fduvall
Reading the Witcher book at the moment and really enjoying it; totally different to the books I've read so far.
David Gemmell: Wrote loads, unfortunately RIP, but a big name in UK Fantasy literature. Start with the Drenai series: Legend.
Another former favourite is Raymond E Feist: Start with Magician. I say former, as after a while his books become a bit samey, but up until 2008, it was all good stuff.
Finally: Peter V Brett: the Painted Man - this is one book that really stands out for me - I really liked the concept. He's written the first two, and I am waiting for the third installment of what is meant to be 5 books.
Also Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora is a brilliant, fun read. The sequel isn't as great but is still worth a read.
Lois McMaster Bujold (a bit lighter and much funnier)
He then wrote loads more books I haven't read set in the same world...
I heard from my brother that the Empire series, also by Feist, is worth reading.
Has anybody read The Dark Tower series by Stephen King?
Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels, Tir Alainn and Emphera series, all excellent with great characterisation. Likewise, J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Might appeal to the missus too.
A favorite among my family (including now my hubby) is Jim Butcher - he's got two major series. His big break came with The Dresden Files, which is a series about a modern-day wizard living in Chicago, working in partnership with a special division of the Chicago PD.
His first major works though, which gained recognition after the popularity of Dresden Files was Codex Alera, which is set in a fantasy world. This is the story of a world at war, with roots apparently tracing back to a group of Romans who experienced some sort of mysterious travel (never has been explained how people of Roman ancestry arrive in the story world). The human population has developed a strong affinity to the world around them, becoming able to summon and use elemental "furies" (manifestations or simple things like added strength from the earth, quickness from air, things like that).
A series I learned of from friends recently is The Iron Druid Chronicles , by Kevin Hearne. Hubby bought them for me while I was away over the holidays, and I've just had a chance to dive in... almost finished with the first book, and it's looking good so far.
He won the bet and it's perfectly readable (especially when he started to feel he could downplay the Pokemon elements). Dresden Files is better, though.
The OP seems to like fairly 'serious-toned' stuff (and also to have enough to be getting on with). However, some of my favourite fantasy/ soft SF books ever are Philip Reeve's Hungry Cities cycle, technically YA but pretty clever. Nobody gets murdered at their wedding, but plenty of no-character-is-safe just the same.
Having said that, thoroughly enjoying his books, a little slow in places and some sections are overly long, but all in all a great read.
However, if you want to keep to the fantasy books then you must read the Robin Hodd liveship series, really good read, as is the Farseer trlogy
Also, Justin Cronin's The Passage and The Twelve are epic.