Meet Antonia Hodgson author of The Raven Scholar - Lincoln

Talk & Signing
We are thrilled to be joined by Antonia Hodgson on Wednesday 6th May at 6.30pm as we celebrate the paperback publication of her immersive and enthralling epic fantasy debut, The Raven Scholar. In hardback, it was an instant Sunday Times Bestseller and shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2025.

The Raven Scholar is a masterfully woven tale of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar's quest to uncover the truth.

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 . . .

Novelist, screenwriter, adapter and former publisher Antonia Hodgson has written four acclaimed historical novels but fantasy has always been her first love. The Raven Scholar is the first book in an epic trilogy.
Event start - 6.30pm
Doors open - 6pm

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Host or Publisher Waterstones