The Way of Shadows

The Way of Shadows is ostensibly a fantasy book. However, the plot tends to be just an excuse to cram as much sex and violence in as possible. The focus is often on the low-life on the streets. They are violent. There are prostitutes and crazy royals. More sex and violence. And then there are "Wetboys" that can use some magical powers often for violent acts. People also have relationships with each other, with plenty of trickery and violence. Ugh.

Black Prism

Black Prism is set in a fantasy world where colors are very important and have some special powers. We follow the goings of a fat boy who watches his village destroyed. We later learn that he is the illegitimate son of the "Prism", the sort of Emperor over the kings. However, we later learn that the Prism is actually the brother of the Prism in disguise. The society values people that can identify minute differentiation in color. It also has some practices that we would find abhorrent. The government servants participate in a "release" when they have reached the end of their service. They get to talk with the leader, and are then executed by him, "releasing" them from this life. Individual Kings have power to do whatever they so desire. However, the Prism also has some similar power, giving some means of balance. The book goes on for a while, and also follows the path of a girl from the same village who was the daughter of a disgraced general. Things seem to gradually come together at the end, though it takes a long time to get there.