What do you think?
Rate this book
Saga of the Redeemed #1-2
The Oldest Trick
Compiled for the first time, The Oldest Trick comprises The Iron Ring and Iron and Blood in the Saga of the RedeemedTyvian Reldamar gets betrayed by his longtime partner and left for dead in a freezing river. To add insult to injury, his mysterious rescuer took it upon himself to affix Tyvian with an iron ring that prevents the wearer from any evildoing.Revenge just got complicated.On his quest to get even, Tyvian navigates dark conspiracies, dodges midnight assassins, and uncovers the plans of the ruthless wizard Banric Sahand. Tyvian will need to use every dirty trick in the book to avoid a painful and ignominious end, even as he learns to work with—and rely on—his motley crew of accomplices, including an adolescent pickpocket, an obese secret-monger, and a fearsome gnoll.
688 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2015
21 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Auston Habershaw
44 books87 followersAuston Habershaw is the author of the Saga of the Redeemed and has published over 30 short stories in venues such as F&SF, Analog, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and elsewhere. He teaches English and Literature at a small college in Boston MA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 2, 2016
“I always have a plan. It just so happens in this instance, it’s not a good plan and subject to change as we go along. Follow me.”
A welcome addition to the fantasy universe. Wise-cracking, know-it-all smugglers have been done, but Habershaw does Tyvian with his tongue so far into his cheek that it must hurt. Good job.
“He may run out of simplistic ethical aphorisms any moment.”
Engaging, multi-thread fantasy adventure set in a typical pseudo-medieval, magic-using universe. It’s the writing and the humor which keep the reader engaged.
“One did not channel the energy of creation without risk.”
Hard to believe this was originally published as two stories. Wouldn’t have worked.
“If this is the afterlife, I’m sorely disappointed.”
Extra points for ending the first of the series with a satisfying, self-contained conclusion.
“Rings don’t control people, not even magic ones. Everybody knows that.”
A welcome addition to the fantasy universe. Wise-cracking, know-it-all smugglers have been done, but Habershaw does Tyvian with his tongue so far into his cheek that it must hurt. Good job.
“He may run out of simplistic ethical aphorisms any moment.”
Engaging, multi-thread fantasy adventure set in a typical pseudo-medieval, magic-using universe. It’s the writing and the humor which keep the reader engaged.
“One did not channel the energy of creation without risk.”
Hard to believe this was originally published as two stories. Wouldn’t have worked.
“If this is the afterlife, I’m sorely disappointed.”
Extra points for ending the first of the series with a satisfying, self-contained conclusion.
“Rings don’t control people, not even magic ones. Everybody knows that.”
December 25, 2016
The Oldest Trick is the story of Tyvian Reldamar's journey toward revenge with an iron ring attached to his finger. The story takes place in a well-built fantasy world. I think Auston Habershaw has done a great job in describing details and conveying the magical sense of place to the readers.
The characters felt so real to me. Tyvian, to me, is a good reminder of human beings' resistance to change; how we sometimes feel so comfortable in who we are and confident in our actions that we don't like to change and become a better version of ourselves. I loved Lady Hool. Though a gnoll, she is more human than most of the characters in the story.
I went on a great journey with characters. There were many times when I forgot I was reading a book, got lost in the world, and saw the scenes and characters instead of words. Many times, I laughed and sometimes had tears in my eyes.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to the fans of fantasy fiction and generally book-lovers.
The characters felt so real to me. Tyvian, to me, is a good reminder of human beings' resistance to change; how we sometimes feel so comfortable in who we are and confident in our actions that we don't like to change and become a better version of ourselves. I loved Lady Hool. Though a gnoll, she is more human than most of the characters in the story.
I went on a great journey with characters. There were many times when I forgot I was reading a book, got lost in the world, and saw the scenes and characters instead of words. Many times, I laughed and sometimes had tears in my eyes.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to the fans of fantasy fiction and generally book-lovers.
July 18, 2022
Tyvian Reldamar is an unrepentant criminal. He has no ties, is fairly ruthless when it comes to saving himself, and can be really callous. Not a likeable protagonist. He's partnered with Hendrieux to make a lucrative deal, but it's a setup. The man he was to meet with was an imposter and he has to make a daring escape from the Mage Defenders. He jumps from the train into a freezing lake, he is saved, but has acquired an iron ring. The ring hasn't changed his personality, but now there's potential.
The epic fantasy begins. Tyvian wants to get revenge against Hendrieux. Hendrieux knows and isn't against a preemptive strike. The Defenders, Myreon Alafarr in particular, want to catch him and bring him to justice. The Sorcerous League wants him because of the ring. Meanwhile Banric Sahand has been working for twenty-seven years to avenge the defeat that cost him then, and is working on a new method of world domination.
Knowing that somehow Tyvian, Myreon, Artus and Hool are going to have to work together is fun. There is a theme of being (at least) one step ahead of your opponents. That's pretty cool. It's kind of Tyvian's calling card, although Eddereon pulled one off to get the ring onto Tyvian. The humor is pretty good. Of course there is the big struggle of Tyvian trying to be his selfish self rather than give in to the ring. A conclusion with no apparent cliff hanger, even though this is the first of a series. 4.4 stars.
The epic fantasy begins. Tyvian wants to get revenge against Hendrieux. Hendrieux knows and isn't against a preemptive strike. The Defenders, Myreon Alafarr in particular, want to catch him and bring him to justice. The Sorcerous League wants him because of the ring. Meanwhile Banric Sahand has been working for twenty-seven years to avenge the defeat that cost him then, and is working on a new method of world domination.
Knowing that somehow Tyvian, Myreon, Artus and Hool are going to have to work together is fun. There is a theme of being (at least) one step ahead of your opponents. That's pretty cool. It's kind of Tyvian's calling card, although Eddereon pulled one off to get the ring onto Tyvian. The humor is pretty good. Of course there is the big struggle of Tyvian trying to be his selfish self rather than give in to the ring. A conclusion with no apparent cliff hanger, even though this is the first of a series. 4.4 stars.
September 14, 2017
I hovered between the ratings because this was a great book, but it was slow to start and it took me ages to like the main character, who is a bit like Han Solo but more of a dick and rather less likable. As well, Artus is a bit unlikable, as is Myreon, and... well, I liked Hool a lot from the beginning.
However, as the story progresses, these characters really grow on you! For all their idiotic or dickish behavior, they have their merits and these things shine through time and time again. I applaud Habershaw for making characters I really didn't like into characters that I really did like.
The story does kind of spam worldbuilding on you in the first half, puking tons of laws of magic and so on via character dialogue, to the point that it's a bit overwhelming (and not particularly subtle). However, it does become necessary, as when the action finally starts around the halfway point, you don't want a bunch of exposition, and the pacing for the majority of the second half is fierce.
Ultimately, this is a really good book and a really good read. I don't recommend reading the divided version though - the first book would be really boring on its own.
A big thanks to Auston Habershaw for coming to WorldCon 75 with books to sell (since the vendors there were shit), and convincing me that his story would be worth my time and money.
However, as the story progresses, these characters really grow on you! For all their idiotic or dickish behavior, they have their merits and these things shine through time and time again. I applaud Habershaw for making characters I really didn't like into characters that I really did like.
The story does kind of spam worldbuilding on you in the first half, puking tons of laws of magic and so on via character dialogue, to the point that it's a bit overwhelming (and not particularly subtle). However, it does become necessary, as when the action finally starts around the halfway point, you don't want a bunch of exposition, and the pacing for the majority of the second half is fierce.
Ultimately, this is a really good book and a really good read. I don't recommend reading the divided version though - the first book would be really boring on its own.
A big thanks to Auston Habershaw for coming to WorldCon 75 with books to sell (since the vendors there were shit), and convincing me that his story would be worth my time and money.
January 21, 2016
Such a good, fun fantasy! I loved the complicated story and I wanted more of the roguish and hilarious Tyvian, the earnest Arlan, the surprisingly honor-bound Hool, and poor Myreon! And is it just me, or did anyone else think that Tyvian was very Han Solo-ish? Definitely for fans of Scott Lynch; highly recommended for everyone else. Can't wait for the next one!
July 10, 2017
Great fun read
Great characters....fun adventure....this was a great read. I love fantasy but they all seem to follow a boring pattern lately...this book breaks that pattern.
Great characters....fun adventure....this was a great read. I love fantasy but they all seem to follow a boring pattern lately...this book breaks that pattern.
April 14, 2016
Are you tired of the word grimdark? Do you miss the greats like David Eddings and David Gemmel? I know I do. And if you're like me, then I have good news: this is the fantasy for you.
Habershaw keeps modern sensibilities of nuanced and flawed characters while still managing to write a novel where I don't hate every character (I'm looking at you Joe Abercromie and George R.R. Martin). In fact, I liked them all - even the villain.
But don't worry, it's not all sunshine and light, and there aren't any hobbits either. If you feel like the book is too happy go lucky, just get to the last one hundred pages or so. Things get brutal. Really brutal.
He's set up a world with a lot more to build on, and a much bigger story with lots of questions, while still wrapping enough up to where it doesn't feel like you've been totally left hanging in the wind. I pre-ordered the next book right away, can't wait to see what happens next!
Habershaw keeps modern sensibilities of nuanced and flawed characters while still managing to write a novel where I don't hate every character (I'm looking at you Joe Abercromie and George R.R. Martin). In fact, I liked them all - even the villain.
But don't worry, it's not all sunshine and light, and there aren't any hobbits either. If you feel like the book is too happy go lucky, just get to the last one hundred pages or so. Things get brutal. Really brutal.
He's set up a world with a lot more to build on, and a much bigger story with lots of questions, while still wrapping enough up to where it doesn't feel like you've been totally left hanging in the wind. I pre-ordered the next book right away, can't wait to see what happens next!
November 5, 2015
This was my commute read, and I nearly forgot to get off at the right stop several times.
August 20, 2016
A fine fantasy adventure, slightly marred by the author's tendency to tell rather than show - but it was an entertaining read and I'll look up the next one.
June 16, 2020
I bought this book because I loved the author's latest story in F&SF magazine. This book delivered with the same wonderfully flawed but shrewd characters and plenty of magic and sorcery of all kinds. The world-building was well done with a plot that surprised me at many turns. It was a joy to read.
It begins with a power-crazed king defeated in battle then skips some 25 years to the smuggler Tyvian Raldemar who never uses magic but knows all of its limits and flaws. In a bilking scheme, Tyvian is betrayed by his partner and escapes with the help of a boy and a gnoll, a huge dog-human, but winds up with a ring on his finger that punishes him until he does the right things even when he is captured by a Mage Defender to be brought to justice. Tyvian in turn captures the Mage and takes her with him to a free city, not under the jurisdiction of any neighboring country. With the help of a boy who idolizes him, the gnoll, his friends and even the captive Mage, all sorts of forces merge on the free city and the old power-crazed king for a bang up ending.
I wanted more so I'm off to read the next in the series.
It begins with a power-crazed king defeated in battle then skips some 25 years to the smuggler Tyvian Raldemar who never uses magic but knows all of its limits and flaws. In a bilking scheme, Tyvian is betrayed by his partner and escapes with the help of a boy and a gnoll, a huge dog-human, but winds up with a ring on his finger that punishes him until he does the right things even when he is captured by a Mage Defender to be brought to justice. Tyvian in turn captures the Mage and takes her with him to a free city, not under the jurisdiction of any neighboring country. With the help of a boy who idolizes him, the gnoll, his friends and even the captive Mage, all sorts of forces merge on the free city and the old power-crazed king for a bang up ending.
I wanted more so I'm off to read the next in the series.
November 16, 2017
Robuster
The book has a very good hook. A ring that makes a Villain into the man he has run from for as long as h can remember. A cast of side kicks and a true Villain that needed much more development.
There is a lot here to like but also as much to dislike. It needed some more editing. A few less twists and turns that seemed to be thrown in for little rhyme or reason.The actual plot gets lost in the on going storytelling. It didn't need to.
Worth the effort to read. I did enjoy it. There is promise
that with more effort from the writer and his editorial staff that the next stories will be SPECIAL.
The book has a very good hook. A ring that makes a Villain into the man he has run from for as long as h can remember. A cast of side kicks and a true Villain that needed much more development.
There is a lot here to like but also as much to dislike. It needed some more editing. A few less twists and turns that seemed to be thrown in for little rhyme or reason.The actual plot gets lost in the on going storytelling. It didn't need to.
Worth the effort to read. I did enjoy it. There is promise
that with more effort from the writer and his editorial staff that the next stories will be SPECIAL.
November 5, 2021
I really liked the beginning of the first book and the end of the second book, but the parts in between just seemed meandering at times. I also feel like the motivations of several of the main characters seemed either simple or not well explained, e.g., Lyrelle, what's her goal? It's never explained and seems even more confusing at the end, and Banric seems all consumed with power, but there's really no explanation as to why.
July 14, 2020
Nice
I am always happy to read about tricksy scoundrels, and this series has a good one. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Hool is just nifty.
I am always happy to read about tricksy scoundrels, and this series has a good one. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Hool is just nifty.
June 6, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed following Tyvian Reldamar’s journey in this series! I felt these stories had a unique take on magic and what being a hero is all about. These 4 books were all captivating and had me laughing out loud quite a few times! I finished the first one thinking, “That was great!” The second one I finished and thought, “This one is my favorite now!” Honestly, that happened after finishing each one, they were all so good-- I had difficulty deciding which one I liked the most (though, I suppose it doesn’t really matter which part was the best, all the books were important in Tyvian’s tale!) Hool was my favorite character, definitely one of my all time favorites now! Her experiences coming out of the wild and interacting with people (and pretending to be one!) were so comical and cleverly done. There were many twists and turns reading these books, I was never confident I knew what was going to happen next; Tyvian kept me on my toes FOR SURE! I was lucky to read these right as the last book was released, waiting for the last one would have been a struggle!
July 6, 2016
The Oldest Trick is a winner
I pick up more books for my library than I have time to read. Usually, I read a sample, acquire the book and remove from my Kindle to read at some point later. However, with this book I was compelled to keep on reading and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the writing, characters, their development and the witty maneuvering of all. The only small complaint I have is the alternating use of first and last names for characters. I was slow to pair the names and thus had a difficult time for a moment trying to place who was being referenced. This did not take away from my immense pleasure in this book. I purchased the second book before I finished the first.
I pick up more books for my library than I have time to read. Usually, I read a sample, acquire the book and remove from my Kindle to read at some point later. However, with this book I was compelled to keep on reading and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the writing, characters, their development and the witty maneuvering of all. The only small complaint I have is the alternating use of first and last names for characters. I was slow to pair the names and thus had a difficult time for a moment trying to place who was being referenced. This did not take away from my immense pleasure in this book. I purchased the second book before I finished the first.
February 4, 2023
Not really happy when books are split into multiple parts, leaves too much room for error (like getting one part, but not the other), and so on. But thankfully, I do have both parts of this one. I generally just use the main book anyway, but there's no graphic audio version to select for the main book, so I'm stucking doing the two parts instead.
Don't like that, because I don't like reviewing a story before it's done, but so far, this one is interesting, and I'm really anxious to get on to part two, so that's all for this one.
Don't like that, because I don't like reviewing a story before it's done, but so far, this one is interesting, and I'm really anxious to get on to part two, so that's all for this one.
January 21, 2017
Very nice light-hearted fantasy even though the bad guy wants to destroy the world. The plot was well laid out with a few twists and surprises. Intrigue present. Clever wit, yes.
This book was offered free from Harper Collins. A sincere thanks to them. And the sequel is available for a reasonable $3.99 which I'll definitely read.
This book was offered free from Harper Collins. A sincere thanks to them. And the sequel is available for a reasonable $3.99 which I'll definitely read.
August 4, 2016
Oh how I enjoyed this tale of mischief and magic! I loved the characters and the main character was a hoot. I had so many LOL moments reading this book that my hubby must have thought I'd gone mad.
I can't wait to read the 3rd book.
I can't wait to read the 3rd book.
April 23, 2022
Swords and sorcery are not my main fantasy gig. But this is an incredibly fun story, and worth listening to the dramatized version. If you decide to listen to this be sure to get both “The Iron Ring” and “Blood And Iron”, since they really are a one story.
January 6, 2016
found this book by chance. a good read good humour good use of magic. I liked the main character as well. looking forward to the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews