The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

In The Raven Scholar, Antonia Hodgson makes a confident, genre-defying leap from historical crime into epic fantasy, launching the Eternal Path trilogy with wit, ambition, and staggering precision. Her protagonist, Neema Kraa is an unwilling contender for the throne of Orrun and reluctant investigator into a politically charged murder, and anchors a rich, morally complex tale that balances intellect and intrigue with a welcome splash of dark humour.

Set in the Empire of Orrun, a land on the cusp of transition after twenty-four years of peace, the story unfolds during the Festival of the Eight, where seven elite contenders must compete to become the next ruler. When one of these contenders, the Raven, is found murdered, Neema (High Scholar and the empire’s most reluctant heroine) is not only chosen to solve the crime but must step into the dead contender’s place. What follows is a high-stakes trial, in every sense of the word: political, psychological, and occasionally fatal.

Hodgson plays masterfully with form and tone. The narration, delivered partly by a collective of sentient ravens and chiefly through Sol, a gleefully sardonic raven entity lodged somewhere between Neema’s ribs and her conscience, adds both levity and layered complexity. This metafictional voice, at once omniscient and emotionally invested, offers an inventive take on narrative perspective. It draws the reader close, at times uncomfortably so, challenging assumptions and inviting scrutiny of every character’s motives.

Neema Kraa herself is a triumph of characterisation. Thrust into a deadly competition among warriors and strategists, she is no chosen one. She is a scholar: brittle, brilliant, self-deprecating, and deeply compromised by past decisions. Her political rise was built on a morally murky act of exile that casts long shadows over the present narrative. Hodgson gives us a heroine who is neither a legend nor a pawn. She is painfully human, and all the more compelling for it.

This is a book built on sharp character work. From Cain, the sorrowful Tiger contender shaped by familial duty, to Ruko, whose arc twists with particular force, the cast is richly drawn and often surprising. Each of the competitors carries with them a weighty backstory, linked to a haunting event from eight years prior. Hodgson excels in showing how that past, while hidden beneath pageantry and politicking, continues to ripple through present events with devastating effect.

Equally impressive is Hodgson’s command of pacing and structure. Though running over 700 pages, The Raven Scholar never sags. Every footnote, every folklore snippet, every fragment of myth serves the greater narrative. The final act, in particular, is a ferocious whirlwind of betrayal, revelation, and retribution, executed with such confidence that it demands immediate rereading.

This is high fantasy at its most satisfying: immersive, intelligent, and unafraid to laugh at itself while wielding serious stakes. Hodgson has delivered a first instalment that feels both complete and urgently open-ended. With its blend of murder mystery, political drama, metafictional flair, and the unforgettable presence of Sol, The Raven Scholar announces a thrilling new series and a singular new voice in fantasy.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Hachette