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Dreamy, beautifully written queer science-fantasy novella, for fans of Becky Chambers and This is How You Lose the Time War.
Scribe IV is an obsolete automaton living on the Bastion, a secluded monastery in an abandoned corner of the galaxy. When the visiting Pope is found murdered, Scribe IV knows he has very little time before the terrifying Sisters of the Drowned Deep rise up to punish all the Bastion’s residents for their supposed crime.
Quin, a recovering drug addict turned private investigator, agrees to take the case. Traumatized by a
bizarre experience in his childhood, Quin repeatedly feeds his memories to his lover, the angel Murmuration. But fragmented glimpses of an otherworldly horror he calls the crawling dark continue to haunt his dreams.
Meanwhile in heaven, an angel named Angel hears Scribe IV’s prayer. Intrigued by the idea of solving a crime with mortals, xe descends to offer xyr divine assistance.
With the Drowned Sisters closing in, Scribe IV, Quin, and Angel race to find out who really murdered the Pope, and why. Quin’s missing memories may hold the key to the case – but is remembering worth what it will cost him?
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 3, 2024 -
Formats
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781803369839
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781803369839
- File size: 1599 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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July 15, 2024
The latest from Wise (Wendy, Darling) is more puzzling than fascinating. In a magic-infused near-future, three characters come together to solve the Pope’s murder: Scribe IV, a near-obsolete automaton whose official duty is to transcribe prayers; Quin, a trauma-laden recovering addict in a bleak relationship with an angel called (among many names) Murmuration; and Angel, another angel, nongendered, relatively youthful and naive, who is trying to help however xe can. In this world where gods and angels are not only real but more or less tangible and reachable by prayer, it can be hard for readers to see the forest for the trees. The expansive worldbuilding also encompasses many of the classic hallmarks of far-future science fiction, including references to mining on distant moons, robots of all shapes and sizes, space travel, and various other technological gizmos. While the story at the core of all of these disparate elements occasionally tugs at the heartstrings, there’s too much clutter to be able to truly appreciate it. This is a head-scratcher.
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