If I was browsing at a bookstore, I would judge a book by first it's spine, illustration cover and then blurb. Then I wipe out my phone and check the ratings and reviews (no spoilers) on goodreads to make a better decision.
A lot of the times, I get recommendations from friends and family. Once I have read a particular good author's work, I would go searching for their life work and see if they can be added to my 'to read' list :)
I recommend these two authors for their world building:
Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn trilogy
Anne bishop - Black Jewels trilogy
Happy reading!
