Truly astounding battles. Warlord puts 'epic' and 'fantastic' back in epic fantasy.
Though it's all damn good, there are a few things that really stood out for me. I found the deep forest, grassland, and highland locations unique and incredibly well described. And the cavalry battles were amazing. I don't think I've ever read them quite like McArdle does it. And if you like castle sieges, oh boy. Really great stuff. The characters are also a great strength of the book, and their actions, interactions, and inner thoughts great fun to witness. Oh, and nature spirits!
All in all, I'd say this is a must read for fans of epic fantasy with brilliant characters and amazing battles.