I was not expecting to start 2025 with a 700 page tome of epic fantasy, especially not one that brought something fresh and vibrant to the genre but here we are. What a great start to my reading year.
I really enjoyed Hodgson's historical mystery series so I'm not surprised I immediately gelled with her writing style. This was packed with engaging characters, action, wit and twists against the backdrop of excellent world building. My only stumble was that the prologue was so engaging that it led me to believe the MC would be a completely different character to the Neema, so it took me a while to warm up to her. If you like fantasy competition tropes and political fantasy, then you'll really enjoy this.

This is how epic fantasy should be done. I adored every page (all 700+ of them): it was so meticilously plotted, so carefully built, so funny, and the characters! I could spend seven thousand pages with them, not seven hundred.

The plot in brief: Neema Kraa (brilliant, hilarious, socially challenged) is the emperor's High Scholar. On the night when the tournament to choose the new emperor starts, she 1) loses her cushty position in court, 2) finds the dead body of her rival, and 3) is forced to join the tournament. The story weaves both the murder investigation (since Neema needs to clear her name) and the tournament (since Neema needs to survive) together, and throws in so many unexpected twists and turns as we go. There are a lot of clever narrative choices that surprised me, and the whole story is told with a wonderful sense of humour, which provided a nice balance to some of the darker moments.

My favourite part about this book was Neema. She was so much fun to spend time with: I have a soft spot for scholarly characters, and she was so delightfully out of her depth for most of the story. I also loved the subtle romantic subplot.

This book was a definite favourite for me, and I really, really hope the sequel comes soon. This book was a definite favourite for me, and I really, really hope the sequel comes soon. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC - the audiobook narration was excellent!

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson is a gripping new fantasy fuelled by a deadly competition to find the new Emperor of Orrun. The story begins with the devastating tale of a young girl called Yana who faces exile and ultimately death at the hands of her twin brother and sadly due to the actions of her Father. This betrayal will cause a spiral of events eight years later where we follow the journey of her twin brother, the High scholar who wrote the exile letter and the corruption of those in power in Orrun.

The World building in this story is excellent, the magic system is unique and the politics will have you shocked with the twist and turns of corruption. I loved the way the writer was able to lay down the foundations of what has happened, giving hints but not requiring to blatantly tell you. I was guessing right up to the end which kept me hooked.

‘When hope flares in the darkness, it blinds even the sharpest eyes.’

The characters are beautifully crafted and complex, Neema the high scholar is a studious, ambitious and follows what she thinks is the right path for the Empire. Cain, her love, is a wily, hilarious assassin with a hunger for all food in sight. Ruco, twin brother and betrayer of Yana is so complicated and interesting I loved his story.

‘The path to the throne is narrow ... And must be walked alone.’

I read the audio and kindle copy and I think the narrator was excellent and weaved a fantastic story. My only wish was that the Raven sounded less robotic. I enjoyed the music at the beginning of different parts.

This is the beginning and I can’t wait to see where this story goes. Thank you to netgalley, the publishers and Antonia Hodgson for the opportunity to read and listen to this tale in exchange for an honest review.

“The eight will return in blood and fire. You will taste them in the water, you will hear them in the wind, you will glimpse them in the lightening storm. They will come to you in dreams, they will call to you. Do not let them in.”

4.5⭐️. This book was such a ride! I went in blind, with no preconceptions of what the book was about, which I would recommend. You learn early on that the world is pretty brutal - exile is no simple banishment.

There are trials (but in a way that doesn’t feel like every other fantasy book with a trial trope), a magic book, murder mystery and 8 guardians (Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, Hound, Dragon) with a prophecy foretelling their deathly return. The Emperor is at the end of his 24 year term and rule isn’t passed down by familial lines; instead, a candidate from each monastery must compete to become the next leader of Orrun.

There were plenty of twists and turns, interesting character dynamics and the reveal at the end of part 6 was crazy! I did not see it coming!

I listened to the audiobook, which was really well performed. But I will definitely be purchasing the physical copy when it gets released and I can’t wait to continue the series!

Massive thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc.

An absolutely fantastic first book in a series I'm sure will become one of my favourites. Sharp dialogue, gripping action and plenty of twists, turns and intriguing lore throughout. The characters are the best part of the novel with the non-humans being just as (if not more) compelling as our human protagonists. I really enjoyed their development throughout the book and the bonds forged and broken between them.

I do think the pacing slows at certain points and the book could probably do with a bit of editing to cut it down by 10/15%. As I progressed through the latter half, I was frequently surprised by how much of the book I still had left to go! That said, I loved my time with it and very much look forward to the sequel.

I loooved reading this book so much. It should be consumed in every format! The audiobook was fab (as someone who’s both read it AND listened to the audio), they both have their own elements of beauty.

I love audiobooks because they can truly capture the feel of the book and bring it to life for the reader (if narrated well) and this one certainly was.

The world itself is so easy to immerse into and it’s great to get swept along into a fantasy world. The characters were all so well built I found and I enjoyed getting to know them all and experience the story along with them as the book went along.

I was so consumed by the book and even though it’s a long one, it’s not hard to get caught into the plot. It didn’t feel too long (like sometimes 500+ books can feel) and if anything, I wanted it to be longer! I’m seriously hyped for the next book and so glad it’s a trilogy as I know there’s some more epic tales to come.

Here’s the updated review with your addition about the audiobook:

---

"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.

I experienced the story also as an audiobook narrated by Daphne Kouma, whose performance was nothing short of exceptional. Her ability to embody the nuances of each character, from their distinct voices to their emotional depths, brought the world of Orrun vividly to life. Kouma's narration added an extra layer of immersion, making the high-stakes drama and intricate worldbuilding even more compelling.

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.