So, I didn't HATE this book, but I didn't necessarily enjoy this book either. All the characters I enjoyed were side characters and that was a little frustrating. It feels like whenever authors decide to make a main character kind of unlikeable, they make them poor or bullied to sort of justify their unlikeability. I really didn't like the main character, it felt like she used a child as a stepping stone to further herself whether or not what happened to the child was going to happen either way, she was only justifying doing the horrible thing. All I could think whenever something bad happened to her was "eh". Kind of like, well well well, if it isn't the consequences of your own actions. Although, there were some parts of the story I found interesting and there were some characters I was entirely invested in seeing what they did. And the twist, I did NOT see coming, so that was exciting and interesting.

Other than above, I enjoyed the house system, some of the side characters, the twist was a nice touch. The two most seen gods the Raven and the Fox were probably two of the most interesting characters in my opinion. It felt like this was trying to be an adult book but read like a YA novel as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the arc! Hmmmm. This was so good for the first 90% and then the author took a laced edible or something, because what the fuck was that last 10%. Anyways, I like this book, I enjoyed most of this book, the ending made me mad. Here are some pros and cons


Cons:

As mentioned earlier, the ending nearly ruined the book for me. Genuinely. The last 10% of the book seemed incongruous from the first 90%.
In the last 10% we lose what makes the book special, we lose its strengths, and instead get a full showcase of its weaknesses.

The ending was cartoonish. Everything was over-the-top: the cliches, the reveals, EVERYTHING.
It was abrupt and contrived; the story is unpredictable, yes, but you get to this ending through lazy means of storytelling (doesn’t tell, but also doesn’t show).

Minus a full star for a cliche villain reveal monologue. What lazy storytelling


Pros:

The first 90% I found the plot engaging. The twists and reveals were jaw-dropping without being cartoonish. I did grow to be fond of the side characters and other contenders. Ruko, Fenn, Benna, and the animals were among my favorites. Cain and Keema I found to be believable and cute as a couple and as individual characters, even if I felt distant to them.

I love the world building and lore we got. The legendary artists, fables, and dragons were fascinating to read about. I also love a good footnote. The animals had cool abilities as well, all though I wish more things were explained, and explained thoroughly. I want to see how I got from point A to point B. I do think that some important parts of the lore were skimmed in important areas. Take the first raven queen as an example, the amethyst crown. These are things we should have learned more about. Honestly, if anything, I just wanted more of everything regarding the world, and that’s not a bad thing. I do see lots of potential for expansion and detail in future installments.

The formatting and narration was this book’s greatest strength. The prose was witty, easy to follow, humorous, sharp. I love the ravens, as they’re truly magnificent. Despite the mess that was the ending, the formatting and narration does set this book apart from other epic fantasies currently out. Most definitely one of the most memorable narrators I’ve had.

At first after finishing I swore off continuing this series, but after sitting with my feelings for a little bit, I might cautiously continue. There are certain things I’m excited about, all though I do of course have many concerns. All in all, this book was good, but it could have been great. Just don’t piss me off in the last 10% again, thanks. -3.25 flocks.

This excellent epic fantasy was such a relief after all the cozy and romance fantasy I've been reading. I really loved this. I am hoping a few things will be tightened up before publication because there were times it felt a little weighed down in both plot and pacing. It got a little bit hard to keep track of every characters motivations as they kept shifting and evolving so often. The ending felt a little rushed after we had spent so much time with this major competition as the focus. I did really enjoy the capricious nature of these gods and the internal moral struggles of the main characters. Looking forward to the second!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC.

The Raven Scholar has engaging plot, rich world-building, and complex characters, making it a standout addition to the epic fantasy genre.

The constant forward momentum & the depth of the protagonists & their stories make this a must read!

For a 700 page book, I wish this had went on longer - it was such an enjoyable read, every moment of it.

There's so many little twists and turns, and the main plot from the synopsis doesn't even start until a quarter in and there was so much to get there, the less I say, the better. But I will say:
If you like political twists!
If you like ridiculously good, complex characters!
If you like great, nuanced writing, with some well-placed touches of humour!
If you like incredible worldbuilding, especially for mythology!
If you like talking kind-of-animals!
Did I mention the characters?
And if you like having your heart torn out nearly immediately!

Then this book is for you.

Thank you to the publisher, Orbit, and to NetGalley for the ARC.