The Raven Scholar (Eternal Path Trilogy, 1) by Antonia Hodgson

Finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel • Finalist for the Goodreads Best Fantasy Choice Award • Finalist for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel Best of the Year at ELLE, Gizmodo, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and more! “A labyrinth of a book—vast and intricate, full of fiendish twists and clever traps—with a deeply human heart at its center. It's thrilling, romantic, often tragic, and always funny; I'm obsessed.” —Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House The Raven Scholar is a masterfully woven tale of imperial intrigue from an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy. Let us fly now to the empire of Orrun, where after twenty-four years of peace, the reign of Bersun the Brusque has come to an end. In the dizzying heat of midsummer, seven exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists compete to replace him. When one of them is murdered, it falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor’s brilliant, idiosyncratic High Scholar, to find the killer and fight for the throne. Neema believes she is alone. But we are here to help; all she has to do is let us in. If she succeeds, we will win an empire. If she fails, death awaits her. But we won’t let that happen. Read more