I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - arc & monthly book box pick reviewer

I have 2 words for this book: Phenomenal and magnificent!! (The Ravens will, of course, agree with me, and so should you!)

Truly, though, this book is so unbelievably clever, so grandiose, so out of this world amazing that I can only describe it as a timeless masterpiece that epic fantasy fans will fly to time after time. Brilliant in everything that makes a book a book.

The main POV we follow is Neema's who is the Raven scholar. She made a choice ten years ago that elevated her status at court, a choice that cost her her consience. Truth be told, she was right, if she hadn't done it, someone else would have done it, no question about it. But still, nothing about what had happened then was right, and it has plagued everyone involved and even those who witnessed it or heard about it. Neema is a brilliant scholar who only wants peace and calmness so she can research and write, but she is thrust into court politics and the struggle for the throne. I loved Neema! I loved how her mind works, how she can't help herself and corrects everyone, how she wants to do the right thing but is also smart to know when she needs to retreat so she can survive. Neema is a very clever woman who wants to survive and yet takes care of those around her in her own quirky way. She makes even her enemies stand and stare, so to speak.

Our love interest is Cain, whose Guardian is the Fox. He is scheming, knows much more than what he lets on, and he is so funny. Funny and clever is the ultimate combination for me, so I was a goner from the get go lmao. I won't say much, but I can say that you will love him.

The plot is the most clever plot I have read in a very long time. You can't predict what is going to happen or how. How the author has woven so many plot threads is beyond me. This book offers a plot buffé, and I loved every second of it. It's not just twists and turns, surprises and reveals, it's just that the path to those surprises and reveals is so clever. Is the author a plot wizzard?? This is a legitimate question....

This is not a romantasy, but there is a romance plot line! We also have some kiss+ scenes! I am sure that we will have even more romance in the next book. The world is also a queernormative one, and we have LGBTQIA+ rep.

I will never shut up about this book. This is literature at its finest, most clever point.

We are the Raven, and we are magnificent. 🙌

This is the April monthly pick for a monthly book box, and I can only pray to the Ravens that the editions is as glorious as this book because it deserves everything.

I thank Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Antonia Hudgson for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I rated the book 5 stars.

In "The Raven Scholar" we follow Neema, an introverted scholar and outsider. One day, after fulfilling a task given to her by the emperor, her life changes completely.

Eight years later, everything becomes even more complicated. The Trials bring murder, betrayals, mysteries and secrets from the past.

This book is an interesting mix of genres, being a fantasy - murder mystery - romance novel that just makes sense. The reader explores an amazing world (with a matching world building!) with Gods, unusual customs and political intrigue, while solving a murder (and some other mysteries) and following various relationships (romantic, friendships, mentor - mentee).
Not to forget the presence of an unexpectedly cute and smart sidekick that makes you both smile and roll your eyes.

Every chapter is more interesting than the previous and the reader - trough Neema - is guided to unfold secrets and explore the kingdom. Nothing is what it seems and one little mistake can be last.

The characters are well rounded, diverse, with motives and motivations. It's interesting to watch them compete, since they have opposing strengths. They are all in their mid to late twenties (!!) which is truly refreshing.
The reader has the chance to explore many types of relationships and observe how natural the characters interact during the novel.

Even though it's a long novel the pacing was steady, which made it easy to follow. The writing style is straight forward, inspired and entrails you in the story (don't get me started on the plot twists, so satisfying!) There are some interesting foot notes that offer insights in the world.
Not to forget that the last 150 pages were simply chef's kiss! The plot twists, the drama!!
Can't wait to read the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!! Full review to be posted on my GR closer to the release date, but for now, I will keep it simpler:

The Raven Scholar swept me away with its intricate worldbuilding, high-stakes intrigue, and compellingly flawed characters. Set in the richly imagined land of Orrun, where clans vie for power under the looming presence of ancient deities, the novel masterfully blends political intrigue, murder mystery, and mythology.

I’ll admit, it took me a little while to warm up to Neema—her arrogance and sharp edges made her a fascinating but initially distant protagonist. But as the story unfolded, I found myself completely engrossed in her journey, rooting for her despite (or maybe because of) her flaws, lol. And the supporting cast? Every single one of them was layered and memorable. Cain, in particular, stole the show for me, I love him and his bottomless stomach, lmao! (And I am admittedly very partial to foxes—the animal—in general.)

That said, the pacing may test some readers. The opening is a slow burn, and the prologue is hefty—but once the story hits its stride, it doesn’t let go. The twists were clever and well-done (for me personally), and I loved how the mystery element wove seamlessly into the larger narrative.

Highly recommended to anyone who is new to this author, as I am!

THIS BOOK!! This book is why I ready fantasy! It’s only February and I’ve already found my favourite book of the year.

Here’s what I loved so much about it:
Most of all, I just had so much fun reading this. It’s suspenseful and at times heartbreaking but the narration keeps it a really fast paced, exciting story. In fact, I think the omniscient style narration was one of my favourite parts. It’s sarcastic, breaks the fourth wall in the best way and has its own kind of mystery to it, especially in the first half of the book.

The characters were interesting and even though we have many side characters they’re all distinct. Our main character Neema is an intelligent introvert scholar and also 34 (love to see an older main character, nobody saves the world at 16!).
The story is not romance heavy which I liked. It nicely fits into the story but doesn’t overpower it.

The world and overall plot are high fantasy with a good sprinkling of murder mystery mixed in. A corrupt empire, mythical animal spirits, court politics and trials for the throne are all common enough. However, through all of it I was glued to the pages to see what plot twist or witty scene Hodgson would throw at me next.

I cannot wait for the rest of the series and will be telling anyone willing to listen to read this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eARC for review.

For lack of a better word, this was 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕

I was slightly disappointed to find that the majority of this book would take place in one singular setting, yet when the author can find a way to make that world feel so rich and vivid and expansive, that is truly an art. I loved how many different components were woven into this:

trials
guardians
murder mystery
mythology

This was a fast-paced, thrilling and captivating start to what I’m sure is going to be a top notch epic fantasy series. I cannot wait to see where the story goes next. An endless thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

The writing was pretty good, easy to read most of the time. But I was having difficulty picturing anything, even though there are descriptions I couldn’t really piece them together. It was difficult to see what time this has taken its inspiration from. There would be descriptions of buildings and clothes and things like that but I couldn’t picture the world as a whole.

The dialogue felt quite stilted and boring to read. I wasn’t able to tell the difference between the characters when they were speaking. The same went for the POVs, they read the same to me. It was kind of like “Same, same, but different…”

It’s also quite jumpy which led to confusion for me as well, one second they’d be on a boat and then they’d suddenly be on land looking at the boat without getting off. It was a bit jarring at times, but I might just be picky.

There were some errors in the book that made me confused at times but those will probably be fixed before publication. Also the formatting was a bit odd..

The first 50 pages of the book follows a completely different character and I was a bit confused because having read the synopsis I thought the story would be about someone else. It was kind of a prologue being added into the regular chapters. Which was a bit odd because this book is over 600+ pages so I think a prologue would have worked better. It would have been less jarring when switching the narrative. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the worldbuilding, maybe I’m just dumb but there is so much detail thrown at you from the very beginning. History, mixed with religion and poetry and people I had no idea who they were or why they’re important.

I love chunky books, but this book did not need to be this long… Especially if you’re not going to do anything new with the tropes you’re working with and I’m stuck within cardboard characters that I can’t tell apart. And don’t even get me started on the evil villain, when they started monologuing I let out a “for fucks sake…”

I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, I think I’m just a picky reader… if you enjoy a slow-paced story, competition for the throne, second-chance romance and magical animal companions and you don’t care too much about writing you might enjoy this one .

This was stunning. No notes.

If you are looking for an Epic Fantasy combined with a murder mystery, a high stakes competition, rich world building, and a whole cast of morally grey characters and we have ourselves a winner! For me, it was the perfect mix of themes, tropes and genres -


Our protagonist is interesting. It took me a while to warm up to her, which I think is entirely intentional, but worked wonderfully for her having a really satisfying character arc. Neema** is incredibly smart and her perspective was genuinely interesting to read. In fact, all of the characters were really engaging. Each one we met felt well fleshed out with their own flaws and motivations in abundance

Something about the prose here absolutely sucked me in. I love a bit of wry humour when it’s done well, and it was absolutely done well. I thought the lens through which the story was told was interesting and balanced out the high stakes of the wider plot.

I don’t even know where to start with the world building, other than to say I’m excited to read more. The world building felt rich and lived it, it’s utterly brimming in history and culture and nuance and urghh! World building like this feels rare and precious so I’m ridiculously excited. I loved that it felt as though the world had a substantial history behind it, from fashion trends, ancient cities, a complex web of political moves, and even small details like little superstitions and food trends.

I was a little apprehensive going in, as at around 700 pages this isn’t a small read and we’ve all been there when you get half way through a bigger read and it just feels like a chore. Despite it’s size I never felt that here, I was hooked throughout!

Overall, this was an easy 5 star review for me. I often hesitate giving them out, as I feel like they need to be something really special to warrant it. Well, The Raven Scholar warrants it. I already know I’m going to find myself thinking back on this book again in the future and rereading it again in a few years!

If you are looking for an epic fantasy with some engaging characters then this is definitely one to pick up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

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 - 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)

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!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊.

This was the wildest, most magnificent ride. WE ARE SO BACK! Forced proximity, murder mystery, a whole bunch of trials, a funky new magic system, political and courtly intrigue, and some of the most engaging main characters I've encountered in a good long while. Neema Kraa and Cain Ballari own my heart. Life is a joke and death is the punchline.

The world has evolved around a belief in The Eight - different animals (representing different moral, spiritual and cultural beliefs) that people can swear allegiance to when they come of age: Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, Hound, and Dragon (though they have their own seat of power and generally take a back seat). They choose their next ruler by selecting contenders from each of these temples (including a Dragon proxy) and see them compete across a series of trials that test things like combat skills, creative thinking, political knowledge, stamina and charisma. What unravels is a locked-room murder mystery (they're all stuck on the island that forms the seat of the emperor's power) when one of the contenders is killed. There's an awful lot more to it than that (this is truly an EPIC FANTASY), but that's the general crux of it.

Once you power through the opening 10% (which is very info-dump / world-building heavy), it's one of the most fun reads you'll have this year. It was so refreshing to read something so clearly written by a Brit. The SARCASM! The WIT! The UNSERIOUSNESS! The TOMFOOLERY! The SASS! Every character has their chance to shine and it's very much an ensemble piece despite Neema & Cain taking centre stage by virtue of their iconicness.

Neema is a Raven Scholar (likes to ask questions, constant thirst for knowledge, must correct people when they are wrong, deep thinker and social pariah) and Cain is a Fox (ultimate sass king, will eat all your food, everything is funny if you look at it just so, let me do a flip because I can). Their dynamic is EVERYTHING, but don't go into this expecting romantasy levels of relationship development / page time because you won't find it. It's very much fade to black.

I could completely understand if people get unnerved by the tonal whiplash - it goes to some very dark places and then rebounds with a quip or three - but humour as a coping mechanism is so integral to its DNA that I didn't mind so much. The ending, especially, takes a lot of risks, but I can't wait to see them pay off in Book 2.

One thing I slightly struggled with was the POV. It may have been the manuscript I was reading, but I wasn't always sure when it switched. It's occasionally third-person omniscient, occasionally relayed through a (magnificent) narrator, and then bounds around to follow Neema, Cain or one of the other named characters. I guess the general idea was that you see it all from a kind of birds-eye view, but sometimes it threw me off when we dived into a new perspective that had been closed to us before.

All in all this was a fantastically written, distinctive new addition to the Adult Fantasy genre. I am beyond excited to see what the author has in store for us next. Can easily see this being one of my top reads of 2025.

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

4.5/5 ⭐️

Firstly, the way the story began had me fooled straight away. We start off thinking there is one protagonist which quickly flips on its head to tell the story from the ‘reverse’ point of view, we are left with the ever presence of a ghost which is quite haunting yet also the focal point to the story (And you thought you were confused).

Let me just preface this isn’t the easiest of reads, there is a multitude of plot lines and sub plots happening which at times was a bit tricky to be able to focus on what the main plot line was or where the story was going therefore a little confusing at times. It probably took me around the 70 page mark, bombarded with information to then get me fully hooked and I’m glad I carried on because what a wonderful ride it was. Do not let this deter you from reading this book!

The author clearly has a multitude of very intriguing and in depth ideas that have been explored there’s conspiracies, murder investigations, plotting and deceit, trials to compete for the throne, magic wielding and hidden magic, ancient history and legends and more believe it or not!

The interpersonal connections and dynamics are super interesting, our characters are quite complex with their deceit and traditions, the relationship between cain and neema makes you think outside the box a little of what is actually been interpreted, we know there’s history there but it makes me yearn for more! the unwritten angst in what they say and how they react towards one another throughout all their interactions. However do not go into this book thinking it is a romantasy, it has a little but is refreshing that it’s not constantly in the reader’s faces.

The ravens… they just cracked me up. At times they behaved like insolent children, their comments are so comedic and had me giggling so much, their presence was truly a delight to read.

The story is told almost like a historical account, with footnotes and more than one narrator. I absolutely adored the footnotes, at times they were also comedic and really added to the book, the ideology of the scholar and how they would scribe. It was rather refreshing and interesting trying to figure out who our narrator was, because it felt different throughout until the ‘revelation’ later in the book… maybe there was only one all this time? (if you know, you know but obviously they are the best narrators, some might say magnificent even).
The way our protagonist is bossed around by a fragment had me howling the entire time.

I like how the narrator almost talks to the reader, recounting what has happened but is slightly an unreliable narrator as bends it to their liking to portray the story. But again was so brilliant and refreshing to read.

I did feel at times the story didn’t flow as easily as hoped due to the amount of information and directions you were pulled into however this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the story progressed I felt more comfortable understanding the characters complexities and storylines. That is super challenging and I feel the author did pretty well at deciphering that.

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this spectacular whirlwind of a book, I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner for the characters next.

’But two very lonely, unloved children who find solace and kinship in each other? Oh, you should not underestimate that kind of magic. It can burn through the world like Dragonfire.’

Fascinating and immersive world building, vividly complex characters (some to root for, others to utterly despise), a complicated web of intriguing political scheming, a dynamic, danger ridden competition, an action packed plot and twists that will make your head spin; ’The Raven Scholar’ has it all. Whatever generally draws you into fantasy novels this is undeniably the book for you. I may only be in February at the time of writing this review but when it comes to yearly favourites this one is going to take one hell of a lot to beat. Simply put: I adored it.

One of my favourite things about the fantasy genre in general is the opportunity to explore mesmerising new worlds. And this one is downright addictive. Everything about it fascinated me from its current system to find the best new leader to its dark and blood soaked history. This is one of those glorious settings that leaves you longing to explore each and every corner of it; the lands around that are mentioned but not yet seen, the history that has led up to this particular point in time, the dynamic central region that you spend your time within; all of it is utterly enthralling and left me longing for more. It’s set within one of those wondrous worlds that feels so rich, vivid and compelling that you come away feeling as if you could read a thousand stories set within its borders.

Character wise I have to confess that I was utterly blown away. Each and every character that crosses this books pages, no matter how big or small their role, is brought vividly to life. Everyone is utterly fleshed out and complex in a wholly believable manner. Neema left me utterly besotted from her very first appearance; perhaps it was her scholarly nature and fairly isolated state. Perhaps it was the way that she couldn’t help but be factual – much to the chagrin of those around her. Or perhaps it was simply her love of books. Whatever it was I adored following in her footsteps and watching her navigate this complex world, uncovering schemes and secrets that literally turned everything on its head...on more than one occasion.

Other characters majorly stood out to me too. Cain, Benna, Ruko, Gaida, Bersun; they’re all so vividly complex. I won’t go into my personal feelings towards each – those are best uncovering for yourself – but it’s safe to say that some I loathed and others I adored; one made me smile on multiple occasions and another came with such a richly, complicated side of angst that I utterly adored. For some characters, despite having initially strong feelings in one direction or the other, my opinion of them changed throughout. And one...well one individual within ’The Raven Scholar’ has to be one of the most complicated, devious and insidious villains that I’ve ever came across.

When you read a lot of books within the same genre there becomes a point when you believe you can see certain twists coming. Not always and you don’t necessarily think you’ll pick up on everything but some turns of event where the groundwork is laid out early, it’s only natural to believe you’ve figured things out about, right? Not so here. There was one storyline I thought I’d figured out, once a revelation was shown, but the way that it was truly revealed blew my mind. There were numerous other twists and turns shared throughout and I honestly don’t think I caught a single one of them. Trust me when I say that this is rare. It’s definitely a book that I can see keeping many a reader on the edge of their seat, wandering exactly what new world shattering revelation will come next.

Similarly the trials within this book varied greatly with each different one focusing on the various traits that the related monastery believed to be most important. And the murder that’s thrown into the mix went down a rather unexpected route too. Plus to top everything off the divine beings within this book came with a couple of added twists. For one thing you get to see the world through one of their eyes and oh how ‘magnificent’ that is in itself (the tone is just divine, truly). And for another there’s a portent of doom surrounding the return of these impossibly powerful beings. Needless to say I was well and truly hooked.

So it truly does go without saying that I whole heartedly recommend ’The Raven Scholar’ and can see many a fantasy fan falling in love with it once its released. The stakes are exceptionally high, the world vivid, the characters dynamic and the twists will make your head spin. There’s godly antics and disturbing magic. Plus – as if all of that wasn’t enough – it’s beautifully penned and ends in such a vastly different place politically than it begins that the journey to get there can’t be described as anything other than epic. Needless to say I’m desperately awaiting more from this wondrous world and will definitely be treating myself to a copy of this one.

’Neema had never believed in magic until she encountered the book.’

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.

Utterly brilliant.

I found it daunting when I realised how many pages were in this book but having finished it, I now feel the length was needed. Had it been shorter, the story wouldn’t have made sense.

I really liked Neema. I thought I’d end up hating her but I love how dedicated she was and how she channeled her inner Raven. It was very fitting.

Cain had my heart from the get go. He really did belong to the Fox. He’s witty, annoying but cunning and overall, great to read about.

There were so many chapters where I was shocked at what was coming, what was set in place and what had already happened!! I loved the trials, again, very fitting to their respective houses.

The romance was there but not constantly in your face, it was nice to have a break from OTT romantasy.

I did NOT see the ending coming. I figured out certain aspects but definitely not the main twists. I cannot wait for book number 2!

Exciting world building begins in this tale of Neema, from a Raven family long ostracised by the King, however suddenly he calls her family as he plans to step down.

It is decreed that seven contenders one representing each of a Fox, Raven, Tiger, Bear, Monkey, Ox and Hound must now vie for the crown in a series of trials. Soon however their number is reduced when a competitor is mysteriously murdered. Can Neema - the Raven find the killer and take the throne for her family!

A great start to a thrilling trilogy.

I loved this one! I have heard so many good things so thought i would pick it up!!

I am obsessed with the cover!

I loved the theme of competing and the dark vibes the book gave off. The mystery was also really fun. Love the FMC!

Clearly I just loved all of it 😂

I would like to express my gratitude to Hodder & Stoughton, specifically their Hodderscape division, for providing access to this advanced reader copy. It has been quite some time since I delved into a true fantasy novel. I know it may sound a bit old-fashioned, but that’s exactly the feeling this book evoked in me for me The story is a captivating blend of fantasy and mystery, which makes it both surprising and enjoyable. The characters are well-developed, contributing to the richness of the narrative. Additionally, the world-building is impressive, immersing readers in a vivid setting. Overall, it's a compelling read that’s hard to put down. I highly recommend preordering the book; it's definitely worth it!

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

I absolutely loved The Raven Scholar!
Hooked from the very first page, I spent every free minute reading this amazing fantasy novel. Excellent world building and great characters. I cannot wait to read the next installment!

First and foremost, a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

From the moment I heard about The Raven Scholar, I was eager to dive in. Unfortunately, while the premise was intriguing, the execution didn’t fully capture my attention.

At over 600 pages, this is quite a hefty read. I don’t shy away from long books, but I found myself struggling to get through this one, constantly waiting for that moment that would truly hook me—but it never quite came.

One aspect that threw me off early on was the shift from Yana to Neema as the protagonist after the first 50 pages. This may simply be a matter of personal preference, but it made it harder for me to stay engaged.

While The Raven Scholar wasn’t quite the right fit for me, I have no doubt it will resonate with its intended audience. I plan to give it another try upon its official release to see if my perspective changes.