End of the world by killer virus has been done plenty of times, but I loved the idea of people living in these PODs and emerging into a world that is so much worse than expected. The mutated virus has left any infected survivors violent, and hungry for human flesh. Zombies of a sort I guess if you want to think of it that way, except they aren't actual dead people reanimated. I loved the desperate feel of the story and I found it to be interesting and enjoyable.Eva is one of the chosen people to live in the PODs while the virus kills itself off. Or so they think anyways. She was a character that took me a little while to warm up to, but I really did like her. I know that she didn't really have much of a choice, but it seemed like she got over losing her family pretty quick. She adapts to the POD pretty well also. I can't really say that I wouldn't do the same because I couldn't imagine being in that situation. Her "roomates" are quite a diverse bunch, and she gets along with them well. Most of them anyways. She is very smart, which is one of the reasons she was chosen for the POD. She discovers that this was no random lottery. All of them in the pods are within a certain age group and all super smart in a certain subject. She knows that they will be the start of the new world once they are out.David is the love interest and I pretty much adored him. He was sweet and he would do anything for Eva. He does get a little of the male dominance thing, and the need to keep the women safe, but he doesn't do it to be a chauvinistic jerk, he just really cares and wants them to be safe. His devotion to Eva is amazing too. I loved the little things he would do for her that seem totally simple, but mean everything.We meet a large cast of characters since she is stuck in the POD for a good portion of the story. I liked most of them, but one character made me want to throw things. I couldn't stand him. I get that he is pissed off at the world, but you would think after time he would kind of get over it or stop being such a tool, but he doesn't . I was not so secretly hoping he got eaten the second they are out in the real world. The others in the POD were great though, and they really became a family. The characterization was a big part of the story, and I am glad that I was able to care what happened to most of them.The first half is slow, but not in a boring way. We are really getting to know the characters well and it's setting up for the investment we have in them once they are secluded anymore. The last third of the book is creepy and awesome. It's filled with plenty of action as they are constantly fighting for their lives against the people infected with the mutated virus. The romance is a huge part of this book too, but it is woven into the story well so it's not overshadowing the issues at hand. I think the creepiest thing about this book was I could actually imagine something like this happening. It had so much realism to it and I think that made it all the more chilling. This was fantastic.*An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.