Looking For Recs For More Medieval/Viking/Historical Fiction Similar To Pillars Of The Earth If Possible? I’ll Explain In Post

So I have recently became greatly interested in really broadening my reading scope & after years of having no interest in this sort of fiction, for some reason I literally crave it now. I have a hard time explaining what I’m looking for, though. I’ve always enjoyed classics, especially anything to do with the Victorian Era, and for years that’s as far back as my interest really stretched. But now I find myself looking for books (historical fiction especially) dealing with anything Vikings, Medieval, King Arthur, basically anything from the 18th century back in that vain. I am currently reading The Pillars Of The Earth, loving it so far and have bought the entire series as well as the Game Of Thrones series & the Outlander series, books like The Name Of The Rose, and An Instance Of The Fingerpost, Dissolution, etc. I realize some of those stray into the realms of fantasy, especially GOT, but that’s ok. I just don’t know much about those time periods honestly so it’s hard for me to really nail down what I’m looking for. Take the recent film The Last Duel for example, that precisely nails it. Knights & armor, castles, kings & dungeons, anything to do with the Viking age also, even books dealing with Rome. All of the different kings & the eras/centuries in which they reigned. I just feel like I’m probably missing out on a huge world of excellent historical fiction out there. My interests have just exploded in the past year. I’m currently reading much about Napoleon as well & the French Revolution etc, trying to brush up on my history before tackling War and Peace & A Tale Of Two Cities.

I know Bernard Cornwell is a huge name in this sphere so I plan on loading up on his books soon. Also Conn Iggulden. I’m just not even sure what to classify what I’m looking for as, besides Medieval/Historical Fiction in the same sort of sphere as the books/movies I mentioned. I have no clue how my interest in most of this exploded as I was always someone with no interest whatsoever in most of these topics & definitely no interest in anything fantasy but it has & now I’m kicking myself for being so behind on all these books, series, movies & tv shows of said books with multiple seasons. If anyone has any recs along these lines I would be very grateful for them! Thank you very much, and happy reading!

by bigkingfan91