I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson Series: Eternal Path Trilogy #1
Published by Orbit on 15 April 2025
Genres: Fantasy
Format: ARC
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads
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.
What an amazing way to end 2025! I wish I had read this novel sooner, but better late than never, right?
The novel moves at a quick pace and sets the scene quickly. And what a scene it is! What starts off as a competition soon becomes a murder mystery, as a competitor is found dead. But as Neema begins to investigate, alliances and grudges begin to surface that have far sinister consequences. Not only is this premise intriguing, it combined multiple subplots seamlessly to create a gripping experience for the reader.
The characters are also very well-developed. Each has their unique personality and their distinctive voices really come through. I was able to connect with multiple characters, which made this even more of an enjoyable read. I am so glad that we get multiple POVs in this novel because it brings so much depth to the story!
I’ll cut short my rambling by saying this is definitely worth reading and I cannot WAIT for book 2!
