The Raven Scholar: the masterfully woven and breathtaking epic adult fantasy of cutthroat competition and imperial deceit (Th

Step into the empire of Orrun with The Raven Scholar, Antonia Hodgson's masterfully woven epic adult fantasy that shot to Sunday Times bestseller acclaim. This electrifying new series plunges readers into a world of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and a murder most foul. At its heart is Neema Kraa, a brilliant but idiosyncratic scholar thrust into a lethal succession trial where seven contenders - each inspired by a sacred animal - vie for the throne, only for one to be murdered. Hodgson blends epic fantasy, political drama, and a gripping whodunit with a deft hand, earning praise from fantasy luminaries like Alix E. Harrow, Georgia Summers, and Tasha Suri.

The Raven Scholar is a fusion of genres unlike anything else in modern fantasy. The rich, monastery-trained warriors and thinkers, the hidden Dragon proxy, and the oppressive heat of mid-summer conspire to create an atmosphere thick with suspense and danger. As Neema investigates, darker forces gather, threatening not just the contenders, but the very fate of the empire. With a tone that is thrilling, romantic, often tragic, and always funny, this series promises a tightly plotted historical mystery steeped in gothic charm and intellectual intrigue, delivering mature, passion-driven characters who feel entirely real. For readers who hunger for epic fantasy sagas with the cerebral tension of a Sherlock Holmes mystery, this is your next obsession.