THE DOGS OF VIVO

385pp., illus., paperback, Picador Africa, Johannesburg, 2026

ISBN: 9781770109919

In the fictional town of Vivo, a well dressed and enigmatic stranger arrives to test the hearts of three twenty-something friends who spend their time dreaming of making it big while hanging out at a local bar.

"This brilliant novel is about hearts - pure ones, broken ones, poetic ones, flawed and kind ones. Also dogs - pure ones, broken ones, poetic ones, flawed and kind ones. To step into Vivo is to step into a place you've never been, but always wanted to live in." Paige Nick. author of Book People

"Sven Axelrad has done it again and created a magical, mystical, dark and delightful tale that is completely his own. Stepping into Vivo is like stepping into a shadowy, beautiful world where anything is possible  - even deals with the devil. I loved it." Shubnum Khan, author of The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil 

Sven Axelrad is the author of the novels Buried Treasure (2023) and God’s Pocket (2024), also set in the world of Vivo, and The Nicotine Gospel (2025). He lives in Durban.