Synopsis
Murder is just, so long as it serves the crown.
Hidden behind a mask and with a dagger in his sheath, Mute serves the crown with pride. A fair life, if not a monotonous one. But his next contract nicks too close, for murder within a brothel is always nasty business, especially the one which Mute frequents. The brothel his Dorothy works, his Dorothy who awaits Mute and only Mute. Surely none would dare touch her, for if they did, royalty or not, they would fall to Lord Mute, the Silent God’s chosen one. They would scream…
Review
The Whisper that Replaced God is a new novella by Timothy Wolff, the author of The Legacy of Boulom series. I hadn’t read Wolff’s debut trilogy, but after reading this, I think I should make it a priority.
At the center of this story is Mute, an assassin who can create a bubble of silence at a location so that sounds can no longer be heard. This ends up being a brilliant device. In fact, Mute’s power could have easily been the focus of the story, but instead, it is used with a deft touch, only when it serves a purpose or otherwise moves the story onward. It fits the grim setting perfect.
The Whisper that Replaced God drops us into a bleak setting and we have a front-row seat to the misadventures of our deeply disturbed protagonist. The brilliance of this story is the narrative closeness we experience as Mute tells us his story. Though at times unreliable, the narrator’s insight into his craft and his surprising lack of awareness of his situation is a masterclass in character voice. As such, Mute feels like a real, endearingly deranged person we know rather than a fictional character, and this works to underscore the emotional resonance of the finale.
Speaking of the plot, Wolff makes several interesting decisions regarding the pacing, and I found myself eagerly turning the page to find out what would happen next. The story breathlessly pulls us through dreams, death, despair, and dare I say it? quirky humor thrown in at the best times. This is one of those stories that is greater than the sum of its parts. Mute, though disturbed and otherworldly at times, is profoundly human in his desires, and as an anchoring point for the events of this tale, we can’t help but empathize.
Though Mute shines as a protagonist, the other characters also make this story what it is. Prostitutes, princes, kings, and everything in between, the interactions between the seconndary characters of this world are all colored by Mute’s oddball sensibilities and inability to read other people. Not only does this work, but it makes this story sing. Every conversation held the possibility for disaster, and I couldn’t help but wonder what would become of our boy Mute.
If you like stories with strong narration, a gritty setting, and a quirky main character, you need to pick this up. I devoured this novella in a day, and after I was finished, I only wished there was more.
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