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The Whisper that Replaced God
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…
And not a sound would be heard.
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…
And not a sound would be heard.
82 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2024
31 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
September 30, 2025
The Whisper that Replaced God honestly left me a bit speechless, and I think that is beautiful. This novella is a bit dark, a bit unsettling, and a whole lot of weird, but somehow it just absolutely shines in all its twisted glory.
Now, talk about a damn strong character voice. Lord Mute has to be one of the most compelling protagonists I have read in a while, and I loved how he takes the concept of unreliable narrator to a whole new level. I can't say that I really liked being in his headspace because this man is absolutely delulu and makes some VERY questionable choices, but then all the dark humour and deep philosphical musings were just singing to my soul. It's not even funny how many lines I annotated; Wolff's prose is absolutely delectable.
I did personally struggle a bit with the lack of female agency, even if the poor treatment of women here somewhat makes sense for the setting. That little nitpick didn't hinder my enjoyment all that much though, and I overall really appreciated the complex exploration of the human condition as Lord Mute grapples with his mortality, morality, faith, and destiny.
And don't get me started on the complicated family dynamics with Lord Mute being a highly educated prince who was shunned for being the Silent God's 'chosen one' and now works as a masked assassin for the crown. I mean, I am always here for some assassin fun, but Lord Mute's deadly power of silence made the whole job even more twisted and unnerving.
The Whisper That Replaced God is one of those novellas that packs a series' worth of depth all without ever feeling overwhelming, and I loved how Wolff wrapped this story up in such a satisfying way while also leaving some threads dangling to weave another story out of in the future. And you better bet I will be coming back for more, because this is exactly the type of dark, twisted, and thematically rich fantasy storytelling that I just eat up. What a tantalising little treat.
Now, talk about a damn strong character voice. Lord Mute has to be one of the most compelling protagonists I have read in a while, and I loved how he takes the concept of unreliable narrator to a whole new level. I can't say that I really liked being in his headspace because this man is absolutely delulu and makes some VERY questionable choices, but then all the dark humour and deep philosphical musings were just singing to my soul. It's not even funny how many lines I annotated; Wolff's prose is absolutely delectable.
I did personally struggle a bit with the lack of female agency, even if the poor treatment of women here somewhat makes sense for the setting. That little nitpick didn't hinder my enjoyment all that much though, and I overall really appreciated the complex exploration of the human condition as Lord Mute grapples with his mortality, morality, faith, and destiny.
And don't get me started on the complicated family dynamics with Lord Mute being a highly educated prince who was shunned for being the Silent God's 'chosen one' and now works as a masked assassin for the crown. I mean, I am always here for some assassin fun, but Lord Mute's deadly power of silence made the whole job even more twisted and unnerving.
The Whisper That Replaced God is one of those novellas that packs a series' worth of depth all without ever feeling overwhelming, and I loved how Wolff wrapped this story up in such a satisfying way while also leaving some threads dangling to weave another story out of in the future. And you better bet I will be coming back for more, because this is exactly the type of dark, twisted, and thematically rich fantasy storytelling that I just eat up. What a tantalising little treat.
January 19, 2025
The Whisper that Replaced God is a great dark fantasy novella, written by Timothy Wolff, that we had the pleasure of reading as part of the SFINCS' semifinals. A story that shows a great narrative voice, especially taking into account the main character POV, many hard-hitting lines and an engaging plot mixed with more reflexive passages.
A novella that is narrated by the main character, Lord Mute, a highly educated prince that acts as an assassin for his brother, the king; when treason struck him, his world will be in shambles and will need to navigate through the multiple contradictions that afflict him. Not only we have a really polished and even pedantic voice at points, but we also see how his world vision can be at many points differing with reality.
With Mute, we have a conflicted soul, between the idealization he had of his family, as a consequence of his mother's education, but also the bleak vision of the world we can experience at some point of the novella.
The setting itself is a bit bleak, especially as our character itself is an assassin that uses the power of the God of Silence to fulfill whatever his brother demands; but with interesting hints around the politics. The pacing is well balanced, mixing some parts with more "action" with other that are more reflexive, giving some drops of Mute's own philosophy; the prose is slightly purpleish, but it fits well with the narrator's voice.
The Whisper that Replaced God is an excellent novella, which combines the sardonic voice of the main character with a bleak setting to bring us a compelling story. This novella is the perfect piece to kickstart your reading of Timothy Wolff's bibliography, showing the excellence of his craft!
Disclaimer: This review represents my personal opinion. Score and review from the whole team might vary.
A novella that is narrated by the main character, Lord Mute, a highly educated prince that acts as an assassin for his brother, the king; when treason struck him, his world will be in shambles and will need to navigate through the multiple contradictions that afflict him. Not only we have a really polished and even pedantic voice at points, but we also see how his world vision can be at many points differing with reality.
With Mute, we have a conflicted soul, between the idealization he had of his family, as a consequence of his mother's education, but also the bleak vision of the world we can experience at some point of the novella.
The setting itself is a bit bleak, especially as our character itself is an assassin that uses the power of the God of Silence to fulfill whatever his brother demands; but with interesting hints around the politics. The pacing is well balanced, mixing some parts with more "action" with other that are more reflexive, giving some drops of Mute's own philosophy; the prose is slightly purpleish, but it fits well with the narrator's voice.
The Whisper that Replaced God is an excellent novella, which combines the sardonic voice of the main character with a bleak setting to bring us a compelling story. This novella is the perfect piece to kickstart your reading of Timothy Wolff's bibliography, showing the excellence of his craft!
Disclaimer: This review represents my personal opinion. Score and review from the whole team might vary.
August 5, 2024
I’ve been meaning to read Timothy Wolff’s books for a while because he’s such a supportive person in the indie community. When I heard that he had a novella coming out, I knew that was the perfect starting point for me
That being said, I almost DNFed this books after just a little bit of reading. It has a very distinct narrative voice that I wasn’t vibing with at all. It felt choppy and erratic, and the character just seemed… weird. But I decided to push on and I’m so glad I did. Once I realized what was going on with the MC, it suddenly felt like a really fitting voice for him. I don’t think I could read several hundreds of pages in this style but it was neat for such a short read after all.
Despite the seriousness of the MC, or probably because of it, there were some really funny moments sprinkled throughout. The surrounding characters were interesting and I was keen to learn anything I could about the world as well.
The ending… I have a little bit of mixed feelings about. On one hand, I really enjoy open endings that leave so much to be explored in that world. But here I felt like there was too much missing. Or maybe that I myself missed something that went over my head. I heard that the main series by this authors is quite different in style but I really hope we get more follow-up for this story as well eventually, whether that’s references to it in another book or one written to continue this specifically. I like authors that try cool things in their novellas and this definitely fit the bill for that. I’m looking forward to trying his main series.
That being said, I almost DNFed this books after just a little bit of reading. It has a very distinct narrative voice that I wasn’t vibing with at all. It felt choppy and erratic, and the character just seemed… weird. But I decided to push on and I’m so glad I did. Once I realized what was going on with the MC, it suddenly felt like a really fitting voice for him. I don’t think I could read several hundreds of pages in this style but it was neat for such a short read after all.
Despite the seriousness of the MC, or probably because of it, there were some really funny moments sprinkled throughout. The surrounding characters were interesting and I was keen to learn anything I could about the world as well.
The ending… I have a little bit of mixed feelings about. On one hand, I really enjoy open endings that leave so much to be explored in that world. But here I felt like there was too much missing. Or maybe that I myself missed something that went over my head. I heard that the main series by this authors is quite different in style but I really hope we get more follow-up for this story as well eventually, whether that’s references to it in another book or one written to continue this specifically. I like authors that try cool things in their novellas and this definitely fit the bill for that. I’m looking forward to trying his main series.
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May 3, 2025Whisper hit 100 ratings today which is pretty awesome 🕺 I’ll be honest, I don’t particularly love this book. It’s pretty grim and depressing, without much light at the end of the tunnel. Still it does seem to resonate with people more than my other works. I don’t know what that says me or my readers 🌝
“To be alone with my thoughts was just another form of being alone.”
“To be alone with my thoughts was just another form of being alone.”
May 28, 2025
I was expecting this to be quite dark fantasy. I wasn’t expecting it to be hilarious! This is the story of Mute, a royal assassin who wears a mask and also has the unique ability to silence all sounds around him for a brief time – a special power granted from the Silent God, and one that is feared across the realm. One day, Mute is tasked with an assassination in a brothel that he frequents, but it all goes wrong when he catches his uncle bedding his favourite lady. This then starts an unfortunate journey where Mute is offered an opportunity – assassinate his brother, the king, and become king himself.
Mute’s quest is naturally filled with bloodshed and comes with a few harsh life lessons, especially about being careful for what you wish for. I believe this story is a standalone, though it felt like it could belong to a much larger story, and that I would certainly like to see a larger story where Mute’s past, life, and relationships were fleshed out more. Mute himself struck me as an assassin version of Forrest Gump to begin with. He’s got a dark sense of humour and a quip for every situation, but he’s also a bit dim.
I don’t think this type of humour will be for everyone, but that said, I enjoyed Mute’s antics and the author’s writing style, and will definitely check out more of the author’s books!
Mute’s quest is naturally filled with bloodshed and comes with a few harsh life lessons, especially about being careful for what you wish for. I believe this story is a standalone, though it felt like it could belong to a much larger story, and that I would certainly like to see a larger story where Mute’s past, life, and relationships were fleshed out more. Mute himself struck me as an assassin version of Forrest Gump to begin with. He’s got a dark sense of humour and a quip for every situation, but he’s also a bit dim.
I don’t think this type of humour will be for everyone, but that said, I enjoyed Mute’s antics and the author’s writing style, and will definitely check out more of the author’s books!
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June 30, 2025
It was like they had died but never lived, trying to scream and failing to whisper.
This was my first read from Timothy Wolff and I’m going to pick up his others ASAP because the prose in this was SO GOOD UGH.
It’s harrowing to realize you cannot atone for your sins when there are too many to remember.
There were so many hard hitting lines in this novella. I was also really surprised by the twist at the end? Like I didn’t see where the title was going to be coming from AT ALL. So, like, colour me impressed. There were quite a few times Wolff’s twists really took me by surprise, which I love. I love being surprised :D
Most men referred to them as ladies of the evening, though I always found the phrase absurd. It’s not like they’re vampires.
Also, the ‘Rainforest’ and ‘Pleasant Reads’ jokes were 10/10 hilarious and I had a good giggle both times.
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
This was my first read from Timothy Wolff and I’m going to pick up his others ASAP because the prose in this was SO GOOD UGH.
It’s harrowing to realize you cannot atone for your sins when there are too many to remember.
There were so many hard hitting lines in this novella. I was also really surprised by the twist at the end? Like I didn’t see where the title was going to be coming from AT ALL. So, like, colour me impressed. There were quite a few times Wolff’s twists really took me by surprise, which I love. I love being surprised :D
Most men referred to them as ladies of the evening, though I always found the phrase absurd. It’s not like they’re vampires.
Also, the ‘Rainforest’ and ‘Pleasant Reads’ jokes were 10/10 hilarious and I had a good giggle both times.
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
December 17, 2024
Amazing! Adored this novella and Mute is my favorite character of the year!!! This was hilarious, dark, twisted, and delicious. I couldn't put it down and resd it in one sitting! I highly recommend this, especially if you love grimdark and Series like First Law by Joe Abercrombie!
November 20, 2025
What an inventive tale! Mute is a singularly unique character that defies explanation. Is he brilliant? Mad? Dumb as a stump? All three? Lol who can tell!
It doesn't matter in the end...I enjoyed this immensely in all it's silliness.
It doesn't matter in the end...I enjoyed this immensely in all it's silliness.
October 18, 2025
Brother what happened to us?
March 26, 2025
I love the unique idea of this book, and Lord Mute is quite the funny character! Though this story has heart, grief, and quite the harrowing mission, what I loved most about it was the humor. And though the prose balances between humorous, dark, and heartfelt, there are some very touching moments.
Take this one: "Melancholy is the window to the soul: that tiny spot between depression and normality where most of us linger."
Well done, and I look forward to reading the sequel!
Take this one: "Melancholy is the window to the soul: that tiny spot between depression and normality where most of us linger."
Well done, and I look forward to reading the sequel!
March 9, 2025
Friggin' fantastic
There are so many thoughts I want to express and so few words to make justice to this book.
This book has such a poignant, intentional penmanship that I feel it's a disservice to say it is a great book. It is more a treatise into writing a character.
It feels like a Greek tragedy, mask, and all, where the chorus are the thoughts of our character. It is a cathartic experience to find and read so many superb lines about life and the human condition.
The Whisper that Replaced God deserves a standing but silent ovation, one expressed solely through our hearts as readers.
There are so many thoughts I want to express and so few words to make justice to this book.
This book has such a poignant, intentional penmanship that I feel it's a disservice to say it is a great book. It is more a treatise into writing a character.
It feels like a Greek tragedy, mask, and all, where the chorus are the thoughts of our character. It is a cathartic experience to find and read so many superb lines about life and the human condition.
The Whisper that Replaced God deserves a standing but silent ovation, one expressed solely through our hearts as readers.
December 29, 2025
Who knew?!....Who knew silence, could be so intriguing and yes…loud! “The Whisper That Replaced God” by Timothy Wolff was exactly that. Welcome to the tortured mind of Lord Mute! 🔥
Tim takes a complex story idea, narrated by a broken and unsettlingly calm protagonist, layered with sorrow, faith, darkness and death…all structured with a philosophical elegance that paints an absolutely vivid personal journey, encompassing loneliness, regret, pain, love and loss…and all in just a span of 82 pages!? Wolff displays his own power to “silence” any doubts one might have believing this is achievable. The depth of the story and an oddly engaging MC make this strange, but captivating Novella one of the most satisfying reads of the year! ����
Complicated family history and dynamics, coupled with unreciprocated love, and a sinister gift that weighs heavy with darkness and questionable faith, help round out this twisted and unnerving tale. Deceit, betrayal, and secrets are sprinkled throughout, giving us this buffet of pure penmanship! A masterclass of writing that will capture your attention and very soul… starting from the delicious prose, right down to the last sentence. 😈
4.5⭐ rounded up for this unique and creative dash through darkness. “Mask” your emotions and “Hush” your reactions…for uncouth demeanor and manners will not be tolerated…silence can be a powerful weapon, enjoy the release it can provide! I will definitely be "Whispering" (shouting) this recommendation to every reader I know! 🤫
Tim takes a complex story idea, narrated by a broken and unsettlingly calm protagonist, layered with sorrow, faith, darkness and death…all structured with a philosophical elegance that paints an absolutely vivid personal journey, encompassing loneliness, regret, pain, love and loss…and all in just a span of 82 pages!? Wolff displays his own power to “silence” any doubts one might have believing this is achievable. The depth of the story and an oddly engaging MC make this strange, but captivating Novella one of the most satisfying reads of the year! ����
Complicated family history and dynamics, coupled with unreciprocated love, and a sinister gift that weighs heavy with darkness and questionable faith, help round out this twisted and unnerving tale. Deceit, betrayal, and secrets are sprinkled throughout, giving us this buffet of pure penmanship! A masterclass of writing that will capture your attention and very soul… starting from the delicious prose, right down to the last sentence. 😈
4.5⭐ rounded up for this unique and creative dash through darkness. “Mask” your emotions and “Hush” your reactions…for uncouth demeanor and manners will not be tolerated…silence can be a powerful weapon, enjoy the release it can provide! I will definitely be "Whispering" (shouting) this recommendation to every reader I know! 🤫
June 7, 2025
The power of a god is not to trifled with. Invoking his name to bring death. Who deserve my bloody wrath. Most importantly, those who touch my brothel desire.
Was absolutely glued to this one & immediately read part 2. Inside the head of quite the disturbed individual is at once darkly mesmerizing & hilarious! Messed up & oh so great!
Was absolutely glued to this one & immediately read part 2. Inside the head of quite the disturbed individual is at once darkly mesmerizing & hilarious! Messed up & oh so great!
March 14, 2025
I read this novella as part of the Secret Scribes judging group for the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). This review is my personal opinion and does not solely determine if this story will move onto the next phase of the competition.
Lord Mute is a masked assassin for the crown but things take a turn for the worst when he must take a life in his local haunt—a brothel which houses his favorite girl. His mind shatters when he sees Dorothy hand in hand with another man. And not just any man! So Mute does what he does best. Solve problems with a dagger.
The Whisper That Replaced God has excellent characterization and very unique style! I haven't read anything quite like it and that in of itself is a feat. You'll love Lord Mute as a character whether or not you like him as a person.
The overarching story has a nice tri-chotomy where Mute’s view of things is different from what is being said/described, which is different still from the reality of the fantasy world. This gives the story a sense of foreboding that plays out nicely as the machinations of kingdoms intersect the idiosyncrasies of Mute.
The entire story has an overarching melancholy to it that because Mute himself has been ostracized his entire life due to something out of his control. There were a few times where I swear I felt a touch of real-world loneliness from the author leaking onto the page.
I will say that Whisper could’ve used a touch more setting description. I think it was done minimalist deliberately for characterization, but I found myself wishing for a bit more scenery nonetheless.
The Whisper That Replaced God is a must read for dark fantasy lovers. Give yourself in to the twisted logic of Lord Mute and shout about how great it is before he silences you forever.
Lord Mute is a masked assassin for the crown but things take a turn for the worst when he must take a life in his local haunt—a brothel which houses his favorite girl. His mind shatters when he sees Dorothy hand in hand with another man. And not just any man! So Mute does what he does best. Solve problems with a dagger.
The Whisper That Replaced God has excellent characterization and very unique style! I haven't read anything quite like it and that in of itself is a feat. You'll love Lord Mute as a character whether or not you like him as a person.
The overarching story has a nice tri-chotomy where Mute’s view of things is different from what is being said/described, which is different still from the reality of the fantasy world. This gives the story a sense of foreboding that plays out nicely as the machinations of kingdoms intersect the idiosyncrasies of Mute.
The entire story has an overarching melancholy to it that because Mute himself has been ostracized his entire life due to something out of his control. There were a few times where I swear I felt a touch of real-world loneliness from the author leaking onto the page.
I will say that Whisper could’ve used a touch more setting description. I think it was done minimalist deliberately for characterization, but I found myself wishing for a bit more scenery nonetheless.
The Whisper That Replaced God is a must read for dark fantasy lovers. Give yourself in to the twisted logic of Lord Mute and shout about how great it is before he silences you forever.
August 22, 2025
First of all, let me just say that The Whisper that Replaced God is a hell of a title for a book. Kudos on that. And now, having read it and fully understanding the reference, it still hits really hard but in a much more poignant way. And the cover is brilliant as well. What a way to draw you in. This continues my read-through of some of the SFINCS novellas, and The Whisper that Replaced God was a finalist in the second year’s contest!
An excellent novella utterly dripping with style, The Whisper that Replaced God is an absolute must for dark fantasy fans. It’s really well-written, and I loved the tongue-in-cheek fourth-wall breaking moments. It’s written in the first person and goes all-in on a fireside storytelling style. Lord Mute was a great POV character and unreliable narrator with all his flaws, delusions, and melancholy.
The story strays somewhat into cosmic horror territory with the reality of the Silent God, and it there is enough mystery and intrigue and subtle world building here that it gets you fully immersed. I really enjoyed it.
Lord Mute is so very melancholy that you’d be forgiven for thinking the book would be somewhat dour, but there’s so much personality that it never feels dull. He lives a miserable life, and he rarely makes the best of it, simply resigned to being the king’s superpowered assassin. He’s also totally delusional and a creepy aristocrat. I loved the journey he went on, and the ending was a great setup for the rest of the series.
Overall, a great read with great worldbuilding and oozing with character. Highly recommended.
An excellent novella utterly dripping with style, The Whisper that Replaced God is an absolute must for dark fantasy fans. It’s really well-written, and I loved the tongue-in-cheek fourth-wall breaking moments. It’s written in the first person and goes all-in on a fireside storytelling style. Lord Mute was a great POV character and unreliable narrator with all his flaws, delusions, and melancholy.
The story strays somewhat into cosmic horror territory with the reality of the Silent God, and it there is enough mystery and intrigue and subtle world building here that it gets you fully immersed. I really enjoyed it.
Lord Mute is so very melancholy that you’d be forgiven for thinking the book would be somewhat dour, but there’s so much personality that it never feels dull. He lives a miserable life, and he rarely makes the best of it, simply resigned to being the king’s superpowered assassin. He’s also totally delusional and a creepy aristocrat. I loved the journey he went on, and the ending was a great setup for the rest of the series.
Overall, a great read with great worldbuilding and oozing with character. Highly recommended.
July 24, 2025
The Whisper that Replaced God by @timwolffauthor
Narrated by Nick Cracknell
2h24m
Lord Mute’s memoir of how he found himself on the throne!
I think I said what the actual fuck, like every few minutes listening to Mute’s bat shit cray cray ass tell this story! It was such a fun and easy listen. Dark with lots of comedic relief!
Mute is unhinged and unreliable as a narrator, which added to the charm of this story. Timothy Wolff had me rooting for Mute, even though I wanted to grab him by the neck and shake some sense into him almost constantly.
Lots of murder.
Lots of magic.
Lots of delulu is the solulu.
Murder plots.
Kidnapping.
Usurping of thrones.
Kin slaying!
Drugs.
Narrated by Nick Cracknell
2h24m
Lord Mute’s memoir of how he found himself on the throne!
I think I said what the actual fuck, like every few minutes listening to Mute’s bat shit cray cray ass tell this story! It was such a fun and easy listen. Dark with lots of comedic relief!
Mute is unhinged and unreliable as a narrator, which added to the charm of this story. Timothy Wolff had me rooting for Mute, even though I wanted to grab him by the neck and shake some sense into him almost constantly.
Lots of murder.
Lots of magic.
Lots of delulu is the solulu.
Murder plots.
Kidnapping.
Usurping of thrones.
Kin slaying!
Drugs.
September 21, 2024
5 ⭐️ to The Whisper that Replaced God by @TimWolffAuthor.
There are books that make me jealous because their concept is genius. There are books that make me jealous because the writing style is so impressive. This book is both. A well-realized narrator with unique voice, powers, and mental state guides us through a tale filled with grim wit, intriguing characters, and so much great subtext.
Timothy, my friend, you raised the bar for what I thought a novella could be. I enjoyed every deranged instant of reading this his today. What a BOOK
There are books that make me jealous because their concept is genius. There are books that make me jealous because the writing style is so impressive. This book is both. A well-realized narrator with unique voice, powers, and mental state guides us through a tale filled with grim wit, intriguing characters, and so much great subtext.
Timothy, my friend, you raised the bar for what I thought a novella could be. I enjoyed every deranged instant of reading this his today. What a BOOK
June 5, 2025
"By the time a man realizes no one sees him, he is already gone."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+🎗
I won't lie. I fell in love with Platinum Tinted Darkness. This...this is the Megazord version of Tim Wolff. I have nothing but unbelievable things to say about this novella. It might not be everyone's cup of tea (but what book is?), but it's my first "gold label" 5 star read this year!
Now pull up your chairs kids, I've got a story for you.
This novella follows the story of Lord Mute. A crass, direct noble who's been dealt an interesting hand in life. Over the course of the next 80 pages, he ends up alone. What happens throughout the course of this shot and powerful story is nothing short of amazing.
What I loved about this story:
Lord Mute stands out as our main character. It's incredible being inside his head and listening to him tell you his story. It's like sitting across from the fire with him, smoking cigars, and laughing about old times.
The beauty of the entire work comes from Wolff himself. This is the first novel in the last while, where I feel as though there's a quotable line on every single page. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from Lord Mute through Wolff's prose, many that hit home with me as I read.
Wolff's words are quick, sharp, and snappy. The story is easy to understand, as are the character's thoughts. The story moves at a brisk pace, with enough description to set the scenes without having the reader lose themselves in the telling.
What I didn't like:
The length. If this was a full length novel I'd have read the entire thing, and I wanted more. I'm pleased to see there's a sequel already out though!
Really, there's nothing bad to say about this!
To sum up/praise:
Again, PTD was amazing! I'm super excited to delve into the rest of the TLOB series. With the addition of Lord Mute's story into his repertoire, Tim Wolff has solidified himself as my favourite author to read!
His prose, the lessons, and his amazing ability to not only tell stories, but craft incredible characters is something that needs to be studied! One might even say the author is GLORIOUS!
As such, this novella is absolutely deserving of my first Gold Label this Year (think 5 stars +)! Another amazing addition to the catalog of the Willow Wraith Press team. These guys don't miss!
***
I'm also pleased to announce that the book scores a 1/5 for f**k offs, BUT, the author is granted the ever elusive, personal FO, for crafting such a timeless character and leaving me with just 80 odd pages!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+🎗
I won't lie. I fell in love with Platinum Tinted Darkness. This...this is the Megazord version of Tim Wolff. I have nothing but unbelievable things to say about this novella. It might not be everyone's cup of tea (but what book is?), but it's my first "gold label" 5 star read this year!
Now pull up your chairs kids, I've got a story for you.
This novella follows the story of Lord Mute. A crass, direct noble who's been dealt an interesting hand in life. Over the course of the next 80 pages, he ends up alone. What happens throughout the course of this shot and powerful story is nothing short of amazing.
What I loved about this story:
Lord Mute stands out as our main character. It's incredible being inside his head and listening to him tell you his story. It's like sitting across from the fire with him, smoking cigars, and laughing about old times.
The beauty of the entire work comes from Wolff himself. This is the first novel in the last while, where I feel as though there's a quotable line on every single page. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from Lord Mute through Wolff's prose, many that hit home with me as I read.
Wolff's words are quick, sharp, and snappy. The story is easy to understand, as are the character's thoughts. The story moves at a brisk pace, with enough description to set the scenes without having the reader lose themselves in the telling.
What I didn't like:
The length. If this was a full length novel I'd have read the entire thing, and I wanted more. I'm pleased to see there's a sequel already out though!
Really, there's nothing bad to say about this!
To sum up/praise:
Again, PTD was amazing! I'm super excited to delve into the rest of the TLOB series. With the addition of Lord Mute's story into his repertoire, Tim Wolff has solidified himself as my favourite author to read!
His prose, the lessons, and his amazing ability to not only tell stories, but craft incredible characters is something that needs to be studied! One might even say the author is GLORIOUS!
As such, this novella is absolutely deserving of my first Gold Label this Year (think 5 stars +)! Another amazing addition to the catalog of the Willow Wraith Press team. These guys don't miss!
***
I'm also pleased to announce that the book scores a 1/5 for f**k offs, BUT, the author is granted the ever elusive, personal FO, for crafting such a timeless character and leaving me with just 80 odd pages!!
September 28, 2024
The Whisper that Replaced God is Wolff’s first publication written in 1st person POV, but his dry, darkly humorous writing style carries over from his Legacy of Boulom series. The main character, Lord Mute, has a very distinct voice.
True to form, the author gives us lots of quotable sardonic observations:
“I could love and I could kill. That seemed to summarize my entire thirty-one years. My only saving grace was a lack of madness.”
Mute is a wilfully delusional, emotionally turbulent character. He also frequently breaks the fourth wall. Wolff’s stories are packed with delightful inside jokes for anyone who has dipped into the world of indie publishing. This brand of self-awareness might not be to everyone’s tastes, but it is undeniably fun.
Given Mute’s proximity to the throne and some of his unique circumstances, the concept of this character reminds me somewhat of The Man in The Iron Mask. He offers a tantalisingly narrow view of his world, hinting at just enough beyond his perspective to keep me interested. We learn that magic is frowned upon, and a silent god appears to favour Mute. Is he the god the whisper is replacing? Or is the title a metaphor for something else?
I won’t add detailed content warnings here. Our main character is an assassin who leaves a bloody trail in his wake.
Mute is a conflicted soul. He encounters some complications but is also offered some delicious opportunities on a plate. Still, happiness eludes him. The dissonance between the narrative beats and his emotional journey makes this novelette memorable.
True to form, the author gives us lots of quotable sardonic observations:
“I could love and I could kill. That seemed to summarize my entire thirty-one years. My only saving grace was a lack of madness.”
Mute is a wilfully delusional, emotionally turbulent character. He also frequently breaks the fourth wall. Wolff’s stories are packed with delightful inside jokes for anyone who has dipped into the world of indie publishing. This brand of self-awareness might not be to everyone’s tastes, but it is undeniably fun.
Given Mute’s proximity to the throne and some of his unique circumstances, the concept of this character reminds me somewhat of The Man in The Iron Mask. He offers a tantalisingly narrow view of his world, hinting at just enough beyond his perspective to keep me interested. We learn that magic is frowned upon, and a silent god appears to favour Mute. Is he the god the whisper is replacing? Or is the title a metaphor for something else?
I won’t add detailed content warnings here. Our main character is an assassin who leaves a bloody trail in his wake.
Mute is a conflicted soul. He encounters some complications but is also offered some delicious opportunities on a plate. Still, happiness eludes him. The dissonance between the narrative beats and his emotional journey makes this novelette memorable.
September 29, 2024
This book is weird.
This book is unsettling.
This book is unique.
This book... I LOVE 👏
If you ever had an intrusive thought of wanting to see Joe from the show "You" have mysterious magical abilities, well HERE IT IS.
This is also my first read from Wolff and my goodness, I am absolutely down for more👏
At some point I want to come back to this story and read it again because one, it's short, and two, I loved the weirdness of it all.
This book is unsettling.
This book is unique.
This book... I LOVE 👏
If you ever had an intrusive thought of wanting to see Joe from the show "You" have mysterious magical abilities, well HERE IT IS.
This is also my first read from Wolff and my goodness, I am absolutely down for more👏
At some point I want to come back to this story and read it again because one, it's short, and two, I loved the weirdness of it all.
September 26, 2024
This novella turned Wolff into an auto-buy author. Absurdly good and littered with phenomenal lines, dark, hilarious, and gorgeous
December 7, 2024
This was a fun novella… really driven by the MC - Lord Mute… I really enjoyed Lord Mute… liked the humor, kept me engaged. This was my first read of Wolff’s but won’t be my last. Entertaining, humorous, quick read. I recommend it. 4.25 stars
October 6, 2024
The best Novella I’ve read since Ryan Cahill’s The Fall. Lord Mute is such a fascinating character and at times undeniably hilarious, it made me want more stories from this world. I really, really enjoy Tim Wolff’s writing. This is a novella that is Must-Read status.
4.5/5 ⭐️
4.5/5 ⭐️
April 15, 2025
I was hooked on this novella instantly. The plot was engaging, the characters diverse and compelling, but Mute sealed the deal. The main character Mute was expertly written, quick-witted and had such enjoyable inner dialogue that I could not get enough. The prose was beautiful and intelligent. A short tale that was worth every moment.
August 2, 2024
Fantastic voice and a main character that I loved! Full review to come, but this was so good!!! My first experience with Mr. Wolff’s writing, but it won’t be my last!
October 30, 2025
Wow!
5/5 stars. Lord Mute - what an interesting, deranged character, with the ability to create silence all around him. Timothy Wolff has created something special with this story - a first person account from the mind of a very special brother to the king and a loyal assassin of the throne. This is not your father's Fitzchivalry!! Wolff writes prose that flows from the page and has created a story that will stick with me for a while. I look forward to the second part!!
Highly recommended!
5/5 stars. Lord Mute - what an interesting, deranged character, with the ability to create silence all around him. Timothy Wolff has created something special with this story - a first person account from the mind of a very special brother to the king and a loyal assassin of the throne. This is not your father's Fitzchivalry!! Wolff writes prose that flows from the page and has created a story that will stick with me for a while. I look forward to the second part!!
Highly recommended!
July 23, 2024
I finished this story wondering how and when there will be a sequel novella!
It felt like a set up in the story line, interesting powers! Interpretation’s of the mind, family and solitaire!
Lord Mute was a very bizarre yet entertaining single voice POV! I think Tim will surprise us , with another rendition of this world!
It felt like a set up in the story line, interesting powers! Interpretation’s of the mind, family and solitaire!
Lord Mute was a very bizarre yet entertaining single voice POV! I think Tim will surprise us , with another rendition of this world!
Read
September 28, 2025This is an unconventional framed narrative following an irrational, unreliable narrator too prone to favour lies and twist stories.
It is written in first person past tense, and narrated by Lord Mute, the main character. He has a very distinct voice—over polished, flourished and even pedantic. It comes across incredibly well, to the point I was reading and immediately imagined the character, suck by whatever antics he was complaining about. This makes the prose lean towards being a bit purple but, in my opinion, it is purposeful and intended—Lord Mute is a highly educated prince who believes himself above others... and the prose suits him.
A large portion of the plot is about the consequences of Mute's actions, including his proximity to the throne, his aversion to the truth, and his impulsivity. It well paced given the size of the novella, always moving at the right moment, unveiling a new mystery or (more often) how Mute misunderstood a fact.
Regardless of the above, we also get to read a lot about Mute's personal struggles, including some of his traumas and how they shaped his believes. This is done in a very stylistic way, short and concise yet profound enough that a reader can grasp the depth of Mute's struggles without having to pick across the words.
Let me add some comments about those struggles; it's spoilery, but if you don't want to read it, know it is positive.
Although the main character is an assassin, the scenes are not descriptive—and I liked how that approach tied to Mute's no-nonsense approach to killing. To him it's a business, something he's done for so long there is no need to describe. Therefore, even if this is quite a grim story, readers wanting a less explicit story will likely love it.
Regardless, there is something I really did not like—at several points, Mute broke the fourth wall, making covert references to Amazon (although renamed to have an in-book name) and how a reader could rate the book. I will explain more about this in spoilers.
Overall, this is a curious read, geared towards grimdark and from the point-of-view of a compelling, interesting character.
It is written in first person past tense, and narrated by Lord Mute, the main character. He has a very distinct voice—over polished, flourished and even pedantic. It comes across incredibly well, to the point I was reading and immediately imagined the character, suck by whatever antics he was complaining about. This makes the prose lean towards being a bit purple but, in my opinion, it is purposeful and intended—Lord Mute is a highly educated prince who believes himself above others... and the prose suits him.
A large portion of the plot is about the consequences of Mute's actions, including his proximity to the throne, his aversion to the truth, and his impulsivity. It well paced given the size of the novella, always moving at the right moment, unveiling a new mystery or (more often) how Mute misunderstood a fact.
Regardless of the above, we also get to read a lot about Mute's personal struggles, including some of his traumas and how they shaped his believes. This is done in a very stylistic way, short and concise yet profound enough that a reader can grasp the depth of Mute's struggles without having to pick across the words.
Let me add some comments about those struggles; it's spoilery, but if you don't want to read it, know it is positive.
Although the main character is an assassin, the scenes are not descriptive—and I liked how that approach tied to Mute's no-nonsense approach to killing. To him it's a business, something he's done for so long there is no need to describe. Therefore, even if this is quite a grim story, readers wanting a less explicit story will likely love it.
Regardless, there is something I really did not like—at several points, Mute broke the fourth wall, making covert references to Amazon (although renamed to have an in-book name) and how a reader could rate the book. I will explain more about this in spoilers.
Overall, this is a curious read, geared towards grimdark and from the point-of-view of a compelling, interesting character.
August 9, 2024
A truly unique world full of heartbreak
When I first started this book, I had no idea what I was in for. That’s part of its charm though because our main character, is to his detriment, lost with no sense of self and direction.
That’s truly the journey of this book. A character striving to understand why his life is the way it used to, why he had endured what he had and what does all of it mean in the end?
There’s a great magic system and religion here, one of the staples of this author’s work by now. We’re given it in samples, with a sense of fear and mystery that I dare not spoil here. But by the time we get to the heart of it, it throws you for a loop.
Definitely a unique story, full of doubts, pain and hopes. Well worth a read.
When I first started this book, I had no idea what I was in for. That’s part of its charm though because our main character, is to his detriment, lost with no sense of self and direction.
That’s truly the journey of this book. A character striving to understand why his life is the way it used to, why he had endured what he had and what does all of it mean in the end?
There’s a great magic system and religion here, one of the staples of this author’s work by now. We’re given it in samples, with a sense of fear and mystery that I dare not spoil here. But by the time we get to the heart of it, it throws you for a loop.
Definitely a unique story, full of doubts, pain and hopes. Well worth a read.
November 26, 2025
Unique story!
Fantastic novella that took a simple premise, great characterization, and ran with it. I highly recommend this novel to fans of all sorts of fantasy
Fantastic novella that took a simple premise, great characterization, and ran with it. I highly recommend this novel to fans of all sorts of fantasy
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