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The Dragon's Path

The Dragon's Path

by Daniel Abraham

First published 2011 · 576 pages · about 10 hours to read

On these lists: #2 Books like A Game of Thrones

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About this book

The Dragon's Path is an epic fantasy novel and the first book of The Dagger and the Coin series. It follows several people caught up in a growing conflict between cities and nations, mostly through politics, trade, and war rather than magic-heavy battles. Readers pick it up for its grounded, morally mixed take on empire, money, and power.

A banking house, a soldier, and a young man from a powerful family each find their lives pulled toward a larger political struggle. Their paths begin apart and slowly converge as the situation becomes more dangerous.

Summary written with AI from the book's details.

Will you like it?

Readers who like large political fantasy with war and trade at its center will find much to follow here. The book is grounded and practical, focusing on money, cities, and armies rather than simple quests or heroic duels.

  • power and corruption
  • money and trade
  • war and its costs
  • empire and rebellion

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Quick answers

What age is The Dragon's Path for?
Adults.
Is The Dragon's Path a standalone?
No, it's part of a series.
Is The Dragon's Path based on a true story?
No, it's fiction.
Does The Dragon's Path have violence, sex or strong language?
Yes: violence.

Written with AI from what's known about the book.

Reader's guide

Themespower and corruption, money and trade, war and its costs, loyalty and self-interest, empire and rebellion

power and corruption · money and trade · war and its costs · loyalty and self-interest · empire and rebellion

StyleThird-person narration that rotates among several viewpoint characters, with a focus on politics, economics, and military strategy. The pace is steady, and the book is long, about 576 pages, with many chapters that each follow one character.

Third-person narration that rotates among several viewpoint characters, with a focus on politics, economics, and military strategy. The pace is steady, and the book is long, about 576 pages, with many chapters that each follow one character.

How it was writtenDaniel Abraham wrote The Dragon's Path in the early 2010s as the opening volume of The Dagger and the Coin quintet. It was published in 2011, and Abraham wrote the series with a collaborator's understanding of economics and political systems in mind.

Daniel Abraham wrote The Dragon's Path in the early 2010s as the opening volume of The Dagger and the Coin quintet. It was published in 2011, and Abraham wrote the series with a collaborator's understanding of economics and political systems in mind.

How it was receivedThe book was generally well received by fantasy readers for its political depth, its focus on economics, and its refusal to make its characters simply heroic or villainous. It is often recommended to readers who like grounded, hard-edged epic fantasy.

The book was generally well received by fantasy readers for its political depth, its focus on economics, and its refusal to make its characters simply heroic or villainous. It is often recommended to readers who like grounded, hard-edged epic fantasy.

Questions to discussHow does the book use money and banking as a source of power compared with armies and kings?

These may talk about the whole book.

  1. How does the book use money and banking as a source of power compared with armies and kings?
  2. Which characters make morally questionable choices, and do the book's views on them change over time?
  3. How does the multiple-viewpoint structure shape the way the conflict is understood?
  4. What does the book suggest about the relationship between empire, trade, and rebellion?
  5. How does the book's depiction of war compare with other epic fantasy you have read?
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