my expectations. The slow pacing and lack of character connection were significant drawbacks for me. However, the unique themes and excellent audiobook narration are worth noting.

Damn! This book totally grabbed me and didn’t let me go from start to end! A fantasy whodunnit with so many twists and turns that at times I couldn’t tell which way was up!

From the very start I was pulled in to this saga of fantasy, mystery and trials amidst some of the best world-building And have encountered in a long, long time! A kingdom entrenched in myth, magic, politics and class war, an indomitable religion that merges with an astounding magic system, that demands effort, commitment, skill and sacrifice.

Intriguing characters that ranged across the multitude of morally grey. A protagonist with a background that truly shaped her intents and motivations, which was gradually unpeeled as the story progressed, and for who further growth and development is definitely on the horizon in future books in this series (I hope.)

The relationship between Neema and Cain was intriguing, touching and at times funny, the Raven and the Fox, completely distinct but, also complimentary in so many ways made for moments of light and humour but, also darkness and deeply emotional!

The political intrigue between the different societies and of course the underlying plot, which truly had me on the edge of my seat at times - I was totally immersed in the political maneuvering and power struggles, which most definitely brought depth and pivotal turns to the plot.

The ending was in itself both explosive but, most definitely led to an opening for the next book in the series and I was most definitely left with a determination to read the next chapter in Neema and Cain’s story, and of course to unfold further the complex layers and machinations of what has proven to be a truly compelling plot!

Gonna keep it short because mostly im still processing this book. First thing this is long, not in a bad way but damn . Didn’t expect it . The story so good , i like every step , the intrigue, the romance , the betrayals . Everything was so well done and developed. Loved our main character and how she grows in this. Definitely one of the books to look out for . Happy im getting a special edition of it because love it

The audiobook narration is incredible! I’m so glad I chose the audio edition because the narrator truly brought the story to life, adding depth and flavor. It really helped fuel my imagination when picturing the characters.

The story itself is a blend of mystery, trials, and fantasy, and overall, I enjoyed it, for me it's 3.5 stars. It kept me entertained, and I think it had a spectacular beginning. However, as the story progressed, some of that initial excitement started to fade.

What I liked:
- The world the authors created is really interesting. I definitely want to learn more about it.
- The magic system is unique; not everyone has access to magic, and it requires time and sacrifice.
- I have a weakness for murder plots in fantasy books, and this one delivered.
- There were some really intriguing characters that left me wanting more.
- There were touches of humor that added a nice balance to the story.
- Political intrigue. There’s nothing better than a fantasy book with a compelling plot full of political maneuvering and power struggles. This element added depth to the story and kept things even more interesting.

What didn’t quite work for me:

The characters were intriguing (some more than others), but I struggled to connect with the protagonist. I felt like I needed more insight into her past and motivations to truly understand her. I hope this improves in the next book, as there’s plenty of room for character growth. The same goes for her relationship with Cain, why should I root for them? To be fair, their relationship is more of a subplot rather than the focus of the main storyline, but it still felt underdeveloped.

I had a similar experience with other characters. The book introduces some truly fascinating figures, but many of them needed further development for their motivations to feel fully realized. On the other hand, some side characters, despite having much less page time, were easier to connect with.

I think the story may have tried to cover too much at once, which resulted in an overcomplicated plot. There was so much happening at times that it felt chaotic. It constantly jumped from one perspective to another, opening new threads without fully resolving others. While this was intriguing in some moments, it often made the story feel overwhelming. Other times, I found myself bored with what was happening.

I honestly don’t know what to say about the ending, I found it a complete mess. The buildup didn’t match the payoff, and instead of naturally leading us to the conclusion, it relied on a last-minute villain monologue, reminiscent of an old cartoon trope. It was meant to be a shocking twist, but it felt unearned. After everything that unfolded in the story, I expected a much stronger resolution.

Because of how the book started, I had high expectations, but as the plot unfolded, some elements didn’t live up to that initial promise. The story needed more depth in some areas while also benefiting from less complexity, as it sometimes felt more like clutter than meaningful development.

That said, I think I’ll be continuing the series because I’m genuinely interested in seeing how the world, the magic system, and the overall story continue to develop.

A sumptuous epic fantasy combined with a murder mystery that is bursting with complex characters and tremendous plot twists. Copious political machinations and a unique religious system will keep you enthralled. The emperor has been on the throne for twenty-four years and must now retire, so eight contenders will compete to replace him. Trained at rival monasteries inspired by the sacred animals. Eight contenders, who are the best of the best – then one of them is murdered. This roller coaster of a book will take you through a myriad of emotions, you will be laughing and crying with equal measure. A fantastic story that kept me up all night! I am extremely excited for the sequel. The narrator conveyed the spirit of the story perfectly,

This book is a beautiful epic fantasy - it’s really long to listen to but I did enjoy the story and the acting. I would like to physically read the series going forward to make sure I keep my attention.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Be aware: this will be a raving review!

This book came highly recommended, and people kept teasing it was.... magnificent.
In the first three chapters though. I kept checking if I'm reading the right book. Not that they were bad at all, they just weren't what the blurb promised.
But then I hit chapter 4 and I was so in - and stayed. If ever a book deserves the word 'epic', then it's this one (while still maintaining a tight focus).

There's a narrative voice that is both unique and funny - also at times aiming to be scary while in fact just being dramatic.

The FMC is an incredibly interesting character. Not that you have to like her, necessarily, but you will still be entranced by her story.

In a fully developed queer-normative world, there are magical tournaments and political intrigue, murder mystery, dark academia and deep mythology.
All of that working without a romance story at heart.
On top of that my favorite trope: two entities merged into one - with one of them being a drama queen.

This book is so so good and I can't wait for the next in the trilogy.

I was so glad to have been granted both the eBook and audiobook.
The audiobook is a work of art with the narrator being a true artist. The voices she does are incredible.
Yet I had to go back time and again to the written word to absorb everything how it deserves. I also enjoyed just rereading a paragraph or more.

5/5 stars and absolute recommendation

Thank you @netgalley and @hodderbooks for the eARC and ALC.

#TheRavenScholar #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Epic fantasy is back and isnt it magnificent!

I was wowed by the world building, loved the variety of characters and it was veyr much a book where I kept wanting to read one more chapter!

I adored listening to the narrator, her voice was perfect for this book.

The Raven Scholar
Antonia Hodgson

As sly as a fox, strong as an ox, or witty as a raven. The narrator of this book embodies the personalities within and took me on an adventure wanting to listen whenever I could spare a minute. This book opens your eyes to a world where training and determination are not the only factors that can lead to one's success. Listening to this book pulled me into this world and brought the words to life. Slight inflections and changes easily distinguished the different characters and gave them each their own personality. Nima is knowledgeable with many strong attributes but her social skills are not the most refined, leaving many interactions with a feeling of discomfort. She is thrust into a challenge that she is woofully unprepared for, not to mention that her childhood best friend and ex lover is one of the other competitors. Deception, untimely death and power drive the challenge and uncover many secrets leading to an ending that comes all to soon, with many new trails to be followed. The book and the narrator had a flow that kept the chapters and breaks noticable but did not interfere with the overall experience with music to mark the larger transitions. Overall this is a book the I very much enjoyed listening to and could be doing again soon.

3.25⭐

The Raven Scholar started off good but in the middle lagged for me. I did like the ending though.

I also liked the world building and the main characters, especially love interest, Kane.

There were a few funny moments with the Raven and Fox too.

I'll probably read book 2 when it comes out but it won't be high priority because I might have forgotten this one as the plot points weren't that memorable until the end.