4.5 stars!Absolutely loved this! I'm a sucker for any fantasy novel that incorporates animals, so I knew I'd be hooked by Antonia Hodgson's The Raven Scholar. I also really appreciated the world-building; the history and lore felt so organic and believable.The writing style was fantastic – very accessible and easy to read, but I especially enjoyed the whimsical, raven-inspired touches in the narration. And the pacing was so unique! We spend 650 pages covering just a single week, which gives it t...

Okay, so I'm not entirely sure I can be trusted with this review, considering it was the first book I picked up after *Red Rising*... but honestly, I was seriously underwhelmed by *The Raven Scholar* by Antonia Hodgson. It's strange because I somehow devoured this 660-page fantasy novel in two days flat, yet felt totally detached from everything happening. I can't explain it. But I can confidently say I didn't vibe with the writing style at all. It felt like *The Raven Scholar* was written in a ...

"It's been a long time coming." And indeed, Taylor, it certainly has been a long time coming.If you've been following my reviews, then you probably know what I'm talking about. It's very likely that you've heard me rant about my bad luck this year. About how almost every book I've picked up, ever since I finished "Wind and Truth," (Stormlight’s fifth installment), turned out to be an absolute nightmare. A complete, utter mess. And mostly a miss, too.You've probably seen me literally down on my k...

I need everyone to read "The Raven Scholar" by Antonia Hodgson immediately. Seriously, drop what you're doing and pick this up. If you're looking for captivating historical fiction, look no further. This book is an absolute must-read.

"Why don't you leave, Neema?"But she didn't want to leave. She wanted to prove them all wrong. The fuckers. 4 1/2 stars. Oh my, I loved this so, so much. I loved the characters and the witty dialogue. I loved how tense it was and how it made me both excited and furious. And I just adored Neema. Between this and M.L. Wang, 2025 has reignited my love for fantasy novels.And I do mean *fantasy* and not romantasy, which I was a bit worried this would be. It's not. It's epic fantasy / dark academia...

ARC provided by the publisher via Libro.fm “Brother - that is why I have chosen you. The throne is a burden to be carried, not a prize to be won?'” I feel like I've been putting off this review because I genuinely think **The Raven Scholar** is best experienced knowing as little as possible. I'm going to try to be extra vague here because one of the things I truly loved about it was all the unexpected twists and unique turns that I just didn't see coming. But I think it's safe to say that my c...

DNF at 50%.I really try to get into the books I pick up, but it often feels like the stories themselves are fighting me. I'm about ready to throw in the towel with protagonists who, even though they're supposed to be in their thirties, act like whiny teenagers trying to navigate the social nightmare of high school. These characters are just plain unlikable, and frustratingly dense. Why write them as adults if they're going to behave like teenagers? It just doesn't track.Take Neema, for example, ...

The Raven Scholar is easily one of the best new fantasy releases I've read in ages. Brimming with fascinating characters, engaging writing, a deadly competition, and a complex mystery, this book perfectly embodies everything I adore about the fantasy genre. If you're looking for great fantasy book reviews, look no further. I'm absolutely in love with the writing style. The Raven Scholar is snarky and hilarious. This dry sense of humor brilliantly complements the gravity and haunting consequences...

In the category of: what if there was an animal who was just following you around all the time (but the burrowing inside your chest cavity offering unsolicited opinions-variety)?Read my full reviewThis intricately layered, clever novel, "The Raven Scholar" by Antonia Hodgson, is everything high fantasy should be, and I loved every single page of it! I want to live in this book.I don't know, I kinda love the hot man personified as the fox and scholar who has a persnickety raven living inside her ...

Wooooooo epic fantasy is BACK!! What a fucking ride! You might even say…it was magnificent.

Edit: This just in, I have also written up the transcript of our interview. You can find it here: https://clclarkwrites.com/a-raven-a-fox-and-a-bear-all-walk-into-an-interview-with-antonia-hodgson/ [End of Review]