This epic fantasy is beautifully written and very witty. Mystery, murder & drama set in an imperial backdrop with competitors undertaking deadly trials to be the next emperor - it’s unlike anything I’ve read for a long time. Themes of social class, friendship, political scheming and so many twists and turns that I just didn’t see coming.

The vivid world building and rich history in this is excellent though rather heavy to start with but definitely pays off throughout as the intricate story weaves through so many moving parts and it just works!

This really was a wild ride and I loved it! It was chaotic, funny, endearing and I can’t wait to see where the next instalment goes!

Pluses:

- very well written: perfect balance of exposition to be immersive, but not infodumpy, the prose just flows
- interesting worldbuilding with animal gods / patrons similar to Chinese Zodiac
- diversity: fmc is Black and autistic-coded, there are queer side characters and characters of different ethnicities

Minuses:

- gosh this book takes sloooow to get anywhere: the first 40-something pages is an elaborate prologue (3 chapters), then we finally meet the mc, but oh wait, time jump, and now there's a preparation for the tournament and we need to get to know all the contenders...
- the footnotes: very annoying to navigate because they go at the end of the chapter, not bottom of the page
- you're constantly hammered over the head how oppressed fmc is for being commoner-born, everyone hates her, mistreats her, shuns her, etc. Even her "only friend"/boyfriend seems not to care about her, but she clings to him because she has no one else. This also means nobody is really likeable, except the protagonist, and even for her you feel more pity than actually like her.

I think I've fallen victim to the overhype: everyone was praising this book so much I expected a mind-blowing experience and instead I was simply frustrated. I did not appreciate the rug pull with the prologue, I thought we left those in the Game of Thrones era. I already have trouble getting immersed in a story, the beginnings are always hard, but taking a hard reset after 3 chapters where I have to reconnect to the story again? Tough call. It also made the whole opening sequence extremely drawn out. The story was fine but not as engrossing as I expected.

Objectively, this is not a bad book. But I can't say I "enjoyed" it.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodderscape for the ARC.

This book was mind blowing in all the best ways. I’ve read a lot of fantasy, and this simply took my breath away. The world building was intrinsic, creative and fresh. The characters were novel and exciting, they had great qualities whilst also acknowledging their flaws, making them some of the most human characters I’ve read in a long time. The plot delivered on so many levels, with the twists being genuinely shocking, and it seemed to be punchy plot line after punchy plot line without a trope in sight. I am unashamedly in love with this book and waiting with my whole heart for book number two.

The Raven Scholar is such an immersive and creative experience. I absolutely loved the story and was captivated from the first pages. The characters are well-developed, full of flaws and real. In terms of the world-building, this was truly epic, there are impressive foundations in myth and legends. I most enjoyed the political intrigue and how this developed throughout. The plot itself is full of twists and turns, peril and drama. There are trials but this trope was very well executed, feeling fresh within the genre. I adored the wit and charm pebbled through the writing.
This story is relatable yet escapist. It’s so well written that it did not feel like 600+ pages, I did not want it to end. I almost shed a tear at one particular point, and a book that makes me feel is a sign of a great read.
The ending is amazing and I cannot wait for the next instalment. An easy five star read for me and one I will likely re-read. This is a must read for any fantasy fan, it has a bit of everything.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

3.25 out of 5 ravens. 🐦‍⬛✨

I was interested in the book, but at first, I found it hard to get into it. Then it got easier… kinda.

You know those books where you start off thinking, “Ooo this could be good,” but then you’re just… stuck? Yeah. That was me with The Raven Scholar. The concept? Super cool. Eight mythical factions, each with their own vibe, a competition for the throne, a mysterious murder to solve—HELLO, right up my alley! But the actual reading part? Whew. It was a bit of a slog.

There were moments where I was intrigued, and then moments where I was staring at the same paragraph like it owed me money. I really wanted to fly through it, but it dragged in places. The worldbuilding is chef’s kiss—very Chinese Zodiac meets high fantasy—with these magical animal guardians and cool lore. I loved that! But the plot didn’t quite hook me the way I hoped.

The characters were fun, don’t get me wrong. They were distinct, a little chaotic, and had their own quirks, but I just didn’t get emotionally attached. The Raven guardian was a riot though—definitely the comic relief MVP. Neema, our leading lady, had depth, ambition, and that sad-girl-lonely energy that was actually relatable. But her on-and-off romance? Meh. Didn’t do it for me. Felt like it was trying to be swoony but landed more in “oh, we’re doing this again?” territory.

Also… the footnotes. Look, I love lore as much as the next nerd, but fiction footnotes make me feel like I’m doing homework. And don’t even get me started on the ending—what happened in that last 10%?? It went from “hmm interesting” to “did I just get hit with every cliché in the book??” The villain monologue alone had me dramatically closing my Kindle like I was in a soap opera.

BUT—and it’s a big but—I did enjoy the murder mystery bits (wish there was more of that!), the vibes, the competition, and the sass woven into the writing. Plus, the narration was top-tier. Daphne Kouma absolutely killed it with the audio. Made even the slow bits a little more bearable.

So, final thoughts? It wasn’t totally for me, but I wouldn’t gatekeep it either. If you like slow-burn fantasy, complex politics, and magical creatures with ✨ drama ✨, go ahead and give it a shot. Just... maybe don’t expect it to change your life.

And someone please tell the author: less footnotes, more murder.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheRavenScholar #NetGalley

An Emperor can only rule for 24 years. The time has finally come for Emperor Bersun to step down. In order to find his successor, there will be a tournament.

Neema Kraa works as High Scholar to the Emperor. She has worked very hard to make the opening ceremony fantastic. Unfortunately, an old rival decides to make a fool of her and puts her on the outs with Bersun.

When one of the contestants is murdered, the Emperor tasks Neema with finding the killer. Also, she must take the place of the dead contestant.
Neema is not happy. She's no warrior. The other contestants have trained for this for most of their lives. How is she supposed to find a killer while she's fighting for her own life?

This is fantastic! I loved it from the first page. I was not expecting it to go the direction it did, but I loved it. Definitely one of my favorites for this year.

This has all the makings of a great new fantasy world, but there are some kink- there were a lot of words, the plot chaotic and the pacing was off in places. I didn’t feel drawn to any of the characters. Nevertheless, there are many quality elements and I’m interested to see how the story continues.

This is an outstanding new fantasy book, with a very well developed natural and supernatural world-building.
The Eight guardians (god-like entities: Raven, Tiger, Fox, Hound, Ox, Bear, Monkey and Dragon) live in the supernatural realm. In the natural world they are represented by their monasteries. Followers of the Monkey tend to be entertainers, Raven scholars, Hounds have police-like jobs, Bears are soldiers, Tigers warriors, Oxen (the most likeable) are dependable practical workers, who keep the empire running, Dragon followers are strange. People may pray to their chosen entity for help, but they fervently hope the guardian will never appear. The guardians have saved the world seven times – on the eighth appearance they will destroy the world and mankind with it.
The natural world is ruled by an emperor. The emperor may only reign for a maximum of 24 years. Their successor may not be one of their children, and must be chosen by trial. Each of the seven non-Dragon monasteries puts forward a representative, and designs one of the trials. A challenger may not compete in their own monastery’s trial. The Dragon monastery never challenges for the throne, but does put forward a ‘visitor’ to even the numbers, and only runs a trial if there is a tie at the end of the process.
The current emperor is Bersun, who won the trials representing the Bear monastery, but was later attacked in an unsuccessful coup by the Traitor Andren Valit, who had come second in the trials, representing the Tiger. At the start of the book, the twin children of the Traitor, Yana and Ruko, now 16 and so adult, have been summoned to the imperial island by Bersun. Andren Valit is long dead. We follow Yana – and it is so clear how the book will unfold – except it isn’t! First of the many unexpected twists.
This is a story of revenge, of poor children making good, of corruption, murder, multiple layers of conspiracy, of perseverance, of honour and friendship, of greed, a murder investigation, politics, romance, betrayal – in fact everything you could want or need in a story. You really never know quite where it is heading – though you never stop guessing.
The writing is superb. It is primarily told in the third person from the point of view of the Raven Scholar. But when the Raven entities appear, they take over narration in the first person, and insert some brilliant humour into the proceedings. As you might expect from a god-like entity, they are vain, proud and supremely confident (also unseen by most):
“[She] has already dismissed her encounter with us as a moment’s shock, a lack of air, the heat, the stress of the day, exhaustion. We have never been mistaken for so many insulting things in one go before. What next, indigestion? A rogue prawn?”
““We are coming. She hears the heavy beat of countless wings. She sees us, an endless flock, streaming towards her from a crack in the sky. All the ravens that were, all the ravens that are, all the ravens that will be. Wheeling. Gathering. She sees the iridescent sheen of our feathers, the fierce intelligence in our eyes. Our claws outstretched, ready to tear her apart with love. We are infinite and we are one, wings spanning the sky. We are the Raven, and we are magnificent. …. We are here. For you. Let us in. For this moment, for this held breath, the world is ours. Ruko is a statue, fist frozen in mid swing. We land on his shoulder and wait. This is [her]. We are expecting questions. We tilt our head, viewing her from different angles. She is breathing hard. Her mind whirls through every possible, rational explanation and rejects them. She can deny us no longer. She cannot speak, but instinctively she knows she can reach us, that we may talk on this plane, the plane of the mind.” —"You’re real.””
We also get to meet the Fox entity – not such a pleasant experience.
As Bersun comes to the end of his 24-year reign – which has been peaceful and prosperous, apart from the attempted coup – it is time to select a new emperor. The challengers are named, and we follow them through the trials. The trials involve intelligence, strength, martial ability, courage and ability to work together – all attributes a ruler should have. You know who you want to win, you know who is the favourite, and who the Raven entity has said will bring about the apocalypse if they win – but it is not clear why and how it will all turn out until the end. But even then ….
“This story – fiction or fact – was the new truth.”
This is an amazing book, and I really hope it is the start of a series. I want to go back to this world.
I recommend ‘The Raven Scholar’ so very highly, and of course the author.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.

I was really looking forward to this book because I had heard so many positive things! So I was even more excited to be able to read the ARC.

We are thrown straight into a sad backstory and inundated with information about the world and some of the characters (in a positive way!). Then we gain a foothold in the present and follow a completely different character.
In the beginning, the book has huge "Voyage Of The Damned" vibes. In between maybe a bit much that I thought I was reading said book. There's an unloved protagonist, different houses divided into species, contenders for the throne, and so on. It reads a bit YA as a result, but I didn't find that bad here at all.
Gradually, the depth of the world and the characters is explored and we move from the YA style more and more into the epic. We have some drama, action and an exciting writing style that leaves you wanting more.
I struggled with the book between 20 and 40% because it did drag on a bit. I was interested in what would happen next, but it just didn't go any further.
From 40/50% onwards, however, the pace picks up enormously and we get to know a wonderfully sweet secondary character who immediately captured my heart.

"Do we win a price? Something Sparkly?"

From then on, the book is super readable, the pace is even and the tension is palpable on every page.

Overall, this book is definitely a recommendation from me. Even as a non-English speaker, the style was easy to read and I understood everything. If you like reading epic, don't let the YA vibe at the beginning put you off. If you prefer reading less intense stuff, try it anyway and don't be put off by the initial world building.

Bonus: I loved the last part of the acknowledgements.

Interesting and engaging fantasy novel - surprises at every turn.

A thoroughly enjoyable tale, it tells the story of Neema, a scholar of the Raven faction, working for the emperor. This leads her to end up involved in a contest to become the emperor's successor. There's a huge amount that goes on in this novel and I am loath to go into the events and circumstances that occur. Various aspects of magic and spells occur as well as the creation of a fantasy world. There's a lot of involved characters, well-developed and often surprising. It's also a story of political manipulation. There's much to enjoy and I found the whole experience worthwhile and more than satisfying.. Slight criticism : the last quarter goes much more quickly than the rest. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“The Raven Scholar” is high fantasy at its finest—rich, immersive, and utterly captivating. From the very first page, Antonia Hodgson weaves a world of breathtaking detail, where history, politics, and prophecy intertwine seamlessly. The realm of Orrun and the enigmatic concept of the “Eight” are nothing short of awe-inspiring, crafted with such depth that the world feels alive, its past and future as tangible as its present.

The novel opens eight years before the main events, a narrative choice that proves brilliantly effective. This prologue is far more than mere backstory—it lays essential groundwork, seeding mysteries and misdirections that challenge both the characters and the reader. What we believe to be true is often deceptive, making every revelation all the more compelling.

At the heart of the story is Neema Kraa, a High Scholar of the Ravens—an unlikely yet fascinating protagonist. Socially isolated, fiercely intelligent, and refreshingly idiosyncratic, Neema has carved out a quiet, scholarly life for herself. But when a Raven contender is murdered during the festival to select the Emperor’s successor, she is thrust into a dangerous game of politics and power. Tasked with uncovering the killer, she is also forced into the role of Raven Contender, pushing her far beyond the safety of her books and into a world of deadly intrigue.

Hodgson’s storytelling is intricate and multi-layered, blending a gripping murder mystery with themes of betrayal, deception, and survival. The characters are exquisitely drawn—complex, flawed, and utterly believable. As Neema navigates a labyrinth of secrets and lies, the tension escalates, punctuated by moments of wit and warmth that provide just enough respite before the next twist. The climax delivers a shocking revelation, leaving the reader breathless and desperate for more.

“The Raven Scholar” is a triumph of fantasy fiction—intelligent, immersive, and impossible to put down. With its intricate world-building, morally nuanced characters, and relentless intrigue, it promises to be the start of an unforgettable series.

This was an amazing start to a new fantasy trilogy.

The world-building was fresh, the storyline compelling and the characters were well-developed and very interesting.

Very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

Based on the cover alone, this book wasn’t quite what I was expecting- however I found myself really enjoying it and was eager to pick it up and read more every evening!
I really liked the world building- there was a lot of information but I felt this was built up at a good pace. However, I did find myself getting a little muddled with the characters at times - mostly because there were a lot of them and some names were quite similar, but I think this is to be expected for an epic fantasy.
I really enjoyed the plot, I also liked that there was some romance but it didn’t take away from the main story.
Overall a really enjoyable read!

One of the most incredible fantasy reads I’ve picked up this year!

I won’t give away too many plot details - half the fun is uncovering them for yourself - but the (very oversimplified) setup involves a high-stakes competition for the throne, a murder investigation, lots of scheming, and our main character Neema caught right in the middle of it all.

I was fully immersed into the story from its first pages. The writing is confident and smooth, the kind that makes you forget you’re reading and just sweeps you along. I thought this was a brilliant start to a series - it’s definitely a chunky book, but it never felt like a slog. The world-building was layered, the characters compelling, and the twists consistently satisfying.

I read most of the book in tandem with the audio, and occasionally just listened - and I thought the narration was simply exceptional, one of the best I’ve come across in a long time. The production quality is excellent, and the voice actor’s performance really elevated the story. Her interpretation (the dialects, the distinctive way they laughed!) of the characters added so much depth and emotion, and I genuinely think it made my experience of the book even more impactful.

There’s love, friendship, ambition, betrayal, heartbreak and plenty of death. It’s rich, dramatic, thoughtful, and absolutely gripping. Simply a brilliant start to what I hope becomes a standout series.

4.75/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ebook and audiobook copies in exchange for my honest review.

Four and a half I truly enjoyed this and really don’t wish to give too much away . Yes there are trials but not always about strength or well even violence but about ingenuity and just paying attention . I really liked the female protagonist and actually the surrounding characters were very surprising at times . I cannot comment on how this ends but trust me you will be reviled, angry and absolutely desperate for more . A story that surprised and absolutely entertained me and I very much look forward to the sequel .

Thank you NetGalley and Hodderscape for the advanced copy of The Raven Scholar in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled with this one. Normally I love a long, immersive epic fantasy book with complex world building, but it felt 200 pages too long. I loved the opening prologue with Yana and her family, but the jump to the future and Neema’s perspective felt jarring. I just didn’t connect with her or feel invested in the romance, either. Having said that, I thought the system with the Eight and how they interacted with the contestants intriguing. However, I do wonder about the world beyond the palaces, in the rest of Orrun. I hope the author explores these more in the rest of the series because it was hard to feel invested because I couldn’t determine the tangible effect of a corrupt leader on the world at large.

On a side note, the ebook file was formatted so badly I found it difficult to focus on the words because I was trying to work out who was saying what, and whether we had moved scene, or perspective. I found myself lost and rereading sections many times.

Ruko, Yasila and Yana are the characters I am most intrigued by, and I just wished they were given more space. I loved the morally grey personalities of them, and how their complicated pasts motivated them to act in unexpected ways. The author wrote these characters well. The heart of the story resided in their family, and their dynamics, rather than with Neema.

I bloody loved this book from word one! The world is vibrant and well realised, the characters are flawed and authentic and brilliant and the plotting is exceptional. It's funny and gory and magical, with a competition and a murder investigation to hoot. Honestly, one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had for a long time and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In The Raven Scholar we follow Neema, a raven in a world where at aged 16 a person can join one of the 8 animal factions in the world. They worship this animal as a god-like figure, and their personality fits that of the faction. Scholars are smart and academic, foxes are cunning and playful, etc. I enjoyed the idea of the world, and the mystery aspect of the story kept me intrigued until the end.

I did struggle a little with caring for our main characters. The book begins with following a different character for a few chapters, and when we are introduced to Neema we are constantly told that no one likes her and she struggles to make friends. This made me as the reader not like her either; I wanted the author to give me a reason to root for Neema. I feel like we got some of this later on in the book, but in a 600-700 page book I felt that it was too little too late and we should have had more. I felt more for the first character, Yana, whose POV we had for the first few chapters; I almost feel Neema's story would have landed better if we had less of Yana's perspective.

Overall I liked this book, even though I feel like the author tried to do too much, I enjoyed the twists and turns and it kept me wanting to pick it up until the end.

This was everything I like about a fantasy! I fell in love with the characters and every element of this world building and I already can’t wait till the next one in the series!

Very unexpectedly but not that surprising, this book made it to the top books of the year for me! This was the most pleasant surprise!!! This book was equal parts entertaining, gruesome, heartbreaking, shocking (I mean those plot twists PLURAL were insane I have barely processed them!) and I can think of a million other ways to describe it. It was so intricately written, the author had the most fascinating and amazing way of giving us new and different perspectives to cover all the events that occurred in this almost 700 page high fantasy novel. This book is fantasy at its finest where has it been all my life! You’ll hate and love all the characters, become very suspicious and frustrated and entertained at the main and side characters and I just know this is just the beginning! The vagueness of the review is purposeful, you need to know boring going in except that it some how uses fantasy, mystery, political intrigue, and those tiny magical hints of romance (mind you this is nowhere centred around that so please don’t go in saying that this book has romance because it not even the centre of this magnificent story) into this beautiful combination and honestly, read it! I loved it with my whole chest! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!