For example, Wheel of Time is just the vibe I am looking for. The main characters start as peasants and sheepherders from the sticks, and the world opens up more and more as they are out there exploring, the book doesn't just drop it all on you at once. Similarly, magic is awe inspiring and rare, yet far from all powerful. But while the world starts small, it does not stay small. And it feels earned each time the scale increases, when a sheepherder finally herds armies instead of sheep.
But if I ask for something like Wheel of Time, people usually just drop all the other big name fantasy series on me. But I am not looking for just big fantasy.
A counter example of what I am not looking for is something like Malazan, I am 1/3 through the first book there now, and am just not feeling it. Every character introduced is either the best mage that ever lived, a legendary elite soldier or the greatest thief/assassin that is. Do forgive the slight exaggeration, but I hope you get what I mean. I need my commoners, people that actually are afraid of the world around them. (And while WoT had their fair share of OP characters too, of course, the focus was not truly on them, they were there to guide/train the peasant gang)
Other than that, I highly prefer finished series, or at least ones that make a point of not ending on cliff hangers. I am too old to wait 5 years for the next book.
by buddiesfoundmyoldacc