Good but not great
I've been reading David Drake since he first published Hammer's Slammers and I have never been disappointed in what he has had a hand in. Not to say that all his books have been great, but they all share those same characterics of tight plot, military background and believable characters in all their frailities. Their are only two downsides to Fortune's stroke. It didn't move the plot enough and not enough Belisarius. I have to say that the Iron Dyke crack did make laugh so hard I cried! I think the reason I enjoyed the first two books in the series was that it was gritty and focused more on Belisarius then on the supporting characters. Of course you are now dealing with a larger scope so you have to include more viewpoints, still I was a little disappointed. Still a very good read!