
The Raven Scholar
Orbit · Paperback · April 15, 2025
Finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel • Finalist for the Goodreads Best Fantasy Choice Award • Finalist for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel 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.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A moody fantasy that leans into action, adventure, and a slightly wicked grin.
- Themes
- imperial intrigue, mystery, power struggle
- Pacing
- Mixed
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
The Will of the ManyJames Islington61% matchShares Epic Fantasy and Dark Fantasy
House of the BeastMichelle Wong58% matchShares Dark Fantasy
The Tainted CupRobert Jackson Bennett67% matchShares Epic Fantasy
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight SoilV. E. Schwab63% match
The EverlastingAlix E. Harrow, Moira Quirk60% match
The Red WinterCameron Sullivan59% matchShares Dark Fantasy
Gideon the NinthTamsyn Muir61% matchShares Dark Fantasy
The Gryphon KingSara Omer63% matchShares Epic Fantasy
For younger readers: Moonstorm, The King of Attolia, A Stage Set for Villains
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Join the waitlistAbout this book
Finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel • Finalist for the Goodreads Best Fantasy Choice Award • Finalist for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel 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.
Continue reading
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 from an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy. 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
Shadow and Spark
A moody fantasy that leans into action, adventure, and a slightly wicked grin.
Come here for
- dark fantasy atmosphere
- playful, page-turning momentum
Expect
- dark YA / epic fantasy blend
- romance-adjacent tension
Where it sits
| Epic Fantasy | 94% |
|---|---|
| Fantasy Romance | 46% |
| Dark Fantasy | 30% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Epic Fantasy
- Dark Fantasy
- Fantasy Adventure
- Authors
- Antonia Hodgson
- Publisher
- Orbit
- Published
- April 15, 2025
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- imperial intrigue · mystery · power struggle
- Reading lane
- Epic Fantasy