The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan

Synopsis From Dust Jacket:

The Seanchan invasion forces is in possession of Ebou Dar.  Nynaeve, Elayne, and Aviendha head for Caemlyn and Elayne's rightful throne, but on the way they discover an enemy much worse than the Seanchan.

In Illian, Rand vows to throw the Seanchan back as he did once before.  But signs of madness are appearing among the Asha'man.

In Ghealdan, Perrin faces the intrigues of Whitecloaks, Seanchan invaders, the scattered Shaido Aiel, and the Prophet himself.  Perrin's  beloved wife, Faile, may pay with her life, and Perrin himself may have to destroy his soul to save her.

Meanwhile the rebel Aes Sedai under their young Amyrlin, Egwene al'Vere, face an army that intends to keep them away from the White Tower.  But Egwene is determined to unseat the usurper Elaida and reunite the Aes Sedai.  She does not yet understand the price that others - and she herself - will pay.

So not much happens in this book, despite it being 604 pages long.  Well, I take that back, a lot happens, but most of it is set up for what happens in future books.  Elayne, Nynaeve, and Aviendha, along with some Sea Folk and members of the Knitting Circle, have used the Bowl of Winds to right the weather and save the people of the world from suffering an unending drought and famine.  Sadly for them, that much power brought the attention of the Seanchan on them, and they had to run for their lives.  Aviendha being that showoff that she is, did something nobody thought was possible.  She unwove a weave, magic terminology. causing a massive explosion on the side of the gate they used to run from the Seanchan.  She is so feisty that one.

Perrin on the other hand has been busy trying to get the Prophet in line.  Along the way he picks up the Queen of Ghealdan, who swears an oath of fealty to him.  He also rescues a high ranking member of the Whitecloaks, those who were left alive by the Seanchan, and Queen Morgase, who is in disguise.  The world thinks she is dead, and does she tell Perrin who she is, of course not.  Instead she and her fellow traveller's take on assumed names and enter into service with Perrin and Faile.  Can I just say, I'm still not liking Morgase, though I do respect her.  I love most of those who are traveling with her though, and I wish them nothing but the best.  Then just when things couldn't get worse, the Shaido Aiel capture Faile, Morgase, Alliandre (the aforementioned Queen of Ghealdan), along with a few of the other women with Faile.

Egwene, being as young and naive and she can be, is trying her best to get the rebel Aes Sedai behind her, and finally launch their effort to depose the bitch queen, Elaida.  Through some really bad decision making on those opposing her, Egwene manages to gain the upper hand, and with Gareth Bryne leading her army, they strike out to fulfill their destiny.

Rand on the other hand is starting to go crazy, he rightly sees enemies all around him, and those he has put into positions of power are starting to turn against him.  His paranoia and overly inflated ego are starting to interfere in his decision making process, causing him to make mistakes.  Sadly the big mistake he makes in this book has deadly consequences for those around him, and for his sanity.

The Path of Daggers, which is the eighth book in the series, is really a filler book.  It sets up the action that is about to take place.  It's still a great book, but you have to really love these characters and care about what happens to them, or you are going to be in for a lot of boredom.  Either way, if you want to read this series, there are events and people in this book that need to be paid attention to, otherwise you will be lost later on.

Other Books In The Series:

The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven 
Lord of  Chaos
A Crown of Swords