View source for The Path of Daggers

{{Short description|1998 novel by Robert Jordan}}
{{no footnotes|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
| name         = The Path of Daggers
| orig title   =
| translator   =
| image        = WoT08 ThePathOfDaggers.jpg
| caption      = Original cover of ''The Path of Daggers'', showing [[Rand al'Thor]] leading his forces into battle
| author       = [[Robert Jordan]]
| cover_artist = [[Darrell K. Sweet]]
| country      = United States
| language     = English
| series       = [[The Wheel of Time]]
| genre        = [[Fantasy literature|Fantasy]]
| publisher    = [[Tor Books]] (U.S.) & <br/>[[Orbit]] (UK)
| release_date = October 20, 1998
| media_type   = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])
| pages        = 687 (U.S. paperback edition) & <br />604 (U.S. hardback edition) & <br/>608 pp (UK hardback edition)
| isbn =  0-312-85769-1 |isbn_note= (U.S. hardback edition) <br/>& {{ISBN|1-85723-554-1}} (UK hardback edition)
| dewey= 813/.54 21
| congress= PS3560.O7617 P38 1998
| oclc= 39497812
| preceded_by  = [[A Crown of Swords]]
| followed_by  = [[Winter's Heart]]
}}

'''''The Path of Daggers''''' is a [[Fantasy literature|fantasy]] novel  by [[United States|American]] author [[Robert Jordan]], the eighth book of his series ''[[The Wheel of Time]]''. It was published by [[Tor Books]] and released on October 20, 1998. Upon its release, it immediately rose to the #1 position on the ''[[New York Times]]'' hardcover fiction [[New York Times bestseller list|bestseller list]], making it the first ''Wheel of Time'' book to reach the #1 position on that list. It remained on the list for the next two months. This book is the shortest book in the main ''The Wheel of Time'' series, consisting of a prologue and 31 chapters.

The title of the book is a reference to a [[Seanchan]] saying: "On the heights, all paths are paved with daggers."

==Plot summary==
[[Elayne Trakand]], [[Nynaeve al'Meara]], [[Aviendha]], and their coalition of channelers use the ''ter'angreal'' called the 'Bowl of the Winds' to reverse the unnatural heat brought by the [[Dark One (The Wheel of Time)|Dark One]]'s manipulation of the [[climate]], and then escape a [[Seanchan]] invasion by ''Traveling'' to [[Andor (The Wheel of Time)|Andor]] with most of the Kin who had not yet been captured by the Seanchan. In Andor, an Aes Sedai in their party is murdered, and the group realizes that one of its members is part of the Black Ajah. Upon reaching Caemlyn, Elayne initiates her claim to the throne.

[[Perrin Aybara]] moves into [[Ghealdan]] to stop Masema Dagar, the self-proclaimed Prophet of the Dragon; but unknowingly rescues the deposed Queen Morgase of Andor from the Prophet's men. He then secures the oath of fealty from Alliandre, Queen of Ghealdan, and accepts the dubious allegiance of Masema. At the end of the book, [[Faile Bashere]] is kidnapped by the Shaido Aiel. [[Egwene al'Vere]], [[Amyrlin Seat]] of the rebel [[Aes Sedai]], manipulates her unruly followers into giving her more control, and they Travel to [[Tar Valon]], before their siege of its [[White Tower (The Wheel of Time)|White Tower]].

[[Rand al'Thor]], accompanied by Bashere with fifty [[Asha'man]] and six thousand Tairens, Cairhienin and [[Illian]]ers, attempts to repel the Seanchan invasion in [[Altara]].  They are successful in early skirmishes, driving the Seanchan from western Altara entirely. Bashere counsels retreat, but Rand decides to push on to Ebou Dar, clashing with a forty thousand strong Seanchan army fifty miles from the city. Both sides bleed each other white in the initial clash, after which both armies pull back to regroup. Rand attempts to destroy the Seanchan by wielding his ''sa'angreal'' 'Callandor', but loses control of it due to disturbances in saidin caused by the previous usage of the Bowl of the Winds. The result is a lightning storm that devastates his army as well as the Seanchan. Too bloodied to continue fighting, both armies retreat, making the battle a stalemate. Returning to Cairhien, Rand is attacked by traitorous Asha'man led by Corlan Dashiva, who fail to kill him. [[Mat Cauthon]] is absent from the book, due to injuries sustained at the end of the previous book, ''[[A Crown of Swords]]''. Robert Jordan had earlier done the same for [[Perrin Aybara]], who had been absent from Book 5, ''[[The Fires of Heaven]]''.

==Release details==
*1998, U.S., Tor Books ({{ISBN|0-312-85769-1}}), Pub date October 20, 1998, hardcover (First edition)
*1998, UK, Orbit ({{ISBN|1-85723-554-1}}), Pub date October 29, 1998, hardcover
*1999, UK, Orbit ({{ISBN|1-85723-569-X}}), Pub date September 2, 1999, paperback
*1999, U.S., Tor Books ({{ISBN|0-8125-5029-3}}), Pub date December ?, 1999, paperback
*1999, U.S., Rebound by Sagebrush ({{ISBN|0-613-22158-3}}), Pub date December ?, 1999, hardcover (Library binding)

==External links==
{{wikiquote|The Wheel of Time}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031014011611/http://www.dragonmount.com/Books/Path_of_Daggers/summary.aspx Concise summaries of each chapter from www.dragonmount.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200221235658/http://encyclopaedia-wot.org/books/tpod/index.html Even more detailed summaries of each chapter from www.encyclopaedia-wot.org]
* [https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/books/102698fantasy-series.html "An Adored Fantasy Series Now Hints at 1990's Angst"] - article in ''[[The New York Times]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716204805/http://www.flowerfire.com/seized/reviews/the_path_of_daggers_sara_lipowitz.html Review at www.flowerfire.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000517081101/http://sfsite.com/11a/path44.htm Review at www.sfsite.com]

{{The Wheel of Time}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Path of Daggers}}
[[Category:1998 American novels]]
[[Category:1998 fantasy novels]]
[[Category:The Wheel of Time books]]
[[Category:Novels by Robert Jordan]]
[[Category:Tor Books books]]