Blog Tour: PODs by Michelle Pickett (PODs #1)

Hi gorgeous people and welcome to this stop of the PODs Blog Tour!

Title: PODs by Michelle Pickett

Published: June 4^th, 2013 by Spencer Hill Press

Source: ARC provided by publisher for review

Format: Paperback

Group age: Young adult

Genre: Dystopian / Romance

Challenge(s): 2013 Dystopian

Grade rate: B-

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.

Find it here:  Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

My Review

I love the dystopian genre and although this book wasn’t what I expected, PODs turned out to be a great adventure.

The synopsis for PODs is very good, thus I don’t have to repeat these crucial points in the story.  The book can be divided in parts: pre-virus, PODs, and live after the PODs.   I have to say that the beginning of the book moved me to tears.  I cannot comprehend the rapid spread of a fatal virus that wipes population so fast that there is no time to even study it and find a cure.  I cannot imagine the pain of knowing that death is almost certain, except for the few chosen to be saved in the PODs.  As a mother I understand Eva’s parents delight that she was chosen, I would have felt the same way.  Nevertheless, it was heartbreaking to read.

I really liked Eva (short for Evangelina); she is feisty, stubborn, beautiful, intelligent, and has a great sense of humor.  The part of the book I loved the best was the time that the group spends in the sub-POD.  At the beginning everyone was scared, grieving, upset, but eventually they become a tight family (for the most part).  Eva and David meet at the POD and the problems arise when they are relocated to different ‘villages’ at the end of their time there.  I’m not sure if I would have made the same decisions they did, but I’m glad they found each other.

The romance is a big part of the story.  I understand this as well; when everything familiar and everyone else is gone, finding love is like a lifeline.  David is handsome, intelligent, loving, tender and very protective of Eva.  I liked him, but for some reason something was missing.  I also got mad that they never found a moment of privacy!  Other characters in the story are not as well fleshed out, but I did like the group in the PODs better.

The plot is good, even if there are a few ‘holes’ in it.  I know that the story moves really fast, but it would have been to understand more about the virus, the mutation and the government’s plans.  I don’t understand where the PODs came from (were there build ‘just in case’?) and why the government made the decisions it did).  The writing is straightforward, easy to read and at times a bit dry. 

I was surprised to see in Goodreads that this is a series, as the ending of book one was quite adequate for me. I would recommend this book to dystopian lovers, please be aware that there are some gruesome scenes in here and it might not be appropriate for younger readers.

Some quotes for you: (please note these are form the ARC and they might be different in the final book)

“David. Where is he right now? Is he as excited as I am? MY heart is doing weird things and a million butterflies are inside me. I swear if I open my mouth they’ll fly out.”

“Sitting in a beanbag in the middle of the room was a boy with several piercing and tattoos; his blond hear was cut close to his heat in a military style… I dubbed him Beanbag Guy… there was a boy sitting against the wall, doodling in a notebooks. Brown hair fell all over his face.  He didn’t look up as I came in. I named him Doodle Boy.”

About the cover:  It gives an idea of what the book is about, although the PODs were underground.

About the Author

I'm a wife, mother, author, reader, although not always in that order. I've been an avid reader since a young child. I began writing for personal enjoyment in college, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. Why I chose a degree that didn't encourage creativity is a mystery to me.

I'm addicted to Reese's peanut butter cups and eat way too many while I write. I have a weird obsession with hoodies and can't write without wearing one. I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows.

I'm an unabashed romantic and love swoon-worthy happy endings that give me butterflies for days.

Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, I now reside in a small community outside Houston, Texas with my incredibly supportive, not to mention gorgeous, husband, three amazing school-aged children, a 125-pound lap dog, and a cat that thinks she's queen.

I write adult and young adult Sci/Fi, urban fantasy and paranormal romances.

I love to hear from readers and other authors, so drop me a note and say "Hi!"

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