The Path of Daggers was published by Tor Books in 1998. Rand campaigns against the Seanchan in Altara, using the Bowl of the Winds to fix the Dark One’s disruption of weather patterns. His increasingly erratic behavior — a consequence of the taint on saidin and his traumatic capture — alienates allies and makes him more dangerous to friend and foe alike. Elayne arrives in Caemlyn to claim the Lion Throne of Andor, beginning a political storyline that would extend across multiple volumes.
The novel is the shortest in the series and the most criticized by fans for its deliberate pacing and multiplication of subplots. However, its events are structurally necessary for what follows.
Rand’s Deterioration
The novel tracks Rand’s psychological decline with clinical precision. The taint on saidin, combined with the trauma of his capture and torture, produces a leader who is increasingly paranoid, cold, and willing to sacrifice allies. Jordan — drawing on his own experience with PTSD from Vietnam — rendered Rand’s deterioration with an authenticity that transcends genre convention.
The First Without Mat
This is the first Wheel of Time novel without Mat Cauthon. His absence is felt acutely — Mat’s wit and energy provided essential levity, and without him the novel’s tone is unrelievedly grim.
Collecting The Path of Daggers
First edition (Tor Books, New York, 1998): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket (first printing): $30–$75
- Signed first edition: $75–$200
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest. The least-collected volume in the series due to its critical reception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the worst Wheel of Time book? It and Crossroads of Twilight compete for that distinction in fan polls. The criticism concerns pacing rather than prose quality.
Can I skip it? Not if you want to understand the series. Several plot developments here (Rand’s deterioration, Elayne’s succession, the Bowl of the Winds) are referenced in every subsequent volume.