Hello, everyone! Today I have the pleasure of reviewing The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. This fantasy novel has received heaps of praise from other ARC readers. So, I was stoked to finally pick it up. Read on to find out more about it, and then head to your preferred place to buy books because The Raven Scholar is out today!

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.

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.

***Thank you to Orbit Books for providing a copy of the book. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

Wow. I loved The Raven Scholar so much. It took me a while to really become immersed in the story despite being intrigued from the start, but once I did, I was obsessed. This was a long book, and there were definitely moments that I wished things moved a little faster, especially in the beginning. However, in hindsight, the pacing, plotting, and clues to the overarching mystery were masterfully executed. This is the type of book that I wish I could read for the first time again while also wanting to re-read it to revel in how gloriously it was constructed.

The plot of The Raven Scholar had me in a chokehold for most of the book. The twists and turns in the story were wild. I was surprised by so many things that happened and some that did not. lol. That doesn’t happen often. My jaw literally fell open at some points due to shock, which even prompted my wife to ask if I was okay. (No. I really wasn’t. I’m pretty sure my brain exploded.) I also really enjoyed the competition to win the crown. It was an interesting take on a common trope, and I liked how each trial was so different and often counter to what I’d expected. Everything about the story was just really well thought out.

The cast of characters in The Raven Scholar was a great collection of personalities, and that’s just the ravens. IYKYK, lol. I love a good underdog, and Neema fit that part perfectly. Cain was a charismatic bi disaster. I adored him instantly. Ruko also kept my interest piqued for reasons I can’t discuss because of spoilers. My first impression of him was very wrong, and I liked getting to see more of him as the story progressed. The rest of the contenders were unique, as well, and I had fun reading about the drama of their group dynamic. I also can’t finish talking about the characters without mentioning my love for Sol. He was quite possibly my favorite thing about the book.

The world-building in The Raven Scholar was fascinating, and I loved the snippets of history exposed throughout the story. I am especially interested in the history of the gods and how they came to be. There were some interesting revelations about them and their magic that whetted my appetite for more. Additionally, the push and pull between the commoners and the elite of this world was a major theme and source of conflict. I’m super curious to see how those divisions and inequities evolve in future books. Overall, the world and its politics felt carefully constructed and realistic despite also having some really cool fantasy elements.

All in all, The Raven Scholar was a truly magnificent story. It was a riveting mix of political intrigue, mystery, and class struggle all wrapped up in a deadly competition for the crown. The characters were compelling, and the plot twists left me reeling. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next. Therefore, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.

There you have it! My thoughts on The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. Have you read this one? It really blew my mind. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments! Happy reading!