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The Whisper that Replaced God Part II: Silent Almighty
Ruling as king does not suit a man like Mute. The boredom. The monotony. The permanent stagnation…
Until he arrived. The one with the Gift of Silence. The one wielding a dagger. The one who would mold Balewind into a temple to the Silent Almighty. Lord Deaf intends to be the scream that replaced a whisper, offering one final message to the realm before it never hears again:
Bestow upon me your pain, your illness, your sorrow. Silence will absolve them all.
Until he arrived. The one with the Gift of Silence. The one wielding a dagger. The one who would mold Balewind into a temple to the Silent Almighty. Lord Deaf intends to be the scream that replaced a whisper, offering one final message to the realm before it never hears again:
Bestow upon me your pain, your illness, your sorrow. Silence will absolve them all.
78 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2025
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85 people want to read
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June 30, 2025
Rain is one of the few things less beautiful without sound.
This novella dark fantasy series is so uniquely done! And so many of the lines were just beautifully written. With a rare mixture of self-referential humour, breaking the fourth wall (so to speak), layered worldbuilding and cracking dialogue, I’m left very impressed by Wolff’s skills as a writer and his handle on prose.
I will do this again. I will do this over and over because I have no choice. You did nothing to help me and I cannot help myself. The cycle continues. Today, tomorrow, forever.
Although Mute/Orion isn’t always easy to root for - or even particularly likeable at times - somehow I ended up rooting for him anyways. I even felt quite bad for him in the scene with Dorothy despite her being completely in the right. A sign of just how strong Wolff is at crafting a character who is at once a tyrant and uniquely compelling.
For the sake of my average rating on Pleasant Reads, I will spare you the more intimate details but, rest assured, they were wonderful.
And the Pleasant Reads/Rainforest jokes made me giggle every time. Definitely excited to dive into Wolff’s longer novels soon!
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
This novella dark fantasy series is so uniquely done! And so many of the lines were just beautifully written. With a rare mixture of self-referential humour, breaking the fourth wall (so to speak), layered worldbuilding and cracking dialogue, I’m left very impressed by Wolff’s skills as a writer and his handle on prose.
I will do this again. I will do this over and over because I have no choice. You did nothing to help me and I cannot help myself. The cycle continues. Today, tomorrow, forever.
Although Mute/Orion isn’t always easy to root for - or even particularly likeable at times - somehow I ended up rooting for him anyways. I even felt quite bad for him in the scene with Dorothy despite her being completely in the right. A sign of just how strong Wolff is at crafting a character who is at once a tyrant and uniquely compelling.
For the sake of my average rating on Pleasant Reads, I will spare you the more intimate details but, rest assured, they were wonderful.
And the Pleasant Reads/Rainforest jokes made me giggle every time. Definitely excited to dive into Wolff’s longer novels soon!
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
February 27, 2025
Lord Mute is back.
There's some awesome character work here from Timothy Wolff, particularly between Mute and his newfound rival. Like Sand dan Glokta, you'll hate how much you love Mute. He's a horrible person, yet he's hilarious, witty, and just wants to be loved. One day Dorothy will see...
I anticipate Mute will be happy with his Pleasant Reads rating, this is a banger of a novella that is better than its predecessor in every way.
9.04/10
5/5 ⭐️
There's some awesome character work here from Timothy Wolff, particularly between Mute and his newfound rival. Like Sand dan Glokta, you'll hate how much you love Mute. He's a horrible person, yet he's hilarious, witty, and just wants to be loved. One day Dorothy will see...
I anticipate Mute will be happy with his Pleasant Reads rating, this is a banger of a novella that is better than its predecessor in every way.
9.04/10
5/5 ⭐️
January 1, 2026
“Silent Almighty” book 2 from Timothy Wolff and his wildly addictive, dark and poetic “The Whisper That Replaced God” duology has done anything but “silently” found its way into my final read of 2025…it thundered in, snatched my attention, and locked me into another, wonderfully unique chapter in the life of Mute. 🔥
5 years have passed for Mute since the events of book 1, and in keeping with his calm, traumatic, and often morbid persona…our new “King” Mute guides us through what turns out to be a very boring time in his life, and his new station. Having (in a very Mute way) taken the throne from his brother at the end of book 1, King Mute finds himself ruling over a town that seems to be declining faster than his gift and strength…both mentally and physically. Drugs, hypocrisy, cultism, and heretics have saturated our king in a monotony that has our protagonist wrestling with his inner monologue, the shame of his shortcomings as king…and the loss he himself created, that painted the very situation he now presides in. 💀
With dust ruining the minds and lives of his people, and seeing no other way to right wrongs and solidify law…the nooses are full daily. Mute once again narrates (always skipping the “dull” & “boring”) and paints the scene of this dark tale, seen through the eyes of his mask and trauma. Utterly devoid of emotion or praise, King Mute is at his wits end with this life of his …until word reaches his throne room…a new faithful of the silent God has entered his kingdom, possessing the gift of silence as well, and threatens his very existence. Finally…a challenge for our morally gray king! 😈
This is the catalyst of our journey that Tim has crafted us this time around, and only needing 78 pages, Wolff once again puts his ever increasing penmanship on display! Pulling on every emotion we can think of, toeing lines…(other times crossing them), silently blurring humanities morals, and sprinkling in some dark, as well as genius humor…Tim in his most poetic entry yet, has us rooting for darkness to, well …shine! 💪
There is no lack of quotes and lessons that would have even the most celebrated poets of our time applauding, I mean here is but one of MANY…
“Shame may fade for a time but never leaves completely. It lingers, waiting for us to be happy, then reminding us why we should never entertain such nonsense.”
For all us Mute fans …this is Mute in his truest (poetic) form. This is the mind of a dark, yet educated character that manages to captivate our minds…and silence our doubts! 🤫
Tim has clearly elevated his game and we all get to bask in its beauty! (Silently of course…we don't want to anger the Silent Almighty) Lol, nah forget that! I'm going to shout about this book to the masses! HUSH UP ALL! READ THESE BOOKS! And for our author and his sneaky humor, another snippet from our read,
“I'll have to wait and see how the wonderful people on Pleasant Reads judge me after this take”
LOL, between your “Pleasant Reads” & “Rainforest” references Timothy, these silent little nuggets had me chuckling throughout this morbid tale of vengeance and growth! Fear not good sir, you will find no shortage of fanatics of your own after these two Novellas. 🍻
5⭐ goes to this quietly amazing journey. I hope we get to see more of this character, world, and creativity. Maybe on a grander scale even…because, you know, who doesn't want to bask in the “Silent” beauty that is Mute! 📚
5 years have passed for Mute since the events of book 1, and in keeping with his calm, traumatic, and often morbid persona…our new “King” Mute guides us through what turns out to be a very boring time in his life, and his new station. Having (in a very Mute way) taken the throne from his brother at the end of book 1, King Mute finds himself ruling over a town that seems to be declining faster than his gift and strength…both mentally and physically. Drugs, hypocrisy, cultism, and heretics have saturated our king in a monotony that has our protagonist wrestling with his inner monologue, the shame of his shortcomings as king…and the loss he himself created, that painted the very situation he now presides in. 💀
With dust ruining the minds and lives of his people, and seeing no other way to right wrongs and solidify law…the nooses are full daily. Mute once again narrates (always skipping the “dull” & “boring”) and paints the scene of this dark tale, seen through the eyes of his mask and trauma. Utterly devoid of emotion or praise, King Mute is at his wits end with this life of his …until word reaches his throne room…a new faithful of the silent God has entered his kingdom, possessing the gift of silence as well, and threatens his very existence. Finally…a challenge for our morally gray king! 😈
This is the catalyst of our journey that Tim has crafted us this time around, and only needing 78 pages, Wolff once again puts his ever increasing penmanship on display! Pulling on every emotion we can think of, toeing lines…(other times crossing them), silently blurring humanities morals, and sprinkling in some dark, as well as genius humor…Tim in his most poetic entry yet, has us rooting for darkness to, well …shine! 💪
There is no lack of quotes and lessons that would have even the most celebrated poets of our time applauding, I mean here is but one of MANY…
“Shame may fade for a time but never leaves completely. It lingers, waiting for us to be happy, then reminding us why we should never entertain such nonsense.”
For all us Mute fans …this is Mute in his truest (poetic) form. This is the mind of a dark, yet educated character that manages to captivate our minds…and silence our doubts! 🤫
Tim has clearly elevated his game and we all get to bask in its beauty! (Silently of course…we don't want to anger the Silent Almighty) Lol, nah forget that! I'm going to shout about this book to the masses! HUSH UP ALL! READ THESE BOOKS! And for our author and his sneaky humor, another snippet from our read,
“I'll have to wait and see how the wonderful people on Pleasant Reads judge me after this take”
LOL, between your “Pleasant Reads” & “Rainforest” references Timothy, these silent little nuggets had me chuckling throughout this morbid tale of vengeance and growth! Fear not good sir, you will find no shortage of fanatics of your own after these two Novellas. 🍻
5⭐ goes to this quietly amazing journey. I hope we get to see more of this character, world, and creativity. Maybe on a grander scale even…because, you know, who doesn't want to bask in the “Silent” beauty that is Mute! 📚
October 28, 2025
Tolerance is nothing more than a coward’s compromise.
April 1, 2025
The best book I've read in a while!
Leaving a positive review on Pleasant Reads, even though Mute thought I would leave 3 out of 5 stars (take that, Mute!)
This story is about a man who only wanted peace and happiness and was never meant to be king. "I'm not a monster. I just wanted to be happy." But, hear me out, this isn't ONLY a story. There are lessons to be learnt in almost every page of both books. You don't have to read this book - you MUST read this book because you need it in your life!
Leaving a positive review on Pleasant Reads, even though Mute thought I would leave 3 out of 5 stars (take that, Mute!)
"We are told that life is beautiful, though if that were the case, we wouldn't have to lie to our children."
This story is about a man who only wanted peace and happiness and was never meant to be king. "I'm not a monster. I just wanted to be happy." But, hear me out, this isn't ONLY a story. There are lessons to be learnt in almost every page of both books. You don't have to read this book - you MUST read this book because you need it in your life!
"We are simply pawns at the front of the board, gifted with nothing more than a dagger and a crown of lies."
March 26, 2025
Lord Mute [and Tim Wolff] do it again
Once again, Tim crafted an incredible book, one that dissects human nature and our world in such a manner that makes this something to cherish.
With surprising self-awareness and a conscious gaze, Tim and Lord Mute carve and expose the ills, hypocrisies, and the small-mindedness of the daily trudge.
Lord Mute breaks the 4th wall so often, you'd wonder if he isn't watching you as you read him and his thoughts.
Reading this book leaves you conflicted with our reality, wishing for it to be silent for a moment... or ten, so you can hear your own thoughts without them being drowned by the myriad of problems, real, imaginary, and forced upon you, by the powers that be, which threaten to suffocate your very being.
Lord Mute wears a mask... then one we all do. To protect ourselves from the world.
Read this book, and reflect on how to let down the mask, if only for 78 pages... you won't regret it.
Once again, Tim crafted an incredible book, one that dissects human nature and our world in such a manner that makes this something to cherish.
With surprising self-awareness and a conscious gaze, Tim and Lord Mute carve and expose the ills, hypocrisies, and the small-mindedness of the daily trudge.
Lord Mute breaks the 4th wall so often, you'd wonder if he isn't watching you as you read him and his thoughts.
Reading this book leaves you conflicted with our reality, wishing for it to be silent for a moment... or ten, so you can hear your own thoughts without them being drowned by the myriad of problems, real, imaginary, and forced upon you, by the powers that be, which threaten to suffocate your very being.
Lord Mute wears a mask... then one we all do. To protect ourselves from the world.
Read this book, and reflect on how to let down the mask, if only for 78 pages... you won't regret it.
April 12, 2025
Lord Mute continues to be an amazing character. Love Tim’s voice for mute here: a really stellar first person narrator—I love an unreliable narrator!
Some great inside jokes and some beautifully poetic/thoughtful lines as well.
Definitely go read this!
Some great inside jokes and some beautifully poetic/thoughtful lines as well.
Definitely go read this!
November 11, 2025
Still clever with an expanded view of what kingship means, I found myself missing the chaos of the first book. Mute is restrained here, perhaps by his new role, and maybe that was the point of this book: to see him free once again.
Tim Wolff’s writing is still effortless and creative, and Mute remains an interesting main character in an interesting world, but I wish we had gotten more about the Dust and Cults.
Still a good book from a gifted author, if you enjoyed the first book I’m sure, you will enjoy this one. In fact, I’m certain many of you will enjoy this book just as much of the first one and will leave you thoughts here on Pleasant Reads
Tim Wolff’s writing is still effortless and creative, and Mute remains an interesting main character in an interesting world, but I wish we had gotten more about the Dust and Cults.
Still a good book from a gifted author, if you enjoyed the first book I’m sure, you will enjoy this one. In fact, I’m certain many of you will enjoy this book just as much of the first one and will leave you thoughts here on Pleasant Reads
March 23, 2025
Another sound entry about a man addicted to terrible decisions. The silence is deafening in this follow up entry to The Whisper That Replaced God. Put Wolff on your TBR if you haven’t already. Love these short offerings to get me through an afternoon.
March 26, 2025
A short review for pleasant reads:
Even better than book one, which shocked me. The addition of Deaf was great, really fantastic dynamic between the two in such a short book. Do yourself a favor and don't sleep on this series.
Even better than book one, which shocked me. The addition of Deaf was great, really fantastic dynamic between the two in such a short book. Do yourself a favor and don't sleep on this series.
December 3, 2025
I’m really torn about Mute/Orion, a character who's flawed but somehow captivating. Timothy Wolff's writing, honing on his craft…. which makes him empathize with a character who's both a tyrant and relatable. The quote "I'm not a monster. I just wanted to be happy" hits home!! Still like the first one better!
But this book has a purpose it’s a Segway to Timothy is writing ✍️ now in the same world where some time has elapsed Can’t wait for that, it will need a title that Mozart would be proud of!!!!!
But this book has a purpose it’s a Segway to Timothy is writing ✍️ now in the same world where some time has elapsed Can’t wait for that, it will need a title that Mozart would be proud of!!!!!
June 7, 2025
Great second part of this oddly unsettling yet humorous sick prince manifesto.
Very addictive. Deranged and fun.
Very addictive. Deranged and fun.
April 9, 2025
Summary:
Lord Mute is now king. What an awful outcome. But then Lepoch is nothing if not funny. Lord Deaf joins the fray and Mute has to put in a little effort. It's all murder and mayhem from there.
The Good: The voice of King Mute is so incredibly engaging. He makes a snarky, funny, self-involved storyteller. If there was nothing else to this story than a hundred pages of King Mute thinking aloud about the world and his own wants, it would be entertaining.
Lord Deaf is a worthy antagonist. He is the true believer to balance King Mute's apathy.
Silent Almighty pulls Mute's story together and gives him a satisfying resolution. Wolff gives us a a clear objective and subverts it, then gives it back to us.
The Bad: There really isn't much to complain about. I enjoyed my time with Mute immensely. I only wish Mr. Wolff had given us a thicker story to give me more time with the most delightfully awful man in fantasy.
Overall: This is a quick story. The wordcount along limits what can be told, but Wolff gives us a perfect dose of Mute. We might have gone deeper in a longer work, but who cares. I like these small doses. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one.
This was a 4.7 out of 5.0 for me.
The Good: The voice of King Mute is so incredibly engaging. He makes a snarky, funny, self-involved storyteller. If there was nothing else to this story than a hundred pages of King Mute thinking aloud about the world and his own wants, it would be entertaining.
Lord Deaf is a worthy antagonist. He is the true believer to balance King Mute's apathy.
Silent Almighty pulls Mute's story together and gives him a satisfying resolution. Wolff gives us a a clear objective and subverts it, then gives it back to us.
The Bad: There really isn't much to complain about. I enjoyed my time with Mute immensely. I only wish Mr. Wolff had given us a thicker story to give me more time with the most delightfully awful man in fantasy.
Overall: This is a quick story. The wordcount along limits what can be told, but Wolff gives us a perfect dose of Mute. We might have gone deeper in a longer work, but who cares. I like these small doses. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one.
This was a 4.7 out of 5.0 for me.
May 1, 2025
After reading part one of the Whisper That Replaced God, I was in awe. The writing style, the prose, the character work—I loved all of it. So much so that I listened to the audiobook twice and read the novella in paperback once. When part two was announced, I scooped it up right away.
Part two took me right back into Mute’s deranged world. He rules over a kingdom now. Not sure who allowed that, but the ordeal is bittersweet for King Mute. He battles internally with the deeds done against his family, a lost love, and ruling a kingdom he cares little about.
Timothy Wolff is a clever wordsmith. One of my favorite lines was when Mute’s general speaks and breaks his “wagon of thought”. Wolff often breaks the fourth wall by speaking to the reader in a way that does not break the immersion of the story and often adds a good laugh, such as his references to ratings on Pleasant Reads.
The one-liners Wolff drops throughout are pure gold. I broke out the highlighter and found I might as well have used it for a bookmark.
"All that comes close to my heart, eventually ends up close to my dagger."
While Mute is not a hero to root for or a complete villain, he is relatable. He cares for only certain people, appreciates being an introvert, thinks far too highly of himself, and makes selfish decisions. But at least he is able to question himself from time to time. When he faces the supreme version of himself, it is time to face the music. Or the silence.
"Shame may fade for a time but never leaves completely. It lingers, waiting for us to be happy, then reminding us why we should never entertain such nonsense."
These lines broke me. And offer an example that Wolff’s prose isn’t always built on humor or to deliver clever zingers. His words dig at the parts of the soul we tried to escape from by diving into a book.
This was an excellent final installment in King Mute’s journey. The plot pushed me along, worried for an otherwise deplorable character that Wollf made so lovable. If you haven’t read anything by Timothy Wolff, you’re missing out. And if you plan to, get your highlighter ready.
A FanFiAddict Review
Part two took me right back into Mute’s deranged world. He rules over a kingdom now. Not sure who allowed that, but the ordeal is bittersweet for King Mute. He battles internally with the deeds done against his family, a lost love, and ruling a kingdom he cares little about.
Timothy Wolff is a clever wordsmith. One of my favorite lines was when Mute’s general speaks and breaks his “wagon of thought”. Wolff often breaks the fourth wall by speaking to the reader in a way that does not break the immersion of the story and often adds a good laugh, such as his references to ratings on Pleasant Reads.
The one-liners Wolff drops throughout are pure gold. I broke out the highlighter and found I might as well have used it for a bookmark.
"All that comes close to my heart, eventually ends up close to my dagger."
While Mute is not a hero to root for or a complete villain, he is relatable. He cares for only certain people, appreciates being an introvert, thinks far too highly of himself, and makes selfish decisions. But at least he is able to question himself from time to time. When he faces the supreme version of himself, it is time to face the music. Or the silence.
"Shame may fade for a time but never leaves completely. It lingers, waiting for us to be happy, then reminding us why we should never entertain such nonsense."
These lines broke me. And offer an example that Wolff’s prose isn’t always built on humor or to deliver clever zingers. His words dig at the parts of the soul we tried to escape from by diving into a book.
This was an excellent final installment in King Mute’s journey. The plot pushed me along, worried for an otherwise deplorable character that Wollf made so lovable. If you haven’t read anything by Timothy Wolff, you’re missing out. And if you plan to, get your highlighter ready.
A FanFiAddict Review
March 27, 2025
Really freakin good. Timothy’s writing is like crack cocaine. The narrator for the audiobook was perfect once again.
April 11, 2025
Just when you thought that one chosen by the Silent Almighty was intense, and odd, enough, here comes another, who is a "true believer." Packed with philosophical inner dialogue and sardonic insights, this continuation picks up right where the last left off without a hitch, adding the dilemma of cultists to the endless ambivalence of Lord Mute. Though clearly fiction, and borderline farcical, there is much threaded throughout the story that simply rings true of real life, and Lord Mute remains the perfect antihero.
December 3, 2025
Another stunning novella from Timothy Wolff, The Whisper that Replaced God Part II builds upon everything that I loved about the first book and gives us so much more. Before We Go Blog.
March 8, 2025
Wolff has established himself as an auto-buy author and, if he maintains his momentum and level of skill, is poised to write one of the best trilogies that the indie fantasy community has ever seen seen
March 22, 2025
A great follow up to a one of my surprise finds of last year, it was great being reunited with the unreliable Mute
I can also confirm that i did not DNF and make a request to rainforest (if you know you know)
I can also confirm that i did not DNF and make a request to rainforest (if you know you know)
November 30, 2025
Mute is an absolute killer character. Completely ridiculous yet gives us flashes of wisdom and brilliance. Lord Deaf has come to usurp the throne and he's convinced that Mute won't do a thing about it. Mute agrees but manages to sort things out, in a way. After all, there isn't room for two Kings.
This was a great follow up to The Whisper That Replaced God and I'm so looking forward to more Mute in books to come.
This was a great follow up to The Whisper That Replaced God and I'm so looking forward to more Mute in books to come.
Read
March 27, 2025yes
January 5, 2026
2.5 Stars★★✯☆☆
The continuation of Mute's story is more focused and less jarring, which I appreciated. The tone, humor, and execution of everything is a bit more clear and thus easier to follow but the twists that occur just happened rather than hit with satisfaction. Mute's action also make more sense, there's just simply a difficulty I have with caring about it at all. The beginning made me root for him but then his character broke off into the random psychopathy that lost a bit of his cynical charm.
The continuation of Mute's story is more focused and less jarring, which I appreciated. The tone, humor, and execution of everything is a bit more clear and thus easier to follow but the twists that occur just happened rather than hit with satisfaction. Mute's action also make more sense, there's just simply a difficulty I have with caring about it at all. The beginning made me root for him but then his character broke off into the random psychopathy that lost a bit of his cynical charm.
October 30, 2025
Another great novella starring Mute
This ongoing tale of Mute is a fun read. Mute is an interesting character and is an amusing narrator. Mute is King but bored so when another disciple of the Silent Almighty with similar powers of muting all around him shows up he has wildly fluctuating opinions on it. This Lord Deaf wants to be king and to kill Mute, really Mute is just tired.
Highly recommended, again Mute is a fantastic character and narrator. Not only is this a nicely done fantasy novella and character study its also at times just funny which is great.
This ongoing tale of Mute is a fun read. Mute is an interesting character and is an amusing narrator. Mute is King but bored so when another disciple of the Silent Almighty with similar powers of muting all around him shows up he has wildly fluctuating opinions on it. This Lord Deaf wants to be king and to kill Mute, really Mute is just tired.
Highly recommended, again Mute is a fantastic character and narrator. Not only is this a nicely done fantasy novella and character study its also at times just funny which is great.
March 23, 2025
This follow-up was a bit clearer in which direction the plot might go while still keeping me surprised at every turn. Definitely didn't expect that ending. :D
I loved every page and underlined a lot of quotes because the prose just spoke to me.
Mute might be the weirdest, most self-delusional POV character I have ever read from and I'm delighted to know this might not be the end of his story.
I loved every page and underlined a lot of quotes because the prose just spoke to me.
Mute might be the weirdest, most self-delusional POV character I have ever read from and I'm delighted to know this might not be the end of his story.
March 29, 2025
Solid continuation of Mutes story. Very much looking forward to the standalone volume coming soon in this world.
June 30, 2025
Excellent novella.
Love Lord Mute and his world.
Love Lord Mute and his world.
March 21, 2025
The Whisper that Replaced God Part II: Silent Almighty is another stellar story from the mind of author Timothy Wolff. Not only does this novella continue the unreliable retelling of Mute’s life, but emphasizes the growth of a master wordsmith.
Picking up 5 years after the events of The Whisper that Replaced God (a finalist in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship no less!), Silent Almighty shows us a different Mute, a bored Mute. Perhaps even a jaded Mute. With his reign being pretty much shit—cultists to the Silent God and drug addicts have run amok, bleeding the land dry and filling a ton of nooses—Mute’s kingdom and life are thrown into jeopardy when another of the Silent God’s faithfuls rises, Lord Deaf. In the most Mute-esque fashion, this novella skips a lot of the boring parts, showcasing Mute and Deaf in a power struggle and Mute eventually doing things of value. Finally.
As with Part I, this novella would be nothing if not for the amazing character that is Mute. Unreliable to a fault, bored out of his mind, definitely deranged, and, might I even call it, apathetic to living. Mute is such a compelling protagonist just because he’s so off the beaten path. I will say that this story’s older version of Mute isn’t as melodramatic as the one from Part I. He is a little wiser in some ways, but his humor is still on point, the humor being how oblivious and lost in his own world he truly is.
And in the same vein as Part I (again because Mute really doesn’t care too much about other characters), the rest of the cast is there. They are essentially plot movers with names, some of which Mute can never remember or care to. Lord Deaf obviously gets the most page time, and while he is a good foil for Mute, I do wish we would have seen him use the Silent God’s magic ala Mute. But that’s picking nits. We do get to see an important character in Mute’s life show up in this novella. It was an interesting scene to say the least.
“We are told that life is beautiful, though if that were the case, we wouldn’t have to lie to our children.”
The real standout of this novella is the writing. Wolff takes everything that made TWtRG work so well and kicked it up a level. The prose is just electric, practically a banger line in every paragraph. The man just has a gift for the written word! The meta jokes still exist, many hitting nicely. There is always a worry that a protagonist like Mute might overstay his welcome, but in Silent Almighty, that definitely is not the case and I think that stems from how Wolff handles his narration, propped up by the incredible turns of phrasing.
“The past is invincible. I have seen gods, monsters, all sorts of things in their glory. I have never seen yesterday crumble.”
The brevity of this story (all 75ish pages of it) makes it a palatable read in about an hour or two. The pace never slows because this story just stays as long as it is necessary. We do get two separate scenes of Mute using his “hush” magic, which I still think is super fun and unique. Again, with Mute’s distinct wit, when he uses his silence magic, the fun just funs.
And can we please give a GLORIOUS round of applause for this absolute fire cover??? The color scheme, the pose, the spread. Just dayum!
The Whisper that Replaced God Part II: Silent Almighty is just a great novella, one that can be read in a sitting and one that just makes you smile for silly reasons. I really do hope this isn’t the end of Mute’s journey (I know that he will return in a novel-length story decades later but it won’t be from his POV) as he is just fun to follow!
Picking up 5 years after the events of The Whisper that Replaced God (a finalist in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship no less!), Silent Almighty shows us a different Mute, a bored Mute. Perhaps even a jaded Mute. With his reign being pretty much shit—cultists to the Silent God and drug addicts have run amok, bleeding the land dry and filling a ton of nooses—Mute’s kingdom and life are thrown into jeopardy when another of the Silent God’s faithfuls rises, Lord Deaf. In the most Mute-esque fashion, this novella skips a lot of the boring parts, showcasing Mute and Deaf in a power struggle and Mute eventually doing things of value. Finally.
As with Part I, this novella would be nothing if not for the amazing character that is Mute. Unreliable to a fault, bored out of his mind, definitely deranged, and, might I even call it, apathetic to living. Mute is such a compelling protagonist just because he’s so off the beaten path. I will say that this story’s older version of Mute isn’t as melodramatic as the one from Part I. He is a little wiser in some ways, but his humor is still on point, the humor being how oblivious and lost in his own world he truly is.
And in the same vein as Part I (again because Mute really doesn’t care too much about other characters), the rest of the cast is there. They are essentially plot movers with names, some of which Mute can never remember or care to. Lord Deaf obviously gets the most page time, and while he is a good foil for Mute, I do wish we would have seen him use the Silent God’s magic ala Mute. But that’s picking nits. We do get to see an important character in Mute’s life show up in this novella. It was an interesting scene to say the least.
“We are told that life is beautiful, though if that were the case, we wouldn’t have to lie to our children.”
The real standout of this novella is the writing. Wolff takes everything that made TWtRG work so well and kicked it up a level. The prose is just electric, practically a banger line in every paragraph. The man just has a gift for the written word! The meta jokes still exist, many hitting nicely. There is always a worry that a protagonist like Mute might overstay his welcome, but in Silent Almighty, that definitely is not the case and I think that stems from how Wolff handles his narration, propped up by the incredible turns of phrasing.
“The past is invincible. I have seen gods, monsters, all sorts of things in their glory. I have never seen yesterday crumble.”
The brevity of this story (all 75ish pages of it) makes it a palatable read in about an hour or two. The pace never slows because this story just stays as long as it is necessary. We do get two separate scenes of Mute using his “hush” magic, which I still think is super fun and unique. Again, with Mute’s distinct wit, when he uses his silence magic, the fun just funs.
And can we please give a GLORIOUS round of applause for this absolute fire cover??? The color scheme, the pose, the spread. Just dayum!
The Whisper that Replaced God Part II: Silent Almighty is just a great novella, one that can be read in a sitting and one that just makes you smile for silly reasons. I really do hope this isn’t the end of Mute’s journey (I know that he will return in a novel-length story decades later but it won’t be from his POV) as he is just fun to follow!
December 1, 2025
Dark & Witty
⚠️ **SPOILER WARNING** ⚠️
Stop here if you wish to read the first novella
This brief review contains slight spoilers for the first novellas ending.
The second novella in, The Whisper That Replaced God series from Timothy Wolff.
⬇️ Review Below ⬇️
The story picks up some years after the first novella, King Mute rules, his kingdom failing, stuck in a period of sad stagnation with a drug known as “Dust” rampantly rising. I thought the opening scene was hilarious and really helped me understand Mute (MC) better. Originally, I wasn’t too attached to Mute from the first novella, but I came to realize he is just not well. He’s mentally unhinged. He’s delusional, irrational, and obsessive. Now that I understand that, I can enjoy his dark, covert cynical mindset.
Opening Scene:
—Thief on trial for theivery,
Thief: “The king’s law states that thieves meet the noose, regardless if it’s one copper or a hundred gold. Figured I may as well try for the gold.”
—King Mute mentally drifts from the trial as the proceedings happen until General Cyrus brings his attention back to the room.
General Cyrus: “My Lord?”
King Mute: “Oh, apologies. Um…just hang him, I suppose. Is his family here? Charge them one silver for the rope.”
This opening scene had me dying laughing and really set the tone for the rest of the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It was short, dark, and witty, and I just couldn’t help but root for this once despicable character as he rediscovers' purpose for living.
This book cemented Tim's writing for me. If his novellas are this unique, fun, and well written, then I can’t wait to see what his epic fantasy series, The Legacy Boulum is all about.
📖 Score: 4.4 / 5 🌟
⚠️ **SPOILER WARNING** ⚠️
Stop here if you wish to read the first novella
This brief review contains slight spoilers for the first novellas ending.
The second novella in, The Whisper That Replaced God series from Timothy Wolff.
⬇️ Review Below ⬇️
The story picks up some years after the first novella, King Mute rules, his kingdom failing, stuck in a period of sad stagnation with a drug known as “Dust” rampantly rising. I thought the opening scene was hilarious and really helped me understand Mute (MC) better. Originally, I wasn’t too attached to Mute from the first novella, but I came to realize he is just not well. He’s mentally unhinged. He’s delusional, irrational, and obsessive. Now that I understand that, I can enjoy his dark, covert cynical mindset.
Opening Scene:
—Thief on trial for theivery,
Thief: “The king’s law states that thieves meet the noose, regardless if it’s one copper or a hundred gold. Figured I may as well try for the gold.”
—King Mute mentally drifts from the trial as the proceedings happen until General Cyrus brings his attention back to the room.
General Cyrus: “My Lord?”
King Mute: “Oh, apologies. Um…just hang him, I suppose. Is his family here? Charge them one silver for the rope.”
This opening scene had me dying laughing and really set the tone for the rest of the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. It was short, dark, and witty, and I just couldn’t help but root for this once despicable character as he rediscovers' purpose for living.
This book cemented Tim's writing for me. If his novellas are this unique, fun, and well written, then I can’t wait to see what his epic fantasy series, The Legacy Boulum is all about.
📖 Score: 4.4 / 5 🌟
May 5, 2025
Brilliant like the first but with some different themes and an overall more serious tone.
I can't express how excited I was when I discovered there would be a part 2 to my favourite short read of last year. I rave about part 1 to everyone who wants to listen(or who can't get away from me because we're in a meeting 😈).
Now I remember plots as well as Mute remembers names(not very well) and I read this a little while ago but I remember being surprised by the more serious moments. Don't get me wrong, it's still completely bonkers and hilarious, but there were some very deep and dark thoughts from Mute, some of which resonates when you've been through bad times, be it loneliness, depression or something else. I quite enjoyed those moments, almost moreso than the silliness that made me laugh out loud on an airplane so the people next to me thought I was a true lunatic(maybe I am, I guess I have that too in common with Mute)
Honestly, just go read both of these books. You won't regret it, if you do, I'm not sure we can be friends(jk I don't like anybody regardless). It's brilliant, it's crazy, it's a must-read.
I caught this one in audio as I did the first since that's my main way of reading at the moment and of course the narrator did a fantastic job with this one as he did with the first so I recommend giving that a go if you're so inclined.
Top tier book and I can't wait to get to Wolff's main trilogy.
I can't express how excited I was when I discovered there would be a part 2 to my favourite short read of last year. I rave about part 1 to everyone who wants to listen(or who can't get away from me because we're in a meeting 😈).
Now I remember plots as well as Mute remembers names(not very well) and I read this a little while ago but I remember being surprised by the more serious moments. Don't get me wrong, it's still completely bonkers and hilarious, but there were some very deep and dark thoughts from Mute, some of which resonates when you've been through bad times, be it loneliness, depression or something else. I quite enjoyed those moments, almost moreso than the silliness that made me laugh out loud on an airplane so the people next to me thought I was a true lunatic(maybe I am, I guess I have that too in common with Mute)
Honestly, just go read both of these books. You won't regret it, if you do, I'm not sure we can be friends(jk I don't like anybody regardless). It's brilliant, it's crazy, it's a must-read.
I caught this one in audio as I did the first since that's my main way of reading at the moment and of course the narrator did a fantastic job with this one as he did with the first so I recommend giving that a go if you're so inclined.
Top tier book and I can't wait to get to Wolff's main trilogy.
April 14, 2025
“So I followed Mute into kingship… and now I need therapy.”
Look, I didn’t expect Silent Almighty to drag me back into Balewind and slap me across the face with existential dread—but here we are. I thought Mute becoming king would be all glory and revenge arcs. Instead? He’s bored, brooding, and somehow more emotionally unavailable than in the first book. Classic Mute.
Then comes Lord Deaf—because, apparently, silence wasn’t silent enough. This guy shows up like a cult leader crossed with a librarian and tells Mute, “Hey, let’s turn your kingdom into a whisper-only monastery where no one feels anything ever again.” And the scary part? It actually sounds kind of peaceful… until the blades come out.
There’s this scene where Mute stares at the sea, and I swear I could feel his soul screaming into the void. Same, buddy. Same.
Tim’s writing is sharp, unsettling, and somehow still hilarious in a “laugh so you don’t cry” kind of way. I came for gothic fantasy, and I stayed for the internal trauma and passive-aggressive divine silence. Highly recommend—just don’t expect comfort. Or answers. Or talking.
Look, I didn’t expect Silent Almighty to drag me back into Balewind and slap me across the face with existential dread—but here we are. I thought Mute becoming king would be all glory and revenge arcs. Instead? He’s bored, brooding, and somehow more emotionally unavailable than in the first book. Classic Mute.
Then comes Lord Deaf—because, apparently, silence wasn’t silent enough. This guy shows up like a cult leader crossed with a librarian and tells Mute, “Hey, let’s turn your kingdom into a whisper-only monastery where no one feels anything ever again.” And the scary part? It actually sounds kind of peaceful… until the blades come out.
There’s this scene where Mute stares at the sea, and I swear I could feel his soul screaming into the void. Same, buddy. Same.
Tim’s writing is sharp, unsettling, and somehow still hilarious in a “laugh so you don’t cry” kind of way. I came for gothic fantasy, and I stayed for the internal trauma and passive-aggressive divine silence. Highly recommend—just don’t expect comfort. Or answers. Or talking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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