The Passage rocks indeed, yet it has an open ending and there are supposed to be follow ups.
I LOVED your post as I always am looking for new mind-blowing books, so I am going through the list of yours that I haven't read yet (most I have though).
I hope my recommendations will be helpful. I don't recommend crap, so probably they will be in the same kind of mood that you are looking for, books that transport you completely to another world.
Please please please pm me if you like what you are reading. I love hearing reactions to books I recommend
Ernest Cline
Ready Player One (Especially if you love video games, underdogs and the '80. This book just makes you smile a lot)
Kristin Cashore (must read fantasy series)
* Graceling
* Fire
* Bitterblue
Veronica Roth (Great universe, original. Will love them I promise)
* Divergent
* Insurgent
* Book 3 still being written
Marie Lu (great YA, can't wait for more)
* Legend
Gayle Foreman (Love in it's truest form, books hunted me for months)
* Should I stay
* Where she went
Erin Morgenstern (A very dark fairytale like book, loved it, devoured it)
*The Night Circus
Ransom Riggs (book is weirdish, open ending, will have follow up)
* Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children
Maggie Stiefvater (one trilogy, one stand alone, not fantastic, but good)
*The Scorpio Races
and
* Shiver
* Linger
* Forever
Laini Taylor (start of trilogy, great book)
* Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Scott Westerfield (simple YA, but entertaining)
* Uglies
* Pretties
* Specials
* Extras
Ally Condie (okayish series, not that good, but still want to know where it will go)
* Matched
* Crossed
* Reached (coming this fall)
Laura Hillenbrand (completely different genre, brilliant story of survival)
* Unbroken
Stieg Larsson (you will love the Characters)
* The millennium trilogy
So, that will get you through 2012 I think!!
Also, things I do NOT recommend, did read them but disliked them:
Kamie Garcia&Margaret Stohl series in the Beautiful Creatures. (Just plain horrible. Really horrible and annoying past the first chapters)
James Dashner the maze runner series (original concept, very bad worked out story)
Cassanda Clare mortal instruments series. (Also good idea, but did NOT find this good writing or well thought out, it's just too many times "yeah right" feeling)
[This message edited by osca at 4:04 AM, May 27th (Sunday)]