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jsilfen924's review
4.0
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
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
readwritejoy's review
4.0
I believe this was Daniels’ debut, and if so, this is an incredibly promising start. I see a bright future in store.
The Stranded is a wonderful YA dystopian! It hits all the right notes: romance, adventure, action, plot, character growth, etc.
It’s close enough to our reality (mysterious virus, war, stranded on a cruise ship) to not be entirely unrealistic, yet at the same time, it’s not too close that it’s painful to read.
Want an enthralling, fast-paced escape? Read it!
The Stranded is a wonderful YA dystopian! It hits all the right notes: romance, adventure, action, plot, character growth, etc.
It’s close enough to our reality (mysterious virus, war, stranded on a cruise ship) to not be entirely unrealistic, yet at the same time, it’s not too close that it’s painful to read.
Want an enthralling, fast-paced escape? Read it!
melissawgaffney's review against another edition
2.0
The premise of the book = A
Execution = D
Felt way too long, characters were boring, and nothing really happened. Had to really power through after I decided to not drop it.
Execution = D
Felt way too long, characters were boring, and nothing really happened. Had to really power through after I decided to not drop it.
twiinklex's review against another edition
2.0
2.5⭐
✨ "Take it from someone who's lost people: what you're feeling now, this is it. Forever. They will tell you it get easier. It doesn't."
The Hunger Games meets Station Eleven? Umm not really. There might have been a bit of Snowpiercer vibes but just very mildly. Appealing premise, but the execution just seemed lacking and the story wasn't propulsive at all. It's a supposedly dystopian universe but didn't feel cut-throat. There was action but I didn't feel tense. There was a body count but I didn't feel sad.
I didn't care for any of the characters and found Esther particularly annoying. There was one part where another character thinks, "She's pathetic — a jelly mess wallowing in self-pity. I resist the urge to kick her." LMAO I felt that. The only interesting person to me was Hadley.
There was also a lot of wasted opportunity: Unsatisfactory world-building as I wanted so much more details and background. No twists, turns and morally grey characters despite an intricate plot. Highlighting of social issues as such racism and displacement that didn't really go anywhere.
Overall, this was a dull read that I slogged through. Ugh, the cliffhanger!
Thank you to the publishers for the Netgalley ARC.
✨ "Take it from someone who's lost people: what you're feeling now, this is it. Forever. They will tell you it get easier. It doesn't."
The Hunger Games meets Station Eleven? Umm not really. There might have been a bit of Snowpiercer vibes but just very mildly. Appealing premise, but the execution just seemed lacking and the story wasn't propulsive at all. It's a supposedly dystopian universe but didn't feel cut-throat. There was action but I didn't feel tense. There was a body count but I didn't feel sad.
I didn't care for any of the characters and found Esther particularly annoying. There was one part where another character thinks, "She's pathetic — a jelly mess wallowing in self-pity. I resist the urge to kick her." LMAO I felt that. The only interesting person to me was Hadley.
There was also a lot of wasted opportunity: Unsatisfactory world-building as I wanted so much more details and background. No twists, turns and morally grey characters despite an intricate plot. Highlighting of social issues as such racism and displacement that didn't really go anywhere.
Overall, this was a dull read that I slogged through. Ugh, the cliffhanger!
Thank you to the publishers for the Netgalley ARC.
thatlibrarynerd's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @ 50%
This book has some great ideas. Unfortunately, they're not realized, and many character decisions seem to come out of nowhere. I can see why they exist, they just aren't integrated well. The previously devoted boyfriend turning traitor after one misunderstanding, for example--seeing that character turn to the villains would have been really interesting, but it needed to be justified, it needed to be his arc instead of just a plot point. Esther being loyal to the Federated States was a really cool idea for a protagonist, but she never was, and it felt like the author didn't see why anybody would be... so why did she try to include this? There are so many interesting ideas here that I genuinely like, but the execution was bad and dull to the point that I wondered what the point was. Is this... supposed to be a romance? Between which characters?!
My final breaking point came when a POV character was involved in some kind of failed rebellion *off-page*. The author wasn't writing her story particularly adeptly, but deciding to not write it at all!
This book has some great ideas. Unfortunately, they're not realized, and many character decisions seem to come out of nowhere. I can see why they exist, they just aren't integrated well. The previously devoted boyfriend turning traitor after one misunderstanding, for example--seeing that character turn to the villains would have been really interesting, but it needed to be justified, it needed to be his arc instead of just a plot point. Esther being loyal to the Federated States was a really cool idea for a protagonist, but she never was, and it felt like the author didn't see why anybody would be... so why did she try to include this? There are so many interesting ideas here that I genuinely like, but the execution was bad and dull to the point that I wondered what the point was. Is this... supposed to be a romance? Between which characters?!
My final breaking point came when a POV character was involved in some kind of failed rebellion *off-page*. The author wasn't writing her story particularly adeptly, but deciding to not write it at all!
bookishly_bri's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a random grab for me from the bookstore on my last trip and I absolutely loved it. I have been trying to expand what I read and I really enjoy dystopian books, so I was excited to delve into this one which is YA, a genre I haven’t read in a while. The rusted ship with people peering through the windows on the covers is what initially had me picking it up.
Stranded on a former cruise ship years in the future, a group of rebels plan their escape. This is extremely relatable to current events with the fear of a deadly virus, and a very haunting future. The ship was broken down by class and is told from multiple perspectives, from various members of the different classes. One of the best parts of this for me was that we had the POV of the villain of the story, Hadley, so you got to see both sides of the rebellion. Esther, another main character, was originally looking for a legal way off the ship with dreams of going to medical school, when she was dragged into the rebellion by her sister, May.
This was a very unique take on a dystopian novel and kept my attention through the whole book. For a roughly 450 page book, there were no slow parts. The ending did leave me wanting more, BUT I know this is meant to be a duology so it didn’t bother me that I felt this way.
Stranded on a former cruise ship years in the future, a group of rebels plan their escape. This is extremely relatable to current events with the fear of a deadly virus, and a very haunting future. The ship was broken down by class and is told from multiple perspectives, from various members of the different classes. One of the best parts of this for me was that we had the POV of the villain of the story, Hadley, so you got to see both sides of the rebellion. Esther, another main character, was originally looking for a legal way off the ship with dreams of going to medical school, when she was dragged into the rebellion by her sister, May.
This was a very unique take on a dystopian novel and kept my attention through the whole book. For a roughly 450 page book, there were no slow parts. The ending did leave me wanting more, BUT I know this is meant to be a duology so it didn’t bother me that I felt this way.
writeonsteph's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to enjoy this a lot more, based on the concept and the fact it was the first in what seemed to be a series. However, lack of pacing and tension building really robbed this of its potential. Most of the tension was spoiled by the rotating POVs where we were told or shown certain aspects. By the time the action kicks in at around 75%, nothing is truly surprising. I was also confused by why everyone sort of accepts the status quo, and no one seems to have inter-neighborhood friendships, which seems like it would be a thing for people who have been living on a ship for two generations. The threat from Coalys and the semi-futuristic surveillance system would not necessarily have prevented day to day mingling.
I think the biggest flaw was having Esther be in a relationship. From the beginning, we see Esther be uncomfortable with Alex, and doubt whether they would get married. While she does not question his temper or weird reactions (and this may be where I show my age), it is clear she does not want to be with him. This would allow for some midway tension, if they ended their relationship, and it certainly would lead to a more believable betrayal (I don’t believe that Esther would have trusted him implicitly). It would also make the inevitable Nik-Esther set up less weird.
I’ll still read the sequel but hopefully issues of pacing are worked out. It was enjoyable, albeit not very memorable in terms of YA dystopian lit.
I think the biggest flaw was having Esther be in a relationship. From the beginning, we see Esther be uncomfortable with Alex, and doubt whether they would get married. While she does not question his temper or weird reactions (and this may be where I show my age), it is clear she does not want to be with him. This would allow for some midway tension, if they ended their relationship, and it certainly would lead to a more believable betrayal (I don’t believe that Esther would have trusted him implicitly). It would also make the inevitable Nik-Esther set up less weird.
I’ll still read the sequel but hopefully issues of pacing are worked out. It was enjoyable, albeit not very memorable in terms of YA dystopian lit.
nicolamichelle's review against another edition
5.0
Welcome to the Arcadia. Where reading in public could get you imprisoned, the land is a distant dream and the slightest misstep could garner the attention of the coalies, which you would do well to avoid. There’s a revolution afoot, but can the residents of the ship Arcadia finally break free of the iron ruling of Hadley and those who would not see them walk on land for fear for spreading a viral contagion, despite there being no confirmed cases aboard.
What a great debut novel! I could tell from the first page this was going to be a book I loved and I absolutely loved it! It’s one of those where I wish I could give it 10 stars and will adamantly recommend to everyone to read. Seriously, you can not fall out with this book. It’s guaranteed to entertain and keep you turning pages.
I also loved the authors effortless writing style, which was so easy to read and enjoy. The characters were great, the plot was fab, it was seemless. I seemed to blink and the pages disappeared and I was truly hooked! And after that ending… oooof! Certainly need more. I really can’t wait to read more from this author in the future!
Thank you to the author and publisher via NetGalley for this book in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Edit: also reread this book and listened to it on audible to recap before I read the second in the series and it was just as good as I remembered! And the narrators were all awesome.
What a great debut novel! I could tell from the first page this was going to be a book I loved and I absolutely loved it! It’s one of those where I wish I could give it 10 stars and will adamantly recommend to everyone to read. Seriously, you can not fall out with this book. It’s guaranteed to entertain and keep you turning pages.
I also loved the authors effortless writing style, which was so easy to read and enjoy. The characters were great, the plot was fab, it was seemless. I seemed to blink and the pages disappeared and I was truly hooked! And after that ending… oooof! Certainly need more. I really can’t wait to read more from this author in the future!
Thank you to the author and publisher via NetGalley for this book in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Edit: also reread this book and listened to it on audible to recap before I read the second in the series and it was just as good as I remembered! And the narrators were all awesome.
krispaulding1's review against another edition
5.0
"The Stranded" is a dystopian read that follows the passengers of the Arcadia, an ocean liner that has been sheltering refugees who sought safety after a biological war broke out forty years ago, one that killed millions in the first week. Border walls were erected, the union was fractured, and those who were on the ship were never allowed to leave. For the last few years, a resistance has been brewing and they are ready to execute their plan, no matter the cost.
Wow! This is truly a unique book to freshen up the dystopian genre, which seems oversaturated with the same storylines. The author delivers a fantastic, action packed plot. Told from multiple points of view, with well developed and strong characters, it was very easy to get lost in the pages and become fully immersed in the danger and adventure. This book encapsulates everything one would expect from a story set in 2094, including a changed landscape, futuristic dialect, fancy gadgets and amazing technology. Without a doubt, this is my favorite dystopian read of 2022! Please tell me there is a sequel planned!
I would like to thank Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for providing me an advance copy ahead of its January 3, 2023 publication date in exchange for an objective review.
Wow! This is truly a unique book to freshen up the dystopian genre, which seems oversaturated with the same storylines. The author delivers a fantastic, action packed plot. Told from multiple points of view, with well developed and strong characters, it was very easy to get lost in the pages and become fully immersed in the danger and adventure. This book encapsulates everything one would expect from a story set in 2094, including a changed landscape, futuristic dialect, fancy gadgets and amazing technology. Without a doubt, this is my favorite dystopian read of 2022! Please tell me there is a sequel planned!
I would like to thank Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for providing me an advance copy ahead of its January 3, 2023 publication date in exchange for an objective review.