Simon R. Green is brilliant. I love him <3

If I had to recommend something pretty epic, I'd go with Jaqueline Carey's Kushiel series, starting with Kushiel's Dart. Definitely girly fantasy, which isn't my cup of tea, but I loved it anyway. Weird.

If I had to recommend something gritty and brutal but a damn good read, I'd go with Matthew Woodring Stover's Blade of Tyshalle. This is more male-oriented, but I think you'd enjoy it anyway.

Umm... funny... well, I'm drawing a blank on anything as funny as Simon Green. Sorry =(