Hard pass for me due to the author, he’s a real jerk.

The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle. Some of the dialogue feels a bit dated but so far I’m enjoying it.

The First Law by Joe Abercrombie. It deals with political struggles and empires clashing but not the end of the world. The characters are definitely more flawed and relatable at times.

If you’re running a sandbox, you just need to review a bit ahead of the party in the various dungeons.