Hammerfall by C. J. Cherryh

Mmm fan. I love the way she always writes in such a way that you have to figure it out as you go along.. have to go buy sequel now.

A desert tale set in the far future on an alien world. Marak is a bandit’s son who is given over to the immortal Ila when he is no longer able to hide his ‘madness’. The Ila offers him a chance to redeem himself and his family in return for seeking the source of the visions he and so many others are subject to.

( Utterly spoiling the plot )

Neverwhere by Neil Gaimen

Dark, twisted and lovely. This is almost axiomatic for describing Gaiman's writing but go read it for yourself. It's witty and interesting and strangely funny with that ability to view the world at right angles to reality.

No good deed goes unpunished!

Richard Mayhew is living one of those lives where he is gently pushed into being whatever it is that is most convenient to those around him. In a moment of truth he abandons his finance on the way to an important dinner meeting and rescues a bleeding girl by the side of the road. His kindness thrusts him into another world, the London Below where magic is real and you really should Mind the Gap.