My review
My book review of The Raven Scholar
- Author
- Antonia Hodgson
- Series
- The Eternal Path Trilogy #1
- Release date
- April 15, 2025
- Read from
- 16.05.2026 – 17.07.2026
Book facts
Archetype
- Primary: Escapist Dreamer (immersive world, magical creatures, rich history, adventure, a sense of wonder)
- Secondary: Emotional Alchemist (friendship, forgiveness, self acceptance, emotional growth, meaningful relationships)
Tropes
Spice level
None. Romance exists in the background, but the story focuses far more on the mystery, the characters, and the world itself.
POV
Multiple POV.
Vibe
Epic Fantasy · Atmospheric · Mysterious · Wonder filled · Immersive. A beautifully written fantasy filled with political intrigue, unforgettable friendships, fascinating animal companions, and a murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.
What I loved
- The world building. Rich history, fascinating lore, memorable animal companions, and a world that felt alive from beginning to end.
- The plot is incredibly well planned. The murder mystery, political intrigue, and reveals kept me hooked until the very last page.
- The writing has a timeless quality that reminded me of the fantasy books I grew up reading. It gave me the same sense of wonder that first made me fall in love with the genre.
- The friendships between both the humans and the animals felt genuine and heartwarming. The animals weren't simply companions. They had their own personalities and meaningful roles in the story.
- The themes of friendship, love, forgiveness, anger, and self acceptance were woven naturally into the story without ever feeling forced.
- Daphne Kouma's audiobook narration was fantastic. Every character had a distinct voice, and her performance made it incredibly easy to disappear into the world.
The highlights
- The beautifully crafted world and its rich history.
- The murder mystery and satisfying reveals.
- The nostalgic feeling of reading classic epic fantasy again.
- Ruko. One of the most fascinating morally complex villains I've read in a long time.
- The friendships between the humans and the animals.
Characters
The characters are wonderfully written, but what impressed me most was how they constantly challenged my opinions. At the beginning, I genuinely didn't know who to trust, and I loved that uncertainty. Every reveal changed the way I viewed someone, making me feel everything from hatred and disgust to empathy and admiration.
Ruko especially stood out. He's a villain, and although I disagreed with many of his choices, I still found myself understanding him. Creating that kind of emotional conflict in the reader is incredibly difficult, and I thought Antonia Hodgson handled it brilliantly.
The friendships were just as memorable. The relationships between the human characters felt genuine, and I especially loved how the animals weren't simply companions. They had distinct personalities and played meaningful roles throughout the story.
What didn't work
A few sections felt slightly repetitive, particularly some of the Raven dialogue.
The repeated references to the Eight Signs occasionally became a little repetitive while listening to the audiobook.
Neither issue affected my overall enjoyment, but they were the only moments that stood out to me.
My final thoughts
I honestly don't understand the low ratings for this book because I absolutely loved it.
This is the kind of epic fantasy that reminds me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. The beautiful writing, immersive world-building, fascinating history, and clever plot gave me the same sense of wonder I remember feeling as a child discovering fantasy for the first time.
The murder mystery kept me guessing, the world felt rich without becoming overwhelming, and the friendships between both the humans and the animals made the story feel genuinely heartwarming. On top of that, the characters constantly surprised me, challenging my first impressions and making every reveal feel meaningful.
I also loved how naturally the story explored friendship, love, forgiveness, anger, and self-acceptance. It entertained me while quietly making me reflect on my own emotions, which is something I always appreciate in the books I read.
This is easily one of my favourite books of the year. It reminded me why I fell in love with epic fantasy in the first place, and I already can't wait to continue the series.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
If you love epic fantasy with immersive world-building, rich history, memorable characters, political intrigue, and a compelling murder mystery, I highly recommend picking this up. If you're anything like me, there's a good chance it'll remind you why you fell in love with fantasy in the first place.
