37. Across the Nightingale Floor, by Lian Hearn.

Book 1 of the Tales of the Otori books.

Across the Nightingale Floor tells the story of Takeo's upbringing, and Shigeru's fall from grace as they contend with their sudden loss of power in the struggles of the clans. Shigeru, now known as 'the farmer', has to wait patiently and appear weak in order to avoid annihilation at the hands of his enemies, or his own family, in order to further their own goals. Meanwhile, Takeo is learning to deal with his own mixed heritage, and must choose which side of himself he is going to embrace.

This book is quite passionate in some ways. Nothing is half-done, you screw up a battle - gotta go commit suicide. See a pretty girl - instantly fall in love forever and ever. The way it deals with women, though historically correct and accurately portrayed, nonetheless rankles a bit, given that their entire function is boiled down to trading piece and child-incubator. A good pace is kept up through the book, and it's complex enough to be interesting without drawing too many characters into the plot at any one time.