The Raven Scholar
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4.6 • 16 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Hugo Award Finalist • Goodreads Choice Award Finalist • Locus Award Finalist
Best of the Year at ELLE, Gizmodo, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and more!
“A labyrinth of a book—vast and intricate, full of fiendish twists and clever traps—with a deeply human heart at its center. 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 a masterfully woven tale of imperial intrigue and a breakout epic fantasy sensation from an electrifying new voice in the genre, Astounding Award-winning author Antonia Hodgson.
Let us fly now to the empire of Orrun, where after twenty-four years of peace, the reign of Bersun the Brusque has come to an end. In the dizzying heat of midsummer, seven exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists compete to replace him.
When one of them is murdered, it falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor’s brilliant, idiosyncratic High Scholar, to find the killer and fight for the throne. Neema believes she is alone. But we are here to help; all she has to do is let us in.
If she succeeds, we will win an empire. If she fails, death awaits her. But we won’t let that happen.
We are the Raven, and we are magnificent.
★ "Sharply written and intricately plotted. A masterclass in storytelling!" —Ann Leckie, Hugo Award-winning author of Ancillary Justice
★ "Fiendishly charming and clever, this is a book you absolutely must devour." —Tasha Suri, World Fantasy Award-winning author of The Jasmine Throne
★ "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
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Historical mystery writer Hodgson (the Tom Hawkins novels) shifts genres masterfully in this stellar fantasy trilogy kickoff. Emperor Bersun of Orrun intends to step down after 24 years on the throne, abiding by his empire's strict term limits. His successor will come from one of seven contenders, each representing a separate monastery devoted to one of the animals sacred to the supernatural guardians, who previously saved Orrun seven times but would destroy it should they return again. Bersun's High Scholar Neema Kraa is content to ignore the competition and focus on her obscure research—but when one of the potential successors is murdered in circumstances that make Neema a prime suspect, she must drop everything to clear her name and crack the case. Neema, a know-it-all with limited social skills, is a flawed but endearing lead; Hodgson's attention to detail makes the worldbuilding vivid; and her subtle, playful prose enriches the ingeniously constructed narrative. This impressive display of versatility marks Hodgson as an exciting new voice in fantasy.
