Seeking lesser-known epic fantasy with deep worldbuilding after Malazan

[Gregory.G]

I've just finished a massive re-read of "The Malazan Book of the Fallen" and now I'm facing the dreaded fantasy hangover, struggling to find a new series that offers comparable depth in world-building and philosophical weight. I'm looking for recommendations beyond the usual mainstream suggestions like Sanderson or Martin. For fellow epic fantasy readers, what lesser-known series or standalone novels have you discovered that feature complex magic systems, morally grey characters, and intricate plotting? I'm particularly interested in works that subvert classic tropes or draw inspiration from non-Western mythologies, and I have a high tolerance for dense prose and slow-burn narratives if the payoff is worthwhile.

[Donald66]

Reply 1: If you want dense, world-building with philosophical heft and non-Western influences, start with The Bone Shard Daughter (Andrea Stewart). The bone shard magic and empire politics reward patience, and the payoffs land in a way that felt earned rather than handed to you.

Reply 2 (medium): Jade City by Fonda Lee is more accessible but still heavy with moral ambiguity and clan politics. Jade acts as a literal power currency and the world-building atmosphere is richly layered, with slow-burn revelations about loyalty, family, and power that pay off in sequel volumes.

Reply 3 (longer): City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty (Daevabad trilogy) leans into Middle Eastern-inspired myth and politics, with sprawling world-building and a morally gray cast. It subverts Western-European fantasy tropes through its sourcing of myth and its cultural lens, though the pace can be deliberate and the political scheming dense.

Reply 4 (short-to-medium): The Tiger's Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera draws on East Asian folklore and folklore-infused heroism. It’s a slower, character-driven epic with perilous moral choices; the pleasure comes from the atmosphere and the personal stakes rather than gadgetry.

Reply 5 (medium): Aliette de Bodard’s Xuya Universe (for example The Red Scholar's Wake and related novellas) gives you lush, multinational world-building with strong philosophical threads, anchored in Asian-inspired cultures. It’s not as sprawling as Malazan, but the depth and cross-cultural texture can scratch a similar itch for readers who enjoy myth retellings and intricate politics.