The Path of Daggers (The Wheel of Time, Book 8)

Rating:
Summary: Detail cannot overshadow the importance of plot development.
Review: As with the previous couple of books, I find myself harder and harder pressed to remember exactly what happened. I read Path of Daggers in 2 days; it was quick and frustrating reading as I turned page after page, hoping some substantial movement towards, well, anything. Jordan goes into a great deal of detail in describing the conflicts between people, and individuals, but ultimately this is not what is important. Broad scope is good, but not to the point that we pick up a storyline of a familiar character for the first time 400 pages into the book. I recently re-read Wheel of Time. The character development, changing interactions and feelings in the major characters is a wonderful thing about this series. But things are stagnating. In this book, no character has changed his/her views in any significant way. Jordan whisks from character to character, describing intricate pieces of how everyone feels, and limited doings. And the ending? As the series progresses, each book has a less and less "wrapped up" ending. I can understand leaving some unresolved issues, some tension in one area or another, but I truly expected some things from previous books to be resolved; NOT to have kidnapping and introductions of new problems 10 pages from the end. I'm sorry, I love the series, but I plead to Mr. Jordan that he make movement to resolve conflicts, to have the characters CHANGE as they need to be changing. We know their conflicts. We know why they feel as they do. We are all ready to see them change. Not like turning a switch on from dark to light, not an immediate reversal, that's not what we, the readers ask. We ask for a sunrise. It is a smooth transition, from night to day. But if the transition takes a few thousand pages, Mr. Jordan, you will lose and alienate your audience, as you have been doing, lately, it seems. I am a fast reader. I would be content, to know that progress would be made, in what I was reading. But I don't want to absorb your 600 page book, hungering for the next, and wait another couple years to take another couple days to finish it and still be hungry. Please, please, Mr. Jordan. Feed me. Feed us.

Rating:
Summary: Who wrote this?
Review: This book contains tremedous description about, what's in the room; who's feeling what about whom, and why; who's wearing what; how men and women relate. What happened to the action? What happened to elements such as "build-up" and "climax" and "forward momentum"? The Crown of Swords (weak, as well) seemed like it was paving the way for something big... Path of Daggers isn't it. What happened to Mat? What happened to the characters in general (they seem weaker)? Why were the battles in this book just "glossed over"? Why after 2 and 1/2 years are we left with no answers, and many more questions? I appreciate suspense, but everything was left so open ended... It seemed like there might be a battle at the end, to unite the White Tower, but we were denied that as well. What kind of an ending was that, anyway?... After 2 and 1/2 years? I feel cheated and unsatisfied. If I have to wait another 2 and 1/2 years for the next book, especially if it is of this quality, I'll choose to dump the whole series - however great it had been in the past - in the toilet. I would like a new book in the Fall, written by the Robert Jordan who wrote Eye of the World.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good
Review: I've only read the first 7 chapters so far but I love it. Finally! Something actually happens. A must for everyone reading this series.

Rating:
Summary: Well, I was robbed.
Review: To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement, I really don't appreciate being held to ransom, buying the book because I love the series (the best in fantasy in my humble opinion), and then feeling like I have been duped. I mean did I fall asleep or did nothing really happen for nearly 600 pages, quite impressive. Sorry Mr Jordan but I would like my money back.

Rating:
Summary: 2 YEARS???
Review: On finally getting a hold of this book, i was initially disappointed it was under-sized. I came to the conclusion the book was more to the point and not so excessive with repetitive character/enviroment discriptions. However, on finishing the book I was disapointed. The book NEEDED those xtra 300 or so pages to wrap up loose story lines. Think on the lack of any real action out Perrins way. Then again, I think this book was beter than aCoS in that it was action packed. I especially enjoyed the scenes with Elayne and Nynaeve, dispite Nynaeves apparent lack of 'growth' after losing her block in aCoS, she acted the fool more often than not, and that every-second-line braid pulling has got to stop. Otherwise the book had some very inrteresting developments among ashaman and the shadow. I only wish that less paper could be wasted discribing 'fire and ice' and more time spent unifying nations at a quicker pace, so that Tarmon Gaidon may begin.

Rating:
Summary: No end of this " Wheel of time" series in a lifetime
Review: TWO YEARS of waiting for this book! Nothing really happens, the story is completely at a stand still. With this pace, it will take at least eight more books befor all loose ends are coming together. And why all these long descriptions of matters of no importance for the story,(like what the surroundings look like, what thoughts about nothing are filling somebodys head) while nothing ever happens. I do not think there ever will be an end, "Tarmon Gaidon" or not, to this once promising story. I will not buy book nine if it ever comes, if I will have to vait more than a year. And I will read the critics first.

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately, a boring continuation of volume 7.
Review: The Path Of Daggers is definitely a continuation from volume 7, but I get the distinct impression that the storyline has become jumbled and a bit lost. It almost seems that Mr. Jordan was forced to crank out this book under some sort of deadline, making the storyline disjointed and somewhat incomplete in its furthering of the cycle. Very unlike the first 5 books, which were engaging and well-paced. I'm helplessly addicted, but that doesn't prevent my disappointment at this volume. I'd rather wait the extra time to have a more engrossing read. Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: DISAPPOINTING !!!!! JORDAN BETTER COME THRU NEXT TIME
Review: Of course I bought the hardcover, what can I say, I am hooked. However, shame on you Mr. Jordan. We are loyal fans and deserve better then this. I especially can not believe "Mat" got just a few lines about him. I kept on reading and thinking OK "Mat" is coming up. To all "Wheel of Time" fans, I hate to say it but you will most likely need to pick up this book. Lets just hope that Mr. Jordan can come thru for us in the next one. BUT WAIT FOR PAPERBACK!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Booooring...
Review: I made myself finish the book hoping something would eventually happen. Nothing ever did and this book was a HUGE waste of time! Nothing was learned nor resolved. His last two books were getting worse but this one has gone WAY over the edge. It's obvious Robert Jordan is just dragging this series out so we'll all keep buying his books. Well, I don't think I'll be buying any books from Robert Jordan in the future. The first few books in the series were excellent. They were action-packed and I couldn't put them down. His last few have been hard to pick up! It's time the whole story was ended already!!!

Rating:
Summary: absolutely boring
Review: why are the characters so childish and behaving like morons. With so much death and destruction over the span of 8 books, any village idiot will come to understand what's going on. I have lived and breathed on your series for the last few years and unless you do justice to the tale, the characters and to yourself, you will most definately lose your fans. Let's get on with the show with more action and substance rather than the inane and irritating bickering that the path of daggers is all about.