it's not often I hear about something from one of the major imprints and think, wow, that really sounds different

Ditto. And, when it does happen with the major houses, it tends to be their mainstream imprints you find you're looking at. Even more so in fantasy, where there's a quite a lot being translated by the major houses at the moment of which approximately zero seems to be coming out from their genre lists; e.g., the new Carlos Ruiz Zafon (and indeed its predecessor). 'Course, the other biggish slice of translated fantasy is being issued by the smaller companies, whether they're genre houses or not.

especially the Brooke

I bin keepin an eye out for it, honest, boss.

Which are the other 'shafts of sunlight'?

I was trying not to particularize in any way. Tactful bugger, me.