The Raven Scholar

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

Antonia Hodgson author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton

Publishing:17th Apr '25

£22.00

This title is due to be published on 17th April, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

The Raven Scholar cover

From an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy comes a masterfully woven tale of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar's quest to uncover the truth.

'IT'S THRILLING, ROMANTIC, OFTEN TRAGIC, AND ALWAYS FUNNY' ALIX E. HARROW
'SIMPLY GLORIOUS!' GEORGIA SUMMERS
'FIENDISHLY CHARMING AND CLEVER' TASHA SURI

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 . . .

PRAISE FOR THE RAVEN SCHOLAR
'The Raven Scholar is an intricately plotted historical mystery steeped in gothic charm and intellectual intrigue' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'It [The Raven Scholar] is truly one of the best epic fantasy books I've read in a long time' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I have NEVER rooted a romance more' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book is simply "Magnificent"' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Mature and sensible, but still idealistic, emotional, passion-driven [characters]' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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 * Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House *
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! * Georgia Summers, Sunday Times bestselling author of The City of Stardust *
The Raven Scholar is an immersive and enthralling epic fantasy. Fiendishly charming and clever, this is a book you absolutely must devour * Tasha Suri, World Fantasy Award-winning author of The Jasmine Throne *
Twisty and clever * Claire North, author of Ithaca *
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 * Emery Robin, author of The Stars Undying *
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 * Bethany Jacobs, author of These Burning Stars *
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 * C. L. Clark, author of The Unbroken *
Sharply written and intricately plotted, The Raven Scholar is a masterclass in storytelling. I can't recommend it enough! * Ann Leckie, author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award winning novel Ancillary Justice *
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 * Genoveva Dimova, author of Foul Days *
With an intricate plot and obsession-worthy characters, The Raven Scholar subverts tropes to create a thrilling, fun, and shocking mystery * Tessa Gratton *

ISBN: 9781529339901

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 41g

656 pages