A book like this only comes along once in a very long while. Incredibly rich worldbuilding, a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you're finished and action on an epic scale come together to create a truly unique book I'll never forget.

If you prefer your stories quick and simple, this isn't the book for you. Jay Kristoff weaves a world with layer upon layer of detail, drawing on Japanese history, myth and legend, steampunk elements, political intrigue and a healthy dose of fantasy. The result is spectacular.

Yukiko is a gutsy, realistic teenaged protagonist, surrounded by a cast of characters who each deserve their own book. I'm looking forward to seeing some in the sequel, and starting a campaign now for some prequel novellas featuring the adventures of Masaru and co. before the story proper opens. Buruu, the thunder tiger, has some of the best lines of the book, and is a triumph all of his own.

The plot is a rich combination of action and politics, and in a book where nobody's safe (warning: I cried more than once), the story picks you up and relentlessly carries you onward.

The word 'epic' is overused these days, but Stormdancer is epic in every sense of the word.