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PODs #1
PODs
Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.
After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.
Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.
After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.
Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.
312 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2013
35 people are currently reading
9294 people want to read
About the author
Michelle K. Pickett
11 books894 followersNote: Though Michelle's blog entries are cross posted here, she does not frequent Goodreads regularly. The best way to contact her is through her
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Michelle is an award-winning YA author... but if you ask her who she really is, she'll answer, "I'm the wife of an amazing man, mom of four awesome kids, a reader of words, and writer of stories. I love candles and books, think garden gnomes are creepy and M&Ms are the perfect food (especially peanut butter). I live and write in Texas, but was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and will always think of the Great Lakes state as home."
Michelle is an award-winning YA author... but if you ask her who she really is, she'll answer, "I'm the wife of an amazing man, mom of four awesome kids, a reader of words, and writer of stories. I love candles and books, think garden gnomes are creepy and M&Ms are the perfect food (especially peanut butter). I live and write in Texas, but was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and will always think of the Great Lakes state as home."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
June 8, 2013
Yet another YA sci-fi dystopian that fails to deliver on all fronts. The writing is juvenile, the characters are annoying and lacking depth, and I found one character to be particularly offensive, poorly written, and dare I say, racist? I will go into details later.
And look at the cover! LOOK AT THE COVER! Who the fuck emerges from an emergency shelter with PERFECTLY COIFFED AND SAUSAGE-CURLED HAIR LIKE THAT?!
Ok, back to seriousness. First off, the premise of a good dystopian novel are realistic situations, a believable plot, and characters that act in a prudent, sensible manner. By realistic, I do not mean that we, the reader, should believe that the world is actually going to implode any minute now due to a comet/disease/nuclear warfare suddenly. I mean that the situation should be believably paced and plotted and written, as it unfolds within the book. Plausibility is an important factor, so that the reader believes what we are reading, even if the plot reaches beyond the boundaries of the imagination. This is not so in this book. I found the premise, the action, and the world building to be very much lacking in credibility. I also had tremendous dislike for the main character, Eva, as well.
The premise of the book is that there is a deadly virus spreading across the world, and a small number of people have been "randomly" selected for quarantine in a government-implemented POD system, where they will be isolated from the public and thus have a much greater probability of living. Seventeen year old Eva has been selected to join the rarefied few, and this is her story as she survives over a year in the PODS, then is reintroduced to the outside world, where even more disaster has struck.
Eva, to me, is a tremendously annoying character. The book is told from a first-person point of view, interspersed with Eva's incredibly bitchy internal monologue. For example, her thoughts on the overworked, tired, harangued nurse handling her care: "With medical personnel like her there’s no wonder we don’t have a cure for the virus. Cute.
Many readers have a problem with first-person POVs, I do not. However, the key to a tolerable first-person perspective is that the narrator is likeable, or becomes likeable as we come to know them. Eva is lacking in the likeability factor. She is supposedly super-intelligent, yet I feel she lacks enough common sense, rationality, and I find myself questioning her mental capacity...I truly believe that the government messed up in their selection. Her actions are not credible, her thoughts are all over the place, her personality contradicts itself, and it feels like the author bends her character to suit the plot, rather than making the character react accordingly to the plot itself. She freaks out as she leaves her parents for the safety of the PODs, but afterwards, she cries a little when she is released and really, gives them no more thought. And so on, and so forth.
The other characters are, in contrast, utterly forgettable. I still can't tell you who's who in the PODs, and I have no idea why she fell for David as she did, nor he for her. The rest of the characters in the PODs were similarly clichéd. High school teenage stereotypes? All present and accounted for!
"A boy with several facial piercings and tattoos; his blond hair was cut close to his head in a military style."
"...the stubble-faced, heavy-set boy sitting across from her looked up...he gave a disgusted sigh and returned to his computer."
...and so on, and so forth.
And here is where I get to the character whom I felt was portrayed in a racially ignorant manner. Jai Li. Jai Li? Seriously? It's like Cho Chang. There is no Chinese name equivalent for Jai Li. She is supposed to be intelligent, since she is selected to be in the group, after all. Yet, she speaks no English, despite having lived in the US, despite having a freaking Social Security number. I live in a community with a lot of Asian immigrants, even the most newly arrived know the most basic of words, but apparently, not our Jai Li. She is supposed to have been educated at a special Mandarin-speaking school and speaks Mandarin at home, which is supposed to explain her lack of English. That I can understand, but it doesn't explain her complete ignorance of the most basic of the English language. Here are some pretty idiotic examples of how she is stereotyped:
"She pointed at the milk carton sitting on the table.
'Milk,' I said slowly.
'Milk,' Jai Li repeated.
'Water.' I pointed to the glass in David’s hand as he walked by."
Seriously? Fucking seriously? Milk? Water? This intelligent girl grows up in California and doesn't know the words milk and water? How do you expect us to believe that?
And...
"'Kiss,' she said in her heavy accent.
"Yes, Jai Li, 'kiss,'" I whispered. My breathing was heavy and I felt my heart beating a staccato against my ribs.
'Love.' She grinned."
I don't even know what to say right now without launching into a raging rant on immigrant stereotypes, so I'll leave it at that.
Enough of characters, let's get to the actual world. It's set in today's world initially, but there is a panic as outbreak sets in. Incredibly, her parents try to hide the news story from her, and Eva doesn't know what's happening until she hears about it at school. Because, of course, in this day and age, kids always listen to their parents and they wouldn't attempt to get the news from the internet, their friends, their smartphones, or the millions of sources of news these days, especially when a deadly virus outbreak is spreading all over the damn world. And she's easily distracted by her parents' ploy at getting her away from the TV news by "family game night" and pizza. At seventeen. Yep.
After the outbreak breaks out, the world runs short on supplies, the stores run out of groceries, and as Eva gets picked to be in the POD, her mom takes her out on a shopping spree! Whee! They buy a super-expensive-but-cute hoodie and everything so she'd look, like, TOTALLY HOT in the PODs. Oh, and they order pizza...when the store shelves are empty of food, as people hoard supplies, as the world riots. Yeah, Pizza Hut will totally be up and running as the world ends. Such comforting news.
The post-apocalyptic world is not well-described at all. I didn't get a sense of urgency, of panic, of chaos. It's just the survivors setting themselves up in a cozy, safe little commune, and I didn't get a sense of anger, or displacement, or hopelessness, or danger. It's just business as usual. There's just no world-building at all, and I'm extremely disappointed in what we weren't given.
In summary, this was a thoroughly disappointing, badly characterized book with gaping plot holes. Not recommended.
And look at the cover! LOOK AT THE COVER! Who the fuck emerges from an emergency shelter with PERFECTLY COIFFED AND SAUSAGE-CURLED HAIR LIKE THAT?!
Ok, back to seriousness. First off, the premise of a good dystopian novel are realistic situations, a believable plot, and characters that act in a prudent, sensible manner. By realistic, I do not mean that we, the reader, should believe that the world is actually going to implode any minute now due to a comet/disease/nuclear warfare suddenly. I mean that the situation should be believably paced and plotted and written, as it unfolds within the book. Plausibility is an important factor, so that the reader believes what we are reading, even if the plot reaches beyond the boundaries of the imagination. This is not so in this book. I found the premise, the action, and the world building to be very much lacking in credibility. I also had tremendous dislike for the main character, Eva, as well.
The premise of the book is that there is a deadly virus spreading across the world, and a small number of people have been "randomly" selected for quarantine in a government-implemented POD system, where they will be isolated from the public and thus have a much greater probability of living. Seventeen year old Eva has been selected to join the rarefied few, and this is her story as she survives over a year in the PODS, then is reintroduced to the outside world, where even more disaster has struck.
Eva, to me, is a tremendously annoying character. The book is told from a first-person point of view, interspersed with Eva's incredibly bitchy internal monologue. For example, her thoughts on the overworked, tired, harangued nurse handling her care: "With medical personnel like her there’s no wonder we don’t have a cure for the virus. Cute.
Many readers have a problem with first-person POVs, I do not. However, the key to a tolerable first-person perspective is that the narrator is likeable, or becomes likeable as we come to know them. Eva is lacking in the likeability factor. She is supposedly super-intelligent, yet I feel she lacks enough common sense, rationality, and I find myself questioning her mental capacity...I truly believe that the government messed up in their selection. Her actions are not credible, her thoughts are all over the place, her personality contradicts itself, and it feels like the author bends her character to suit the plot, rather than making the character react accordingly to the plot itself. She freaks out as she leaves her parents for the safety of the PODs, but afterwards, she cries a little when she is released and really, gives them no more thought. And so on, and so forth.
The other characters are, in contrast, utterly forgettable. I still can't tell you who's who in the PODs, and I have no idea why she fell for David as she did, nor he for her. The rest of the characters in the PODs were similarly clichéd. High school teenage stereotypes? All present and accounted for!
"A boy with several facial piercings and tattoos; his blond hair was cut close to his head in a military style."
"...the stubble-faced, heavy-set boy sitting across from her looked up...he gave a disgusted sigh and returned to his computer."
...and so on, and so forth.
And here is where I get to the character whom I felt was portrayed in a racially ignorant manner. Jai Li. Jai Li? Seriously? It's like Cho Chang. There is no Chinese name equivalent for Jai Li. She is supposed to be intelligent, since she is selected to be in the group, after all. Yet, she speaks no English, despite having lived in the US, despite having a freaking Social Security number. I live in a community with a lot of Asian immigrants, even the most newly arrived know the most basic of words, but apparently, not our Jai Li. She is supposed to have been educated at a special Mandarin-speaking school and speaks Mandarin at home, which is supposed to explain her lack of English. That I can understand, but it doesn't explain her complete ignorance of the most basic of the English language. Here are some pretty idiotic examples of how she is stereotyped:
"She pointed at the milk carton sitting on the table.
'Milk,' I said slowly.
'Milk,' Jai Li repeated.
'Water.' I pointed to the glass in David’s hand as he walked by."
Seriously? Fucking seriously? Milk? Water? This intelligent girl grows up in California and doesn't know the words milk and water? How do you expect us to believe that?
And...
"'Kiss,' she said in her heavy accent.
"Yes, Jai Li, 'kiss,'" I whispered. My breathing was heavy and I felt my heart beating a staccato against my ribs.
'Love.' She grinned."
I don't even know what to say right now without launching into a raging rant on immigrant stereotypes, so I'll leave it at that.
Enough of characters, let's get to the actual world. It's set in today's world initially, but there is a panic as outbreak sets in. Incredibly, her parents try to hide the news story from her, and Eva doesn't know what's happening until she hears about it at school. Because, of course, in this day and age, kids always listen to their parents and they wouldn't attempt to get the news from the internet, their friends, their smartphones, or the millions of sources of news these days, especially when a deadly virus outbreak is spreading all over the damn world. And she's easily distracted by her parents' ploy at getting her away from the TV news by "family game night" and pizza. At seventeen. Yep.
After the outbreak breaks out, the world runs short on supplies, the stores run out of groceries, and as Eva gets picked to be in the POD, her mom takes her out on a shopping spree! Whee! They buy a super-expensive-but-cute hoodie and everything so she'd look, like, TOTALLY HOT in the PODs. Oh, and they order pizza...when the store shelves are empty of food, as people hoard supplies, as the world riots. Yeah, Pizza Hut will totally be up and running as the world ends. Such comforting news.
The post-apocalyptic world is not well-described at all. I didn't get a sense of urgency, of panic, of chaos. It's just the survivors setting themselves up in a cozy, safe little commune, and I didn't get a sense of anger, or displacement, or hopelessness, or danger. It's just business as usual. There's just no world-building at all, and I'm extremely disappointed in what we weren't given.
In summary, this was a thoroughly disappointing, badly characterized book with gaping plot holes. Not recommended.
June 4, 2013
DNF
Reasons why I couldn't finish this novel
1. The world building made absolutely no sense. There is a deadly virus but the virus has no name. This is ridiculous. Our society can not stand to leave things unnamed; we name our pets, parks, buildings, and even different strains of the flu (e.g. Swine Flu, Spanish Influenza) there is no way that doctors or society at large would have been okay with leaving this unnamed, especially not when it is causing the end of the world!
2. The POD system is not explained. I wasn't sure why the POD system existed, why it was commissioned, who made it, who paid for it. It just seemed really strange that this system is underground and no one had heard about it before.
3. The selection "lottery" for the PODS was dumb. They wanted only young people who were good at science to be in the PODS. Some of the brightest minds were not college educated but rather self taught. If you have a bunch of book smart people trying to lead the future it's going to fail because they tend to not have any common sense. Just saying.
4. The main character said she was sad but never showed that she was. The entire world is falling apart and this girl is leaving behind her best friend and her parents yet I never got any shred of emotion from her. I felt so detached when I was reading.
Overall, this novel had an interesting premise but it just didn't deliver. I was unable to understand the world building or connect with the main character so I stopped reading.
Reasons why I couldn't finish this novel
1. The world building made absolutely no sense. There is a deadly virus but the virus has no name. This is ridiculous. Our society can not stand to leave things unnamed; we name our pets, parks, buildings, and even different strains of the flu (e.g. Swine Flu, Spanish Influenza) there is no way that doctors or society at large would have been okay with leaving this unnamed, especially not when it is causing the end of the world!
2. The POD system is not explained. I wasn't sure why the POD system existed, why it was commissioned, who made it, who paid for it. It just seemed really strange that this system is underground and no one had heard about it before.
3. The selection "lottery" for the PODS was dumb. They wanted only young people who were good at science to be in the PODS. Some of the brightest minds were not college educated but rather self taught. If you have a bunch of book smart people trying to lead the future it's going to fail because they tend to not have any common sense. Just saying.
4. The main character said she was sad but never showed that she was. The entire world is falling apart and this girl is leaving behind her best friend and her parents yet I never got any shred of emotion from her. I felt so detached when I was reading.
Overall, this novel had an interesting premise but it just didn't deliver. I was unable to understand the world building or connect with the main character so I stopped reading.
June 11, 2013
I am at a loss for words at describing how awful PODs is...
April 28, 2013
5 glowing, sparkling stars for this one!
I can't even fully explain how I feel about this book. I had been waiting for it for so long and then today it shows up at my door. I completely spent my ENTIRE Saturday devouring every...single....word!
I'm not sure if I've ever read a book that made me feel so many different emotions at once. Sadness, anxiety, excitement, helplessness, and so many more. From one page to the next I had no idea what would happen. The crazy part was imagining myself in a situation like Eva was in. What would happen if a virus was killing everyone? I seriously doubt I would be as strong as she was.
Eva was able to bring people together and fight for what she wanted. She was smart, caring, and determined. She took a horrible situation and tried to find a glimmer of hope. I honestly couldn't imagine any character being more perfect for this story. To her, the hope Eva was able to hold on to ended up being David. OMG, David. I loved how their relationship bloomed. It wasn't "instant love" which is so common in books these days. They lived with several others in their little world and their friendship gradually progressed into something more.
And, speaking of their world, I absolutely adored every character Michelle introduces us to. This book isn't just about a romance, or two people fighting some battle. This book allows us to get to know several, amazing, diverse characters who all grab your heart (even a few who have attitude issues). They all held such an important place in the story.
I had tears in my eyes so many times in this story because I really felt the connection these characters shared. They were truly like a family.
Now for the plot. Holy crap! First, I think somewhere in all of us we worry about something like this happening. A virus takes over and then what happens? Well, in this world, people are selected to move into PODs. These PODs are to be used for a period of time till the virus is no longer a threat. Sounds simple enough, but so much goes into pulling that off. We get to see into that world and what it would take to remove people from a harsh environment and place them somewhere a virus can't reach. Michelle did a flippin' fantastic job giving us each piece of this puzzle. We know each step Eva has to take and get a clear picture of what POD life would be like.
I won't go into details about what happens after they are removed from the POD but O-M-G! The action never stops.
This book seriously needs to be a movie. I could picture every detail and already see it playing out on screen. PLEASE SOMEONE MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
I am now stalking Michelle to get updates on everything she writes. I recommend this book to EVERYONE! Beware of loss of sleep while reading it, and nightmares after it is over.
I can't even fully explain how I feel about this book. I had been waiting for it for so long and then today it shows up at my door. I completely spent my ENTIRE Saturday devouring every...single....word!
I'm not sure if I've ever read a book that made me feel so many different emotions at once. Sadness, anxiety, excitement, helplessness, and so many more. From one page to the next I had no idea what would happen. The crazy part was imagining myself in a situation like Eva was in. What would happen if a virus was killing everyone? I seriously doubt I would be as strong as she was.
Eva was able to bring people together and fight for what she wanted. She was smart, caring, and determined. She took a horrible situation and tried to find a glimmer of hope. I honestly couldn't imagine any character being more perfect for this story. To her, the hope Eva was able to hold on to ended up being David. OMG, David. I loved how their relationship bloomed. It wasn't "instant love" which is so common in books these days. They lived with several others in their little world and their friendship gradually progressed into something more.
And, speaking of their world, I absolutely adored every character Michelle introduces us to. This book isn't just about a romance, or two people fighting some battle. This book allows us to get to know several, amazing, diverse characters who all grab your heart (even a few who have attitude issues). They all held such an important place in the story.
I had tears in my eyes so many times in this story because I really felt the connection these characters shared. They were truly like a family.
Now for the plot. Holy crap! First, I think somewhere in all of us we worry about something like this happening. A virus takes over and then what happens? Well, in this world, people are selected to move into PODs. These PODs are to be used for a period of time till the virus is no longer a threat. Sounds simple enough, but so much goes into pulling that off. We get to see into that world and what it would take to remove people from a harsh environment and place them somewhere a virus can't reach. Michelle did a flippin' fantastic job giving us each piece of this puzzle. We know each step Eva has to take and get a clear picture of what POD life would be like.
I won't go into details about what happens after they are removed from the POD but O-M-G! The action never stops.
This book seriously needs to be a movie. I could picture every detail and already see it playing out on screen. PLEASE SOMEONE MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
I am now stalking Michelle to get updates on everything she writes. I recommend this book to EVERYONE! Beware of loss of sleep while reading it, and nightmares after it is over.
May 23, 2013
Recieved an ARC from publisher in exchange for an honest review
You guys.......I TOTALLY LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! I really can't explain it, this was one of those kind of books that I will never forget! This book grabbed me from the first and did not let me go till the very last word and I loved every second of it!!! Michelle Pickett did her thing and is an author that other authors should be keeping an eye on because she is coming up strong. Yeah, she is awesome so she will be seeing quite a few of these lol
Anyway, back to the book....PODs is about a sixteen year old girl named Eva, who is chosen to live in you guessed it a POD. An unknown virus has broken out and is killing people that come in contact with it, so the government has come up with a plan to pick people at random to live in a pod in hopes to save the human race but of course with the government there is always a catch that goes left unsaid because only the ages of 12-24(somwhere around there) are the only ones that were chosen to live in the pods, MESSED UP RIGHT?!!?? I sooo could not imagine only one person out of my family being picked and have to live with knowing that the rest of my family will die. I would totally go BAT CRAZY. Yeah, this kind of crazy.
GIFSoup
"Only seventy thousand of us will live. Twenty thousand have already been chosen. That leaves fifty thousand openings for the raffle winners. The rest of us will be left to deal with the virus, left to die"
Eva is forced to say goodbye to her family and everything she knows to live with 10 random people for a year. Just when Eva thinks nothing can go right after this she meets David. Even though things are rough living in the pods Eva starts to make friends and experience love for the first time. But when the doors finally open after a year and a half later Eva is forced again to seperate from the only person she has left and has come to love over the past year and live the way the government wants them to live. Eva is determined to find David, but she soon finds out that he has left the government compound to seek out Eva. Will Eva ever find David? An is he infected? You will have to find out JUNE 4th!!
Final thought: Like I said I really enjoyed this book mainly because I connected with the main character. She could hold her own and I really liked that about her :) The only negative thing I could say about it was I wish there were more moments where David and Eva got to know each other more, I feel like there wasn't enough so I do believe David and Eva's relationship was an Insta-love one, Maybe book two ehh??? I also wanted more description on the world after the pods I feel like there should have been more. Other thna that it was soo good :)
Rating: Lovin the POD
4/5 Rotten Apples
Read More Of My Reviews HERE!
You guys.......I TOTALLY LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! I really can't explain it, this was one of those kind of books that I will never forget! This book grabbed me from the first and did not let me go till the very last word and I loved every second of it!!! Michelle Pickett did her thing and is an author that other authors should be keeping an eye on because she is coming up strong. Yeah, she is awesome so she will be seeing quite a few of these lol
Anyway, back to the book....PODs is about a sixteen year old girl named Eva, who is chosen to live in you guessed it a POD. An unknown virus has broken out and is killing people that come in contact with it, so the government has come up with a plan to pick people at random to live in a pod in hopes to save the human race but of course with the government there is always a catch that goes left unsaid because only the ages of 12-24(somwhere around there) are the only ones that were chosen to live in the pods, MESSED UP RIGHT?!!?? I sooo could not imagine only one person out of my family being picked and have to live with knowing that the rest of my family will die. I would totally go BAT CRAZY. Yeah, this kind of crazy.
GIFSoup
"Only seventy thousand of us will live. Twenty thousand have already been chosen. That leaves fifty thousand openings for the raffle winners. The rest of us will be left to deal with the virus, left to die"
Eva is forced to say goodbye to her family and everything she knows to live with 10 random people for a year. Just when Eva thinks nothing can go right after this she meets David. Even though things are rough living in the pods Eva starts to make friends and experience love for the first time. But when the doors finally open after a year and a half later Eva is forced again to seperate from the only person she has left and has come to love over the past year and live the way the government wants them to live. Eva is determined to find David, but she soon finds out that he has left the government compound to seek out Eva. Will Eva ever find David? An is he infected? You will have to find out JUNE 4th!!
Final thought: Like I said I really enjoyed this book mainly because I connected with the main character. She could hold her own and I really liked that about her :) The only negative thing I could say about it was I wish there were more moments where David and Eva got to know each other more, I feel like there wasn't enough so I do believe David and Eva's relationship was an Insta-love one, Maybe book two ehh??? I also wanted more description on the world after the pods I feel like there should have been more. Other thna that it was soo good :)
Rating: Lovin the POD
4/5 Rotten Apples
Read More Of My Reviews HERE!
May 22, 2013
PODs is one of the most AMAZING books I have read. I normally don't read books in this genre but lately I have been very drawn to them and I have to say that I am so glad I read this book. I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone because Michelle Pickett is amazing and her writing just captures you right from page one and keeps you till the very end. Just thinking about the world ending and having to get picked by the government as to whether or not you will live or die is creepy because you never know but it could happen in real life.
Eva is a chosen one. She has been chosen to live in the governments PODs away from the virus that is killing everyone. Alone with no family or friends she is in the POD and she meets David. They become friends and their friendship grows into something more. David is excited he and Eva are finally going to get out of the PODs and maybe they can live a happy life together. But things are not what they seem and when the government opens the PODs and realizes that the virus did not die with the people because it mutated and has caused all the people to become monsters.
Holy Hades what are they going to do? They can't shut the PODs back up because everyone has left the safety of them and everyone is left to fend for themselves. David is determined to save and protect Eva and the two of them decide to stay in empty deserted PODs until they figure out what to do. They will have to fight to survive and stay together but will that be enough? Will the monsters get them? Will they get the virus? What is to come..........
Eva is a chosen one. She has been chosen to live in the governments PODs away from the virus that is killing everyone. Alone with no family or friends she is in the POD and she meets David. They become friends and their friendship grows into something more. David is excited he and Eva are finally going to get out of the PODs and maybe they can live a happy life together. But things are not what they seem and when the government opens the PODs and realizes that the virus did not die with the people because it mutated and has caused all the people to become monsters.
Holy Hades what are they going to do? They can't shut the PODs back up because everyone has left the safety of them and everyone is left to fend for themselves. David is determined to save and protect Eva and the two of them decide to stay in empty deserted PODs until they figure out what to do. They will have to fight to survive and stay together but will that be enough? Will the monsters get them? Will they get the virus? What is to come..........
May 15, 2013
I really, really, really enjoyed this book! I don't even know how to start this review. Here goes...
Eva is sent to live in the PODs for a year while they try to contain the virus above. While in the PODs, she gets to know her roommates well and even finds love.
There were parts of the book that made me feel nothing but pain for Eva and her friends. They were basically torn away from their family because of a lottery, and are left to survive on their own. Jumping into a POD full of strangers wasn’t easy on any of them. Eva had to be my favorite, though, and I am not just saying that because she is the main character. She knew how to take an uncomfortable situation and turn it around. She took everything that was handed to her with no fear (or at least she didn’t show it) and just accepted that everything around her, was indeed happening. She cracked jokes and even gave her POD mates nick names upon arrival. Eva helped everyone out without them even asking. She took the little she had to work with and made the best of it. I laughed out loud so many times at some of the things that ran through her head. Honestly, all the characters were so much fun to read and were all well written.
There is a romance that grows between Eva and her POD mate named, David. Which I knew was coming because of the blurb, but I did not expect it to be as romantic as it was. So prepare yourself because this book has a ton of romance in it. I LOVED IT! With everything that happens I did not think the romance would play such a big part, but I am so happy it did. Once Eva and her friends are let out from the PODs, they are all each other have. They have bonded so much that leaving the PODs broke my heart, not just theirs. I felt every emotion they did.
David has become everything to Eva, and Eva to David. Their romance is not instant at all. I felt like I was sitting there in the PODs with them waiting for them to realize that obviously they care a lot about each other and need to be together.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I did have a couple of issues and questions left unanswered. I can’t really share much because I don’t want to share any spoilers, but I had questions about Eva’s parents and everyone’s families in the PODs. I know we’re just supposed to assume the worse, but it was never brought up again. I would have liked a bit more on the subject towards the end.
Their friend Josh, who lived in the PODs with them, what happened to him?
Another issue I had was (and I can’t believe I am going to say this) that there were WAY TOO many make out scenes. After the third or fourth one it felt repetitive, and I actually found myself skipping through the scene because I already knew the outcome. I loved David and Eva, and loved that the romance was a big part of this book, but some of those scenes were unnecessary; to me at least.
Aside from all that, I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars! It’s easy to follow and reads at a great pace. The awesome characters in it made it super fun to read, and it has plenty of suspense and mystery. It’s also unpredictable, and once you’re pulled into the story it’s unputdownable! The ending was perfect! It’s not a cliffhanger, but not a completely ending either, where there is no room for a second book. It can be either a standalone, or can have a sequel. Guess we will have to wait and find out.
A Good Choice for Reading!
Eva is sent to live in the PODs for a year while they try to contain the virus above. While in the PODs, she gets to know her roommates well and even finds love.
There were parts of the book that made me feel nothing but pain for Eva and her friends. They were basically torn away from their family because of a lottery, and are left to survive on their own. Jumping into a POD full of strangers wasn’t easy on any of them. Eva had to be my favorite, though, and I am not just saying that because she is the main character. She knew how to take an uncomfortable situation and turn it around. She took everything that was handed to her with no fear (or at least she didn’t show it) and just accepted that everything around her, was indeed happening. She cracked jokes and even gave her POD mates nick names upon arrival. Eva helped everyone out without them even asking. She took the little she had to work with and made the best of it. I laughed out loud so many times at some of the things that ran through her head. Honestly, all the characters were so much fun to read and were all well written.
There is a romance that grows between Eva and her POD mate named, David. Which I knew was coming because of the blurb, but I did not expect it to be as romantic as it was. So prepare yourself because this book has a ton of romance in it. I LOVED IT! With everything that happens I did not think the romance would play such a big part, but I am so happy it did. Once Eva and her friends are let out from the PODs, they are all each other have. They have bonded so much that leaving the PODs broke my heart, not just theirs. I felt every emotion they did.
David has become everything to Eva, and Eva to David. Their romance is not instant at all. I felt like I was sitting there in the PODs with them waiting for them to realize that obviously they care a lot about each other and need to be together.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I did have a couple of issues and questions left unanswered. I can’t really share much because I don’t want to share any spoilers, but I had questions about Eva’s parents and everyone’s families in the PODs. I know we’re just supposed to assume the worse, but it was never brought up again. I would have liked a bit more on the subject towards the end.
Their friend Josh, who lived in the PODs with them, what happened to him?
Another issue I had was (and I can’t believe I am going to say this) that there were WAY TOO many make out scenes. After the third or fourth one it felt repetitive, and I actually found myself skipping through the scene because I already knew the outcome. I loved David and Eva, and loved that the romance was a big part of this book, but some of those scenes were unnecessary; to me at least.
Aside from all that, I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars! It’s easy to follow and reads at a great pace. The awesome characters in it made it super fun to read, and it has plenty of suspense and mystery. It’s also unpredictable, and once you’re pulled into the story it’s unputdownable! The ending was perfect! It’s not a cliffhanger, but not a completely ending either, where there is no room for a second book. It can be either a standalone, or can have a sequel. Guess we will have to wait and find out.
A Good Choice for Reading!
September 16, 2015
Ugh.
The starting chapters were good, I'll give the book its credit. But the rest was.. :( :(
The romance totally ruined the book for me. The author's focus was not on the main plot. Man, I really liked the synopsis.. but the book: not satisfied :/
The MC, Eva swooned over David like alot (and I hate such excessive swooning characters).
The starting chapters were good, I'll give the book its credit. But the rest was.. :( :(
The romance totally ruined the book for me. The author's focus was not on the main plot. Man, I really liked the synopsis.. but the book: not satisfied :/
The MC, Eva swooned over David like alot (and I hate such excessive swooning characters).
June 23, 2013
Four stars: A gripping dystopian that kept me turning the pages.
Eva senses something isn’t quite right when she comes home to find her parents whispering and hurriedly trying to shut off the television. They even order pizza on a Tuesday night and insist on a family game night. The next day, Eva learns the reason for their strange behavior. There is a world wide pandemic, a virus is spreading and killing and there is no known cure. This could be the end of civilization. The president informs the country that the U.S. has some underground habitats that will keep a select part of the population safe until the virus dies or a cure is found. Eva’s phone rings and she is chosen to live in the PODs. Will Eva ever see her parents again? Will she survive the virus? Will the world’s population be wiped out?
What I Liked:
*This is a chilling dystopian that terrifies because it could really happen. Today in our modern world, it seems there is a new virus or bacteria that ravages through a population killing hundreds before it is stopped. So the likelihood of a worldwide viral killing pandemic isn’t too hard to believe. I enjoyed the sense of realism this book brought throughout the majority of the story. The panic of a being infected, the pain of parting with loved ones possibly for good, the frightening prospect of quarantine and living underground for a year and then resurfacing to find an entirely new world. This book has a lot to offer!
*I enjoyed the many emotions that I felt while reading this. The terror, and then the pain and sadness of goodbyes, and then the idea of being cooped up in a small space for over a year with strangers, and finally the happiness at the connections and a blooming romance.
*This book is fast paced and it doesn’t let go until you reach the end. This is one of those reads that once I started I couldn’t put down because the story line is so gripping. If you haven’t read a good dystopian in awhile, definitely consider this one.
*World building.... normally I would complain about the lack of information in this one such as wanting to know more about the virus, the symptoms, and what was happening in the other PODs and how the government managed to organize and pull everything off. However, the author utilizes a strict first person view point, so basically I knew only as much information as Eva. It made it far more realistic to be blinded because in reality, an average citizen would be completely in the dark when it came to big government decisions and all that. Not to mention, no one would have a clear idea of what happened after the plague because lines of communication have ceased. So I fumbled in the dark right along with Eva and I was okay with that.
*The romance is simple and believable. Eva falls in love with one of her POD mates despite her repeated attempts to tell herself it is not a good idea to get in involved with a roommate. The romance unfolds realistically when two people after living together for months cut off from the world aside from the other seven roommates. It isn’t an insta love and there are no love triangles. It is simple and straightforward. Granted, there are a few bumps in the road and you agonize wondering how it will all work out.
*I liked that this book draws to a satisfactory conclusion. There is not a cliffhanger surprisingly, but the author does leave plenty of unanswered questions and you are left wondering how society will rebuild.
And The Not So Much:
*My biggest complaint is that the synopsis provided pretty much gives away the entire plot. There aren’t really any huge surprises. So I was a bit disappointed that I knew how things were going to pan out. Best advice, if you can avoid reading the synopsis before reading this, do so, it will make the adventure much more fun!
*While I was okay with the lack of details as far as the world building goes because I appreciated that I was thrown in blind just like the main character was under the circumstances, but I thought that there could have been a bit more details on the virus such as a more thorough description of the symptoms and how the people succumbed. I also thought there should have been better descriptions as far as the PODs went. I was never clear on how big the individual sub-PODs were, how many rooms, and the complete layout. For instance, I found out later in the book there was a separate laundry room, and storage room. Having Eva take a full tour and have each room detailed would have made it better.
*Once you hit the final quarter of the book, things take a bit of a turn and it loses believability. The PODs open and it turns out there are survivors topside as well as mutant infected who are basically like zombies. Even though it was scary and fun, I was a bit sad that it wasn’t as realistic. Furthermore, I wished there had been more information on the surviving population who weren’t in the PODs. How did they manage to not get the plague? What was their existence like?
*Finally, the book ends very abruptly. David and Eva are in a fight for their lives and all of a sudden everything is okay and there is a sort of happily ever after. While I appreciated that I got a satisfactory conclusion, I wished that it hadn’t been so quick. It felt a little abrupt in comparison with the pacing of the rest of the book. This is not a major factor just a personal observation.
PODs is a gripping and terrifying read that explores the possibilities of a world wide killing pandemic. It is a frightening read as you ponder what you would do if you were forced to choose between staying with your family or heading to the safety of a POD knowing your family will likely die. If you enjoy a fast paced dystopian with a more realistic storyline, definitely give this one a go. It is one of the best dystopians I have read to date in 2013.
Favorite Quotations:
“None of us were typical teenagers anymore---that reality had ended the day we’d gotten on those grimy yellow school buses. Leaving our families, our friends---everyone we’d ever known and loved---was hard enough. Leaving them to die was quite different. We'd had to grow up quickly. We weren’t at summer camp; we were fighting to stay alive---to keep the human race from extinction. That was a lot to bear.”
“Another reason I knew it wasn’t a crush---a crush is like a match to gasoline; it flares quickly.”
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Around the World Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Eva senses something isn’t quite right when she comes home to find her parents whispering and hurriedly trying to shut off the television. They even order pizza on a Tuesday night and insist on a family game night. The next day, Eva learns the reason for their strange behavior. There is a world wide pandemic, a virus is spreading and killing and there is no known cure. This could be the end of civilization. The president informs the country that the U.S. has some underground habitats that will keep a select part of the population safe until the virus dies or a cure is found. Eva’s phone rings and she is chosen to live in the PODs. Will Eva ever see her parents again? Will she survive the virus? Will the world’s population be wiped out?
What I Liked:
*This is a chilling dystopian that terrifies because it could really happen. Today in our modern world, it seems there is a new virus or bacteria that ravages through a population killing hundreds before it is stopped. So the likelihood of a worldwide viral killing pandemic isn’t too hard to believe. I enjoyed the sense of realism this book brought throughout the majority of the story. The panic of a being infected, the pain of parting with loved ones possibly for good, the frightening prospect of quarantine and living underground for a year and then resurfacing to find an entirely new world. This book has a lot to offer!
*I enjoyed the many emotions that I felt while reading this. The terror, and then the pain and sadness of goodbyes, and then the idea of being cooped up in a small space for over a year with strangers, and finally the happiness at the connections and a blooming romance.
*This book is fast paced and it doesn’t let go until you reach the end. This is one of those reads that once I started I couldn’t put down because the story line is so gripping. If you haven’t read a good dystopian in awhile, definitely consider this one.
*World building.... normally I would complain about the lack of information in this one such as wanting to know more about the virus, the symptoms, and what was happening in the other PODs and how the government managed to organize and pull everything off. However, the author utilizes a strict first person view point, so basically I knew only as much information as Eva. It made it far more realistic to be blinded because in reality, an average citizen would be completely in the dark when it came to big government decisions and all that. Not to mention, no one would have a clear idea of what happened after the plague because lines of communication have ceased. So I fumbled in the dark right along with Eva and I was okay with that.
*The romance is simple and believable. Eva falls in love with one of her POD mates despite her repeated attempts to tell herself it is not a good idea to get in involved with a roommate. The romance unfolds realistically when two people after living together for months cut off from the world aside from the other seven roommates. It isn’t an insta love and there are no love triangles. It is simple and straightforward. Granted, there are a few bumps in the road and you agonize wondering how it will all work out.
*I liked that this book draws to a satisfactory conclusion. There is not a cliffhanger surprisingly, but the author does leave plenty of unanswered questions and you are left wondering how society will rebuild.
And The Not So Much:
*My biggest complaint is that the synopsis provided pretty much gives away the entire plot. There aren’t really any huge surprises. So I was a bit disappointed that I knew how things were going to pan out. Best advice, if you can avoid reading the synopsis before reading this, do so, it will make the adventure much more fun!
*While I was okay with the lack of details as far as the world building goes because I appreciated that I was thrown in blind just like the main character was under the circumstances, but I thought that there could have been a bit more details on the virus such as a more thorough description of the symptoms and how the people succumbed. I also thought there should have been better descriptions as far as the PODs went. I was never clear on how big the individual sub-PODs were, how many rooms, and the complete layout. For instance, I found out later in the book there was a separate laundry room, and storage room. Having Eva take a full tour and have each room detailed would have made it better.
*Once you hit the final quarter of the book, things take a bit of a turn and it loses believability. The PODs open and it turns out there are survivors topside as well as mutant infected who are basically like zombies. Even though it was scary and fun, I was a bit sad that it wasn’t as realistic. Furthermore, I wished there had been more information on the surviving population who weren’t in the PODs. How did they manage to not get the plague? What was their existence like?
*Finally, the book ends very abruptly. David and Eva are in a fight for their lives and all of a sudden everything is okay and there is a sort of happily ever after. While I appreciated that I got a satisfactory conclusion, I wished that it hadn’t been so quick. It felt a little abrupt in comparison with the pacing of the rest of the book. This is not a major factor just a personal observation.
PODs is a gripping and terrifying read that explores the possibilities of a world wide killing pandemic. It is a frightening read as you ponder what you would do if you were forced to choose between staying with your family or heading to the safety of a POD knowing your family will likely die. If you enjoy a fast paced dystopian with a more realistic storyline, definitely give this one a go. It is one of the best dystopians I have read to date in 2013.
Favorite Quotations:
“None of us were typical teenagers anymore---that reality had ended the day we’d gotten on those grimy yellow school buses. Leaving our families, our friends---everyone we’d ever known and loved---was hard enough. Leaving them to die was quite different. We'd had to grow up quickly. We weren’t at summer camp; we were fighting to stay alive---to keep the human race from extinction. That was a lot to bear.”
“Another reason I knew it wasn’t a crush---a crush is like a match to gasoline; it flares quickly.”
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Around the World Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
June 2, 2013
I received PODs from the publisher Spencer Hill Press in return for an honest review. A deadly virus has broken out proving to be lethal causing death within five days, putting everyone into a panic. However the government has a backup plan a series of underground pods will be living quarters for the selected few for a year giving the deadly virus a chance to die out. The government is holding a raffle for the remaining open 50,000 spots few will be chose while the rest will be left to die. Eva is one of the few who will be chose but she will have to leave her friends and parents to battle the virus on their own. They push her to go even though she would rather risk it staying with them.
The government bus’s all the winners to New Mexico where they will spend the year in pods. It’s clear as they board the bus that the government wasn't honest about the raffle being random when Eva can see everyone is a teenager like her no younger than 12 and no older than 25. After arriving at the pod facility they are each put into a containment glass cube where they will wait till the scientists are sure they don’t care the virus then they will be transferred to the pod they will live with nine other people till the scientist feel they are safe to move into villages. While in quarantine Eva waits her turn, having frequent blood tests and watching as others are taken away who happen to have the virus.
With a clean bill of health Eva is transferred to a pod with eight other people one of the girls is pregnant and will count as the final member of the pod. Everyone is shaken, having to leave their families to die, at first everyone is quiet but after awhile they start to open up learning more about why they were selected. The government picked people who had 4.0 grades and excelled at one subject or another like Eva with English and writing. Others excelled in math, science, art, medical, computers. They learn that the government picked people with plans to rebuild. After fifteen very long months the pods are opened instead of staying together the pod is split up breaking up couples and tearing apart friends. It’s in the villages that they learn that the virus isn't dead it’s mutated creating a whole new threat.
I was really excited the snag a copy the synopsis sounded amazing and the cover is great. I really loved the concept it’s one that’s unique but believable I could see happening in real life if we faced a deadly incurable virus. I really loved the characters Eva was stubborn which I think made her so perfect for David. I loved the way they butted heads of most things in the book it made them feel real. The supporting characters were perfect assets to the book each was special bringing something to the group. PODs does have a romantic story mixed in with the horror story aspects with all the secrets, and action though the story its one to capture the imagination. I’m in love with zombies just like everyone else right now and PODs is one of the best zombie books I've read so far. I had its moments where it played with my heart strings as well as keeping me on my toes. I quickly devoured the book finishing it early this morning with several cups of coffee. I would highly recommend Pods to anyone who has a love of zombies, dystopia with a little romance but it’s a clean romance super sweet.
The government bus’s all the winners to New Mexico where they will spend the year in pods. It’s clear as they board the bus that the government wasn't honest about the raffle being random when Eva can see everyone is a teenager like her no younger than 12 and no older than 25. After arriving at the pod facility they are each put into a containment glass cube where they will wait till the scientists are sure they don’t care the virus then they will be transferred to the pod they will live with nine other people till the scientist feel they are safe to move into villages. While in quarantine Eva waits her turn, having frequent blood tests and watching as others are taken away who happen to have the virus.
With a clean bill of health Eva is transferred to a pod with eight other people one of the girls is pregnant and will count as the final member of the pod. Everyone is shaken, having to leave their families to die, at first everyone is quiet but after awhile they start to open up learning more about why they were selected. The government picked people who had 4.0 grades and excelled at one subject or another like Eva with English and writing. Others excelled in math, science, art, medical, computers. They learn that the government picked people with plans to rebuild. After fifteen very long months the pods are opened instead of staying together the pod is split up breaking up couples and tearing apart friends. It’s in the villages that they learn that the virus isn't dead it’s mutated creating a whole new threat.
I was really excited the snag a copy the synopsis sounded amazing and the cover is great. I really loved the concept it’s one that’s unique but believable I could see happening in real life if we faced a deadly incurable virus. I really loved the characters Eva was stubborn which I think made her so perfect for David. I loved the way they butted heads of most things in the book it made them feel real. The supporting characters were perfect assets to the book each was special bringing something to the group. PODs does have a romantic story mixed in with the horror story aspects with all the secrets, and action though the story its one to capture the imagination. I’m in love with zombies just like everyone else right now and PODs is one of the best zombie books I've read so far. I had its moments where it played with my heart strings as well as keeping me on my toes. I quickly devoured the book finishing it early this morning with several cups of coffee. I would highly recommend Pods to anyone who has a love of zombies, dystopia with a little romance but it’s a clean romance super sweet.
June 26, 2013
Have I mentioned before that this seems to be the year for dystopians? Because it is. Very much so and Pickett's dive into the genre was a huge splash. Okay, that was a little cheesy but, you get the point.
I am so excited that I was able to be a part of this blog tour and get to read and review this story because I truly ate up every word and became completely immersed in the story and into Eva's life.
And while the main character is Eva, this isn't just her story. It is a story about survival and a story about love and friendship and how with a little faith and a whole lot of determinations, love really can conquer all.
This book has a whole cast of amazing characters that over the course of the book I came to care about just as much as I did about Eva and David. Pickett certainly knows how to write one tough heroine and one swoon worthy male. I feel in love with David in the PODs and even more outside of them.
This was a fast paced read that I really didn't expect to love as much as I did. So many twists and turns, betrayals and heartaches, sweet tender moments and rough and tough moments. I don't want to go into too many details but I will say that this took me by surprise with how much I loved it and how quickly I consumed it.
I will definitely pick up anything this author writes in the future because I was completely enraptured by this read, the writing, the characters and the fast paced plot line. I am really hoping there will be a sequel because I will be standing in line waiting to read it.
I am so excited that I was able to be a part of this blog tour and get to read and review this story because I truly ate up every word and became completely immersed in the story and into Eva's life.
And while the main character is Eva, this isn't just her story. It is a story about survival and a story about love and friendship and how with a little faith and a whole lot of determinations, love really can conquer all.
This book has a whole cast of amazing characters that over the course of the book I came to care about just as much as I did about Eva and David. Pickett certainly knows how to write one tough heroine and one swoon worthy male. I feel in love with David in the PODs and even more outside of them.
This was a fast paced read that I really didn't expect to love as much as I did. So many twists and turns, betrayals and heartaches, sweet tender moments and rough and tough moments. I don't want to go into too many details but I will say that this took me by surprise with how much I loved it and how quickly I consumed it.
I will definitely pick up anything this author writes in the future because I was completely enraptured by this read, the writing, the characters and the fast paced plot line. I am really hoping there will be a sequel because I will be standing in line waiting to read it.
July 10, 2013
I've been looking forward to this one for AGES and it was totally worth the wait! Michelle has written an incredibly believable and vivid portrayal of one of my worst nightmares: a raging infection that no one can stop. I completely felt for poor Eva having to face the horrors of her world falling apart, and then having to say goodbye to her family to enter the PODs. Honestly, I can hardly imagine having to do that. The things Eva goes thought are crazy, but just what I would expect to see happen if this situation were really going on--something you may have picked up on as being a big deal for me--I love a believable plot :)
Eva and David are just, well, wow. Loved them. Loved their relationship, the way Eva handled herself, David's devotion, and their clear love for one another. I rooted for them the whole way through, even when I had no friggin' clue how on earth they were going to get out of a situation. Seriously, a few places I was sitting there reading, practically tearing my hair out to read faster, just so I'd know what happened :) This was definitely a keep-me-up-til-the-middle-of-the-night book. I loved it!!
Eva and David are just, well, wow. Loved them. Loved their relationship, the way Eva handled herself, David's devotion, and their clear love for one another. I rooted for them the whole way through, even when I had no friggin' clue how on earth they were going to get out of a situation. Seriously, a few places I was sitting there reading, practically tearing my hair out to read faster, just so I'd know what happened :) This was definitely a keep-me-up-til-the-middle-of-the-night book. I loved it!!
May 12, 2013
Taken from my original review and Signed ARC +SWAG giveaway at:
http://gothicangelbookreviews.blogspo...
I have been dying for an ARC of PODs since I first discovered it's existence months ago on Spencer Hill Press' website. You wouldn't believe the volume at which I squealed when the mail man knocked on my door and handed me a parcel directly from Michelle Pickett. I tore the parcel open and discovered that not only was there one ARC but actually there were two signed copies. One for me and one to give away. Plus, there was a little swag bag set up for me and one for give away. The final amazing item was a tote bag with a picture of the PODs and Milayna covers on. I was speechless and so very happy.
I had just finished with a book and so I was ready to read PODs the day it arrived. I dived in straight away and boy oh boy was I in for one hell of a ride. I didn't realise at the start that I should have buckled up my seatbelt and braced for the energetic, lightning paced story that would ensue.
Evangelina Evans is a normal 17 year old girl with a normal life, until the day an incurable virus comes to town. If contracted, this virus will mean a painful death within just days of the symptoms emerging.
The government decide that they need to move people to the PODs that they built underground in case of any such pandemic. And that's exactly what this is. The virus will wipe out anyone living above ground when it hits.
The government say that there is room for only 70,000 people in the PODs and that 20,000 of those spaces are reserved for members of the government themselves. So that means that out of the entire population, only 50,000 people will be saved. How do they decide who should be saved and who shouldn't? Well that comes in the form of a Social Security Number Raffle. Basically, everyone's social security number is entered into the raffle and those that get drawn out will have a space in the PODs. Anyone else will be left to fend for themselves topside until the virus inevitably wipes them out.
Eva and her family desperately wait for the phone call to say that they have been selected. Time goes by and the phone call doesn't come.
Eva's cell phone rings and she is told that her number has been drawn. She must pack no more than two suitcases of things that she will need. She must say goodbye to her parents as their numbers weren't drawn.
Eva is scared as Hell and doesn't want to leave without her parents. She keeps hoping that their numbers will be drawn. She keeps that hope up right up until the day that she is driven to the checkpoint and she must say a final goodbye.
Once past the checkpoint, Eva must go through Quarantine. They put her in a glass room and they draw her blood every day to make sure she is showing no signs of having the virus.
She sits in her glass box that feels like a prison cell, she has books that she's read cover to cover. There's a television but all it shows is news reports of what's happening topside and Eva doesn't want to know what will happen to those that have been left behind. She doesn't want to accept the fate that her parents have been dealt. Her room is surrounded by others that contain people the same as her. Everyone must go through this quarantine before being allowed into the PODs. The government need to know that no-one will have the virus and spread it once underground with the others.
Once quarantine is over, people are moved into sub-PODs that branch off from the main POD. There are ten people to one sub-POD; five of which are male and five female.
Eva moves in with five boys and three other girls, one of whom is pregnant.
Adjusting to life underground in a small sub-POD is difficult. Not everyone is pleasant to live with. There's one young girl in the group and Eva thinks she can't be younger than 12, there's one girl who doesn't speak English very well and then there's the boys. David, George, Josh, Seth and Aiden. David is good looking, sweet, charming and funny. George is nice and seems more welcoming than some. Josh is an A-hole. There's no other word for it. He is always down on everybody else. He makes fun of everyone, he's arrogant and rude. No-one in the POD likes him, but they know they have to live with him for a year.
Eva has a theory about who got selected and who got left topside. She believes that it's only people between the ages of about 12 and 25 and they are all smart, with a four-point-oh grade average.
The residents of each sub-POD are sent textbooks through a chute and are told they need to complete coursework and modules online via the intranet. They are also to partake in blood tests to make sure they are still fit and healthy.
A year is how long the government believe it will be before the virus has worked it's way through topside and then they say it will be gone and people can move back up there.
Eva doesn't want a romance within the POD but every time David passes her by, he sends shivers down her spine. His touch elicits butterflies in her stomach. She can't help but notice how handsome he is. How kind, charming, funny, caring he is. It seems they both feel the same way but they avoid doing anything about it. If they had a relationship and it turned sour, they'd still have to live together in the confines of the POD until the year is over.
There's nothing that can be done to stop the inevitable though. David and Eva embark on a relationship. They are such a good match for each other. Everyone can see how much they obviously care for each other after months underground together. But Eva wonders whether the relationship will still thrive once they are allowed back topside. Is it just the confines of the POD that make them feel this drawn to each other?
There's no mistaking the chemistry they have together though.
Tiffany's baby is born in the POD. The group help her when she goes into labour and they can't make contact with the main POD. Eva remains collected and talks everyone through their roles and the baby is born safely.
Once the year is up, once the government believe the virus has died out topside, the people underground are allowed to move to camps that have been set up for them up there.
Before they are set up in homes and are been assigned jobs in the sector that the government chose for them, Eva realises that her and David won't be put together. The numbers they have been assigned don't match. To say she is upset is the understatement of the century. Yet she must do as she has been told. She has been given a house of her own and she must attend the job she has been assigned as a teacher. Gone are the days when she saw David 24/7, when she could see his sweet smile, smell the unique smell of his skin, when she could kiss him and hold him, be held by him at night and fall asleep on the settee in the POD.
What does the future hold for Eva? For David? For any of the friends she made down in the POD? Is the virus really gone? Will a mutated version of the virus ravage the small camps/compounds that have been set up for the residents protection?
These are questions you will only get answers to by reading the book for yourself.
This book was an energetic, tumultuous roller coaster ride that had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails constantly. I never knew what was coming. There were the bitter-sweet moments that I lived through when Eva and David were alone together. Then there were the moments that had me laughing and sometimes wanting to punch the snot out of someone (Josh). There were also times when I got so emotional. I felt all the feelings Eva was feeling. I fought battles with my tear ducts, they wanted to overflow and I didn't want to let them. But there were a few moments when it felt like a tap had been turned on and no-one could stop the warm salty tears that raced their way down my cheeks.,
You know when Goodreads says "Meet Your Next Favourite Book"? Well this is it! This is my favourite book of 2013. I can only compare the feelings I have for PODs by looking back at my favourite book of 2012, Divergent by Veronica Roth. Anyone that knows me, knows how much love I have for that book (and how many tattoos I have related to that book and the sequel, Insurgent).
I have booked to have a PODs tattoo of the symbol that we see at the beginning of the book and on the Chapter pages.
In my honest opinion, Michelle Pickett is best-selling author material. She has a talent beyond anything I had imagined upon starting this book. She writes with such emotion, such passion and tenacity. It is obvious that she poured her heart and soul into this book and you can tell that she would have been sat at her computer probably crying her eyes out at some of what she was writing. To have produced a book as good as PODs, this author must be overflowing with talent. It doesn't feel like a debut book, her writing style speaks of someone who has been writing and publishing books for years.
I live for books that keep me on my toes and keep me guessing all the way through. I like it when I have no idea how it will turn out. This is one of those books! I honestly had no idea what would come next. There is so much I could say about both this book and this author, but if I did, you'd get mad at me for spoiling some of the things that should be discovered first-hand when you pick up the book yourself.
Trust me when I say, you really need to be purchasing this book from anywhere it's available on June 4th 2013. That's not far away, perhaps you should go and pre-order it now. If my review hasn't incensed you to go and pick up a copy, then I haven't really done my job properly.
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I have been dying for an ARC of PODs since I first discovered it's existence months ago on Spencer Hill Press' website. You wouldn't believe the volume at which I squealed when the mail man knocked on my door and handed me a parcel directly from Michelle Pickett. I tore the parcel open and discovered that not only was there one ARC but actually there were two signed copies. One for me and one to give away. Plus, there was a little swag bag set up for me and one for give away. The final amazing item was a tote bag with a picture of the PODs and Milayna covers on. I was speechless and so very happy.
I had just finished with a book and so I was ready to read PODs the day it arrived. I dived in straight away and boy oh boy was I in for one hell of a ride. I didn't realise at the start that I should have buckled up my seatbelt and braced for the energetic, lightning paced story that would ensue.
Evangelina Evans is a normal 17 year old girl with a normal life, until the day an incurable virus comes to town. If contracted, this virus will mean a painful death within just days of the symptoms emerging.
The government decide that they need to move people to the PODs that they built underground in case of any such pandemic. And that's exactly what this is. The virus will wipe out anyone living above ground when it hits.
The government say that there is room for only 70,000 people in the PODs and that 20,000 of those spaces are reserved for members of the government themselves. So that means that out of the entire population, only 50,000 people will be saved. How do they decide who should be saved and who shouldn't? Well that comes in the form of a Social Security Number Raffle. Basically, everyone's social security number is entered into the raffle and those that get drawn out will have a space in the PODs. Anyone else will be left to fend for themselves topside until the virus inevitably wipes them out.
Eva and her family desperately wait for the phone call to say that they have been selected. Time goes by and the phone call doesn't come.
Eva's cell phone rings and she is told that her number has been drawn. She must pack no more than two suitcases of things that she will need. She must say goodbye to her parents as their numbers weren't drawn.
Eva is scared as Hell and doesn't want to leave without her parents. She keeps hoping that their numbers will be drawn. She keeps that hope up right up until the day that she is driven to the checkpoint and she must say a final goodbye.
Once past the checkpoint, Eva must go through Quarantine. They put her in a glass room and they draw her blood every day to make sure she is showing no signs of having the virus.
She sits in her glass box that feels like a prison cell, she has books that she's read cover to cover. There's a television but all it shows is news reports of what's happening topside and Eva doesn't want to know what will happen to those that have been left behind. She doesn't want to accept the fate that her parents have been dealt. Her room is surrounded by others that contain people the same as her. Everyone must go through this quarantine before being allowed into the PODs. The government need to know that no-one will have the virus and spread it once underground with the others.
Once quarantine is over, people are moved into sub-PODs that branch off from the main POD. There are ten people to one sub-POD; five of which are male and five female.
Eva moves in with five boys and three other girls, one of whom is pregnant.
Adjusting to life underground in a small sub-POD is difficult. Not everyone is pleasant to live with. There's one young girl in the group and Eva thinks she can't be younger than 12, there's one girl who doesn't speak English very well and then there's the boys. David, George, Josh, Seth and Aiden. David is good looking, sweet, charming and funny. George is nice and seems more welcoming than some. Josh is an A-hole. There's no other word for it. He is always down on everybody else. He makes fun of everyone, he's arrogant and rude. No-one in the POD likes him, but they know they have to live with him for a year.
Eva has a theory about who got selected and who got left topside. She believes that it's only people between the ages of about 12 and 25 and they are all smart, with a four-point-oh grade average.
The residents of each sub-POD are sent textbooks through a chute and are told they need to complete coursework and modules online via the intranet. They are also to partake in blood tests to make sure they are still fit and healthy.
A year is how long the government believe it will be before the virus has worked it's way through topside and then they say it will be gone and people can move back up there.
Eva doesn't want a romance within the POD but every time David passes her by, he sends shivers down her spine. His touch elicits butterflies in her stomach. She can't help but notice how handsome he is. How kind, charming, funny, caring he is. It seems they both feel the same way but they avoid doing anything about it. If they had a relationship and it turned sour, they'd still have to live together in the confines of the POD until the year is over.
There's nothing that can be done to stop the inevitable though. David and Eva embark on a relationship. They are such a good match for each other. Everyone can see how much they obviously care for each other after months underground together. But Eva wonders whether the relationship will still thrive once they are allowed back topside. Is it just the confines of the POD that make them feel this drawn to each other?
There's no mistaking the chemistry they have together though.
Tiffany's baby is born in the POD. The group help her when she goes into labour and they can't make contact with the main POD. Eva remains collected and talks everyone through their roles and the baby is born safely.
Once the year is up, once the government believe the virus has died out topside, the people underground are allowed to move to camps that have been set up for them up there.
Before they are set up in homes and are been assigned jobs in the sector that the government chose for them, Eva realises that her and David won't be put together. The numbers they have been assigned don't match. To say she is upset is the understatement of the century. Yet she must do as she has been told. She has been given a house of her own and she must attend the job she has been assigned as a teacher. Gone are the days when she saw David 24/7, when she could see his sweet smile, smell the unique smell of his skin, when she could kiss him and hold him, be held by him at night and fall asleep on the settee in the POD.
What does the future hold for Eva? For David? For any of the friends she made down in the POD? Is the virus really gone? Will a mutated version of the virus ravage the small camps/compounds that have been set up for the residents protection?
These are questions you will only get answers to by reading the book for yourself.
This book was an energetic, tumultuous roller coaster ride that had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails constantly. I never knew what was coming. There were the bitter-sweet moments that I lived through when Eva and David were alone together. Then there were the moments that had me laughing and sometimes wanting to punch the snot out of someone (Josh). There were also times when I got so emotional. I felt all the feelings Eva was feeling. I fought battles with my tear ducts, they wanted to overflow and I didn't want to let them. But there were a few moments when it felt like a tap had been turned on and no-one could stop the warm salty tears that raced their way down my cheeks.,
You know when Goodreads says "Meet Your Next Favourite Book"? Well this is it! This is my favourite book of 2013. I can only compare the feelings I have for PODs by looking back at my favourite book of 2012, Divergent by Veronica Roth. Anyone that knows me, knows how much love I have for that book (and how many tattoos I have related to that book and the sequel, Insurgent).
I have booked to have a PODs tattoo of the symbol that we see at the beginning of the book and on the Chapter pages.
In my honest opinion, Michelle Pickett is best-selling author material. She has a talent beyond anything I had imagined upon starting this book. She writes with such emotion, such passion and tenacity. It is obvious that she poured her heart and soul into this book and you can tell that she would have been sat at her computer probably crying her eyes out at some of what she was writing. To have produced a book as good as PODs, this author must be overflowing with talent. It doesn't feel like a debut book, her writing style speaks of someone who has been writing and publishing books for years.
I live for books that keep me on my toes and keep me guessing all the way through. I like it when I have no idea how it will turn out. This is one of those books! I honestly had no idea what would come next. There is so much I could say about both this book and this author, but if I did, you'd get mad at me for spoiling some of the things that should be discovered first-hand when you pick up the book yourself.
Trust me when I say, you really need to be purchasing this book from anywhere it's available on June 4th 2013. That's not far away, perhaps you should go and pre-order it now. If my review hasn't incensed you to go and pick up a copy, then I haven't really done my job properly.
December 27, 2014
This review can also be found on my blog: A Match Made in Heaven
I really enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It was a great combo of feel-good romance, mixed with the suspense of a zombie apocalypse, and just a hint of dystopia. The story went through several phases. It felt a lot longer than it actually was. Not because it was slow or drawn-out, but because so much happened in 300 pages!
In the beginning, we learn about the virus. The details are a bit vague, but its not the details, or the virus that really matters. Its Eva's journey, and the virus started her on that journey. She is one of only 50 000 American's chosen to live safely in the PODs while they wait out the decimation of the rest of humanity. I really enjoyed this stage of the story, while Eva lived underground with the rest of her PODmates, and David.
I really enjoyed the diverse characters that Eva lived with, and David was a sweetheart. But besides that, they seemed to love each other just cuz. It wasnt insta-love. They were down there a long time and got to know each other slowly. But I never really got the basis of their relationship. I am sure, if you've read a lot of YA romance like me, you know what I mean. There are occasionally those books where the hero and heroine fall in love for no apparent reason. Because they're the MCs? And they're hot? Nevertheless I enjoyed the romance. I misjudged the book due to the lack of development in the beginning of the story concerning the virus. But the romance and the characters were still well developed, and it was a lot steamier than I first anticipated. Eva and David were constantly making out! Haha, I enjoyed them, but it eventually got a bit irritating how someone would always interrupt them before they got carried away. It was way too convenient.
After they left the PODs the story took a slight dystopian turn, but it never fully took roots into that genre, and then turned into a full-on zombie apocalypse. I really enjoyed this stage of the story as well. I love the suspense of always being on the run, scavenging for weapons and food, living in abandoned hotels and tents. Although it was really annoying how sexist the other survivors were, including David. Gah! I am so glad Eva did not put up with that shit. :P
Eva and David had an interesting relationship, and its strange that I sort of get them as a couple, even though I dont really see why they love each other. I still see how they love each other. They were both extremely stubborn, and independent, and sometimes they would clash, but they were stronger together. I love how they never gave up on each other, no matter what. And all they needed was each other to survive. It was one of those epic "I'll f***ing die for you" romances. And it was all tied up with a pretty bow in the end. I am sort of looking forward to seeing more of them. But at the same time, I want them to have their HEA and a sequel means they are not quite there yet. I thought it was a standalone, and the way it ended felt complete. But now I see that it is listed as Pods #1. I suspect the sequel will explore the dystopian aspect of the story more, which was not fully developed in book #1.
So, this book was really entertaining and romantic, action-packed and suspenseful. But dont expect the best world-building, and some of the less important aspects of the story, or minor characters are just glazed over and abandoned. But I definitely recommend this to fans of the many genres I listed above, and I look forward to PODs #2, whatever it will be called.
I would liked to thank Spencer Hill Press for the ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It was a great combo of feel-good romance, mixed with the suspense of a zombie apocalypse, and just a hint of dystopia. The story went through several phases. It felt a lot longer than it actually was. Not because it was slow or drawn-out, but because so much happened in 300 pages!
In the beginning, we learn about the virus. The details are a bit vague, but its not the details, or the virus that really matters. Its Eva's journey, and the virus started her on that journey. She is one of only 50 000 American's chosen to live safely in the PODs while they wait out the decimation of the rest of humanity. I really enjoyed this stage of the story, while Eva lived underground with the rest of her PODmates, and David.
I really enjoyed the diverse characters that Eva lived with, and David was a sweetheart. But besides that, they seemed to love each other just cuz. It wasnt insta-love. They were down there a long time and got to know each other slowly. But I never really got the basis of their relationship. I am sure, if you've read a lot of YA romance like me, you know what I mean. There are occasionally those books where the hero and heroine fall in love for no apparent reason. Because they're the MCs? And they're hot? Nevertheless I enjoyed the romance. I misjudged the book due to the lack of development in the beginning of the story concerning the virus. But the romance and the characters were still well developed, and it was a lot steamier than I first anticipated. Eva and David were constantly making out! Haha, I enjoyed them, but it eventually got a bit irritating how someone would always interrupt them before they got carried away. It was way too convenient.
After they left the PODs the story took a slight dystopian turn, but it never fully took roots into that genre, and then turned into a full-on zombie apocalypse. I really enjoyed this stage of the story as well. I love the suspense of always being on the run, scavenging for weapons and food, living in abandoned hotels and tents. Although it was really annoying how sexist the other survivors were, including David. Gah! I am so glad Eva did not put up with that shit. :P
Eva and David had an interesting relationship, and its strange that I sort of get them as a couple, even though I dont really see why they love each other. I still see how they love each other. They were both extremely stubborn, and independent, and sometimes they would clash, but they were stronger together. I love how they never gave up on each other, no matter what. And all they needed was each other to survive. It was one of those epic "I'll f***ing die for you" romances. And it was all tied up with a pretty bow in the end. I am sort of looking forward to seeing more of them. But at the same time, I want them to have their HEA and a sequel means they are not quite there yet. I thought it was a standalone, and the way it ended felt complete. But now I see that it is listed as Pods #1. I suspect the sequel will explore the dystopian aspect of the story more, which was not fully developed in book #1.
So, this book was really entertaining and romantic, action-packed and suspenseful. But dont expect the best world-building, and some of the less important aspects of the story, or minor characters are just glazed over and abandoned. But I definitely recommend this to fans of the many genres I listed above, and I look forward to PODs #2, whatever it will be called.
I would liked to thank Spencer Hill Press for the ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2013
PODS was much more than expected. A deadly virus has been released into the world and only some are chosen to live protected in the POD system. Eva has to leave everyone she knows behind for a chance to live. When the PODS open and the occupants are released lots of things have changed and Eva no longer wants to follow the path that is set out for her if it means she has to be without her POD mate David.
I don't love the cover for PODS but the book was pretty good. Eva is pretty smart and determined. She is chosen to live in the POD system but her parents can not come with, therefore are expected to die. She has to endure a lot of blood tests and quarantine before she can get into the PODS and the test continue once she is there. She is put with a group of strangers about the same age as her and for the most part everyone gets along besides one. It was a tad bit boring during some of the PODS time but it went by quickly and picked up once Eva was released.
The characters were great. Each one brought their own personality and background to the story. The situations these 'kids' are put into are pretty nuts. They weather the storm pretty well though. Eva and David butt heads a lot but quickly develop feelings for each other. I enjoyed following their romance. I loved the reveal of the mutated virus. I was not expecting that and it was a great addition to the story.
I didn't realize that PODS was part of a series until I saw that there was a sequel coming from the authors website. I would have been fine with the ending being just that but I am glad we will get more.
I don't love the cover for PODS but the book was pretty good. Eva is pretty smart and determined. She is chosen to live in the POD system but her parents can not come with, therefore are expected to die. She has to endure a lot of blood tests and quarantine before she can get into the PODS and the test continue once she is there. She is put with a group of strangers about the same age as her and for the most part everyone gets along besides one. It was a tad bit boring during some of the PODS time but it went by quickly and picked up once Eva was released.
The characters were great. Each one brought their own personality and background to the story. The situations these 'kids' are put into are pretty nuts. They weather the storm pretty well though. Eva and David butt heads a lot but quickly develop feelings for each other. I enjoyed following their romance. I loved the reveal of the mutated virus. I was not expecting that and it was a great addition to the story.
I didn't realize that PODS was part of a series until I saw that there was a sequel coming from the authors website. I would have been fine with the ending being just that but I am glad we will get more.
May 8, 2013
It is very rare these days for a YA book to suck me in so thoroughly that I lose all concept of time and place, I'm just too busy for that. But PODs did exactly that. I was pulled right into Eva's world and stayed there until the end. If I had to pick out a flaw, (and really, it's not one...), it would be about 50 or so pages through the middle. I THOUGHT as I was reading it that it was a little slow and I kept thinking "lets get a little action going... what's REALLY going on?" But later, after I was finished with the book and started thinking back on it, I realized though those pages right in the middle are not "full of excitement" they are central to getting to know what Eva gives up, and what she risks her life for.
I want to say soooo much more, but I don't want to give any spoilers. Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed PODs, and while I think Michelle Pickett did a beautiful job of winding up everything at the end, I'm thrilled there is going to be a sequel and am hoping to get my name on the ARC list for "The Infected" as soon as it's announced!
All in all, I give it my rare 5 out of 5 stars with a warning: Do not pick this book up unless you've cleared your schedule for several hours!
I want to say soooo much more, but I don't want to give any spoilers. Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed PODs, and while I think Michelle Pickett did a beautiful job of winding up everything at the end, I'm thrilled there is going to be a sequel and am hoping to get my name on the ARC list for "The Infected" as soon as it's announced!
All in all, I give it my rare 5 out of 5 stars with a warning: Do not pick this book up unless you've cleared your schedule for several hours!
Want to read
June 3, 2012why r people rating this? nobody has read it!
July 17, 2016
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I very nearly DNF’ed this book in the first 20-30 pages. I managed to stick through it somehow – my masochistic nature? or morbid curiosity? who knows – and honestly, I wouldn’t have been missing much. I was really looking forward to reading this because of the idea, but the delivery was so lackluster that it all just fell flat for me.
My first problem happened very early when Eva is chosen to go to the PODs and she realized she has to leave her family and friends behind (to die, basically). Maybe it’s just me, but if someone told me I could go underground to survive a murderous virus while everyone that I loved had to stay upside, there would have been a full on battle because I’d have thrown a fit. I would have been kicking, screaming, and crying. I would have fought the decision tooth and nail. In the end, I probably would have elected to stay behind altogether. What kind of a life is it if you lose everyone? I wouldn’t be able to stand knowing that everyone that mattered and made my life worthwhile had an expiration date.
But no, not Eva. She barely even reacted. She was quick to accept the decision, and acted rather bland to the situation. And she wasn’t scared. What the hell kind of a 17-year-old would not be terrified to leave behind her whole life and watch everyone she loved die? WTF?
When her ‘best friend’ called (and by the way she didn’t even tell her supposed best friend that she was chosen):
“I can’t believe it, Eva. We’re gonna die.” She started crying again. I didn’t know what to say. What do you say to someone who’s just been given a death sentence?
“I know.”
She cried harder, and I couldn’t understand what she said. I sat and listened and let her cry. What else could I do? I was her best friend. I cried with her, for her.
“Why aren’t you more upset, Eva?”
Yeah, Eva, why aren’t you upset? Because there’s nothing you can do? Why should you be worried when you’re the one that’s going to live? Ugh.
Then when she finally did start crying, I felt absolutely nothing. She said she was sad, said she didn’t want to leave them, but there was no show. Don’t tell me something, show me! Make me feel it. I felt so disconnected and apathetic to the story that I didn’t even feel like finishing it. She said it was the last night she’d ever spend with her parents, and I think she should have been waaaay more fazed by that realization. It didn’t help that the scene where she actually said goodbye to her parents was skipped over and shown as a flashback. That made me care even less! I should have been crying while reading it because I would be torn up just thinking about leaving my parents behind. I didn’t even get a twinge of sadness. Nothing.
And you know something I always hate? When a character says ‘I didn’t even realize I was crying.’
She held her arms out for me. I walked into them and she hugged me tight against her. I hadn’t realized I’d been crying until then. The hot tears stung my face.
HOW can you not realize you’re crying? The hot tears stung your face, but you didn’t feel them coming out of your eyeballs? That line always drives me crazy when writers use it. It’s ridiculous. Even when you’re overcome with grief, in the back of your mind you can still feel the tightness in your throat and the sting in your eyes before you start to cry. Jeesh.
Something else that irritates me: Females who ‘hate the sight of blood.’ It’s blood for crying out loud. Suck it up! She completely flipped her shit because she had to prick her finger. It’s a tiny needle. It barely hurts. Grow up and stop being so freaking weak. This was from the same girl that wasn’t afraid to leave everyone she loved to die. Yeah, okay. *eye roll*
The only reason I gave this book even 1 starfish is because of the idea. It really was a great idea: There’s a virus rampaging through humanity and a select few of the population are chosen to live in underground units called PODs (Populace Obliteration Defense) until the virus dies out and it’s safe to go above ground again.
But, unfortunately, the world building was lacking. Sure, I loved the idea, but the delivery needed some work. First of all, the virus has no name. Something along the lines of ‘because there were be no one left to remember it anyway.’ They don’t know what it is, where it came from, or how it even spreads (talk about lazy writing). But they can test for it? How can they know what they’re looking for?
I couldn’t picture anything. When the PODs system was explained, I couldn’t get an image in my head for what it would look like. And while it was cool, it didn’t really make sense. Their means of getting supplies was ‘like a bank teller’s window.’ A chute with air flow and suction. I’m not sure how you’d be able to transport food that way, but okay. I tried not to think to hard about the system, because a lot of it didn’t really make sense. They could only have a specific amount of people, yet they had co-ed PODs? Wouldn’t they want to keep males and females separated to avoid sex/pregnancy? Not to mention that everyone in the PODs were from age 12-25 (no adults? Really?), and they were all 4.0 students. Um, what about common sense? Knowledge can only get you so far if you don’t have common sense. Just because you’re book smart most certainly does not mean you’re street smart. There’s a major difference between the two. And no offense, but in order to survive the apocalypse you need the latter a bit more.
And now we come to my greatest issue: The 'romance.' It moved waaay to fast! Eva already said she was ‘falling’ for David on page 82. They had been studying together every night for a month, so the time span was longer, but us readers barely saw any interaction at all. Maybe a few times at the most. So to us, it looks like they barely even know each other. He had been in the story for maybe 40 pages. I didn’t even have time to get to know him, so there was nothing to relate to in the relationship. I couldn’t have cared less. It felt much too soon and needed more development. Then, there was about 20 straight pages of nothing but kissing. There was nothing else happening but Eva and David making out. In fact, I kinda feel like that’s all the last half of the book was. Them kissing and wanting to jump each other’s bones. It was too much for me, and to be honest I skimmed every time they started kissing because it made me want to ralph. I mean seriously, people are dying and you guys are kissing each other? Yeah, that’s realistic.
[After cutting off a POD - aka killing everyone in it]
I’d seen the picture on his laptop before he’d shut it. People ruuning around their POD, a look of terror in their eyes. I reached out and opened the lid of his computer. My arm brushed against his, sending goosebumps racing across my skin. I had to concentrate to remember what I was asking about. [um, the f*cking people dying on the computer screen?]
The screen was nothing but static. “They cut off another one? Who?” I let go of his computer and started to pull my hand away. He grabbed it, folding it into his own, threading our fingers together. He grazed his lips over my knuckles.
Oh. Wow. Do that again. My insides swirled out of place and did things I’d only read about in my mother’s racy romance novels.
Really?! Let’s just ignore the disgusting cheese of that last statement – you literally just watched people die and you’re thinking about that? Is your heart shriveled and black?
And again, the cheesiness made things even worse, because there were things like this:
Did David just tell me he loves me? He loves me? David…loves me. David, Greek-god handsome…no…underwear model sexy…no…Greek-god underwear model sexy David loves me. Oh wow. There is going to be so much kissing!
First of all, if I wasn’t drowning in cheese I’d reach out and slap her so she could get a grip. Second of all, he told you he loves you and you’re thinking about how much you two are going to make out? Yeah, cuz that’s what love is. UGH.
Towards the end I started noticing this more than the beginning, but the characters constantly say each other’s names. What, like we’d forget what their names are or something? Every time they addressed each other, they used their names. It was SO annoying!
“I read your letters, Eva. I love you, too. And I want to be with you. I’ll wait. We’ll find a way to be together.”
“It’ll work out, David. I can feel it.”
“Eva, are you crazy?” he yelled, grabbing me in his arms.
“I can’t stay in there, David. Not without you.”
Who talks like that?! UGHHHH. We get it, guys. You have names. You know them. Good for you.
When they’re topside, they hear about a safe haven with survivors. But Eva doesn’t want to go, no, she’d rather just stay and hide like a coward. Wouldn’t you want to see if your parents survived? No matter how small the possibility?
“And you’d stay here and give up the chance at seeing your family again?”
“My family is dead. And it’s likely yours are, too. If the first wave of the virus didn’t kill them, the mutated strain did. If they lived through that, the infected have probably killed them by now.”
What the f*ck, dude. She really does have a withered black heart. Or none at all. I’m sorry but if it was me, I’d be looking for them, just in case. (But again, if it was me I probably wouldn’t have left them in the first place.) If you have no hope, what is left? Gawd. I couldn’t stand her.
All in all, the story was very rushed, and I feel like it should have been developed better and broken into two books. They were only in the PODs for about 100 pages of the book. That’s the title of the book, for crying out loud! Being back above ground should have been the sequel. Then there would have been more time to focus on the world building and flesh out the characters and the horrific romance.
Also, in the synopsis of the book we have this line: But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival and pray for a cure. There was little to no action, and basically no ‘fighting for survival.’ There was really only one part where the infected attacked. This book is NOT an action-filled dystopian story. It is a ‘ROMANCE.’ And a cheesy one at that. I want to make that clear to anyone who feels the need to read it.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Plot: 2.5/5
Writing style: 1.5/5
Originality: 5/5
Characters: 0.5/5
World-building: 0.5/5
Pace: 2/5
Cover: 4/5
I very nearly DNF’ed this book in the first 20-30 pages. I managed to stick through it somehow – my masochistic nature? or morbid curiosity? who knows – and honestly, I wouldn’t have been missing much. I was really looking forward to reading this because of the idea, but the delivery was so lackluster that it all just fell flat for me.
My first problem happened very early when Eva is chosen to go to the PODs and she realized she has to leave her family and friends behind (to die, basically). Maybe it’s just me, but if someone told me I could go underground to survive a murderous virus while everyone that I loved had to stay upside, there would have been a full on battle because I’d have thrown a fit. I would have been kicking, screaming, and crying. I would have fought the decision tooth and nail. In the end, I probably would have elected to stay behind altogether. What kind of a life is it if you lose everyone? I wouldn’t be able to stand knowing that everyone that mattered and made my life worthwhile had an expiration date.
But no, not Eva. She barely even reacted. She was quick to accept the decision, and acted rather bland to the situation. And she wasn’t scared. What the hell kind of a 17-year-old would not be terrified to leave behind her whole life and watch everyone she loved die? WTF?
When her ‘best friend’ called (and by the way she didn’t even tell her supposed best friend that she was chosen):
“I can’t believe it, Eva. We’re gonna die.” She started crying again. I didn’t know what to say. What do you say to someone who’s just been given a death sentence?
“I know.”
She cried harder, and I couldn’t understand what she said. I sat and listened and let her cry. What else could I do? I was her best friend. I cried with her, for her.
“Why aren’t you more upset, Eva?”
Yeah, Eva, why aren’t you upset? Because there’s nothing you can do? Why should you be worried when you’re the one that’s going to live? Ugh.
Then when she finally did start crying, I felt absolutely nothing. She said she was sad, said she didn’t want to leave them, but there was no show. Don’t tell me something, show me! Make me feel it. I felt so disconnected and apathetic to the story that I didn’t even feel like finishing it. She said it was the last night she’d ever spend with her parents, and I think she should have been waaaay more fazed by that realization. It didn’t help that the scene where she actually said goodbye to her parents was skipped over and shown as a flashback. That made me care even less! I should have been crying while reading it because I would be torn up just thinking about leaving my parents behind. I didn’t even get a twinge of sadness. Nothing.
And you know something I always hate? When a character says ‘I didn’t even realize I was crying.’
She held her arms out for me. I walked into them and she hugged me tight against her. I hadn’t realized I’d been crying until then. The hot tears stung my face.
HOW can you not realize you’re crying? The hot tears stung your face, but you didn’t feel them coming out of your eyeballs? That line always drives me crazy when writers use it. It’s ridiculous. Even when you’re overcome with grief, in the back of your mind you can still feel the tightness in your throat and the sting in your eyes before you start to cry. Jeesh.
Something else that irritates me: Females who ‘hate the sight of blood.’ It’s blood for crying out loud. Suck it up! She completely flipped her shit because she had to prick her finger. It’s a tiny needle. It barely hurts. Grow up and stop being so freaking weak. This was from the same girl that wasn’t afraid to leave everyone she loved to die. Yeah, okay. *eye roll*
The only reason I gave this book even 1 starfish is because of the idea. It really was a great idea: There’s a virus rampaging through humanity and a select few of the population are chosen to live in underground units called PODs (Populace Obliteration Defense) until the virus dies out and it’s safe to go above ground again.
But, unfortunately, the world building was lacking. Sure, I loved the idea, but the delivery needed some work. First of all, the virus has no name. Something along the lines of ‘because there were be no one left to remember it anyway.’ They don’t know what it is, where it came from, or how it even spreads (talk about lazy writing). But they can test for it? How can they know what they’re looking for?
I couldn’t picture anything. When the PODs system was explained, I couldn’t get an image in my head for what it would look like. And while it was cool, it didn’t really make sense. Their means of getting supplies was ‘like a bank teller’s window.’ A chute with air flow and suction. I’m not sure how you’d be able to transport food that way, but okay. I tried not to think to hard about the system, because a lot of it didn’t really make sense. They could only have a specific amount of people, yet they had co-ed PODs? Wouldn’t they want to keep males and females separated to avoid sex/pregnancy? Not to mention that everyone in the PODs were from age 12-25 (no adults? Really?), and they were all 4.0 students. Um, what about common sense? Knowledge can only get you so far if you don’t have common sense. Just because you’re book smart most certainly does not mean you’re street smart. There’s a major difference between the two. And no offense, but in order to survive the apocalypse you need the latter a bit more.
And now we come to my greatest issue: The 'romance.' It moved waaay to fast! Eva already said she was ‘falling’ for David on page 82. They had been studying together every night for a month, so the time span was longer, but us readers barely saw any interaction at all. Maybe a few times at the most. So to us, it looks like they barely even know each other. He had been in the story for maybe 40 pages. I didn’t even have time to get to know him, so there was nothing to relate to in the relationship. I couldn’t have cared less. It felt much too soon and needed more development. Then, there was about 20 straight pages of nothing but kissing. There was nothing else happening but Eva and David making out. In fact, I kinda feel like that’s all the last half of the book was. Them kissing and wanting to jump each other’s bones. It was too much for me, and to be honest I skimmed every time they started kissing because it made me want to ralph. I mean seriously, people are dying and you guys are kissing each other? Yeah, that’s realistic.
[After cutting off a POD - aka killing everyone in it]
I’d seen the picture on his laptop before he’d shut it. People ruuning around their POD, a look of terror in their eyes. I reached out and opened the lid of his computer. My arm brushed against his, sending goosebumps racing across my skin. I had to concentrate to remember what I was asking about. [um, the f*cking people dying on the computer screen?]
The screen was nothing but static. “They cut off another one? Who?” I let go of his computer and started to pull my hand away. He grabbed it, folding it into his own, threading our fingers together. He grazed his lips over my knuckles.
Oh. Wow. Do that again. My insides swirled out of place and did things I’d only read about in my mother’s racy romance novels.
Really?! Let’s just ignore the disgusting cheese of that last statement – you literally just watched people die and you’re thinking about that? Is your heart shriveled and black?
And again, the cheesiness made things even worse, because there were things like this:
Did David just tell me he loves me? He loves me? David…loves me. David, Greek-god handsome…no…underwear model sexy…no…Greek-god underwear model sexy David loves me. Oh wow. There is going to be so much kissing!
First of all, if I wasn’t drowning in cheese I’d reach out and slap her so she could get a grip. Second of all, he told you he loves you and you’re thinking about how much you two are going to make out? Yeah, cuz that’s what love is. UGH.
Towards the end I started noticing this more than the beginning, but the characters constantly say each other’s names. What, like we’d forget what their names are or something? Every time they addressed each other, they used their names. It was SO annoying!
“I read your letters, Eva. I love you, too. And I want to be with you. I’ll wait. We’ll find a way to be together.”
“It’ll work out, David. I can feel it.”
“Eva, are you crazy?” he yelled, grabbing me in his arms.
“I can’t stay in there, David. Not without you.”
Who talks like that?! UGHHHH. We get it, guys. You have names. You know them. Good for you.
When they’re topside, they hear about a safe haven with survivors. But Eva doesn’t want to go, no, she’d rather just stay and hide like a coward. Wouldn’t you want to see if your parents survived? No matter how small the possibility?
“And you’d stay here and give up the chance at seeing your family again?”
“My family is dead. And it’s likely yours are, too. If the first wave of the virus didn’t kill them, the mutated strain did. If they lived through that, the infected have probably killed them by now.”
What the f*ck, dude. She really does have a withered black heart. Or none at all. I’m sorry but if it was me, I’d be looking for them, just in case. (But again, if it was me I probably wouldn’t have left them in the first place.) If you have no hope, what is left? Gawd. I couldn’t stand her.
All in all, the story was very rushed, and I feel like it should have been developed better and broken into two books. They were only in the PODs for about 100 pages of the book. That’s the title of the book, for crying out loud! Being back above ground should have been the sequel. Then there would have been more time to focus on the world building and flesh out the characters and the horrific romance.
Also, in the synopsis of the book we have this line: But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival and pray for a cure. There was little to no action, and basically no ‘fighting for survival.’ There was really only one part where the infected attacked. This book is NOT an action-filled dystopian story. It is a ‘ROMANCE.’ And a cheesy one at that. I want to make that clear to anyone who feels the need to read it.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Plot: 2.5/5
Writing style: 1.5/5
Originality: 5/5
Characters: 0.5/5
World-building: 0.5/5
Pace: 2/5
Cover: 4/5
Want to read
February 11, 2012I WANT TO READ THIS! But i still can't because the release date is june 1,2013. :(
June 9, 2013
PODs Review on K-Books
"I love you, Eva. If anything happens to you I'll never be able to forgive myself."
Right from the first moment I heard about this book I could not wait to read it. I am such an enormous fan of dystopia novels. They are currently one of my favourite genres of all time and I seriously just can't get enough of them. From seeing the cover and the blurb I knew that this book would be perfect for me. And I wasn't wrong. I loved every single moment of this book. It is just incredible. I can't praise this book enough. I loved it.
When a deadly virus breaks out with no way to control it only one this is certain. The population will die out unless something is done... fast! The government decide to do a random raffle to decide who will go underground to live in the PODs while they wait for the Virus to die out. Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to leave her family and friends and venture into the underground POD system to wait it out. Here Eva meets David, the beautiful boy with the silver eyes. David and Eva find themselves attracted to each other but is starting a relationship in the PODs a good idea? And what will happen when they get out? Will the world be as it once was without the virus... or will things have changed?
I absolutely loved this book. Michelle's writing is amazing and it completely hooked me right from the start and I really didn't want to put the book down until I had finished. One thing that I really loved about this book was that we saw the events of the apocalyptic event as it was happening. A lot of the dystopia books are completely set after the event has always happened and we are left to see what the effects are so I felt like to read how we got from normal society and experience the event as well was pretty damn awesome and really makes this book stand out from the rest.
Eva is such a great heroine. I really love her. I feel like she went on such a great journey during this book. From innocent high school student so having to deal with having to say goodbye to her family and face the fact that she would survive and they would not, to dealing with the aftereffects of the PODs. She is so kick-ass and I love how she just won't let the guys get up and take control. She is just as capable as the guys in this zombiefied society.
David... I genuinelly loved him! She is sweet, protective and overall just a good guy. I am a sucker for romantic good guys. What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic at heart. I loved David from the moment that we met him. I feel like David also went on this huge journey thorughout the book. He went from sheltered guy in the PODs just trying to live as best he can without his family to a big tough-guy who had to change in order to survive outside of the PODs.
I just loved Eva and David's relationship. It can be argued to be a bit of insta-love but I truly don't see it like that. PODs takes place over about 2 years so what can seem like a few pages for them to fall in love to us is months to them. We don't see everything that happens to them in the PODs otherwise the book would be about 1000 pages long! I still feel like we saw their relationship develop even though there were a lot of things that we didn't see happen between them. They went from friends dealing with the loss of their families to a strong unit who look out for each other to survive and I think it's such a realistic relationship in a society like this.
PODs is without a doubt one of my favourite dystopia novels. I loved every moment of it. I just had one tiny issue and it was nothing to do with the story or Michelle's writing or anything. It is that the blurb just gives away far too much of the story. The blurb does it's job in terms of grabbing you. It makes the story sound just as fantastic as it is but it tells you a whole lot of the story. I felt like because I had read the blurb just before reading it took away from my excitement that I usually get. I am an incredibly excitable person when it comes to books that I love and instead of being crazy excited thinking "OMG I cannot wait to see what happens" I felt like "I can't wait to see HOW it happens" because the blurb had already told me what was going to happen next.
I adored this book and I genuinely think it is a must-read for everyone. I loved every moment of it and Michelle has left me dying for The Infected. My one warning would just be wait until you have forgotten a lot of the blurb so it doesn't take away from your excitement. I kind of wished that I hadn't re-read the blurb before starting so that I could have had that excitement of waiting to see what was going to happen next. Overall a fantastic book that is not to be missed.
"I love you. I think I have since the day you first entered the POD. I knew I did the morning I kissed you. I still know I do because I'd lay down my life for you, here and now."
"I love you, Eva. If anything happens to you I'll never be able to forgive myself."
Right from the first moment I heard about this book I could not wait to read it. I am such an enormous fan of dystopia novels. They are currently one of my favourite genres of all time and I seriously just can't get enough of them. From seeing the cover and the blurb I knew that this book would be perfect for me. And I wasn't wrong. I loved every single moment of this book. It is just incredible. I can't praise this book enough. I loved it.
When a deadly virus breaks out with no way to control it only one this is certain. The population will die out unless something is done... fast! The government decide to do a random raffle to decide who will go underground to live in the PODs while they wait for the Virus to die out. Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to leave her family and friends and venture into the underground POD system to wait it out. Here Eva meets David, the beautiful boy with the silver eyes. David and Eva find themselves attracted to each other but is starting a relationship in the PODs a good idea? And what will happen when they get out? Will the world be as it once was without the virus... or will things have changed?
I absolutely loved this book. Michelle's writing is amazing and it completely hooked me right from the start and I really didn't want to put the book down until I had finished. One thing that I really loved about this book was that we saw the events of the apocalyptic event as it was happening. A lot of the dystopia books are completely set after the event has always happened and we are left to see what the effects are so I felt like to read how we got from normal society and experience the event as well was pretty damn awesome and really makes this book stand out from the rest.
Eva is such a great heroine. I really love her. I feel like she went on such a great journey during this book. From innocent high school student so having to deal with having to say goodbye to her family and face the fact that she would survive and they would not, to dealing with the aftereffects of the PODs. She is so kick-ass and I love how she just won't let the guys get up and take control. She is just as capable as the guys in this zombiefied society.
David... I genuinelly loved him! She is sweet, protective and overall just a good guy. I am a sucker for romantic good guys. What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic at heart. I loved David from the moment that we met him. I feel like David also went on this huge journey thorughout the book. He went from sheltered guy in the PODs just trying to live as best he can without his family to a big tough-guy who had to change in order to survive outside of the PODs.
I just loved Eva and David's relationship. It can be argued to be a bit of insta-love but I truly don't see it like that. PODs takes place over about 2 years so what can seem like a few pages for them to fall in love to us is months to them. We don't see everything that happens to them in the PODs otherwise the book would be about 1000 pages long! I still feel like we saw their relationship develop even though there were a lot of things that we didn't see happen between them. They went from friends dealing with the loss of their families to a strong unit who look out for each other to survive and I think it's such a realistic relationship in a society like this.
PODs is without a doubt one of my favourite dystopia novels. I loved every moment of it. I just had one tiny issue and it was nothing to do with the story or Michelle's writing or anything. It is that the blurb just gives away far too much of the story. The blurb does it's job in terms of grabbing you. It makes the story sound just as fantastic as it is but it tells you a whole lot of the story. I felt like because I had read the blurb just before reading it took away from my excitement that I usually get. I am an incredibly excitable person when it comes to books that I love and instead of being crazy excited thinking "OMG I cannot wait to see what happens" I felt like "I can't wait to see HOW it happens" because the blurb had already told me what was going to happen next.
I adored this book and I genuinely think it is a must-read for everyone. I loved every moment of it and Michelle has left me dying for The Infected. My one warning would just be wait until you have forgotten a lot of the blurb so it doesn't take away from your excitement. I kind of wished that I hadn't re-read the blurb before starting so that I could have had that excitement of waiting to see what was going to happen next. Overall a fantastic book that is not to be missed.
"I love you. I think I have since the day you first entered the POD. I knew I did the morning I kissed you. I still know I do because I'd lay down my life for you, here and now."
May 18, 2013
Nose Graze — Young Adult book reviews
Before anything else, I have a warning for you about PODs . The synopsis you see on Goodreads/Amazon describes like 95% of the ENTIRE book (instead of maybe the 25-45% you usually get). It literally leaves nothing to be explored or discovered when actually reading the book. It kills any kind of surprise by telling you exactly where the plot is going every step of the way. If you want a chance to enjoy the book a bit more, do yourself a favour and do not read the synopsis.
Now onto the book...
I think PODs had a great idea, but it failed in execution. We're left with a rushed story, a repetitive plot, almost zero world building, an insta-love-type romance and a main character who gets increasingly more aggravating.
I didn't connect with the romance at all, which was a huge problem for me since the romance is definitely the focus of the book. Since the first 132 pages span over fifteen months everything happens way too quickly and the development is really shallow. Eva and David go from being strangers to being "in love", but we don't see any of that development. It literally feels like one minute they've never spoken, and 5 pages later they've been dating for 5 months. So then when Eva started saying things like this, I just lost it:
They apparently know each other so well, but as a reader, I felt like I didn't know either of them! And I never saw them talk. I didn't see them exchange a lot of sweet, intimate moments, that could built into love. That didn't exist at all. They had like 2 pre-dating moments, but then all of a sudden, they're in love! Overall I just feel like all the relationships suffered because of how much time is crammed into such a short space.
A huge part of the middle of PODs is dominated with this romance, and the whole time I just kept thinking, When will the zombies come out? And for me—someone who usually isn't that into zombie books—that's saying something.
And speaking of zombies, another thing that annoyed me was the lack of world building after they got out of the PODs. Just imagine... a virus takes over the world, select people go into PODs, then they come out over a year later.. what's your first question? Well, mine is, "What is the world like now?" But as soon as they left the PODs, we got NOTHING. Is the whole country a ghost town? Are the buildings abandoned? In ruins? Do you see people anywhere? Literally NONE of those questions were answered. And then they group up into communities, but again we get very little information. How is the government running things? What are some of the rules and the regulations? What is every day life like? We got nada. It was all about finding David, being with David, blah blah. From day one it's practically "Resume life as usual." Eva gets a house, goes to work, goes grocery shopping, people are getting engaged and having babies.. It's like there was no virus at all (and no explanation).
The rest of the book consists of loads of Eva and David making out and almost having sex, but not. And when they're not making out, they're fighting about sexism. Eva constantly complains that the guys are being sexist. Anytime David says something like, "Wait here, I'll go check it out," Eva replies with something like, "Yeah because I'm a helpless female who can't be put in any danger *eyeroll*". And honestly, I thought both of them were unbearably annoying. They spend the whole book arguing about whether or not Eva can fight the zombies. David doesn't want her to because she might get hurt, but she wants to because she wants to protect herself and be useful. I get her point, but god, the CONSTANT arguing over the same thing drove me nuts!
Overall, I think PODs could have been a great book, because it has kind of a cool idea. I like that the government had the PODs system in place—I think it's pretty interesting. But the lack of character development, the bad romance, and the rushed story line just kind of killed it.. By the last quarter of the book I was so tempted to DNF it and just move on. I was completely bored, sick of the romance and makeout sessions, and I could see the plot repeating itself (makeout session, zombie attack, makeout session, zombie attack...).
Before anything else, I have a warning for you about PODs . The synopsis you see on Goodreads/Amazon describes like 95% of the ENTIRE book (instead of maybe the 25-45% you usually get). It literally leaves nothing to be explored or discovered when actually reading the book. It kills any kind of surprise by telling you exactly where the plot is going every step of the way. If you want a chance to enjoy the book a bit more, do yourself a favour and do not read the synopsis.
Now onto the book...
I think PODs had a great idea, but it failed in execution. We're left with a rushed story, a repetitive plot, almost zero world building, an insta-love-type romance and a main character who gets increasingly more aggravating.
I didn't connect with the romance at all, which was a huge problem for me since the romance is definitely the focus of the book. Since the first 132 pages span over fifteen months everything happens way too quickly and the development is really shallow. Eva and David go from being strangers to being "in love", but we don't see any of that development. It literally feels like one minute they've never spoken, and 5 pages later they've been dating for 5 months. So then when Eva started saying things like this, I just lost it:
We talked. That's all we did was talk. We know each other, David. Probably better than some married couples.
—Page 178
They apparently know each other so well, but as a reader, I felt like I didn't know either of them! And I never saw them talk. I didn't see them exchange a lot of sweet, intimate moments, that could built into love. That didn't exist at all. They had like 2 pre-dating moments, but then all of a sudden, they're in love! Overall I just feel like all the relationships suffered because of how much time is crammed into such a short space.
A huge part of the middle of PODs is dominated with this romance, and the whole time I just kept thinking, When will the zombies come out? And for me—someone who usually isn't that into zombie books—that's saying something.
And speaking of zombies, another thing that annoyed me was the lack of world building after they got out of the PODs. Just imagine... a virus takes over the world, select people go into PODs, then they come out over a year later.. what's your first question? Well, mine is, "What is the world like now?" But as soon as they left the PODs, we got NOTHING. Is the whole country a ghost town? Are the buildings abandoned? In ruins? Do you see people anywhere? Literally NONE of those questions were answered. And then they group up into communities, but again we get very little information. How is the government running things? What are some of the rules and the regulations? What is every day life like? We got nada. It was all about finding David, being with David, blah blah. From day one it's practically "Resume life as usual." Eva gets a house, goes to work, goes grocery shopping, people are getting engaged and having babies.. It's like there was no virus at all (and no explanation).
The rest of the book consists of loads of Eva and David making out and almost having sex, but not. And when they're not making out, they're fighting about sexism. Eva constantly complains that the guys are being sexist. Anytime David says something like, "Wait here, I'll go check it out," Eva replies with something like, "Yeah because I'm a helpless female who can't be put in any danger *eyeroll*". And honestly, I thought both of them were unbearably annoying. They spend the whole book arguing about whether or not Eva can fight the zombies. David doesn't want her to because she might get hurt, but she wants to because she wants to protect herself and be useful. I get her point, but god, the CONSTANT arguing over the same thing drove me nuts!
Overall, I think PODs could have been a great book, because it has kind of a cool idea. I like that the government had the PODs system in place—I think it's pretty interesting. But the lack of character development, the bad romance, and the rushed story line just kind of killed it.. By the last quarter of the book I was so tempted to DNF it and just move on. I was completely bored, sick of the romance and makeout sessions, and I could see the plot repeating itself (makeout session, zombie attack, makeout session, zombie attack...).
May 26, 2013
MY REVIEW
First of all let me start with thanking Spencer Hill Press for sending me a paperback of PODs to read and review.
I was immediately attracted to the cover when I saw it. The female pictured is Evangeline, or Eva as she prefers to be called. She is looking hesistantly out of a very metallic looking habitat. I like the worn effect on the title. the placement of the title and author name works well and of course there's the byline. The byline says "The end of the world is only the beginning" which sums things up perfectly. After seeing the cover and reading the blurb I didn't just want to read it I felt I had to read it!
A virus is spreading through the world, it cannot be cured, when a person gets the virus they have just days left to live. The government realises something has to be done to save humanity, but what and who, as they cannot save everyone. It is decided that once the "important people" have been chosen, there will be a raffle. Everyone's national insurance number will be literally put into a hat and the numbers will be drawn.
If your number is chosen, you will be "saved" and allowed to enter the governments secret POD system where you will live for at least 12 months. The government and powers that be think that the virus will be dead in just a year.
So like families all over Eva and her parents are sat around the TV (the only source of information) waiting for the raffle to happen, only it doesn't, they don't actually see the numbers drawn, all that is done in secret. They find out Eva is to be "saved" and is "a chosen one" when they receive a phone call. Eva is given instructions on what to do next. Eva is allowed just 2 suitcases, and has to report to a local school prior to being transported to quarantine. Once quarantine is over she will be taken to her POD and meet her fellow "pod mates" whom she will be spending the next 12 months with every day, all day! Obviously Eva doesn't want to leave her parents but they want her to go, to be safe in a POD.
The book goes on about life in the POD, the different pod mates in there together.
I really could go on and on about the book, the part I have explained about the book above really is only the first chapter or so. there's plenty happening. Life isn't as safe as everyone is led to believe. After the year has passed people are taken from the PODs to form villages that turn out to be more like military compounds. The freedom of being out of the POD isn't like freedom at all, your every move is dictated by those higher up in the chain of command. Then there's the big secret the government is trying to keep quiet, the virus hasn't died . . . it's mutated and seems stronger than ever. the infected continually attack the survivors, there's no where to hide from them. If an "infected" bites you, you become one of them. If you ingest the infected blood or it goes into a cut on you and mixes with your blood, you become one of them and die. The infected are basically monsters. To survive an attack from an infected you have to kill them, before they bite you. The monsters are large and very strong. On the outside of a compound you are constantly fighting for survival, to fins food and shelter as well as fighting off the monster attacks.
After a lot of different things happening (I'm not going to reveal as you need to read it yourselves) Eva is reunited with David, the guy she fell for in the PODs. They end up after an ardous journey with a group of topsiders who are virus free, hiding out in the PODs. . . . Should they stay in the PODs? Should they leave with there newly found friends? Will they live? Will the infected get in the PODs with them? Will a cure ever be found? What is happening back at the compound/villagers whilst they are hiding in the PODs. And sadly who lives and who dies?
This is a well written book, with great descriptions, so much so you can visualise it. There is always something happening, or building up to happening.
So did I enjoy this book? Wow YESSSS! I had fallen for the cover and blurb as soon as I saw them so I really desperately wanted to read this book, and my instinct was 100% right I totally loved this book! Would I recommend the book? Definitely, I'm already nagging my daughter to read it so we can talk about it! It's a book you want to talk about, you want to think about what will happen next . . Would I read a Bk#2 in this Series? Er..Yes please when can I have it to read? I'd read it like now! if I could. Would I read other books by Michelle Pickett? Yes, I certainly intend to. I love her style and pace of writing.
First of all let me start with thanking Spencer Hill Press for sending me a paperback of PODs to read and review.
I was immediately attracted to the cover when I saw it. The female pictured is Evangeline, or Eva as she prefers to be called. She is looking hesistantly out of a very metallic looking habitat. I like the worn effect on the title. the placement of the title and author name works well and of course there's the byline. The byline says "The end of the world is only the beginning" which sums things up perfectly. After seeing the cover and reading the blurb I didn't just want to read it I felt I had to read it!
A virus is spreading through the world, it cannot be cured, when a person gets the virus they have just days left to live. The government realises something has to be done to save humanity, but what and who, as they cannot save everyone. It is decided that once the "important people" have been chosen, there will be a raffle. Everyone's national insurance number will be literally put into a hat and the numbers will be drawn.
If your number is chosen, you will be "saved" and allowed to enter the governments secret POD system where you will live for at least 12 months. The government and powers that be think that the virus will be dead in just a year.
So like families all over Eva and her parents are sat around the TV (the only source of information) waiting for the raffle to happen, only it doesn't, they don't actually see the numbers drawn, all that is done in secret. They find out Eva is to be "saved" and is "a chosen one" when they receive a phone call. Eva is given instructions on what to do next. Eva is allowed just 2 suitcases, and has to report to a local school prior to being transported to quarantine. Once quarantine is over she will be taken to her POD and meet her fellow "pod mates" whom she will be spending the next 12 months with every day, all day! Obviously Eva doesn't want to leave her parents but they want her to go, to be safe in a POD.
The book goes on about life in the POD, the different pod mates in there together.
I really could go on and on about the book, the part I have explained about the book above really is only the first chapter or so. there's plenty happening. Life isn't as safe as everyone is led to believe. After the year has passed people are taken from the PODs to form villages that turn out to be more like military compounds. The freedom of being out of the POD isn't like freedom at all, your every move is dictated by those higher up in the chain of command. Then there's the big secret the government is trying to keep quiet, the virus hasn't died . . . it's mutated and seems stronger than ever. the infected continually attack the survivors, there's no where to hide from them. If an "infected" bites you, you become one of them. If you ingest the infected blood or it goes into a cut on you and mixes with your blood, you become one of them and die. The infected are basically monsters. To survive an attack from an infected you have to kill them, before they bite you. The monsters are large and very strong. On the outside of a compound you are constantly fighting for survival, to fins food and shelter as well as fighting off the monster attacks.
After a lot of different things happening (I'm not going to reveal as you need to read it yourselves) Eva is reunited with David, the guy she fell for in the PODs. They end up after an ardous journey with a group of topsiders who are virus free, hiding out in the PODs. . . . Should they stay in the PODs? Should they leave with there newly found friends? Will they live? Will the infected get in the PODs with them? Will a cure ever be found? What is happening back at the compound/villagers whilst they are hiding in the PODs. And sadly who lives and who dies?
This is a well written book, with great descriptions, so much so you can visualise it. There is always something happening, or building up to happening.
So did I enjoy this book? Wow YESSSS! I had fallen for the cover and blurb as soon as I saw them so I really desperately wanted to read this book, and my instinct was 100% right I totally loved this book! Would I recommend the book? Definitely, I'm already nagging my daughter to read it so we can talk about it! It's a book you want to talk about, you want to think about what will happen next . . Would I read a Bk#2 in this Series? Er..Yes please when can I have it to read? I'd read it like now! if I could. Would I read other books by Michelle Pickett? Yes, I certainly intend to. I love her style and pace of writing.
June 19, 2013
POD’s was a super fantastical read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as much as I expected I would and then some. I’ve known about this book now for quite some time, and I’ve been sooo excited to read it. As I was at BEA I had literally bumped into Michelle Pickett. I turned around to say I was sorry and I was like, ‘OMG You’re Michelle. I can’t wait to read your book!!’ As most of the authors that I’ve had the pleasure to meet – Michelle was amazing. Not only did she get a copy for me and signed it, but she took a picture with me too! I’m seriously honored by that. I just want to shout out to all the Spencer Hill Press authors, Y’all seriously ROCK. Anyways – I effing loved this book. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I fell in love with the writing, the characters, the imagery, and well… the entire thing.
POD’s brings you a fantastic mix of romance, snark, dystopian apocalypse, excitement and angst. I laughed, cried, gasped and smiled throughout this entire novel. Obviously I fell in love with the “I don’t take shit from anyone” Eva, and the delicious artistic David. The relationship between them really developed through the entire book. I loved all the witty banter and snark between all the POD members, and the fact that everyone there was facing their own demons. Everyone left someone and something behind. I mean that’s what happens when a virus plagues the entire world and scientists just can’t figure it out quick enough, right? I was enthralled about the virus setting because I’ve always had such an interest in The Bubonic Plague.
Michelle really brought together Zombie and Dystopian. There are quite a few instances in the novel that you don’t see coming and you’re either “Aww” or “WTF!” Whyyyy!? I can’t tell you what they are, cause I would be an asshole for ruining the book! (I need to talk to someone about this book though! – MESSAGE ME!) I enjoyed the support characters in this novel and think they were brilliant. You got to delve into their lives just enough, so that they made an impression on you. I adored the relationships that were built on the side.
I do have to say that I was put off by the government officials in this book. I never felt so involved with a book. I just wanted to punch them in the face. It saddens me that I feel like this is exactly how it would go down, too. Ugh. *SLAP* Treating people like that, it’s just not humane. But what can they do about it? Nothing. It’s the government. I mean… It’s a brilliant and I understand the thought process behind the raffle - but it is unfair, like life… because we know it’s fixed. It’s always fixed - In real life and in our beloved book realms.
I absolutely loved this book. I hear rumors that there is to be a second book. I’ll definitely be excited if there will be, but this is a great stand alone as well. I only have one complaint about this book, and its not even really a complaint. I kept getting so frustrated when Eva and David were FINALLY getting alone time together and something interrupted them. ALL. THE. TIME. Cock-blocking to the extreme right here! I did find it humorous but if it were me in that situation, oh yeah… I’d throw a total bitch fit. Other than that, this was well thought out, well executed and I will be cherishing this book for quite a long time to come.
Michelle, You have re-awakened my interest in YA. For a while now, I’ve been going astray over to new adult, cause I felt like everything was just getting so stereotypical with YA. Boy meets Girl. Girl meets another Boy. Girl can’t decide who to pick. It was so refreshing that for once there wasn’t a love triangle. Don’t get me wrong I’m a total sucker for a good love triangle, but I’m glad this book didn’t have it.
POD’s definitely held my interest from the first page to the last page. If you’re interested in YA then I would seriously pick up this book. Even if you’re not into YA, PICK UP THIS BOOK! I know you’ll fall in love with Michelle Pickett just as I have. I loves her even more so now that I’ve read her book, cause she’s such a sweetheart! Again, I love love loved this book and I really hope that if you’re reading this, you’ve decided to give it a try. POD’s is a must read that is totally worth your time.
POD’s brings you a fantastic mix of romance, snark, dystopian apocalypse, excitement and angst. I laughed, cried, gasped and smiled throughout this entire novel. Obviously I fell in love with the “I don’t take shit from anyone” Eva, and the delicious artistic David. The relationship between them really developed through the entire book. I loved all the witty banter and snark between all the POD members, and the fact that everyone there was facing their own demons. Everyone left someone and something behind. I mean that’s what happens when a virus plagues the entire world and scientists just can’t figure it out quick enough, right? I was enthralled about the virus setting because I’ve always had such an interest in The Bubonic Plague.
Michelle really brought together Zombie and Dystopian. There are quite a few instances in the novel that you don’t see coming and you’re either “Aww” or “WTF!” Whyyyy!? I can’t tell you what they are, cause I would be an asshole for ruining the book! (I need to talk to someone about this book though! – MESSAGE ME!) I enjoyed the support characters in this novel and think they were brilliant. You got to delve into their lives just enough, so that they made an impression on you. I adored the relationships that were built on the side.
I do have to say that I was put off by the government officials in this book. I never felt so involved with a book. I just wanted to punch them in the face. It saddens me that I feel like this is exactly how it would go down, too. Ugh. *SLAP* Treating people like that, it’s just not humane. But what can they do about it? Nothing. It’s the government. I mean… It’s a brilliant and I understand the thought process behind the raffle - but it is unfair, like life… because we know it’s fixed. It’s always fixed - In real life and in our beloved book realms.
I absolutely loved this book. I hear rumors that there is to be a second book. I’ll definitely be excited if there will be, but this is a great stand alone as well. I only have one complaint about this book, and its not even really a complaint. I kept getting so frustrated when Eva and David were FINALLY getting alone time together and something interrupted them. ALL. THE. TIME. Cock-blocking to the extreme right here! I did find it humorous but if it were me in that situation, oh yeah… I’d throw a total bitch fit. Other than that, this was well thought out, well executed and I will be cherishing this book for quite a long time to come.
Michelle, You have re-awakened my interest in YA. For a while now, I’ve been going astray over to new adult, cause I felt like everything was just getting so stereotypical with YA. Boy meets Girl. Girl meets another Boy. Girl can’t decide who to pick. It was so refreshing that for once there wasn’t a love triangle. Don’t get me wrong I’m a total sucker for a good love triangle, but I’m glad this book didn’t have it.
POD’s definitely held my interest from the first page to the last page. If you’re interested in YA then I would seriously pick up this book. Even if you’re not into YA, PICK UP THIS BOOK! I know you’ll fall in love with Michelle Pickett just as I have. I loves her even more so now that I’ve read her book, cause she’s such a sweetheart! Again, I love love loved this book and I really hope that if you’re reading this, you’ve decided to give it a try. POD’s is a must read that is totally worth your time.
June 12, 2013
Original review posted @Blood,Sweat and Books
The virus came swiftly. Young, Old, it didn't matter. Once infected you were dead. When a Virus of catastrophic proportions sweeps the country by storm the only thing Eva can do is watch and wait and hope. That is until the announcement that a National Raffle will be held. Fifty thousand lucky souls will be given a chance to wait out the virus in specially built Pods. Those chosen will live in them for a year in hopes that the virus dies out. Out of 313 million Americans Eva is spared. She is chosen, she is safe, least that is what she thought. While those in the pods wait below ground, above ground the virus has other plans. They thought the virus would die, they were wrong.
I knew PODs would be special when barely 10 pages in I was left near tears. Eva the main character is kept shielded as much as possible from the horrors of the world outside by her parents but reality has a way of kicking down the door making its presence known. I loved reading Eva's conflicted feelings knowing she'd be spared while trying to come to terms with the fact her parents would not. It has to be awful knowing that in just two weeks time you might never see your friends, family or neighbors ever again. Needless to say by the time Eva leaves to join the other survivors I was an emotional wreck.
The story really picks up once Eva is introduced to her Pod mates. I thought the story might suffer having the characters stuck in a room for a good chunk of the book but this surprisingly didn't happen. I loved the dialogue and seeing the survivors day to day lives and relationships unfold. My favorite character next to Eva was George. He just seemed so sweet and I liked how protective he was of everyone especially Tiffany. My least favorite was Josh but that's OK he was written that way to begin with. I was glad when he exited the story, for now at least.
Now while I really liked PODS I do believe the story fell apart a bit in the middle. The day to day life in the pods was interesting but just a bit repetitive. The middle could of been condensed a bit and I would of been fine with that. I also felt the story could have had a bit more information regarding the survivors in other pods. It's mentioned they have an Inter Pod network and we do see the character Katie talking to someone on her laptop but overall it was actually utilized very little.
Another small issue I had with the story takes place once the survivors emerge from the pods. It felt way to convenient that they were separated into small groups thus creating a reason why Eva would inevitably leave the safety of her compound. Speaking of Eva's departure, can I just say that I understand Eva and David lust after each other but lets be real here they were thrust into a situation where he was practically the only choice for a relationship. Eva's "love" was more dependency than anything else. Their relationship reminded me of Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games. It was a relationship of convenience nothing more, nothing less. Personally, I wasn't feeling it.
Overall, PODs is an incredibly well written story above love and survival in the face of adversity. While the back story and world building is lacking some the character development was great and by the end I was certainly left wanting more. I guess this begs the question,Would I recommend PODs? A resounding YES! I loved Eva she was a great character and after that ending I need to know what happens next. With that being said, I will be rating PODS by Michelle K. Picket ★★★★.
The virus came swiftly. Young, Old, it didn't matter. Once infected you were dead. When a Virus of catastrophic proportions sweeps the country by storm the only thing Eva can do is watch and wait and hope. That is until the announcement that a National Raffle will be held. Fifty thousand lucky souls will be given a chance to wait out the virus in specially built Pods. Those chosen will live in them for a year in hopes that the virus dies out. Out of 313 million Americans Eva is spared. She is chosen, she is safe, least that is what she thought. While those in the pods wait below ground, above ground the virus has other plans. They thought the virus would die, they were wrong.
I knew PODs would be special when barely 10 pages in I was left near tears. Eva the main character is kept shielded as much as possible from the horrors of the world outside by her parents but reality has a way of kicking down the door making its presence known. I loved reading Eva's conflicted feelings knowing she'd be spared while trying to come to terms with the fact her parents would not. It has to be awful knowing that in just two weeks time you might never see your friends, family or neighbors ever again. Needless to say by the time Eva leaves to join the other survivors I was an emotional wreck.
The story really picks up once Eva is introduced to her Pod mates. I thought the story might suffer having the characters stuck in a room for a good chunk of the book but this surprisingly didn't happen. I loved the dialogue and seeing the survivors day to day lives and relationships unfold. My favorite character next to Eva was George. He just seemed so sweet and I liked how protective he was of everyone especially Tiffany. My least favorite was Josh but that's OK he was written that way to begin with. I was glad when he exited the story, for now at least.
Now while I really liked PODS I do believe the story fell apart a bit in the middle. The day to day life in the pods was interesting but just a bit repetitive. The middle could of been condensed a bit and I would of been fine with that. I also felt the story could have had a bit more information regarding the survivors in other pods. It's mentioned they have an Inter Pod network and we do see the character Katie talking to someone on her laptop but overall it was actually utilized very little.
Another small issue I had with the story takes place once the survivors emerge from the pods. It felt way to convenient that they were separated into small groups thus creating a reason why Eva would inevitably leave the safety of her compound. Speaking of Eva's departure, can I just say that I understand Eva and David lust after each other but lets be real here they were thrust into a situation where he was practically the only choice for a relationship. Eva's "love" was more dependency than anything else. Their relationship reminded me of Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games. It was a relationship of convenience nothing more, nothing less. Personally, I wasn't feeling it.
Overall, PODs is an incredibly well written story above love and survival in the face of adversity. While the back story and world building is lacking some the character development was great and by the end I was certainly left wanting more. I guess this begs the question,Would I recommend PODs? A resounding YES! I loved Eva she was a great character and after that ending I need to know what happens next. With that being said, I will be rating PODS by Michelle K. Picket ★★★★.
June 2, 2013
*A copy was provided by Spencer Hill Press for review purposes*
Coming into this book, I was extremely excited. It looked like such a scary, awesome story. Unfortunately, I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I absolutely loved the story line and the action, but I was not a fan of the writing or romance. The idea was very interesting, the execution was lacking. I loved the world that Pickett created, and it was a very well thought-out and explained situation. The story was kind of boring in the beginning, but it picked up towards the middle/end, and it was very enthralling and exciting. The writing, however, was not up to par. I found myself skipping most of the big description parts in the book and only reading when the characters talked. Even then the conversation wasn’t flowing, and it was kind of juvenile. Also, it was really annoying reading about all the many kissing/feeling each other up scenes in this book. All the scenes were basically the same; David starts kissing Eva, sticks his tongue down her throat, Eva takes off David’s shirt, they go farther, then someone walks in on them. The same scene over and over and over again. At least the ending was good.
I had a huge problem with the romance in this book. Eva was an okay character. I liked her spunk, smart-mouth, sense of humor, and confidence. What I didn’t like was David and the fact that he was very controlling and thought Eva was weak. To begin with, this book had a very fatal case of insta-love, and I did not like that. AT ALL. Sometimes with insta-romances the beginning sucks but then once you read more about the romance it grows on you. That didn’t happen with this book. The romance didn’t feel right to me the entire book. It wasn’t romantic, if that makes any sense. The main reason I couldn’t get used to this romance was David. He treated Eva like absolute crap SPOILER:[ He dumped her, using the excuse that they didn’t know everything about each other to get out, then watched her suffer for two weeks, then came back again. I’m sorry, but that’s just wrong. And, not to mention, he’s trying to have sex with her every chapter. It’s creepy], and thought she was hopeless and couldn’t do anything by herself. Enjoy:
There ya go. Point made.
Even though the writing was not for me, and the romance was absolutely horrible, I couldn’t help but love the story line and action. This book was thrilling and addictive – I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a weird combination of love and hate.
Quotes:
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Emily's Crammed Bookshelf
This review was posted on Bookish
Coming into this book, I was extremely excited. It looked like such a scary, awesome story. Unfortunately, I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I absolutely loved the story line and the action, but I was not a fan of the writing or romance. The idea was very interesting, the execution was lacking. I loved the world that Pickett created, and it was a very well thought-out and explained situation. The story was kind of boring in the beginning, but it picked up towards the middle/end, and it was very enthralling and exciting. The writing, however, was not up to par. I found myself skipping most of the big description parts in the book and only reading when the characters talked. Even then the conversation wasn’t flowing, and it was kind of juvenile. Also, it was really annoying reading about all the many kissing/feeling each other up scenes in this book. All the scenes were basically the same; David starts kissing Eva, sticks his tongue down her throat, Eva takes off David’s shirt, they go farther, then someone walks in on them. The same scene over and over and over again. At least the ending was good.
I had a huge problem with the romance in this book. Eva was an okay character. I liked her spunk, smart-mouth, sense of humor, and confidence. What I didn’t like was David and the fact that he was very controlling and thought Eva was weak. To begin with, this book had a very fatal case of insta-love, and I did not like that. AT ALL. Sometimes with insta-romances the beginning sucks but then once you read more about the romance it grows on you. That didn’t happen with this book. The romance didn’t feel right to me the entire book. It wasn’t romantic, if that makes any sense. The main reason I couldn’t get used to this romance was David. He treated Eva like absolute crap SPOILER:[ He dumped her, using the excuse that they didn’t know everything about each other to get out, then watched her suffer for two weeks, then came back again. I’m sorry, but that’s just wrong. And, not to mention, he’s trying to have sex with her every chapter. It’s creepy], and thought she was hopeless and couldn’t do anything by herself. Enjoy:
“What happened to not asking too many questions?”
Page 242. uncorrected ARC edition
“Geez, Eva, why do you have to know every little morsel of information?”
Page 242, uncorrected ARC editon
There ya go. Point made.
Even though the writing was not for me, and the romance was absolutely horrible, I couldn’t help but love the story line and action. This book was thrilling and addictive – I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a weird combination of love and hate.
Quotes:
Month fifteen
It happened.
Maybe they won’t attack again.
I was wrong.
David nodded. “Don’t get bit.”
“What don’t I know?”
“A lot,” he answered.
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Emily's Crammed Bookshelf
This review was posted on Bookish
May 27, 2013
So when I first heard about this book I just knew I had to have it so then the hunt began I went on quite a mission to find a ARC of PODs & just when I was about to give up when I came across the Spencer Hill Press web page offering us readers an amazing chance to read & review a ARC Of PODs. So of course I signed up with fingers crossed and waited... then waited some more & then finally I got the e-mail from Spencer Hill Pres letting me know I was approved It took me about oh a nano second! to start squealing like a Justin Bieber Fangirl...lol So a very special thank you to Spencer Hill Press for my copy!
Many of you who follow me on the blog or twitter know how much I have fallen in love with dystopian reads last year & its still going strong this year & PODs is quite a dystopian read in the book we meet 17yr old Eva who is waiting at a chance of survival with her parents in this world that has been infected with a virus so deadly that your dead within hours & the only chance at survival comes at the hands of the government. How do they decide your fate you ask?? Well the government is holding a huge raffle using your social insurance number & if your number is chosen congrats! you have been selected to go underground to live in the PODs.
When Eva number is chosen so is relieved & happy but that excitement lasts only about a min she then realizes her parents number have not been chosen & her heart breaks. On the day she is set to embark the Pod is the hardest day. Eva has ever faced she has to say goodbye to the world she knew but the hardest is saying goodbye to her parents it literally broke my heart I felt like I was saying goodbye to my parents.
When Eva arrives at the PODs her new home for the next year she keeps to herself & quickly adopts to the daily routine that everyone has to follow. But as time goes by slowly, Eva starts to make friends within her POD but she is still guarded. one specific friend she makes is David who turns out to be quite a little love interest for Eva , David is sweet,charming & such a protector he would do anything & I mean anything for Eva as time goes on David & Eva Become close.As the story progresses many secrets come to light like that the people selected to live in the PODs where specifically chosen by age & had to be super smart in certain aspects. Hmmmm!?!?!? sounds like a super army being built huh ??
So finally the time has come to leave the PODs after a year in seclusion the virus has seemed to vanish above ground & life is starting to seem normal again but then something happens! It seems the virus is still going strong & right from then on everyone in the PODs are now fighting for their lives its action paced right until the end . The romance in the book is bitter sweet cause after all that time together Eva & David become separated on making it back above ground.
Now I can keep going on for hours about PODs but then there would be no point in you reading it which would be a damn shame cause PODs is quite an amazing read! If you a huge fan of dystopian as am I do yourself a favor & get yourself into a POD asap cause this might just be the last chance you ever have to start living again.
June 28, 2013
Eva was a normal 17-year-old girl, attending high school, going to the mall, hanging out with friends. Suddenly, the world as everyone knows it changes forever. A virus, incurable and deadly, swiftly moves across the planet leaving havoc in its path. The government has an underground POD system set up in which they plan to house people for one year, to give the virus time to run its course. The only problem is there are only a limited amount of spaces available. A raffle is held where participants are drawn by their social security numbers. Eva is one of the chosen. Leaving family and friends behind, knowing she will probably never see them alive again, Eva enters into her assigned POD, where she will live with 9 other people, people who she grows to care about deeply, especially David, who she falls deeply in love with. Unfortunately, love is the last priority the government has on their mind when the PODs are opened. They tell you where to live, what to do, and who you can see. The government also has been hiding something else. The virus didn't just die, it mutated, leaving behind zombie-like creatures who are vicious and whose bite is deadly. David and Eva must choose either a life of separation in the safety of the government controlled compounds, or risk it all to be together on the outside. It is said that love conquers all, but can it conquer the attacks of the infected?
I haven't found to many dystopian books that have captured my interest over the past year, and I am a huge fan of this genre. PODs, however, did capture my interest and I really enjoyed it. A good portion of the book is about the actual time spent in the PODs, which was actually quite interesting and entertaining. I loved seeing the relationships develop between the different characters, both friendships and love interests. It is amazing what all can happen inside a POD where 10 people live together. The romance that developed between David and Eva was great, and there were quite a few very steamy moments. There are also intense battle scenes and run-ins with the zombie-like infected, which are action-packed, thrilling, and instill that fear factor that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ending surprised me a little, though I was happy about it. I am really looking forward to the sequel, The Infected, which is scheduled to come out in 2014. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if you are a fan of dystopia, apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic, and romance, then PODs is definitely something you might want to check out.
Favorite Quotes:
“Will you, Eva? WIll you risk everything to see David? Because that's what you'll be doing"
"I'm not risking anything. Theres nothing here I want if I cant have him.”
“I wish I had your talent, David."
"I like that," he said with a small frown.
"What? That I think you're talented?"
"No. I like how my name sounds on your lips."'
I haven't found to many dystopian books that have captured my interest over the past year, and I am a huge fan of this genre. PODs, however, did capture my interest and I really enjoyed it. A good portion of the book is about the actual time spent in the PODs, which was actually quite interesting and entertaining. I loved seeing the relationships develop between the different characters, both friendships and love interests. It is amazing what all can happen inside a POD where 10 people live together. The romance that developed between David and Eva was great, and there were quite a few very steamy moments. There are also intense battle scenes and run-ins with the zombie-like infected, which are action-packed, thrilling, and instill that fear factor that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ending surprised me a little, though I was happy about it. I am really looking forward to the sequel, The Infected, which is scheduled to come out in 2014. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if you are a fan of dystopia, apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic, and romance, then PODs is definitely something you might want to check out.
Favorite Quotes:
“Will you, Eva? WIll you risk everything to see David? Because that's what you'll be doing"
"I'm not risking anything. Theres nothing here I want if I cant have him.”
“I wish I had your talent, David."
"I like that," he said with a small frown.
"What? That I think you're talented?"
"No. I like how my name sounds on your lips."'
May 31, 2013
PODs
is one of those books where I wish goodreads had a 'half star' rating system in place. Where I've given the rating of 4 stars, I wish I could give it 4 1/2 stars. While the book wasn't amazing, I still more than really liked it and I am very much looking forward to the next installment.
I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect with this young adult novel and was pleasantly surprised. I enjoy both the dystopian and apocalyptic genres and this book delivers on both fronts. The author has provided a wonderful plot that gives the readers a chance to view before, during and after the event that causes the end of current civilization---something that is typically left out in books of this genre. Side note: Maybe it's because I am close to people in my life, but the before tugged at my heart in a way I didn't expect. I actually found it quite emotional at times. This book also delves a bit into the 'zombie' genre, yet not in an entirely cheesy way. There were a couple of new twists that made this world completely unique and entirely fresh.
The characters were wonderfully written and as realistic as this genres gets. The main character, Eva, is portrayed as a normal teenage that evolves into a strong young woman as her story progresses. I felt that this was handled quite well by the author, as she could have very easily turned Eva into a women's rights advocate (something I both detest and feared). The main male character David is still a bit of a mystery to me, but that's alright. In the end, I felt no need to know more about his past, as the person he was no longer matters in the new society. His character is perfectly suited for Eva's and their relationship is one that is solid and, once again, also realistically handled given the situations in the book. There are several characters that come and go throughout the story that leave a lasting impact on the reader---I would love to know what happened to some of them!
From beginning to end, from plot and characters to writing style, I see this book as a wonderful combination of Robopocalypse-meets-Divergent-meets Twilight. Overall, the author really thought out this world she was writing and I'm curious to see if some little tidbits of information are further expanded upon in the sequel, The Infected . Fans of not only the dystopian genre, but also young adult genre, should give this book a chance. I, for one, am glad I did and fully intend to read---and enjoy---the sequel every bit as much as I did PODs .
I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect with this young adult novel and was pleasantly surprised. I enjoy both the dystopian and apocalyptic genres and this book delivers on both fronts. The author has provided a wonderful plot that gives the readers a chance to view before, during and after the event that causes the end of current civilization---something that is typically left out in books of this genre. Side note: Maybe it's because I am close to people in my life, but the before tugged at my heart in a way I didn't expect. I actually found it quite emotional at times. This book also delves a bit into the 'zombie' genre, yet not in an entirely cheesy way. There were a couple of new twists that made this world completely unique and entirely fresh.
The characters were wonderfully written and as realistic as this genres gets. The main character, Eva, is portrayed as a normal teenage that evolves into a strong young woman as her story progresses. I felt that this was handled quite well by the author, as she could have very easily turned Eva into a women's rights advocate (something I both detest and feared). The main male character David is still a bit of a mystery to me, but that's alright. In the end, I felt no need to know more about his past, as the person he was no longer matters in the new society. His character is perfectly suited for Eva's and their relationship is one that is solid and, once again, also realistically handled given the situations in the book. There are several characters that come and go throughout the story that leave a lasting impact on the reader---I would love to know what happened to some of them!
From beginning to end, from plot and characters to writing style, I see this book as a wonderful combination of Robopocalypse-meets-Divergent-meets Twilight. Overall, the author really thought out this world she was writing and I'm curious to see if some little tidbits of information are further expanded upon in the sequel, The Infected . Fans of not only the dystopian genre, but also young adult genre, should give this book a chance. I, for one, am glad I did and fully intend to read---and enjoy---the sequel every bit as much as I did PODs .
June 4, 2013
I had a hard time writing this review as I tried so hard not to give anything away, but this book blew my mind! I had been wanting to read it for months so when I heard that the Spencer Hill Press UK ARC Share Group were getting ARCs of it then I was so excited! I couldn't get through it fast enough! It was just amazing! There was so much suspense and action in it that it nearly had my biting my fingernails! I had my own ideas after reading the synopsis about what was going to happen in this book and I can honestly say that I was wrong with some of my ideas! The synopsis does give quite a lot away, but I wasn't expecting some of this book to happen at all, but it made it so much more interesting and a lot of the scenes added more suspense! Overall the plot of PODs blew me away! It was gory and my adrenaline level was so high after and whilst I was reading it! I also thought that the plot was original! I have read a few other books that focus on the same situation, but the author made it her own by adding in twists and some original features! The characters were also amazing! Eva was the main character and PODs was told from her point of view! I loved Eva! I connected with her the whole way through this book and I saw her become a better person! Eva grew so much during this book! She was strong from the start, but as the book progressed I saw her become an even stronger person! I could see how much she loved David as well! David was the love interest of Eva and he was so protective of her! I adored him for it! He gave up everything for her which must have been hard for him, but I could honestly see that he would do it all again in a heartbeat for her! There were quite a few other characters in this book and most of them actually played pretty big parts! I loved all the secondary characters! They all brought so much to the story! The ending was absolutely perfect that I thought that this book was a standalone until a friend told me that another book was coming out! I can say that I'm super excited to see where the next book is going to go and I'm also curious to see if it's still going to be about Eva and David! I am in love with the cover! it suits the book so much and the girl on the front is exactly how I pictured Eva looking like while reading the book! Big thank you to Spencer Hill Press for giving the Share Group ARCs of PODs!
May 21, 2013
Ok, so what would you do, if there was a drawing to see who would live and who would die?
There's a deadly virus that is wrecking havoc on the world. Each country is deciding how they will survive. We follow Eva, where in the USA, they have decided to randomly draw from the social security numbers. When she gets a call on her cell, her parents know that they weren't chosen, but that Eva would live on.
The year underground passes quickly, there are few who had the virus, and were "disposed" of. Then the real "fun" starts. With everyone being sent to certain areas to rebuild. Eva falls in love with David while in the PODs, but they are separated above ground.
As you read the story, and wonder what's happened while they were safe, and what will happen when those in love are separated, you won't be able to put it down!! What will happen to Eva and David? Will the virus kill everyone? You'll have to get the book to find out!!
There's a deadly virus that is wrecking havoc on the world. Each country is deciding how they will survive. We follow Eva, where in the USA, they have decided to randomly draw from the social security numbers. When she gets a call on her cell, her parents know that they weren't chosen, but that Eva would live on.
The year underground passes quickly, there are few who had the virus, and were "disposed" of. Then the real "fun" starts. With everyone being sent to certain areas to rebuild. Eva falls in love with David while in the PODs, but they are separated above ground.
As you read the story, and wonder what's happened while they were safe, and what will happen when those in love are separated, you won't be able to put it down!! What will happen to Eva and David? Will the virus kill everyone? You'll have to get the book to find out!!
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