A Crown of Swords takes place (mainly) in two places. Elayne, Aviendha, and Mat scour Ebou Dar for the Bowl of the Winds, while Rand and his company figure things out in Cairhien.

This book begins in a unique way. The former book in the series, Lord of Chaos, ended with the epic encounter at Dumai’s wells, told from Rand’s perspective. A Crown of Swords begins just prior to this event, told from the perspective of Sevanna. This thoughtful move immediately engages the reader, provides more insight into the event, and ultimately underscores one of the most significant moments in the series.

I’ve recognized a new feature of Robert Jordan’s writing that keeps me hooked. He keeps evil plans under wraps. Some of the most interesting passages of his books involve the Forsaken, the Dark One, and Shadar Haran. Yet Jordan only gives you glimpses into their world—just enough to provide a few clues and keep you wanting more!

Crown of Swords in hand (or I should say, on head), we turn next to The Path of Daggers.

Jordan, Robert. A Crown of Swords. TOR, 1996, The Wheel of Time 7.