With J.R.R. Tolkien and Ursula K. LeGuin having written the ultimate books on fantasy, it is quite difficult to find new examples of this genre which bring a fresh breath and cover uncharted areas.

George R.R. Martin (in his "A Song of Ice and Fire" series) and the late Robert Jordan (in his "Wheel of Time" series) have produced superb fantasy series which use familiar fantasy elements but are still able to make it exciting and readable. Young Adult series could produce some interesting examples (Harry Potter, of course but also Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Artemis Fowl and countless others). There are also many mediocre examples and one always hopes to discover the good ones.

I've stumbled into Erika Johansen's "Tearling" series in the local library and got the first two books out. The first book, The Queen of the Tearling starts with a usual theme: Girl lives with foster parents in a remote location, has to take the throne while trying to stay alive until the coronation, first act is to violate the treaty with a hostile neighbour etc. However the storytelling is good, it is slightly above Young Adult level (some profanity) and you keep wondering how the story of Princess (then Queen) Kelsea Raleigh Glynn will unfold. The Tearling is an almost medieval realm, but the story keeps referring to the British and Americans who have crossed over to the New World, the science and technology that got lost over time, reference to gunpowder being discovered and of course the compulsory magic element. So, this history makes the story a post-scientific fantasy, but I think some of the past will be covered in the next books in the series.

I would suggest fantasy lovers to give this series a chance, since there seems to be some value in the narrative.