Testimony of Mute Things

A Penric & Desdemona Novella

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

A contentious Temple conclave brings sorcerer Learned Penric and his demon Desdemona, in support of his superior Princess-Archdivine Llewen of Martensbridge, to the disputed Carpagamon border town of Occo. There, the uncanny pair will tangle with dangerous new intrigues and old histories, that will test their magical skills, their wits, and their hearts.

©2025 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

A Bujold novella is always a pleasure.

One of the best pieces of worldbuilding, characterization and sheer fun in fantasy. I love Penric and Des, plus all the rest of the wonderful cast.

Well done!

I like how Lois tied in the initial meeting of Master Stobrec to Penric that is mentioned in Penric’s Mission, and foreshadowing how he will ultimately get to Adria. As usual totally loved it!

Penric & Desdemona!!!! More of lmb’s marvelous prose

Grover Cleveland does a masterful job of capturing the masterful prose from an actual grand master syfy writer.

It is good to get more of the Princess Arch Divine.

Great Narration. The voices are so good.

This installment fits nicely between “Penric’s Fox” and “Penric’s Mission.”
“Testimony of Mute Things” gives us more reason to like the Princess, allows us to see a less jaded Pen, and it was fun getting a glimpse of someone who is later introduced in “Mira’s Last Dance.”

I hope the orphan boy Pen and his colleague take an interest in will show up as an adult in later books.

(There is another addition. But I prefer to reread “Masquerade In Lodi,” as a flashback read next to “The Orphans of Raspay.” “Lodi” is great. Although I feel that one eases us into some information that “Mission” dumps on us spectacularly. “Lodi” is mostly there to explain the people Pen recommends to the young pirate. So that is where I read it.)

Wonderful return to an earlier Pen & Des before the 4th book

Another murder mystery, mixed with a visit to another town where Pen’s boss at the time is one of 3 arbitrators for temple disputes. It jumps back in time after Penric’s Fox (book 3) and before Masquerade in Lodi (book 4). Wonderful story as always.