If you're like me, and prefer fantasy reads with well developed worlds (deep dives in worldbuilding) than you have to treat yourself to:
Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen (and all other works in that world).
Michelle West's Sun Sword books and the other works in the same setting.
R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect Emperor series.
All three have very well developed settings and all of them, imo, have very complex plot (so not your standard "popcorn" fantasy). All are above average in writting good characters but of the three, I think Michelle is strongest in that regard. She and Kay are the authors that can draw me in through characters like no other authors can.
Be warned though, Erikson can be pretty dark. And Bakker is even darker and sometimes truly bleak. If that's not your cup of tea, then you might want to skip Bakker for sure.
And i second that Guy Gavriel Kay writes really good fantasy as well. Also a big second for Tad Williams and his work in the world of Osten Ard (aka Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series and the new The Last King of Osten Ard series).
Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen (and all other works in that world).
Michelle West's Sun Sword books and the other works in the same setting.
R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect Emperor series.
All three have very well developed settings and all of them, imo, have very complex plot (so not your standard "popcorn" fantasy). All are above average in writting good characters but of the three, I think Michelle is strongest in that regard. She and Kay are the authors that can draw me in through characters like no other authors can.
Be warned though, Erikson can be pretty dark. And Bakker is even darker and sometimes truly bleak. If that's not your cup of tea, then you might want to skip Bakker for sure.
And i second that Guy Gavriel Kay writes really good fantasy as well. Also a big second for Tad Williams and his work in the world of Osten Ard (aka Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series and the new The Last King of Osten Ard series).