The Raven Scholar cover art

The Raven Scholar

the masterfully woven and breathtaking epic adult fantasy of cutthroat competition and imperial deceit

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

The Raven Scholar

By: Antonia Hodgson
Narrated by: Daphne Kouma
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £19.83

Buy Now for £19.83

Summary

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

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.

It falls to the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, darker forces are gathering.

If Neema succeeds, she could win the throne - whether she wants it or not. But if she fails, she will sentence herself to death - and set in motion a sequence of events that could doom the empire . . .©2024 Antonia Hodgson Action & Adventure Dark Fantasy Epic Fantasy Genre Fiction Funny Fiction
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c

Critic reviews

The Raven Scholar is a labyrinth of a book - vast and intricate, full of fiendish twists and clever traps - with a deeply human heart at its centre. It's thrilling, romantic, often tragic, and always funny; I'm obsessed
The Raven Scholar is epic fantasy at its finest: fiendish political intrigue, the ultimate trial for the throne and a shocking crime at the centre. Every character plays friend, suspect and threat - and you'll be turning the pages at midnight to unmask them. I can't wait to devour the sequel. Simply glorious!
The Raven Scholar is an immersive and enthralling epic fantasy. Fiendishly charming and clever, this is a book you absolutely must devour
From the first page of The Raven Scholar, you know you're in the hands of a master storyteller. This book is a pitch-perfect blend of everything I love about fantasy - an expertly realised world, ferocious prose and characters who will steal your heart. I will be bereft until the sequel
This is epic fantasy at its very best. It's difficult to put into words how much I loved this book: Hodgson's immaculate prose manages to be equal parts charming and devastating, delivering a gut punch of a novel. The Raven Scholar is a masterclass in craft and tension
Twisty and clever
An absolute delight, with all the political intrigue and worldbuilding of an epic fantasy with a dash of murder mystery. A book that will break any reading slump!
The Raven Scholar is that rare book that stays with you whether you're reading it or not. More than gripping, it's deeply involving as wheels turn, secrets are revealed and fierce, beautiful, brilliant Neema battles through to the end
The twists and turns of The Raven Scholar left me breathless. Antonia Hodgson drops us into an elaborately built, gorgeously realized world that I couldn't wait to see more of
A conflagration of court intrigue, religious folktale, and characters with deliciously murky motivations, The Raven Scholaris a pure delight. Fantasy readers will gobble this down and curse the skies that they don't have the sequel yet
The Raven Scholar is as clever as its namesake - each beloved character, each twist and each turn, is a shiny new gift. It is magnificent
Sharply written and intricately plotted, The Raven Scholar is a masterclass in storytelling. I can't recommend it enough!
This is how epic fantasy should be done. I adored every page: it was so meticulously plotted, so carefully built, so funny, and the characters! I could spend seven thousand pages with them
An astonishing feat of world building, at once expansive and intimate, propulsive and ingenious, I feel sure The Raven Scholar will take the world of fantasy by storm. Antonia Hodgson is a master story-teller and here she is at the pinnacle of her game. What a delight to know that this is the first of series
All stars
Most relevant
A new world, beautifully described. A new mythology, with characters wonderfully imagined and brought to life so well by the narrator. Twists, turns and jeopardy throughout. A slow burn romance, which is not the main theme of the book. A thoroughly enjoyable read, I loved it.

Original mythology and excellent narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I just finished The Raven Scholar, reading along with the audiobook, and I have to say, it’s a fantastic experience. The story doesn’t rely on dramatic emotional highs or shocking moments, yet I found myself hooked from start to finish. There is a quiet intrigue running through every chapter, and the twists in this book are second to none. Each reveal lands at exactly the right moment. I never once felt ahead of the story.

It’s part murder mystery, part survival contest, with echoes of the Hunger Games, but the world itself feels utterly original. Every aspect; society, history, the logic of its magic, feels distinct and alive. The worldbuilding never falls back on tired tropes or easy exposition, and I was constantly curious to see what would be revealed next.

Neema is exactly the sort of female protagonist I love reading about. She isn’t loud or desperate to be liked, but there’s a quiet determination in everything she does. She notices what others miss, and her choices are always grounded and believable. It reminded me of the lead from Blood Over Brighthaven - practical, resilient, and never interested in performing for anyone.

The romance is handled with an incredible lightness of touch. It’s a true slow burn, nothing heavy-handed or forced. Just subtle moments and hints, so natural you could almost miss them, but all the more believable for it.

Worldbuilding is a real highlight here. The setting feels lived-in and new at the same time, and every detail comes out naturally through the story. There’s always more to discover, but it never feels overwhelming.

For the second half especially, the audiobook makes a big difference. There’s a stretch of intense inner dialogue, with several voices moving in and out of Neema’s thoughts. The narrator is exceptional, making each voice and every emotional shift distinct. I’m not sure the experience would have felt the same without her.

This isn’t a book built around big emotional fireworks, but it’s captivating in its own way; intelligent, surprising, and always a step ahead. The twists alone are worth the read. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, original fantasy that keeps you guessing all the way through, with a world and a heroine you’ll genuinely want to follow, I’d absolutely recommend The Raven Scholar.

A captivating story and incredible listening experience

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well it was good, but a lot going on. I am glad book 2will be a while, don't think I could handle it right after this one lol.

Raven

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What a gripping story! And I thought the narration was really good. The characters all had distinctive voices.

Twisty, turny epic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Fantastic world, great characters, magnificent gods. Both dramatic and hilarious. Cannot wait for the sequel

The Raven's narration is most magnificent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews