For a 700 page book, I wish this had went on longer - it was such an enjoyable read, every moment of it.

There's so many little twists and turns, and the main plot from the synopsis doesn't even start until a quarter in and there was so much to get there, the less I say, the better. But I will say:
If you like political twists!
If you like ridiculously good, complex characters!
If you like great, nuanced writing, with some well-placed touches of humour!
If you like incredible worldbuilding, especially for mythology!
If you like talking kind-of-animals!
Did I mention the characters?
And if you like having your heart torn out nearly immediately!

Then this book is for you.

Thank you to the publisher, Hodderscape, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Raven Scholar is an intensely gripping fantasy full of twists, political intrigue and a murder mystery. The world building is incredible and the writing style was distinct, drawing me in from the first page.

At first I was put off by the length of the book - far too often recently I've found stories that are painfully long with lots of unnecessary and boring content. However, that wasn't the case here - every word was important and actually when I was done, I wished it were longer.

Everything about this book is exceptional, and I intend to persuade everybody around me to pick it up!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

"The Raven Scholar" is a masterclass in epic fantasy, weaving a gripping tale of political intrigue, cutthroat competition, and imperial deceit. Set in the sweltering summer heat of Orrun, the story pits eight exceptional contenders—each representing a sacred animal—in a deadly trial to claim the emperor’s throne. But when one contender is murdered, the competition spirals into chaos, and the brilliant yet eccentric Neema Kraa is thrust into a high-stakes investigation that could determine the fate of the empire.

Hodgson’s storytelling is as sharp as the trials the characters endure. The lush worldbuilding breathes life into the empire of Orrun, from its rival monasteries to the complex hierarchy of power. The contenders are richly drawn, with their skills, personalities, and rivalries making for a cast as dynamic as they are dangerous. Neema Kraa is a standout protagonist—quick-witted, flawed, and utterly compelling as she navigates a maze of secrets, betrayal, and ambition.

What makes "The Raven Scholar" truly refreshing is its unflinching focus on the political and philosophical stakes, eschewing romantic subplots for a narrative bursting with tension, humor, and heartbreak. The twists are unpredictable, the stakes immense, and the story’s emotional core—centered on ambition, loyalty, and the price of power—resonates deeply.

At 700 pages, this sweeping epic flies by, each chapter leaving readers hungry for more. For fans of intricate worldbuilding, razor-sharp intrigue, and brutal competition, "The Raven Scholar" is an absolute triumph that redefines the adult fantasy genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

This book was hands down the best I read in YEARS.
I was captivated from start to finish, and it's 700 pages long. The world and atmosphere slightly reminded me of "The Poppy War", but the fight for the throne with trials was absolutely thrilling.
The writing is wonderful and I absolutely adored the descriptions, and the characters were all amazing, incredibly realistic. Cain as the Fox contender might be my favorite, but it is so hard to choose... All of them had flaws and showed vulnerability at one point or another.
And then. The action (unhinged trials are my soft spot). The surprises. The manigances. The plot twists. WOW.
Some character development I never saw coming (and I usually guess the ending with most books!)

I 200%, wholeheartedly recommend this book, and I can't wait to see it released (as well as the sequel!).

I got 10% of the was through this before I had to DNF, I think the story definitely has potentially but I could not get into it as the story kept switching POV midway through paragraphs and sentences and I did not know who’s POV I was reading from. Writing style is just not for me sadly

I'm so sorry
I couldn't get into this book but I wish I could
Maybe it will be someone else cup of tea

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson is such a good book. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic and the story is immaculate.

Thank you for this netgally!

Review of The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

Antonia Hodgson’s The Raven Scholar is a breathtaking fantasy that combines intrigue, magic, and a sharp wit to deliver one of the most captivating reads of the year. With its intricate world-building, morally complex characters, and high-stakes drama, this book is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy.

The story centers around Neema Kraa, a High Scholar haunted by past mistakes and thrust into the chaos of a murder investigation during the Festival—a competition to determine the next emperor of Orrun. Hodgson masterfully balances political intrigue, mystery, and personal growth as Neema uncovers dark secrets that could either save or destroy the empire.

The characters are richly layered and utterly engaging. Neema, flawed yet determined, grows beautifully throughout the story, while the supporting cast—ranging from the enigmatic Cain to the fierce Gaida—adds depth and humor. The Raven itself is a chaotic delight, offering levity in a narrative brimming with tension.

Hodgson’s writing is sophisticated and immersive, blending sharp dialogue with vivid descriptions. The historical touches, including footnotes and references to the empire’s lore, lend the story a unique authenticity. The pacing can feel chaotic at times, but the twists and revelations more than compensate, keeping readers hooked until the very end.

With its themes of power, loyalty, and redemption, The Raven Scholar is a compelling exploration of the lengths people will go to for survival and justice. It’s a tale of betrayal, resilience, and the complexities of the human spirit.

If you love gripping political intrigue, morally grey characters, and a touch of humor amidst the drama, The Raven Scholar deserves a place on your bookshelf. I’m already counting down the days until the next installment in this promising trilogy.

-Rating-
5/5
Read this book if you like dragons, ravens, magic, betrayals, rivalries and feuds.
This book had me gripped from the first few chapters I couldn’t read quick enough and I’m so excited to read the next book in the series.

-Quick description-
A trail must take place after 24 years on the throne there will be a new emperor or empress of Orrun, but who will it be, could it be the contender from Raven, Fox, Tiger, Bear, Ox, Hound or Monkey? Each warrior has honed their unique skills at the eight different monasteries, hoping to take the crown for themselves.
But then a murder happens and it falls on Neema Kraa to investigate with dark forces at play we just don’t know what will happen, could she be crowned herself even if it’s not what she wants, could she doom the entire empire with what she uncovers?

-Thoughts-
This was a perfect example of fantasy at its best the world building was "chef’s kiss" I really enjoyed the magic system and the characters were very interesting it definitely made for a page turner.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC and a huge thank you to Antonia Hodgson.
Also reviewed on Goodreads, StoryGraph,Fable and Instagram (post coming soon) @read.with.rue

Original, enthralling, astonishing, Magnificent.
I was hooked from the first page.
The Emperor must stand down, the best from each sect of the eight will compete for the throne. Neema is lifted from obscurity to the position of High Scholar and after a murder she is thrown into the mix, unwillingly competing for the crown.

Unravelling a conspiracy that spans decades, we follow Neema as she claws for the truth and her own survival.
The world building is elaborate and immersive. The culture and history of the world is rich and diverse.

Hodgson’s writing is sophisticated; engaging, moving and hilarious.
The characters are complicated, authentic and many of them are morally grey. Much like the Eight, we are all a collection of fragments. Not every fragment is inherently good! Family, loyalty, faith, dedication, love - all can be corrupted.

With Neema we unravel years of lies and corruption whilst our characters face unpredictable trials. There were some twists that had me floored. You can climb a long way by standing on the backs of those you cut down. The results can be devastating but redemption isn’t out reach for everyone.
The passive acceptance or collaboration of things that don’t align with our moral compass and the lasting impact this can have feels particularly poignant in today’s world.

Further notes:
- Cain is hilarious
- Gaida is admirable but insufferable. A pivotal, unrelenting catalyst
- Yana🥺❤️
- The Raven is magnificent, hysterical and chaotic. I particularly enjoyed anxious Raven and of course Sol.
- Gripping high stakes, political intrigue, conspiracy and drama.
- I have NEVER rooted a romance more

Thank you for allowing me to have a sneak peak at this book. As an avid fantasy and primarily romantic fantasy reader I was so hoping this would hit the spot, but it did fall short for me. The writing was great but I think it just wasn’t for me. This is the first time reading a book by this author and I’m glad I tried but I just found it very heavy on the politics and for some reason the story just failed to grab me. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the long gaps between parts of the story, the 8 year jump in time was difficult, the chapters were a little long for me and I just struggled to get into the general flow of the story, it felt a little scattered for my taste.

'The Raven Scholar' by Antonia Hodgson.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book. It had me gripped from the very beginning. I really felt for Yana. I found Neema hard to like to begin with but throughout the book she really grew as a character.
The book had magic, treason, rivalries, ravens, dragons and feuds.
I can't wait for the next installment. If you love fantasy books then give this book a read.

She might win the throne. She might destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder.
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 . . .

Thanks to NetGallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you, Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is my definition of perfect fantasy: good world-building, a magic system, interesting characters and a page-turning story. Antonia has outdone herself here; hats off. The book has mystery after mystery, with the right amount of revelations to keep you completely and utterly hooked on the story. She also employs the right amount of humour between the drama and fighting. The book is written sort of as a historical recollection with footnotes detailing references to the history of the world, which gives the story a very real feeling.

The Raven Scholar follows Neema Kraa, a brilliant raven scholar (title creds) who has worked in court for as long as she left the monastery. After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. 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. Then one of them is murdered. Neema Kraa is tasked to investigate, setting her on a path she might not want. She might win the throne. She might destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder.

This book is one of my favourite reads this year. With this already so good, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the trilogy brings. I want to scream my recommendation for this book to everyone. Now, to sit patiently and wait for the sequel...

A great beginning book of the trilogy. Can’t wait for the next two. Liked Neema and Cain and their trials in this excellently created fantasy world

I'm a fan of Hodgson's Georgian crime novels and the complex and Dickensian world she depicts . I don't usually read fantasy but this really impressed me. It's a similar vibe, even though this is a made up world.
The sense of darkness and the underlying humour were excellent and the storyline was compelling. She does an amazing job at showing this complex world with its value system. There are some great characters in this book. It's a huge, immersive read and I'm looking forward to the next installment already. What a stormer of a book.
I wish I could give extra points for the beautiful cover.

I really enjoyed this epic fantasy. I was embroiled by the world of Orrun, the characters particularly of the contenders to the throne and the secrets undermining it all.

A fantastic plot and a cliffhanger of an ending - I will await last two with great expectation.

When one of the contenders is murdered, Neema, the high scholar, is tasked with finding out who did the deed and is also made a contender in her place. But as she investigates she finds that the contest is being manipulated and that the current emperor is not all he seems.

It was a long read with much scene setting but well worth the effort!

The Raven Scholar is a near perfect fantasy, Original and beautifuly realised world building yet mercifully light on the exposition, a very real protagonist who is no chosen one despite being catapulted into a competition she doesn't want to be in but flawed and human. The book starts with a shocking twist and continues to surprise - just when I thought I had worked out what's going I was blindsided. Heartbreaking at times, breathlessly exciting at times, really really tense throughout and with just enough romance (the lightest of touches) this is a masterclass in how to write original, political fantasy. The sequel will be on preorder the second it's announced. Highly recommended.

Fantasy book, not big on romance, which is refreshing. It's a long book with plenty descriptions to build the world. I feel it moves a bit too slowly.

The Raven Scholar is an epic fantasy with an engaging and interesting premise and while it look me a little while to really get into as I found the world building a lot to understand, once I did I really enjoyed this tale of political intrigue, mystery, drama and adventure. It does move at a slow pace at times, this is mainly as the plot involves a lot of lore and history but it was such an interesting fantasy that I didn’t mind this too much, I loved the characters and how unique they each were.

I really enjoyed this overall especially as I am rather new to high fantasy.

Thank you so much to the publisher for this eArc to read and review before publication.