Title: The Path of Daggers
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: Wheel of Time #8
Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 23 hours 25 minutes
Published: 2008, MacMillan Audio (originally published 1998)
My Grade: 2.5 out of 5

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

The Seanchan invasion force is in possession of Ebou Dar. Nynaeve, Elayne, and Aviendha head for Caemlyn and Elayne’s rightful throne, but on the way they discover an enemy much worse than the Seanchan.

In Illian, Rand vows to throw the Seanchan back as he did once before. But signs of madness are appearing among the Asha’man.

In Ghealdan, Perrin faces the intrigues of Whitecloaks, Seanchan invaders, the scattered Shaido Aiel, and the Prophet himself. Perrin’s beloved wife, Faile, may pay with her life, and Perrin himself may have to destroy his soul to save her.

Meanwhile the rebel Aes Sedai under their young Amyrlin, Egwene al’Vere, face an army that intends to keep them away from the White Tower. But Egwene is determined to unseat the usurper Elaida and reunite the Aes Sedai. She does not yet understand the price that others—and she herself—will pay.

MY REVIEW

23 hours must be his shortest book, isn’t it? It didn’t feel short though.

I must admit that I am starting to lose some faith in this series now, eight books in. It’s slow. Like really slow. There are so many characters, new ones introduced all the time. And even if they have small roles, they mix up with the main characters and it’s really hard to follow and understand the interactions between characters. Which of course makes it impossible to follow the story as well as I might have wanted to.

Did things really happen except in the last 6 chapters? It sure doesn’t feel like it. Some scenes are memorable, but they are few. For example when the Asha’man start to feel the taint on saidin, or when Elayne is back at the throne room in Caemlyn. Or just all the story in the White Tower. I am not starting to symphatize with Elaida, the Amyrlin Seat of the White Tower, but I realize as I’m trudging along that I want to know what will happen to her and Tar Valon in general.

The last 6 chapters were memorable. Things happened. There was a war, many plot twists that were a little bit hard to follow along with.

This middle part of the series is slower but I will make it through to the end. But this one gets 2.5 out of 5. The lowest of the series so far. I hope it will turn upward now.