Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, esepcially the Night Watch, Witches, and Death arcs.
Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley - I love her characterization to death. That's all.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin - gritty, dark, realistic, and wonderful. No dumbed-down generic fantasy, or even cliches of elves/dwarves/gnomes/magic usage, this.
Songs & Swords, Starlight & Shadow, Counselor & King, Evermeet: Island of Elves by Elaine Cunningham - she has a way of portraying elves that is simply unique. Her characters and plots are great, too.
