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Banewreaker: Volume I of The Sundering by Jacqueline Carey
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Jacqueline Carey Edition: Mass Market Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2005-08-02 ISBN: 0765344297 Number of pages: 512 Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Book Reviews of Banewreaker: Volume I of The SunderingBook Review: Intriguing twist and a new perspective Summary: 5 Stars
I'm honestly surprised by the bad reviews. I really liked this book - we're given a completely NEW perspective on the "dark God" premise. What if ... what if the so-called "dark God" is NOT in fact the one who is responsible for the destruction of the previous "Golden Age"? What if the so-called "light God" is the one who is trying to take over the world and re-make it in his image through any means possible - with lies, twisted truths - and then basically make certain that everyone will do things his way (i. e., take away freedom of choice)? What if, basically, everything you THOUGHT was TRUE, was, in fact, WRONG?
This is the premise of this refreshingly original idea. Satoris Third-Born, formerly known as the Sower - since his Gift was that of the Quickening of the Flesh (aka - passion, lust, call it whatever you want!), is now called the Sunderer, the Banewreaker and all manner of dire things after refusing to take away his Gift from the Children of Arahila (his Sister) - that is, refusing to take away passion from Men. After defying Haomane First-Born - Lord-of-Thought - three times (Haomane was peeved because - after refusing to allow Satoris' Gift for his Children - the Ellyl - and because of their surpassing beauty and perfection - and immortality - Men became jealous and waged war upon them, trying to gain the secrets to their immortality; Haomane thought that removing the Quickening of the Flesh would help by a) "thinning the herd" and b) creating a calmer, more rational people) at Arahila's request, Haomane sent his wrath upon Satoris. Anyway, because of Haomane's various attacks upon Satoris, the Souma (the Eye in the Brow of Uru-Alat - the World's Creating God) is split apart, the world is Sundered and the sea pours in. Satoris is wounded by a splinter of the Souma, a wound that will never heal - however, he manages to catch hold of this splinter, and maintains possession of it - a dagger he calls the Godslayer. Satoris remains in Urulat with the various Children created by the Shapers, and the other six Shapers stay across the Sea in Torath where they continue to plot. That is the background of the story.
Flash-forward: almost everyone in the world believes Satoris alone is responsible for the Sundering and splitting of the Souma. As a result, Satoris is despised universally, despite the fact that all he wishes is to be left alone in his fortress in the Gorgantum Defile, in the mountains he has Shaped. He has called to himself Three Men and bound them to his service, stretching the Chains of Being and granting them immortality - Tanaraos, called variously Blacksword, Kingslayer and Betrayer; Vorax, the Glutton; and Ushahin, the Dreamspinner. In Banewreaker, the signs of war have appeared, and Haomane's Prophecy for the downfall of Satoris is in the process of being fulfilled - a daughter of the Ellyl is to wed a son of the house of Altorus, that which is Unknown is made known, that which was hidden is found, etc. It is up to the Three, with the help of their allies the Fjeltroll, the Were, and the Men of Staccia, to stop those who would fulfill the prophecy and thereby destroy Satoris and bring about the reign of Haomane First-Borne.
It is an incredibly intricate and dense story - there are a lot of characters and the plot is tightly webbed; however, J. Carey writes with an easy self possession that makes the story accessible. I hope more people will give this story a try; it is very interesting!
Summary of Banewreaker: Volume I of The SunderingIf all that is good thinks you 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 honor-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--his feelings for Cerelinde could doom Satoris, but save the race of Men...
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