The Dragon's Path

The Dragon's Path launches a fantasy series set in a world where thirteen races of humans exist, each created by gods for specific purposes. The story follows multiple viewpoint characters including a cynical mercenary captain, a noble banking scion, an orphaned actress, and an apostate priest. War and economic upheaval threaten the kingdoms as political factions maneuver for power and ancient secrets resurface. The characters' paths intersect and diverge as they navigate conflicts between nations, religions, and competing interests in a complex medieval society. Trade, banking, and economics play central roles alongside the traditional fantasy elements of swords and sorcery. Through its ensemble cast, the novel explores themes of truth versus deception, the price of ambition, and how the past shapes both individuals and civilizations.

Readers describe The Dragon's Path as a political fantasy focused on banking and economics rather than traditional epic battles. Character development and realistic dialogue stand out as strengths, with Marcus Wester and Cithrin frequently mentioned as compelling protagonists. What readers liked: - Complex political maneuvering - Detailed banking/economic systems - Strong character relationships - Quality of prose and dialogue What readers disliked: - Slow pacing in first half - Limited action sequences - Too much focus on banking details for some - Multiple readers note it takes 100+ pages to become invested Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.89/5 (17,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (400+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (300+ ratings) Common reader quote: "Not your typical sword and sorcery - more like Game of Thrones meets Wall Street." Several reviewers note they almost gave up early but were satisfied after pushing through the slow start.

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🐉 The Dragon's Path marked Daniel Abraham's return to epic fantasy after his successful Long Price Quartet series, launching what would become The Dagger and the Coin series. 📚 Abraham drew inspiration from his experience in banking and economics to create a unique fantasy world where banking and financial systems play as crucial a role as swords and sorcery. 🎭 The character Marcus Wester was partially inspired by the historical mercenary captain Sir John Hawkwood, who led the White Company in 14th century Italy. ✍️ Daniel Abraham also writes science fiction under the pen name James S. A. Corey (with Ty Franck) and is known for The Expanse series, which became a successful TV show. 🗺️ The world of The Dragon's Path features thirteen human races, each artificially created by dragons in their own image, though the dragons themselves are long extinct when the story begins.