More like Reaping the Aurora

anchored on:fantasysecondary worldepic fantasypolitical intriguedarktense

but

Narrow

World of Ice and FireUniverse
universe19 books1980
About 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
GrishaverseUniverse
universe19 books2012
“Saints are canonized here the way soldiers are buried elsewhere — quietly, and too often.”
from the catalogue
Start with Six of Crows →
includes The Nikolai Duology, Six of Crows, The Grisha
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, Night of Knives, The Kharkanas Trilogy, Path to Ascendancy, Witness Trilogy
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
Black Wolves TrilogySeries
series1 book2015
About redemption and war.
“SOME CHOICES CAN NEVER BE UNDONE.He lost his honor long ago.”
from the catalogue
Start with Black Wolves →
The White Mists of PowerNovel
Kristine Kathryn Ruschstandalone novel1991
Adventurous in tone, about quests and court intrigue.
“Synopsis -An innocent excited boy, a prince and heir, takes his first journey to the city.”
from the catalogue