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.

In the near future, refugees fled Europe to escape a viral disease. When they reached the shores of America, they were quarantined and not allowed to come ashore. These floating refugee ships are not much more than floating prisons. How long will the people on these ships stand for this treatment? The residents of the ship Arkadia are about to take matters into their own hands.

I didn't realize that this was a young adult novel. I was looking for new books to recommend to my post-apocalyptic book club. I enjoy pandemic fiction so I thought I would give it a chance. If I had realized that it was YA, I probably wouldn't have selected it.

The Stranded is a pretty typical young adult dystopian novel. I don't really feel like there was anything groundbreaking or overly original about the story. I appreciated that the author included more adults in leadership roles, though the teens didn't really feel like teens - they felt more like they were in their 20s.

It is billed as Snowpiercer meets The Hunger Games. I haven't read Snowpiercer but The Stranded didn't suck me in or have the wow factor like I found while reading book 1 of The Hunger Games.

It's not as violent as The Hunger Games. The Commander in charge of ship security (or maybe he is just charged with keeping order) underestimates the teens on the ship. Since he doesn't view them as a threat, they have more ability to help the rebel cause. The author drew on history of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia to develop those in charge. Anyone working with the Federation (the U.S. has split up and the Federation States is what is left) are seen as collaborators. There is high-tech surveillance but informants are still used.

I'm sure that teens will enjoy this novel. It is the first half of a duology. Book 2, The Exhile, came out this summer so you won't have to wait for the conclusion. I'm not planning on reading it as I don't really care what happens.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday, Oct. 19 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/10/the-stranded-by-sarah-daniels.html

I did want to like this book but it took too long to get into the plot. I did not finish this book but do not put it against the author. There are times when I think a book will be perfect for me, but it turns out not to be the case. That said, I always give authors another chance, so I'll look forward to her next work.

I was really excited to start this and thought I would really enjoy it but in the end I did not finish it.
There was a lot going on and at the same time it seemed very boring. I just could not get into this one.

Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy.

The Stranded had a lot of potential, but it just felt like an Okay YA Dystopian to me. There was nothing inherently wrong with it. I was invested, I liked the characters, the plot moved fairly quickly, but there was just something that I wasn’t connecting with fully and I found myself rushing through it so I could move on to the next book.
I think part of it was a lack of background. We just kind of jump into the lives of these people who have been trapped on a ship for their entire lives without much information on why and what happened until later in the book. It might have just needed a little more setup and world building to really grab and hold my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Sarah Daniels for an e-arc of The Stranded in exchange for an honest review.

The Stranded takes place in such a world. Forty years ago, people boarded this ship fleeing a war. Now, it still floats near the coastline of the Federated states (what’s left of the US), its inhabitants surviving in their own little world and hoping for a chance to live on land one day. Ester is a loyal citizen, a hard-working medic in training. But there are rebels who want to liberate the ship, and when she gets embroiled in their plot, she’ll have to make some tough choices about her own future that may affect her people’s whole way of life.

I ended up doing this one on audiobook, and I may not have finished it in print. It felt long, and there were so many characters, motivations, and plots going on that I sometimes had waning interest. It’s not confusing, and the jumping around POVs helped move it along, but overall, it was just ok for me. If you like revolutionary dystopian books with more speculative reality than scifi, give it a chance, though. It might be right up your alley. It’s out now wherever you get your books.

The premise of The Stranded seemed so appealing, I love the cover it's like the film Ghost Ship, but unfortunately, the book was underwhelming.

This YA thriller is fast-paced and has multiple POVs. The characters lack depth. They were mainly good or evil. But a dystopian novel on a ship was interesting. Some parts dragged but it did pick up towards the end.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

After an apocalyptic war, the once luxurious cruise ship the Arcadia is now a refugee ship. For forty years the residents of this ship have been prevented from reaching land. The ship floats near the Federal States, what used to be part of the U.S. Esther follows the rules and is working hard. Nik goes against authority and is planning something big.
When the two meet things will never be the same.
I wanted to like this but it was so boring. Maybe it was the writing style but I couldn't get into the story at all.
The Stranded is available January 3,2023.
Thank you netgalley and sourcebooks for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

It took me a long time to get into The Stranded, I really loved the premiss, I thought it was an interesting setting and compelling storyline. While overall it was enjoyable, I just felt more middle of the road about the book. The end of the book was filled with action which pushed me through. When I started I thought it was a stand alone, which threw me off while I was reading. Knowing that there is another book explains a lot.

SPOILER: The reason it was more middle of the road for me, is because I don't really enjoy Nik/the rebellion and Esther's connection. The conflict that arrises when May is killed is understandable, but the way he blames her for her death and later the rebellion basically blames Esther for people drowning when the ship crashes to the shore, was a little too out of order considering they more or less forced her hand in being involved in the first place. Then, there are the subtle hints that there might be more to Nik and Esther's relationship in the next book and it just feels slightly forced. Especially with Nik and May's relationship history.

It's up in the air if i will finish the series or not.

This book wasn’t exactly what I thought in a good way. I really enjoyed it from the characters to the atmosphere! Can’t wait to get it on my shelf.

I did enjoy this book, even though I thought it was a little long and dragged in places. I still read it in one day. I would recommend it.

Even though I felt this book was a little too long and the ARC I received had typos all over it, I still enjoyed this. This book had the some of my favorite elements from both the Divergent and Hunger Games series like rebellion, fighting for a better future and survival. I also really liked the POV changed throughout which made this a more interesting read. Plus there was so much happening to all the characters, it was a quick and action-packed book.

I do not know how I feel about this becoming a series, but I am here for it. Recommended if it will be as good as the memorable Divgerent, Hunger Games, Red Queen, and Twilight series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sarah Daniels Soucebooks Fire for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available

The Stranded is a YA dystopian thriller set on a once luxurious cruise ship called the Arcadia. This book is a multi POV and I really enjoyed that aspect. It did have a few hiccups that I didn’t enjoy like the fact that the pacing of the story was a bit slow. But overall, I did enjoy it.

The premise of The Stranded had me hooked, but sadly the book just didn't live up to it's potential. The pacing was all over the place and there was very little character development, leaving me very disappointed. I really wish I liked it more than I did.

This eARC was provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was a great YA dystopian thriller. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea due to being a YA novel, it was very enjoyable. The characters were great and it was really interesting to see their development and the progression of the story. It's eye opening in that it makes you think about the possibility of something like this happening in the future: A virus has erupted and all the people that have it are quarantined to boats in the ocean for years, even though no one has tested positive for a very long time.

This is a dystopian YA novel. The premise for this book is so interesting but the execution is a little underwhelming.

I *wanted* to like this, because the setting was unique, but the overall plot was just cliche after cliche. I didn't really like any of the characters, the pacing was weird (so. slow. at the beginning and then too fast to follow towards the end), and coupled with the predictable plot, I will not be reading any further in the series.

3.5 Vibes of Waterworld and Hunger Games. Interesting premise…especially post-pandemic, loads of action, and a potential love triangle/square that may have younger readers choosing Team Nik or Team Alex (ala Twilight and Hunger Games).

Joining a growing list of recent young adult literature set on the high seas, Stranded by Sarah Daniels is a well-paced story that might engage reluctant readers in your high school library.

The year is 2094 and biological warfare has stranded refugees on a once-luxurious cruise ship. After sixty years at sea, the ship is deteriorating and emotions are high as people begin to question the political situation both on land and on the sea. Esther has spent her entire life on the boat and at sixteen, she is worried about a possible future career that would allow her to escape the ship. When faced with a renegade opportunity that would free the passengers from social oppression and poverty, Esther must decide where her allegiance lies.

The setting of a biological threat on a cruise ship is a relevant reality for a young adult audience and the author’s description of life in this scenario is both believable and slightly frightening. There is good tension between characters and limited diversity as well. Stranded is a solid addition to an adventure or realistic fiction shelf in the library.

The Stranded is compelling, there are so many things going on within the book that I know that author Sarah Daniels will connect the dots .This near future dystopian, sci-fi novel set on a huge ship has people stuck on the ship for over 40 years. There's an entire generation that has never lived off the ship now. Esther and Nik are so radically different and want different things from life. Esther gets pulled into a rebellion because she has nursing skills to save Nik when he is hurt. From that moment forward her life is not the same and she discovers that there are more people than she thought that are involved in the rebellion... including someone who is close to her. Feeling betrayed, studying for her final exam which could be her legitimate ticket off the ship, Esther is close to unravelling. She keeps getting pulled into the rebellion and doesn't know what she wants to do.

The emotion packed into this gripping novel is intense at times, but Esther and Nik have destinies to fill....and choices to make about their destinies. What will Esther do next?

I enjoyed this read, very good characters most are like normal everyday people that the reader can connect with. Some have high ambitions and some just want to be safe. Just like us. Definitely recommend this read!

The Stranded is Part One in a new series.