Apostles of Mercy by Lindsay Ellis

Book Review

Martin Willoughby

This is an absorbing slow burner, but once it gets going, thrilling and compelling.

Cora Sabino has a direct link with the alien named Ampersand. They converse without anyone hearing them and Cora is slowly learning how to do so by exchanging thoughts and knowing each other intimately through that method. Ampersand has also upgraded her body so she can travel across the planet in minutes. They plan to leave Earth when they can, having decided humanity can’t be saved from the Superorganism that has already wiped out at least one other civilisation.

Before they do, there are things to fix. Other aliens for one thing.

Some are the same race as Ampersand, others are a related species who, up till now, have remained hidden and unseen by the population at large.

Not now. An investigation into deaths in the Philippines takes an uncomfortable turn for Ampersand and for Cora as they find themselves in danger, and not just from this unknown species.

In the background, the new US President is using information about the Superorganism to push through an upgrade of nuclear weaponry, no matter the cost. The CIA are now heavily involved in this investigation as they try to pry information about the aliens from other governments. By fair means or foul.

The story takes Cora and Ampersand, along with a small cast of others, through a tale of government deceit and obfuscation about the aliens on Earth. It covers themes such as abuse of power, what gives life purpose, as well as what it means to be human, by reflecting back at us from the alien species.

Big themes, but encased in a story that highlights them rather than forcing the ideas down your throat, allowing the reader to think about them long after the book has been put down.

It starts slowly as there are two previous novels in the series, and there is a lot of information to convey so you don’t get lost. That said, there are also chapters which go into a lot of detail, so if your preference is for short, sharp writing this may not be for you, though I would encourage you to try it.

Whatever individual faults there may be, and they will vary from reader to reader as we all have differing tastes, this is an excellent book that is worth the time to read.