The Dragon's Path (The Dagger and the Coin, #1)

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The Dragon's Path (The Dagger and the Coin #1)

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 · rating details · 3,368 ratings · 365 reviews

All paths lead to war...
Marcus' hero days are behind him. He knows too well that even the smallest war still means somebody's death. When his men are impressed into a doomed army, staying out of a battle he wants no part of requires some unorthodox steps.
Cithrin is an orphan, ward of a banking house. Her job is to smuggle a nation's wealth across a war zone, hiding the g...more

Paperback, 555 pages

Published April 7th 2011 by Orbit (first published April 1st 2011)

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May 09, 2011 Joel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, 52-in-2011, sci-fi-fantasy

The star rating system is vague and imperfect. My feelings on this one are somewhere between "liked it" and "really liked it," but I decided to give it four stars because if any author deserves an extra star, it is Daniel Abraham. His first published series, The Long Price Quartet, has been named among the best fantasy series of the last decade by just about everyone whose opinion I respect. As a reward for his efforts, he was dropped by his publisher.

You could argue that this is justified, sin...more The star rating system is vague and imperfect. My feelings on this one are somewhere between "liked it" and "really liked it," but I decided to give it four stars because if any author deserves an extra star, it is Daniel Abraham. His first published series, The Long Price Quartet, has been named among the best fantasy series of the last decade by just about everyone whose opinion I respect. As a reward for his efforts, he was dropped by his publisher.

You could argue that this is justified, since his books didn't sell. You can argue more convincingly that the publisher didn't bother to work very hard to sell what was a rather unusual take on the genre (I mean, from what I have heard, since I haven't read it yet). In an effort to really rub salt into the wound, once they'd cut Daniel loose and he signed with Orbit for his follow-up series, a quintet (of which The Dragon's Path is the first), his old publisher decided not to bother releasing the fourth Long Price book in paperback. This means, of course, that once the hardcovers are gone, no one is going to bother reading it, because why start a series in which the fourth book is impossible to find (even on Kindle, they still want a hardcover price for it, two years after publication).

So by all means, Daniel, take your extra star (half-star, really). You have earned it. You've also written a pretty good book!

The Dragon's Path has famously (well, internet famously... actually, internet genre blog famously) been called the author's attempt to tackle "traditional" fantasy after the LPQ, which apparently confounded the legion of fantasy readers out there who are ironically unable to imagine a fantasy world that isn't set in a quasi-medieval Europe and doesn't have knights and quests and swords and dragons. So here you go, masses: a fantasy book that with a quasi-European setting. It even has a sword on the cover and the word "dragon" in the freaking title!

Ever the smart-ass, of course, Daniel Abraham is only pretending to write a cliched genre entry. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of conventions on display -- a plucky young orphan seemingly destined to play a role in larger events, a war-weary mercenary with a heart of gold, political machinations, a fight for the throne, etc. Stealing from the best, it also apes the structure of George R.R. Martin's HBO-spawning series A Song of Ice and Fire, spinning out the tale through alternating third-person limited POV chapters.

I don't know if it is because it is only the first book in the series or because things are being kept deliberately low-key, but I wouldn't exactly say this one is crammed with incident, despite its length (though don't let those 555 pages fool you -- this thing is printed in fifth-grader font with those big margins they use when they want kids to think the book they are reading is as good as Harry Potter). The politics are interesting but not very complex (or maybe I am just surprised because I understood them even without access to some sort of character index, ahem George R.R. Martin and Jacqueline Carey). There are rumors of war but only a few light skirmishes. Aside from one shocking, game-changing event, all the big stuff seems to be coming in future books (not a spoiler, really, but ending volume I with the words, "It has begun" is probably a clue that things are just getting started).

Even still, I enjoyed myself. Rather than focusing on big fantasy events, the book seems more concerned with the whos and whys of the characters anyway. Abraham considers all sides of cultural and economic issues that most fantasy books ignore in favor of more plot. The driving force of this volume is, in fact, commerce (the series is called The Dagger and the Coin after all). Our requisite plucky orphan, Cithrin, isn't a thief or an assassin or a mage, she's a banker, and her efforts to found a new bank branch take the narrative in some interesting directions. Here is a book that ends not with a battle, but with an audit. No, really, it was kind of an exciting audit.

I like this world, though it is clearly still developing. There's not a lot of magic, but it lingers at the edges of the frame, offering intriguing hints of what's to come. You get the sense that the parts that don't quite fit yet -- like the fact that humanity has been separated into 13 different races with fantastical physical attributes like horns, tusks and gills -- will be developed down the line. No live dragons yet, but at least there's a dragon skeleton. I'm in for book two.(less)

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Jun 18, 2011 Justin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, epic, read-2011, 2011-release, hachette

http://staffersmusings.blogspot.com/2...

The Dragon's Path marks the sixth book I've read from Daniel Abraham and the first time I've reviewed an author twice. Abraham has been a favorite of mine ever since his Long Price Quartet. His more recent science fiction debut, Leviathan Wakes, under the pseudonym James S.A. Corey was also impressive. Although Abraham's first series never garnered wide spread popularity, I never doubted he would one day put himself among the bestselling authors in the spe...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Tyson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fantasy

A good start to a series, but I had a few quibbles.

1) Daniel Abraham (DA) needs to write more from the gut and less from the brain. His books come across as if he's over-intellectualizing everything. It really sucks the life out of the narrative sometimes. I can't write worth a shit, and DA is one of the top 5 fantasy writers working today, but sometimes I want to sit him down and explain a few things about exciting narrative to him. It's hard to describe what I mean, but everything he writes se...more A good start to a series, but I had a few quibbles.

1) Daniel Abraham (DA) needs to write more from the gut and less from the brain. His books come across as if he's over-intellectualizing everything. It really sucks the life out of the narrative sometimes. I can't write worth a shit, and DA is one of the top 5 fantasy writers working today, but sometimes I want to sit him down and explain a few things about exciting narrative to him. It's hard to describe what I mean, but everything he writes seems too well thought out, and not as if it were being written in the moment or by instinct. I have no specific examples but it's more of an overall tone than specifics anyway.
2) Dawson Killiam is an unlikeable fellow. I did not enjoy reading about him as a protag. It is incredibly difficult to make someone who is a traditional "bad guy" be likeable. Abercrombie pulls it off in The First Law trilogy, but that's about the only example I can think of. Dawson believes in strict social classes. He thinks he's superior by birth. He keeps house slaves. He commits minor treason in the hopes of elevating his son. He wants to suppress farmers' political rights. DA obviously doesn't mean for him to be likeable, but it really makes reading his many chapters difficult.
3) Geder is also an unlikeable fellow. He does a thing which makes him basically unredeemable. Making two such fellows half of the novel's POV characters was really risky. I'm not sure it paid off. I understand that their POVs may be the best points of ingress for the larger story, but the smaller story gets sacrificed. And it's the smaller stories which we emotionally invest in. Perhaps that's what I mean when I say DA overthinks things.
4) Some of the characters are flat stereotypes. Surprisingly, one of them is Dawson's wife. DA is known for his incredible female characters. I hope Clara develops more. As it stands, she's a little too perfect and good which makes her unbelievable.

Aside from all that, the story was pretty good. Cithrin, a 17 year old girl just a year from her name day when she'd get an inheritance from the bank, is charged with driving the bank's fortune across the continent and out of the way of an oncoming war. This was the storyline which really got me caught up in the book. It was just long enough, or I'd wish she had more of the POV chapters. I thought the end of her story arc was a little anti-climatic, but it was believable. And Marcus, the weathered old captain who has charged himself with protecting her was interesting to read. In Cithrin and Marcus we have two likeable, interesting characters that a reader can root for. I hope to see a lot more of then in future volumes.

Then there's the apostate. I get the feeling DA's barely touched on what will be the real central story to the series. And I like the small glimpse I got in this book. I'll definitely be reading the rest.(less)

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Mar 24, 2011 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011_release_read, review_fbc, genre-fantasy, read_2011, series_reading, top_25_2011_novels

Excellent series debut and while a partly introductory book, there are a lot of goodies, a great ending at a perfect stopping point and potential for this to become of my top series of all time.

I will add more as the release date gets closer and of course I will add the full FBC review later in the year but for now if you want a reasonable comparison, i would say that this reads like a much better Way of Kings without all the unnecessary verbiage that was such a drag there - traditional fantasy...more

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Aug 17, 2012 David Molnar rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hmm. I had enjoyed another of Abraham's books, A Shadow in Summer, but I think I was expecting too much from it - probably read it not long after The Name of the Wind, not a fair comparison. Got kinda stuck in the second book of that series, and gave up on Abraham until I needed a longer read on vacation, and picked this up. It's good, but made me realize I'd probably sold Summer short. Dragon's Path, first of a trilogy, has actually no dragons in it; it's a bit more subtle. This book is about t...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: re-read, 5-star-reviews

Re read before the 2nd book. I remember liking this book, but I think I lost interest towards the end. We'll see what happens this time around.

Really good. Don't remember it being this good but it was.

read originally in Jul2011

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Mar 24, 2013 Stan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book came free, bundled with a book by James S. A. Corey -- turns out same author, different pseudonym -- and I have to say I enjoyed this one more than the one I paid for. Consider this series Game of Thrones Lite, not a stretch as the author's interview readily admits studying the books and techniques of Martin and other epic fantasy writers. Multiple storylines (though never as complex or numerous as GoT), a behind-the-scenes struggle for succession, a mysterious cult of human lie detect...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Joe rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 08, 2013 Rachel Neumeier rated it 4 of 5 stars

So what is it about modern epic fantasy that makes authors insist on showing us the pov of really unlikable characters?

To be fair, I actually did enjoy THE DRAGON’S Path, which as you may know is the first book of an epic series by Daniel Abraham. It’s very well written, as you would expect from Abraham.

But you know? I’ve liked Abraham’s other first-books-of-series too, and yet I haven’t ever picked up the second book of any of his series. That kind of says something right there, doesn’t it?

The...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Yune rated it 4 of 5 stars

Epic fantasy makes me wary these days, although it was one of my first reading loves. It was a pleasant surprise to come across this series by Daniel Abraham, which takes commerce into account (one of the characters is a banker) alongside the more traditional court politicking and sword-fighting.

I wouldn't call this as gritty as George R.R. Martin, or quite as sensible as Barbara Hambly, but it certainly feels grounded in a way that a lot of fantasy never manages, even with its plethora of senti...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Asaviel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Meine Meinung:

Wer High-Fantasy des Öfteren mal liest, ist gerade zu Beginn der Geschichte ein langsames Erzähltempo gewöhnt. Die Charaktere müssen eingeführt werden, gerade weil es meistens mehr als nur einen Protagonisten gibt und der Leser Zeit braucht sie kennen zu lernen. Die Welt und ihre Bewohner muss erklärt werden, denn oftmals unterscheidet sie sich deutlich von der unseren. Doch die meisten Bücher nehmen spätestens nach dem ersten Drittel deutlich an Fahrt auf. Tun sie es nicht wird es...more Meine Meinung:

Wer High-Fantasy des Öfteren mal liest, ist gerade zu Beginn der Geschichte ein langsames Erzähltempo gewöhnt. Die Charaktere müssen eingeführt werden, gerade weil es meistens mehr als nur einen Protagonisten gibt und der Leser Zeit braucht sie kennen zu lernen. Die Welt und ihre Bewohner muss erklärt werden, denn oftmals unterscheidet sie sich deutlich von der unseren. Doch die meisten Bücher nehmen spätestens nach dem ersten Drittel deutlich an Fahrt auf. Tun sie es nicht wird es schwierig. "Das Drachenschwert" macht es dem Leser auf jeden Fall nicht leicht. Das Erzähltempo bleibt im Roman konstant niedrig. Einerseits fördert dies ein Abtauchen tief hinein in die Geschichte, da man sich gut zurecht findet, andererseits besteht die Gefahr der Langeweile. Hier entsteht also ein zweischneidiges Schwert, bei dem jeder selbst entscheiden muss, ob es gut oder weniger gut ist. Für mich wäre etwas mehr Spannung und dafür vielleicht die eine oder andere Szene gekürzt besser gewesen, um mein Interesse hoch zuhalten.

Obwohl die Grundtendenz der Geschichte klar ist, gelingt es dem Autor Überraschungen und Wendungen einzubauen, die dabei nachvollziehbar bleiben. Der Autor legt geschickt falsche und richtige Fährten, sodass der Leser sich eher für die falschen entscheidet und somit erstaunt ist, wie die Charaktere handeln oder im Vorfeld gehandelt haben.

Die Charaktere sind sauber dargestellt und klar gezeichnet, dabei gelingt es dem Autor bei den Protagonisten auf stereotype Charakterbilder zu verzichten und haucht stattdessen erfolgreich seinen eigenen Figuren Leben ein. Man erfährt bei einigen nicht ausreichend über den Hintergrund und die Vergangenheit, dies wird aber eventuell in den Folgebänden ausgeglichen.

Dabei ist Daniel Hanovers Sprachstil gewandt und überzeugt auf ganzer Linie. In seinen Worten kann man sich verlieren und ganz in die Charaktere hineinfühlen.

"Chitrins einzig klare Erinnerung an ihre Eltern war die Eröffnung, dass sie tot waren. Vor diesem Tag waren sie nicht mehr als Irrwische, weniger noch als die Geister der eigentlichen Menschen. Ihr Vater war eine warme Umarmung im Regen und der Geruch nach Tabak. Ihre Mutter war der Geschmack von Honig auf Brot und die schmale, anmutige Hand einer Cinnae, die Cithrin übers Bein streichelte. Sie kannte weder ihre Gesichter noch den Klang ihrer Stimmen, aber sie erinnerte sich daran, wie es war, sie zu verlieren." (Seite 51)

Das Potenzial, das diese neue Welt und das sprachliche Können des Autors gemeinsam mit sich bringen, wurde in meinen Augen nicht vollständig ausgenutzt, denn es gelang der Geschichte über weite Teile hinweg leider nicht mich vollkommen in ihren Bann zu ziehen und zu fesseln. Trotz der genannten Vorzüge fehlt die Spannung, die man in High-Fantasy-Romanen unweigerlich erwartet und die hier immer nur kurz vorhanden ist.

Natürlich bleibt Band 1 einer Trilogie mit einem Cliffhanger zurück. Da der englische zweite Band aber im Mai dieses Jahr veröffentlicht wurde, wird die deutsche Übersetzung sicherlich nicht mehr allzu lange auf sich warten lassen.

Originalcover

Fazit: Die Zusammenfassung muss wohl lauten: Hoffen auf Band 2. Der erste Teil macht Lust auf mehr, macht Lust auf Action und Tempo. Die Charaktere sind sympathisch, der Autor versteht viel von seinem Handwerk und trotzdem verliert er immer wieder das Interesse des Lesers, da das Erzähltempo oft zu gering ist. In dem Folgeband sind die Charaktere und die Welt bekannt, vielleicht kann da mit größeren Schritten vorangegangen werden, ohne dass die Faszination der Welt und der Sprache verloren gehen.

(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 David rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a story of four characters trying to find their way in a kingdom with a passive leader. The king is unwilling to make difficult decisions so ends up having his court intrigues run the kingdom. This leads to ambitious court players, military leaders, and foreign powers playing elaborate games.
Marcus is an old war hero trying to live a quiet life as a caravan guard and come to terms with what he has done. Cithrin is a young orphan adopted by the local bank leader that is tasked to care for...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Peter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally reviewed at Odd Engine

I was recently introduced to Daniel Abraham after reading Leviathan Wakes and Caliban’s War (co-written with Ty Franck under the pseudonym of James S.A. Corey). Considering my positive experience with their space opera, I was eager to try Abraham’s ongoing epic fantasy series.

The Dragon’s Path is the first book in The Dagger and the Coin series. The series title is appropriate, for the viewpoint characters are known either for their deftness with a blade or their...more Originally reviewed at Odd Engine

I was recently introduced to Daniel Abraham after reading Leviathan Wakes and Caliban’s War (co-written with Ty Franck under the pseudonym of James S.A. Corey). Considering my positive experience with their space opera, I was eager to try Abraham’s ongoing epic fantasy series.

The Dragon’s Path is the first book in The Dagger and the Coin series. The series title is appropriate, for the viewpoint characters are known either for their deftness with a blade or their shrewdness with their purse. Geder (the first viewpoint character) is one of the sword-bearers, a literary scholar of sorts, whose hobby of scribbling speculative essays poses little advantage in Abraham’s violent, medieval world. He becomes a political pawn when he is suddenly thrust from low social ranks into a position of power.

Cithrin (the second viewpoint character) is a sixteen-year-old orphan, living and working in a branch of the Medean Bank. Her home city of Vanai comes under attack, threatening the bank’s reserves, and in desperation, Cithrin is sent to lead a caravan of riches to safety. An able swordsman named Marcus (the third viewpoint character) serves to protect her with his band of actors who are dressed to look the part of soldiers. Perhaps the most moral of the viewpoint characters, Marcus serves as a protector and father-like adviser to the cunning Cithrin whose coming-of-age passes in the blink of an eye.

Baron Dawson Killiam (the fourth viewpoint character) is an upper-class nobleman and childhood friend of the king. He is the marionette of Geder’s political career and serves as a defender of the current social order. His stubbornness is balanced by his wife’s soft and kind influences as he schemes against others to gain political advantage.

What makes The Dragon’s Path an enjoyable read is the characters and each views Abraham’s world through a different lens. To Cithrin, economics rule and she begins to pave a way to financial prominence through ingenuity and deceit. To Geder, the world is cruel and misguided. He is uncertain in his aim, but will make bold decisions to avoid becoming a victim. To Dawson, the world is political. Every relationship is either to forge alliances or hinder enemies. The different worldviews of the characters help paint a rich tapestry of the society in which they live.

The style follows in a form similar to George R R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series — the chapters are titled with the viewpoint character, none of which are clear protagonists or antagonists. The morally ambiguous antiheroes all serve to advance their own purposes (with a possible exception to Marcus) in a diverse, war-ridden world. But unlike Martin, there is very little in terms of fantastical elements. There are thirteen species of humans, but little is provided to the reader to differentiate them other than sparsely-added physical descriptions (such as tusks or long ears). The concept of multiple species is a great idea, but I am really hoping that subsequent books will explore them in greater detail, integrating them into the plot.

One of the challenges with developing an epic fantasy without a hero’s journey is developing a character the reader can identify with. Geder, at first glance, appears to be an unlikely hero — he’s a medieval geek, never fitting in with his expositions are seen as frivolous diversions. When he is put in a position that destines him to failure, he overcomes his circumstances in such a savage and detestable way that he commits treason on the reader. Despite draining the empathy out of me, Geder remains complex and interesting, leaving me completely uncertain of where his character will go.

Cithrin is probably the most interesting character. She is wise beyond her years, but her craftiness is limited, even when she uses her every advantage. Like Geder, our first impression of her changes quickly when we find out that she is not as innocent as we originally thought. But in her case, the character change is intriguing and through her struggles, she becomes more real to the reader.

I really enjoyed the first novel in The Daggar and the Coin series and I am very excited to read the already published second book. The characters are complex and are beautifully interwoven, the political and socio-economic environment are intricately designed, and the prose flows nicely. I recommend Abraham’s latest epic fantasy series and put it right on par with his space opera series, The Expanse.(less)

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Jul 15, 2012 Mikko Karvonen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-scifi

Having missed The Long Price Quartet, The Dragon’s Path was my first encounter with Daniel Abraham’s work. I was not hugely impressed, but still somewhat intrigued.

The basic setting of the series is a very familiar. You have your nobles engaged in intrigue, several characters to offer different viewpoints to the two main plotlines driving the book, and the vague threat from the forgotten past. The ways to wield power seems to be the major theme here, as indicated by the name of the series The Da...more Having missed The Long Price Quartet, The Dragon’s Path was my first encounter with Daniel Abraham’s work. I was not hugely impressed, but still somewhat intrigued.

The basic setting of the series is a very familiar. You have your nobles engaged in intrigue, several characters to offer different viewpoints to the two main plotlines driving the book, and the vague threat from the forgotten past. The ways to wield power seems to be the major theme here, as indicated by the name of the series The Dagger and the Coin, with the nobles and warfare being the dagger, and banks and trade being the coin.

The main characters are also cut from a familiar cloth: bumbling bookwise noble, old war-oriented traditionalist, and a clever, talented orphan trying to put her wits into good use. The familiarity in itself is not necessarily a problem, but unfortunately none of the characters are very likeable. I’m not sure if I was meant to symphatize with them or not, but I know I wasn’t able to.

The main problem was that Abraham didn’t do well good job selling his characters’ motivations and feelings. Their basic natures and goals were clear, but individual actions and decisions were in many cases explained rather shallowly, making them seem at times irrational or just evil. This didn't exactly help in finding the characters interesting or endearing.

Another problem I had with the writing was the general pacing and tone. The loose structure and the casual way Abraham handles the passing of time reduced the potential impact of the dramatic arch of the story. Additionally, the book lacked finesse in portraying different events and moods, often making them rather feel rather flat. Tragic, romantic, witty, and tense scenes alike melted into the basic weave and background of the story.

However, I must tip my hat to Abraham, for despite all these problems that bothered me, I'm still intrigued enough to seriously consider reading the second book in the series as well. The sentences flowed smoothly enough to make the reading a relaxed experience, and the new part of the story that finally got going at the end of the first book really piqued my interest. Hopefully it'll help the series find its wings and make the second book more engaging than The Dragon's Path was.(less)

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May 04, 2012 Jason Golomb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic, fantasy, fiction

Daniel Abraham has kicked off a terrific new epic series with "The Dragon's Path". I've come to realize that I love "EPIC". The bigger, the more dramatic, the more flawed characters whose existences connect, orbit and intertwine in more surprising ways...the better.

The story revolves around a small handful of characters who live in an ancient world populated by a myriad of diverse human-like races. Abraham shifts focus between each of his key characters as he builds a world that's clearly differ...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Rachel Thompson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

The Dragon's Path follows the lives of four people: Cithrin, an orphan being raised by the Medean bank; Marcus, a mercenary intent on staying out of the coming war; Geder, a poor excuse for a soldier and a pawn in someone else's games; and Dawson, a political figure with ties to the most important men in the kingdom.

I was fascinated with the different races (13 in all), though it was hard to keep track of them all. I probably would have given this book five stars if it had focused more on Cithri...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Nathan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

After reading the Long Price Quartet, I expected much more from the author. It may be the first novel of a series, but the story's moving extreemely sloow. All the events could have been fit in a novel 2/3 of the size of this. Then it would have been lively and engaging. But with this length it was just so boring, I only kept reading because I had nothing better to do with my late nights.
Another problem is, that I counted five main protagonists / pov characters, and two of them are downright ant...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Lightreads rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

Interesting. I've been kind of off epic fantasy lately. There was an unpleasant . . . something lingering at the back of my mouth after Dance of Dragons. So you'd think I wouldn't appreciate another traditional epic, particularly the first volume (of five?) which consists of 550 pages of setup. And yet? I really rather did.

He's writing a good balance between traditional elements and reinterpretations of those elements. I mean, it's a safe bet the reader likes the old, bland stuff a little. Most...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Jessica Strider rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pros: political intrigue, unique races, good worldbuilding, interesting story

Cons: it doesn't get the full 5 stars because while I liked the characters, I didn't quite feel for them

War is coming to the free city of Vanai. But the people aren't worried. Every few years the Kings of Antea throw their weight around before leaving the city to its own devices again. Still, the branch of the Medean bank doesn't want the whole of its holdings to potentially fall to the invading army, so the bank's ward...more Pros: political intrigue, unique races, good worldbuilding, interesting story

Cons: it doesn't get the full 5 stars because while I liked the characters, I didn't quite feel for them

War is coming to the free city of Vanai. But the people aren't worried. Every few years the Kings of Antea throw their weight around before leaving the city to its own devices again. Still, the branch of the Medean bank doesn't want the whole of its holdings to potentially fall to the invading army, so the bank's ward, Cithrin, is disguised as a boy and set to carting the gems, silks and other precious items to the branch in Carse.

The caravan's guards are 'drafted' into the army, so their captain must find a new team, or he, too, will find himself fighting. He convinces a group of actors that their fortunes are better off outside the city.

Meanwhile, marching towards Vanai is Geder Palliako, butt of his fellow nobles' jokes and admirer of essays about the fall of the Dragon Empire. He's unaware that he's about to become the pawn of powerful men.

And back home in Antea's capital, Dawson tries to keep the farmers from gaining a council and weed out his political rivals, whose actions are becoming more and more treasonous. If only the king would listen to him and grow a backbone.

This book has so many good things going for it. The writing is solid - enough background and description to give a sense of place and time but not enough to become boring. Fantastic worldbuilding - with geographical diversity, history and a unique set of races sure to please readers of Adrian Tchaikovsky's Shadows of the Apt fans. I especially liked how people from one place knew next to nothing about other areas of their world, and relied on hearsay and stories for what they did know. And unlike Col Buchanan's Farlander, where the conflict is strictly along regional and national lines, here there's also (unfortunately) realistic racism among the 13 varieties of humans.

The protagonists are all interesting and make decisions that are often surprising though entirely in character. The only reason it didn't get a 5 star rating is because I never went that last step towards feeling what the characters feel. I didn't rage with Dawson or despair with Cithrin.

The political intrigue isn't as brutal as that in The Adamantine Palace (by Stephen Deas), but the players are much more likeable here and what intrigue there is, is well played.

I expect to see this book up for awards and on many 'best of' lists for 2011(less)

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Jul 31, 2011 Warmingstorms rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Less a review more a splurge of ideas incoherently slopped together:

- characters that jarr because they inhabit genre stereotypes (loyal Kings man, mysterious outsider w/magic, orphan finding her worth, gruff soldier type w/ a heart of gold, bumbling fool out of element) but have subtle differences that set them on edge to those stereotypes. Although so far, some of them are just plain stereotypes, but that may well change in future books.
- Someone said on a forum somewhere that they didn't thin...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Lane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fromfantastictoweirdtosci-fietc, series

I try and stay away from typical medieval-fantasy settings, but luckily Abraham intentionally designed a series that includes all the guilty-pleasure points I like in cliched epic fantasy while still being interesting. Essentially some of the elements I love out of Mieville's Bas Lag stuff in a more typical medieval setting--i.e. a plethora of atypical and different humanoid (or in this case, sort of still human) races and major characters that aren't quite typical hero-types (though there are s...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Algernon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Probably the best new fantasy epic in 2011. I already read and liked The Long Price quartet, but Abraham has upped his game in this ambitious project. The influence of George R R Martin I think is clear in the grand scale of the world, the low but powerful magic that is more a dark threat than an active presence, and most of all in the careful development of the main characters and in the unexpected / brutal twist in the storyline. In the interview at the end of the book Abraham also mentions an...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Daniel Potter rated it 4 of 5 stars

An excellent concept with a starting hook that grabs you by the eyeballs and doesn't let go. I bought it via my kindle on the recommendation of the Podcastle fantasy podcast. Daniel writes with a richness of detail and welcomes you into the heads of the four viewpoint characters. A big part of what the book attempts is to portray the villians as sympathetic individuals. It succeeds with one and fails at the other. However the viewpoint that strikes me a dissonant instead holds me with the force...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book had a lot of potential, but it just didn't live up to it. The plot was scattered and the characters were annoying. The story kept jumping around from person to person until I really didn't care anymore. Cithrin, who seemed like she is supposed to be the main character, starts out ok but then deteriorates from a naive and clever young girl into a power-hungry woman who ignores her friends and uses her body to help her business. Blech.

The only character I really liked was Marcus with his...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Marleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Details: The Dagger and the Coin: Book One
Received from and reviewed for Bookgeeks

In the prologue of The Dragon’s Path a young apostate runs away from a remote religious community in the sure knowledge that if those following catch him, he will be killed. Through sheer determination and some luck he manages to make it to the safety of a town, uncertain of what he will find there or how he’ll cope with it, while carrying his secrets very close to his heart. And that is the last we hear about the...more Details: The Dagger and the Coin: Book One
Received from and reviewed for Bookgeeks

In the prologue of The Dragon’s Path a young apostate runs away from a remote religious community in the sure knowledge that if those following catch him, he will be killed. Through sheer determination and some luck he manages to make it to the safety of a town, uncertain of what he will find there or how he’ll cope with it, while carrying his secrets very close to his heart. And that is the last we hear about the apostate until the last chapter of the book, or is it?
The main story revolves primarily around three characters, Marcus the famous warrior now tired of the fighting, Cithrin, a young orphan raised by a bank and Geder, the only son from a minor noble house more interested in philosophy then fighting but forced by his position in to the latter.
When it appears Vanai, the city where Cithrin has grown up, is under threat from an invasion force, the banker who raised her decides to send her and most of his bank’s possessions away with the last trade caravan leaving. With Cithrin disguised as a boy and the goods as produce of little value, the hope is that the girl will be able to bring the bank’s valuables to its head-office.
Marcus is recognised as a hero. But after a devastating loss his fighting days are behind him and he prefers to guard the last caravan leaving Vanai over staying behind to join the forces facing the invading army. He hires a troupe of actors, led by Master Kit, to pretend to be guards.
Geder is part of the forces invading Vanai. He is not a natural soldier and looked upon as strange and not too bright by those around him. But, he will end up playing a major role, not only in Vanai’s ultimate fate, but also in the events that follow.
All three of them are pawns in a game that will lead the lands towards The Dragon’s Path – the path of war.

I really enjoyed this book. I think this is probably fantasy at its best. It has all the fantastical elements a reader would expect; strange countries populated by human-like, but not quite human as we know it, creatures, the threat of conflict and supernatural powers. However, this book is much more. The emphasis in this story is very much on political intrigue, the power of money and those who wield it, corruption and the dangers of religion. And those elements made this a fascinating read.
The main characters in this story came alive for me as the story progressed. There are no purely good and purely bad caricatures in this story, but rather realistic, fleshed out individuals with their good points and their bad, with the best intentions but not always the right way of going about it.
In many ways this book appears to be setting the stage for more to come, but that doesn’t take away from the satisfaction the reader gets from the story. It does make this reader rather eager to read further instalments though.
(less)

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May 29, 2011 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars

'The Dragon's Path' tells the story of a disparate group of characters struggling to get by in a diverse world rife with violence and political intrigue. A former war hero trying to avoid conscription, an orphan tasked with a daunting quest and an enlisted nobleman who'd rather spend time in the archives than the battlefield are just a few of the many interesting people Abraham introduces. Creepily sinister monks add a delicious element of dread to the tale.

The world is peopled by a dozen prima...more

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Apr 15, 2011 Heavensent1 rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Dragon's Path is book one in The Dagger and The Coin series. Following the paths of four major characters through out a world-building realm of 13 races in a land once ruled by dragons.

Captain Marcus Webster is a veteran captain who is haunted by his past and becomes the "father-figure" and protector of rag tag group of miscreants. Cithrin Bel Sarcour is an orphan raised by the Medean Bank and with the banks guidance and tutelage, she is enlisted to smuggle the banks holdings out of town whi...more The Dragon's Path is book one in The Dagger and The Coin series. Following the paths of four major characters through out a world-building realm of 13 races in a land once ruled by dragons.

Captain Marcus Webster is a veteran captain who is haunted by his past and becomes the "father-figure" and protector of rag tag group of miscreants. Cithrin Bel Sarcour is an orphan raised by the Medean Bank and with the banks guidance and tutelage, she is enlisted to smuggle the banks holdings out of town while a war is raging outside it walls. Geder Palliako, the heir of the Viscount of Rivenhalm, is more interested in his books and studies then being a catalyst in the story however, his uncharacteristic actions help set the fates of all those involved. Master Kit is the head of the theatrical troupe who has the gift of truth and more secrets than anyone could imagine. With these four we, the reader, are plunged into a world of magic, tyranny and mayhem.

For the first 100 pages or so of the book I found it very hard to stay involved with the story. The different races were confusing at first as were the introductions of each of the main characters. There appeared to be a lack of plot flow as each of these aspects were being introduced. I would have liked a bit more time spent on each of the races or perhaps a glossary included with more information that couldn't be used in the plot. After the initial confusion, the author found his flow and the characters became more substantial and believable in form and character. I love the mystery surrounding Master Kit and his ability to see the truth in all situations it is a skill I would LOVE to have. As the story picked up and you had a clearer picture of where everyone was being headed the book became quite enjoyable and I am looking forward to the next segment of the fate of these folks lives. I wish to learn more about the Spider Queen and her involvement with these people, the history of the dragons and how they lost their rule and whether the truth will unfold as they all walk The Dragon's Path.(less)

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Apr 09, 2011 Norma rated it 5 of 5 stars

I always love when you pick up a book by an author you have never read before and are instantly mesmerized by the world that they have created. This book fell into that category.

There were many key elements that have been revisited in fantasy book through the years. This book had many of them. However, that didn’t detract from this book. In fact, I think it actually enhanced my enjoyment.

This book is set in a world that was once inhabited by dragons. The dragons bred thirteen different factions...more

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Mar 25, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham

This is a tale of a society that has plunged into a dark age of battle, politics, fallen heroes and troubled heroines.

Marcus Wester, a leader of armies, is now a modest captain of a small band of bravos when he loses all but his sidekick in a city’s impressments program. Bereft of his men, he contracts with a highly unlikely source to guard the caravan he is contracted to see safely to Carse.

Cithrin, a naïve orphan, is thrust into an area so far beyond her comfor...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Jacqie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Daniel Abraham returns to high fantasy in this addictive start to a new series, The Dagger and the Coin. Read the book if you want to know why the series is named that. The first book, the Dragon's Path, is named after the path of civil war that apparently wiped out the dragons in the world over a millenium ago, leaving behind the thirteen humanoid races that were created to serve them. This is a world rich in history and culture. Abraham leaves you wanting to know more than he's given you, and...more

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About Daniel Abraham

Daniel Abraham is an American science fiction / fantasy author who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a graduate of Clarion West, and sometimes collaborates with George R. R. Martin, another New Mexico resident.

His short stories have appeared in numerous publications and anthologies. His novelette Flat Diane was nominated for the Nebula Award. His novelette The Cambist and Lord Iron: a Fairyt...more

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Books by Daniel Abraham

A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, Vol.1

A Shadow in Summer (Long Price Quartet, #1)

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“There's ways you can trust an enemy you can't always trust a friend. An enemy's never going to betray your trust.” — 29 people liked it

“That's one of the things Yardem used to tell me that actually made sense. He said that you don't go through grief like it was a chore to be done. You can't push and get finished quicker. The best you can do is change the way you always do, and the time comes when you aren't the same person who was in pain.” — 10 people liked it

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The Dragon's Path (The Dagger and the Coin #1)

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