(Got to agree with Morgan R) Lois McMaster Bujold's 'Miles Vorkosigan' series of books. I've got them all, and I think only about two of the books in the series were a bit 'meh', but loved all the rest! Most of them are stand-alone novels, but with ongoing character development that spans across the series.
Some more fav's:
I read the Hunger Games trilogy recently, and actually thought it was pretty good. Still haven't seen the movie.
Across the Nightingale Floor and series by Lean Hearn. Got to love samurai / ninja / drama stories!
Any books by David Gemmell with Skilgannon or Waylander in them. (the books get better the further into the series' you get) Waylander is basically an assassin who goes and murders the King, causing the whole land to fall apart and get invaded. He then becomes the only person skilled enough to right his wrong, and save the land from destruction. Most of David Gemmell's books are set in the same world, but in different eras with different characters.
"Waylander", "Waylander II", "A Hero in the Shadows"
Skilgannon's books I think are: "White Wolf" and "The Swords of Night and Day"