Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers To the End!

[Rhed al'Tere]

Welcome to book 8, Path of Daggers! Eight! Can you believe it.

As always, there are spoilers for the whole series, including the Companion (if that can be considered a book that can be spoiled). Talk about whatever, make crazy connections, and join me as I hate on Tylin and want to stab her.

Jump in and out as you please.

Once again, I aimed for about 100 pages per week -- it makes for jagged numbers for chapters, but it's a pace I can keep up with. (It's been a busy winter. And spring looks to be about as busy. )


March 6: Prologue-Chapter 3
March 13: Chapters 4-7
March 20: Chapters 8-11
March 27: Chapters 12-16
April 3: Chapters 17-21
April 10: Chapters 22-26
April 17: Chapters 27-31

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers starting March 6

The chapters do tend to be longer and longer don't they

Until of course we get to a certain MASSIVE chapter in the last book

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers starting March 6

Yeah, that'll be a week unto itself.

 

[Megana Vallentin]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers starting March 6

My Kindle says I'm exactly 50% through the series. :joy Of course, the series is so big it's probably said that for like half a book...

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

I'm sorry everyone, the past couple of weeks have been rough on my reading. I keep procrastinating starting this one, even. Hopefully I'll be able to dive in at lunch today.

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

Well, it may be because PoD is one of the books with lots and lots of words, but little plot movement

 

[Megana Vallentin]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

I haven't been able to make myself start it either.

 

[Leira Galene]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

Saaaame.

 

[Maibella ni Rhoiden t'al'Varrak]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

Me eother, other than the first little bit. So ... maybe an unofficial week break? :P

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

Isn't this the book where one entire chapter is taken up by Elayne, Nynaeve and Aviendha walking from one room to another?

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

Possibly. I did finally start yesterday. And I forgot how sneaky Verin is, and how clever. She pieced together Compulsion through scraps of memory of people who'd had that weave beaten out of them when they came to the Tower!

And I think this is the first time I've read through with absolute confirmation that Verin is a double agent/fake Black Ajah (or is she really Black Ajah, but reformed? I dunno how to classify her), so it's fascinating to see how she uses that to her advantage.

 

[Maibella ni Rhoiden t'al'Varrak]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

And I think this is the first time I've read through with absolute confirmation that Verin is a double agent/fake Black Ajah (or is she really Black Ajah, but reformed? I dunno how to classify her), so it's fascinating to see how she uses that to her advantage.

I LOVED having that info on my last reread - it make Verin's parts of the story even more fascinating to me.

 

[Ryu Shadowborn]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

Possibly. I did finally start yesterday. And I forgot how sneaky Verin is, and how clever. She pieced together Compulsion through scraps of memory of people who'd had that weave beaten out of them when they came to the Tower!

And I think this is the first time I've read through with absolute confirmation that Verin is a double agent/fake Black Ajah (or is she really Black Ajah, but reformed? I dunno how to classify her), so it's fascinating to see how she uses that to her advantage.

She is Fake I think, I recall her saying "I got caught and had to join or Die"

 

[Megana Vallentin]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 4-7

Same feeling, Mother and Mai!

So, I finally did the thing. The prologue had so many names that I had the Companion propped open on my lap and was holding my Kindle over it while I read. SO MANY TIMES I caught myself turning the page in the Companion when I meant to swipe on my Kindle instead. :rofl

 

[Megana Vallentin]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 8-11

Did anyone else feel like the first few chapters belonged to the previous book? I remember reading these the first time, thinking "okay last book was GET the Bowl but not USE it, so probably using it will be a whole other ordeal that will take a good chunk of the next book...maybe it really does require men or something." And then they just...do it.

Elayne/Aviendha awesomeoness though. :clap

 

[Ryu Shadowborn]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 8-11

Prolouge

Ethenielle – And the Borderlanders abandon their post for a task of much greater need, This explains a bit about the borderlands and why they are the only set of kingdom's in the setting that stay in a true alliance, they are not only bound by the blight but by a duty to question The Dragon Reborn.

Interestingly the task, that we see later is testing Rand's temper and it is quite a risk having your 4 rulers physically assault a possibly dangerous madman.

Verin – And here we have a huge glaring clue about Verin's true nature. She knows that this stitched together version of Compulsion would eventually kill the victims, and says that it will cause Beldeine no harm.

Moridin - I wish we knew more about Sha'rah, I wonder if the game is connected to the nation that bears a very similar name.

Chapter 1

Oh the Kin and the Seafolk you are both so utterly annoying after the next 3 or 4 chapters I wish you had all just been left in Altara.

Chapter 2

Is it just me or do the Aiel seem to have a great many skills in the One Power that the Aes Sedai seem to lack completely? I find it astounding that a group so utterly stagnant could remain in power for 3 thousand years as the White Tower has, also this is one of the few moments that I consider Moridin to be an ineffective villain.

Chapter 3

You know I think Eylane is being a bit to harsh on Nyneave in regards to Lan. She knows that Lan had his warder bond with Moraine broken and what that can do to a Warder.

Chapter 4

Of course, that does not mean that Nynaeve doesn't deserve her ears boxed once in a while. What in the holy heck was she thinking here? You are sending Lan after unarmed Civilians. Lan who is described in most descriptions of him as "Visibly Dangerous even when standing still" and you are having him Charge at people on horseback.

It is a wonder he didn't get a Lightning bolt in the face by some scared Kinswoman.

Chapter 5

And this is the last useful thing that the Seafolk do, well until the last book when they use the Bowl Shaol Ghul. They should all be kicked in the rump.

Chapter 6

So, there is something that is brought up in the series that is never really touched upon regarding the Seanchan, Inverting Weaves and hiding your ability to Channel, any woman who can channel a gateway with those skills could theoretically completely take apart a Seanchan Garrison's combat capabilities by sneaking into the Damane Pens, and releasing all the women.

There are some things that will cause problems with the more..propogandized Damane but it is not something that can't be worked around.

Also boom.

Chapter 7/8

Man Perrin gets -aaaallllll- of the worst plots in the series. Rand? Possibly Going Insane, The most evil mages in history going after him, trying to hold a coalition of people who hate each other together. Mat? Trapped deep behind enemy lines in a culture that will make you a slave if you fart at the wrong time, yet Perrin gets the worst of it, he has to deal with the Shaido, The Dragonsworn and Morgaise. All at once and he has to do it for the rest of the series.

Chapter 9

Perrin shows that while he is smart sometimes, he is DUUUUMMMBBB when it comes to other people. You know Perrin is a nerd, like for real. He is quiet, thinks things through and enjoys his Hobby far more than he tends to enjoy Human Interaction. "The Winged Gaurd will do Mayene Proud if we ever face another Dumai's wells" is akin to saying "If bad crap goes down, I know you won't let me down"

Also, the Aiel loose points with me here "Maesema is a danger cause we say so" is not evidence Wise Ones.

Chapter 10

There is alot that goes on here but not a lot to talk about. Perrin getting a Feudal Lady under his command is a major event but nobody really reacts to it in a way they haven't reacted to other things.

Chapter 11

Shaido Politics that go nowhere.

Chapter 12

PLOTS! Some Evil some..marginally less evil.

Chapter 13

While I agree it is dangerous, I like that Rand is going to speak to Sammael's army himself and say his terms.

 

[Ealandrelle Melyma]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 12-26

I've just caught up on Audible Well, I've reached PoD at least I'm just at the point where Aviendha is about to make her gateway... Oh my lord, if I were Renaile I'd be annoyed too - how long does it take them just to walk down a corridor?! I think it's around this point that I start to really, reallydislike Elayne.

I found myself enjoying Moridin's and Verin's part of the prologue. Particularly Verin's. The more I re-read/re-listen to these books, the more I love seeing Verin. She's one of the best characters Robert Jordan created.

 

[Ryu Shadowborn]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 17-21

Chapter 14

So okay, what the heck is up with Saidin from here on out? Especially with Rand who starts to get sick when he seizes or lets go of the power, I get the sense that we are supposed to worry that it is sickness from the taint, but all of the Ash'aman feel the male half of of the power being funky, and there is the balefire cross fire that happened very recently in the timeline and Balefire is already a strange weave so two of them crossing has to have some major consequences. There is also the gateway exploding which could cause problems in the power.

Chapter 15

Egwene's dream bugs me here, Mat's choices don't actually affect Verin's outcome in any way.

Chapter 16

Side note: The Library Summary says Shieriam is bitten by someone who is not happy with her instead of beaten. That is the best thing.

I adore how Egwene plays Lelaine and Romanda against each other so well.

Chapter 17

Isn't Pelevar one of the families that ends up with a kid that supports Elayne?

Chapter 18

I think we see the first of Talmane's deadpan personality, of course he sees through all of the plotting he is Cairaihenen, they eat drink and breathe this sort of crap.

Chapter 19

So, were the rebel hall really not gonna do something when they got to Tar Valon? One of them gets sick and Takima weeps through this process. Oh well, Egwene finally takes the reigns and puts Romanda and Lelaine in their place after several books. One of the really fun things about the series having so many divergent plots and jumping back and forth between characters is that it lets several plotlines build for a bit, if Egwene had done this a book or two beforehand it would have felt rushed to have her go from “Puppet” to “In control” in what is really a short time in terms of actual screen time.

Chapter 20

Elayne Check in.

Chapter 21

Rand's plan here is technically sound, he is basically trying to kill off his political enemies by throwing them into the Seanchan who are the most dangerous army outside of the Army of the Shadow.

Chapter 22

See, here we see hints of the Damane being sick from the Bowl of the Winds, so is it really sickness from the taint that is affecting Rand? Or is the taint just making him more vulnerable to what is going on.

Chapter 23

Rand decides to push into Altara futher, I can't say this is a fully bad choice, perhaps not very well handled, if Rand had opened a gateway and gathered his full forces he could have ended the Seanchan threat for a bit, being reliant on the Asha'man for this was a bit of a mistake though especially as more and more of them reported issues with the Saidin.

That is one of Rand's major issues, he doesn't really use his forces well at all, the Aiel in concert with the Asha'man in these mountains could have been one of the most devistating combinations possible.

Have the Asham'an open gateways behind enemy lines, where they would retreat to and eliminate the Rakken, then have them devistate the Seanchan, Eliminate the Damane and inflict heavy wounds and casualties, then the Aiel could attack heavily wounded opponents from stealth.

Chapter 24

Rand makes his biggest mistake here, he knows something is wrong with Callandor. To use it in combat
while knowing there is something wrong with it is a stupid childish thing to do.

Chapter 25

Tower Plots here, not much of value aside that Mesaana knows that the Ajah Heads are plotting but doesn't know what.

Chapter 26

Speaking of Pevara and Co, they find their first black sister, Huzzah, and Logain...does very creepy things to the White Tower Sisters sent to the Black Tower. As icky as bonding someone against their will is, I think it is ultimately the best solution that does not involve Severing or outright Murder, and Weaves end up being tied to certain motions. It is entirely possible that the first discovery of the Saidin Warder bond was Husband kissing his wife while holding the power and as such it ends up being the required way to form the weave.

Chapter 27

So, technically shouldn't Rand's Toh to the Maidens be completely forgotten? When Egwene meets her Toh in book 5 afterwards it as if the Toh never existed, setting aside the part where The Maidens are technically forcing Rand into Ji'eh'toh (which itself is against Ji'eh'toh).

Interestingly Rand was considering using Callandor to cleanse the taint, I wonder what would have happened considering it is a Sa'angreal for the True Power.

Hmm, I wonder if the name Sa'angreal is connected to The True power in some way, since Sa are the black dots in the eye are they not? Were Angreal's for the true power a common thing in the War of the Power.
Chapter 28

Elayne and Hanlon (are we supposed to know him from somewhere? Or is he completely new?) arrive in Camlyn.

Am I the only one who gets really creeped out by Vandene basically taking her sister's place in terms of personality and the like? Now personally I understand she lost her sister and is mourning but it is just fully and completely unsettling to me and I would just like her to do what normal people do and drink themselves half to death.

Chapter 29

Rand, you don't need to go see Cadsuane to know what she wants, five minutes with her should have taught you that all she wants is to be a gigantic Pain in your Rear end.

And we have The Dreadlords finally showing up, Part of me wonders if Taim knew about this from the start? Or if this was a plan that Moridin came up with, I can't see Asan'gar and Osan'gar not being his dogs considering they were killed as well.

Rand almost kills the Loyal Ashaman, however that is quite sensible, Adrenaline is running and he has a literal second to decide to attack or not.

 

[Aduiavas Ida]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 17-21

Hanlon also was with the rebels in Cairhien, with the guy there that Fain infects (Toral? )

 

[Ealandrelle Melyma]

Re: Re-Readalong: Path of Daggers Chapter 17-21

Toram Riatin, I think. Yes, he and most of the "White Lions" ended up with the Cairhien rebels.

I'm just listening to the whole debacle in Altara... Rand is an arrogant idiot at times. Really, I'd forgotten how much he irritates me in this book. He realises something isn't right with saidin, and his response is to bring out a frickin' sa'angreal and try to use it. Muppet.

Also, I do love Egwene taking control of the Hall. I still wonder why Takima didn't say anything, though? Doesn't seem really in character for her, particularly with Takima being depicted as being in Romanda's camp for the most part. I reckon Delana's reaction was due to her instructions from Halima/Aran'gar. It's difficult to play all factions and keep things stymied when Egwene (now revealed as not being a puppet) has her hands firmly on the reins.