Any of you had the pleasure to read "The Religion" by Tim Wilcox (I think that is how he spells his last name)? It is a bloody tale of the Great Siege of Malta in the 1500's. One of the first times that Europe was able to stop the Ottoman Empire as it expanded. This is a visceral tale but well worth a look!
I have heard it is similar to Ironfire and Blood Rock but have never read those titles.