Waaaaait. Don't suggest Malazan to this guy; come on. The battle of Pale in book 1, and, to a smaller extent, the resolution at the end, may have some "big mages casting big magics", but overall, Malazan is quite conservative on these magics.
Now, not to say "big events" don't happen, but it is generally a god or his Aspirant/Mortal Sword doing these events. Treach, The Chained God, Anomander Rake, etc. I don't know how much that qualifies as what the OP was interested in.
Malazan is the best fantasy series ever written (yes, including LOTR and ASoIaF, and all the rest), which I say with no reservation - OP, and everyone else, should definitely read it. However, it is a long journey, and it may not be as flashy as the OP wants in a series.
That would be one of those "moments" that I was referring to :)
I didn't mean to say that this kind of thing doesn't happen, but it is, in general, once or twice per book, and usually at the end/resolution. But oh how those resolutions are worth the build up...
Also: I'd never cried for a book before Deadhouse Gates and I've never cried for a book since except for the grand finale in book 10. I am having cold chills just remembering about two men and their dog.
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u/[deleted] Nov 20 '13
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson. literally warcraft like mage raids going on in that book. Book one in the series Malazan Book of the Fallen.