Review by sephiefoxx - The Raven Scholar

sephiefoxx 's review for:

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

5.0

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

“Life is a puzzle with no answer; a game with no rules; a maze with no exit, except death. And still we stumble on through the dark, creating form where there is none, seeing patterns that are not there.“

What a truly magnificent book. There is not a single part of this book that lagged, snagged or fell flat. Every single element, simply masterful.

Engaging and cinematic writing with just the right sprinkling of humour and fun. Check. Deeply immersive world-building and lore creating a rich tapestry of history, folklore, religion, and power. Check. A rich, lived-in world filled with court intrigue, thoughtfully crafted factions and organisation, and fascinating politics. Check. A cast of diverse and complex characters, both human and otherwise, that stretch from loveable to despised. Check. A looping and looming mystery full of twists and turns that left me honest to God gasping. Check. AND a set of interesting and unique trials resting as the centrepiece of the narrative. You guessed it, check.

This book is something else. Not once did it feel like I was reading a 600+ page fantasy, I was truly too taken. Drawn into this fascinating world, its characters, and the downright phenomenal writing. I now sit here, impatiently awaiting the rest of this trilogy, because if this is the beginning - I cannot imagine what the rest will have in store. If you are a fan of fantasy, a lover of stories and worlds that nestle into your chest, or just need something that feels like a refreshing take on the genre. Trust me when I say, please pick up this book. It is magnificent.

Content Warnings