The cover attracted me to this book. It was striking and gorgeous and it caught my attention straight away when I saw it on the shelf. After reading the very compelling summary on the back, picking it up was a no brainer.

We are first introduced to Yanara Valit and, as usual, I was quick to grow attached. Yana is sweet and smart and eager to do her best in the world. We come to learn that she innocently dreams of opening a café, bookshop, and theatre venue – which only endeared me to her more.

Safe to say, then, that I was fully thrown when we came to the end of act one and I read word for word what awaited in Yana’s future.

I was entirely blindsided. And very distressed on her behalf.

But goodness, the story gripped me and I couldn’t wait to read on.

To where we were finally introduced to our main character, Neema Kraa. Meeting Neema, after reading about her involvement in Yana’s journey, was odd. I didn’t know what to think at first.

But Neema is great and she grew on me just as quickly as Yana had. In fact, I ended up growing frustrated and indignant on Neema’s behalf next!

Because everyone shuns and mocks Neema, not only behind her back, but to her face as well. And, yes, Neema played a big part in what happened to Yana, but if it hadn’t been Neema, it would have been someone else. And what I also didn’t understand, was why noone reasoned that – as the best calligrapher available – Neema could have easily been ordered by Emperor Bersun to do the what she did. The populace don’t know what happened behind closed doors, as far as we can tell, and Neema could have been told to do it at risk of her own life.

I don’t know, the blind hatred for Neema rubbed me the wrong way a bit.

But I suppose that speaks for Hodgson’s incredible writing and of her ability to make her characters so likeable! So human. Because characters are likeable because they are so flawed. No one is perfect and it’s part of the reason why this book feels like a breath of fresh air.

And this happened often: characters that I was initially wary of, if not downright antagonistic towards, I eventually warmed to. In particular, there’s a specific redemption arc that I am very excited to visit in the next book, to see how it all pans out.

This is the first book of Antonia Hodgson’s that I’ve read and, when I tell you that I’m obsessed. I want a television adaptation yesterday, omg!

From what I can tell after reading this great book, Hodgson likes a marginalised protagonist who manages to keep their head high despite adversary. She likes witty, cheeky and morally grey characters; and she likes political intrigue and a tight and cohesive mystery plot.

All things that are right up my street, to be frank.

There were so many twists and turns and I didn’t know where to look. Trust me, that final one gets you. I had to take a moment and reread that reveal because what?

AND, it’s great to read about adult protagonists! Who also act like adults!! And who are capable!!!

I tend to steer clear of Romantasy novels for this reason after my first dabble with it not so long ago; all the recommendations that I’ve had and tried since then have left me disappointed. And, looking past the front cover when going into The Raven Scholar, I did fear that I was walking into a trap.

You won’t believe how happy I was to be proven wrong: this book champions High Fantasy, Dark Academia, and epic Mystery all in one brilliant story, and I really can’t wait to see more of the world that Hodgson has created.

The Raven Scholar was undeniably a labour of love and my mind can’t quite compute how beautifully fleshed out the world was – it was all so joyously cohesive! Luckily for us, The Raven Scholar is the first in a trilogy and, excitingly, we already know the name of the second book: The Fox in Winter.

It’s scheduled for release in October next year and I’m extra enthusiastic about it because foxes are one of my favourite animals.

We don’t know the cover yet, but I can only anticipate that it will be just as gorgeous and eye-catching as the first.

October 2027 can’t come quick enough!