In a future where mortals mingle withĀ theĀ gods inĀ deepĀ space, anĀ out-of-date automaton, a recovering addict, and an angel try to solveĀ theĀ pope's murder. Dreamy, beautifully written science-fantasy with a devastating queer love-story at its heart, for fans of Becky Chambers, Gideon the Ninth, and This is How You Lose the Time War.
Scribe IV is an obsolete automaton, peacefully whiling away his years onĀ theĀ Bastion, a secluded monastery in an abandoned corner ofĀ theĀ galaxy. But whenĀ theĀ visiting Pope is found murdered, Scribe IV knows he has very little time beforeĀ theĀ terrifying Sisters ofĀ theĀ DrownedĀ DeepĀ rise up to punishĀ theĀ Bastion's residents for their crime.
Quin, a recovering drug addict turned private investigator, picks up a scrambled signal fromĀ the Bastion and agrees to take the case. Traumatized by a bizarre experience in his childhood, Quin repeatedly feeds his memories to his lover,Ā theĀ angel Murmuration. But fragmented glimpses of an otherworldly horror he callsĀ theĀ crawling darkĀ continue to haunt his dreams.
Meanwhile in Heaven, an angel named Angel hears Scribe IV's prayer. Intrigued byĀ theĀ idea of solving a crime with mortals, xe descends to offer xer divine assistance (whether those mortals want it or not). WithĀ theĀ DrownedĀ Sisters closing in aroundĀ theĀ Bastion, Scribe IV, Quin, and Angel race to findĀ outĀ who really murderedĀ theĀ Pope, and why. Quin's missing memories may holdĀ theĀ key toĀ theĀ caseābut is remembering worth the price?