WTF: I can't believe nobody mentioned Robert Jordan's saga "Wheel of Time". It's like 13 books or something (can't remember exactly, but it's huge) and very good read. I've just finished book 8, and I want more.
mystral: People did mention it in the thread before, maybe you should actually read posts instead of skimming them before you complain about them (see posts 25, 31 and 35). Besides, the first 6 books are ok, the rest are horrible as Jordan drags the same time period on and on and on, from different perspectives, but still.
And the blatant, omnipresent sexism, from both genders, is frankly very grating after a while.
To the OP: It's hard to recommend books to someone without knowing what their tastes are, and it also depends on what kind of fantasy you like since it's a very broad genre, but I'd say Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss are probably the 2 best fantasy writers around these days.
Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy (and its sequel) is pretty good as long as you don't mind a really flawed protagonist and dark setting, Glen Cook's early books about the Black Company are good with the same disclaimer.
I'd also recommend David Eddings for fun reads, Trudi Canavan is pretty good too in a different style, as is Jennifer Fallon.
If you like urban fantasy (books that takes place in a world similar to ours but where magic and nonhuman species exist), I'd highly recommend books by Ilona Andrews and Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.
And of course I absolutely have to mention Terry Pratchett, but it took a while for him to hit his stride, the first few books aren't really good, you should probably start with Guards! Guards! for the most fun.
I was actually thinking of reading Patrick Rothfuss due to his association with the Torment kickstarter.
Tallima: At the risk of sounding narcissistic, I recommend the novel I wrote. Lots of folks have enjoyed it.
I'll make it free for tomorrow so you can read it at no cost tomorrow (Friday). It's only available on Kindle right now.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FA813C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006FA813C&linkCode=as2&tag=legeofleef-20 I hate to say what it's about b/c it's more fun just to read it and enjoy the ride. But you can read Hamster's review (a fellow GOGer who loved the book) or the synopsis on the title page.
I read the first of The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone. I heard that the series goes worse toward the end, but the first book was spectacular. Lots of fun characters and their lives get all interwiny. Good fun. I think that's the last fantasy I've read. I've stayed away for a little while.
