I bought this book because I read Carey's previous Kushiel series and liked her writing. The summary sounded interesting so I got it. Here's the summary from the back of the book:

If all that is good thinks you're evil... are you?

Once upon a time, the Seven Shapers dwelled in accord and Shaped the world to their will. But Satoris, the youngest among them, was deemed too generous in his gifts to the race of Men, and so began the Shapers' War, which Sundered the world. Now six of the Shapers lay to one end of a vast ocean, and Satoris to the other, reviled by even the race of Men.

Satoris sits in his Darkhaven, surrounded by his allies. Chief among them is Tanaros Blacksword, immortal Commander General of his army. Once a mortal man who was betrayed by King and Wife, Tanaros fled to Darkhaven a thousand years ago, and in Satoris's service has redeemed his honer- but left his humanity behind.

Now there is a new prophecy that tells of Satoris's destruction and the redemption of the world. To thwart it, Satoris sends Tanaros to capture the Lady of the Ellylon, the beautiful Cerelinde, to prevent her alliance with the last High King of Men.

But Tanaros discovers that not all of his heart has been lost- and his feeling for Cerelinde could doom Satoris, but save the race of Men...

2006 Book # 5 - The Sundering 01 : Banewreaker by Jacqueline Carey
Well, in theory this book is an interesting idea. I think the part that got me was the opening line of the back of the book: "If all that is good thinks you're evil... are you?"

Unfortunately I think that waaay too much time is spent coming up with names of the gods and setting up the main battle I'm sure will eventually come in a latter book that not a whole lot is done in THIS book. The whole bit in the summary of General Tanaros finding he still is capable of feelings and possibly for the "enemy" Cerelinde really is misleading. There's not much done with that, at least not in this book. A lot of the book is spent with armies going here and there and occasional "cutting off at the pass" type of events that aren't that interesting in practice.

I'd say that reading this book was like watching a chess match from beginning to end. It took me two months to get through this book. Every time I picked it up it had been a short time since I put it down and I'd had enough time to forget that the writing was dragging me down. Instead every time I picked it up with the hope that it wasn't really that tedious. I was wrong pretty much every time. By the time I was pretty sure it wasn't going to get better, I was almost nearly done with it and I decided to just see it through to the bitter end. And bitter it was. I feel like nothing much of importance happened and I really don't have much interest in knowing what will happen in the future of these characters or this series. Too bad. I really liked Carey's other series...