I’ve got a problem. I usually approach reviews calmly and rationally, with a vague idea of what I want to talk about and what my point of view is. But I’m not sure I can do that for The Kingdom of Copper. I’m too busy reacting incoherently to it.

In a nutshell: epic sequel is epic. If you loved the first one, this is every bit as good. You’re not going to be able to breathe at the end, and it’s going to be a very long year waiting for the final book. But don't let that put you off reading it as soon as possible, because this is one of the best series out there and you deserve it in your life.

I love the oh-so-relevant questions the Daevabad trilogy asks: can a society move on from past injustices to take a new, inclusive, fairer shape – in the face of resistance from traditionalists? Can peace be forged in spite of atrocities by modern-day extremists? What acts can we forgive in the name of the greater good? Forget whether the ends justify the means – can we even agree what ends are acceptable? And it wraps all this up in gorgeous, immersive world-building and peoples it with vibrant, compelling characters who leap off the page to steal your heart.

This is thoughtful, sometimes provocative fantasy for our times.