Hey - has anyone read through the first two books of Ricardo Pinto's Stone Dance of the Chameleon series? (I don't think the last book is out yet.)

I'm about halfway through the second book (The Standing Dead) and having a lot of trouble with the characterisation and the failed relationship between Carnelian and Osidian. Like... what the hell happened? o_o
I'm finding myself increasingly disliking Carnelian and feeling more and more sympathetic towards Osidian. Without spoiling it... can anyone reassure me that it gets better? Or that maybe... we get some explanation?
I can't help feeling that the author was going through a bad relationship at the time he wrote it and took it out on his characters. It just feels that hard to buy... sad

Thoughts, opinions, etc...?