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Game, Read, Teach

October 25, 2015

Review: The Infected by Michelle Pickett

The Infected (PODs #2)
Author: Michelle Pickett
Publisher: Hayes Publications
Publication Date: October 12, 2015
Pages: 364
Format: Kindle

From the author of the award winning Unspeakable, and the best selling PODs, comes the highly anticipated sequel to PODs. A world where death stalks the unsuspecting, and this time even the PODs might not save them.

A virus nearly wiped out humankind...

Months have passed since a human infection has been reported. Survivors of the deadly pandemic have finally started to build a life in a world left devastated by plague.

Ironically, for nineteen-year-old Eva, life made more sense when she battled the deadly Infected than it does in the serenity of her new home in Rosewood. Separated from fiancé and former POD-mate, David, after an impossible ultimatum, Eva finds her life a little lonely and a lot confusing.

But as troubled as Eva’s life is, it's about to take a turn for the worse as untold dangers watch and wait for the right moment to attack…

The virus refuses to die quietly.


Review: I'm SOOOOOO happy this finally came out! I loved PODs and I seriously couldn't wait for the next installment! The Infected lived up to my expectations! I really like how there is a genuine picture of an infected on the cover of the book. Blue veins and everything! I know a lot of people said the blurb for PODs gave away a lot of the story and I can say that the blurb for The Infected definitely doesn't! In fact, the blurb is only a tiny piece of the story. 

I had a love hate feeling for David in this book. If you recall from my review of PODs, I actually really liked his character. I ended up not liking him about a chapter in to this book and I felt like that for over half the book. Some stuff happens in between when PODs ended and The Infected starts that is explained in the first chapter that really changed how I felt about David for a while. Eventually I came back to liking him again, but not as much as I did in PODs. I also really enjoyed Eva's development in this story. She decided that absolutely no one was going to tell her what to do or how to do it and I loved it! She gets told to stay behind on a mission while the boys handle it or not to take on the infected and she says HECK NO! She stood up for herself and showed the men just what she was capable of doing and how well she was capable of doing it. 

We also got to get to know some new characters such as Devlin and his sister Jessica and some other people from Rosewood, the village Eva was assigned to live in. Devlin was generally a nice guy and I quite enjoyed getting to know more about him throughout the book. I also enjoyed the friendship he formed with Eva. We also got to see more of Tiffany and George and see how their relationship has grown and developed. 

I have to say the story went in a different direction than I was expecting. I was not expecting David and Eva and the group that got stuck outside of Rosewood to make a trip to the main settlement to get stuff. I was also not expecting them not to just up and leave Rosewood for good so easily. I was expecting a little more time and thought to be put in that decision. I was also surprised at how many people decided to leave with Eva and David and their group. It's really sad when so many people put their faith in a 19 and 20 year old over the military. That says something. 

I have to say I was super happy with the ending! Eva got something back that is so precious to her and I couldn't be happier! And Eva and David finally got their happiness as well after all that happened throughout the book.

5 Stars!

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on October 25, 2015 2
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5 Stars, Dystopian, Hayes Publications, Kindle, Michelle Pickett, October 2015 Release, PODs, Review, The Infected
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October 17, 2015

Stacking The Shelves [#69]

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews as a way to share all the books we got during the week!




Bought for Kindle:
  • Milayna (Milayna #1) by Michelle Pickett (Goodreads)
  • The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen #1) by Jodi Meadows (Goodreads)
  • The Infected (PODs #2) by Michelle Pickett (Goodreads)
Bought/Gifts (Part 1):
  • Talon (Talon #1) by Julie Kagawa (Goodreads)
  • Rogue (Talon #2) by Julie Kagawa (Goodreads)
  • Golden by Jessi Kirby (Goodreads)
  • Glass Heart (Cold Kiss #2) by Amy Garvey (Goodreads)
  • The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass (Signed) (Goodreads)
  • Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads)
  • Perfect Ruin (The Internment Chronicles #1) by Lauren DeStefano (Goodreads)
  • The Impossibility of Tomorrow (Incarnation #2) by Avery Williams (Goodreads)
  • A Discovery of Witches (All Souls #1) by Deborah Harkness (Signed) (Goodreads)
Bought/Gifts (Part 2):
  • Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #3) by Laini Taylor (Goodreads)
  • Waterfall (Teardrop #2) by Lauren Kate (Goodreads)
  • Starglass (Starglass #1) by Phoebe North (Goodreads)
  • The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young (Goodreads)
  • The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg (Goodreads)
  • Dearly, Beloved (Gone With The Respiration #2) by Lia Habel (Goodreads/Review)
  • (Not Pictured) The Essence (The Pledge #2) by Kimberly Derting (Goodreads)
  • (Not Pictured) The Forsaken (The Forsaken #1) by Lisa M. Stasse (Goodreads)
  • (Not Pictured) Vitro by Jessica Khoury (Signed) (Goodreads)
Library:
  • (Not Pictured) Elusion (Elusion #1) by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam (Goodreads/Review)
  • Zodiac (Zodiac #1) by Romina Russell (Goodreads)
  • Earth Girl (Earth Girl #1) by Janet Edwards (Goodreads)
  • Oblivion (Nevermore #3) by Kelly Creagh (Goodreads)
  • The Offering (The Pledge #3) by Kimberly Derting (Goodreads)
  • The Stars Never Rise (The Stars Never Rise #1) by Rachel Vincent (Goodreads)
  • A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1) by Claudia Gray (Goodreads)
  • A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Saraha J. Maas (Goodreads)
  • Sweet (Sweet #1) by Emmy Laybourne (Goodreads)
Star Trek:
  • Taking Wing (Star Trek: Titan #1) by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels (Goodreads)
  • The Red King (Star Trek: Titan #2) by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin (Goodreads)
  • Day of the Vipers (Star Trek: Terok Nor #1) by James Swallow (Goodreads)
  • Night of the Wolves (Star Trek: Terok Nor #2) by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison (Goodreads)
  • Behind Enemy Lines (Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Dominon War #1) by John Vornholt (Goodreads)
  • Call To Arms (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Dominon War #2) by Diane Carey (Goodreads)
  • Tunnel Through The Stars (Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Dominon War #3) by John Vornholt (Goodreads)
  • Sacrifice of Angels (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Dominon War #4) by Diane Carey (Goodreads)
  • Gods of Night (Star Trek: Destiny #1) by David Mack (Goodreads)
  • Lost Souls (Star Trek: Destiny #3) by David Mack (Goodreads)
  • Hollow Men (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) by Una McCormack (Goodreads)
  • Unity (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) by S.D. Perry (Goodreads)

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Cheryl Klam, Claudia Gabel, Deep Space Nine, Jodi Meadows, Julie Kagawa, Kelly Creagh, Laini Taylor, Lauren Kate, Lia Habel, Maggie Stiefvater, Michelle Pickett, Stacking The Shelves, Star Trek
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October 15, 2015

Review: Elusion by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam

Elusion (Elusion #1)
Authors: Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: March 18, 2014
Pages: 382
Format: Paperback/Library

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.



Review: I really looked forward to reading this book. I enjoyed Elusion very much. I was very interested in this idea that the Elusion technology could let you escape real life for a while. I really enjoyed getting to know Regan as a character and actually found her quite relatable. In a good amount of stories the characters seem not to have the issues and drama of a normal person. Regan does have that. From getting into fights at school with someone who doesn't like her and getting detention, to having a friend who seems bad but actually isn't while the supposed "real" friend isn't actually acting like a good friend at all. All that sounds more closely related to the real life of a teenage girl. Sounds perfectly like high school. I liked that I could relate to her having those experiences that any of us could have had in high school. That made the story much more enjoyable to read.

However, I didn't exactly like Patrick. He seemed like one of those on and off again friends throughout the story. First its "I'm your best friend, I'll do anything for you," then it's "I can't talk to you about anything, leave me alone." Not to mention the fact that he didn't seem to be there when Regan needed him or listen to anything she said. And don't even get me started on the jealous jerk he was over Regan and Josh. Regan made it pretty clear to him that she was not interested in him as more than a friend yet he still acted like she was his and his alone. I did like Josh more however. I was not the biggest fan of him not telling certain things to Regan but unlike Patrick, he actually apologized for his mistakes. He actually tried to make things right which made me like him a lot more.

I was actually surprised by what happened in parts of the story. I didn't see coming what actually happened to Regans father (I won't spoil it). I was actually blindsided by the truth about it and who was involved. I was also surprised at the people behind it doing what they did. Up until I read that scene I didn't think those people were involved at all. I was also surprised at the end of the book discovering the Ether World. It doesn't sound anything like I initially thought it was going to be like. It will be interesting to see what happens in it in the next book.

The one thing I didn't like with the book is that the world building was lacking some. We get the general information that it's in the future Detroit. However, we don't get much detailed information as to how the city ended up the way it did or much as to how it looks. We just know it's in Detroit, the air isn't great and the city is split up into sectors. I would have liked a more detailed idea of how things actually looked!

Overall I really enjoyed the book!

4 Stars!

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I love books! I have a 10 year old daughter and a 2 year old cat. I'm a 3rd Grade teacher! I also very much enjoy video games. I'm on the PS5 often.

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