I read this novel as part of SPSFC4 semi finals round of judging. 

Note that the below review and associated star ranking here on StoryGraph does not necessarily reflect my judging or score for SPSFC4 semi finals. 

Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker is a dystopian SF novel set in a not-so-distant future where a species of aliens descend upon earth, unleashing nuclear war and far fewer humans on the planet. While the alien species don't directly attack humans, our penchant for hoarding resources, wealth, and munitions leads to a quick escalation of the human experience on the planet. For some time, folks live in bunkers, and eventually re-emerge. Our novel takes place approximately 20 years after humans re-emerge from their doomsday communal bunkers, where these heretofore never truly seen by human beings alien beings communicate that they're dying, need the help of the humans who decimated each other due to their arrival, in order to protect earth and humanity, or what's left of it, from an additional alien race who are aggressors, wiping out sentient species across the galaxy. 

In the author's note, Welker notes being inspired by Weir's Project Hail Mary, and Cixin's The Dark Forest. While I've not yet read the latter, the inspiration from the former and the ways in which humanity is forced to try to reconcile our communication style with beings who process information and communicate in ways vastly different than us is clear. 

I'm not the biggest fan of dystopian novels, as I feel that they highlight the worst in humanity, and when it comes to SF, I prefer to engage with stories that are more uplifting and include themes and tropes of found family, what is sometimes referred to as "cozy SF", etc. That said, I did quite enjoy this novel, and found the main characters compelling, relatable, and real. Our MC, Doctor Elspeth, has been running a community hospital in Neo San Francisco for the two decades since emerging from bunkers. She is worn down, tired, and who our alien species chooses to communicate their needs with. Some of the other characters are just as lovely, quirky, etc. Some of the character growth was really lovely to see, and some loose ends weren't tied up perhaps the way I would have most preferred, but in all, this is a very solid novel, and I may end up reading more from Welker!