FLAMING FEATHERS!! Perfect for fans of Land Before Time and Jurassic Park!

4.25 stars

When Eleri is exiled to the Deadlands for treason, all expect him to perish quickly. In fact, one mysterious dinosaur calling themself Shadow pays a Wind Whisperer to be sure it happens. Out aspiring storyteller not only survives, however. He finds a family where he least suspected it, creating his own herd with other dinosaurs who were rejected by their kind for one reason or another. The band of exiled youths also stumble upon a discovery that places everyone's survival in their claws...

It took me a few chapters to fully get used to this narrative following dinosaurs as main characters, especially one so complex with its history, politics, culture, and legends. Once I felt familiar with each main character, however, I absolutely loved their dynamic. The conversations among the group of exiles were handsdown my favorite, from the snarky comments to those made with empathetic understanding and mutual vulnerability. This very much reads as Land Before Time slightly aged up to the younger teen age range, and that is a compliment of the highest order!

I can easily see middlegrade lovers of all things dinosaurs, fantasy/science fiction, and adventure. And I will be recommending the library where I work to buy this series for our collection if we do not already have it.

This is a perfect novel for any middle school hero's journey unit. If you loved Land Before Time and We're Back, you'll love this novel! If there were a dungeons and dragons campaign with dinosaurs, this would be it. In this story, you will find storyteller, a warrior, a spy, a genius and a star gazing wanderer: the perfect combo for a quest.

Dinosaurs survived the fiery rock that hit earth and became sentient and gained the ability to speak. However, with this evolution comes war, betrayals. and double crossings. Can some banished exiles band together to save their species against the clever and cunning carnivores who have pitted the herbivores against each other? Read on to find out!

In 8th grade, we have a whole hero's journey unit. I plan to suggest this novel as independent reading during the unit.

What I loved most: the quest that kept me on the edge of my seat, the dinosaurs and their unique quirks, the different settings traveled

An extraordinary story about five dinosaurs who are outcasts from their herds and how they try to save their kingdoms from a horrific plot.

Nightfall leaked into the warren, cold and gray.
- first line

This book follows an unlikely group of friends, dinosaurs cast out from their herds and sent to the Deadlands. When they discover a plot that threatens all their kingdoms, they join forces to prevent it. I loved the characters - each dinosaur has a unique personality - and their interactions. Keeping the different dinosaurs straight was a bit hard because the names weren’t all familiar to me. I was all in and rooting for the outcasts. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming, and I spent a lot of time worried that one of the outcasts would die. It was suspenseful, and I can see my older elementary students loving this, especially those who enjoyed the Warriors series.

4.5

This book needs to be read by more people. It's fun and has the found family trope that I love. The journey that Eleri and his friends go on is familiar, but written so well.

I would recommend it to readers who love Wings of Fire and The Land Before Time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is great for upper elementary and middle school readers looking for something after Wings of Fire. A fun read of dinosaurs who changed and grew…

A cute book for middle graders. I like that it had the found family trope and ofc the dinosaurs. The characters and the plot were solid but the world building could be a bit better.

The last two dinosaur kingdoms are at an all out war to win territory and any infraction is treason. As a prince, Eleri wants no part of the war, only to tell stories and repair the kingdom. But in order to do that he must team up with a seer, an enemy, and a spy. This adventure is reminiscent of the Land Before Time but with a more mature lens and incorporates everything readers love of Wings of Fire. The characters had time to develop and the plot was consistent. This JUV fiction book had everything a reader looks for in adventure stories.

Thanks to NetGalley & Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a fantastic book! Perfect for Warriors, Wings of Fire, and dinosaur fans! The writing style was fantastic, characters believable (love the Triceratops with a southern accent lol), and worldbuilding was very fun. I really can't wait to see more of this series!

A fun middle-grade series in the vein of Wings of Fire, The Deadlands: Hunted doesn't always hit the mark, but will likely quickly become a favorite of inquisitive kids. Several young dinosaurs are exiled from their herds and come together to try to stop a massacre, despite the war between their peoples. The characters are interesting and the drama is high, though the writing isn't a deep or complex as in Wings of Fire. The customs of the different dinosaurs are fascinating and the characters feel well-developed and unique. This is a good series opener and a great choice for preteens who love dinos or fans of the Hunters/ Survivors/ Bravelands books.

This book is super intense and enjoyable. This one is reserved for the middle graders with a deep and intense fascination of dinosaurs and a strong stomach for spooky and thriller adjacent stuff. Wonderful!!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Books, and Skye Melki-Wegner for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

This was definitely a book out of my comfort zone, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. It look a chapter to get used to to the dinosaur species , but I created a helpful cheat sheet using the dinosaur guide in the front of the book and then the story took off!

Eleri of the Mountain Kingdom is exiled from his home for saving an enemy soldier from the Prairie Alliance. The war defines these dinosaur kingdoms and they are disgraced at Eleri for aiding an enemy. In exile, Eleri is forced to walk the Deadlands alone for eternity. He joins a group of unlikely dinosaurs to form their own little herd and save each other from deadly tar pits, noxious gases, and hungry carnivores. When the Grotto Herd figures out the truth behind the raging war, they go to extreme lengths to save their kingdoms and reveal the truth.

Of course, this ends on a cliffhanger! Can't wait for book #2!

Dinosaur fans will enjoy this anthropomorphic dinosaur tale as they picture a diverse group of dinosaurs in their struggle to survive exile from their groups. The world building is very descriptive. In the beginning of the book, I felt less than engaged. However, as the book progressed, I was completely drawn in. This book (which feels like the start of a series) will be a good fit for fans of the Wings of Fire series. I look forward to recommending it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Deadlands: Hunted is a middle-grade novel about dinosaurs who were changed when a meteor struck Earth. They learned to communicate, built societies, and unfortunately began to wage war on each other. This is the first book I've read regarding anthropomorphic dinosaurs and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this. Fans of Hunter's Warriors series and Sutherland's Wings of Fire series will love this.

Young readers who are starting to delve into high fantasy will enjoy this story of anthropomorphized dinosaurs. The world building is extensive and interesting, and it's clear how this story will build out into a series. The book also has a good message.

I wasn't so sure I'd enjoy a story with anthropomorphized dinosaurs, but once I got passed that, I really enjoyed this book! The world-building stood out the most for me. The land of Cretacea really came to life in many ways for me. I think kids will like the plotting behind the war and how this will spin out into a series. Eleri is a good character, and I think his development would be a great discussion point for kids. Standing up for what is right, even when it is difficult. I look forward to the next installment!

Young readers who enjoy Erin Hunter's Warriors series are bound to be fans of this new series focused on dinosaurs. Based on the premise that the dinosaurs evolved intelligence and language after being exposed to the remnants of a fallen star. While many dinosaurs died after the star hit and devastated the landscape, some survived and changed. But a war over territory rages between the plains dinosaurs (triceratops, ankylosaurs) and the mountain dinosaurs (oryctodromeus, iguanodons, and stegoceras). Eleri, a young oryctodromeus, stumbles into a conspiracy just before being exiled for inadvertently saving an enemy soldier. Struggling to survive in the Deadlands, the area devastated by the fallen star, Eleri joins forces with other young exiles; Tortha, the triceratops he saved, Sorielle, a young anyklosaur, and Lerithon, a sauropod. The exiles work together to come up with a plan to stop the conspiracy before both kingdoms can be destroyed, but it's going to take every ounce of ingenuity and strength they can muster to accomplish it. On top of that, they must survive the predators and hazards of the Deadlands as well as a spy. This opening book in a new middle grade trilogy presents readers with a great deal of action and adventure. Frankly, I'm surprised such a story hasn't been done before, because it's a brilliant idea. Dinosaurs are perennially popular with young readers. The story moves along briskly with lots of action and plenty of interesting twists and turns. Each of the main five characters stands distinct in terms of physical and personal character traits. The variety among the characters makes their alliance all the more intriguing. A series that I definitely plan to follow through to the end as I am fully invested in the characters now. A fun series opener that young animal loving readers are bound to pick up eagerly.

What a fun and exciting middle grade read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and escaping back in time to hang out with the coolest set of dino misfits. Despite their equally difficult to pronounce names and species, each character has their own personality and quirks that keeps you rooting for them the whole time.

This book will undoubtedly be compared to The Land Before Time until likely the end of time, but not only is that an apt comparison but one I think should be embraced. Those inclined to the Warrior novels and other animal heavy tales will naturally find their way to this stellar read, but those leaning into their late 1990s nostalgia should also pick this up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Skye Melki-Wegner, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

THE DEADLANDS: HUNTED is a heartwarming middle-grade book that follows a group of young dinosaurs who are banished to the Deadlands. Despite the danger, they band together to stop a war between the various dinosaur clans and prove that friendship and unity can conquer all. The book is filled with action, adventure, and humor, making it a page-turner. The characters are endearing and relatable, and the message of standing up for what's right and coming together in the face of adversity is one that will resonate with readers of all ages. This is a must-read for dinosaur lovers and fans of middle-grade fiction alike.

The description for The Deadlands: Hunted describes this book as Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park, but I’d even say that there are some Land Before Time vibes there too!

In this middle grade novel the main character, Eldridge, is exiled from his kingdom and sent into the Deadlands. This exile is basically a death sentence until Eleri meets up with other exiles. In order to survive they have to look past their differences and learn yo work together. Meanwhile, a battle rages on between the herds of Cretacea and an unknown enemy threatens everything.

I found that this book provided a good balance between drama, action, and friendship. There was always something happening, but there wasn’t too much focus on any one conflict. I felt like the story resolved nicely, but I was also glad that it seemed to leave an opening for a sequel. Although this book is targeting a middle grade audience, I believe that it will still appeal to a select YA crowd. I would recommend this book to fans of Wings of Fire and Warriors.

I would like to thank Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with an ARC.

I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers. It's a lot of fun but does include some deeper themes and topics with life and death during war. The characters are all well written. During the journey they develop very well, although I would love to see some more development in the future for some of the other dinosaurs in the herd they formed. Tortha and Eleri felt the most developed of the herd and we do get to see them more, so it makes sense. The world building is intriguing, and I hope future installments develop more of the world and customs. Overall, I think this was a great beginning to the series.