Incredible book, and the beginning of an incredible series. As a reader, I can just get swept away in these books, which is awesome in itself. As an author, the scope of imagination and the sheer technical skill required to pull off such a huge, sweeping epic with so many interconnected character and plot arcs is truly amazing. I'll hold off on a full review until I finish the series, but you can probably tell it's going to be a stellar one.