I read John Ringo when I was younger (early 20's); it has a lot of what you are looking for.

I wouldn't call it high art, but the writing is fairly good.

Absolutely "The Library at Mount Char" by Scott Hawkins

Gritty and gory? Black leopard, Red Wolf

Saving this thread because I'm curious

It's not as much violent but Weaveworld by Clive Barker is in that dark fantasy vein, very good, very long.

Also dark, kinda cosmic, very good, is Imajica, also by Clive Barker. It's almost 900 pages tho so you've been warned.

Check out James Enge. He wrote a series that I really enjoyed that sounds like just what you are looking for.