Terrible Swift Sword

The first book is not bad, but by the time I got to the end of book two, I discovered that the story was not really going anywhere anymore. I started book three and not so slowly got bored with the plot. The characters were familiar, but stranger then usual. Attrition from multiple battles had broken the regiment but it still fought like before. The books are very, very long and they don't seem to end....just muddle on. The idea was enticing, but length and boredom cause me to quit the series at this point.