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psocopteraZoo City, Lauren Beukes, 2010. This one has been on my to-read list for quite awhile - it was actually the oldest remaining entry with a specific date-added. So there are a whole bunch that are just "2009", but then it went on on October 31st 2010, before it even came out in the US. I like to imagine the whole upper reaches of the list really excited to see this ancient entry finally get a nod, like when someone finally gets their Oscar in their old age.
Anyways, I enjoyed it. It's a riff on soulbonded pets, sort of like daemons (Philip Pullman gets acknowledged by name) only in this case they're just for criminals (or, well, "sinners" might be more accurate) and they're very not voluntary. (But are maybe a sort of second chance/last chance.) Mystery/thriller, there were some spots where I'm not sure the plot hung together, but I thought the Johannesburg setting was interesting, and I enjoyed seeing someone do an adult/dark/gritty take on the trope.
Anyways, I enjoyed it. It's a riff on soulbonded pets, sort of like daemons (Philip Pullman gets acknowledged by name) only in this case they're just for criminals (or, well, "sinners" might be more accurate) and they're very not voluntary. (But are maybe a sort of second chance/last chance.) Mystery/thriller, there were some spots where I'm not sure the plot hung together, but I thought the Johannesburg setting was interesting, and I enjoyed seeing someone do an adult/dark/gritty take on the trope.
