Open Call for Epic Fantasy Recommendations

I'm looking for a list of epic fantasy to devour over the next few months as I gear up and get in the mood to research the writing of an epic-ish fantasy. I want books that have good pacing, interesting characters, and interesting challenges. This is an open call, and if you know of a sci-fi series, or even something historical that fits this bill, let me know. I've read fairly extensively, but haven't been into epic fantasy much for the last few years for a number of reasons, but mostly because I was kind of burned out on it. I think the burn-out is done, and I'm ready to jump back into the genre.

Please do not recommend the following:

Wheel of Time. Read it. Stopped at Winter's Heart after 3 separate attempts to read that book. Someday I will finish the series, but not today. Please don't hate me!A Game of Thrones or the entire series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Read it. Loved it. A Dance with Dragons is sitting on my bookshelf until I have time to reread the entire series again so that everything is fresh in my mind when I start it. Again, please don't hate me!Robin Hobb's Assassin's Trilogy or Tawny Man Trilogy. Read both. Loved both. In fact, don't recommend Hobb to me at all. I am already in love with her ;) I am probably the only fan who loved her Soldier's Son trilogy...Lord of the Rings. I mean, really. Do I have to spell that one out? Ditto for The Hobbit.Anything D&D, Forgotten Realms, Dragon Lance, Your Favorite Gaming Series, etc. I've read a smattering of them. They aren't really my style, but I totally respect people's love of them. Just don't happen to like elves or dwarves. I should probably add Star Trek and Star Wars to that list as well...Elantris or anything Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I've read Elantris (as well as a few other things from Sanderson--all of which I enjoyed), and Mistborn is at the top of my list :)Dark Tower anything. I've read the first three or four in that series already.Ender's anything, or anything in the Ender universe. I've read it. I probably loved it, or liked it well enough that I stayed up way past my bedtime finishing it. Twilight or Harry Potter, or anything in that vein. I'm looking for something written for adult audiences that does not involve a magic school, a magic school bus, or vampires/werewolves/whatever. I don't think that I have to spell that out, but just in case... David Anthony Durham's Acacia Trilogy. Really enjoyed it.Anything Robin McKinley, because I have probably read it.Anything from L.E. Modesitt's Recluce world, because I have probably read it.Anything by David Eddings, because I probably read it.Anything by Raymond Feist. See above.Anything by Anne Bishop. See above.Anything by Terry Goodkind. See above.Anything by Terry Brooks. There. Did I make it challenging enough? I think I have mentioned many of the common fantasy recommendations. Anyway, ready, set, go. Leave your recommendations in the comments, and feel free to gush about your favorite authors. I am always looking for something great to read!