Path of Daggers (Paperback: Reprint: 685 pages)

Book Magazine

Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series is more complex than the Lord of the Rings trilogy, more heavily populated than the Dune series and longer than just about anything in the world. The newest 600-page volume is the eighth in the ongoing saga.It's a thick tale of war and magic. A young man by the name of Rand has been chosen as the Dragon Reborn, and gains the ability to channel supernatural powers. Problem is, the prophecy that empowered him also predicts his eminent descent into madness. If he doesn't die in battle or get assassinated by one of his myriad hidden enemies, he is destined to lead an alliance in the Last Battle against the Dark Lord.Rand is only one of many characters enveloped in the book's mad miscellany of plots, details and alliances. Where Jordan skimps on description, he more than makes up for in excessive intrigue, which is the book's weakest point. A typical scene for Jordan is a half-dozen characters with equally unpronounceable names standing around trying to ...verbally outmaneuver each other. While never matching the sheer epic splendor of Tolkien, Jordan does turn a good phrase. The reader is sucked along as in any decent yarn—there is always a stranger tale, a more shocking betrayal and a nastier plot just around the corner. —Chris Barsanti Read more Less