Book Review: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
Title: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
Release Date: 29th April 2025
Publisher: Hodderscape
RRP: $32.99
Rating: 4/5 stars
Synopsis:
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.
Review:
an epic fantasy like nothing i’ve ever read before! i loved the political intrigue and unique magic system. the characters were fascinating in their own ways and i enjoyed the historical elements that were weaved throughout the story, which makes the story even richer!
what stood out most to be was the unflinching humor! at times the characters have the most unhinged things to say and do and no one ever bats an eye 😂 it’s refreshing to see such rare confidence, and makes for a wild and super fast-paced ride despite this book being about 600+ pages long. a few times i had to catch myself rerouting my brain to make sure i wasn’t misreading the character dialogues, and as it turns out the story is unpredictable not just in plot but in character traits! it’s weird but it works SO well?! 🤭 your interest keeps piquing, and when you think you know what their next move is, they go and do the unexpected.
every character shone in their own way, but cain is EVERYTHING. that is all.
charming, gripping, and unserious in a clever yet enigmatic manner. this opens up the trilogy so incredibly well and i cannot WAIT to for the next books!
thank you hachette for the ARC! :)
