Try David Weber’s Safehold series. Nine books so far. Huge cast of characters; international intrigue; spectacular battle scenes; romance; and an open ended situation.
Also in the Science-Fiction line, the Vorkosigan series, by Lois McMaster Bujold. For fantasy, the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett.
It is on his website and is, he assures us, NOT the way he will end the series but it is a hoot. And it actually would work.