Thank you @orbitbooks_us for the Arc and to @librofm for the ALC

Murder plots, political power plays, and scholars thrown into chaos—this one surprised me in all the best ways.

This book is full of twists, political scheming, and a setting that felt really layered and fresh. I loved how messy and complex it all got. Neema, the main POV, kind of drove me nuts at first (especially since we start off with another character I was really into), but she seriously grew on me. By the end, I was fully rooting for her.

The characters in general felt fun and vibrant, and I was into the dynamics right away. That said—if you’re not in the mood for a “lawful good scholar learns that the world is messier than her texts suggest” type of arc, this might be a tougher one to connect with. The pacing is unique, the tone leans heady, and the story really asks you to sit with it.

I did want more tension from the tournament-style games, which felt like they could’ve been more intense—but even with that, the world and the political tension kept me hooked.

And yes, for those who know how picky I am with romance, I actually enjoyed the moments we got. They felt earned and sweet.

The audio really impressed me. I really loved the sound mixing and Daphne Kouma did a wonderful job with all the povs and the crows. The crows were some of the best parts of this audio.

Read this if you like complex worldbuilding, rebellion plots, slow-burn character growth, and stories that straddle both intellect and intrigue.

This book has so many fun components- fascinating animal god lore, murder-mystery, trials, an underdog FMC! I was hooked by the first few chapters, and I found the audio especially enjoyable- there’s some specific voices than enhance the experience via audio.

I had a good time with the first half and thought the lore and mystery were so intriguing. But then…it just felt like the book should have ended at that point. There was so much more to pack into the second half, and it just needed to be two books. There was a lot more telling-not-showing, big revelations stated like an afterthought, momentary POV jumps that didn’t add a ton of value (needed more time with these characters), and the trial became background noise. I wish there had been more focus on the actual trials and action.

I really did enjoy myself for the first half, and I just wonder if the second half was rushed. 4 stars for that first half and 3 for the second. Confusingly had a fine time + fatigue 😅 Audio is definitely the way to go if you have that option. If the sequel isn’t super thick, I will continue the series.

Just like the Raven, this book was magnificent.

It opens eight years in the past, where one character’s exile and eventual death set the path for everything that follows. Neema becomes High Scholar for writing the Order of Exile, which causes a rift between her and Cain, the Fox spy. Ruko, responsible for the exile, is desperate to claim the throne and will do whatever it takes to win the trial and justify his actions. Now, with the current ruler’s 24-year term ending, Orrun must select a new leader—and what follows is a brilliant mix of political intrigue, murder mystery, and a competition for the crown.

Before we get into that, I have to mention one of my favorite parts of the worldbuilding: the Eight Guardians. People in Orrun align themselves with one of these factions—Ox, Bear, Fox, Raven, Hound, Tiger, Monkey, or Dragon—based on their personality or skills. This shapes everything from their lifestyle to their relationships, and it adds such depth to the story’s structure. Each Guardian puts forth a contender for the throne, and the competition plays out over several days in a festival-style trial. It’s not just combat, either. Each House designs a challenge, testing the contenders’ strengths, values, and versatility. These moments reveal so much about each character.

But Neema was never supposed to be a contender. She’s the High Scholar, not a ruler. That changes when the Raven contender is found murdered, thrusting her into both an investigation and a dangerous political spotlight. I absolutely loved her. Neema isn’t someone who charms a room. She’s sharp, stubborn, and holds tightly to her convictions, even when it alienates her. Where others saw rigidity, I saw strength. Her self-assurance, even when misunderstood, really resonated with me. Watching her rise to meet the challenge was so satisfying.

And don’t even get me started on her relationship with Cain. Their shared past slowly blossoming into a possible future? It was subtle and sweet and just felt right.

Neema’s not alone, either—she’s helped by the Raven itself, her Guardian, who’s determined to keep her alive. The Raven is a collective being made up of all ravens that ever were, are, or will be. It can split or unify, and we often get its point of view throughout the book. Solitary Raven, a fragment of that whole, is often separate from the Flock and disliked by the others. But in Neema, Solitary finds kinship, and the two become their own small flock. It’s funny, profound, and gave the story even more heart.

The writing is accessible and enjoyable, with a steady pace and strong emotional beats. While Neema is our anchor, the side characters are fleshed out and meaningful, never feeling like background noise. The complexity builds across the book, but everything ties together in a satisfying way. And the twists? I was walking and reading on my break and literally stopped mid-step going, “OMG, what the fuck?”

The ending left me with that quiet ache only a special book can deliver. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters or this world. I’m already counting down the days until the sequel drops, because I’ll be thinking about Neema and her journey until then.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I love the blend of fantasy novels and murder mysteries, and “The Raven Scholar” delivers that. The story features eight warriors and scholars competing for the throne, while simultaneously, there is an investigation into the murder of one of the contenders. This books has several twists and turns.

Some people might find this novel a bit slow because it is filled with many flashbacks and history. Additionally, it is a chunky book at almost 700 pages.

Overall it was enjoyable read, but a little too long 😁.

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you Orbit for the gifted copy that I got at NYC Comic Con in October!

The Raven Scholar
Antonia Hodgson
Publishing Date: April 15, 2025

I was excited to get a copy of this book, initially because it has the word Raven in the title and at the time I was still grieving the loss of my pup who was named Raven, it felt like she was saying hello when this was the mystery book I snagged at the table at Comic Con. 🖤 Once I read the synopsis I was just excited for the book itself!

I loved the characters in this book, especially Cain. There was snark and wit throughout, which I appreciate, especially in a book where the stakes and tension are high. I adored the dynamic between Neema and Sol. I am a fan of academia in books, as well as trials/competitions, so these themes appealed to me as well. I was immediately drawn into the story once I started reading!

This is a chonky one, coming in at over 600 pages. In those pages this book tries to do a lot, arguably too much. There are trials taking place to appoint a new emperor, and while the overall stakes are high, the trials themselves did not read as high pressure. The book is organized by the eight trials, but there are a lot of sidebars and info dropping that happens unrelated to the trial’s throughout. There are a lot of characters, but not a lot of character development. There are a lot of twists and turns, but they happen very quickly and too easily much of the time.

I think this book was just trying to fit too much in all at once and might have been better served being broken up into two. I would have loved to see more focus on the trials themselves and further developing the major characters in this one. It just felt a bit too long and didn’t leave me wanting more in the end as a result. That being said, I’ll still most likely be back for book two to see what happens next 😏

Obsessed. My favorite book so far this year.
__
THE RAVEN SCHOLAR was one of the first fantasy novels that I have read exclusively with my eyes in a long time. The prevalence of the romantasy genre often causes me to gravitate toward it, but when I read an epic fantasy again, I’m reminded of its magnificence. Hodgson crafted a story that was both clever and unique. The anthropomorphic guardians brought an element of levity to the story, and I found myself turning the pages wanting to interact with them again. I appreciated the wide assortment of primary characters, as they were multifaceted in a manner that made them believable. Following Neema's journey and uncovering the mystery alongside her was enjoyable (and, at times, surprising!). I know for sure I’m going to have a book hangover for the next few days.

Fantasy lovers, I can’t recommend this one enough! I can easily say this is my favorite book so far this year and it will definitely be near the top of my list by the end of the year (if not the winner). I’m bummed that I’m going to have to wait at least a year for the next installment. A huge thank you to Orbit Books for the complementary copy and exchange for an honest review!

PS, I want a Raven 🐦‍⬛

Listen, everything you’re hearing about this book is true. It’s amazing! There are many reviewers who have much more intellectual and thoughtful reviews than I do. All I can tell you is how I felt reading this book.

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson is everything I needed and wanted in a book. I’ve been yearning to find a book that felt the way I felt as I was first taking the plunge into high fantasy as a teen. I’ve been chasing that high for decades! And I think I may have found exactly what I needed in the first book of a new Fantasy Trilogy. My one gripe is that I can’t binge read all three books back to back! What do you mean I have to wait?!

If you’re looking for a book with humor, high stakes, a deadly competition, and one of the best portrayals of childhood friends-to-lovers, please look no further than The Raven Scholar. Neema is a main character that you cannot help but to love, and Cain is the most perfect of love interests.

There is a reason this book already has 650 reviews on Goodreads and it’s rated at a 4.49. I don’t foresee that rating falling at all in the future!

Please go read more reviewers takes on this book. They do such an amazing job of thoughtfully summarizing the story and dissecting the different pieces of the book. I just know what I feel for this story, and what I feel is love, and happiness, and obsession with this story. I will probably be rereading it before too long, it’s that good!

This book took me by surprise! I love a fantasy with a murder mystery happening. So I figured I would like this book...then I saw the page count and got worried. Yes, this book is over 650 pages and, yes, they are all necessary. I was shocked to find that the chapters are pretty short overall and the narration is snappy. We don't ever really linger unnecessarily; we don't have the time to do that. The overarching narrator flits between characters to give us a little look at all sides of the situation. What started as an investigation of the murder of the Raven contender for the throne uncovers lies, manipulations, and political maneuvering that no one expects. I am not usually one who usually jives with intricate political epics. A lot of times I find them bogged down and meandering. But Hodgson did an amazing job of balancing tone and plot while keeping the story moving along yet supplying the reader with information to make connections. Her ability to craft characters in a way that, although are tropes in their own way, all have distinct differences and depths beyond that. I also really loved the way she crafted the gods and the way various people interacted with them in affiliation and, sometimes, in communication.

The Raven Scholar, Neema, is the main main character of this story. A scholar for the current emperor Bersun, who was in charge of this cycle's Emperor Trials that are in homage to the first. Though she is now in this current position, she is not and has never really been liked by any of her peers and most of her superiors, much of this due to what she did to get her current position, something that ended her relationship with Cain and made her even more of a pariah in some circles. Once the trials start, Cain is back in the picture as the contender for Fox. There are 8 gods: Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, Hound, and Dragon. Dragon always sends a proxy to enter the trials, but they will renounce the throne every time, which is every 24 years (barring early death or stepping down of the emperor, of course). One of the contenders is murdered before official start of the trials and Neema is tasked with finding their killer. Cain happened to be talking to her at the time she was given the assignment and gets roped into helping. Which was great for me because I loved their dynamic and the romantic tensions they had. Caineema supremacy <3

Honestly all of the characters are fascinating and fleshed out, with their own parts to play. I was attached to all of them even some of them are not so great people. But I really, really love Neema. She reminds me a lot of Naranpa from the Between Earth and Sky series by Rebecca Roanhorse. But she is also very different from her. And also the cunning, fun-loving Cain and the sweet but savvy Benna. I even feel for Ruko, who is in a mess of his own making.

Truly, I cannot WAIT for book 2 in this series. But I will be patient because this story is intricate and well plotted, and I hope the second book will be the same way. Honestly, this is a contender for a favorite book of the year.

Thank you @orbitbooks_us @librofm and @hachetteaudio for the complimentary digital ARC + ALC. ♡

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎:
▶︎ 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚜
▶︎ 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝙿𝚘𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚜
▶︎ 𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚢𝚊𝚕
▶︎ 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚋𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚝
▶︎ 𝙲𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝙰𝚗𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚕 𝙵𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛𝚜

There’s a lot going on. It’s hard to summarize. Neema is in House Raven, home of the wise, the scholarly. Each of the 8 houses sends a contender to vie for the throne (next Emporer), but before the games even commence, one of the contenders is brutally killed.

This is when Neema is called in by the outgoing Emporer to 1) help solve the murder and 2) enter the games herself.

I loved the different houses, each represented by an animal with their own distinct virtues and traits. House Fox is my favorite: foxes are fun pranksters, masters of disguise and escape, and don’t take anything too seriously. Other houses include Dragons, Hounds, Monkeys, Tigers, Ox, Bears... It’s an 8-starred zodiac.

At 24+ hours audio & over 600 pages, this could have benefitted from additional editing. I didn’t love the stylistic choice to tell the origin stories via info dumping in dreams. The footnotes could have been cut without losing the plot.

Cain the fox contender and Sol the Solidary Raven were my favorite well-developed character standouts. I also greatly enjoyed the parallel plot lines that kept me continually guessing & the layers of secrets and deception to unravel.

°✩₊˚.🎧⋆☾⁺₊ I primarily read this in digital ink but the audio was well done. The voices of the Raven shards were so fun. They have a bit of an echo-y ethereal quality.

જ⁀➴..❧.·:*¨ ¨*·.∴ The Raven Scholar is out today — happy publication day!

The Raven Scholar is one of my new favorite books of 2025! It’s an epic fantasy that is lush and well-paced. Neema Kraa is the emperor’s servant, yet it is almost time for the emperor to step down. A glorious Festival is called to find contenders for the throne. Neema is tasked to organize the Festival while facing a man from her past once again. When a contender is found brutally murdered, Neema must find the killer and uncover the truth of what happened.

I could not put The Raven Scholar down! The storytelling is compelling and beautifully written. The dialogue is hilarious and the characters are very witty. Neema is such a relatable character, yet she also contains flaws and is often misjudged by the people around her. I loved Neema and Cain’s dynamic so much!! They were once lovers who made a choice that separated them and sent them on very different paths. Cain brings out the joy in Neema and Neema grounds Cain. The other contenders were vivid characters who readers will also find themselves cheering for during the festival. The magic system of the Eight was creative and mysterious! I loved Sol and found him absolutely magnificent.

Readers who love complex politics, lovable characters, creative magic, and epic fantasy must check out The Raven Scholar. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

Thank you so much to Antonia Hodgson, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

This is the most vast fantasy world I’ve ever read. Like truly one of the most unique reading experiences I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for something fresh and new in a sea of similar fantasy books, I highly recommend The Raven Scholar.
This book is long. And I don’t just mean it’s 650 pages long, I mean it has a very odd pace where things are happening but it still feels like it’s taking forever to complete. I am a fast reader but I ended up reading this over the course of several days. And I didn’t mind doing that the way I would most books. I think it worked for this book considering there was so much to cover and I didn’t feel like my enjoyment dwindled in any way.
The fact that this is a super unique book means it would be hard for me to describe without spoilers and I also think this is a good one to go in blind with zero expectations. Trials are one of my favorite tropes and this book revolves around a competition for the throne. It also has super unique magic and animal gods that like to meddle with the humans. On top of the tournament, the main character is also trying to unravel a murder mystery. That’s the short version anyways since this book is so insane it would take me days to list everything that happens.
At no point in this book did I know what was going to happen next and I was so intrigued by the details and side characters just as much as the main story. I’m very excited to continue the series and I will be very curious to see how the world and characters evolve in the next one.

The Raven Scholar falls somewhere between fantasy dark academia and a trial-based fantasy book, with the main character a scholar and the main plot line a deadly competition to determine the next emperor of a fantasy country. There is plenty of political intrigue, prophesies, gods, and a touch of magic. I would say the overall tone is fairly dark but not grimdark or overly violent. If you are following closely, you’ll definitely see enough hints to guess at some of the twists but a few still shocked me, which is exactly the mix I like to see when I’m reading.

I really enjoyed how complex the characters were, going beyond just the generalized attributes of the gods they’ve pledged to and showing their individual flaws and strengths. The author did not pull punches when it comes to what the characters go through, so I was often STRESSED at my favorites getting into precarious situations. (I continue to have lots of feelings around Cain. My Shayllaaaaa!) This is a longer book but I flew through it; it’s hard for me to pick anything I’d have left out.

This is a contender to be my favorite book of the month so I will for sure be continuing the series.

Thank you orbit books for the gifted ARC!!

4.5 ⭐️

This book was not what I expected but absolutely blew me away!! I was shaking my leg with anxiety for Neema, laughing out loud at Sol, and always itching to find out what happens next! Such a unique voice!

I love these characters bc they are all so flawed! There is not a single innocent or flawless character in this book! You can go from hating someone to loving them within the same chapter, which was so fun and made this read unpredictable.

And can we talk about the plot?? ATE! Soooo much happened during the course of this book and the progression happened so perfectly! There are plot twists on plot twists and I was living for it 🤌

The Raven Scholar is a new high fantasy full of political intrigue, mystery, murder, magic, and trials. Fans of dark fantasy will love it!

This is without a doubt one of the best high fantasy novels I have read in the recent years. As someone who feels more deeply about high fantasy than a romantasy, this book checked every single box! The world building in this story is so rich that it genuinely sucks you in and makes you feel as though you are there. There’s drama, action, and tension as our main characters compete for the throne. On top of this, the authors writing style is so effortless and everything flows together so perfectly. A solid 5/5⭐️ read for me!

5 Star perfection

When Neema Kraa, High Scholar, is pulled into the Trials for choosing a new emperor, she is just as surprised as everyone else. Not only does she have to act as a contender for the throne against other representatives of the Eight, she is also tasked with finding the person who murdered her predecessor. Through the entirety of the story, she must survive while also unweaving a web full of secrets and conspiracies that stretch back generations.

I absolutely adored this. Did it take me a while to get through? Yes, this is a chonky book. Were there so many characters that I had to keep track with a diagram? Also, yes. Did it keep me on my toes and surprise me with the twists and turns as more and more of the story unveiled itself? Absolutely.

The writing was beautiful and the story telling really engaging keeping you on your toes as you as well as Neema tried to figure out what was going on. Learning about the Eight and the history of this world was woven in seamlessly so you never felt you were getting smacked in the face with world-building information. The author really made you feel for the characters as we learned more about each of the contenders.

We are the Raven and We are Magnificent.

I loved this book. Although I was intrigued from the very beginning it took until about the 25 percent mark for me to be fully be invested in the characters and their story. But once I was, I was sold. The world building was phenomenal, and the story had a rich history aspect that kept you longing to know more. I am very excited to continue on with the second book in the series.

While romance was not the centerpoint of the book, I was heavily invested in the subtle and sweet love story that played out both in the past and present. It added an extra layer that complicated things for the main character in the best way possible.

The writing style felt unique and almost a little chaotic, which actually fit very well with the story. The 3rd person perspective from the ravens point of view gave the story a little comedic and disorderly aspect while still giving you the full picture of all the players on the board, a true Birds Eye view.

I loved the murder mystery intertwined with the deadly trials. Just when I thought I had aspects figured out things shifted and left me guessing again! An absolute wild ride which surprised me up until the very end. I love that the answer was always one step ahead of me and not an ounce of this book felt predictable.

This is a must read for those who love mystery and epic fantasy.

Prior to picking up The Raven Scholar I had skimmed over a few positively glowing reviews from some fellow bloggers whose opinions I trust, so I went into this with high expectations. Yes, it’s a chunky book and that can be a little intimidating for some people, but this story was SO worth the time spent immersed in this layered, complex world. It also has a little something for everyone without feeling like any of the aspects are unbalanced or taking precedent over the others.
The Raven Scholar starts out following one set of characters, then switches to another after leaving your jaw on the floor, and then does a little time jump to continue following Neema Kraa, the titular Raven scholar. Neema is the High Scholar to Emperor Bersun and as such, has been assigned the task of overseeing the preparations and the execution of the trials that determine the next emperor. In this world a new emperor is chosen by a series of trials every 24 years and each of the Eight gods has their own trial. Neema is looking forward to a quiet retirement, but nothing goes right and she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation AND participating in the same trials she helped research and design. Neema hasn’t been trained to compete against the best representatives of the Eight, but she has her own guardian that even she isn’t aware of - the Raven itself.
I mentioned before that this book has something for everyone and it really does - a competition, political intrigue, a murder mystery, and even a romantic subplot that simply delighted me. This is a layered book with fantastic world building, well rounded characters, and some plot reveals that absolutely gave me whiplash. I literally would have thrown my Kindle after one particularly unexpected twist if I had less self control - I was shook. The balanced blend of all these elements just worked for me and I ended up loving this book so much!
This is the first book in a series and I’m hopeful I won’t have to wait much longer than a year until the sequel comes out. I should really jot down some more spoilery notes than what I included in this review because I think I might forget quite a few of the more salient details. Either way, The Raven Scholar was an excellent story and it encouraged me to actually go back and check out Antonia Hodgson’s backlog, which it turns out I’ve had on my Goodreads TBR for a few years now!

5 stars. I have to admit, I was a little nervous starting this one, as I definitely get intimidated by lengthy reads. But The Rave Scholar was so damn good. And I totally understand why people are already saying this is one of their favorite reads of 2025. It will no doubt be one of mine. The Raven Scholar is a masterfully crafted, multi-layered story that combines political intrigue, murder mystery, a competition for the throne, romance, and elements of magic and mythology in an entirely fresh and compelling way. The world-building is so rich and full of history that extends beyond the pages, with the author creating a fully realized universe complete with detailed customs, fashion, and social structures that feel authentic and lived-in. The characters are complex and also deeply flawed. But that just makes them all the more believable. Each person, including secondary characters, feels fully developed.

Despite its length, the pacing never really slows or feels cumbersome. This is the start of what feels like a really exciting new fantasy series that I think will appeal to many, including those who enjoy complex political intrigue, clever plot twists, and richly developed fantasy worlds with memorable characters. And in addition to being everything I want in my fantasy reads, I also found myself continuously laughing. I highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy looking for something fresh and engaging.

First and foremost, thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an ARC of The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson.

A deftly woven story of fantasy and mystery that also reminds us of the power of words, both written and spoken.

Hodgson’s characters are full of emotion: desire, pain, self-doubt and everything in between. They are truly human in that fragile way that we all are. By using multiple timelines and memories to introduce us to these characters, Hodgson creates a cast that fights not only for survival but the choice between right and wrong along the way.

The world-building was, in my opinion, excellent. The locations and architecture created a vibrant environment in which this story thrives.

This is one of those books you don’t want to put down from the first page…but you also dread when it will end. With this listed as a Book 1, I was curious to see how Hodgson would wrap this one up in a way that was satisfying and felt complete while also leaving readers wanting more. I needn’t have been at all concerned. The plot was tied up neatly and left me craving the next installment of our adventure!