The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson

For a fantasy novel, The Raven Scholar starts out relatively low key. There is no epic battle, the land has been at peace for centuries, the only recent rebellion quickly put down before it even got started. There is a minor hangover from that rebellion still to be mopped up, but while even that seems relatively insignificant, you know how it goes with fantasy novels. This is just the beginning of a trilogy, so you can be sure there will be ramifications down the line, and sure enough these events already come back to bite before the end of book one. 

So what kind of a fantasy world does Antonia Hodgson delve into in her Eternal Path Trilogy? It's close enough to a Game of Thrones style fantasy, where there are powerful rival families in Orrun and there are religious and militaristic powers. The difference here is that you can choose which 'family' or anat of the Eight Guardians you wish to follow. There is the Way of the Bear, the Ox, the Raven, the Monkey, the Hound, the Fox, the Tiger and the Dragon. Their followers take on the attributes of their chosen guardian - somewhat aligned with the animal characteristics - but few actually worship their guardian or believe that they are 'real'. There is rivalry between all of the clans certainly, but they are all in agreement that peace serves their best interests. The empire is currently run by Bersun of the Bear contingent, but according to the constitution there is a contest between the leading contenders from each group every 24 years to choose a new ruler, and that time is now approaching.

In terms of drama to draw you into the world and its history there are two episodes - seemingly minor, as I said, but likely to become significant. The Raven Scholar opens with the exile of a young woman, Yana, the daughter of Andren Vallit, the Great Traitor who rebelled against the emperor. Condemned by her own twin brother Ruko, exile means certain death, but may we suspect that might not be the end of her story? 

The other event is the situation facing the main character we follow in the book, Neema Kraa, a scholar from the Raven monastery whose calligraphy and knowledge of obscure historical customs and lore that she produces papers on are highly valued - so much so that she was tasked with writing the certificate of Exile for Yana. Although the 'anats' are open to all, not everyone is treated equally and since she is not from one of the High Families but a Commoner, Neema hasn't risen to the heights she might have otherwise. She now faces a dilemma over documents that have resurfaced and fallen into the hands of her rival Gaida. These documents reveal that she would have been expelled but for the sudden arrest and death of her instructor. The forthcoming ceremony and contest for the new emperor, largely organised by Neema, is going to be an excruciating experience for the Raven scholar.

That doesn't sound like it is much to go on, but there is certainly enough to keep you locked in and it is certainly never dull as the characters are given as much attention as the history of Orrun. Fantasy has certain conventions and styles, but it also has the capacity for great creativity and imagination and Antonia Hodgson has plenty of that. The warring kingdoms are sort of there (potentially), there's plenty of prophesy, a tournament, and there is a 'chosen one ' in an unlikely commoner, a bookish loner who no-one wants to be associated with, who (you could reasonably presume) comes to achieve her potential. All fine, but what Antonia Hodgson does with those conventions and how she reveals the character of the world is terrific. By the time you are a third of the way in, The Raven Scholar is totally unputdownable, taking on a thrilling momentum.

Needless to say, the contest is the centre of the turmoil that is about to be unleashed,. After 24 years of rule time for change of emperor, and each anat has put forward a contender. Ruko - who had his own sister banished at the introduction to the book - is now the Tiger contender, and as such a formidable candidate. Thankfully though the author spares us the dullness of  fighting descriptions, keeping them mercifully brief or passed over entirely in favour of the intrigue they inspire in the imperial court, where clearly other strange events - not least the murder of the Raven contender Gaida - suggest that some other intrigue is beginning to play out. Not to be discounted either is the fact that there is magic in this world, practised by the Dragons who by tradition do not enter the contest for the new ruler. Neema also secretly possesses a magic book that tells her of an ancient curse that is about to be unleashed, a curse that heralds the return of the Eight from the Hidden Realm.

“May they remain hidden”, is the response given to anyone bestowing the blessing of the Eight. There is a reason the Guardians are feared as well as respected. There are however other family and clan secrets that have remained hidden, long histories that are revealed in original ways by Antonia Hodgson partly as a murder mystery investigation, but one where there are mysterious forces at work that suggest that the ascension of a new emperor how heralds an immediate danger to peace. And unfortunately, since the Raven contender is now dead, it is Neema, the bookish Raven scholar who is caught in the middle of a grand intrigue. Indeed a grand conspiracy wouldn't be too big a word for what is going on, and we are only at the beginning of it.

Like any good opening to a trilogy, The Raven Scholar is an impressive start that leaves you wanting more. Like any other good trilogy it also has a satisfying conclusion but opens up a lot of new directions. Some of those are potentially disruptive considering where we are left, but with some wonderful characters supporting Neema along the way including Cain, Benna and Sol and a few others who will remain nameless for fear of spoilers, you have a whole range of other possibilities, interest and humour aside from the sword and sorcery wars and intrigue carrying over to the next book. Can't come soon enough for this reader.

Reading notes: The Raven Scholar, Book One of the Eternal Path Trilogy by Antonia Hodgson is published by Hodder & Stoughton on 17th April 2025. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review eBook.