My Goodreads review: Testimony of Mute Things

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Testimony of Mute Things by Lois McMaster Bujold

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Any new Penric novella is a treat for Bujold fans, but this one may be particularly welcome -- at least, to those of us who have longed for a bit more action / intrigue than her more recent family-oriented offerings have had. (Those are excellent, too, of course -- but in different ways.) Set between the action of Penric's Fox & Masquerade In Lodi, this adventure revolves around a murder case during a difficult Temple conclave.

Young Penric is attending as an assistant to his superior, Princess-Archdivine Llewen of Martensbridge. He's expecting a mundane, even dull few days -- but when he becomes entangled in the bizarre murder of a corrupt Temple official, it will take all his & his demon Desdemona's skills to find the solution. This one offers a deep dive into Bujold's Five Gods magic system, as well as plenty of focus on Desdemona herself.

As with most of the Penric novellas, it's best to begin at the beginning of the series. Testimony is decidedly not for first-timers, & relies at least a little on the reader's familiarity with past adventures. At 151 pp, it is also good value for a novella.



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