I think that in itself is its own charm. You don't need to 'follow' the series. If you're at the bookstore and pick up any of the books in the Drenai series, you can read it without feeling like you're lost or missed something.
How do you like the battles and fight scenes? I think that's what make Gemmell really stand out. From what I remember, the way he does the battle scenes is an art.
The battles are extremely detailed, some of the best I've read
Spoiler alert
HE KEEPS KILLINGS EVERYONE, AND I MEAN EVERYONE!