Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
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 in secret at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal—Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth warrior—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 emperor’s High Scholar, the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa, to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, even darker forces are gathering. If Neema succeeds in her task, 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 entire empire.
Is The Raven Scholar appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This adult political fantasy features a murder mystery set during an imperial succession tournament. Expect on-page violence including murder, political intrigue, and mature themes of power and corruption.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include murder, death, and political violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens who love complex political mysteries with tournament settings and brilliant investigator protagonists will be hooked by this empire-level murder case.