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Pathfinder Tales #33
Liar's Bargain
Who Are You Calling Expendable?
When caught stealing in the crusader nation of Lastwall, veteran con man Rodrick and his talking sword Hrym expect to weasel or fight their way out of punishment. Instead, they find themselves ensnared by powerful magic, and given a choice: serve the cause of justice as part of a covert team of similarly bound villains—or die horribly. Together with their criminal cohorts, Rodrick and Hrym settle in to their new job of defending the innocent, only to discover that being a secret government operative is even more dangerous than a life of crime.
From Hugo Award winner Tim Pratt comes a tale of reluctant heroes and plausible deniability, set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
When caught stealing in the crusader nation of Lastwall, veteran con man Rodrick and his talking sword Hrym expect to weasel or fight their way out of punishment. Instead, they find themselves ensnared by powerful magic, and given a choice: serve the cause of justice as part of a covert team of similarly bound villains—or die horribly. Together with their criminal cohorts, Rodrick and Hrym settle in to their new job of defending the innocent, only to discover that being a secret government operative is even more dangerous than a life of crime.
From Hugo Award winner Tim Pratt comes a tale of reluctant heroes and plausible deniability, set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 3, 2017
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/08/20/...
With my Pathfinder group currently on summer break, I found myself desperately craving for a good quest narrative adventure. Enter Liar’s Bargain, which really hit the spot. Of course, I’d much rather be playing an RPG campaign, but if that’s not possible, reading a story that feels exactly like one is the next best thing.
This book is actually the follow-up to Tim Pratt’s Liar’s Island, and the third in a sequence featuring recurring characters Rodrick and his sentient ice sword Hrym, but like most of the novels in the Pathfinder Tales series it can be read as a standalone.
This time, Rodrick finds himself deep in crusader lands, the last place you’d want to be caught committing a crime. Lawbreakers in Lastwall are punished harshly, as our hapless hero discovers too late, after being sentenced to death for trying to steal a horse. Intrigued by his magical talking sword, however, Rodrick’s captors offer him another way to serve his sentence: join a covert government program with other seasoned outlaws to carry out missions too delicate (and dangerous) for ordinary soldiers. For one year, he would work under his boss Temple and do the bidding of the Lastwall crusaders. Should he survive after that period, he will go free. In the meantime though, Rodrick and his fellow criminals press ganged into service will be implanted with rubies infused with dark magic. If they attempt escape or try to wriggle out of their punishment in any way, Temple promises to activate the magic in the gems, and the explosion would tear their bodies apart.
For Rodrick, the choice was easy. He’d rather take his chances with a ragtag group of miscreants than face certain death at the hands of Lastwall’s executioners. And that is how he and Hrym find themselves teamed up with the outlaw Merihim and her silent companion Prinn, as well as a thief named Eldra and a mysterious alchemist who only goes by “The Specialist”. For the group’s first assignment, Temple sends them on mission to retrieve a very important person—simple enough, Rodrick thinks. But then, one of the others suddenly decide to go off script, and that’s when things start going horribly wrong.
This is only my second venture into the world of the Pathfinder Tales novels, and it couldn’t have been more different from my first, which was Liane Merciel’s Hellknight, a murder mystery mainly starring a duo made up of a hellspawn investigator and a battle-hardened paladin. In contrast, Liar’s Bargain features a traditional quest narrative plot structure and an ensemble cast, with each character bringing something valuable to the party. Merihim is the “brains” of the operation, much to Rodrick’s chagrin. Our poor protagonist fancies himself to be a good leader, but he and his sword were originally brought in simply to be the team’s muscle. The Specialist, despite his name, is the jack of all trades, playing the much essential support role. And of course, no adventuring group can be complete without its resident rogue, and that’s where Eldra comes in. All told, the cast had all the makings of your classic role-playing group, and the story was definitely more in the vein of what I had in mind when I first tried the series, unfolding like a multi-part campaign.
The plot is not very complex, but it’s every bit as fun as you’d expect it to be, with its fair share of surprising twists and turns. In several places, I even amused myself by picturing an imaginary DM setting the adventures up with a jaw-dropping scenario before announcing in an ominous tone, “Roll initiative”, simply because it was just so damn appropriate. As for the characters, Rodrick himself is somewhat of an arrogant puffed-up blowhard, but he plays the part with plenty of humor and snark. When your book’s protagonist has a best friend that’s a talking magical sword with the ability to ice anyone and anything, you can surely count on getting some excellent banter. I’ll admit to more than a few chuckles when I was reading this book, especially during the witty exchanges between Rodrick and Hyrm.
There were some issues, of course, like the Specialist and his apparent ability to come up with a solution to every problem, which felt much too convenient to me (though who knows, maybe he just rolled high on all his skill checks), or the fact that the story meanders too far off the main track with a couple “side quests” in the second half of the novel. But on the whole, I have to say I was quite pleased with Liar’s Bargain. It was entertaining the whole way through, which was exactly what I signed on for, and in fact, I liked it so much, I’m even contemplating going back to pick up the two previous Rodrick and Hrym novels.
Not a fan or player of Pathfinder or RPGs? No problem. Even readers who know nothing about the game can dive right in. If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced fantasy read, you simply can’t go wrong with this story featuring the misadventures of a lovable gang of scoundrels and rogues.
With my Pathfinder group currently on summer break, I found myself desperately craving for a good quest narrative adventure. Enter Liar’s Bargain, which really hit the spot. Of course, I’d much rather be playing an RPG campaign, but if that’s not possible, reading a story that feels exactly like one is the next best thing.
This book is actually the follow-up to Tim Pratt’s Liar’s Island, and the third in a sequence featuring recurring characters Rodrick and his sentient ice sword Hrym, but like most of the novels in the Pathfinder Tales series it can be read as a standalone.
This time, Rodrick finds himself deep in crusader lands, the last place you’d want to be caught committing a crime. Lawbreakers in Lastwall are punished harshly, as our hapless hero discovers too late, after being sentenced to death for trying to steal a horse. Intrigued by his magical talking sword, however, Rodrick’s captors offer him another way to serve his sentence: join a covert government program with other seasoned outlaws to carry out missions too delicate (and dangerous) for ordinary soldiers. For one year, he would work under his boss Temple and do the bidding of the Lastwall crusaders. Should he survive after that period, he will go free. In the meantime though, Rodrick and his fellow criminals press ganged into service will be implanted with rubies infused with dark magic. If they attempt escape or try to wriggle out of their punishment in any way, Temple promises to activate the magic in the gems, and the explosion would tear their bodies apart.
For Rodrick, the choice was easy. He’d rather take his chances with a ragtag group of miscreants than face certain death at the hands of Lastwall’s executioners. And that is how he and Hrym find themselves teamed up with the outlaw Merihim and her silent companion Prinn, as well as a thief named Eldra and a mysterious alchemist who only goes by “The Specialist”. For the group’s first assignment, Temple sends them on mission to retrieve a very important person—simple enough, Rodrick thinks. But then, one of the others suddenly decide to go off script, and that’s when things start going horribly wrong.
This is only my second venture into the world of the Pathfinder Tales novels, and it couldn’t have been more different from my first, which was Liane Merciel’s Hellknight, a murder mystery mainly starring a duo made up of a hellspawn investigator and a battle-hardened paladin. In contrast, Liar’s Bargain features a traditional quest narrative plot structure and an ensemble cast, with each character bringing something valuable to the party. Merihim is the “brains” of the operation, much to Rodrick’s chagrin. Our poor protagonist fancies himself to be a good leader, but he and his sword were originally brought in simply to be the team’s muscle. The Specialist, despite his name, is the jack of all trades, playing the much essential support role. And of course, no adventuring group can be complete without its resident rogue, and that’s where Eldra comes in. All told, the cast had all the makings of your classic role-playing group, and the story was definitely more in the vein of what I had in mind when I first tried the series, unfolding like a multi-part campaign.
The plot is not very complex, but it’s every bit as fun as you’d expect it to be, with its fair share of surprising twists and turns. In several places, I even amused myself by picturing an imaginary DM setting the adventures up with a jaw-dropping scenario before announcing in an ominous tone, “Roll initiative”, simply because it was just so damn appropriate. As for the characters, Rodrick himself is somewhat of an arrogant puffed-up blowhard, but he plays the part with plenty of humor and snark. When your book’s protagonist has a best friend that’s a talking magical sword with the ability to ice anyone and anything, you can surely count on getting some excellent banter. I’ll admit to more than a few chuckles when I was reading this book, especially during the witty exchanges between Rodrick and Hyrm.
There were some issues, of course, like the Specialist and his apparent ability to come up with a solution to every problem, which felt much too convenient to me (though who knows, maybe he just rolled high on all his skill checks), or the fact that the story meanders too far off the main track with a couple “side quests” in the second half of the novel. But on the whole, I have to say I was quite pleased with Liar’s Bargain. It was entertaining the whole way through, which was exactly what I signed on for, and in fact, I liked it so much, I’m even contemplating going back to pick up the two previous Rodrick and Hrym novels.
Not a fan or player of Pathfinder or RPGs? No problem. Even readers who know nothing about the game can dive right in. If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced fantasy read, you simply can’t go wrong with this story featuring the misadventures of a lovable gang of scoundrels and rogues.
June 19, 2017
Rodrick is a consummate conman, and with the help of his talking magic sword made of ice, Hrym, he has the magical firepower to get out of most of the trouble he gets into when caught. Unfortunately for the pair, being caught stealing in the crusader nation of Lastwall means dealing with a well organized military nation which is more than capable of dealing with the scoundrels. When they're captured and magically coerced to join a disreputable team of villains to do things which the law abiding crusaders aren't able to do themselves, Rodrick discovers that being a rogue among a whole group of equally dishonest rogues makes him far from unique. In fact, the only reason he's not simply put in prison is because of the powers Hrym adds to the group, and Rodrick is simply his bearer, because, as Hrym says "he has legs."
Rodrick needs to navigate a deadly handler, as well as his deadly teammates, while looking for a way out of a year of servitude, and way to profit. Along the way he's dragged into political machinations, a civil war, blighted woodland monsters, and horrible menaces which could tip the balance of power in the entire region. If he's lucky, he might even get something worth far more than the usual gold he's after (though Hrym would never agree anything is more valuable than gold.)
As always, Rodrick and Hrym are supremely entertaining in their complete disregard for decorum, or respect for those who stick to the straight and narrow (or even their equally criminal companions). Honestly, reading a book entirely of them shopping in a market with no major adventures would be equally entertaining.
Rodrick needs to navigate a deadly handler, as well as his deadly teammates, while looking for a way out of a year of servitude, and way to profit. Along the way he's dragged into political machinations, a civil war, blighted woodland monsters, and horrible menaces which could tip the balance of power in the entire region. If he's lucky, he might even get something worth far more than the usual gold he's after (though Hrym would never agree anything is more valuable than gold.)
As always, Rodrick and Hrym are supremely entertaining in their complete disregard for decorum, or respect for those who stick to the straight and narrow (or even their equally criminal companions). Honestly, reading a book entirely of them shopping in a market with no major adventures would be equally entertaining.
September 4, 2018
so another Rodrick and Hyrmn book by Tim Pratt, who is rapidly becoming one of my favorite writers. In this volume the protagonists are drafted into a special team. Think along the lines of the suicide squad. I must admit that all members of this team seem very interesting and I would not mind revisiting some of them in upcoming pathfinder novels.
In this story mister Pratt finds again the perfect balance between action, witty banter and humor. Highly recommended.
In this story mister Pratt finds again the perfect balance between action, witty banter and humor. Highly recommended.
July 11, 2016
Read the whole thing in one sitting on an airplane. It was a fun diversion, and lacked the horrid sexism of most of Tim Pratt's work, so I call it a win!
July 16, 2019
Very solid story with great characters
See above - magnify as needed. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It was fast moving, with just enough action to be entertaining without making you feel like you’re reading about someone’s last pen and paper game session. All in all, a well crafted story from a solid author.
See above - magnify as needed. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It was fast moving, with just enough action to be entertaining without making you feel like you’re reading about someone’s last pen and paper game session. All in all, a well crafted story from a solid author.
January 30, 2018
As far as pathfinder tales go, this is one of the better ones. It tells the story of a group of very individualistic characters that are forced to work together, and it kin of reminded me of The Worldwound Gambit, which is still one of the best pathfinder tales I've read so far.
July 31, 2018
One of the best Paizo Tales (Golarion setting) i have read, good flow and dialogue. Not high fantasy, but a good sword and sorcery tale. Hrym and Rodrick are better developed and more enjoyable as characters than in earlier books.
June 27, 2019
Pretty darn good! I've read Liars Island also and was pleased. He tells a really good tale. I would read his works in the future
Very captivating. Tim Pratt has a way with words. Very entertaining. I would read his work again. Thanks. I appreciate it
Very captivating. Tim Pratt has a way with words. Very entertaining. I would read his work again. Thanks. I appreciate it
September 23, 2017
Good read!
Very enjoyable, as Pratt's Liar's books are. The NPCs were detailed, understandable, and a great addition. Looking forward to the next one.
Very enjoyable, as Pratt's Liar's books are. The NPCs were detailed, understandable, and a great addition. Looking forward to the next one.
December 8, 2017
Another enjoyable tale of the likable scoundrel Roderick and his companion Hyrm. (Who happens to be a powerful magical sword.)
June 16, 2018
I think Tim Pratt creates an amazing story based off of an amzing friendship betweent Rodrick and Hyrm.
March 27, 2021
3.5/5
A solid enough book. I enjoyed it enough to finish but not memorable.
A solid enough book. I enjoyed it enough to finish but not memorable.
September 21, 2016
Previously published at TheQwillery.com
Liar's Bargain is the third book set in the Pathfinder world based on the characters of Rodrick and his talking sword Hrym. I read and reviewed Liar's Island a while back. I've come to see how Tim Pratt writes and I enjoy it. He doesn't let things get too serious. He likes his characters to have fun as well as his readers.
Rodrick is a confidence trickster finds himself caught by some holier than thou Paladins along with some other criminals. This group is quickly forced into performing some tasks that are the types of missions crusading paladin's are too good to do. It reminds me a lot of the Suicide Squad comic book, if you're familiar with that. This premise isn't new, but Pratt does a great job of keeping it fresh and allowing the characters to move the plot along. By the end of the book, I found myself wanting the group to stay together. The characters had a fun dynamic in their relationship while on their missions.
Even though this is the third book with Rodrick and Hrym, Pratt still finds some opportunity to show growth in his characters and their unusual relationship. The world building is perfect. Even after a few books in this world, each one has taken place in a new area with its own history and custom, and each writer has done an excellent job at breathing life into the world.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was the villain. I'm not going to tell you anything about the villain so you can enjoy it once it comes. I love being shown new creatures. I had never read about this one in particular, so I'm not sure if it's only found in the Pathfinder world or not, but a very cool monster.
Liar's Bargain is an enjoyable romp in the fantasy haystack. There is minor violence and minor adult themes. I'd recommend it to teens and adults. If you can't enjoy yourself while reading this book, you might need to talk to a doctor about supplementing your fun with funzala (side effects include giggling, uncontrollable smiling, the happy sweats, excited clapping, and possible death).
Liar's Bargain is the third book set in the Pathfinder world based on the characters of Rodrick and his talking sword Hrym. I read and reviewed Liar's Island a while back. I've come to see how Tim Pratt writes and I enjoy it. He doesn't let things get too serious. He likes his characters to have fun as well as his readers.
Rodrick is a confidence trickster finds himself caught by some holier than thou Paladins along with some other criminals. This group is quickly forced into performing some tasks that are the types of missions crusading paladin's are too good to do. It reminds me a lot of the Suicide Squad comic book, if you're familiar with that. This premise isn't new, but Pratt does a great job of keeping it fresh and allowing the characters to move the plot along. By the end of the book, I found myself wanting the group to stay together. The characters had a fun dynamic in their relationship while on their missions.
Even though this is the third book with Rodrick and Hrym, Pratt still finds some opportunity to show growth in his characters and their unusual relationship. The world building is perfect. Even after a few books in this world, each one has taken place in a new area with its own history and custom, and each writer has done an excellent job at breathing life into the world.
One of the things I enjoyed the most was the villain. I'm not going to tell you anything about the villain so you can enjoy it once it comes. I love being shown new creatures. I had never read about this one in particular, so I'm not sure if it's only found in the Pathfinder world or not, but a very cool monster.
Liar's Bargain is an enjoyable romp in the fantasy haystack. There is minor violence and minor adult themes. I'd recommend it to teens and adults. If you can't enjoy yourself while reading this book, you might need to talk to a doctor about supplementing your fun with funzala (side effects include giggling, uncontrollable smiling, the happy sweats, excited clapping, and possible death).
August 11, 2018
I discovered the works of Tim Pratt through his excellent short stories which have appeared on the Podcastle podcast and elsewhere. I was pleased to find that the local library had some of his novels and picked up this one.
Perhaps my expectations were high, but I came away underwhelmed. An interesting enough story, with memorable characters, but it never really worked for me. Perhaps it is that it is a game tie-in, perhaps that it is third of a series when I haven't read the other two, perhaps Pratt works best at shorter lengths and I was measuring him unfairly against his excellent work elsewhere.
In any event I don't intend to let it rest here. Books 1 & 2 of Pratt's Pathfinder trilogy are also in the library and I shall track them down and perhaps revisit this review once I've read the earlier episodes. Stay tuned.
Perhaps my expectations were high, but I came away underwhelmed. An interesting enough story, with memorable characters, but it never really worked for me. Perhaps it is that it is a game tie-in, perhaps that it is third of a series when I haven't read the other two, perhaps Pratt works best at shorter lengths and I was measuring him unfairly against his excellent work elsewhere.
In any event I don't intend to let it rest here. Books 1 & 2 of Pratt's Pathfinder trilogy are also in the library and I shall track them down and perhaps revisit this review once I've read the earlier episodes. Stay tuned.
January 18, 2019
A fun and delightful story full of colorful characters with great interactions. The best of the three Rodrick and Hrym books, and a great book overall.
Full review (with spoilers) on my blog.
Full review (with spoilers) on my blog.
July 6, 2016
Rodrick and Hrym are my least favorite of the recurring characters in the Pathfinder Novels. This time around Rodrick was more interesting because Hrym wasn't as involved in the story.
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