I highly recommend Stormdancer. 
 ***** 
 Whatever you hear about Stormdancer, it's true. 
 Kristoff was too descriptive; too many words. Truth. 
 Stormdancer is a whole new level of awesome. Truth. 
 Even when Kristoff got it on with his ubiquitous observations of Shima, I still didn't mind much. As long as the Yukiko's story is spellbining, i can forgive anything. Stormdancer is one stunning book. :) 
 Every page gave me the giggles; every chapter, a delight! It was entertainment to a T. I am so thankful that I find immense pleasure reading fantasy books. Steampunk + Thunder Tigers + Hunters of the Empire: Goodness, Stormdancer is a certified bookgasm. :D 
 Plot: Compact, Mesmerizing 
 Story Flow: Uninterrupted, Fast-paced 
 Characters: Well-defined, True to form, Intense 
 Masaru is praiseworthy. He has the true mark of a loving father. Yukiko is kick-*ss. but Buruu is my ultimate favorite! His characterization was fantastic. Funny, sarcastic, sacrificial. Buruu's relationship with Yukiko was heartrending. I would read Stormdancer again and again for their bantering and loving/hating gestures. *applauding* 
 The origin of the Blood Lotus is horrifying. 
 Stormdancer has a beginning that will be hard to like if you yield to frustration with Kristoff's abundant words that are unnecessary. Me? I loved it from the start! 
 Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting my galley request.