The Raven Scholar

The first book in a masterfully woven and playfully inventive epic adult fantasy trilogy from an award-winning author, full of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar's quest to uncover the truth.

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 . . .

Review

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

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 ― Dave Rudden, author of Sister Wake

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 ― V. L. Bovalino, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Second Death of Locke

Twisty and clever ― Claire North, author of Ithaca

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! ― Rebecca Roanhorse, New York Times bestselling author of Black Sun

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 ― Daily Mail

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

About the Author

Antonia Hodgson has written four acclaimed historical crime novels. She won the CWA Historical Dagger for The Devil in the Marshalsea, and her work has also been shortlisted for numerous awards including the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year.

Antonia's first (unpublished) novel was a gothic fantasy and she always dreamed of writing an epic series, given the chance. The Raven Scholar was released to widespread acclaim in 2025 and became an instant Sunday Times bestseller. She is now busy finishing its sequel.