The Raven Scholar

by Antonia Hodgson · 2025

When Emperor Bersun the Brusque steps down after twenty‑four years of peace, the empire of Orrun erupts into a deadly contest. Seven elite warriors, strategists and scholars—each marked by a sacred animal—vie for the throne, but the competition turns murderous when one contender is found dead. The investigation falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor’s brilliant yet eccentric High Scholar. Armed with razor‑sharp intellect and a secret network known as the Raven, Neema must untangle a web of ancient grudges, hidden magic, and political machinations before the trials end. Success could crown her ruler of an empire; failure means her own death and the collapse of Orrun. Antonia Hodgson delivers a labyrinthine, fast‑paced epic of intrigue, romance, and dark humor that keeps the stakes soaring and the reader guessing until the final twist.