The Raven Scholar: the masterfully woven and breathtaking epic adult fantasy of cutthroat competition and imperial deceit

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]' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐