Read my first fantasy novel at 11, and almost 40 years later it is pretty much still the only genre I read.. Always thought the definition of a good book is one you would pick up again and re-read. There are just so many books worth your attention its difficult to whittle it down, so just a few off the top of my head
Personal favorites
Anything by David Gemmell
Ari Marmell Conqueror series and Goblin corps - bad guys as the heroes for a change
Jim C. Hines - Jig the goblin series - laugh out loud funny
Robert Lynn Asprin - The "Myth" series (and also the Phules company series - set in space but equally readable and funny)
A little darker (maybe a lot)
Any of Joe Abercrombie's novels are well worth your time
Brian Staveley - The Unhewn throne series
And for anyone looking for a series that will take more than a few weeks to burn through - theres always the Wheel of Time series. I was warned when I first picked up book one, that it takes time and patience, as the first novel is in all honesty not great...BUT...once you get through it the following books are excellent, and between 6 and 900 pages per novel, and 14 of them (plus a prequel and two add ons), they will keep you going for some time.