If you're looking for fantasy, and if you happen to like things similar to J.R. Tolkien, I'm currently obsessed with 2 series..
1) The Wheel Of Time by Robert Jordan. It's a 12 book series, and the 12th book hasn't come out yet, but it's an excellent series, and he's been called the next Tolkien. Multiple awards for it. The series starts off slow, but as you go on, it gets really good.
Overview:
The Wheel of Time (abbreviated by fans to WoT) is a series of epic fantasy novels written by the late American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, it now consists of twelve published novels. The first volume of the final book has been published, with two more volumes to come. There is also a prequel novel and a companion book available. Rigney began writing the first volume, The Eye of the World, in 1984 and it was published in February 1990.[1] He died while working on the final volume, which will be completed by fellow fantasy author Brandon Sanderson. The final book is to be split up into three volumes, the first of which was published October 27 2009. The other two books are tentatively scheduled for release in November 2010 and November 2011.[2]
The series draws on elements of both European and Asian mythology, most notably the cyclical nature of time found in Hinduism and Buddhism and the concepts of balance, duality and a respect for nature found in Daoism. It was also partly inspired by Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace.[3]
The Wheel of Time is notable for its length, its detailed imaginary world, its well-developed magic system and a large cast of characters. The eighth through eleventh books each reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list. As of August 12, 2008 the series has sold over 44 million copies worldwide[4] and has spawned a computer game, roleplaying game and a soundtrack album. The television and film rights to the series have been optioned several times, most recently by Universal Studios.
-From wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Time" )
2) The Name Of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Extremely well written! I got sucked into the book so much that I barely slept from reading it. It's supposed to be a 3 book series, but it's new, and only the first book is out so far.
Overview on the inside cover:
My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I've had more names than anyone has a right to. The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree.
"The Flame" is obvious if you've ever seen me. I have red hair, bright. If I had been born a couple of hundred years ago I would probably have been burned as a demon. I keep it short but it's unruly. When left to its own devices, it sticks up and makes me look as if I have been set afire.
"The Thunder" I attribute to a strong baritone and a great deal of stage training at an early age.
I've never thought of "The Broken Tree" as very significant. Although in retrospect, I suppose it could be considered at least partially prophetic.
My first mentor called me E'lir because I was clever and I knew it. My first real lover called me Dulator because she liked the sound of it. I have been called Shadicar, Lightfinger, and Six-String. I have been called Kvothe the Bloodless, Kvothe the Arcane, and Kvothe Kingkiller. I have earned those names. Bought and paid for them.
But I was brought up as Kvothe. My father once told me it meant "to know."
I have, of course, been called many other things. Most of them uncouth, although very few were unearned.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me.
So begins the tale of Kvothe—from his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a difficult and dangerous school of magic. In these pages you will come to know Kvothe as a notorious magician, an accomplished thief, a masterful musician, and an infamous assassin. But The Name of the Wind is so much more—for the story it tells reveals the truth behind Kvothe's legend.
From the website (http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/content/books.asp" )
Also, aside from that, there's another series that I love that I got sucked into:
The Dragaeran books by Steven Brust.
It's a series of books based around the character Vlad Taltos (Pronounced tal-tosh)
These are the books in the series that are out so far:
The Vlad Taltos novels (19 are planned in this series)
Jhereg (1983)
Yendi (1984)
Teckla (1987)
Taltos (1988)
Phoenix (1990)
Athyra (1993)
Orca (1996)
Dragon (1998)
Issola (2001)
Dzur (2006)
Jhegaala (2008)
I've read up to Issola, and they're fantastically written. If you want more details, you can check it out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Brust" .
Hope this helps :)
