Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise

(Titan Books, 2024)

Reviewed by Amirah Muhammad

A.C. Wise’s Out of the Drowning Deep is a compelling, science-fantasy murder mystery, where the mystery is less about the murder that brings a disparate cast of characters together, and more about the machinations of faith taken to its furthest point.

The Bastion, a secluded monastery which seems to have outlived its purpose, is the setting of the next conclave. Rather than choosing a new Pope, this conclave intends to gather religious leaders to hear the Pope’s radical proposal to abolish all established religions. The practicality of the Pope’s proposal pales when Scribe IV, an ostracised automaton who leads the Bastion’s staff, discovered he has been murdered. Scribe IV quickly realises he is at the mercy of the Sisters of the Drowned Deep, who want to conduct their own investigation which would surely send the Bastion and its inhabitants to a watery death. Desperate for help, and answers, Scribe IV sends a call out into the galaxy hoping for a response. The private investigator, Quin, and the divine assistance of the angel named Angel are Scribe IV’s only offers. Together, they mine the histories of the Bastion’s staff, as well as Quin’s personal history as a survivor of abuse and a recovering addict, to find out who murdered the Pope and why. When they find out the truth, the terrible cost of all their choices becomes clear.

Wise brings gods and mortals into devastating contact. Faith is messily entangled with power, yet both are persuasive motivators for the action—often, with one being mistaken for the other. The slippery balance of power is woven into the minutiae of the narrative. Whether it is Scribe IV’s imitations of petty human behaviour to assert his authority over his Bastion staff, or Angel’s respectful hesitance to read Quin’s mind, trust and cooperation between the main cast of characters hinges on the thin and thinning lines of what must remain unsaid. Yet, as the narrative develops, it becomes clear that painful memories hold the key to unlocking the case.

Much of Wise’s story is visceral. From the blood-curdling effects of the Sisters of the Drowning Deep descending on the Bastion, to Quin’s invasive encounters with his angel Murmuration, Wise’s prose gets under your skin. The prose is carried well by a convincing cast of characters, whose varying stakes in solving the Pope’s murder are stacked against the internal battles they face. Scribe IV navigates his need for usefulness and belonging; Angel wrestles with the choice between unlimited power and human connection; and Quin struggles to keep his sobriety. These battles are cached within the expansive confines of faith and doubt, of retrospection and anticipation, so much so that the characters are often caught in a stasis they cannot afford. It is fitting, then, that the colour that permeates the novella is green. The green is often sickly, queasy, like a bruise that won’t heal or a memory that won’t rest. The repetition of green signifies the discomfort lurking at the heart of the narrative; that faith itself may not be enough to compel justice, and that justice may not be possible without faith.

For a novel that deals with the ancient power of gods and angels, Wise has no trouble reducing them to human fragility. Every character is shown to be fragile, with their desires leaving them open to manipulation and to cruelty (both of themselves and others). For that, Wise has written a beautiful inquiry into the power of such fragility, packing big questions about faith, power, retribution, and corruption into a narrative that leaves you reeling.

Review from BSFA Review 25 - Download your copy here.