Scan barcode
A review by dark_reader
The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan
3.0
And so we come to book eight. That's right, it's slump time.
A lot happens in this book, except when it doesn't. When it does, it provides some very good series moments (I hesitate to say "great" series moments). When it doesn't, UGH.
The last hundred pages are great. They're action-packed, impactful, and a great relief after the book up to that point. But before then, well. The irritation sets in immediately with the prologue, whose first section introduces ten brand new named characters and brings up yet another grouping of thirteen Aes Sedai. Does this scene come back into play any time later in the book? It does not.
Then comes a chapter from Elayne's point of view in which we see that Aes Sedai have feelings about the Kin and the Atha'an Miere, the Kin have feelings about the Aes Sedai and the Atha'an Miere, and the Atha'an Miere have feelings about the Aes Sedai and the Kin. Then, a chapter from Nynaeve's point of view in which we see that Aes Sedai have feelings about the Kin and the Atha'an Miere, the Kin have feelings about the Aes Sedai and the Atha'an Miere, and the Atha'an Miere have feelings about the Aes Sedai and the Kin. Then a third chapter in which . . . you start to see a pattern here. A little later, Perrin has thoughts and scents about Mayeners, Tairens, Cairhienen, Faile's young followers, Aiel, Wise Ones, and more. Even later, there is series of chapters which reveal Tairens' feelings about Cairhienens and Illianers, Cairhienens' feelings about Tairens and Illianers, Illianers feelings about Tairens and Cairhienens, and all of the above's feelings about Asha'man.
The first three chapters could easily have been just one chapter. Several other "feelings" chapters could have been cut or easily summarized in another context.
I think this book will be most frustrating for first-time readers. Having read the series previously, I find the few major events particularly thrilling as significant turns in the larger plot. But if I lacked this context, the impact would be muted. The book was undoubtedly most frustrating for publication-current readers; after a blistering annual release rate for the first six books, to then endure two year waits for books seven and eight (and then two more years to book nine, then three years after that . . .) the dearth of plot advancement was maddening.
My now-usual complaint about these books is on prominent display here: they lack volume-specific story arcs. The opening scene in the prologue goes nowhere. The Bowl of the Winds situtation started two books ago. Heaven knows how many books ago the Atha'an Miere were first waiting to talk to Rand, and the Aes Sedai negotiations with them continued off-screen until well into this book. Padan Fain has only tiny little appearances; it's no wonder by the time I first finished the series I had forgotten all about him. Perrin had only two story beats. Mat, last seen in a cliffhanger at the end of the prior book, doesn't appear at all. At least Elayne and Egwene's individual arcs made suitable steps forward. Rand's extended battle against the Seanchan left me wondering just what was the point of all those pages; what they accomplished didn't seem worth the effort.
And seriously, what's with the torture porn? And the sharp rise in Aes Sedai bottom switching?
I'm hesitantly giving this three stars, but sincerely hope never to find myself in a position to read it again.
A lot happens in this book, except when it doesn't. When it does, it provides some very good series moments (I hesitate to say "great" series moments). When it doesn't, UGH.
The last hundred pages are great. They're action-packed, impactful, and a great relief after the book up to that point. But before then, well. The irritation sets in immediately with the prologue, whose first section introduces ten brand new named characters and brings up yet another grouping of thirteen Aes Sedai. Does this scene come back into play any time later in the book? It does not.
Then comes a chapter from Elayne's point of view in which we see that Aes Sedai have feelings about the Kin and the Atha'an Miere, the Kin have feelings about the Aes Sedai and the Atha'an Miere, and the Atha'an Miere have feelings about the Aes Sedai and the Kin. Then, a chapter from Nynaeve's point of view in which we see that Aes Sedai have feelings about the Kin and the Atha'an Miere, the Kin have feelings about the Aes Sedai and the Atha'an Miere, and the Atha'an Miere have feelings about the Aes Sedai and the Kin. Then a third chapter in which . . . you start to see a pattern here. A little later, Perrin has thoughts and scents about Mayeners, Tairens, Cairhienen, Faile's young followers, Aiel, Wise Ones, and more. Even later, there is series of chapters which reveal Tairens' feelings about Cairhienens and Illianers, Cairhienens' feelings about Tairens and Illianers, Illianers feelings about Tairens and Cairhienens, and all of the above's feelings about Asha'man.
The first three chapters could easily have been just one chapter. Several other "feelings" chapters could have been cut or easily summarized in another context.
I think this book will be most frustrating for first-time readers. Having read the series previously, I find the few major events particularly thrilling as significant turns in the larger plot. But if I lacked this context, the impact would be muted. The book was undoubtedly most frustrating for publication-current readers; after a blistering annual release rate for the first six books, to then endure two year waits for books seven and eight (and then two more years to book nine, then three years after that . . .) the dearth of plot advancement was maddening.
My now-usual complaint about these books is on prominent display here: they lack volume-specific story arcs. The opening scene in the prologue goes nowhere. The Bowl of the Winds situtation started two books ago. Heaven knows how many books ago the Atha'an Miere were first waiting to talk to Rand, and the Aes Sedai negotiations with them continued off-screen until well into this book. Padan Fain has only tiny little appearances; it's no wonder by the time I first finished the series I had forgotten all about him. Perrin had only two story beats. Mat, last seen in a cliffhanger at the end of the prior book, doesn't appear at all. At least Elayne and Egwene's individual arcs made suitable steps forward. Rand's extended battle against the Seanchan left me wondering just what was the point of all those pages; what they accomplished didn't seem worth the effort.
And seriously, what's with the torture porn? And the sharp rise in Aes Sedai bottom switching?
I'm hesitantly giving this three stars, but sincerely hope never to find myself in a position to read it again.