Fantasy Book Critic: Book review: Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Wick writes sci fi, medicine and zombies. He's also an ICU doctor. He has an amazing wife and baby girl and an adorable cat that keeps it all together.

Publisher: Demodocus Publishing (November 4, 2023) Length: 390 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardback. paperback Awards: SPSFC Finalist

Saint Elspeth takes place in a gritty, post-apocalyptic San Francisco where aliens once appeared in the sky, humanity panicked, and nukes flew. Now, twenty years later, the world’s still a mess, and Dr. Elspeth Darrow, overworked, under-supplied, and grieving the loss of her family, is trying to keep what’s left of her city alive, one patient at a time.

Elspeth is a great lead. She's smart, determined, and doing her best in impossible circumstances. The story follows her on a dangerous scavenger-hunt mission into the ruined city, where, instead of much needed supplies, she stumbles across a truth that changes everything: the aliens are back, and this time, they want to talk. Sort of.

There’s a lot going on in this book - first contact mystery, political tension between factions, scavenger missions, emotional flashbacks, and moments of high-stakes medical drama (some of which might make you squeamish if you're not into improvised surgery). Despite all that, the pacing (almost) never drags. There’s always something happening, and the tension rarely lets up.

That said, the structure could’ve used a little smoothing out. The story shifts between timelines and plot threads. Most of it is compelling, but some of the transitions feel a bit choppy. You may occasionally find yourself flipping back to check where (or when) you are. A tighter focus would make parts of it hit even harder, I think.

Still, Wecker nails the characters, especially Elspeth, and delivers a thought-provoking story about fear, power, and what it means to trust the unknown. The aliens (the Hila) are truly strange, and their biology is fascinating. The book handles the first contact element with creativity and just enough weirdness to keep it interesting without getting too abstract.

In the end, Saint Elspeth is a smart, intense and character-driven sci-fi story. It’s not perfect, but it’s a rewarding ride, especially if you enjoy character-driven stories with high stakes and alien mysteries. I'll definitely read more from Wecker.