tonya_with_an_o 's review for:

Afterland by Lauren Beukes

3.0

---

I've been enamored with Lauren Beukes since reading The Shining Girls six or seven years ago. When Broken Monsters came out, she was cemented into one of my top favorite authors, which is why I was thrilled to read an early copy of her latest, Afterland. In this book, we meet mother and son duo Cole and Miles, as they navigate across the US, in the aftermath of a man destroying virus. Miles is one of the few precious males left in the world, and everyone from the government to his scheming aunt Billie, wants a piece of him. His mother Cole will stop at nothing to protect him and get them both safely back to South Africa. I did enjoy this book, it was very fast paced and easy to read, in addition to being suffused with tension and trepidation throughout. The only thing that was lacking for me was Beukes' trademark fantastical-fever-dream-done-right style. I've grown used to her work making the supernatural seem more realistic than reality, and this book was a departure from that. Aside from a virus that wipes out most of the men in the world, there isn't really any fantasy/supernatural content at all. And I definitely get it, an author often wants to spread their proverbial wings and write other types of books. I understand that, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
3.75 stars

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Mulholland and Netgalley.