“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.

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:

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"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.

No sé qué me hizo empezar The Raven Scholar, el nombre de Antonia Hodgson me era desconocido y aunque la sinopsis era atractiva, hace ya tiempo que aprendí a desconfiar del marketing encapsulado en cuatro frases. Pero tendré que darle las gracias a ese instinto, porque me he encontrado un libro que merece las cinco estrellas con las que lo he valorado.


The Raven Scholar mezcla la investigación de un asesinato con un mundo de fantasía apasionante, como The Tainted Cup de Robert Jackson Bennett. Y he de decir que esta mezcla de géneros, que no sé si hay un término que describa adecuadamente, al menos a mí me tiene encandilada. No es menos cierto que disfrutar de la lectura de un libro tan extenso gracias a la labor de narración Daphne Kouma lo convierte en una tarea exquisitamente agradable. Además, los valores de producción que incorpora el libro, con ecos y cambios en la grabación en determinados momentos clave de intervención de los personajes no hace si no añadirle valor a esta versión en audio.

La construcción de mundo sobre la que se sustenta The Raven Scholar es excelsa. Tanto el sistema de elección del emperador basado en pruebas que enfrentan a los mejores representantes de las ocho casas de saber, como el hecho de que los dioses sean más temidos que venerados le da muchísimo juego a Hodgson. El torneo que se desarrolla durante las 700 páginas del libro recuerda un poco al de los tres magos en Hogwarts pero vitaminado y supermineralizado. Y aún con todas las bondades que muestra, no tiene por qué ser lo más destacado del volumen, porque el elenco de personajes, su profundidad, su historia pasada y sus relaciones también son un pilar en el que basar el éxito del libro. No me extrañaría verlo enmarcado como dark academy, aunque creo que el volumen ofrece mucho más. También he visto que lo llamaban fantasía épica y tampoco es desacertado, pero sigo pensando que hace falta una definición distinta para algunos libros.

Hodgson también aprovecha para meter ciertas dosis de humor que alivian la tensión in crescendo a lo largo de la lectura. El humor en la fantasía es un tema delicado, no es fácil que salga fluido pero la británica sale bastante airosa de este envite, de mí al menos ha conseguido alguna carcajada y, por lo general, la lectura ha sido con una sonrisa en los labios. Es un recurso muy bueno para contrarrestar los momentos más duros del libro, que también los tiene. Y es que, como la vida misma, The Raven Scholar puede provocar sonrisas y lágrimas al más pintado. La trama es aparentemente enrevesada y algo exigente con el lector, en parte por la gran cantidad de personajes que tienen un papel más o menos relevante en la historia y sobre todo por los vericuetos que los conspiradores y los investigadores deberán recorrer para revelar la verdad, pero, sinceramente, creo que el esfuerzo merece la pena.

Lo más frustrante para mí es ver que se trata solo de la primera entrega de una trilogía y que queda mucho por descubrir, a pesar de la gran longitud de la obra. Pero no me cabe duda de que en cuanto que esté disponible la siguiente entrega me haré con ella, para seguir disfrutando de lo que escribe Antonia Hodgson.

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.

I always like a trial story!
There are many participants and all the people around them and as we get to know them, all have their secrets and goals.

Be prepared for many twists and turns, deceptions, treacheries... And as soon as you think you got it figured out, something else happens leaving you dumbfounded. I really liked Neema and her development.
I listened to the audiobook and the voices are made really nicely, there is even some music at times.

I enjoyed this much more than I expected. Let just say I've been burnt by books well marketed who didn't deliver, and luckily this one isn't one of them. Can't wait for the next book in this serie.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder&Stoughton Audio for access to the audiobook against an honest review.*

THIS BOOK IS MAGNIFICENT! My first highlight of the year. The Raven Scholar is a colourful, playful epic fantasy, that is just PURE FUN.

Emperor Bersun wants to resign from office. To choose successor, a competition is held at court. Representatives of the various Animal Guardian houses, the best of the best – Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound – are pitted against each other. But even before the first competition, one of them is murdered …
High tension, high drama, high humour, packed with unforeseen twists and turns, these 700 pages flew by, oh my. It is a compelling and highly engaging mix of murder mystery that feels kind of like a heist, but never loses sight of its epic fantasy roots. The pace was fast, but there was enough room for the characters and their development.
So let’s talk about the characters: Neema Kraa, the titular Raven Scholar, is perhaps not the most likeable character at first. She comes across as strict, overly disciplined and arrogant. Of course, she is brilliant and has achieved her ambitious goal to become one of the emperors’ closest confidants, but maybe there is more to her. In contrast to her is Cain, the fox contender, who doesn’t take anything seriously (really, anything), and loves to get in trouble. It is the fox’s way, always to joke on the lips.
One of the most interesting parts for me was their character development. I also absolutely loved the diversity of the cast and world building. Neema is a Black woman over the age of thirty and I read her as autistic coded; Cain is bi and, in my opinion, also neurodivergent coded; the world building is queer normative, which was just very wholesome.
At first, I was afraid I would have problems with the world-building. Everyone in this city affiliates with one of the animal guardians through their professions and character traits, which I am not usually a fan of because it can feel too artificial, but for some reason, here it was done in a more serious and flexible way so it still felt like an organic world building.

Finally, I can only recommend the audio book. Voice actress Daphne Kouma does an incredible job of giving the different factions different voices and even enhances the humorous tone. I applaud the narrator for her interpretation of the footnotes. It truly was: magnificent. I only wished I had access to a glossary – which means, I will read a physical copy one day.
This is an epic fantasy that will appeal to a variety of audiences in the fantasy genre. It is accessible, not too dark, yet with depth and seriousness in its themes and characters.

If you liked this, you definitely should read the Raven Scholar:

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: For the adventure, for the fun, for the diverse world, the humour and the chaotic drama!
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch: Not as gritty as Locke, but highly engaging in its political intrigue and heist-like plot!
Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon: Like Priory, I think Raven Scholar is a good place to start exploring the epic fantasy genre if you’re coming from romantasy or YA fantasy, as it’s an easy book to immerse oneself in.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this digital ARC.

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.

I listened to the audiobook of The Raven Scholar. The narrator fully commits to the role and is very enthusiastic. If you're going to be the voice of a collective of ravens, you've got to give it some oomph, and she does! She uses a range of accents and intonations to differentiate the characters and her narration really enhanced both the tension and the humour of the book.

And there's a lot of tension in there! Right from the beginning of this story, I found myself listening to the audiobook with my jaw completely dropped to the floor. There were some really shocking things that happened straight away in the prologue section, and I could never guess where the story was going to go next. I was just along for the ride.

But there's also humour in there, and a really great balance of murder-mystery plot, character development and romance. I came to really like Neema, although it didn't start that way. But I didn't need to love her from the start to be invested in the story because she and many of the side characters were so interesting and unique, and the plot had instantly captured me, so it was just fascinating to see how everything unfolded.

I honestly have no idea where the next two books in the trilogy are going to go, as book one was so unpredictable, so I'm not going to even hazard a guess!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest 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

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

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,

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!!

I really loved this book! It took me a little while to get into it, but once I had my head around the characters and the different schools, I was fully invested. The world-building was immersive, and the characters were so well thought out—you can’t help but root for them. My only complaint? Having to wait for the next installment to see where the story goes! A great young adult fantasy read that delivers on adventure, intrigue, and character depth

The Raven Scholar is the first book in a new trilogy. We follow Neema Kraa, the emperor's High Scholar, who gets chosen to solve a murder all while there is a competition between seven contenders for the the throne of Orrun.

This is a fascinating mix of courtly intrigue, murder mystery, deadly competition and mystical beings that seem to have more influence on the world and its people than they might have thought. There is even a small amount of romance, but it's very much not the focus.

Neema is a great character to follow. She is witty, higly intelligent and ressourceful. And even though she is our main focus, we get different perspectives throught the narrative.

The audiobook is narrated by Daphne Kouma and she does a wonderful job. She gives Neema life and is very good at making every voice distinct and easily distinguishable. It was a joy listening to her.

The audiobook also uses musical cues between the different parts of the story, which makes it easy to follow.

I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy. I loved this so much!

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…

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.

Rating - 5⭐️

This was a MASTERPIECE 🙌🏻. It was MAGNIFICENT 🙌🏻 (iykyk😉). I need more adult epic fantasy books like this one 😩🙏🏻. Forget top 10 reads because this might just be in my top 5 reads of 2025!!!

Firstly, I need to praise the audiobook because it’s now added to my list of favourite audiobooks. I had very high hopes for this audiobook in particular because I saw MANY good reviews about it and you know I love a good audiobook. I can attest that this audio sounded just as good as those graphic audio productions. There was clearly a lot of effort put into the production and IT PAID OFF 👏🏻. There were some added effects in particular parts which really enhanced my listening experience. I even loved the short music playing on each part of the book. Daphne Kouma (the narrator) did such a fantastic job at narrating for a huge cast of characters and they were all given distinct voices which really brought them to life.

Now onto the plot aspect. I enjoyed the trials, they were each so intriguing and cleverly written. There was so much action-packed scenes and LOTS of political intrigue and I loved every second of it 🙌🏻. And don’t even get me started with the plot twists!! It was like riding a wild rollercoaster!!! SOOO many plot twists, SOOO many revelations, IT WAS MIND BLOWING🤯!! The author really had me theorising nearly every single chapter and I constantly ended up with my jaw dropped to the floor and gasping audibly from shock.

The writing style was definitely up my alley because the humour and seriousness were perfectly balanced for me. I’d be stressed one second and laughing the next😂. The different narrative styles this whole story was told in was AMAZING!!!! You could even say some of the narrative styles gave a bird’s eye view(😉) of the lives of the many characters.

Finally, the characters. I loved Neema and her clever mind!!! I felt like I was going on this journey with her to solve mysteries and uncover dark truths. You can also expect very entertaining talking animal companions!! All the other characters are quite mysterious and untrustworthy with different agendas and yet, I somehow came to love and root for some of them🥹🫶🏻. I think my favourite character was unexpectedly Ruko but you’ll have to read the book to find out why🤭. I honestly have a lot more to say about the characters but it’s better for you to go in blind and get to know them yourself🤭🤭🤭.

Overall, I loved the plot, the audio narrator, the writing style and the characters. This book was SOOO much fun, entertaining, and action-packed!!! This has so much potential in becoming one of my favourite series!!

This was simply amazing. How is it even possible that I didn't read anything from Antonia Hodgson before?
This is a long book (even in the audio version) and yet I enjoyed every minute of it. The world building with the guardians, the twist I had thought was coming and then a completely different one happened - this novel is pure entertainment. I would be ready to jump on Book 2, if it was available.

The audiobook is read by Daphne Kouma, and what she did with this novel, especially with Sol the raven, was magnificent. It was bliss to listen to her narration.

the raven scholar is an epic fantasy set in a Orrun, where every 24 years, a new emperor is chosen through trials. seven contenders are due to begin their trials when one of them is murdered. now Neema, a raven scholar, is forced to investigate a murder and participate in the trials and she’s completely unprepared. she will need to untangle a web of deadly secrets and uncover dangerous truths.

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING I NEEDED AND MORE OHMYGOD!!!!!!!!!! there is no way for me to describe just how much i adored this.
the writing style was so intriguing. it changed from third to first person and in other ways, but it wasn’t really confusing, it just make the story THAT much more interesting.

the political intrigue had me on the FLOOR!! like this is how you write good political intrigue with crazy plot twists. there was nothing i could predict and my mind was constantly reeling from all the information😩

i loved following Neema as the main character. she is smart, determined, resilient, and honestly so amazing and it breaks my heart that she doesn’t realise how amazing she is😭
every single contender was so interesting as well!! special shoutout to my man Ruko (who i pictured as Toji from JJK, so i could not not love him)

the relationships formed and developed in this book, both romantic and platonic, were absolutely perfect and i cannot wait to see more of them!!

the narrator also did an amazing job with this. they really brought the story and characters to life!

This book was.. MAGNIFICENT! (Iykyk)

An amazing adult, epic fantasy that I could NOT stop listening to! I loved the book, but I truly think the audio made it even more special! The different voices/accents, the emotion and the humour were all perfect! I already want to listen to it again to hear “Neeemahhh!!” By Soul. (Apologies I have no idea how they are spelt! 🤣

Thankyou Netgalley and Hodderscape for this ALC ❤️

Murder Mystery
Politics & Secrets
Reluctant Hero
Found Family
Second Chance
Closed Door Spice
Fantasy

This book had me so intrigued from the blurb and I couldn't wait to dive in.

At first it feels like there's a little bit too much going on, too many characters and different plot lines, but the further you go the more it starts making sense!

The book is also filled with twists and turns that had my jaw dropping!

The downside for me is the length of it. A 24 hour audiobook felt a little bit daunting to me. That being said, I absolutely love the narrator and I feel like she did a fantastic job!

4.5 ⭐️

This was an absolute delight!

The Raven scholar has everything I love: court intrique, witty characters, humor, interesting world building. I really really loved this and devoured this pretty long book in only a few days.

Most suprising to me was that I actually didn't mind the deadly trials trope. I think the scale of the trials worked in it's favour and some of them were quite smart and funny. I was excited every time to find Out what the challenge would be this time.

The cast of characters is so compelling. So many characters with different goals and motivations and while not all of them are "good" I couldn't stop myself for rooting for almost all of them.

The romance subplot was so funny and cute and didn't take over the story too much but I was kicking my feet every time we did get interactions between the MC and her love interest.

The lore was great and the book does a great job at subverting expectations. I thought the whole 8 different animal gods would be another trope but just like with the deadly trials the author manages to spin it in a new and interesting way.

The book does a great job of giving you just as much information to make you think you know more than the characters just to reveal another twist, which made for a very entertaining and engaging reading experience.

I listened to the audio version which was also done beautifully. The character work of the narrator was amazing and some of the added effects really elevated the experience.

I just had a really fun time with this book and recommend it wholeheartedly!

I really enjoyed this book so much. It did however take me a few beats to get into because there was so much to take in…. but I soon couldn’t stop listening and had to give in to the rich tapestry of characters and the build of the world and story. Loved it and I want more! Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the audio arc.

Book Review: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Hodderscape for this ARC and the audiobook!

I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing The Raven Scholar in both audiobook and physical formats—mostly because I just couldn’t put it down! From the very first page, this story grips you with betrayal, intrigue, and a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

We follow Neema, the Raven Scholar—an outcast, not particularly skilled at making friends, but fiercely intelligent. When an old enemy, one who has threatened to expose her deepest secret, is suddenly murdered, she is thrust into a deadly game of politics, lies, and corruption. In a system that claims to uphold justice, Neema must navigate a treacherous path to solve the murder—one that could expose the very secret she has built her life around.

Adding to the complexity, Neema is forced to work alongside her former lover, Cain, also known as the Fox. Their differences once drove them apart, but now they are thrown back together, uncovering conspiracies, battling for survival, and possibly even contending for the throne itself. And then, of course, there’s the raven that speaks to her—a presence that is equal parts chaotic, witty, and mysterious.

This book is fast-paced, filled with murder, romance, political intrigue, and a touch of magic. The world-building is rich, the characters are complex, and the stakes are high. Neema is a flawed but fascinating protagonist, making one questionable decision after another, yet her struggles feel real and compelling.

Overall, The Raven Scholar is a gripping fantasy read that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Whether you pick up the physical copy or the audiobook, this is a story worth diving into. Highly recommended for fans of political fantasy, morally grey characters, and, of course, talking ravens!

#TheRavenScholar #NetGalley #HodderStoughton #Hodderscape

I absolutely LOVED this book! Obsessed!
It was unique, intriguing, exciting, thrilling... all the good stuff! The story plot and world building was brilliant - I haven't read a book like it, and I am now desperate to read more - when's the next book!!!!

As a summary, you have this city that build on worshipping these 8 god like animal beings, and everyone categorizes themselves and choses to worship a particular god and thus takes on their values and characteristics - for example Monkeys are creative, Ravens are intelligent and so fourth. Their jobs in the city are then also based on their chosen god, hence the name of the book 'Raven scholar'.
We follow this bright but introverted Raven scholar girl who gets herself into tricky situations due to her intelligence and need for approval. There's romance, suspense, murder mystery, exciting life or death trials, betrayal, twists and shock revelations that keep you hooked throughout the book!

To top is all off, I had the audiobook copy of this ARC and I can say the voice actor was amazing - truly created such an engaging experience and I loved every second of it.

xxx

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape) for access to the early review copy of this audio book. I was offered advanced access to this publicationin exchange for an honest review. All opinions shared are my own.
I had a really great time with this audio book, the narrator, Daphne Kouma, was the perfect choice for this novel. She truly brings the characters to life and you can really tell the difference between them all in the narration style.
Antonia Hodgson has truly written a splendid start to a trilogy. I had a really great time with this one. This is how I wish the animals could have been portrayed in Voyage of the Damned. I enjoyed all the misdirection that was written into the story, everytime I thought I knew where the story was heading, Hodgson wrote something I didn't even think was a possibility.
All of the characters were written so well. They were all fully formed and I really felt that there was a lot of care and attention taken in creating them. Naturally, my favourite character was Sol and I can't wait for other readers to meet him!

“It was like reading a book, she decided. You read the book and the world became scenes, the characters became people, and they lived inside you.”

If it took me a little while to get into The Raven Scholar, once it was done I enjoyed the journey a lot. It discovered the story through its audio version, and it was a great one, with rhythm, and an awesome narrator (the voices! especially when she does the ravens! I adored it!).
The story is full of details and the author masters the plot, sprinkling it with worldbuilding and twists, with revenge and treason. I love characters who are scholars, and Neema doesn’t make an exception. I loved how the author uses the statut to give worldbuilding elements without being too much at a time. Her character is interesting. I loved her sociales difficulties, and also her strict rule follower side, how it put her into out of control situations and propulsed her into a game she had no intentions to play.
If the start is a tad slow, the rhythm picks up as soon as the trials starts. I got carried away by the story to this point, and until the end. The plot starts to rush, between moral, individual, and “societal” stakes. Survival. Moral Compass. Found Family. Manipulation. Erasing. Belonging. Neema is thrown in the middle of everything, and so are we –and it is a delight. I loved how she uses her scholar statut to cope and adapt, and how education and information’s access are key.
All the characters are grey, very human, every single one has strengths and weaknesses, and until the end I couldn’t really predict what would happen next. That, in itself, is enough for me to want to read the sequel. I can’t wait.

Thank you to the author and Hodder & Stoughton Audio | Hodderscape for the ALC. My opinions are my own.


Rate 4.5/5

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a book!! If you like political and magical intrigue - try The Raven Scholar, you won't be disappointed! Antonia Hodgson managed to combine a well-developed world with multi-layered characters AND create a plot that kept me engaged. Also, kudos to Daphne Kouma, who did an amazing job narrating the book and assigning different voices to characters (which really helped to follow the plot!).

I was hooked from the very first paragraph. The narrator is fantastic and making the story come alive. I enjoyed the flow of the story and the character storylines.

Firstly the narrator for this might be my favourite ever. The different voices were amazing and distinct and bought the story to life.

This was a whirlwind of a story where to start. There’s a murder mystery, political intrigue, trials and competition. I loved the ravens and their POV. I loved Caine and Neema and was rooting for them to find their way back to each other. The magic system and world building was unique and complex.

I need the next book in this series I am still thinking about the ending and may dive back in to reread.

🐦‍⬛THE RAVEN SCHOLAR🐦‍⬛

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 is 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.

I cannot recommend the audio book enough! The narrator absolutely nailed the switches in narrative voice and she really brought the story to life.

Keep your eyes peeled for special editions of this one! This is not a book you want to skip!

Antonia Hodgson’s The Raven Scholar marks her debut in fantasy, and as an avid fantasy reader, I sincerely hope she continues writing in this genre—because this book was simply amazing.

No matter what you’re looking for in your next read, The Raven Scholar has something to offer. Want a richly developed fantasy world with intricate court politics? It delivers. Craving a murder mystery to unravel? You’ll find one here. Yearning for a high-stakes competition that keeps you on the edge of your seat? Look no further—this book has it all.

While reading it, I was impressed at how tight and thoughtful writing is. Every detail feels purposeful, and the various plot threads intertwine seamlessly as the story unfolds. Whether this is due to Hodgson’s careful planning, her editor being terrific at her job, or both; the result is a deeply satisfying narrative that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

The worldbuilding is equally remarkable. Vivid descriptions bring the island setting to life, and the rich history and mythology add layers of depth to the world the characters inhabit. Which, speaking of characters: they are fantastic (no pun intended). Neema is very refreshing as the main character, being introduced as someone who will hesitate (but consider) to do morally questionable acts and will take the rational approach when it comes to weighing the pros and the cons of her decisions. She is also a bit of a grumpy couch potato who gets excited at the prospect of doing mountains of paperwork instead of having to do something like interacting with other people or physical labour. The side characters are just as compelling, each colorful and nuanced in their own way. Special mention goes to Sol, who has effortlessly become my favorite animal companion in any fantasy novel.

As for the audiobook, I cannot praise Daphne Kouma enough. She did an incredible job narrating this book, despite its difficulties with the different PoV narrators and its fairly large cast of characters. Each character has a distinct voice, and she perfectly balances solemnity and playfulness, especially with the more whimsical characters.

Overall I LOVED The Raven Scholar. From its captivating story full of twists and turns to its beautifully crafted prose and charming characters. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for providing audio-ARC and eARC copies in exchange for an honest review.

i was so entranced by the storytelling, how all the plot points were expertly woven together and how realistic the characters were, i found it difficult to put this book down. even at nearly 700 pages, i wanted to keep going.

the characters were also very complex and compelling. neema, our beloved fmc, was very fun to read about. i loved sol and the other ravens, they added the right amount of comedy to the book.

cain was a bit of a confusing character for me. i couldn’t tell if i should trust him or not (and I’m not sure if that’s just me 😂), but it was one thing that i really liked. it made him realistic to me.

(side note: fenn was my favourite and i wanted more of him front and centre).

like with any long book, i found the first 150 pages difficult to get through. i almost DNFed it when @originsofstars told me several other people said to push through and it gets better. i’m glad i listened to that because this is easily one of the better books i’ve read this year, despite the rough start. and the start wasn’t bad per se, but it was slow paced which i was struggling with.

there is a lot of set up and world building at the start of this book before things get underway. there’s so much backstory, and it all pays a pivotal role in how the book plays out.

the climax and conclusion was so fast paced, intense and filled with plot twists and revelations. my jaw was on the ground for the last 15% of the raven scholar.

while I’m so happy to have read this early, I’m not looking forward to the excessively long wait i’ll now have to endure before the release of the second book 😂

adding to this, because i did have the audiobook: i struggled with the audio at first as it was too complex and so much was going on. i ended up putting it down and only picked it back up once i had a physical copy. i read and listened at the same time in order to fully absorb the story. there’s nothing against the narrator, she did an excellent job, this book was just too heavy and complicated for me at first.

An epic fantasy with spectacular world building and superbly individual characters, some lovable, some tolerable and some despicable. Raven Scholar Neema Kraa is an unlikely hero and she has to solve a grisly murder whilst completing side quests of great difficulty.

The audiobook version enhanced my enjoyment particularly when it comes to Sol’s voice.
I’m so happy to hear it is the start of a trilogy as I can’t bear to leave Neema and the Raven so soon.
I LOVE this book. It is Magnificent!