More like Before the Mask

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The Circle of the WorldUniverse
universe29 books2006
Grimdark.
“What sets it apart is the honesty of its cynicism — close, sardonic points of view, gallows humour, and a flat refusal to let anyone stay clean.”
from the catalogue
Start with The Blade Itself →
includes The First Law Trilogy, The Age of Madness
World of Ice and FireUniverse
universe19 books1980
About political intrigue and war.
“Winter is coming, and the men who forget it die first.”
from the catalogue
Start with A Game of Thrones →
includes A Song of Ice and Fire, Targaryen History
MalazanUniverse
universe36 books1999
About war.
“Pity the historian who tries to map this world; pity more the god who thinks he rules it.”
from the catalogue
Start with Gardens of the Moon →
includes Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Kharkanas Trilogy, Night of Knives, Path to Ascendancy, Witness Trilogy
Thomas Covenant the UnbelieverSeries
series11 books1977
About quests.
Start with Lord Foul's Bane →
Sundering (Jacqueline Carey)Series
series2 books2004
About gods and war.
“The books portray a conflict between light and dark, with many of the common conventions of fantasy fiction.”
from the catalogue
Start with Banewreaker →
The Second ApocalypseSeries
series11 books2003
Grimdark, about war and faith and religion.
Start with The Darkness That Comes Before →