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Pathfinder Tales #13
Liar's Blade
Bastard and Sword
With strength, wit, rakish charm, and a talking sword named Hrym, Rodrick has all the makings of a classic hero—except for the conscience. Instead, he and Hrym live a high life as scoundrels, pulling cons and parting the weak from their gold. When a mysterious woman invites them along on a quest into the frozen north in pursuit of a legendary artifact, it seems like a prime opportunity to make some easy coin—especially if there’s a chance for a double-cross. Along with a hooded priest and a half-elven tracker, the team sets forth into a land of monsters, bandits, and ancient magic. As the miles wear on, however, Rodrick’s companions begin acting steadily stranger, leading both man and sword to wonder what exactly they’ve gotten themselves into...
From Hugo Award-winner Tim Pratt, author of City of the Fallen Sky, comes a bold new tale of ice, magic, and questionable morality set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
With strength, wit, rakish charm, and a talking sword named Hrym, Rodrick has all the makings of a classic hero—except for the conscience. Instead, he and Hrym live a high life as scoundrels, pulling cons and parting the weak from their gold. When a mysterious woman invites them along on a quest into the frozen north in pursuit of a legendary artifact, it seems like a prime opportunity to make some easy coin—especially if there’s a chance for a double-cross. Along with a hooded priest and a half-elven tracker, the team sets forth into a land of monsters, bandits, and ancient magic. As the miles wear on, however, Rodrick’s companions begin acting steadily stranger, leading both man and sword to wonder what exactly they’ve gotten themselves into...
From Hugo Award-winner Tim Pratt, author of City of the Fallen Sky, comes a bold new tale of ice, magic, and questionable morality set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
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439 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 6, 2014
It has been 25 years (at least) since I read Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the gray mouser books so I can't really say if Tim Pratt executed this homage well or not. What I can say is that he did a fantastic job crafting a solid buddy story about two ostensible scoundrels who care deeply about each other and work as a team to take on the world together (even if one is "only" a sword). That sense of trust and shared knowledge infuses the story and gives it life.
And Pratt does a good job with the other characters as well. Each of the secondary characters has believable motivations and depth enough to both understand and, to an extent, even sympathize with their actions—even when you don't like what they do and know that they will eventually harm the characters we're most invested in. I'm talking mostly of Zaqen, of course, whose devotion to the mysterious jerk Obed is achingly raw at times, but even Cilian the deluded ranger has more to him than you might first assume (that both helps and hinders Rodrick and Hrym).
Add a great deal of wit and enough humor to spice it up a bit and you have people you don't mind spending some time with, even if they weren't doing much interesting. Set this all into a great adventure story and a plot that holds together even under scrutiny and you have a fast-paced tale that ramps up nicely to a great dénouement and even a touching (and only slightly forced) coda at the end.
And Pratt does a good job with the other characters as well. Each of the secondary characters has believable motivations and depth enough to both understand and, to an extent, even sympathize with their actions—even when you don't like what they do and know that they will eventually harm the characters we're most invested in. I'm talking mostly of Zaqen, of course, whose devotion to the mysterious jerk Obed is achingly raw at times, but even Cilian the deluded ranger has more to him than you might first assume (that both helps and hinders Rodrick and Hrym).
Add a great deal of wit and enough humor to spice it up a bit and you have people you don't mind spending some time with, even if they weren't doing much interesting. Set this all into a great adventure story and a plot that holds together even under scrutiny and you have a fast-paced tale that ramps up nicely to a great dénouement and even a touching (and only slightly forced) coda at the end.
November 23, 2014
The first book of Tim Pratt I read was City of the Fallen Sky and that was amazing. In fact I'm trying to read all the pathfinder tales books and that one was my favorite pathfinder tale book I read so far.
So as you can imagine I had very high expectations for this book. I was curious if Tim Pratt could keep it up or if City of the fallen sky happened to be a lucky shot. Well I can tell you he did it again. If I was able to give half points this book would get a 4.5 score from me.
In this book we follow Rodrick, a thief and conman, and his talking sword of living ice Hrym, while they are hired to go on a mysterious quest. The story follows the classic quest trope including some betrayal, some nice fight scenes and some clever plans. The story here reads like a nice enough adventure path for a pathfinder campaign.
But where the story really shines is in the witty dialogue and well defined relations between the characters. You can actually feel the friendship from Rodrick and Hrym in their banter. And you can deduce how Rodrick feels about Zagen at the moment based on what and how he says it.
I can greatly recommend this if you like light upbeat fantasy. While reading this I even thought that this felt like how a Josh Whedon pathfinder tale tv series would feel. Great stuff.
I'm reading the pathfinder tales stories in order of publication, and the latest one I picked up is also written by Tim Pratt, so I have that book to look forward to.
So as you can imagine I had very high expectations for this book. I was curious if Tim Pratt could keep it up or if City of the fallen sky happened to be a lucky shot. Well I can tell you he did it again. If I was able to give half points this book would get a 4.5 score from me.
In this book we follow Rodrick, a thief and conman, and his talking sword of living ice Hrym, while they are hired to go on a mysterious quest. The story follows the classic quest trope including some betrayal, some nice fight scenes and some clever plans. The story here reads like a nice enough adventure path for a pathfinder campaign.
But where the story really shines is in the witty dialogue and well defined relations between the characters. You can actually feel the friendship from Rodrick and Hrym in their banter. And you can deduce how Rodrick feels about Zagen at the moment based on what and how he says it.
I can greatly recommend this if you like light upbeat fantasy. While reading this I even thought that this felt like how a Josh Whedon pathfinder tale tv series would feel. Great stuff.
I'm reading the pathfinder tales stories in order of publication, and the latest one I picked up is also written by Tim Pratt, so I have that book to look forward to.
July 23, 2022
An enjoyable, amusing adventure in the classic rpg quest vein. The characters were a bit flat and dramatic tension was lacking. Overcoming some of the obstacles felt like ticking off a checklist. Lovers of D&D and Pathfinder will enjoy the worldbuilding and adventure tropes. Not bad overall. It was a quick read with a coherent plot and a few laughs along the way.
September 17, 2025
Although it definitely had a strong start, this book was exactly what I feared the pathfinder tales would be... A fun character here and there, maybe one or two good one-liners, but mostly bland and predictable fantasy.
I loved the dynamic between the two main characters, just sad to see them in such a bland plot.
I loved the dynamic between the two main characters, just sad to see them in such a bland plot.
February 14, 2025
2.5 stars. So, this book had a well-paced plot, interesting characters, and fantastic worldbuilding. There are many twists that feel satisfying and shocking, and it was overall a very fun ride.
It was also very sexist. The main character doesn’t see women as people, and the only woman character is magically enthralled to do whatever her male master wants her to do. And she’s also a demon worshipper. So that’s not great.
I chose to read this because I really liked another of Tim Pratt’s novels, Reign of Stars. The disability and LGBTQ+ representation were very good, and I loved the dynamic between the two main characters. The Roderick/Hrym dynamic was good and I liked the lore behind Hrym, but otherwise it was just okay.
Overall, this was a mediocre fantasy novel. It’s fun and often funny, but ultimately not worth it.
It was also very sexist. The main character doesn’t see women as people, and the only woman character is magically enthralled to do whatever her male master wants her to do. And she’s also a demon worshipper. So that’s not great.
I chose to read this because I really liked another of Tim Pratt’s novels, Reign of Stars. The disability and LGBTQ+ representation were very good, and I loved the dynamic between the two main characters. The Roderick/Hrym dynamic was good and I liked the lore behind Hrym, but otherwise it was just okay.
Overall, this was a mediocre fantasy novel. It’s fun and often funny, but ultimately not worth it.
March 8, 2013
Tim Pratt follows an unlikely pair of reluctant heroes in this Pathfinder Tales novel. Set in the Paizo's rich world of Golarion, the protagonist, Rodrick, a womanizing swindler with a glib tongue and a magically sharp blade (an intelligent, speaking, enchanted blade of ice, named Hrym)take employ as mercenaries with a pair of odd employers, a zealot priest and a hunch backed sorceress, both with more lies and more secrets than any swindler could match. The swindler is swindled, and the road trip that ensues lead them to the frozen north on a quest that is, of course, one more lie in a stack so high it threatens to topple over and bury both Rodrick and Hrym in a mountain of icy deceptions.
The real gem of this novel is the witty banter between Rodrick and his icy companion, Hrym. The smart ass sword keeps the swindler dishonest, and the rogue keeps the blade, for the most part, in its sheath.
Without giving much away, the turning point of the novel is long awaited and satisfying, and the end leaves you wanting more, and subtly expecting it.
Eagerly awaiting more Pathfinder Tales from Tim Pratt!
The real gem of this novel is the witty banter between Rodrick and his icy companion, Hrym. The smart ass sword keeps the swindler dishonest, and the rogue keeps the blade, for the most part, in its sheath.
Without giving much away, the turning point of the novel is long awaited and satisfying, and the end leaves you wanting more, and subtly expecting it.
Eagerly awaiting more Pathfinder Tales from Tim Pratt!
March 4, 2013
I found what I was looking for and more in Liar's Blade.
I was looking for a pallet cleanser between heavier reads, and picked this up looking for an "at the table" style RPG fantasy novel. What I got was a fun buddy-scoundrel tale with a couple delightful twists, competent and engaging main characters and some great dialogue (read:banter). Pratt has written a book that felt like I was playing in or hearing about an especially good Pathfinder (or DnD) adventure.
Not everything pulls together nicely, and a certain amount of knowledge of Golarion (the Pathfinder world) and indeed experience with roleplaying games and their tropes is expected to really get everything out of this book. But I picked this up with full knowledge of what it was, and I got that and a smartly written tale as well. I hope I to see Roderick and Hyrm again in the future.
I was looking for a pallet cleanser between heavier reads, and picked this up looking for an "at the table" style RPG fantasy novel. What I got was a fun buddy-scoundrel tale with a couple delightful twists, competent and engaging main characters and some great dialogue (read:banter). Pratt has written a book that felt like I was playing in or hearing about an especially good Pathfinder (or DnD) adventure.
Not everything pulls together nicely, and a certain amount of knowledge of Golarion (the Pathfinder world) and indeed experience with roleplaying games and their tropes is expected to really get everything out of this book. But I picked this up with full knowledge of what it was, and I got that and a smartly written tale as well. I hope I to see Roderick and Hyrm again in the future.
December 21, 2016
A short take:
Reading this book was such great fun! Pratt steers every element-character, plot, tone, pacing-with a sure hand and spins a fantastic adventure. The magics involved are wicked, the monsters are cool and the mystery driving the plot is interesting. I loved Roderick and Hrym's dynamic and I found their responses to each twist of the plot to be believable, at least in the context of a fantasy world. Human appetites, above all, drove the story and kept me involved. More than Leiber, this book reminds me of Hugh Cook at his best.
Reading this book was such great fun! Pratt steers every element-character, plot, tone, pacing-with a sure hand and spins a fantastic adventure. The magics involved are wicked, the monsters are cool and the mystery driving the plot is interesting. I loved Roderick and Hrym's dynamic and I found their responses to each twist of the plot to be believable, at least in the context of a fantasy world. Human appetites, above all, drove the story and kept me involved. More than Leiber, this book reminds me of Hugh Cook at his best.
June 15, 2013
I loved this. I loved roderick, I loved hrym, I loved the quest, everything. ok, zaqen was creepy, but I loved how she was woven into the story.
roderick is an adventuring thief with a magic ice blade named hrym. together the two of them plunder, lie, and steal in their quest to find more gold. their fortunes seem to be made when a zealot priest and his wizard companion promise them more gold than they can imagine to escort them on a holy quest. but lies upon lies upon treachery await
roderick is an adventuring thief with a magic ice blade named hrym. together the two of them plunder, lie, and steal in their quest to find more gold. their fortunes seem to be made when a zealot priest and his wizard companion promise them more gold than they can imagine to escort them on a holy quest. but lies upon lies upon treachery await
June 6, 2015
A very satisfying Sword and Sorcery tale from Hugo winner Tim Pratt. Rogue with a talking ice sword. What more do you need to know? Really? Why are you not buying this book right now?
April 24, 2018
Tim Pratt is one of my favorite fantasy authors right now. Sure, this is pure genre work, it's not attempting to be as vast in scope or as in-depth with character as some of the giants of the day, but who the hell cares? The characters are interesting, and the writing is fluid, and the story is fast paced.
This is essentially the tale of two best friends encountering the dangers of the world. Rodrick is a rogue, a con man, definitely not a hero. Hyrm is the sentient sword he found/stole. They're contacted by a strange cleric and his snarky servant in order to retrieve some keys. The money's good, so the pair take the job.
The rest is mostly a road trip with an awesome (in the original sense of the word) ending. I loved this book, and the epilogue made me tear up a bit. Definitely looking forward to the next one.
This is essentially the tale of two best friends encountering the dangers of the world. Rodrick is a rogue, a con man, definitely not a hero. Hyrm is the sentient sword he found/stole. They're contacted by a strange cleric and his snarky servant in order to retrieve some keys. The money's good, so the pair take the job.
The rest is mostly a road trip with an awesome (in the original sense of the word) ending. I loved this book, and the epilogue made me tear up a bit. Definitely looking forward to the next one.
August 11, 2018
After previously reading the sequel to this book, Liar's Bargain and finding it OK but not compelling, I tracked down the first of Tim Pratt's "Liar" series to see if I enjoyed it better if I started from the beginning. Answer: not really. Certainly this series is quite readable and the characters of Roderick and his sword magical Hyrm are very entertaining, but the stories themselves don't take off in the way I have come to expect from Pratt's short fiction. I also found that this book does not, as I had expected, tell the story of how Roderick and Hyrm became a team - that is told in yet another story which isn't available in book form.
So - not a bad read, but not as good as I had come to hope for from Tim Pratt.
So - not a bad read, but not as good as I had come to hope for from Tim Pratt.
September 24, 2023
So, there's this rogue armed with a sword of living ice. Which talks. So far, so black hat, right? And yes, when they move out on this latest quest, they do it in order to scam the employer and abscond with major riches. But when all is revealed (and there are so many double crosses here!), Rodrick and Hrym will step up and do the right(ish) thing, consequences and profit be damned.
Actually, the finish lifts this up to four stars, because for the most part this is a very competently done generic quest fantasy with nicely snarky protagonists - but when the chips were down, I actually began to care for those invented characters. So, neat.
Actually, the finish lifts this up to four stars, because for the most part this is a very competently done generic quest fantasy with nicely snarky protagonists - but when the chips were down, I actually began to care for those invented characters. So, neat.
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August 26, 2025This novel is a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. It's best described, in the words of the author, as a "buddy scoundrel road story," only one of the buddies is a talking magical sword. The two "heroes" take up a mercenary job as muscle for a mysterious priest and his sorcerer underling, and quickly find themselves in over their heads as they travel across the north. The tone is witty and humorous, even as the stakes get higher and more dangerous over time.
April 3, 2019
Great story, great characters, absolutely love the magic sword. A few unexpected twists, lots of action and adventure. Some people may be put off by a lack of romance but I didn't feel it was necessary for a story like this. If anything the main character has a bromance with his steel companion. Loved it, very funny and fun. I will read every Pathfinder Tale from Tim Pratt after this.
October 16, 2018
This book has a fairly standard adventure, providing the reader an introduction of the history and geography of the Pathfinder world.
The combination of the two main characters, Rodrick and Hrym, makes this book a more enjoyable than it should be. It is a fun and enjoyable book.
The combination of the two main characters, Rodrick and Hrym, makes this book a more enjoyable than it should be. It is a fun and enjoyable book.
May 16, 2024
An excellent tale of a fast talking rogue who gets in over his head with some very nefarious characters. The character development between the Rogue and his talking sword is the stuff of legends and the ending was actually quite unexpected. Overall a great read.
May 13, 2017
Humor and adventure in a great combination. Lots of new concepts I had not encountered before, and I'm looking forward to the next books in the series.
May 20, 2017
4.5 My favourite Tim Pratt novel I've read yet. Loved the dynamic and humour between Hrym and Rodrick.
June 9, 2017
A great book within the Pathfinder world. Good suspense, excellent wit, and strong plot (twists).
January 28, 2018
Probab the best Pathfinder book I've read yet (in chronological order). My only complaint is I believe the author gets east and west mixed up a few times.
May 2, 2018
Action packed, involving and occasionally touching. A pleasant surprise.
November 29, 2019
"Equal rights for sentient weapons is a dream that will never die," Hyrm said solemnly.
July 5, 2020
Fantastic tale of two thieves and their bad decisions.
October 22, 2022
I generally have low expectations for the RPG genre. This book was a bit better than expected.
April 18, 2023
A fun book. Nothing deep, serious, a good escape and decently fair mind candy.
February 27, 2014
This is one of the most enjoyable fantasy books I've ready in ages. Pratt does a phenomenal job bringing his characters to life, and writing engaging dialogue. The story focuses on Rodrick, a lying swindler, and his partner Hrym. Hrym just happens to be Rodrick's magical sword, who also happens to be intelligent, and capable of speech, and lusts for gold as much as Rodrick does. Half of the fun of the novel is going along for the ride as Rodrick and Hrym plot, connive, plan, swindle, and steal, as well as banter better than the most beloved buddy movies you can compare to.
They're hired by a mysterious patron willing to pay their weight in gold for their services as bodyguards on his quest for a lost relic. Not only does the offer play to Hrym and Rodrick's favorite vice, but they figure they can find a way to steal the relic and all of their employer's gold along the way.
Pratt takes one of the standby assumptions of fantasy role playing games - the intelligent magic weapon, and not only writes a compelling fantasy story about it, but makes the sword one of the main characters. Hrym is easily the best magic weapon in fiction since Stormbringer, and far friendlier. On top of that, Pratt makes Liar's Blade an homage to Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories, even using those hero's book titles as chapter titles, which tickles my fancy and makes me wish there were new Fafhrd and Gray Mouser tales to read.
This is Pratt's second Pathfinder Tales novel, and completely stand alone from his prior book, City of the Fallen Sky, showing that he can repeatedly create engaging characters without resorting to sequels. However, Rodrick and Hrym are so engaging, I hope they make a return appearance soon. The repeat performance by Pratt has also made me choose to read his other stories, and add him to my list of favorite new (to me at least) authors.
They're hired by a mysterious patron willing to pay their weight in gold for their services as bodyguards on his quest for a lost relic. Not only does the offer play to Hrym and Rodrick's favorite vice, but they figure they can find a way to steal the relic and all of their employer's gold along the way.
Pratt takes one of the standby assumptions of fantasy role playing games - the intelligent magic weapon, and not only writes a compelling fantasy story about it, but makes the sword one of the main characters. Hrym is easily the best magic weapon in fiction since Stormbringer, and far friendlier. On top of that, Pratt makes Liar's Blade an homage to Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories, even using those hero's book titles as chapter titles, which tickles my fancy and makes me wish there were new Fafhrd and Gray Mouser tales to read.
This is Pratt's second Pathfinder Tales novel, and completely stand alone from his prior book, City of the Fallen Sky, showing that he can repeatedly create engaging characters without resorting to sequels. However, Rodrick and Hrym are so engaging, I hope they make a return appearance soon. The repeat performance by Pratt has also made me choose to read his other stories, and add him to my list of favorite new (to me at least) authors.
September 29, 2015
This book suffered from something I find a lot of novels set in RPG worlds suffer from--a dependency on the reader to have familiarity with the Roleplaying Game's world(s). It's not always to do with geography and history, but with the overall tone, feel--the usual lifestyles of people who live there and what kinds of being inhabit the world.
I do not I would have been able to give this book three stars were I not familiar with the Pathfinder desk-top RPG.
Maybe. Because the MC's attitude, and his [sentient] sword's attitude are entertaining.
The beginning showed promise, and then things settled down into this drawn-out trek that made me wonder if the gang was ever going to be doing anything else at all, ever. At all. I might have put it down, had it not been for the fact that my husband had read it before me and assured me it got goin' again.
And it did. Eventually. And it was entertaining. I just feel like this book would have been more enjoyable if it were about half as long--would have gotten us through the endless trekking and to the interesting stuff much sooner, and would have given the MC and his sword many more chances to have entertaining exchanges.
But, just based on the way the last third or so of the book interested me, I will try Pratt, Rodrick (MC), and Hrym (the sword) again at some point.
And one more note: if the way Rodrick and Hrym play off one another in their banter is your favorite element of this book, try Steven Brust's Taltos series to meet Vlad and his mini-dragon-type familiar. The first in the series is Jhereg
I do not I would have been able to give this book three stars were I not familiar with the Pathfinder desk-top RPG.
Maybe. Because the MC's attitude, and his [sentient] sword's attitude are entertaining.
The beginning showed promise, and then things settled down into this drawn-out trek that made me wonder if the gang was ever going to be doing anything else at all, ever. At all. I might have put it down, had it not been for the fact that my husband had read it before me and assured me it got goin' again.
And it did. Eventually. And it was entertaining. I just feel like this book would have been more enjoyable if it were about half as long--would have gotten us through the endless trekking and to the interesting stuff much sooner, and would have given the MC and his sword many more chances to have entertaining exchanges.
But, just based on the way the last third or so of the book interested me, I will try Pratt, Rodrick (MC), and Hrym (the sword) again at some point.
And one more note: if the way Rodrick and Hrym play off one another in their banter is your favorite element of this book, try Steven Brust's Taltos series to meet Vlad and his mini-dragon-type familiar. The first in the series is Jhereg
April 7, 2013
The latest of the Pathfinders Tales books focuses on the adventures of the thief Rodrick and his best friend in the world, Hrym, a magical (duh!) talking ice sword. Rodrick and Hrym are sucked along in the cleric Obed's quest to find an ancient artifact of Aroden. Except that the artifact is not exactly what Obed says it is...
The sword Hrym is a great character, even though it cannot move. It is sarcastic, egotistical, and focused on one thing: finding gold to use as a bed. Rodrick, on the other hand, is somewhat cowardly, intelligent, and is focused on one thing: finding money to use to party and pay for women. This provides excellent characterization. Rodrick is a con man through and through and he gets the group--he, Hrym, Obed, and Obed's assistant Zaqen--out of a number of jams by creating some excellent con games. Rodrick and Hrym are, I think, my favorite Pathfinder Tales characters, just beating out everyone else's favorites--Jaggare and Radovan. Zaqen also is an interesting bird--especially her twin brother...
The end of the story is a bit surprising. I was sort of expecting it, but there is some evidence of heroism in both Hrym and Rodrick...but don't tell them that.
The sword Hrym is a great character, even though it cannot move. It is sarcastic, egotistical, and focused on one thing: finding gold to use as a bed. Rodrick, on the other hand, is somewhat cowardly, intelligent, and is focused on one thing: finding money to use to party and pay for women. This provides excellent characterization. Rodrick is a con man through and through and he gets the group--he, Hrym, Obed, and Obed's assistant Zaqen--out of a number of jams by creating some excellent con games. Rodrick and Hrym are, I think, my favorite Pathfinder Tales characters, just beating out everyone else's favorites--Jaggare and Radovan. Zaqen also is an interesting bird--especially her twin brother...
The end of the story is a bit surprising. I was sort of expecting it, but there is some evidence of heroism in both Hrym and Rodrick...but don't tell them that.
April 3, 2016
One of the most surprisingly good books I've read in a long time. Tim Pratt can write! I am definitely going to have to read his other Pathfinder novel. This one set the bar exceptionally high. Lots of magic, two heroes I could really get behind, great humor, gobs of Pathfinder creatures, high stakes, intrigue, misdirection, and some super creative scenarios. I wish I could give half stars because this is an easy 4 & 1/2 stars. If the other Pathfinder Tales authors are even in Tim Pratt's ballpark, this series will be a staple in my regular reading. Thoroughly impressed & surprised. Paizo has really pit together something great with all of their cohesive varied Pathfinder material, from modules to manuals to fiction novels. Well done.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews