Book 8 of the Wheel of Time really gets a bad rap. Contrary to common wisdom, plenty happens in this book. The problem, I think, is that nothing gets resolved. (Not having any Mat, especially after the cliffhanger at the end of book 7, doesn't help either.) Is it ridiculous for a fantasy series to still be setting things up 8 books in? Especially when that series was supposed to be 6 books long? OK, yeah, it is. But taken by itself, The Path of Daggers isn't a bad story.Oddly enough, the story begins with an event that could easily have been used instead as a climax in book 7. It makes some sense for this event to happen in this book, however, since it has broad implications affecting every other plotline. The core plotlines of the book follow Rand and Egwene, who I'm beginning to notice are actually paired off quite often despite a lack of specific plot crossover. I guess that Jordan guy knew what he was planning after all.The biggest issue with book 8 isn't the fact that it doesn't resolve existing plotlines, it's that it doesn't resolve the plotlines introduced during the book. The stage is set for book 9, where things mercifully do begin to resolve, but the sheer number of cliffhangers in this book is staggering. Without going into details, the book ends after setting up a siege, a succession, a betrayal, and a capture. Add in Mat's cliffhanger, and that's six times the usual frustration. Just be glad you don't need to wait for the next book anymore!All that said, this is an enjoyable and well-written story. We have epic battles, surprise appearances by objects of Power, even some amusing light shed on a few relationships. But the three Aes Sedai-related stories really take the spotlight here (perhaps another reason the book isn't all that popular). Egwene finally begins openly asserting her power, while Elayne sets into motion significant events on both sides of the world. Best of all, seemingly minor Aes Sedai begin an important and long overdue witch hunt that is completely satisfying.There is one particular theme of this book that really changed the series for me. I didn't like book 8 any more than most people the first time I read it, but I have since come to actually like the much-maligned Aes Sedai, and the reason starts here. So far they've proven arrogant, often incompetent, and rarely live up to their reputation. When Egwene proposes a major change in their philosophy, I think most readers would agree with her. However, it is at this point that you really begin to respect the Aes Sedai compared to the various other groups of channelers. They have been humbled at every turn, but they are the ones who've held the world together for 3,000 years, and that's no coincidence. Not only does their fate begin to change here, it's become increasingly clear that their largest problems aren't actually their fault.What it comes down to is that book 8 is a lot more palatable now that book 9 (and 10, 11, and 12) are readily available. Reading a book filled with cliffhangers, even if it does have a few "holy shit!" moments, is not something you want to do a year before the next one arrives. In many ways, book 8 breaks the implied promise of the author, that the story will be further along at the end than at the beginning. In truth it is, but it certainly doesn't feel like it without the context of later events. But stick with it, because the series is finally hitting its peak, and things are about to start changing.
I struggled knowing what to rate this book as at first because I didn't live it as much as the previous 2 all the way through and it did seem a little slower in places, however I did think that it was filled with some interesting things and events. In the end I had to rate it a 4*s because it still interested me. I would have like it to be longer (as many have said) and more dramatic at the ending, but overall it was a good addition in the series. One thing I enjoyed in this book was the return of Elyas who was a really interesting character from an earlier book and one that makes Perrin's story a lot better. He's a good friend to Perrin and he knows a lot about the troubles Perrin will have to face in future meaning that he's a good 'guide' for him. Egwene become a very feisty and sneaky character in this book which I very much enjoyed and I think that the next book will be even more dramatic with her. She started in the last book to really show her initial plans but in this one she grows up and fulfils some of them. I do think that this book marks a change in many of the characters for they way that they handle themselves and the things that they achieve. They all go from being young adults to really growing into their roles and that makes a nice change. Elayne also has to grow up further in this book as she marches to reclaim her title. She's dedicated to her cause and she knows what she has to do to achieve her goals which makes her far more interesting than before where she mostly whined. Cadsuane is a sneaky and very conniving character whom I have yet to make my mind up about. Sometimes she seems nice and knowledgeable whilst at other times she's sarcastic and unhelpful. I'm not sure I know what her true motives are yet and so she's certainly one to watch...Min continues to be a good character in this book and stays by Rand's side again. She is a fun character but she seems to be rather dependant on Rand and her worries over him rather than all of the auras and visions she sees which can get slightly on my nerves. Even so she's still a great and jokey character and she helps us see Rand as a more down to earth person. In this book Rand has a few struggles with the Asha'man and this leads up to problems by the end of the book. We also have the struggle.internally between him and his old friend Lews Therin again which hints at more of the past. Mat isn't a huge character in this book and doesn't have a huge focus. Perrin equally doesn't feature too largely as he's journeying to meet the Prophet. Faile is an important character at the end of this book from the position she ends up in and I hope that this predicament means she'll have a more excited story from now on. Overall a good book and a good continuation. It could be better with more of a climatic ending as this wasn't as dramatic as I hoped but I'm looking forward to the next book. 4*sLet me know your thoughts too.
What do You think about The Path Of Daggers (1999)?
Yeah. This is where I stopped reading Jordan's Epic series. Why? It probably had to do with the fact that I was reading them as they came out on paperback--which I was at a rate of about 1 a year until after book #6, then it was once every other year. I have a short attention span, and an even shorter memory. In the middle of this book, I realized that I had so forgotten which characters were which--and what plot line in which they were involved--that I could not identify with them anymore. I did not care about their actions or feelings. One of my friends commented that that the glossary was helpful in reminding who was who. It was not for me. A glossary, "glosses" over each characters' history in the previous novels--that is not enough for me to create an imaginary bond. Finally, the gender rage was really beginning to irritate me. Yes, men and women are different, and we can be confounding to each other, but damn, I am thinking that the world divorce rate was near 100%--no one got along. I did not identify with that gender angst at all.I will say that the first three books are fantastic, pure fantasy. I reread all three of them semi recently (2003ish), in an effort to refocus myself and possibly try to get through the entire series. I stopped in book #4--for the reasons described, above.
—Ed B
This is probably only a 3 and 1/2 stars book for me, but I'll tip Robert Jordan the extra half star for the series as a whole being so engrossing this far. SPOILERSI enjoyed many things about this book, particularly with the various competing interests across the Wheel of Time world seemingly plotting and scheming and lining up for control of, variously, Rand, the Amyrlin Seat, The White Tower, The Black Tower, Andor, and Cairhien. Once again, Jordan threads numerous tales together through the book, which makes it a surprise that Mat does not feature at all, especially given the fact he is meant to be in Ebou Dar when it is in the hands of the Seanchan. I do tend to agree with those whose enjoyment of this book is diminished by the setting up of so much, but the resolution of very little. I didn't feel very satisfied after I finished reading it this morning, but have found myself wondering all day about what the Black Ajah investigation that has struck gold with Talene will find out, what on earth Mat has been up to, how Perrin will react to Faile being taken by the Shaido, who is complicit in the Black Tower's betrayal of Rand, what is going to happen with the siege of Tar Valon, what are the Seanchan going to do next, where is Moghedien and when will her path cross Nynaeve's again, how is Rand going to deal with Masema, what is Cadsuane up to, are the Aiel going to actually do anything any time soon... and so on. I guess that means Jordan's done a pretty good job with this book, as I'm so keen to find out what happens, so it must just be that lack of any resolution of anything in The Path of Daggers that frustrates a little.
—David
The series' pace is supposed to slow down starting with The Path of Daggers and it surely wasn't exageration. Overall I feel like an actual quote from the book describes it perfectly: "Weiramon heard him and repeated the same thing, but using twenty times the words, and flowery enough for a garden in spring.". The long, verbose clothing descriptions are back, and so is skirt smoothing and all the recurring traits that prevent the series from being even better than it is. The pacing is all over the place in The Path of Daggers. In the first third of the book literally nothing happens at all, and it could've been summarised in a couple of lines without losing any of the content. It picks up somewhat in the second third, and while it still has some dull moments, the reader is rewarded with jaw dropping plot twists and revelations that remind us why we put up with the dull. The last third of the book doesn't have a single dull moment and reveals how amazing this series could be if there wasn't so much filler. It really makes you wonder why it can't be like more often. That said, I had been warned about the major slowdown in terms of pacing and that's what I expected out of The Path of Daggers. There is quite a bit of filler in the first two thirds of the book, though the good moments sprinkled in there and all of the last third are truly exceptional and make threading through the dull worth the time. The Path of Daggers is definitely not one of the best in the series overall, but if you got this far into the series you probably have come to terms with some of the annoyances and will go into [book:The Path of Daggers|140974 solely for the amazing moments the series rewards us when it is at its best. For that, I'll have to recommend it, I definitely wasn't disappointed with how significant the few changes were.
—Pedro António
