You might like to try Jack Vance's 'Lyonesse' trilogy which is set on the Elder Isles - lands now lost beneath the waves of the Atlantic.

No ballads, but princes, princesses, magicians, knights, warring kings, pirates, giants, ogres and fairies galore. I have been reading Vance for most of my life and he is like no other writer I know of - my favest rave of all time. The atmosphere that he creates with his characteristic prose style is unique. If you haven't read him yet I envy you!

The three books are: Lyonesse: Suldrun's Garden, Lyonesse: The Green Pearl and Lyonesse: Madouc.