She might win the throne. She might destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder. After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders will compete to replace him. Trained at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal - Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth - the Dragon proxy - will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists - the best of the best. Then one of them is murdered. It falls to the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, darker forces are gathering. If Neema succeeds, she could win the throne - whether she wants it or not. But if she fails, she will sentence herself to death - and set in motion a sequence of events that could doom the empire . . .

Vorwort
The first book in a masterfully woven epic adult fantasy trilogy, from an award-winning author, perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, Samanthan Shannon and Hannah Kaner.

Autorentext

Antonia Hodgson has written four acclaimed historical crime novels. She won the CWA Historical Dagger for The Devil in the Marshalsea, and her work has also been shortlisted for numerous awards including the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year.

Antonia's first (unpublished) novel was a gothic fantasy and she always dreamed of writing an epic series, given the chance. The Raven Scholar was released to widespread acclaim in 2025 and became an instant Sunday Times bestseller. She is now busy finishing its sequel.

Klappentext

The Sunday Times bestseller from an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy - a masterfully woven tale of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar's quest to uncover the truth.

'IT'S THRILLING, ROMANTIC, OFTEN TRAGIC, AND ALWAYS FUNNY' ALIX E. HARROW
**'SIMPLY GLORIOUS!' GEORGIA SUMMERS
'FIENDISHLY CHARMING AND CLEVER' TASHA SURI

She might win the throne. She might destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder.**

After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders will compete to replace him.

Trained at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal - Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth - the Dragon proxy - will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists - the best of the best.

Then one of them is murdered.

It falls to the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, darker forces are gathering.

If Neema succeeds, she could win the throne - whether she wants it or not. But if she fails, she will sentence herself to death - and set in motion a sequence of events that could doom the empire . . .

PRAISE FOR THE RAVEN SCHOLAR
'The Raven Scholar is an intricately plotted historical mystery steeped in gothic charm and intellectual intrigue' ****
'It [The Raven Scholar] is truly one of the best epic fantasy books I've read in a long time' ****
'I have NEVER rooted a romance more'
'This book is simply "Magnificent"' ****
'Mature and sensible, but still idealistic, emotional, passion-driven [characters]' ****

Zusammenfassung
The first book in a masterfully woven and playfully inventive epic adult fantasy trilogy from an award-winning author, full of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar's quest to uncover the truth.