You funky euros. I've read all the books, on my first read through I thought book 4 was weaker than the first 3, but on my second and third read throughs I found it to be just as good as the first three.
Give it a chance man. Cliche's are non existant here. The series is full of child murder, murder, rape, insest, politicing, and war. Basically everything you need to make a good show.