The Companions

In this debut novel set in a dystopian future where the dead can be uploaded and kept by the living, California is under quarantine due to a contagious virus. Sixteen-year-old Lilac, leased to a family of strangers, discovers she can defy the commands of her owners and embarks on a perilous journey to find the woman who killed her. As her rebellion unfolds, the narrative weaves through various perspectives—both human and companion—examining themes of love, revenge, and loneliness in a world where the dead have a haunting presence.