The Sundering
#8143.59 adjusted 3.63 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 2 books Status Complete 2004–2005 Reading commitment Low Jacqueline Carey Last reviewed 2026-08-20
Overview
The Sundering is Jacqueline Carey's completed two-book epic-fantasy duology: Banewreaker (2004) and Godslayer (2005), Tor Books, retelling a classic good-versus-dark-lord quest narrative largely from the perspective of the side conventionally cast as villains, following the immortal Elterrion siblings and their allies as an alliance of good gathers to destroy them. Set in Urulat, a world whose geography and central conflict deliberately echo Middle-earth, the duology inverts the genre's usual moral framework: Carey has described it as an epic tragedy sympathetic to the losing side, unfolding as one long, colossal fall rather than a triumphant quest, drawing on classical tragic form to subvert the conventions of the epic-fantasy tradition it reworks.
Epic fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (2 works) counts toward ranking
The Sundering Jacqueline Carey
| Work | Year | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Banewreaker | 2004 | core | 3.48 (4,584 ratings) |
 | Godslayer | 2005 | core | 3.73 (3,347 ratings) |
An epic-fantasy duology retelling a Tolkien-style quest against a 'dark lord' from the losing side's perspective.
Quick answers
- How many books are in The Sundering? The Sundering's Core Canon is 2 books.
- What is the reading order for The Sundering? Publication order, starting with Banewreaker. Full list and years in the Core Canon table above.
- Is The Sundering finished? Complete (2004–2005).
- How much reading does The Sundering take? Low reading commitment (estimated from 2 Core Canon books · ~928 pages).
- How is The Sundering ranked? #814 in this site's official ranking, based on 7,931 reader ratings across 2 Core Canon books. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #814?
Ranked #814 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.59 across 2 core books.
- A smaller readership (7,931 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- Less than 0.01 behind #813, Empires of Dust (a finer tie-break level decides the order).
- Below the top-10 average of 4.45.
Why explore this universe?
Modestly rated · 2 books · Complete · 8k ratings · Ranks #814 overall
Good choice if you want a quick, low-commitment epic fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
Publication order (2 Core Canon books)
- Banewreaker (2004)
- Godslayer (2005)
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Suggestions computed from what The Sundering and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
- Kingmaker, Kingbreaker Epic fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 3.71
- The Darksword Trilogy Epic fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 3.67
- Zimiamvia Epic fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 3.66
- The Rages Trilogy Epic fantasy · Ongoing · Low commitment · 3.56
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.59 across 7,931 ratings on 2 Core Canon books. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Admit The Sundering (Jacqueline Carey) accepted 2026-08-20
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
Last reviewed: 2026-08-20
Rule: Core Canon is both novels of the completed duology.