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Eternal Path Trilogy #1
The Raven Scholar
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fantasy (2025)From an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy comes The Raven Scholar, a masterfully woven and playfully inventive tale of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar’s quest to uncover the truth.
Let us fly now to the empire of Orrun, where after twenty-four years of peace, Bersun the Brusque must end his reign. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders compete to replace him. They are exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists—the best of the best.
Then one of them is murdered. We know who did it. We saw it happen. No one else did.
It falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor’s brilliant, idiosyncratic High Scholar, to find the killer before the trials end. To do so, she must untangle a web of deadly secrets that stretches back generations, all while competing against six warriors with their own dark histories and fierce ambitions. Neema believes she is alone. But we are here to help; all she has to do is let us in.
If she succeeds, she will win the throne. If she fails, death awaits her. But we won’t let that happen.
We are the Raven, and we are magnificent.
Let us fly now to the empire of Orrun, where after twenty-four years of peace, Bersun the Brusque must end his reign. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders compete to replace him. They are exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists—the best of the best.
Then one of them is murdered. We know who did it. We saw it happen. No one else did.
It falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor’s brilliant, idiosyncratic High Scholar, to find the killer before the trials end. To do so, she must untangle a web of deadly secrets that stretches back generations, all while competing against six warriors with their own dark histories and fierce ambitions. Neema believes she is alone. But we are here to help; all she has to do is let us in.
If she succeeds, she will win the throne. If she fails, death awaits her. But we won’t let that happen.
We are the Raven, and we are magnificent.
667 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2025
4904 people are currently reading
149194 people want to read
About the author
Antonia Hodgson
10 books1,478 followersAntonia Hodgson was born and grew up in Derby. She studied English at the University of Leeds. Her first novel, The Devil in the Marshalsea, won the CWA Historical Dagger 2014 and was shortlisted for several other awards. Its sequel, The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins, was released to widespread acclaim in 2015. Her third novel, A Death at Fountains Abbey, comes out in August 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,997 reviews
October 4, 2025
"It's been a long time coming."
And indeed, Taylor, it certainly has been a long time coming.
If you've been following my reviews, then you probably know what I'm talking about.
It's very likely that you've heard me rant about my bad luck this year. About how almost every book I've picked up, ever since I finished "Wind and Truth," (Stormlight’s fifth installment), turned out to be an absolute nightmare. A complete, utter mess. And mostly a miss, too.
You've probably seen me literally down on my knees, praying for THAT book. That one book that was going to change it all, sweep me off my feet, and make me fall in love with reading once again.
The thing about reading dumpster fire after dumpster fire is that you quickly burn out. You start fearing that you've probably read everything good that there is, that there's no remedy but to go back and reread something that you've already read, and that maybe things are the way they are and there's nothing you can do about it. You fear that your comfort place, your solace, is no longer a safe haven. And then, suddenly, you start falling out of love with something you once used to enjoy with all your heart.
I was looking for a hero. A book hero. My savior. As ridiculous as it may seem. And sound. I know.
Although I kept on failing, I still didn’t give up, looking out for my precious golden egg.
Last year, Elena Ferrante's spectacular Neapolitan novels were that and pulled me out from a reading slump. This year I owe that to this masterpiece of a book.
You also probably know I don't give five stars so lightly. You have to put in some real work to earn them and convince myself to give them to you. And that's why I'm proud to say that this book has earned each and every one of them exceedingly.
It should come as no surprise that it took an actual epic fantasy book to get me back on track. Time and time again, failure after failure, I swore to myself that maybe what I needed was to stop playing it cool and take the bull by the horns and come back strong to my first love: epic fantasy. Turns out my gut was right.
This book reminded me why I love and enjoy this genre so much. It left the same sweet aftertaste in my mouth that I had with similar masterpieces of the genre like LOTR, ASOIAF (let's not go there), or The Kingkiller Chronicles (yuuuup, let's not talk about that either).
Reading this made me realize that it’s not that I dislike romantasies, but that they just simply lack the basics of what I ask for from a proper fantasy book.
Suffice to say that if those are your thing, you won't find them in here. There's a romance subplot, yes, but it's subtle. It's not pivotal to the story nor the main part of it.
No, this book isn't for those of you looking out for the sex adventures of the usual petite "I'm just a plain, ordinary girl, but I'm not that ordinary because I'm the most beautiful and overpowered girl in existence," damsel in distress not so in distress, and the shadow daddy "I'm so broody and moody, but she makes me soft, and I'm going to burn the world for her," on duty.
Nope.
This book is meant for all of you who lately have been complaining ad nauseam about the lack of originality and creativity in most fantasies (bah, romantasies) nowadays.
Like, for example, it's nice, for once, to find a book with proper editing. Polished as polish can be, like a clear-cut E-grade Tiffany's diamond.
Or what is technically the same, a book where someone took the time to actually plot things, with no scenes that serve as filler.
I love an author who shows respect for their craft, weaving and pulling the strings like it should be, where every single scene counts and serves a purpose in the whole picture, even the ones that may seem more intimate, because they help us to get to the core of each character's personality.
Take those first chapters, for example. Some reviewers here and there say that those chapters don't correlate to what comes further along, and honestly, I couldn't disagree more. With all due respect, it makes me wonder if they understood what this story was about at all.
Without spoiling too much, those very first chapters set the tone throughout the whole book, with that character's shadow, her spirit, looming at every single moment. Understanding what went on in those very first chapters is vital to comprehending what goes on in the last ones and those marvelous, insane, genius-level plot twists. At the heart of things, it's the same reflection we can infer from ASOIAF. What are you willing to do, to sacrifice? How far would you go for the sake of power?
Another thing I enjoyed about this particular book (and I'm sorry if at this point I'm fangirling too much—deal with it) is how unpredictable it turned out to be. It blew my mind that almost all the time, all my guesses were wrong. I could never have predicted that big reveal at 80% of the book. Not in a million years. I love an author who gives hints here and there but never feeds you on a silver platter. Hooray for an author actually letting readers try to guess things on their own, instead of literally telling me where and what and who I should be looking for. So, hats off to that.
And also to that incredible, super detailed, complex worldbuilding. If you're like me and have been complaining about how incoherent, inconsistent, and noncohesive most worldbuilding feels like in nowadays books...well, just let me tell you, you won't be disappointed here.
From religion, clothing, palaces, and the trials...to the very past of this world! Nothing is left to chance in this book. There's no room for cliché and shallowness in this story. Not even the characters, whom for the first time I've seen in years, are mentally age-appropriate.
I have to give it to the author for going with a protagonist well in her 30s instead of going with the same teenage FMC, which happens to be today's trend. And also for making her act her age. I can tell because I'm also in my 30s.
No childish, juvenile behavior, no tantrums and miscommunication tropes, thank God.
Just grown-up people acting like grown-ups—that feels like a breath of fresh air in a world of FMCs and MMCs acting stupidly. I won't say like toddlers, because Harry Potter and friends were children, and they all had more intelligence and maturity in their little finger than all those Bellas, Violets, Sybils, Freyas, and Ruth Winters have in their whole body. I said what I said.
At this point, I have to make a parenthesis and let something out of my chest.
Look. I'm all about being tolerant and respectful of other people's opinions. You won't find me attacking a fellow reviewer in the comments section just because they didn't like or enjoy a book I did.
But, given that, from time to time, I must call them out on their bs when they're speaking nonsense as facts.
Like saying the protagonist, Neema, doesn’t act her age when she clearly does. Or that this book is young adult, when it's clearly not.
Or saying that the character isn't that smart, even when it's pretty clear she is, just because she allows herself some hesitation from time to time, like a real human being, and not some overpowered Mary Sue.
Or saying that said character plays the victim because of her poor and humble upbringing, like it's her fault that people are being nasty towards her and being complete bullies because she doesn't have a big family name nor money.
I'm sorry, but that's a very twisted mentality. It's the equivalent of saying that poor people are poor just because they want to be poor, as if all of us had equal opportunities when that is clearly not the case.
The author is very straightforward and very clear at portraying tyranny and the complexities and injustices of class systems. How a reader can miss or misinterpret that is beyond my comprehension.
Which all leads to what I hinted at at the beginning of this review: that this book might not be everyone's cup of tea. You're warned.
If you step into this book thinking that it's YA or because of a romance plot, you'll be plenty disappointed, because that's not what it's about at all.
This book will be better appreciated by those of us who are more fans of actual fantasy than romances or erotica with glimpses of fantasy here and there.
If you're looking for unique, breathtaking worldbuilding; a captivating story; an eccentric and very interesting narrator (you'll love it); a court of very flawed but also very compelling characters; an FMC who happens not to be the Mary Sue most romantasies usually fall for; and the most unexpected, cruelest villain I've seen in ages ever since Joffrey Baratheon and Ramsay Bolton, then this might be the book for you.
I mean. This might be my longest review to date.
And with good reason.
Give it a try, please. You can thank me later.
Quality-based rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Actually, plus 5 stars, because it's THAT good.)
Liked-based rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And indeed, Taylor, it certainly has been a long time coming.
If you've been following my reviews, then you probably know what I'm talking about.
It's very likely that you've heard me rant about my bad luck this year. About how almost every book I've picked up, ever since I finished "Wind and Truth," (Stormlight’s fifth installment), turned out to be an absolute nightmare. A complete, utter mess. And mostly a miss, too.
You've probably seen me literally down on my knees, praying for THAT book. That one book that was going to change it all, sweep me off my feet, and make me fall in love with reading once again.
The thing about reading dumpster fire after dumpster fire is that you quickly burn out. You start fearing that you've probably read everything good that there is, that there's no remedy but to go back and reread something that you've already read, and that maybe things are the way they are and there's nothing you can do about it. You fear that your comfort place, your solace, is no longer a safe haven. And then, suddenly, you start falling out of love with something you once used to enjoy with all your heart.
I was looking for a hero. A book hero. My savior. As ridiculous as it may seem. And sound. I know.
Although I kept on failing, I still didn’t give up, looking out for my precious golden egg.
Last year, Elena Ferrante's spectacular Neapolitan novels were that and pulled me out from a reading slump. This year I owe that to this masterpiece of a book.
You also probably know I don't give five stars so lightly. You have to put in some real work to earn them and convince myself to give them to you. And that's why I'm proud to say that this book has earned each and every one of them exceedingly.
It should come as no surprise that it took an actual epic fantasy book to get me back on track. Time and time again, failure after failure, I swore to myself that maybe what I needed was to stop playing it cool and take the bull by the horns and come back strong to my first love: epic fantasy. Turns out my gut was right.
This book reminded me why I love and enjoy this genre so much. It left the same sweet aftertaste in my mouth that I had with similar masterpieces of the genre like LOTR, ASOIAF (let's not go there), or The Kingkiller Chronicles (yuuuup, let's not talk about that either).
Reading this made me realize that it’s not that I dislike romantasies, but that they just simply lack the basics of what I ask for from a proper fantasy book.
Suffice to say that if those are your thing, you won't find them in here. There's a romance subplot, yes, but it's subtle. It's not pivotal to the story nor the main part of it.
No, this book isn't for those of you looking out for the sex adventures of the usual petite "I'm just a plain, ordinary girl, but I'm not that ordinary because I'm the most beautiful and overpowered girl in existence," damsel in distress not so in distress, and the shadow daddy "I'm so broody and moody, but she makes me soft, and I'm going to burn the world for her," on duty.
Nope.
This book is meant for all of you who lately have been complaining ad nauseam about the lack of originality and creativity in most fantasies (bah, romantasies) nowadays.
Like, for example, it's nice, for once, to find a book with proper editing. Polished as polish can be, like a clear-cut E-grade Tiffany's diamond.
Or what is technically the same, a book where someone took the time to actually plot things, with no scenes that serve as filler.
I love an author who shows respect for their craft, weaving and pulling the strings like it should be, where every single scene counts and serves a purpose in the whole picture, even the ones that may seem more intimate, because they help us to get to the core of each character's personality.
Take those first chapters, for example. Some reviewers here and there say that those chapters don't correlate to what comes further along, and honestly, I couldn't disagree more. With all due respect, it makes me wonder if they understood what this story was about at all.
Without spoiling too much, those very first chapters set the tone throughout the whole book, with that character's shadow, her spirit, looming at every single moment. Understanding what went on in those very first chapters is vital to comprehending what goes on in the last ones and those marvelous, insane, genius-level plot twists. At the heart of things, it's the same reflection we can infer from ASOIAF. What are you willing to do, to sacrifice? How far would you go for the sake of power?
Another thing I enjoyed about this particular book (and I'm sorry if at this point I'm fangirling too much—deal with it) is how unpredictable it turned out to be. It blew my mind that almost all the time, all my guesses were wrong. I could never have predicted that big reveal at 80% of the book. Not in a million years. I love an author who gives hints here and there but never feeds you on a silver platter. Hooray for an author actually letting readers try to guess things on their own, instead of literally telling me where and what and who I should be looking for. So, hats off to that.
And also to that incredible, super detailed, complex worldbuilding. If you're like me and have been complaining about how incoherent, inconsistent, and noncohesive most worldbuilding feels like in nowadays books...well, just let me tell you, you won't be disappointed here.
From religion, clothing, palaces, and the trials...to the very past of this world! Nothing is left to chance in this book. There's no room for cliché and shallowness in this story. Not even the characters, whom for the first time I've seen in years, are mentally age-appropriate.
I have to give it to the author for going with a protagonist well in her 30s instead of going with the same teenage FMC, which happens to be today's trend. And also for making her act her age. I can tell because I'm also in my 30s.
No childish, juvenile behavior, no tantrums and miscommunication tropes, thank God.
Just grown-up people acting like grown-ups—that feels like a breath of fresh air in a world of FMCs and MMCs acting stupidly. I won't say like toddlers, because Harry Potter and friends were children, and they all had more intelligence and maturity in their little finger than all those Bellas, Violets, Sybils, Freyas, and Ruth Winters have in their whole body. I said what I said.
At this point, I have to make a parenthesis and let something out of my chest.
Look. I'm all about being tolerant and respectful of other people's opinions. You won't find me attacking a fellow reviewer in the comments section just because they didn't like or enjoy a book I did.
But, given that, from time to time, I must call them out on their bs when they're speaking nonsense as facts.
Like saying the protagonist, Neema, doesn’t act her age when she clearly does. Or that this book is young adult, when it's clearly not.
Or saying that the character isn't that smart, even when it's pretty clear she is, just because she allows herself some hesitation from time to time, like a real human being, and not some overpowered Mary Sue.
Or saying that said character plays the victim because of her poor and humble upbringing, like it's her fault that people are being nasty towards her and being complete bullies because she doesn't have a big family name nor money.
I'm sorry, but that's a very twisted mentality. It's the equivalent of saying that poor people are poor just because they want to be poor, as if all of us had equal opportunities when that is clearly not the case.
The author is very straightforward and very clear at portraying tyranny and the complexities and injustices of class systems. How a reader can miss or misinterpret that is beyond my comprehension.
Which all leads to what I hinted at at the beginning of this review: that this book might not be everyone's cup of tea. You're warned.
If you step into this book thinking that it's YA or because of a romance plot, you'll be plenty disappointed, because that's not what it's about at all.
This book will be better appreciated by those of us who are more fans of actual fantasy than romances or erotica with glimpses of fantasy here and there.
If you're looking for unique, breathtaking worldbuilding; a captivating story; an eccentric and very interesting narrator (you'll love it); a court of very flawed but also very compelling characters; an FMC who happens not to be the Mary Sue most romantasies usually fall for; and the most unexpected, cruelest villain I've seen in ages ever since Joffrey Baratheon and Ramsay Bolton, then this might be the book for you.
I mean. This might be my longest review to date.
And with good reason.
Give it a try, please. You can thank me later.
Quality-based rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Actually, plus 5 stars, because it's THAT good.)
Liked-based rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 12, 2025
"Why don't you leave, Neema?"
But she didn't want to leave. She wanted to prove them all wrong. The fuckers.
4 1/2 stars. Oh my, I loved this so so much. I loved the characters and the witty dialogue. I loved how tense it was and how it made me both excited and furious. And I just adored Neema. Between this and M.L. Wang, 2025 has been the year that has reignited my love for fantasy.
And I do mean fantasy and not romantasy, which I was a bit worried this would be. It's not. It's epic fantasy / dark academia with fascinating world-building and mythology, plus a large cast of really complex, funny, awful and wonderful characters. I am only giving it 4 1/2 stars and not 5 because I was waiting for an explanation for something and, while I got it, I was not fully satisfied with it.
I got into this story very quickly. We are dealt an awful shocker early in the book and it got my attention pretty quick. Then we fast forward eight years to the trials for the next emperor. Seven brave warriors must compete in a series of challenges and fights to determine who will be the next ruler. But the night before the trials are set to begin, one of the contenders is murdered.
Neema is a raven scholar and exactly my kind of person. Though she's shunned and looked down on by her peers for being from Scartown (among other reasons). When Neema is ordered to investigate the murder, she is surprised to find herself digging deep into Orrun's history and folklore, exposing alliances and old grudges.
We've got trials for the throne, a murder mystery, two ex lovers rubbing each other all the wrong ways (ahem). What an absolute thrill ride!
The characters are genuinely very well-crafted. Hodgson expertly balances suspenseful drama with charm and humour, often using dialogue to allow us to get to know the characters. I love Neema, I love Cain, the villains are fabulous-- mostly because they're not just mindless villains, and even minor characters like Fenn are given time to shine.
Some things I could see coming, but there's a lot going on here and there were plenty of surprises. I also just love it when a dark and dramatic read is also imbued with charm and humour. I would be on the edge of my seat, glued to the pages, then something would happen to make me laugh out loud. I can't wait for book two!
October 8, 2025
The Raven Scholar is one of the best new fantasy releases that I have read in a long time. Filled with fascinating characters, engaging writing, a deadly competition, and a complicated mystery, this book is a shining example of everything that I love about the fantasy genre.
I love the way that this book is written. The Raven Scholar is snarky and funny. This wry sense of humor compliments the severity and haunting consequences of the plot by keeping the story lively and engaging without detracting from the plot. Think the Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir (no this is not me saying this book is at all like Gideon the Ninth do not run with that). The character’s sense of humor and attempts at flippancy and flirtation in dire circumstances make them likable and fun to follow without compromising their morally complex character arcs. This tone also keeps what is admittedly a very long and dense book from ever feeling dull.
I adore the way that this book plays with narrative perspective. The Raven Scholar is told from the perspective of a unique and magnificent narrator that lends the narrative a sense of fluidity. Through this perspective we get glimpses into different characters and sides of the conflict that really elevate the story. The first direct to reader line absolutely hooked my attention.
The Raven Scholar mainly centers around Neema—a raven scholar thrust into the middle of a tournament to determine the next emperor. Not only is she incredibly unwilling and unprepared to fight for the throne, the emperor has also tasked her with solving the murder of the original raven contender. Neema is an incredibly compelling main character. She is so completely out of her depth as a contender in this tournament so it was really interesting to see her scrape together clever, unconventional ways to survive the competition.
We also get insight into some of the other characters and competitors around her. All of these characters are tied together by an event that happens in the very first chapter of this book—set many years before the competition. The Raven Scholar explores how this event, and the characters’ choices in that moment, haunt them. We see how this event has shaped their lives and their relationships with other people. The continuous thread of this one moment allows Antonia Hodgson to really dive into the moral complexity of these characters in incredibly compelling ways.
I love these characters. They are deeply flawed, but also so compelling. I am incredibly excited for the character arcs that we are going to get as the series continues. The person I was at the start of this book cannot believe that I am this excited to read more about Ruko.
There is even a small romance plot that was incredibly fun and flirtatious. It never overshadows the story but adds another messy layer to these character relationships.
This book has both a deadly competition and a very twisty mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Both are filled with lots of political intrigue, scheming, secrets, and backstabbing making for a very clever and complicated plot. The ending was absolutely explosive and I cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series.
The Raven Scholar is a phenomenal start to a new fantasy series. This charmingly clever story has something that will appeal to almost any kind of fantasy reader. I cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you so, so much Orbit for the eARC and finished copy.
Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books
I love the way that this book is written. The Raven Scholar is snarky and funny. This wry sense of humor compliments the severity and haunting consequences of the plot by keeping the story lively and engaging without detracting from the plot. Think the Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir (no this is not me saying this book is at all like Gideon the Ninth do not run with that). The character’s sense of humor and attempts at flippancy and flirtation in dire circumstances make them likable and fun to follow without compromising their morally complex character arcs. This tone also keeps what is admittedly a very long and dense book from ever feeling dull.
I adore the way that this book plays with narrative perspective. The Raven Scholar is told from the perspective of a unique and magnificent narrator that lends the narrative a sense of fluidity. Through this perspective we get glimpses into different characters and sides of the conflict that really elevate the story. The first direct to reader line absolutely hooked my attention.
The Raven Scholar mainly centers around Neema—a raven scholar thrust into the middle of a tournament to determine the next emperor. Not only is she incredibly unwilling and unprepared to fight for the throne, the emperor has also tasked her with solving the murder of the original raven contender. Neema is an incredibly compelling main character. She is so completely out of her depth as a contender in this tournament so it was really interesting to see her scrape together clever, unconventional ways to survive the competition.
We also get insight into some of the other characters and competitors around her. All of these characters are tied together by an event that happens in the very first chapter of this book—set many years before the competition. The Raven Scholar explores how this event, and the characters’ choices in that moment, haunt them. We see how this event has shaped their lives and their relationships with other people. The continuous thread of this one moment allows Antonia Hodgson to really dive into the moral complexity of these characters in incredibly compelling ways.
I love these characters. They are deeply flawed, but also so compelling. I am incredibly excited for the character arcs that we are going to get as the series continues. The person I was at the start of this book cannot believe that I am this excited to read more about Ruko.
There is even a small romance plot that was incredibly fun and flirtatious. It never overshadows the story but adds another messy layer to these character relationships.
This book has both a deadly competition and a very twisty mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Both are filled with lots of political intrigue, scheming, secrets, and backstabbing making for a very clever and complicated plot. The ending was absolutely explosive and I cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series.
The Raven Scholar is a phenomenal start to a new fantasy series. This charmingly clever story has something that will appeal to almost any kind of fantasy reader. I cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you so, so much Orbit for the eARC and finished copy.
Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books
September 1, 2025
I honestly dont even trust myself fully with this review seeing as it was the first book I read after Red Rising… but honestly I was extremely underwhelmed by this. It was weird because I somehow binged a 660 page fantasy book in all of two days yet felt entirely disconnected from everything at the same time? I don’t understand it either. But I can confidently say I didn’t enjoy the writing style at all. I felt like this book was written in a way that made it extremely hard to connect with ANYTHING. Despite the disconnect though I did really enjoy the murder mystery plot line and did absolutely need to keep reading to know how everything would unfold. The trials were very boring and low stakes. This did have a very minor romance sub plot and honestly I would have preferred if jt was left out just because the two characters had no romantic chemistry whatsoever, I did love their friendship though. I also was gagged by the plot twists, I definitely couldn’t have predicted anything that happened and the ending had my jaw on the floor. I do think if this was 200 pages shorter I would have liked it more, the middle felt very long and drawn out with nothing happening at times. But then the last 20% really made up for that. Idk the pacing was kind of all over the place. I really liked all the different characters however the FMC made the most idiotic decisions over and over and over again it got really old really fast. Now I’m ranting and it may seem like I hated this but 3 stars for me is far from hatred…. I liked it despite my issues with it, but I don’t think I will be continuing this trilogy. I blame my red rising slump. Onto Mistborn I guess.
November 29, 2025
ARC provided by the publisher via Libro.fm
i feel like i have been putting off this review, because i simply think this book is best read without knowing anything. i am going to attempt to be extra vague throughout this, because one of the reasons i truly loved it so much was all the unexpected twists, and insanely unique turns, that i just did not see coming. but i do think it is safe to say that my current reader self really is looking for fantasy murder mysteries. and the raven scholar is a favorite of 2025 for me.
an empire is divided among groups of people who worship different animals and, in turn, have some of those animals attributes. (examples: ravens have a buffed intellect, foxes have a buffed stealth lol.) and every twentyish years, the empire hosts a tournament in which all of these houses have a representative to compete in different challenges that also represent all of the houses. seven days and seven trials, that will make for a peaceful transfer of power for the entire empire. but… a murder happens after the opening ceremony and our main character, neema, is forced to represent house raven while also trying to figure out what happened to the person she is filling in for. and maybe a lot more is uncovered about the empire while she pieces together clues.
you’re going to start this book and be like, “melanie, this is NOT what this book is about!” but you have to trust the process, okay? ahhhh, i love neema, i am literally obsessed with cain, and... i can’t even talk about my other favorite character, but iykyk (i say while screaming at the top of my lungs) :]
i truly loved this so much and i don’t say this lightly - these characters are the best i’ve read in a long while. i am talking masterfully crafted characters who made me feel every emotion under the sun. and the romance? just perfection. this book singlehandedly made me believe in second chance romance. the writing is amazing, the setting and atmosphere is phenomenally crafted, and on top of it all, the mysteries throughout this are god tier. i recommend this one with my whole heart and you will see me holding up a copy for my pfp come the end of this year!
trigger + content warnings: many loss of loved ones in past (and a lot of talk of this throughout the story), exiling, child abandonment, stolen child, death, murder, battle, bullying, vomit, blood, drugging, poisoning, talk of suicidal thoughts (in past), a lot of talk of suicide, grief / talk of grief a lot, mention of miscarriage, childhood abuse (broken arm), talk of a sick child, amputation, hurt animal (raven), captivity, slavery
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“Brother - that is why I have chosen you. The throne is a burden to be carried, not a prize to be won?'”
i feel like i have been putting off this review, because i simply think this book is best read without knowing anything. i am going to attempt to be extra vague throughout this, because one of the reasons i truly loved it so much was all the unexpected twists, and insanely unique turns, that i just did not see coming. but i do think it is safe to say that my current reader self really is looking for fantasy murder mysteries. and the raven scholar is a favorite of 2025 for me.
an empire is divided among groups of people who worship different animals and, in turn, have some of those animals attributes. (examples: ravens have a buffed intellect, foxes have a buffed stealth lol.) and every twentyish years, the empire hosts a tournament in which all of these houses have a representative to compete in different challenges that also represent all of the houses. seven days and seven trials, that will make for a peaceful transfer of power for the entire empire. but… a murder happens after the opening ceremony and our main character, neema, is forced to represent house raven while also trying to figure out what happened to the person she is filling in for. and maybe a lot more is uncovered about the empire while she pieces together clues.
“The contenders had formed a line in the traditional order of the Guardians, stage right to left: Cain for the Fox, Gaida for the Raven, Ruko for the Tiger, Tala for the Ox, Katsan for the Bear, Havoc for the Monkey, Shal for the Hound. The seven great champions of Orrun. Facing the room, shoulder to shoulder in their matching uniforms, sigils glowing on their chests, they looked like the mythic gods of the olden days.”
you’re going to start this book and be like, “melanie, this is NOT what this book is about!” but you have to trust the process, okay? ahhhh, i love neema, i am literally obsessed with cain, and... i can’t even talk about my other favorite character, but iykyk (i say while screaming at the top of my lungs) :]
i truly loved this so much and i don’t say this lightly - these characters are the best i’ve read in a long while. i am talking masterfully crafted characters who made me feel every emotion under the sun. and the romance? just perfection. this book singlehandedly made me believe in second chance romance. the writing is amazing, the setting and atmosphere is phenomenally crafted, and on top of it all, the mysteries throughout this are god tier. i recommend this one with my whole heart and you will see me holding up a copy for my pfp come the end of this year!
trigger + content warnings: many loss of loved ones in past (and a lot of talk of this throughout the story), exiling, child abandonment, stolen child, death, murder, battle, bullying, vomit, blood, drugging, poisoning, talk of suicidal thoughts (in past), a lot of talk of suicide, grief / talk of grief a lot, mention of miscarriage, childhood abuse (broken arm), talk of a sick child, amputation, hurt animal (raven), captivity, slavery
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | substack
September 29, 2025
Wooooooo epic fantasy is BACK!! What a fucking ride! You might even say…it was magnificent.
Edit: This just in, I have also written up the transcript of our interview. You can find it here: https://clclarkwrites.com/a-raven-a-f...
Edit: This just in, I have also written up the transcript of our interview. You can find it here: https://clclarkwrites.com/a-raven-a-f...
March 27, 2025
in the category of: what if there was an animal who was just following you around all the time (but the burrowing inside your chest cavity offering unsolicited opinions-variety)
Read my full review
this intricately layered, clever novel is everything high fantasy should be and i loved every single page of it! i want to live in this book
idk i kinda love the hot man personified as the fox and scholar who has a persnickety raven living inside her chest. my kind of pairing!!
also here for ruko’s arc in book two the storyline is clear!!
thank you to netgalley for providing the arc to review.
Bookstagram | Blog
Read my full review
this intricately layered, clever novel is everything high fantasy should be and i loved every single page of it! i want to live in this book
idk i kinda love the hot man personified as the fox and scholar who has a persnickety raven living inside her chest. my kind of pairing!!
also here for ruko’s arc in book two the storyline is clear!!
thank you to netgalley for providing the arc to review.
Bookstagram | Blog
August 2, 2025
I need everyone to read this immediately
April 23, 2025
DNF 50%.
I genuinely strive to enjoy the books I choose to read, but it often feels like the stories themselves resist my efforts. I'm reaching a breaking point with protagonists who, despite being in their thirties, behave like petulant teenagers navigating the social minefield of high school. These characters are uniformly unlikable, each one frustratingly dim-witted. Why are they written as adults if they act like teenagers? It just doesn't make sense.
Take Neema, for example. The author insists she’s incredibly intelligent, yet her supposed brilliance feels conspicuously absent as if it never stepped into the same room as the rest of us. She embodies the same tired archetype found in fantasy books—a clichéd protagonist drenched in recycled tropes.
If it was done at least well and did not feel like the character was looking for pity everywhere, then it wouldn't bother me so much.
Neema’s backstory is painfully predictable. She comes from a poor background, leading her peers to either disdain her or harbor jealousy. She endures relentless bullying, presenting herself as distinct from everyone else because she prefers solitude, favoring the dusty corners of the library over raucous parties. Though she claims to be content without friends, there’s a palpable undercurrent of loneliness suggesting otherwise—an internal struggle to connect while remaining utterly oblivious about how to forge those bonds. And of course, I can't forget the ever-present self-pity that characterizes these types of protagonists.
The romance is also sorely lacking in originality and depth. The male love interest, in all his predictability, comes across as a self-righteous hypocrite, the kind of character whose smug demeanor makes me want to deliver a punch to that infuriatingly self-satisfied face. There’s no chemistry between them, and while the romance is meant to be a subplot, it would have been better if it didn’t exist at all.
The side characters are equally disappointing, compounding the issues with their own unlikability. The whole narrative plays out like a soap opera set in high school, rife with petty rumors and vindictive blackmail—absurdly juvenile in its execution.
And honestly, who in the real world speaks or acts like these characters? Since when did people start telling their life problems to a stranger they just met a minute ago?
It’s such a pity because the premise of the story is genuinely intriguing, and the world-building shows promise. I would have been more than willing to continue this journey if only the characters didn’t constantly test my patience.
I genuinely strive to enjoy the books I choose to read, but it often feels like the stories themselves resist my efforts. I'm reaching a breaking point with protagonists who, despite being in their thirties, behave like petulant teenagers navigating the social minefield of high school. These characters are uniformly unlikable, each one frustratingly dim-witted. Why are they written as adults if they act like teenagers? It just doesn't make sense.
Take Neema, for example. The author insists she’s incredibly intelligent, yet her supposed brilliance feels conspicuously absent as if it never stepped into the same room as the rest of us. She embodies the same tired archetype found in fantasy books—a clichéd protagonist drenched in recycled tropes.
If it was done at least well and did not feel like the character was looking for pity everywhere, then it wouldn't bother me so much.
Neema’s backstory is painfully predictable. She comes from a poor background, leading her peers to either disdain her or harbor jealousy. She endures relentless bullying, presenting herself as distinct from everyone else because she prefers solitude, favoring the dusty corners of the library over raucous parties. Though she claims to be content without friends, there’s a palpable undercurrent of loneliness suggesting otherwise—an internal struggle to connect while remaining utterly oblivious about how to forge those bonds. And of course, I can't forget the ever-present self-pity that characterizes these types of protagonists.
The romance is also sorely lacking in originality and depth. The male love interest, in all his predictability, comes across as a self-righteous hypocrite, the kind of character whose smug demeanor makes me want to deliver a punch to that infuriatingly self-satisfied face. There’s no chemistry between them, and while the romance is meant to be a subplot, it would have been better if it didn’t exist at all.
The side characters are equally disappointing, compounding the issues with their own unlikability. The whole narrative plays out like a soap opera set in high school, rife with petty rumors and vindictive blackmail—absurdly juvenile in its execution.
And honestly, who in the real world speaks or acts like these characters? Since when did people start telling their life problems to a stranger they just met a minute ago?
It’s such a pity because the premise of the story is genuinely intriguing, and the world-building shows promise. I would have been more than willing to continue this journey if only the characters didn’t constantly test my patience.
October 29, 2025
4.5
Loved this! I'm obsessed with any role of animals in fantasy worlds, so I was guaranteed to love this one. Also love how Antonia Hodgson built the history of this world, everything felt so intuitive and natural.
The writing was wonderful - overall very straightforward to read, but I loved the little whimsical raven-y bits in the narration. Also such interesting pacing in this book... we spend 650 pages passing through a 7-day story, so it almost feels like a slow "day in the life" narration, but also didn't feel boring at the same time.
Can't wait for the next one!
Loved this! I'm obsessed with any role of animals in fantasy worlds, so I was guaranteed to love this one. Also love how Antonia Hodgson built the history of this world, everything felt so intuitive and natural.
The writing was wonderful - overall very straightforward to read, but I loved the little whimsical raven-y bits in the narration. Also such interesting pacing in this book... we spend 650 pages passing through a 7-day story, so it almost feels like a slow "day in the life" narration, but also didn't feel boring at the same time.
Can't wait for the next one!
April 9, 2025
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Publication date: 17 April 2025
(Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Rating: 4 stars
With its vibrant world, drama-filled storyline and well-developed characters, 'The Raven Scholar' quickly evolved into a captivating listen despite a slightly rocky start.
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The story kicks off with crucial backstory and immersive world-building, creating a rich but ultimately information-dense foundation to wade through. Fast forward eight years and the storyline picks up with lots of drama, action, and tension as a treacherous competition for the throne is rooked by the murder of a contestant and long-laid schemes. While some aspects felt familiar from other Young Adult fantasy reads, Antonia Hodgson's unique flair and engaging writing style breathed fresh life into these tropes, elevating them to match the epic scope of the narrative. I devoured every twist and turn and was impressed by the creative world packed with mythology, history, and political intrigue. I also thoroughly enjoyed the clever humour woven throughout the story and the petty courtly posturings. What's more, themes such as loneliness, ambition, and social class added to the story's depth and enriched the characters' journeys.
"in times of light in times of shadow seek for one small pearl of joy and you shall find it"
It was actually the well-developed and realistically flawed characters that first drew me into this story. In particular, the Raven guardian, with their larger-than-life ego and comic relief moments, was an immediate highlight. Then there's Neema Kraa, the main character, whose ambitions, painful loneliness, and quirks are relatable and compelling. Several secondary characters, including Cain, Benna, Ruko, and Emperor Bersun, also left a strong impression, as their detailed backstories and evolving connections with Neema enhanced the story. Even the romance was refreshing light, with an adorable and realistically messy development that never overshadowed the main storyline. I certainly can't wait to see what lies ahead for each of these characters!
"no diamond ever shone as brightly as an open heart"
Daphne Kouma's narration contributed significantly to the immersive quality of this audiobook. Her ability to deliver varied accents and fitting vocal nuances brought each character to life, making it easy to distinguish between them and adding emotional depth to their experiences. Clever production effects for the Raven and atmospheric music at the start of each part of the story further heightened the epic atmosphere of the narrative and made it even more immersive.
You can also find more of my thoughts and discussion questions on my blog!
Publication date: 17 April 2025
(Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Rating: 4 stars
With its vibrant world, drama-filled storyline and well-developed characters, 'The Raven Scholar' quickly evolved into a captivating listen despite a slightly rocky start.
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The story kicks off with crucial backstory and immersive world-building, creating a rich but ultimately information-dense foundation to wade through. Fast forward eight years and the storyline picks up with lots of drama, action, and tension as a treacherous competition for the throne is rooked by the murder of a contestant and long-laid schemes. While some aspects felt familiar from other Young Adult fantasy reads, Antonia Hodgson's unique flair and engaging writing style breathed fresh life into these tropes, elevating them to match the epic scope of the narrative. I devoured every twist and turn and was impressed by the creative world packed with mythology, history, and political intrigue. I also thoroughly enjoyed the clever humour woven throughout the story and the petty courtly posturings. What's more, themes such as loneliness, ambition, and social class added to the story's depth and enriched the characters' journeys.
"in times of light in times of shadow seek for one small pearl of joy and you shall find it"
It was actually the well-developed and realistically flawed characters that first drew me into this story. In particular, the Raven guardian, with their larger-than-life ego and comic relief moments, was an immediate highlight. Then there's Neema Kraa, the main character, whose ambitions, painful loneliness, and quirks are relatable and compelling. Several secondary characters, including Cain, Benna, Ruko, and Emperor Bersun, also left a strong impression, as their detailed backstories and evolving connections with Neema enhanced the story. Even the romance was refreshing light, with an adorable and realistically messy development that never overshadowed the main storyline. I certainly can't wait to see what lies ahead for each of these characters!
"no diamond ever shone as brightly as an open heart"
Daphne Kouma's narration contributed significantly to the immersive quality of this audiobook. Her ability to deliver varied accents and fitting vocal nuances brought each character to life, making it easy to distinguish between them and adding emotional depth to their experiences. Clever production effects for the Raven and atmospheric music at the start of each part of the story further heightened the epic atmosphere of the narrative and made it even more immersive.
You can also find more of my thoughts and discussion questions on my blog!
May 17, 2025
✩ 2.45 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Political Intrigue
➼ Eight Sacred Animals
➼ Possession
➼ Murder Mystery
➼ Deadly Trials
➼ Competing for the Throne
➼ Romance Subplot
➼ Second Chance Romance
➼ Epic Fantasy
➼ Third Person POV
I’m gonna be honest, I could have DNF’d this at literally any point. It was 656 pages and once I got about halfway through I just couldn’t bring myself to quit even though I really wasn’t having a good time. I think the premise and the world building were strong, but there were a lot of confusing transitions where the focus shifted to minor characters, different timelines, or the backstories of the eight that really bogged down the story for me. These side stories were not only convoluted and hard to follow, but most of them were just plain uninteresting to me. I’m kind of picky about the POV in stories and I really don’t like for there to be too many deviations that slow down the overall progression of the plot.
I knew going in that this was an epic fantasy and not a romantasy, but the romance subplot was so uninteresting to me that I would have preferred for it to have been excluded all together. If these two characters had just been childhood friends, it could have fulfilled the same role in the plot.
There are some found family vibes at the end, but for most of the book I struggled to like or connect with any of the characters and the eight felt pretty demonic to me which made me mistrustful of their role in the story. A person would have to give them (one of the eight) permission to enter them (essentially possession) but at one point they almost convince her to do something that would have resulted in her death, and after that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, and expected her to be double crossed by the raven.
There’s a murder mystery and also a competition for the throne but I continually forgot about both of these very prominent threads of the plot because there were such long stretches where they weren’t the focus at all. The author does tie together a lot of details by the end, but I still think this was about 200 pages too long. I have a feeling I’ll probably be an outlier on this one, but I personally wasn’t a fan.
Thank you to Libro.FM for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Slowly chipping away at my ARC’s and ALC’s! Still 6 or 7 to go. 🙈 This one seems promising though! It’s been a while since I read an epic fantasy, hopefully I’ll have good things to report. 💜🤞🏻
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Political Intrigue
➼ Eight Sacred Animals
➼ Possession
➼ Murder Mystery
➼ Deadly Trials
➼ Competing for the Throne
➼ Romance Subplot
➼ Second Chance Romance
➼ Epic Fantasy
➼ Third Person POV
I’m gonna be honest, I could have DNF’d this at literally any point. It was 656 pages and once I got about halfway through I just couldn’t bring myself to quit even though I really wasn’t having a good time. I think the premise and the world building were strong, but there were a lot of confusing transitions where the focus shifted to minor characters, different timelines, or the backstories of the eight that really bogged down the story for me. These side stories were not only convoluted and hard to follow, but most of them were just plain uninteresting to me. I’m kind of picky about the POV in stories and I really don’t like for there to be too many deviations that slow down the overall progression of the plot.
I knew going in that this was an epic fantasy and not a romantasy, but the romance subplot was so uninteresting to me that I would have preferred for it to have been excluded all together. If these two characters had just been childhood friends, it could have fulfilled the same role in the plot.
There are some found family vibes at the end, but for most of the book I struggled to like or connect with any of the characters and the eight felt pretty demonic to me which made me mistrustful of their role in the story. A person would have to give them (one of the eight) permission to enter them (essentially possession) but at one point they almost convince her to do something that would have resulted in her death, and after that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, and expected her to be double crossed by the raven.
There’s a murder mystery and also a competition for the throne but I continually forgot about both of these very prominent threads of the plot because there were such long stretches where they weren’t the focus at all. The author does tie together a lot of details by the end, but I still think this was about 200 pages too long. I have a feeling I’ll probably be an outlier on this one, but I personally wasn’t a fan.
Thank you to Libro.FM for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Slowly chipping away at my ARC’s and ALC’s! Still 6 or 7 to go. 🙈 This one seems promising though! It’s been a while since I read an epic fantasy, hopefully I’ll have good things to report. 💜🤞🏻
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
June 5, 2025
This was aggressively unsubtle and stupid. Do not trust the prologue – it was what hooked me, it seemed like epic fantasy for adults. It's not (I should have paid attention to the blurb mentioning games competition for the throne, but hey, I have enjoyed and respected a few of these. It is unexpected, in retrospect, how influential The Hunger Games have been...). It's past the prologue, very YA in tone and themes, and while almost all characters being over 24, and our main central character, Neema being around 30 nobody acts like it and the politics seem high school at best.
Neema is full of teenage angst about nobody liking her with a class inferiority complex. She also has a compulsion to correct people over trivia "facts" and is seemingly a source of authoritative knowledge on everything. She is also really stupid at politics and emotional intelligence at all. It was basically impossible for me to take her seriously as an adult and the self-pity got old very fast
Also, the reason she is supposedly reviled universally? She was the scribe of a kind of execution order, decided by other people and enforced by somebody else (who is a character also and seems quite popular). She was a scribe, and people blame her! Does this make sense in any historical context ever?
I blame tiktok in a way for the plot of this book: all short bursts of something "impactful", but all shallow and only loosely connected. There are big plot twists (including one which makes no sense of another previous plot twist, though I expect it might be explained with further plot twists on subsequent books, because for sure there is an obvious one coming for a future reveal). A pet peeve, time and time again, if some random side character says something non-political, or true, or slightly challenging of the antagonists, we are told immediately of their dire fates over it, even if the universe does not seem so authoritarian in other details. This does not give "grit" or "realism"; it's just bad writing. If something always happens, it has no edge or surprise.
There is a vividness quality to the writing, it paces fast, even if I do not respect much what is done with that pacing. The characterisation makes no sense, really, the author keeps introducing scenes from other PoVs just to make sure the reader is "getting" whatever the reader is supposed to understand (sometimes even worse, just random paragraphs, usually for extra pathos for poor Neema, so misunderstood). The mythology is just twee. The author apparently has published 4 mystery novels before, but you would not be able to tell that from here – the investigation is all people just sitting around and deciding somebody could not have killed somebody else because they liked them (paraphrasing), jumping to conclusions for no reason whatsoever, and then a MacGuffin reveals the mystery.
Regarding cliffhangers and completeness, a warning: it is not complete; there are some cliffhangers, but they were tolerable – there is not much uncertainty about what happened to the main characters and what they will be doing shortly after the book ends.
In all, I wish I had not read it, and I just did not respect this plot or writing or characters. It made me appreciate a lot more a few other books, some nominally YA, so there is that a plus. I am not picking any of the sequels.
Neema is full of teenage angst about nobody liking her with a class inferiority complex. She also has a compulsion to correct people over trivia "facts" and is seemingly a source of authoritative knowledge on everything. She is also really stupid at politics and emotional intelligence at all. It was basically impossible for me to take her seriously as an adult and the self-pity got old very fast
Also, the reason she is supposedly reviled universally? She was the scribe of a kind of execution order, decided by other people and enforced by somebody else (who is a character also and seems quite popular). She was a scribe, and people blame her! Does this make sense in any historical context ever?
I blame tiktok in a way for the plot of this book: all short bursts of something "impactful", but all shallow and only loosely connected. There are big plot twists (including one which makes no sense of another previous plot twist, though I expect it might be explained with further plot twists on subsequent books, because for sure there is an obvious one coming for a future reveal). A pet peeve, time and time again, if some random side character says something non-political, or true, or slightly challenging of the antagonists, we are told immediately of their dire fates over it, even if the universe does not seem so authoritarian in other details. This does not give "grit" or "realism"; it's just bad writing. If something always happens, it has no edge or surprise.
There is a vividness quality to the writing, it paces fast, even if I do not respect much what is done with that pacing. The characterisation makes no sense, really, the author keeps introducing scenes from other PoVs just to make sure the reader is "getting" whatever the reader is supposed to understand (sometimes even worse, just random paragraphs, usually for extra pathos for poor Neema, so misunderstood). The mythology is just twee. The author apparently has published 4 mystery novels before, but you would not be able to tell that from here – the investigation is all people just sitting around and deciding somebody could not have killed somebody else because they liked them (paraphrasing), jumping to conclusions for no reason whatsoever, and then a MacGuffin reveals the mystery.
Regarding cliffhangers and completeness, a warning: it is not complete; there are some cliffhangers, but they were tolerable – there is not much uncertainty about what happened to the main characters and what they will be doing shortly after the book ends.
In all, I wish I had not read it, and I just did not respect this plot or writing or characters. It made me appreciate a lot more a few other books, some nominally YA, so there is that a plus. I am not picking any of the sequels.
June 16, 2025
This is making my favourites list of 2025 and it’s February.
I don’t know how to even describe this book. I went in blind and was pleasantly surprised and in for a wild ride full of chameleons and talking raven friends. Political intrigue, a murder mystery and cover-up, and action-packed trials. Incredible characterisations and funny wit.
I have to mention the narrative style. I cannot pin it down. It changes focalisation, style, form. This was third person internal focalisation most of the time, fairytale adjacent at times, other times told in the first person plural. It shouldn’t have worked as well as it did. INCREDIBLE.
You start by thinking too much is going on. Too many characters, too many threads, too much. However, the page count fleshes out the story and continues to throw surprises and twists at you.
The characters are smart, all hiding their own agendas and motivations, most pushed and pulled by love.
There is romance, but it is so background that it is barely worth mentioning - expect I ate every crumb.
I cannot gush about this enough and I haven’t even touched on the easy representation - LGBTQ+, minority representation, neurodivergence.
Arc gifted by Hodderscape.
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Tiktok
I don’t know how to even describe this book. I went in blind and was pleasantly surprised and in for a wild ride full of chameleons and talking raven friends. Political intrigue, a murder mystery and cover-up, and action-packed trials. Incredible characterisations and funny wit.
I have to mention the narrative style. I cannot pin it down. It changes focalisation, style, form. This was third person internal focalisation most of the time, fairytale adjacent at times, other times told in the first person plural. It shouldn’t have worked as well as it did. INCREDIBLE.
You start by thinking too much is going on. Too many characters, too many threads, too much. However, the page count fleshes out the story and continues to throw surprises and twists at you.
The characters are smart, all hiding their own agendas and motivations, most pushed and pulled by love.
There is romance, but it is so background that it is barely worth mentioning - expect I ate every crumb.
I cannot gush about this enough and I haven’t even touched on the easy representation - LGBTQ+, minority representation, neurodivergence.
Arc gifted by Hodderscape.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
November 25, 2025
"Life is short, Benna. Enjoy it."
What do you do when you’ve just read your favourite book of the year, and now you have to wait until next year for the sequel that doesn’t even have a release date yet? Asking for myself, please help.
When I first started this book, I was immediately captivated. And that didn’t change at any point.
It’s over 600 pages long, and it used every last one of these pages to craft an incredibly intricate story that consumed me. It carefully introduced its characters, built the world and created a fascinating storyline. The author managed to write a book that made me laugh and almost cry. Truly a roller coaster of emotions. So entertaining, yet gut-wrenching at the same time.
The way it’s told was interesting. You read mainly from one POV, but at the same time you get various other POVs without everyone getting their own chapters. It switched perspectives within chapters. That was something I had to get used to, it was a little confusing at first, but it worked.
I’ve seen other reviews say that this could and should have been way shorter, and I do not agree with that at all. The plot moves so fast yet explains everything, the action is high, and I was never bored even though this is quite long. And there is a lot going on, there are a lot of characters, and you definitely have to pay attention, the book makes you work for it, but the thing is, everything and I mean every little thing that happened in here happened for a reason. It all comes together in the end. And that payoff is so worth it. Just spectacular storytelling.
Now you might be thinking: When is she going to talk about what actually happened in this book? The answer is never. I won’t tell you anything about the plot or the characters, aside from my vague ramblings and praise that you’ve already read if you’ve made it this far.
Because I went into this book without knowing anything about it except that my friend kept recommending it to me and what was written on the back of my book:
"Win the throne. Destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder…"
And I think reading it like that without more information made it even better, and that’s what I would recommend you do too if you’re interested in this book.
Now all that makes it sound like it was flawless. Which of course it wasn’t, nothing is. But for me this came close, I really only hated that fucking raven. I just had so much fun reading that I didn’t care about the not so perfect stuff. Like I would put it down because I had to go be an adult, but the whole time I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about when I could continue reading.
I never wanted to stop, it was that good.
___
This book broke me 😭
What do you do when you’ve just read your favourite book of the year, and now you have to wait until next year for the sequel that doesn’t even have a release date yet? Asking for myself, please help.
When I first started this book, I was immediately captivated. And that didn’t change at any point.
It’s over 600 pages long, and it used every last one of these pages to craft an incredibly intricate story that consumed me. It carefully introduced its characters, built the world and created a fascinating storyline. The author managed to write a book that made me laugh and almost cry. Truly a roller coaster of emotions. So entertaining, yet gut-wrenching at the same time.
The way it’s told was interesting. You read mainly from one POV, but at the same time you get various other POVs without everyone getting their own chapters. It switched perspectives within chapters. That was something I had to get used to, it was a little confusing at first, but it worked.
I’ve seen other reviews say that this could and should have been way shorter, and I do not agree with that at all. The plot moves so fast yet explains everything, the action is high, and I was never bored even though this is quite long. And there is a lot going on, there are a lot of characters, and you definitely have to pay attention, the book makes you work for it, but the thing is, everything and I mean every little thing that happened in here happened for a reason. It all comes together in the end. And that payoff is so worth it. Just spectacular storytelling.
Now you might be thinking: When is she going to talk about what actually happened in this book? The answer is never. I won’t tell you anything about the plot or the characters, aside from my vague ramblings and praise that you’ve already read if you’ve made it this far.
Because I went into this book without knowing anything about it except that my friend kept recommending it to me and what was written on the back of my book:
"Win the throne. Destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder…"
And I think reading it like that without more information made it even better, and that’s what I would recommend you do too if you’re interested in this book.
Now all that makes it sound like it was flawless. Which of course it wasn’t, nothing is. But for me this came close, I really only hated that fucking raven. I just had so much fun reading that I didn’t care about the not so perfect stuff. Like I would put it down because I had to go be an adult, but the whole time I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about when I could continue reading.
I never wanted to stop, it was that good.
___
This book broke me 😭
June 14, 2025
feels like it took me forever to read this but honestly i had a good time. i think it was unique and well executed. the characters were enjoyable along with the animals and the writing style, i liked the romance as well. my only issue is that neema felt a lot younger than what she was like i kinda wish the author hadn’t given her an age because once i found out she was 30 i was like ‘oh…… she doesn’t read like that at all” i love reading about older characters in fantasy books, ive been reading a bunch recently so i think it just really stands out how naive she feels at times.
November 5, 2025
No, Neema, petty grudges are an excellent spur to action. Part of my magnificent role as the Solitary Raven is to be a source of constant irritation to the Flock.
After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders will compete to replace him.
Trained at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal - Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth - the Dragon proxy - will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists - the best of the best.
Then, one of them is murdered.
look I did not expect to love this so much since people seems to be talking about this on every social media platform i desided to to give it a go and i am so glad i did this is not your usual booktok book and it isn't full of tropes the worldbuilding the plot the mystery the twists and turns had me intriguind the betrayal the political intrigue such a breath of fresh air from those overhyped booktok books this is a high fantasy with romance subplot so don't expect lot of romance in it and I loved it focused on the worldbuilding and the fantasy elements more than the romance i am not a person who likes second chance romance but this one works so well suspensefull and I liked that the fmc is not the most overpowered person despite never being in a fight it's the opposite she gets her ass beaten in the trails which i find more realistic instead of the usual where she never touched a sword in her internal life and she is suddenly a master and the characters isn't one dimensional like some romantasy or shadow daddy mmc i liked he was sweet and playfull and I am glad there was no stupid miscommunication or 3 act breekup well he was avoiding her in for a while in the book after losing control of the fox spirit but was not the usual dumb childlike argument i read in ya and the characters felt mature instead of whiny of small issues and the twists was unpredictable i did not expect the Emperor to be the same as yana father since I thought he was dead but suprise that dude faked his death made himself the Emperor after the time came to choose a new one he reavled himself to the entire people and riged the whole thing and is gonna be Emperor more years i might not like the dude but he is smart i give him that and it's been a while i been introduced to a pure evil villain and I like he is powerful hunger and awful with zero redeeming qualities instead of having reademeble qualities my jaw was below the floor at the reveal i feel like I got played should probably read it faster since I got fined by the library for it being overdue oh well it was kinda worth it
chareters
neama
chain
I am in love with this man he is so funny, charming, and sly, and I loved his relationship with neama
quotes
How do you trap a raven? Ask them a question, and they'll trap you for half an hour.
Life is a puzzle with no answer; a game with no rules; a maze with no exit, except death. And still, we stumble on through the dark, creating form where there is none, seeing patterns that are not there
It is one thing to admit to being feared or hated. Quite another to admit that you are unloved and lonely and that it is taking all your strength to hide it.
She rubbed a hand over her heart. It was like reading a book, she decided. You read the book, and the words became scenes. The characters became people, and they lived inside you. She had dreamed of Sol, she had read his stories, and it had opened up a space inside her, where he could exist.
Cain had to admit, she looked hot. They both did. Rivenna was like an evil butterfly, and Ruko was like a big, sexy wardrobe that might kill you, and these were both very much Cain’s type. Cain had a lot of types.
Each day,” the Scriptures said, “in times of light, in times of shadow, seek for one small pearl of joy and you shall find it.
This is the fatal flaw of the Dragons. They hoard a thousand treasures and know them not.
After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders will compete to replace him.
Trained at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal - Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth - the Dragon proxy - will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists - the best of the best.
Then, one of them is murdered.
look I did not expect to love this so much since people seems to be talking about this on every social media platform i desided to to give it a go and i am so glad i did this is not your usual booktok book and it isn't full of tropes the worldbuilding the plot the mystery the twists and turns had me intriguind the betrayal the political intrigue such a breath of fresh air from those overhyped booktok books this is a high fantasy with romance subplot so don't expect lot of romance in it and I loved it focused on the worldbuilding and the fantasy elements more than the romance i am not a person who likes second chance romance but this one works so well suspensefull and I liked that the fmc is not the most overpowered person despite never being in a fight it's the opposite she gets her ass beaten in the trails which i find more realistic instead of the usual where she never touched a sword in her internal life and she is suddenly a master and the characters isn't one dimensional like some romantasy or shadow daddy mmc i liked he was sweet and playfull and I am glad there was no stupid miscommunication or 3 act breekup well he was avoiding her in for a while in the book after losing control of the fox spirit but was not the usual dumb childlike argument i read in ya and the characters felt mature instead of whiny of small issues and the twists was unpredictable i did not expect the Emperor to be the same as yana father since I thought he was dead but suprise that dude faked his death made himself the Emperor after the time came to choose a new one he reavled himself to the entire people and riged the whole thing and is gonna be Emperor more years i might not like the dude but he is smart i give him that and it's been a while i been introduced to a pure evil villain and I like he is powerful hunger and awful with zero redeeming qualities instead of having reademeble qualities my jaw was below the floor at the reveal i feel like I got played should probably read it faster since I got fined by the library for it being overdue oh well it was kinda worth it
chareters
neama
chain
I am in love with this man he is so funny, charming, and sly, and I loved his relationship with neama
quotes
How do you trap a raven? Ask them a question, and they'll trap you for half an hour.
Life is a puzzle with no answer; a game with no rules; a maze with no exit, except death. And still, we stumble on through the dark, creating form where there is none, seeing patterns that are not there
It is one thing to admit to being feared or hated. Quite another to admit that you are unloved and lonely and that it is taking all your strength to hide it.
She rubbed a hand over her heart. It was like reading a book, she decided. You read the book, and the words became scenes. The characters became people, and they lived inside you. She had dreamed of Sol, she had read his stories, and it had opened up a space inside her, where he could exist.
Cain had to admit, she looked hot. They both did. Rivenna was like an evil butterfly, and Ruko was like a big, sexy wardrobe that might kill you, and these were both very much Cain’s type. Cain had a lot of types.
Each day,” the Scriptures said, “in times of light, in times of shadow, seek for one small pearl of joy and you shall find it.
This is the fatal flaw of the Dragons. They hoard a thousand treasures and know them not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2025
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
Okay, so The Raven Scholar is one of those insanely ambitious, charmingly chaotic, and uniquely unconventional stories that has absolutely zero business working as well as it does, and yet it absolutely soars. It’s part intricate epic political fantasy, part riveting murder mystery, part cutthroat competition for the crown, and just 100% playful, inventive, magnificent, and unpredictable fun.
Welcome to the deceptively sumptuous and sophisticated world of Orrun, where nothing is as it seems and danger, treachery and deceit lurk around every corner. We are dropped into this world during a pivotal moment in history, as emperor Bersun’s peaceful 24-year reign is about to come to an end. So, per tradition, the seven Animal Guardian Houses have all sent their best representative to compete in the trials to become his successor. But then, one of them dies before the competition can even start, and so chaos, drama and mayhem ensues.
Now, all I knew about The Raven Scholar before going in was ‘locked room murder mystery, but the locked room is an island’ and ‘cutthroat trials in a competition for the crown’, and that was all I needed to be sold. And honestly, would have been fine if that is all it delivered, but Hodgson said: “Hold my beer”, and then continued to weave a tale that is truly unlike anything I have ever read and which satisfied fantasy cravings I never even knew I could have.
I mean, it’s got a magnificent (queer-normative) world with a detailed history and rich mythos that comes to life through folktales, footnotes and all other kinds of historical gems scattered throughout the narrative, a wonderfully diverse cast of complex characters with strong (hidden) motivations whose vices and virtues are on full display, an omniscient sassy sentient raven POV who sweeps us throughout time and space, mischievous meddling gods, a second chance friends-to-rivals-to-lovers romantic subplot full of banter and snark, and tons of political intrigue that build up to a grand conspiracy ages in the making.
And as the cherry on top, we get to watch this magnificent tale unfold primarily through the eyes of our titular raven scholar Neema Kraa, who is absolutely one of the most compelling (female) main characters I have ever met. Not only is she a Black, neurospicy, socially awkward scholar in her mid-thirties (we love to see it), but she is also just such an idiosyncratic, walking contradiction of a woman who is way too intelligent for her own good. From the very first few chapters, which take place some years before the main events of the story and serve as a little tragic catalytic prologue, we see that she is willing to make very questionable choices to benefit herself; choices that will come back to haunt not only her, but the entire empire of Orrun.
As complicated as she is though, I absolutely adored her with all my heart and I had a blast following her as she is just desperately trying to survive what is possibly the worst week of her life. Through a series of unfortunate events, she has somehow ended up as the replacement for the murdered Raven contender and now has to participate in the cutthroat trials, while also leading the confounding murder investigation in which she she may or may not be a prime suspect, while also trying to wrestle with her confusing feelings for her frustratingly charming ex-lover who participates as the Fox contender (THE CHEMISTRY!!), while also reluctantly forming a bond with her new solitary raven companion who offers way too many unsolicited opinions (and who also has a tendency to burrow inside her chest). In other words, girlie deserves a break.
The uniquely clever way that she approaches the dangerous trials (in which she is SO out of her depth) and navigates all the intricate webs of silly court politics had me on the edge of my seat, and I loved seeing her interact with all the dangerously ambitious people around her, be they fellow competitors or any of the other larger than life characters that she crosses paths with. The complicated interpersonal relationships and razor-sharp, snark-laced dialogue in The Raven Scholar absolutely shine, and I loved seeing everyone clash or work together in the most unexpected ways.
Now, in a way it almost feels wrong to call Neema the main character of this story, not only because the scope just became bigger and bigger as Hodgson wove all the seemingly separate threads/perspectives of this story into one magnificent masterpiece, but also because each character in this tale just has big main character energy. There wasn’t a single character who didn’t leap off the page with personality, but especially Cain (my favourite food obsessed chaos queer), Sol and, most surprisingly, Ruko ended up really stealing the show for me.
And if this book wasn’t already captivating enough on its own, the audiobook experience just added a whole new level of life and immersion to it. The way that Daphne Kouma captured the legendary yet playful vibe of the story and brought all these characters, both human and non-human, to life is absolutely nothing short of masterful, and I think her narration and Hodgson’s evocative writing are just a match made in heaven.
There’s absolutely no denying that this book is unapologetically unconventional and indulgent, but there truly wasn’t a single aspect, scene, sentence or word in this story that didn’t entertain me. See, similarly to in Jenn Lyons’ A Chorus of Dragons series, there’s a certain cheeky charm to the writing that not only breathed so much life into this rich world and diverse cast of vibrant characters, but which also made me fly through this 700-page chunker without any effort.
The Raven Scholar just sunk its claws into my heart on the very first page and never let me go. It has absolutely soared straight to the top of my favourites list and single-handedly raised the bar for what epic political fantasy can and should be. And if that absolutely diabolical and bittersweet ending is any indication (hello emotional gut punches), then this is only the beginning of the wickedly wild ride that Antonia Hodgson has in mind for The Eternal Path Trilogy. So don’t walk, don’t run, but spread your wings and flock to the bookstore to get this absolute gem of a book, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Okay, so The Raven Scholar is one of those insanely ambitious, charmingly chaotic, and uniquely unconventional stories that has absolutely zero business working as well as it does, and yet it absolutely soars. It’s part intricate epic political fantasy, part riveting murder mystery, part cutthroat competition for the crown, and just 100% playful, inventive, magnificent, and unpredictable fun.
Welcome to the deceptively sumptuous and sophisticated world of Orrun, where nothing is as it seems and danger, treachery and deceit lurk around every corner. We are dropped into this world during a pivotal moment in history, as emperor Bersun’s peaceful 24-year reign is about to come to an end. So, per tradition, the seven Animal Guardian Houses have all sent their best representative to compete in the trials to become his successor. But then, one of them dies before the competition can even start, and so chaos, drama and mayhem ensues.
Now, all I knew about The Raven Scholar before going in was ‘locked room murder mystery, but the locked room is an island’ and ‘cutthroat trials in a competition for the crown’, and that was all I needed to be sold. And honestly, would have been fine if that is all it delivered, but Hodgson said: “Hold my beer”, and then continued to weave a tale that is truly unlike anything I have ever read and which satisfied fantasy cravings I never even knew I could have.
I mean, it’s got a magnificent (queer-normative) world with a detailed history and rich mythos that comes to life through folktales, footnotes and all other kinds of historical gems scattered throughout the narrative, a wonderfully diverse cast of complex characters with strong (hidden) motivations whose vices and virtues are on full display, an omniscient sassy sentient raven POV who sweeps us throughout time and space, mischievous meddling gods, a second chance friends-to-rivals-to-lovers romantic subplot full of banter and snark, and tons of political intrigue that build up to a grand conspiracy ages in the making.
And as the cherry on top, we get to watch this magnificent tale unfold primarily through the eyes of our titular raven scholar Neema Kraa, who is absolutely one of the most compelling (female) main characters I have ever met. Not only is she a Black, neurospicy, socially awkward scholar in her mid-thirties (we love to see it), but she is also just such an idiosyncratic, walking contradiction of a woman who is way too intelligent for her own good. From the very first few chapters, which take place some years before the main events of the story and serve as a little tragic catalytic prologue, we see that she is willing to make very questionable choices to benefit herself; choices that will come back to haunt not only her, but the entire empire of Orrun.
As complicated as she is though, I absolutely adored her with all my heart and I had a blast following her as she is just desperately trying to survive what is possibly the worst week of her life. Through a series of unfortunate events, she has somehow ended up as the replacement for the murdered Raven contender and now has to participate in the cutthroat trials, while also leading the confounding murder investigation in which she she may or may not be a prime suspect, while also trying to wrestle with her confusing feelings for her frustratingly charming ex-lover who participates as the Fox contender (THE CHEMISTRY!!), while also reluctantly forming a bond with her new solitary raven companion who offers way too many unsolicited opinions (and who also has a tendency to burrow inside her chest). In other words, girlie deserves a break.
The uniquely clever way that she approaches the dangerous trials (in which she is SO out of her depth) and navigates all the intricate webs of silly court politics had me on the edge of my seat, and I loved seeing her interact with all the dangerously ambitious people around her, be they fellow competitors or any of the other larger than life characters that she crosses paths with. The complicated interpersonal relationships and razor-sharp, snark-laced dialogue in The Raven Scholar absolutely shine, and I loved seeing everyone clash or work together in the most unexpected ways.
Now, in a way it almost feels wrong to call Neema the main character of this story, not only because the scope just became bigger and bigger as Hodgson wove all the seemingly separate threads/perspectives of this story into one magnificent masterpiece, but also because each character in this tale just has big main character energy. There wasn’t a single character who didn’t leap off the page with personality, but especially Cain (my favourite food obsessed chaos queer), Sol and, most surprisingly, Ruko ended up really stealing the show for me.
And if this book wasn’t already captivating enough on its own, the audiobook experience just added a whole new level of life and immersion to it. The way that Daphne Kouma captured the legendary yet playful vibe of the story and brought all these characters, both human and non-human, to life is absolutely nothing short of masterful, and I think her narration and Hodgson’s evocative writing are just a match made in heaven.
There’s absolutely no denying that this book is unapologetically unconventional and indulgent, but there truly wasn’t a single aspect, scene, sentence or word in this story that didn’t entertain me. See, similarly to in Jenn Lyons’ A Chorus of Dragons series, there’s a certain cheeky charm to the writing that not only breathed so much life into this rich world and diverse cast of vibrant characters, but which also made me fly through this 700-page chunker without any effort.
The Raven Scholar just sunk its claws into my heart on the very first page and never let me go. It has absolutely soared straight to the top of my favourites list and single-handedly raised the bar for what epic political fantasy can and should be. And if that absolutely diabolical and bittersweet ending is any indication (hello emotional gut punches), then this is only the beginning of the wickedly wild ride that Antonia Hodgson has in mind for The Eternal Path Trilogy. So don’t walk, don’t run, but spread your wings and flock to the bookstore to get this absolute gem of a book, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 17, 2025
Silly! Spunky! Fun!!!
Every 24 years, a new emperor is chosen from a pool of competitors, each from a different faction representing a different god. This year, the raven competitor has been murdered - and Neema must both find the culprit and take her place.
The Raven Scholar was a delight. Everything about this world is big: scope, characters, plots, humor. Antonia Hodgson takes you for a ride.
Neema is a refreshing main character. She's annoying! She's pedantic! She doesn't play well with others! And these characteristics affect the plot in meaningful ways. She also has such a sweet and simple romance with Cain - two characters who simply know and love one another with a maturity more interesting than what other books would try to pitch as an """enemies to lovers slow burn"""
I really love the way this book feels like a Rubik's Cube - as soon as one perspective seems settled, Hodgson twists your worldview to reveal another layer. To say nothing of the way this book utilizes different POVs. What I first believed to be a weakness revealed itself as an intentional choice, deepening our understanding of both the characters and the world.
I will say that the The Raven Scholar has a more lighthearted, flippant tone than I expected , from the Game of Thrones comp. This is epic, not grimdark fantasy; the joke/page ratio is high with relatively modern language. It took me a bit to dig into the book as a result, but with the right expectations I don't think it would've been an issue. There were also a few inconsistencies with worldbuilding (the independent/accepted reality of magic's existence in this world vs. several characters who nevertheless claim not to believe it, for one) that I expect will be ironed out by the time this book is actually released. At the same time, the pacing is so fast, plot and characters so interesting, that it was pretty easy for me to breeze these moments without hindering my enjoyment.
Ultimately, The Raven Scholar is a book about culpability. In the shadow of a child's death, Hodgson asks who is guilty and who will come to terms with that guilt. The Raven Scholar is quick to provide its own answer, though I'm curious to see how that might be complicated by its sequels. A great example of an absent character haunting the narrative.
We've only seen one corner of this world. What a lovely feeling to know that two more books lie ahead.
Thanks to Orbit for the ARC!
Every 24 years, a new emperor is chosen from a pool of competitors, each from a different faction representing a different god. This year, the raven competitor has been murdered - and Neema must both find the culprit and take her place.
The Raven Scholar was a delight. Everything about this world is big: scope, characters, plots, humor. Antonia Hodgson takes you for a ride.
Neema is a refreshing main character. She's annoying! She's pedantic! She doesn't play well with others! And these characteristics affect the plot in meaningful ways. She also has such a sweet and simple romance with Cain - two characters who simply know and love one another with a maturity more interesting than what other books would try to pitch as an """enemies to lovers slow burn"""
I really love the way this book feels like a Rubik's Cube - as soon as one perspective seems settled, Hodgson twists your worldview to reveal another layer. To say nothing of the way this book utilizes different POVs. What I first believed to be a weakness revealed itself as an intentional choice, deepening our understanding of both the characters and the world.
I will say that the The Raven Scholar has a more lighthearted, flippant tone than I expected , from the Game of Thrones comp. This is epic, not grimdark fantasy; the joke/page ratio is high with relatively modern language. It took me a bit to dig into the book as a result, but with the right expectations I don't think it would've been an issue. There were also a few inconsistencies with worldbuilding (the independent/accepted reality of magic's existence in this world vs. several characters who nevertheless claim not to believe it, for one) that I expect will be ironed out by the time this book is actually released. At the same time, the pacing is so fast, plot and characters so interesting, that it was pretty easy for me to breeze these moments without hindering my enjoyment.
Ultimately, The Raven Scholar is a book about culpability. In the shadow of a child's death, Hodgson asks who is guilty and who will come to terms with that guilt. The Raven Scholar is quick to provide its own answer, though I'm curious to see how that might be complicated by its sequels. A great example of an absent character haunting the narrative.
We've only seen one corner of this world. What a lovely feeling to know that two more books lie ahead.
Thanks to Orbit for the ARC!
April 7, 2025
I loved the worldbuilding with the Guardians (it was very Chinese Zodiac), but everything else was just fine.
The entire cast of characters, particularly the contenders in the trials, felt like I was reading about a group of undergrads taking a class they weren't interested in, but had to enroll in because it was required for graduation. It was so strange.
There was only one person there that was giving it their all while everyone else was just going through the motions. They were competing against each other for the throne, but at the end of the day, they were also sorta friends who didn't take any of it too seriously? I didn't get it.
Neema, her on-and-off boyfriend/ex, and the rest of the gang talked and acted like they came from Fourth Wing. There was so much pettiness that it felt like a Fourth Wing spin off. I wanted high fantasy, but it was really watered down. The writing also felt like it was trying too hard to be witty, so I wasn't sure whether to take this book seriously or not.
I think I'd like this book a lot better if it focused more on the murder mystery aspect instead of squeezing it in between chapters about the trials.
I doubt that I'll pick up the sequel. While I did love the worldbuilding, I'm not a huge fan of footnotes in fiction. They're very distracting (and mostly pointless). And when it came to this book, I didn't really care enough about the characters or the plotline to read more tidbits.
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this arc.
The entire cast of characters, particularly the contenders in the trials, felt like I was reading about a group of undergrads taking a class they weren't interested in, but had to enroll in because it was required for graduation. It was so strange.
There was only one person there that was giving it their all while everyone else was just going through the motions. They were competing against each other for the throne, but at the end of the day, they were also sorta friends who didn't take any of it too seriously? I didn't get it.
Neema, her on-and-off boyfriend/ex, and the rest of the gang talked and acted like they came from Fourth Wing. There was so much pettiness that it felt like a Fourth Wing spin off. I wanted high fantasy, but it was really watered down. The writing also felt like it was trying too hard to be witty, so I wasn't sure whether to take this book seriously or not.
I think I'd like this book a lot better if it focused more on the murder mystery aspect instead of squeezing it in between chapters about the trials.
I doubt that I'll pick up the sequel. While I did love the worldbuilding, I'm not a huge fan of footnotes in fiction. They're very distracting (and mostly pointless). And when it came to this book, I didn't really care enough about the characters or the plotline to read more tidbits.
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this arc.
May 1, 2025
A FANTASTIC fantasy debut! The Raven Scholar is the start of a new fantasy series with a mystery element, and interesting magic system, and lots of unexpected twists.
Set in a world where 8 animal-like deities are both revered and their possible return feared, we follow Neema, a brilliant but prickly woman dedicated to the scholarly ravens. She serves the emperor, but his term is about to end and a competition for the the throne is about to begin with one contender from each of the 8 temples. But when the Raven contender is murdered, Neema is unwillingly assigned to take her place AND told to solve the murder. What proceeds is potentially deadly trials, matched with an equally deadly murder investigation filled with dangerous secrets and political machinations.
The magic is all connected to the deities, which can sort of break themselves into fragments that can interact with the human world. It's really cool and the book is a great blend of fantasy, court politics, and mystery. It's an impressive first fantasy and I look forward to reading more from this author! It definitely makes sense that she has written mysteries before. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Set in a world where 8 animal-like deities are both revered and their possible return feared, we follow Neema, a brilliant but prickly woman dedicated to the scholarly ravens. She serves the emperor, but his term is about to end and a competition for the the throne is about to begin with one contender from each of the 8 temples. But when the Raven contender is murdered, Neema is unwillingly assigned to take her place AND told to solve the murder. What proceeds is potentially deadly trials, matched with an equally deadly murder investigation filled with dangerous secrets and political machinations.
The magic is all connected to the deities, which can sort of break themselves into fragments that can interact with the human world. It's really cool and the book is a great blend of fantasy, court politics, and mystery. It's an impressive first fantasy and I look forward to reading more from this author! It definitely makes sense that she has written mysteries before. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
October 11, 2025
i’m sitting in a cafe with an expression that can only be described as astounded. i’m that lisasimpsonshockfacestaringatthetablememe.png.
infinity stars actually. infinity. it actually hurts not to have the whole trilogy out right now. it has been a While since i read a fantasy that knows what this word means 💙
infinity stars actually. infinity. it actually hurts not to have the whole trilogy out right now. it has been a While since i read a fantasy that knows what this word means 💙
May 30, 2025
Fascinating Fun Facts from one of her in-person author events:
- Hodgson's inspiration started with animal symbolism and how it relates to the behavior of the animals
- in the wild if ravens have enough food they'll cache it. so that's kind of how she thought of the footnotes-- little, extra caches
- she's become friendly with a raven called Bran (a celebrity Raven who just did his first photo shoot with an upcoming rapper and apparently the rapper was posing and Bran also got really into posing and it was very cute)
- Bran is very attentive until he's not. when his social battery runs out and he decides he's done, he flies back to his enclosure and opens the bolt with his mouth to let himself in
- she'd likely be a Raven if she were in this world
- the US and UK versions were published differently-- the US copy has the title of the sequel printed at the end!
- she does notebooks & notebooks of character work before she gets started so she knows her characters really well; doesn't really get writer's block because she always knows how her characters will act in a given situation
- this chonker was 195,000 words. geez!
---------------------------
Say hello to one of my new favourite books: an early "Best of 2025" contender and the start of a new Epic Fantasy series that will appeal to a wide range of folks!
Please forgive me while I absolutely gush.
From the earliest chapters I could feel myself getting entirely hooked-- vividly picturing what was happening, the characters feeling real and full and lived in, the world immense and brimming with history & character, the stakes already so high... And that's not even when the main story starts! A little taste from eight years before our true plot, but already so rich.
So why should you pick this up? Why will so many folks find something worthwhile in this story?
- The World-Building: this is a world that's clearly been fleshed out with a history and a present and a future that extends far beyond what we see on page. from famous poets to historic battles, from colorful fashions to crumbling cities, from enigmatic leaders to the lowliest orphans... the whole book is stuffed full of details to pick up on and teasers of more to come
- The Mythology: there are 8 distinct beings of myth who embody certain attributes and ideals, and most members of the society are pledged to one of the 8 factions who follow them. it added a fun flavor and character dynamics as they follow their faction's guiding principles and embody their defining characteristics
- The Characters: these are fully fleshed out characters with virtues as well as flaws, from the stoic to the silly. I'm not much of a character-driven reader, but I immediately loved so many of them from even their initial introduction, and it's always so noteworthy and special when an author accomplishes that.
and omg the animal companions!!! I loved them all from the moment they were introduced and will go to war for them.
- The Murder Mystery: who doesn't love a good ticking clock and a field full of suspects with motives? who doesn't love snooping through their rooms and uncovering the secrets they'd rather keep hidden? Hodgson uses this element to excellent effect, building tension and introducing interesting scenes that couldn't otherwise take place in an internally consistent way
- The Competition: trials/competitions/games are such a staple trope for a reason-- they're a great way to ratchet up the stakes and pit characters head to head. I loved the cleverness of these trials and that our main character wasn't always over-prepared. I think it's also really rare for trials to be approached with such sideways logic, which kept them feeling fresh and original instead of stale and repetitive
- The Writing: there's a wry humor in the narration style that I absolutely adore (and at the risk of setting expectations too high, very much reminds me of Tamsyn Muir's style). I think that the lens through which the story is told is quite clever and allows for some really interesting perspectives. and while we're talking high, high stakes and the end of the world quite often, the narration and several of the characters are quite humorous and lend a much needed levity. for every moment with a serious and efficient warrior there's a lazy and comical jokester
tiny writing style spoiler of the wry, Muir-esque humor inherent in the narration:
- The Twists: with as many books as I've read, I tend to be fairly good at spotting patterns and predicting outcomes. but I'd be lying if I didn't say the author managed to pull a lil switcheroo on me a few times. there are some fantastic twists in this which really made the story feel original and kept me on my toes. obviously your mileage may vary, but I absolutely loved it.
Overall this truly delivered on all my expectations and despite the 700 pages, I never felt it was a slog or a chore. Cannot wait for more in this series and so excited to start 2025 with a bang!
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions and endless whinging while I wait for the sequel are my own.
- Hodgson's inspiration started with animal symbolism and how it relates to the behavior of the animals
- in the wild if ravens have enough food they'll cache it. so that's kind of how she thought of the footnotes-- little, extra caches
- she's become friendly with a raven called Bran (a celebrity Raven who just did his first photo shoot with an upcoming rapper and apparently the rapper was posing and Bran also got really into posing and it was very cute)
- Bran is very attentive until he's not. when his social battery runs out and he decides he's done, he flies back to his enclosure and opens the bolt with his mouth to let himself in
- she'd likely be a Raven if she were in this world
- the US and UK versions were published differently-- the US copy has the title of the sequel printed at the end!
- she does notebooks & notebooks of character work before she gets started so she knows her characters really well; doesn't really get writer's block because she always knows how her characters will act in a given situation
- this chonker was 195,000 words. geez!
---------------------------
Say hello to one of my new favourite books: an early "Best of 2025" contender and the start of a new Epic Fantasy series that will appeal to a wide range of folks!
Please forgive me while I absolutely gush.
From the earliest chapters I could feel myself getting entirely hooked-- vividly picturing what was happening, the characters feeling real and full and lived in, the world immense and brimming with history & character, the stakes already so high... And that's not even when the main story starts! A little taste from eight years before our true plot, but already so rich.
So why should you pick this up? Why will so many folks find something worthwhile in this story?
- The World-Building: this is a world that's clearly been fleshed out with a history and a present and a future that extends far beyond what we see on page. from famous poets to historic battles, from colorful fashions to crumbling cities, from enigmatic leaders to the lowliest orphans... the whole book is stuffed full of details to pick up on and teasers of more to come
- The Mythology: there are 8 distinct beings of myth who embody certain attributes and ideals, and most members of the society are pledged to one of the 8 factions who follow them. it added a fun flavor and character dynamics as they follow their faction's guiding principles and embody their defining characteristics
- The Characters: these are fully fleshed out characters with virtues as well as flaws, from the stoic to the silly. I'm not much of a character-driven reader, but I immediately loved so many of them from even their initial introduction, and it's always so noteworthy and special when an author accomplishes that.
and omg the animal companions!!! I loved them all from the moment they were introduced and will go to war for them.
- The Murder Mystery: who doesn't love a good ticking clock and a field full of suspects with motives? who doesn't love snooping through their rooms and uncovering the secrets they'd rather keep hidden? Hodgson uses this element to excellent effect, building tension and introducing interesting scenes that couldn't otherwise take place in an internally consistent way
- The Competition: trials/competitions/games are such a staple trope for a reason-- they're a great way to ratchet up the stakes and pit characters head to head. I loved the cleverness of these trials and that our main character wasn't always over-prepared. I think it's also really rare for trials to be approached with such sideways logic, which kept them feeling fresh and original instead of stale and repetitive
- The Writing: there's a wry humor in the narration style that I absolutely adore (and at the risk of setting expectations too high, very much reminds me of Tamsyn Muir's style). I think that the lens through which the story is told is quite clever and allows for some really interesting perspectives. and while we're talking high, high stakes and the end of the world quite often, the narration and several of the characters are quite humorous and lend a much needed levity. for every moment with a serious and efficient warrior there's a lazy and comical jokester
tiny writing style spoiler of the wry, Muir-esque humor inherent in the narration:
- The Twists: with as many books as I've read, I tend to be fairly good at spotting patterns and predicting outcomes. but I'd be lying if I didn't say the author managed to pull a lil switcheroo on me a few times. there are some fantastic twists in this which really made the story feel original and kept me on my toes. obviously your mileage may vary, but I absolutely loved it.
Overall this truly delivered on all my expectations and despite the 700 pages, I never felt it was a slog or a chore. Cannot wait for more in this series and so excited to start 2025 with a bang!
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions and endless whinging while I wait for the sequel are my own.
June 19, 2025
RIP Neema, you would have loved adding community notes on twitter and an autism diagnosis
RIP Cain, you would have loved shitposting and KFC
RIP Ruko, you would have loved the rise of the far right and knife-play
RIP Beena, you would have loved San Rio and K-pop
RIP Fenn, you would have loved country music and slow cookers
RIP Cain, you would have loved shitposting and KFC
RIP Ruko, you would have loved the rise of the far right and knife-play
RIP Beena, you would have loved San Rio and K-pop
RIP Fenn, you would have loved country music and slow cookers
January 20, 2025
4.0 Stars
I loved this fantasy story that blended in elements of a mystery novel. I am finding that I really enjoy this particular genre blend.
The protagonist is a smart individual who makes a compelling perspective. Compared to epic fantasy, this one has a tighter focus but it still felt grand and important in its own way.
This one slightly reminded me of Justice of Kings and the rest of that trilogy. This is certainly not a copycat but it has some similarity in terms of scope and themes.
I would highly recommend this fantasy novels for anyone looking for a strong fantasy entry with a sharp protagonist unraveling a mystery.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I loved this fantasy story that blended in elements of a mystery novel. I am finding that I really enjoy this particular genre blend.
The protagonist is a smart individual who makes a compelling perspective. Compared to epic fantasy, this one has a tighter focus but it still felt grand and important in its own way.
This one slightly reminded me of Justice of Kings and the rest of that trilogy. This is certainly not a copycat but it has some similarity in terms of scope and themes.
I would highly recommend this fantasy novels for anyone looking for a strong fantasy entry with a sharp protagonist unraveling a mystery.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
July 9, 2025
4.5
Wow this was a wild and strange ride. I mostly really loved it, but think it could've been a bit shorter?? So whimsically dark. Audiobook narrator was great and there were some interesting production elements to it. (Thanks Macmillan audio for the review alc) More to come.
Wow this was a wild and strange ride. I mostly really loved it, but think it could've been a bit shorter?? So whimsically dark. Audiobook narrator was great and there were some interesting production elements to it. (Thanks Macmillan audio for the review alc) More to come.
August 10, 2025
An easy 5 stars and one of my favorite books of the year. Clever, magical, suspenseful, and just surprisingly funny— It's amazing and you should read it!
May 10, 2025
I’m going to be screaming from the rooftops all year about how much I LOVED THIS.
In fact, I loved it so much that I bought a copy of the Illumicrate special edition and it's SO PRETTY. My unboxing on YouTube.
In fact, I loved it so much that I bought a copy of the Illumicrate special edition and it's SO PRETTY. My unboxing on YouTube.
May 31, 2025
A new high fantasy favorite for me. This is EVERYTHING I want in the genre. Deeply immersive, packed with court scheming, buzzing with fascinating and distinct characters, with a steady clip, a delightful sprinkling of romance, and at the end of the day: just fun as hell. I never !! wanted this story to end and it’s well over 600 pages.
Neema is the emperor’s High Scholar and because she is a deliciously insufferable know it all, just about universally disliked by everyone at court. When it’s time for the emperor’s reign to end, the 7 animal Guardians (Raven, Fox, Tiger, Monkey, Ox, Bear, Hound and alsooo maybe Dragon) each select a contender to compete for the throne through 7 trials (each organized by one of the aforementioned Guardians). When the Raven contender is mysteriously murdered before the competition begins, the emperor assigns Neema the task of finding the killer. Naturally, she has to take the Raven contender’s place in the trials to stay close to all the potential suspects.
The cast in this book is star studded. Cain !!!!! Fenn, Sol, Benna, Neema (obviously), Bersun, Yasila, even RUKO had my eyes glued this | | close to my kindle screen. Did I mention how much I love Cain? He is one of the funniest characters I’ve read in a while and an amazing counterpart to Neema who’s honestly so cunty. And do not even get me started on the Raven POV. You guys are not ready to hear about the Raven’s POV (it’s awesome) (and textually Magnificent). Oh and if you love a character that hunts the narrative this book has TWO of them.
The Raven Scholar had just the right amount of humor to make this chonky book feel like a breeze. Such an engaging story with a fresh voice, great creative choices (see: iron war fans and animal possession), jaw dropping twists, and some genuinely gnarly moments too. All to say - READ THIS.
5 stars, maybe 6 ?
Neema is the emperor’s High Scholar and because she is a deliciously insufferable know it all, just about universally disliked by everyone at court. When it’s time for the emperor’s reign to end, the 7 animal Guardians (Raven, Fox, Tiger, Monkey, Ox, Bear, Hound and alsooo maybe Dragon) each select a contender to compete for the throne through 7 trials (each organized by one of the aforementioned Guardians). When the Raven contender is mysteriously murdered before the competition begins, the emperor assigns Neema the task of finding the killer. Naturally, she has to take the Raven contender’s place in the trials to stay close to all the potential suspects.
The cast in this book is star studded. Cain !!!!! Fenn, Sol, Benna, Neema (obviously), Bersun, Yasila, even RUKO had my eyes glued this | | close to my kindle screen. Did I mention how much I love Cain? He is one of the funniest characters I’ve read in a while and an amazing counterpart to Neema who’s honestly so cunty. And do not even get me started on the Raven POV. You guys are not ready to hear about the Raven’s POV (it’s awesome) (and textually Magnificent). Oh and if you love a character that hunts the narrative this book has TWO of them.
The Raven Scholar had just the right amount of humor to make this chonky book feel like a breeze. Such an engaging story with a fresh voice, great creative choices (see: iron war fans and animal possession), jaw dropping twists, and some genuinely gnarly moments too. All to say - READ THIS.
5 stars, maybe 6 ?
May 8, 2025
This was a fun time and has a strong mystery at the heart of the story. I’m also here for the dramatic, sassy ravens 😄 Looking forward to book 2
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