Best fantasy series I've read since I was a kid. The books are set on more realistic grounds and is quite similar to the War of Roses. Some say it's like a "fantasy Soprano's".

I was pretty skeptical at first, but after reading A Game of Thrones I was pretty much hooked (and I subsequently read the others in quick succession ...). Go pick it up if you haven't read it. I would dare say that even people who hate fantasy would probably love it.