sooo- ik you said you dont like angst but i have a romance book recommendation :D
prob heard of it if you like bl, but i recommend heaven official's blessing. its angsty as hell but it feeds you so much in books 3, 4, 5, and 7. (yes its heaven official's blessing and not heaven's official blessing. originally written in chinese, wicked gay, but has INTEEEEEEEENSE detail to it. MXTX/mo xiang tong xiu/the author has written 2 other series as well :] oh, and it's abbreviation is tgcf)