The concept of this book was very interesting to me, but unfortunately it fell short. The idea of a dystopian world where people are protentially being kept prisoner on a cruise ship seems super creepy and opens up a lot of oportunity for horror. I guess it's my bad that I was expecting something this book was not. Otherwise, I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and the "Big Brother Is Watching" energy the people running the ship was giving off.






Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me with an eBook copy to review.

"The Stranded" by Sarah Daniels presents a compelling near-future dystopian world set in the year 2094 aboard the Arcadia, a once-luxurious cruise ship turned refugee camp due to an apocalyptic war. The storyline deftly weaves drama, tension, and anxiety, creating a gripping narrative that is hard to put down. The author successfully captures the essence of a fractured USA, portraying a society on the brink where extreme social disparities, gangs, and makeshift shelters define daily life.

Within this setting, the characters of Esther, a loyal citizen striving for a chance at a normal life as a medic on dry land, and Nik, a rebel with ambitions to liberate the Arcadia, are skillfully intertwined. Their convergence sets off a chain of events that not only transforms their lives but also impacts everyone on the ship. The multiple points of view employed in the storytelling enhance the depth and complexity of the narrative, allowing readers to engage with different perspectives.

The book aptly fits the criteria of a young adult dystopian novel, with a realistic portrayal that draws parallels to our own world, especially in the aftermath of recent global events like the pandemic. The hint of romance and rebellion adds an extra layer of intrigue, making it a well-rounded and emotionally resonant tale. As the first installment of a two-part series, "The Stranded" leaves readers eagerly anticipating the continuation of this thought-provoking and immersive dystopian saga.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The cover of this book immediately captured my attention. I was aware that this book had been previously published and it was just getting a glow up, but comparing the new and old cover it seemed like night and day. I'm always down for books getting a refresh, and good on the author for realizing this book needed it!

The Stranded takes place in a dystopian future where the inhabitants of the cruise ship Arcadia are exiled from Europe. There is a call to liberate Arcadia and the passengers aboard the ship and the comparisons to The Hunger Games and Divergent was a smart call. I definitely got those vibes, and more. There were multiple POVs (which is always a win for me) and I thought the pacing and flow was spot on.

Usually when I read YA I tend to gravitate towards more romance or fantasy focused genres but this was a hit for me and it definitely urged me to read outside of my niche.

This was such a unique story. I really didn't know what to expect going in, but it was a dystopian story for sure! I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the quarantine aspect of the story, but it wasn't bad at all. I actually think this would make a great movie with all the action. I also enjoyed the multiple perspectives that we got, especially from different sides of the battle. There were parts that I felt got a little long or bogged down by details, but overall the book was good. I'm not sure if I'll pick up a sequel, but I am curious what happens next. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-book arc.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels has a lot of potential, but I found the execution to be lacking. The residents aboard the ship Arcadia have been at sea for 40 years after a virus and war plagues Europe. Floating off the cost of the Federated States (formerly the United States), no one is will allow the passengers to disembark onto firm land.

The story rotates between three points of view. Nik's dad was taken away when he was a boy because he was planning a rebellion and now Nik has taken up the cause. Esther is a rule follower and her hopes hinge on acceptance into medical school in the Federated States. Hadley is basically the ships enforcer and the villain in the story.

Where I struggled to connect with the book was in the details. The plot starts with the rebellion, and wile there is some before information thrown in, I never got a clear picture of how the ship operated. There are different levels and each level is determined by wealth and power. Beyond that, I don't really get it. I was also recently on a cruise ship for vacation and struggled to envision how it could have been broken down into this class system while still functioning.

The story felt a bit long. The beginning had a lot of action and angst, while the middle dragged a bit and the ending was a massive cliffhanger. Thankfully the next book is out so you don't have to wait to see how it all turns out.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted review copy.

As so many others have said, the idea of this book was exciting and interesting, but the execution was poor. It was slow, too long, and the characters were poorly developed. Instead of bringing the reader into the rebellion and what drove the characters to want to change their circumstances, most of the details of the rebellion were kept a secret until the end. I didn't feel I had much understanding of the Federated States especially in relation to other nations, how so many people could possibly fit on a cruise liner, the way technology worked, or many other aspects of this world. Maybe this would be more appealing for teens. As is, it wasn't a YA book that worked for me.

the fact that I was only 50 pages from the end and didn’t care to finish it…. yeah. 2 stars because I didn’t DNF but I deserve a medal for finishing this book. super cool concept and some of it was interesting but it was too long.

Forty years after an apocalyptic war, the decedents of the passengers of Arcadia are still on the ship. Some have a plan to get off the ship and onto the mainland, but many know that they are stuck until their last breath because the residents of Arcadia are not allowed to leave. Esther is working hard to better herself, but life is not fair and many obstacles are in her way. Nik wants to liberate the Arcadia and is willing to do anything to break free. When these two lives cross, the lives of everyone around them are also changed.

The Stranded is the first book in the Stranded series and it isn’t really in one genre. I would almost say it is a sci-fi adventure, but that doesn’t do it justice either. The entire time I was reading this book I was thinking about how I would react … how would I behave … what would I do to survive? This is a series, so there isn’t a clean ending, but readers are not left with a cliffhanger. I will definitely be looking for book number two next summer.

4.5⭐️ I don’t read/ watch much dystopian so my comparisons are quite narrow, but this really did give me Hunger Games and Divergent vibes.

Synopsis: In 2051 luxury cruise ship known as The Arcadia was set to leave Liverpool when a deadly virus broke out. People took refugee on the ship but were never allowed to disembark for fear that the virus that has wiped out most of Europe and the world will resurface, despite not seeing cases aboard for a long time. It’s now 2094 and The Arcadia has been stranded for 15,934 days at sea. After years of meticulous planning, a rebellion group begins an uprising to finally get the people to land and what follows is an action-packed sequence of events that will have your heart racing.

Thoughts: I loved how from the very first page we were drawn into this dystopian society and how easy it was to be transported there. The futuristic technology set against an old, rotting ship made a nice contrast, and Daniel’s descriptions of the sights, smells, and people made it easy to vision the social and political divides. This story was told through three unique POVs, and I love how each character brought a new perspective on each event, even the horrific villain Hadley. There were times where I felt the action scenes could have been a bit shorter but besides that, I am very happy I took a chance on a book outside my comfort zone.

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the ARC! Pub date: 1/3/23