I have not read the Hawk Eternal books. They are the only Gemmell tales I have not read (at least three times). The reasons for this are two-fold: For one, I like that I still have an unread Gemmell story to read, waiting for me whenever decide it's time. Secondly, (I don't mean to be sexist or misogynistic in saying this, as I am happily married to a happy wife, was raised by a single mother, and have a circle of friends that is composed of a majority of independant, intelligent, and beautiful women. I love women!) I have a hard time relating with a female primary character. I like to have a someone that I can imagine being. The reason I had a hard time with George R.R. Martin is because he killed all the characters that resounded with me. Leaving a sarcastic, horrifically wounded, (yet admittedly awesome) dwarf of questionable moral fibre, his one-handed, slightly reformed, yet still incredibly arrogant (and incestuous) brother, and a bunch of children too young to actually do the things they are written as doing.
Admittedly, this is my failing as a reader, rather than any shortcoming of the author's. I should be able to appreciate the value of characterization regardless of the form it takes.
I know I will read Hawk Eternal soon, but it hasn't happened yet. It's my Snickers bar in the bottom drawer. My hidden fix.
On the reusing of names, I also found this a little troubling, but I have to accept that (gasp) people have the same names in real life, too. And in some cases, Gemmell used this as a device to indicate lineage, making it even more acceptable. Decado is a prime example, as he is alternately the Ice Killer and member of the Thirty in King Beyond the Gate, as well as Skilgannon's nemesis and son in the later novels.