Interesting and engaging fantasy novel - surprises at every turn.

A thoroughly enjoyable tale, it tells the story of Neema, a scholar of the Raven faction, working for the emperor. This leads her to end up involved in a contest to become the emperor's successor. There's a huge amount that goes on in this novel and I am loath to go into the events and circumstances that occur. Various aspects of magic and spells occur as well as the creation of a fantasy world. There's a lot of involved characters, well-developed and often surprising. It's also a story of political manipulation. There's much to enjoy and I found the whole experience worthwhile and more than satisfying.. Slight criticism : the last quarter goes much more quickly than the rest. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“The Raven Scholar” is high fantasy at its finest—rich, immersive, and utterly captivating. From the very first page, Antonia Hodgson weaves a world of breathtaking detail, where history, politics, and prophecy intertwine seamlessly. The realm of Orrun and the enigmatic concept of the “Eight” are nothing short of awe-inspiring, crafted with such depth that the world feels alive, its past and future as tangible as its present.

The novel opens eight years before the main events, a narrative choice that proves brilliantly effective. This prologue is far more than mere backstory—it lays essential groundwork, seeding mysteries and misdirections that challenge both the characters and the reader. What we believe to be true is often deceptive, making every revelation all the more compelling.

At the heart of the story is Neema Kraa, a High Scholar of the Ravens—an unlikely yet fascinating protagonist. Socially isolated, fiercely intelligent, and refreshingly idiosyncratic, Neema has carved out a quiet, scholarly life for herself. But when a Raven contender is murdered during the festival to select the Emperor’s successor, she is thrust into a dangerous game of politics and power. Tasked with uncovering the killer, she is also forced into the role of Raven Contender, pushing her far beyond the safety of her books and into a world of deadly intrigue.

Hodgson’s storytelling is intricate and multi-layered, blending a gripping murder mystery with themes of betrayal, deception, and survival. The characters are exquisitely drawn—complex, flawed, and utterly believable. As Neema navigates a labyrinth of secrets and lies, the tension escalates, punctuated by moments of wit and warmth that provide just enough respite before the next twist. The climax delivers a shocking revelation, leaving the reader breathless and desperate for more.

“The Raven Scholar” is a triumph of fantasy fiction—intelligent, immersive, and impossible to put down. With its intricate world-building, morally nuanced characters, and relentless intrigue, it promises to be the start of an unforgettable series.

This was an amazing start to a new fantasy trilogy.

The world-building was fresh, the storyline compelling and the characters were well-developed and very interesting.

Very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

Based on the cover alone, this book wasn’t quite what I was expecting- however I found myself really enjoying it and was eager to pick it up and read more every evening!
I really liked the world building- there was a lot of information but I felt this was built up at a good pace. However, I did find myself getting a little muddled with the characters at times - mostly because there were a lot of them and some names were quite similar, but I think this is to be expected for an epic fantasy.
I really enjoyed the plot, I also liked that there was some romance but it didn’t take away from the main story.
Overall a really enjoyable read!

One of the most incredible fantasy reads I’ve picked up this year!

I won’t give away too many plot details - half the fun is uncovering them for yourself - but the (very oversimplified) setup involves a high-stakes competition for the throne, a murder investigation, lots of scheming, and our main character Neema caught right in the middle of it all.

I was fully immersed into the story from its first pages. The writing is confident and smooth, the kind that makes you forget you’re reading and just sweeps you along. I thought this was a brilliant start to a series - it’s definitely a chunky book, but it never felt like a slog. The world-building was layered, the characters compelling, and the twists consistently satisfying.

I read most of the book in tandem with the audio, and occasionally just listened - and I thought the narration was simply exceptional, one of the best I’ve come across in a long time. The production quality is excellent, and the voice actor’s performance really elevated the story. Her interpretation (the dialects, the distinctive way they laughed!) of the characters added so much depth and emotion, and I genuinely think it made my experience of the book even more impactful.

There’s love, friendship, ambition, betrayal, heartbreak and plenty of death. It’s rich, dramatic, thoughtful, and absolutely gripping. Simply a brilliant start to what I hope becomes a standout series.

4.75/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ebook and audiobook copies in exchange for my honest review.

Four and a half I truly enjoyed this and really don’t wish to give too much away . Yes there are trials but not always about strength or well even violence but about ingenuity and just paying attention . I really liked the female protagonist and actually the surrounding characters were very surprising at times . I cannot comment on how this ends but trust me you will be reviled, angry and absolutely desperate for more . A story that surprised and absolutely entertained me and I very much look forward to the sequel .

Thank you NetGalley and Hodderscape for the advanced copy of The Raven Scholar in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled with this one. Normally I love a long, immersive epic fantasy book with complex world building, but it felt 200 pages too long. I loved the opening prologue with Yana and her family, but the jump to the future and Neema’s perspective felt jarring. I just didn’t connect with her or feel invested in the romance, either. Having said that, I thought the system with the Eight and how they interacted with the contestants intriguing. However, I do wonder about the world beyond the palaces, in the rest of Orrun. I hope the author explores these more in the rest of the series because it was hard to feel invested because I couldn’t determine the tangible effect of a corrupt leader on the world at large.

On a side note, the ebook file was formatted so badly I found it difficult to focus on the words because I was trying to work out who was saying what, and whether we had moved scene, or perspective. I found myself lost and rereading sections many times.

Ruko, Yasila and Yana are the characters I am most intrigued by, and I just wished they were given more space. I loved the morally grey personalities of them, and how their complicated pasts motivated them to act in unexpected ways. The author wrote these characters well. The heart of the story resided in their family, and their dynamics, rather than with Neema.

I bloody loved this book from word one! The world is vibrant and well realised, the characters are flawed and authentic and brilliant and the plotting is exceptional. It's funny and gory and magical, with a competition and a murder investigation to hoot. Honestly, one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had for a long time and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In The Raven Scholar we follow Neema, a raven in a world where at aged 16 a person can join one of the 8 animal factions in the world. They worship this animal as a god-like figure, and their personality fits that of the faction. Scholars are smart and academic, foxes are cunning and playful, etc. I enjoyed the idea of the world, and the mystery aspect of the story kept me intrigued until the end.

I did struggle a little with caring for our main characters. The book begins with following a different character for a few chapters, and when we are introduced to Neema we are constantly told that no one likes her and she struggles to make friends. This made me as the reader not like her either; I wanted the author to give me a reason to root for Neema. I feel like we got some of this later on in the book, but in a 600-700 page book I felt that it was too little too late and we should have had more. I felt more for the first character, Yana, whose POV we had for the first few chapters; I almost feel Neema's story would have landed better if we had less of Yana's perspective.

Overall I liked this book, even though I feel like the author tried to do too much, I enjoyed the twists and turns and it kept me wanting to pick it up until the end.

This was everything I like about a fantasy! I fell in love with the characters and every element of this world building and I already can’t wait till the next one in the series!

Very unexpectedly but not that surprising, this book made it to the top books of the year for me! This was the most pleasant surprise!!! This book was equal parts entertaining, gruesome, heartbreaking, shocking (I mean those plot twists PLURAL were insane I have barely processed them!) and I can think of a million other ways to describe it. It was so intricately written, the author had the most fascinating and amazing way of giving us new and different perspectives to cover all the events that occurred in this almost 700 page high fantasy novel. This book is fantasy at its finest where has it been all my life! You’ll hate and love all the characters, become very suspicious and frustrated and entertained at the main and side characters and I just know this is just the beginning! The vagueness of the review is purposeful, you need to know boring going in except that it some how uses fantasy, mystery, political intrigue, and those tiny magical hints of romance (mind you this is nowhere centred around that so please don’t go in saying that this book has romance because it not even the centre of this magnificent story) into this beautiful combination and honestly, read it! I loved it with my whole chest! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!

A superb fantasy action adventure, set in a magical world, that will have you on the edge of the seat right from page one. A must read that is highly recommended.

4.75 ⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. I was not paid to write this review and all opinions are my own.

The Raven Scholar is a captivating mix of political intrigue and psychological complexity, crafting a narrative that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Central to the story is the powerful, though physically absent, presence of a character whose influence is deeply felt. This haunting absence imbues the book with a gothic atmosphere, transforming it from a simple historical mystery into something hauntingly atmospheric and emotionally stirring.

Hodgson’s writing is lush and immersive, pulling readers into a world where the boundaries between past and present blur, and where obsession and sorrow become intertwined. The novel thrives on its rich character relationships, particularly how the lingering absence of a key figure continues to affect the lives of those left behind. The story explores themes of intellect, obsession, and the consequences of knowledge, making it an engrossing read for those who enjoy mysteries with an eerie twist.

As someone who has experienced the loss of both a close friend and a family member, I found myself deeply connecting with the novel’s exploration of grief.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape) and Antonia Hodgson for the advanced audio and ebook copies of The Raven Scholar via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review. Quick note: I don’t recap plots in my reviews, as it’s easy enough to read the book’s synopsis and blurbs, I purely focus on my feelings & opinions of how the books makes me feel.
The Raven Scholar is a richly imagined fantasy tale filled with intrigue and great amounts of detail. The world-building is well done – complex and plentiful, but clear and easy to understand for the most part. Characters are well-rounded and developed and all contribute well to the plot overall, although I did at times forget names/get characters confused, due to the sheer number of them.
This is a VERY long book, and the first in a series, judging by the ending. The pacing isn’t massively fast, and in my opinion this book could have possibly been split into two smaller volumes, as I found it difficult to keep my attention to it for so long. At times, it felt a bit like a slog.
I enjoyed the divisions of the population by personality and skill, and definitely identified as a Raven myself.
The obvious ‘different’ nature of the protagonist, Neema, who I read as autistic-coded, was a welcome read, as this is an under-represented group of people in fiction. Thank you, Antonia Hodgson!
I absolutely adored the narrator, Daphne Kouma. Although I had both the ebook and audio versions of this title, I preferred to listen to it, simply due to Daphne’s superb voice-work. She employed a myriad of voices in spectacular ways throughout the work and really brought everything to life in the most wonderful way. I will definitely be seeking out more of her narration work.
Moods: adventurous, challenging, mysterious
Tropes: loveable rogue, opposites attract, peril
Pace: slow
Character development: medium
Plot or character driven: plot
Diversity: medium
Spice: 1/5
Trigger warnings: Amputation, Blood/Gore, Death, Death of a family member, Murder, Poisoning, Violence
Rating: 3.5
Rounded up to 4

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 ⭐

Every 24 years, in the Empire of Orrun, chooses their new emperor or empress through a series of brutal trials. One for each of their guardians. But what happens when one of the seven contestants gets murdered before the start of the Trials? Chaos, secrets, drama and a mystery (or two) to solve.

Wow, just wow.

It took me a while to get into this because there's a lot of setting up too do in order to reach the heart of the story, but once you have enough detail you'll start to understand and you'll want to know more and more. The Raven scholar is a magnificent story, filled with historical elements and folktales. But it's not just that, it's a murder mystery and the story of an epic competition for the throne, and also a love story, while being filled with prophecies and mythology. There's everything an even more, honestly, I find it quite difficult to pinpoint all the things you can find in this, but I can tell you the mix is perfect. It's captivating, funny, emotional, witty, and at times infuriating.

As for the characters my favourite was Cain, he is witty, charismatic and I couldn't help but fall for his charm. I love him and I can't wait to see what's next for him. But this last point applies to all characters. I can't wait to read the sequel!

I can recommend this book to anyone who thinks that they would like The First Law trilogy, but aren't brave enough to start it. Or liked it and want something that has a little bit of it, but isn't as hopeless.
The best way i can describe this book is a car crash in slow motion. It had parts that were great, but sadly this book is perfectly on the line thst divides the "love it" and "not for me". It had parts I loved. I always like a good mystery with my fantasy, and the romance sublpot was cute as hell. But after reaching 50% there was a constant feeling of wrongness while I read it. That could've been intentional, but I don't like feeling wrong while reading a book.
I liked the characters, the writing style, the fantasy setting. But luckily I'm a reviewer and not a critic so I can rate this book lower because I simply did not liked it. Heres why: my biggest problem with the book is the plot. While reading it I felt that it smashed so much plot ideas into one book and because of that it was way too long and it couldn't decide what it was. I don't want to go into spoilers, but another problem I had was the twists. It's the make or break in a murder mystery novel, which this felt like at times. And the twists themselves were good as far as plot goes, but the reveals just ruined them for me.
But it was certainly an interesting experience and I'm glad that I got to read it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. Wow. This might be one of the best books I've ever read? I'm in love. Everything about it was wonderful. The world building, the characters, the brilliant and witty prose. FMC Neema is the excellently executed neurodivergent rep I needed in a fantasy book. There's so much political intrigue, alongside courtly schemes; there are dangerous, deadly trials that actually carry on for the length of the book, too. There were so many twists and turns, some I worked out and others that had me shocked! Among all the mystery and the murders and the brilliantly written god-like guardians, there was even time for a sweet romance. I loved every single multifaceted character. My only complaint it that I need the next book very desperately.

If I could give this book 10 stars I would. This is absolutely a contender for book of the year already.

A solidly enjoyable first fantasy series instalment that had all the bones of beginning a new stellar series. This was a little slow in places but the characters glued the story together for me. I thought the trial element would take more of a centre stage, as that is what drew me to the book in the first place, but I had fun in this world, regardless.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Raven Scholar is easily one of my favourite books this year!

This book is so unique and I can’t even really begin to explain what I liked about it because I’m scared it’ll just be me lovingly narrating the entire book.

The narrative in this book was excellent. Never did I ever think I would be experiencing this story through a flock of pesky ravens but there’s a first time for everything I guess. The Raven Scholar has somehow perfectly balanced political intrigue, extensive worldbuilding, and high-stakes trials with humour that quite literally had me cackling.

This book was just so smart. All of the characters had plots inside of plots and I loved being constantly surprised, and very rarely guessed the direction of the story!

The ravens were, of course, quite magnificent indeed and I must say that I resonate with Anxious Raven With Piercing Alarm Call on a spiritual level.

The romance in The Raven Scholar hit the sweet spot of just enough to keep me interested but little enough to make me hang onto every word searching for scraps in every interaction.

OMG 🐦‍⬛ THIS 🦊 BOOK 🐉 IS 🐒 SO 🐻 FREAKIN 🐅 GOOD 🐂

I honestly don’t even know where to start. This book is so different, so refreshing, so intriguing, so imaginative I cannot even begin to tell you how hooked I was.

Welcome to Orrun, an empire devoted to the Eight deities - the Tiger, Monkey, Raven, Fox, Hound, Ox, Bear and Dragon. After the emperor’s 24 year term is over, a representative from each of the temples faces a set of deadly and devious trials in order to earn the throne. But after the Raven representative is murdered the night before the festival begins, the emperor’s High Scholar Neema is thrust into the unwanted position of contender. But behind this long-established routine of power change, political machinations are in motion, and the Eight - who have saved the realm 7 times - promise to destroy Orrun if they have to return again.

UGH. This story is delicious, I really could not put this down. There’s a murder mystery, prophecies, courtly intrigues, spies and assassins, games and trials, just EVERYTHING.

The characters are so complex and interesting I found myself caring about every single one of their journeys rather than just focussing on the main storyline.

That brings me to the writing - my god this blew me away. At first you don’t know what perspective this story is told from, is it a narrator or another character? The story seems to jump in perspectives and tells the overall plot through so many different characters that it just feels so rich and complex that I could just squeal about it for days. Aside from that the characterization of the Eight, the way their voices are woven into the story is just incredible.

I would give this 10 stars if I could. I’m begging for book two and this isn’t even out yet!

This is one you NEED to pre-order. It releases on 17th April and trust me you must must MUST add it to your TBR.

Thank you so much Hodderscape, NetGalley and Antonia Hodgson for the absolute privilege of reading this ARC!