The Raven Scholar

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" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"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]" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐