3,5/5 stars

This was an interesting read. It just at times sadly felt a bit too long for my taste which made me skim through some parts of the book.

What I liked about this was the combination of trials and a murder mystery. It felt really unique and I appreciated that a lot. It also felt like it worked well together.

I liked the characters. I just felt that there were a bit too many of them and that's why I didn't get to know everyone as deeply as I would have wanted to.

I felt that the trials were interesting and they were varied to keep things interesting. What was missing for me was that the trials didn't have enough high stakes.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I was lucky enough to get both the digital and audio arcs and alternated between the two. I absolutely devoured this book.
It's so lovely to read something that feels fresh and exciting. We've seen trials/tournament structure before, but I really enjoyed it paired with the interesting pantheon and world building. I would have liked some more physical descriptions of the characters, as the book is very character-led, yet I found myself mostly making up how they all looked. The FMC is older, in her 30's, which is refreshing, and the romance is more of a structural element to the story rather than the driver. I did not see the mystery twist coming, and it was wonderfully set up through the book. Overall this was a lovely trounce through a new world, and I would likely pickup a sequel if it comes.

First of all i want to thank Netgalley and publishers Hodder and Stoughton for giving me an arc of this book. This is my honest review.

I loved this book and rated it 5 stars, it is the 1st book in a series and if this is just book 1 then i have high hopes for book 2. We start with an important backstory and some immersive world building which gives the book a good starting foundation.
We then time jump 8 years and are given drama, action and political intrigue as tension starts builing for a competition to select a new emperor or empress.
I loved the FMC and enjoyed her interactions with other characters which i felt were well written and i liked that there were funny moments in there too.
There are a few twists along the way which i didnt see coming but they definatly add to the...dynamic of the book.
Highly recommend this book and im looking forward to the next one whenever that comes out.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder&Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was surprisingly good. A very interesting and new epic fantasy. Information on the side – this really is more of an epic fantasy than a romantasy. There is some romance sprinkled in it, but it’s very much not the focus of the story.

I really enjoyed the beginning. When I realised that the first chapter was actually more of a prologue, with a different main character than the rest of the book, I was a bit disappointed. I really enjoyed that first character and I kind of wish it had been her story to be told. But I got used to Neema quickly and I really liked her. I also appreciate that the beginning was quite straight forward. I was dreading some random reveals later in the book, and I’m glad to say that they didn’t come.

The story itself is summarized pretty well by the blurb. The emperor is getting ready to abdicate and seven contenders get together to fight in a tournament for the throne. When one of them is murdered, Neema has to take her place and find the killer. Simple, straight forward. Of course that’s not all there is, as the blurb suggests, the Raven waits in the wings and there is more magic behind the scenes.

I’ve come to dislike tournaments like this, but I actually enjoyed this one. The different tasks were interesting and sometimes quite different from what I expected. It wasn’t just about strength or magic, and I really enjoyed seeing the different aspects of the monasteries. The murder mystery of this story was also done quite well, with many different pieces coming together. I didn’t quite expect the answer and I’m happy that I didn’t.

The characters were awesome. Probably the best part of this book. First, there is Neema, scholar turned contender for the throne. She’s smart, disliked by most people at court and she has an important history. I loved seeing her stand up for herself. Even though she seemed to be so much weaker than the other contenders, she was a worthy opponent. Sometimes that felt a bit unrealistic to me, as she hadn’t trained for as long as the others had, but in a way all her wins made sense.
Next, we’ve got Cain, the fox. Oh, I loved him! He was fierce, sneaky, proud and simply sly. I always had fun with his scenes.
I’m not going into detail with the other contenders, but I enjoyed all of them. I really had the feeling that I knew them and even though it can be difficult to write so many characters at once, all of them were characterised very well and got enough time on page. All of them were way more layered than I would’ve thought.
And apart from the contenders, there are so many other interesting side characters! Easy to keep apart due to their quirks, without everything seeming too over the top. And all the different relationships were great. While Neema is obviously the main character, we get a handful of scenes from other POVs which really helped with understanding all the others.
The scenes with the Raven confused me at the beginning and I’m not sure whether I like the way it was presented. It seemed utterly unreliable, which is something that often frustrates me, but it did kind of fit the character, so I’m not gonna argue.

Something I have to criticize though is the world building. I do like the whole concept of the gods, and I adore the abilities of the different orders. I wish we had seen more of that! Houndsight sounds so useful - why didn’t Shan use it more? What about the magic abilities of the Visitor? And Cain’s abilities barely get explained at all and I have no idea whether it’s some kind of magic, or if he’s just trained very well. So while I do love the ideas, I wish there had been more magic in this book.
But the main thing to criticize is the actual world. I have no idea what it’s like. And this is a fantasy book, where world building is essential!
There is a map at the beginning of the book. It’s a pretty one. Looks similar to the continent of Asia. And overall, I would say that it fits. We’ve got an emperor and palaces, the orders are Dragons, Monkeys, Tigers, Foxes, which works for Asia as well. Hounds and Oxen fit everywhere, Ravens kind of as well, and Bears to the North sounds like Russia. And the empire is big enough that travel from one side to the other takes months. So far, so good. But if I’m right - why don’t we get more proof of that?
Look at a map of Asia. Russian culture is entirely different from Japanese culture. India is a very diverse country. While the culture is similar due to the prominent religion, people will still look different, dress differently, depending on whether you are in the tropics, or in the highest of mountains. Same for China. Looking at this book - sure, if it’s one empire, one religion, many things will be similar. That’s fine. But people will still eat different things, look differently, dress differently. And we barely get any descriptions of all those incredible cultures. I appreciate that we don’t get a stereotypical Russian character, or someone who’s very clearly Middle Eastern, but I would still appreciate at least some nod to all the differences on the Asian continent.
But it’s all the same. They all eat the same food, which barely gets described, but fits to no specific region and especially not Japan. There are mentions of almonds and nuts. Joghurt. Shrimp. Pretty little cakes. Coffee, tea. Whiskey. Keep in mind that this is still a kind of medieval world without modern trade.
I have no idea what the characters look like. I think Neema’s POC? And Cain is definitely white with red hair. Another girl is described as white and blonde, if I recall correctly? I honestly have no idea what everyone else looks like, except perhaps their stature. It might’ve been mentioned once, but if I get introduced to multiple characters at once and their looks never get mentioned again, I can guarantee you that after 700 pages, I won’t recall anything. No idea who they are. And the clothing does nothing to help. The workers wear overalls. Neema herself is described as wearing pretty dresses a couple of times. Some wear uniforms. One character wears a kilt at some point? I’m so confused. That’s just a huge mixture of cultures. Look, I don’t care if a book isn’t inspired by anything specific, if the author takes from a hundred different cultures. But I just want to know what I’m looking at. I really enjoyed this book, but I couldn’t describe anything at all.

The ending was pretty good. There were some twists that I really enjoyed as they properly took me by surprise. Some parts were a bit confusing at first, especially since I’m not entirely sure about the consequences of everything. But it was actually not as confusing as I expected. The ending was rounded enough that I’m not on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book, but I am curious as the bigger story is definitely starting up! Looking at the title of this one, I am curious whether it’s gonna have a different main character, or if we’ll continue to follow Neema.

Overall, even though it wasn’t perfect, I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to continuing the series!

What a delight to be back with Antonia Hodgson's writing. LOVED The Raven Scholar. Rich, original, enthralling, and often humorous. Both a fantasy novel and a mystery, with a wonderfully complex magical world. Can't wait for the second in the trilogy.

Epic fantasy is well and truly back - this is the perfect book for fantasy readers who are looking for fully formed intricate world building, royal betrayal/political intrigue with mythological gods. We also have epic trials and games the protagonist must overcome as well as murder mystery! This book covers all the amazing fantasy tropes and more. All I can say is I was hooked from the first page - it’s brimming with history and lore that I could picture on my head as I read! Just fantastic

this world and these characters have a lot of potential but this needs a lot more editing.
it could have been a bit shorter too

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for approving me to read this early. I’m rating this book 4.5 stars.

I am a massive fan of this story, it had political intrigue and trials mixed with some religious aspects. I thoroughly enjoyed the level of dedication the characters had to their chosen paths, some felt self righteous, but some characters really grew along the way. The way the story grew so naturally from a simple murder mystery to something so much more, linking the past and the present with dire potential consequences for the future.

Also for the 1st time in ages in fantasy I was genuinely shocked by the twist, it was well thought out, so brilliantly strategic and slightly cruel. There’s also some light romance included which just added a nice deeper connection amongst the characters.

I cannot wait to see what happens next!

I love a good murder mystery, throw in some fantasy and trials, I’m hooked!
Sadly though this wasn’t the case for The Raven Scholar. I enjoyed the premise: 8 animal factions with people pledging allegiance to them, but this just felt a little too much for me. There’s some heavy world building and I found the switch of POV at the start a little jarring. Everytime I became engrossed something happened that just threw me off.

I definitely see the appeal though and think this could potentially be a huge hit for a lot of people though.

Still 50/50 whether I will be contuining this series, but I believe everyone should give this a try 🫶

Overall: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Spice: 0/5

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - arc & monthly book box pick reviewer

I have 2 words for this book: Phenomenal and magnificent!! (The Ravens will, of course, agree with me, and so should you!)

Truly, though, this book is so unbelievably clever, so grandiose, so out of this world amazing that I can only describe it as a timeless masterpiece that epic fantasy fans will fly to time after time. Brilliant in everything that makes a book a book.

The main POV we follow is Neema's who is the Raven scholar. She made a choice ten years ago that elevated her status at court, a choice that cost her her consience. Truth be told, she was right, if she hadn't done it, someone else would have done it, no question about it. But still, nothing about what had happened then was right, and it has plagued everyone involved and even those who witnessed it or heard about it. Neema is a brilliant scholar who only wants peace and calmness so she can research and write, but she is thrust into court politics and the struggle for the throne. I loved Neema! I loved how her mind works, how she can't help herself and corrects everyone, how she wants to do the right thing but is also smart to know when she needs to retreat so she can survive. Neema is a very clever woman who wants to survive and yet takes care of those around her in her own quirky way. She makes even her enemies stand and stare, so to speak.

Our love interest is Cain, whose Guardian is the Fox. He is scheming, knows much more than what he lets on, and he is so funny. Funny and clever is the ultimate combination for me, so I was a goner from the get go lmao. I won't say much, but I can say that you will love him.

The plot is the most clever plot I have read in a very long time. You can't predict what is going to happen or how. How the author has woven so many plot threads is beyond me. This book offers a plot buffé, and I loved every second of it. It's not just twists and turns, surprises and reveals, it's just that the path to those surprises and reveals is so clever. Is the author a plot wizzard?? This is a legitimate question....

This is not a romantasy, but there is a romance plot line! We also have some kiss+ scenes! I am sure that we will have even more romance in the next book. The world is also a queernormative one, and we have LGBTQIA+ rep.

I will never shut up about this book. This is literature at its finest, most clever point.

We are the Raven, and we are magnificent. 🙌

This is the April monthly pick for a monthly book box, and I can only pray to the Ravens that the editions is as glorious as this book because it deserves everything.

I thank Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Antonia Hudgson for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I rated the book 5 stars.

In "The Raven Scholar" we follow Neema, an introverted scholar and outsider. One day, after fulfilling a task given to her by the emperor, her life changes completely.

Eight years later, everything becomes even more complicated. The Trials bring murder, betrayals, mysteries and secrets from the past.

This book is an interesting mix of genres, being a fantasy - murder mystery - romance novel that just makes sense. The reader explores an amazing world (with a matching world building!) with Gods, unusual customs and political intrigue, while solving a murder (and some other mysteries) and following various relationships (romantic, friendships, mentor - mentee).
Not to forget the presence of an unexpectedly cute and smart sidekick that makes you both smile and roll your eyes.

Every chapter is more interesting than the previous and the reader - trough Neema - is guided to unfold secrets and explore the kingdom. Nothing is what it seems and one little mistake can be last.

The characters are well rounded, diverse, with motives and motivations. It's interesting to watch them compete, since they have opposing strengths. They are all in their mid to late twenties (!!) which is truly refreshing.
The reader has the chance to explore many types of relationships and observe how natural the characters interact during the novel.

Even though it's a long novel the pacing was steady, which made it easy to follow. The writing style is straight forward, inspired and entrails you in the story (don't get me started on the plot twists, so satisfying!) There are some interesting foot notes that offer insights in the world.
Not to forget that the last 150 pages were simply chef's kiss! The plot twists, the drama!!
Can't wait to read the next book!

THIS BOOK!! This book is why I ready fantasy! It’s only February and I’ve already found my favourite book of the year.

Here’s what I loved so much about it:
Most of all, I just had so much fun reading this. It’s suspenseful and at times heartbreaking but the narration keeps it a really fast paced, exciting story. In fact, I think the omniscient style narration was one of my favourite parts. It’s sarcastic, breaks the fourth wall in the best way and has its own kind of mystery to it, especially in the first half of the book.

The characters were interesting and even though we have many side characters they’re all distinct. Our main character Neema is an intelligent introvert scholar and also 34 (love to see an older main character, nobody saves the world at 16!).
The story is not romance heavy which I liked. It nicely fits into the story but doesn’t overpower it.

The world and overall plot are high fantasy with a good sprinkling of murder mystery mixed in. A corrupt empire, mythical animal spirits, court politics and trials for the throne are all common enough. However, through all of it I was glued to the pages to see what plot twist or witty scene Hodgson would throw at me next.

I cannot wait for the rest of the series and will be telling anyone willing to listen to read this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the eARC for review.

For lack of a better word, this was 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕

I was slightly disappointed to find that the majority of this book would take place in one singular setting, yet when the author can find a way to make that world feel so rich and vivid and expansive, that is truly an art. I loved how many different components were woven into this:

trials
guardians
murder mystery
mythology

This was a fast-paced, thrilling and captivating start to what I’m sure is going to be a top notch epic fantasy series. I cannot wait to see where the story goes next. An endless thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

The writing was pretty good, easy to read most of the time. But I was having difficulty picturing anything, even though there are descriptions I couldn’t really piece them together. It was difficult to see what time this has taken its inspiration from. There would be descriptions of buildings and clothes and things like that but I couldn’t picture the world as a whole.

The dialogue felt quite stilted and boring to read. I wasn’t able to tell the difference between the characters when they were speaking. The same went for the POVs, they read the same to me. It was kind of like “Same, same, but different…”

It’s also quite jumpy which led to confusion for me as well, one second they’d be on a boat and then they’d suddenly be on land looking at the boat without getting off. It was a bit jarring at times, but I might just be picky.

There were some errors in the book that made me confused at times but those will probably be fixed before publication. Also the formatting was a bit odd..

The first 50 pages of the book follows a completely different character and I was a bit confused because having read the synopsis I thought the story would be about someone else. It was kind of a prologue being added into the regular chapters. Which was a bit odd because this book is over 600+ pages so I think a prologue would have worked better. It would have been less jarring when switching the narrative. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the worldbuilding, maybe I’m just dumb but there is so much detail thrown at you from the very beginning. History, mixed with religion and poetry and people I had no idea who they were or why they’re important.

I love chunky books, but this book did not need to be this long… Especially if you’re not going to do anything new with the tropes you’re working with and I’m stuck within cardboard characters that I can’t tell apart. And don’t even get me started on the evil villain, when they started monologuing I let out a “for fucks sake…”

I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, I think I’m just a picky reader… if you enjoy a slow-paced story, competition for the throne, second-chance romance and magical animal companions and you don’t care too much about writing you might enjoy this one .

This was stunning. No notes.

If you are looking for an Epic Fantasy combined with a murder mystery, a high stakes competition, rich world building, and a whole cast of morally grey characters and we have ourselves a winner! For me, it was the perfect mix of themes, tropes and genres -


Our protagonist is interesting. It took me a while to warm up to her, which I think is entirely intentional, but worked wonderfully for her having a really satisfying character arc. Neema** is incredibly smart and her perspective was genuinely interesting to read. In fact, all of the characters were really engaging. Each one we met felt well fleshed out with their own flaws and motivations in abundance

Something about the prose here absolutely sucked me in. I love a bit of wry humour when it’s done well, and it was absolutely done well. I thought the lens through which the story was told was interesting and balanced out the high stakes of the wider plot.

I don’t even know where to start with the world building, other than to say I’m excited to read more. The world building felt rich and lived it, it’s utterly brimming in history and culture and nuance and urghh! World building like this feels rare and precious so I’m ridiculously excited. I loved that it felt as though the world had a substantial history behind it, from fashion trends, ancient cities, a complex web of political moves, and even small details like little superstitions and food trends.

I was a little apprehensive going in, as at around 700 pages this isn’t a small read and we’ve all been there when you get half way through a bigger read and it just feels like a chore. Despite it’s size I never felt that here, I was hooked throughout!

Overall, this was an easy 5 star review for me. I often hesitate giving them out, as I feel like they need to be something really special to warrant it. Well, The Raven Scholar warrants it. I already know I’m going to find myself thinking back on this book again in the future and rereading it again in a few years!

If you are looking for an epic fantasy with some engaging characters then this is definitely one to pick up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

My Rating System:
Enjoyment: LOVED this, i had such a fun time reading it and didn't want it to end. I love the setting and the trial aspect. It felt like a plot I have read a lot but done in a way that kept me interested and surprised at every chapter - 5 stars
More?: i need to stop reading arcs of first books in series, i need the second book immediately - 5 stars
Criticisms: i have a few criticisms, mainly i wish there was a little more diverse rep. there's such a rich cast of characters in this story who i feel we get to know so well, having some diversity in the characters would've benefited the story and brought up my rating - 3 stars
Rereadability: i would absolutely reread this book, i think i'll pick it up again before i read the second book to refresh - 4 stars
Average Rating: 4.25 stars (rounded down)

Damn! This book totally grabbed me and didn’t let me go from start to end! A fantasy whodunnit with so many twists and turns that at times I couldn’t tell which way was up!

From the very start I was pulled in to this saga of fantasy, mystery and trials amidst some of the best world-building And have encountered in a long, long time! A kingdom entrenched in myth, magic, politics and class war, an indomitable religion that merges with an astounding magic system, that demands effort, commitment, skill and sacrifice.

Intriguing characters that ranged across the multitude of morally grey. A protagonist with a background that truly shaped her intents and motivations, which was gradually unpeeled as the story progressed, and for who further growth and development is definitely on the horizon in future books in this series (I hope.)

The relationship between Neema and Cain was intriguing, touching and at times funny, the Raven and the Fox, completely distinct but, also complimentary in so many ways made for moments of light and humour but, also darkness and deeply emotional!

The political intrigue between the different societies and of course the underlying plot, which truly had me on the edge of my seat at times - I was totally immersed in the political maneuvering and power struggles, which most definitely brought depth and pivotal turns to the plot.

The ending was in itself both explosive but, most definitely led to an opening for the next book in the series and I was most definitely left with a determination to read the next chapter in Neema and Cain’s story, and of course to unfold further the complex layers and machinations of what has proven to be a truly compelling plot!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊.

This was the wildest, most magnificent ride. WE ARE SO BACK! Forced proximity, murder mystery, a whole bunch of trials, a funky new magic system, political and courtly intrigue, and some of the most engaging main characters I've encountered in a good long while. Neema Kraa and Cain Ballari own my heart. Life is a joke and death is the punchline.

The world has evolved around a belief in The Eight - different animals (representing different moral, spiritual and cultural beliefs) that people can swear allegiance to when they come of age: Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, Hound, and Dragon (though they have their own seat of power and generally take a back seat). They choose their next ruler by selecting contenders from each of these temples (including a Dragon proxy) and see them compete across a series of trials that test things like combat skills, creative thinking, political knowledge, stamina and charisma. What unravels is a locked-room murder mystery (they're all stuck on the island that forms the seat of the emperor's power) when one of the contenders is killed. There's an awful lot more to it than that (this is truly an EPIC FANTASY), but that's the general crux of it.

Once you power through the opening 10% (which is very info-dump / world-building heavy), it's one of the most fun reads you'll have this year. It was so refreshing to read something so clearly written by a Brit. The SARCASM! The WIT! The UNSERIOUSNESS! The TOMFOOLERY! The SASS! Every character has their chance to shine and it's very much an ensemble piece despite Neema & Cain taking centre stage by virtue of their iconicness.

Neema is a Raven Scholar (likes to ask questions, constant thirst for knowledge, must correct people when they are wrong, deep thinker and social pariah) and Cain is a Fox (ultimate sass king, will eat all your food, everything is funny if you look at it just so, let me do a flip because I can). Their dynamic is EVERYTHING, but don't go into this expecting romantasy levels of relationship development / page time because you won't find it. It's very much fade to black.

I could completely understand if people get unnerved by the tonal whiplash - it goes to some very dark places and then rebounds with a quip or three - but humour as a coping mechanism is so integral to its DNA that I didn't mind so much. The ending, especially, takes a lot of risks, but I can't wait to see them pay off in Book 2.

One thing I slightly struggled with was the POV. It may have been the manuscript I was reading, but I wasn't always sure when it switched. It's occasionally third-person omniscient, occasionally relayed through a (magnificent) narrator, and then bounds around to follow Neema, Cain or one of the other named characters. I guess the general idea was that you see it all from a kind of birds-eye view, but sometimes it threw me off when we dived into a new perspective that had been closed to us before.

All in all this was a fantastically written, distinctive new addition to the Adult Fantasy genre. I am beyond excited to see what the author has in store for us next. Can easily see this being one of my top reads of 2025.

“She might win the throne. She might destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder.”

4.5/5 ⭐️

Firstly, the way the story began had me fooled straight away. We start off thinking there is one protagonist which quickly flips on its head to tell the story from the ‘reverse’ point of view, we are left with the ever presence of a ghost which is quite haunting yet also the focal point to the story (And you thought you were confused).

Let me just preface this isn’t the easiest of reads, there is a multitude of plot lines and sub plots happening which at times was a bit tricky to be able to focus on what the main plot line was or where the story was going therefore a little confusing at times. It probably took me around the 70 page mark, bombarded with information to then get me fully hooked and I’m glad I carried on because what a wonderful ride it was. Do not let this deter you from reading this book!

The author clearly has a multitude of very intriguing and in depth ideas that have been explored there’s conspiracies, murder investigations, plotting and deceit, trials to compete for the throne, magic wielding and hidden magic, ancient history and legends and more believe it or not!

The interpersonal connections and dynamics are super interesting, our characters are quite complex with their deceit and traditions, the relationship between cain and neema makes you think outside the box a little of what is actually been interpreted, we know there’s history there but it makes me yearn for more! the unwritten angst in what they say and how they react towards one another throughout all their interactions. However do not go into this book thinking it is a romantasy, it has a little but is refreshing that it’s not constantly in the reader’s faces.

The ravens… they just cracked me up. At times they behaved like insolent children, their comments are so comedic and had me giggling so much, their presence was truly a delight to read.

The story is told almost like a historical account, with footnotes and more than one narrator. I absolutely adored the footnotes, at times they were also comedic and really added to the book, the ideology of the scholar and how they would scribe. It was rather refreshing and interesting trying to figure out who our narrator was, because it felt different throughout until the ‘revelation’ later in the book… maybe there was only one all this time? (if you know, you know but obviously they are the best narrators, some might say magnificent even).
The way our protagonist is bossed around by a fragment had me howling the entire time.

I like how the narrator almost talks to the reader, recounting what has happened but is slightly an unreliable narrator as bends it to their liking to portray the story. But again was so brilliant and refreshing to read.

I did feel at times the story didn’t flow as easily as hoped due to the amount of information and directions you were pulled into however this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the story progressed I felt more comfortable understanding the characters complexities and storylines. That is super challenging and I feel the author did pretty well at deciphering that.

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this spectacular whirlwind of a book, I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner for the characters next.

’But two very lonely, unloved children who find solace and kinship in each other? Oh, you should not underestimate that kind of magic. It can burn through the world like Dragonfire.’

Fascinating and immersive world building, vividly complex characters (some to root for, others to utterly despise), a complicated web of intriguing political scheming, a dynamic, danger ridden competition, an action packed plot and twists that will make your head spin; ’The Raven Scholar’ has it all. Whatever generally draws you into fantasy novels this is undeniably the book for you. I may only be in February at the time of writing this review but when it comes to yearly favourites this one is going to take one hell of a lot to beat. Simply put: I adored it.

One of my favourite things about the fantasy genre in general is the opportunity to explore mesmerising new worlds. And this one is downright addictive. Everything about it fascinated me from its current system to find the best new leader to its dark and blood soaked history. This is one of those glorious settings that leaves you longing to explore each and every corner of it; the lands around that are mentioned but not yet seen, the history that has led up to this particular point in time, the dynamic central region that you spend your time within; all of it is utterly enthralling and left me longing for more. It’s set within one of those wondrous worlds that feels so rich, vivid and compelling that you come away feeling as if you could read a thousand stories set within its borders.

Character wise I have to confess that I was utterly blown away. Each and every character that crosses this books pages, no matter how big or small their role, is brought vividly to life. Everyone is utterly fleshed out and complex in a wholly believable manner. Neema left me utterly besotted from her very first appearance; perhaps it was her scholarly nature and fairly isolated state. Perhaps it was the way that she couldn’t help but be factual – much to the chagrin of those around her. Or perhaps it was simply her love of books. Whatever it was I adored following in her footsteps and watching her navigate this complex world, uncovering schemes and secrets that literally turned everything on its head...on more than one occasion.

Other characters majorly stood out to me too. Cain, Benna, Ruko, Gaida, Bersun; they’re all so vividly complex. I won’t go into my personal feelings towards each – those are best uncovering for yourself – but it’s safe to say that some I loathed and others I adored; one made me smile on multiple occasions and another came with such a richly, complicated side of angst that I utterly adored. For some characters, despite having initially strong feelings in one direction or the other, my opinion of them changed throughout. And one...well one individual within ’The Raven Scholar’ has to be one of the most complicated, devious and insidious villains that I’ve ever came across.

When you read a lot of books within the same genre there becomes a point when you believe you can see certain twists coming. Not always and you don’t necessarily think you’ll pick up on everything but some turns of event where the groundwork is laid out early, it’s only natural to believe you’ve figured things out about, right? Not so here. There was one storyline I thought I’d figured out, once a revelation was shown, but the way that it was truly revealed blew my mind. There were numerous other twists and turns shared throughout and I honestly don’t think I caught a single one of them. Trust me when I say that this is rare. It’s definitely a book that I can see keeping many a reader on the edge of their seat, wandering exactly what new world shattering revelation will come next.

Similarly the trials within this book varied greatly with each different one focusing on the various traits that the related monastery believed to be most important. And the murder that’s thrown into the mix went down a rather unexpected route too. Plus to top everything off the divine beings within this book came with a couple of added twists. For one thing you get to see the world through one of their eyes and oh how ‘magnificent’ that is in itself (the tone is just divine, truly). And for another there’s a portent of doom surrounding the return of these impossibly powerful beings. Needless to say I was well and truly hooked.

So it truly does go without saying that I whole heartedly recommend ’The Raven Scholar’ and can see many a fantasy fan falling in love with it once its released. The stakes are exceptionally high, the world vivid, the characters dynamic and the twists will make your head spin. There’s godly antics and disturbing magic. Plus – as if all of that wasn’t enough – it’s beautifully penned and ends in such a vastly different place politically than it begins that the journey to get there can’t be described as anything other than epic. Needless to say I’m desperately awaiting more from this wondrous world and will definitely be treating myself to a copy of this one.

’Neema had never believed in magic until she encountered the book.’