Reddit mentions of The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Chronicles Series #1)

And if you’d like a good read of a series that is actually completed, the books are also worthwhile.

I might be about to commit heresy by mentioning another author in this sub, but anyways. If you haven't read them already I highly recommend to you the Saxon Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell. Historical Novels who are known to be well researched and they portray the Norse and their attacks on Britain around the time of Alfred the Great. He really tries to show that the Norse weren't the just Vikings out for plunder and rape, mindlessly killing people while wearing horned helmets and going full berserk. Funny bit of trivia: George Martin himself listed Cornwell in a list of authors he loves once.

Link

Nonfiction: The Penguin Historical Atlas: Vikings http://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Historical-Atlas-Vikings-Hist/dp/0140513280

Fiction (but historical/realistic): The Saxon Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell - Book 1 is The Last Kingdom: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Kingdom-Saxon-Chronicles-Series/dp/0060887184

Also worthwhile:

Beowulf: http://www.amazon.com/Beowulf-New-Verse-Translation-Bilingual/dp/0393320979/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425795525&sr=1-1&keywords=beowulf

Sagas of the Icelanders: http://www.amazon.com/Sagas-Icelanders-Penguin-Classics-Deluxe/dp/0141000031/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425795544&sr=1-1&keywords=sagas+icelanders

GURPS Vikings (tabletop RPG): http://www.amazon.com/GURPS-Vikings-Roleplaying-World-Norsemen/dp/1556342012/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425795572&sr=1-1&keywords=Vikings+gurps

Vikings (comic): http://www.amazon.com/Viking-1-TPB-Ivan-Brandon/dp/1607061694/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425795563&sr=1-1&keywords=Vikings+comic

Enjoy!!

The last kingdom by Bernard Cornwall. Excellent fictional account of the Viking invasion and the old English push to throw them out http://www.amazon.com/Last-Kingdom-Saxon-Chronicles-Series/dp/0060887184

So, I was in the same boat as you for a while in terms of what the hell to read for fantasy after GRRM. I highly suggest switching over to historical fiction for a bit, Bernard Cornwell to be exact.

Read his Warlord Chronicles, starts with The Winter King. Very dark and real retelling of the events of King Arthur.

I also HIGHLY recommend his Saxon Stories series, which starts with The Last Kingdom.

Both are fantastic series, and are actually quite similar to each other.

The Saxon Tales series by Bernard Cornwell is going to be recommended to you by most readers. It is a historical fiction chronicling the adventures of the warrior Uhtred and his ambivalence through contradicting alliances to both the Saxon people and the Vikings amid war. This series is hands down the most addicting I've ever read in my life, so be prepared! Also, beware of the Netflix show based on these books. The show really doesn't do them justice. I'd just say steer away from the show altogether.

Here is the first book:
The Last Kingdom

Bernard Cornwell's series that starts here:

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Kingdom-Saxon-Chronicles/dp/0060887184/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1311157472&sr=8-6

I highly recommend the books by Bernard Cornwell, called the Saxon Series beginning with The Last Kingdom

edit: fixed link

If you liked Dan Brown, you could give Umberto Eco a try with Foucault's Pendulum or In the Name of the Rose - His books are more intelligent and were written before Brown was around.

I read a lot of historical fiction, if that is of interest you could start with The Gates of Fire by Pressfield or The Last Kingdom by Cornwell

Mystery, action, and fantasy all rolled into one - Dresden Files might be of interest to you - it is kind of a detective noir mixed with fantasy. Also, the series vastly improves as it progresses.

If you would like a coming of age story, The Power of One follows a boy in turn-of-the-century South Africa and examines class and race relations in a very accessible way.

If you want to try reading some of what are considered "The Classics" I would recommend All Quiet on the Western Front and To Kill a Mockingbird

Tried to think of some of my favorites across several very different genres...If any of these appeal, I can expand on them with more similar suggestions.

The Saxon Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell are good. The first book is The Last Kindgom. The series details the viking (Dane) invasion and occupation of the British Isle.
I haven't read anything by Robert Low, I will have to give those a try. Thanks for the recommendation.

I see there are a lot of fantasy recommendations here, but I think you may want to try out historical fiction.

GRRM gets a lot of his inspiration from history. Try out Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough.

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