Hild, by Nicola Griffith

The story of one of the most powerful women in the middle ages, Hild has a gritty, almost tactile sense of place, deft use of language, and nuanced, complex, and fascinating characters. A great choice for fans of Tolkein and Arthurian legends, but be warned: This isn't T. H. White's Middle Ages. Game of Thrones fans will want to read this as well.