I haven't actually read these on the page, but have listened to an unabridged audio adaptation on CD (33 CDs, 38 hours, in fact!), which is quite extraordinary. The story is an incredibly powerful evocation of morality in warfare, the difficulty of doing the right thing in impossible circumstances, the sometimes subtle distinction between good and evil, and is as epic and nuanced as anything I've read in recent years. The audio adaptation uses three actors to perform each of the three voices in the books - Todd, Viola, and The Return. Their performances are emotive and powerful, and add significantly to the tension and drama. Todd comes of age, in extremis, and his battle of wills and minds with Mayor Prentiss is the sustaining tension across the three books. Prentiss is one of the best villains imaginable, but he's only one of a dozen or so brilliant characters throughout the books. These are true classics. Can't wait for the movies!