Thank you so much to Orbit and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review ♥

I want to preface this review and say that this book was possibly just not for me. I think maybe someone who is more of a plot focused reader could enjoy this more, but unfortunately this book just didn't hit the mark for myself.

The first 3-4 chapters were perfect. The story telling pov we got throughout the story, also great. But Neema's pov? our main protagonist? Not so much. I really wanted to love her, and I kept wondering why I didn't, and I think the real issue was that I felt no character connection or depth. I found myself 50% through the story still wondering her motives, and truly not understanding her as a character. Maybe that was the intention, but any time she made a choice towards more power or recognition, it all felt shallow since there wasn't much of a story with her.

And again, even with the subplot romance, I just didn't care? Because once again, it still felt like I did not KNOW who these characters were. Like yes, they broke your heart, you were torn up about it, but like we don't get to see that as the reader. We are just told it, which leads me to find a lack of connection with the romance as well. Everyone in the book kind of just felt like they were puzzle pieces in an elaborate game, but there was nothing else to them if that makes sense...?

The concept of this story and world is very fun and unique, something I truly thought I'd enjoy, but unfortunately didn't. I've seen plenty of stellar reviews, so I am clearly an outlier for this book, and there's still a great chance many others would enjoy it! :)

“How can we be lost, when we don’t know where we’re going?”

The Raven Scholar
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. This was an incredible ride. The Raven Scholar is an epic fantasy that encompasses a trial to become the next emperor. There are dragons and Guardians in the form of animals (raven, fox, bear, etc) who have a major influence over the world in this book.

There’s something unique about the writing style and it took me a little bit to get into the story or understand where it was going. I am glad I hung in there because once everything clicked, this was an instant five star read.

Neema is a brilliant and strong FMC and all of the side characters are so well developed. Hodgson does an amazing job and developing characters that are extremely multifaceted. You may love and hate some of them at the same time.

This story has a remarkable job at showing the resilience, intelligence, love, and evilness that can be within anyone. There are so many twists and turns. The smoke leaves me with a million unanswered questions and I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment of the trilogy.

Thank you to Orbit Books US for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This book has everything I love in a high fantasy. Political intrigue, trials, murder mystery, meddling gods, animal companions, and a smidge of romance.

The PLOTTING going on in this book! You never know what's going on because everyone is always plotting. I almost can't believe it was 700 pages because I could have read so much more, I'm so excited that it's part of a series! I thought it was a standalone!

THE ROMANCE! 🥲 it was such a small subplot so you already know I was foaming at the mouth over it !!!! Obsessed. Super interested in how it will play out through the series. 😩

The POV switches can be jarring and a bit confusing. I feel like some people won't really care for it, I didn't love it but I also didn't mind it.

Characters:
I loved Neema, the MC, she's a whole mood. Neurodivergent. Flawed. Just wants to be left alone with her books, research, and some tea.
Cain, my sweet baby angel who never did anything wrong in his life.
There are also a lot of other really interesting characters! I am seated waiting for Ruko's arc because I just know it's going to be good!

One of the few epic fantasy novels I've enjoyed in a year or two. It takes a while for the murder to happen, but it's not something I rushed to know about. The author spednds a delicious amount of time introducing us to lore, setting, and characters, and I loved being steeped in this story.

Full review to come.

No delay: I absolutely loved this book! It was one of those special reads where I went in with zero expectations and was blown away! I wasn’t familiar with the author (this is her first fantasy novel) and all I really knew about this one was that it featured yet another deadly, magical competition. Which, at this point, is more of a red flag than an interest point, given how flooded the genre has been with these sorts of books for the last several years. But man, this one proved why, in the right hands, even a tired trope can really come to life!

Part of this is the simple fact that, while the competition is the structure around much of the plot is built, it’s not really the main focus of the story. Instead, the central premise of the book is much more heavily focused on what starts as a murder mystery but quickly spirals out into a much larger conspiracy. And this larger mystery encompasses decades of history, some plot points from over 20 years ago, some events from a decade before, and others from more recent years. Much of this is slowly revealed throughout the course of Neema’a investigation, but the author also neatly uses a few chapters of a prologue that follows another character from years before. This was such a brave choice, as this character becomes central to the story, but is also never seen on page again. It’s a show of confidence that the author felt that the narrative voice and Neema herself were strong enough to reclaim the story back from a very different starting focus. With all of this, as the story unfolds, the reader is lulled into a sense of putting things together only to be smacked over the head with several huge late game reveals, some of which truly took my by surprise!

As for the competition, it did stand out from others, both in its simplicity and in its unique points. Some of it is just straight forward fighting, no real gimmicks. And as far as the magical competition portions went, the book was much more focused on the qualities of the groups who put these portions of the event together, what they wanted to see from a winner and a leader. In this way, these trials felt much less like the typical dangerous escapades we’re used to seeing. Instead, several of them are fairly generic, but made interesting by what they say about the individuals who participate in them based on the choices they make. This was also helped by the steady hand the author utilized throughout in creating this cast of competitors. Very early, I felt I had not only a strong understanding of who each of these characters were, but they all felt fully fleshed out and individual from one another, bringing their own baggage and their own motivations to this competition.

And, at the heart of it all, we have Neema and the Raven. Neema was simply excellent, everything I want from a protagonist. Smart, but awkward. Thrust into a situation she was completely unprepared for, we see all the stumbles of a flawed individual, but we also see the way her particular strengths lead her through. And most importantly, the ways in which she navigates these trials and the investigation all felt natural and believable to her history and abilities. Sometimes it’s really easy to see the author’s hand on the wheel with the creation of situations that seem to conveniently just work out for a main character who, by any rights, should fail miserable. Neema doesn’t glide through. People don’t trust her, don’t like her, and if she hadn’t attracted the interest of the Raven, it’s clear she would have done terribly. I also enjoyed the quirks of her characterization, the ways in which her strengths (her incredible scholarly knowledge) has and continues to create barriers to her ability to form connections to others. At times it was hard to see her treated so harshly by those around her, but the bright spots of the Raven’s narration and the very subplot-y love interest balanced these tough moments out.

And, of course, there is the Raven themself. What a unique narrative quality! There’s a way that this could have gone very wrong, that a quirky style like this could have been overplayed and over done. Instead, this has to be one of the most fresh feeling narrative styles that I’ve seen in a while! For those who are concerned, the majority of the story is told in your typical third person past tense approach. But sprinkled throughout, we are reminded that we are being told this story through the eyes of a very specific being with their own goals and perspective. Not to mention, the Raven was hilarious!

This book was pretty much my perfect read! Incredible fantasy world-building, an excellent main character, mystery, action, romance, it has it all! For a book that is 700 pages long, by the final portion, all I could think about was the fact that I wanted it to be even longer and how am I possibly going to wait for the sequel! This one doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, per se, but by the end of the book, this world looks very different than it did when it began and Neema’s journey is a wild ride, sprawling out before her. If you enjoy epic fantasy, this is a must read, as far as I’m concerned!

Rating 10: In a word: magnificent. Hodgson blasts onto the epic fantasy stage with a book that will quickly become a must-read for fans of the genre.

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on April 16

Every 24 years, seven contenders from seven warrior temples match wits and blades in a series of trials designed to pick the next emperor of Orrun. It's a tradition that has largely ensured a peaceful transition of power for over 1500 years. But this year, one of the contestants is murdered on the eve of the competition. High Scholar Neema Kraa is charged with solving the murder, plunging her into a web of palace secrets. It isn't long before Neema realizes that people will kill to keep their secrets - and the only path to survival might be becoming emperor herself.

THE RAVEN SCHOLAR is an intricate, mesmerizing tangle of palace intrigue. This is a story with secrets upon secrets upon SECRETS. It's almost too many secrets, except that they are so carefully woven together, it makes the plot a delight to unwrap. Each revelation casts new light on past actions and motivations, while still keeping you guessing as to who the actual murderer is. If you're just here for the murder mystery alone, you'll have plenty to keep you entertained.

All of this is supported by the very deliberate pacing of the book. THE RAVEN SCHOLAR takes its time setting up the story. Lead character Neema Kraa doesn't arrive on the scene for multiple chapters, and the murder itself doesn't take place for well over 100 pages. But every chapter leading up to the murder is all in service of setting up the cast of characters, their relationships, and some very important recent historical events that personally affected everyone.

Most importantly, the story itself never drags, constantly making me want to read more. There are some doozy revelations that left me wide-eyed as I encountered the dark secrets in a character's past or realized the implication of new information. Again, it borders on too many things, but it's all so deftly woven together, it stopped short of feeling overstuffed.

I also applaud THE RAVEN SCHOLAR for being a story that is brutal and bloody without being gory and grim. Make no mistake, people will die and some very bad things will happen, but the author cuts away before it becomes too much. She also balances it out with a thread of humor strung throughout. Characters like the mischievous Fox warrior Cain or the ever dramatic Sol help break up the doom and gloom with some much needed levity.

I also have to shout out the magnificent use of the narrator in the story. While Neema is the lead character and the story is told in third person, this is being recounted to us by another. I won't spoil the surprise of who, but suffice to say it is deployed wonderfully. The bulk of the story follows Neema, but every now and then it swings away to follow other characters for a little bit, in a manner fully justified by the choice of narrator.

Neema herself is a scrappy, if brusque, lead. But most importantly, Neema is smart and she is competent, two of my favorite things in a protagonist. Her intellect and drive have made her one of the foremost scholars of her day. Unfortunately, her background of hailing from a backwater town prevents her from being able to easily navigate the political waters of the court. It's not that she doesn't understand the game, it's that the elite courtiers would rather shut her down than play the game with her at all, no matter how high she rises.

THE RAVEN SCHOLAR checks every box of things I love in a book. It has a compelling lead, a mystery that truly keeps you guessing, and a brutal competition for the throne. This is the kind of book that when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about wanting to read it. I powered through the final 200 pages in one sitting because I simply couldn't stand dragging it out any longer. I had to inject this book into my veins as soon as possible, and now I'm staring at that most dreadful fate: waiting for the next book. But given how amazingly well done this first book was, I have every confidence that I will devour the sequel with equal speed.

Note: I was provided a free ARC by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I absolutely adored the protagonist! But also, the plot was so well executed and the world building was fantastic. If you are interested in reading about a dynamic and clever MC, unraveling a mystery, full of fantasy elements, then this is the book for you. Easy 5 stars!

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish! I did not want to put it down, and every time I picked it back up I was instantly pulled back into the setting and story. When describing this book I admittedly find the amount of tropes and fantasy elements embedded in it to sound convoluted so I went into it hesitantly expecting it to be overly complicated and easy to lose the point. I couldn’t have been more wrong! The whole story weaves in perfectly, the mystery isn’t lost amongst the competition, and the political intrigue plays right into all of it.

I ended up loving the characters as they played off of each other so well. The professions of the emperor’s court were sectioned off according to the animal gods’ personalities and professions that fit into the personalities, so you see a bit of animal characterizations within them and the way it was done brought so much to the characters. I loved the way Neema (raven) and Cain (fox) played off of one another, with Neema being truthful and by-the-book to a fault and Cain playful and wiley.

For those who love an expansive world, just know this is not it. They are essentially only in three places within the same empire and you learn a little about other locations via the narrator throughout. This didn’t bother me as it has been set up for expansion in the rest of the series and with everything going on, expanding the world in book one would have probably bogged the story down.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and will be looking out for anything and everything this author writes in the future!

Thank you so much Orbit and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book early!

I started this book 14 days ago, go through the first chapter, and have absolutely no desire to pick this book back up. This bums me out because the premise sounds so good but I lost my motivation and desire to read this one. The first chapter was a bit rough for me to get through. The jump between present and past was confusing and I struggled with the writing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Happy to say, this was a hit.

I really appreciated the narration style, which was pretty light and humorous for an epic fantasy. Maybe I've just read a lot of disappointing books this year, but The Raven Scholar felt so much more well developed and polished than a lot of my recent reads.

I think what this book does particularly well is how it blends and incorporates elements that have become tedious in other books in the genre. This story feels fresh and new. The murder mystery aspect was actually quite interesting, and the emperor trials really set themselves apart from other trial based stories. I loved the magic system and the world building was top notch. The characters felt fully realized and complex. The political intrigue was done really well and I really have to commend the author for how well paced and plotted this book was. It kept me guessing almost the whole time. It was very well written.

For that reason, I am definitely going to be recommending this book to my customers and followers and I am very much looking forward to seeing where the series goes in the future.

this was soooo good!!!! 😭 an absolute breath of fresh air. exciting, funny, moving; such great characters, worldbuilding, and storytelling. 700 pages and i flew through it in 4 days. its been such a long time since ive been this immersed in a story so this book really came at the perfect time. truly a gift from the SFF gods.

thank you to Orbit for the eARC!

It’s been a while since i read a fantasy without romance and just a whole lot of political intrigue, drama and adventure. This is for epic fantasy lovers that like brutal competition for the throne. We have 6 warriors, experts and scholars that are trying to figure out who killed the 7 competitor. The fmc who is a high scholar is working to untangle the webs that everyone is weaving to figure out the truth while also trying to compete against the other warriors and win. There is alot of history and lore which makes the plot very slow at times especially when it is being recapped. I loved the cast of characters and how unique each character was. Overall an interesting fantasy although it is very long. Thanks to Orbit for this arc.

With elements of a locked room mystery and a fantasy courtroom drama as well as a beautiful homage to folklore, THE RAVEN SCHOLAR by Antonia Hodgson is a fresh story you won't want to miss.

Loved it. Characters, world building, plot twists all combined to make this a page turner. Can't wait for the next volume. Sanderson and Rothfuss fans take note.