If you want to read a really good, and different (and even more brutal) fantasy, check out Steven Erikson's The Malazan Tale of the Fallen. He cranked out all 10 books and each one is more epic than the next. The list of memorable characters are simply ridiculous, it is so much fun that I have reread the series twice, and now starting a 3rd time this summer. It is that good. Also, there is an excellent blog called Reread of the Malazan that explains chapter by chapter how everything fits in. It is amazing stuff.
Check out the first book, Gardens of the Moon (rather fruity title).
There are also 6 side novels, 3 of them written by Erikson, 3 by his role-playing buddy. He also started another trilogy in the same universe that goes over a particular race's early history (with 2nd book to be released in 2015), and also contracted to write another trilogy for yet another pivotal character.
IMO, this series is the pinnacle of epic fantasy (after Tolkien).
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