Santa Olivia is a story that spans 18 years in a small dystopian community recovering from a disease outbreak in Texas. The local population has been cut off from the US and imprisoned in their town by physical walls and the military.

Loup Garron, the child of a genetically engineered soldier, tries to blend in with the rest of society. Although she follows her brother’s advice to be careful and hide her talents, she is torn between acting “normal” and embracing her “gifts”. She allows her “siblings” at the orphanage to convince her to use her enhanced speed, strength, and lack of fear to impersonate the local saint by exacting vengeance on the military for their abuses against the population.

On her 18th birthday, Loup fully embraces her talents and avenges her brother’s wrongful death and takes up his mantle as a symbol of hope for the town.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I continued reading until 2 AM to finish the book.