This could turn into a very long list if I had my way.
I've read most of the suggestions here, so I know I'm in good company. I do actually think that Le Guin would be a wonderful "group" focus: she's just such a great writer, and her style and ideas hold strong so many years later. If we are all heading to Earthsea -- so be it!
I have read more science fiction than fantasy in the last 5 years, but I would be remiss to not mention Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind (which you should all read before it gets turned into an HBO series or movie or whatever -- Sam Raimi's directing, is all I know). The only challenge with this one is that it's a wee bit long.
But my absolute favourite "fantasy" books in recent years have been by China Mieville -- specifically, Perdido Street Station. Now, you could call his works fantasy or steampunk or slipstream, but it doesn't matter, because they're amazing and you should all read them.