This is a great near-future dystopian adventure. I’ve never read a book set on a cruise ship, never been on a cruise ship, but this painted such a gloomy, rusty, believable picture. I liked the interesting plot and complex dynamics between the people groups that have formed on the ship over time. The amount of bickering and mood swings of the characters got a tad annoying but I suppose that is accurate for the teenage characters. Sometimes YA books pound you over the head with angsty teenage romance but I feel like this one was less heavy handed and actually bearable.

I could totally see this being turned into a movie. I’m excited to check out the sequel whenever that comes out!

Set in a near future dystopia, The Stranded was an excellent read. The world was built slowly over time the characters were well developed. Fans of the Hunger Games and Divergent would probably enjoy this one.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels - 4.5 stars

The Stranded is the type of story that easily grabs your attention and keeps it until the very last page. This is a story built on the backbone of a dystopian action-packed world that leaves you invested in each character and their journey.

An old cruise ship, The Arcadia, has been stranded out on the sea for decades, but it's not empty. The passengers on the ship and the characters who make this story. I love the different point of views and how each one is doing what they can to reach their own personal end goal, whether that be to get off the ship or to help correct others wrong doings.

This is a great read and it left me in a daze days after finishing it. The Stranded is a book to remember.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOK Fire for the ARC

There are books geared towards a younger audience I really enjoy. This wasn't it.
I think because there is SO MUCH going on as soon as we started off that I couldn't find a handhold for my attention in the book. I do think a younger person would enjoy this story and even students who need to do book reports in school, this would be a good choice.

honestly, this was fun! very classic YA dystopia which is the only reason to give it the hunger games comp because it is otherwise nothing like it lmao.

Life aboard a cruise ship turned refugee camp is less than luxurious, especially with governmental regulations and oversight placing strict restrictions on the residents who already have few options available to them, making conditions particularly ripe for a rebellion in The Stranded by Sarah Daniels.

Aboard the Arcadia are residents descended from European refugees from an apocalyptic war that featured the dangerous spread of a virus; floating near the coastline of the Federated States, which fractured from the United States, there are limited ways to make if off the ship and finally reach land, and a potentially freer life: becoming a medic or cadet for the Federated States. Esther, a loyal citizen, has been working and studying hard to become a medic alongside her boyfriend Alex with the goal to make it to dry land shortly after her cadet sister May does but her entire life’s plan is drastically altered when events occur that bring her sphere together with Nik’s, who is a rebel deeply involved in the long-developing plans to liberate the Arcadia and its residents from the oppressive control of the Federated States, dished out on the ship by head of security, Hadley, and his prolific amount of spying drones. As Esther, unknowingly at first, becomes more deeply intwined with the rebellion after her initial interaction with Nik alliances begin to morph and priorities quickly change, the results of which will impact everyone aboard the ship.

Within a socially stratified society contained in a limited amount of space on a decrepit ship and in a surveillance state led by corrupted governmental powers, a dystopian world with advanced technology is detailed and the narrative has a propulsive momentum throughout moments of action where suspicions that had been slowly developing are eventually revealed as part of a much larger plot. While the characters themselves easily (if too overtly) fit within stereotypical roles common of the genre, they serve the purpose of quickly delineating for readers the “sides” of the fight yet to come to a head without reliance on more nuance to their development and potential growth, they were afforded some emotional complexities, through their backstories and interactions with one another as told through the chapter perspectives of Esther, Nik, and Hadley, that helped to make them feel a bit less like a generic placeholder. Though leaving endings of stories within dystopian societies open-ended is common and allows for readers to envision what might happen next, the conclusion of this narrative instead came across as abrupt and incomplete, without an adequate amount of resolution for the fate of the ship and its residents, and instead is heavily reliant on a sequel to complete and address the loose threads.

Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels is an action packed dystopian novel that you will definitely have a hard time putting down! It is the first book in a duology and I am very excited for the next book!
The Arcadia is an old cruise ship that has been stuck at sea for decades - including it's residents. Esther is a teenage girl who is working as hard as she can to earn herself a place back on land. Nik is a risk taking rebel who will do anything to bring an end to the oppression and unfair treatment of those on the Arcadia. When Esther is forced to help the rebellion, she at first wants nothing to do with it. But soon, she starts to find herself entangled deeper and deeper - and she must decide for herself what is really worth fighting for.
Overall, I really liked this book. It was fast paced, full of action, and had some good grit to it. I liked the overall premise and it made for a really fun read! I did feel that towards the end of the book, the change in certain characters emotions and feelings felt a bit sudden considering how intense they had been just prior. But I can't wait for the second book to see what is going to happen next and how it all will end!

The way I was invested in this book is crazy. It was on my mind all the time. The Stranded grabbed my attention from the start with the unique setting. Having the character be stuck on a cruise ship was such a good concept, it created a claustrophobic energy to the story. I could also picture it so vividly in my mind ; the boat, the different levels, the little café at the start, the market, it was perfectly build.

I love having all 3 POV. I think they all brought something really interesting to the plot. Esther, i think, was my least favorite. Mostly because i found her very dull at first, but the more the story unfolded the more shades were added to her character and by the end i was really rooting for her. Nik was an awesome character, his chapters were usually my favorite. His struggles hurt me the most. But i think what really adds to the story was Hadley's POV. I absolutely ADORE having the villain's side of the story. It brings some really interesting elements to the storyline. The relationship between all of the characters was an other aspect I really enjoyed. It's messy and sad and complicated and i was alllll in for it.

This book was filled with action, it starts right away and doesn't stop until the last page. it's fast paced, and you never get a dull moment.

I want more.

Highly recommend picking up this one when it comes out, it was such a fun ride! I'm just going to sit in a corner and wait for the sequel, because after that ending, i seriously need more.

I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the publisher for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. ⚠️⚠️⚠️TRIGGER WARNING DRUG ABUSE ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️I enjoyed Esther, Nik and Hadley's characters. This is a good dystopian. This book will be in stores on January 3rd, and I would highly recommend reading this book to anyone and everyone.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for the copy of this ARC!

I haven't read Dystopian YA for awhile, but The Stranded took me right back to my Hunger Games / Divergent days where I just didn't want to put a book down! This book takes place aboard a cruise ship-turned-refugee quarantine ship, The Arcadia, which has glaring classism, a strained good citizen/rebel dynamic, and terrifying enforcement officers. Anxiety levels were HIGH while reading this action-packed piece, and I loved the multiple POVs from characters in various parts of the ship. Everything came together so well, the twists were good, and I can't wait for book two!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release.

Okay let me say, this book was SO unique. I love myself a book about a ship, plagues, future technology, so roll that all up into one and I'm a happy girl. The Stranded had a solid plot, and a consistent pace that kept me interested the whole time. Only thing I would have liked would be a touch more of a wrapped up conclusion, I had so many questions!!!

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

A dystopian novel on a cruise ship? Yes please!

Short Synopsis:
The Arcadia has been floating for forty years. The residents aren’t allowed on land for fear that they carry a virus that hasn’t existed for decades. Ester is training to be a medic to one day leave the ship, but then gets caught up in her sisters secrets.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this one! The characters were well developed. The twists were great. It has everything you want in a dystopian YA novel - corrupt government, brave heroine, drama, rebellion, relatable social issues and action. So much action.

It’s like Black Mirror meets The Hunger Games. And now I have to impatiently wait to read the conclusion of this duology.

The Stranded

3.75⭐️

I just finished this one and my first reaction was WHAT?!

This dystopian story is set on a cruise ship off the coast of the Federated States. For 40 years residence have lived there, not allowed to go back to land. In the future society there are constant drones watching their every move as the rebels attempt to take over the ship.

This was fast paced and I enjoyed it once I got into the second half of it. There were a lot of points of view and at first it took a while to make all the connections. The ending felt a bit blunt and I would have loved a little more.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels captivated me from the first moment I read the description. I love a good dystopian tale, and it promised (and delivered) a unique story, that I thoroughly enjoyed! The world that the characters lived in was so fresh, the characters were good, and the writing was immersive and fantastic! I would give this story a perfect rating, except that at the end, it needed a few more things tied up before the end. However, that is a small thing that can be rectified by reading the next book. All in all, The Stranded is a thrilling, unique adventure full of fallible characters that you can’t help but love!

Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Fire for the arc. I will be submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion on Goodreads immediately, and on Amazon and Twitter after publication.

The Stranded is a dystopian novel set in a future where a virus spreads and caused pandemonium. The Arcadia was in Europe, and its passengers, plus many who hopped aboard to get away, became stuck onboard for 40 years, when the cruise ships turned into a floating quarantine prison, off the coast of what is left of the United States (called the Federated States.). There is a feud between the haves (those who had tickets on this ship) and the have-nots (the staff and those who jumped onboard without a ticket), so along with the other wars going on in this ship, we have a class battle going on, along with a battle between the innocent parties on this ship and the "Colies" or police aboard the ship who are there to keep things contained. There are other fights going on, as well, which keep the reader guessing.

The only way off the ship is by death or by the few people who study and become military or medics and go to the states to help out there. Esther and her sister Meg are two of these people, about to graduate and head off to land. Meg is the first of the two to graduate and leave, which is heartbreaking for her sister, who believes she will not see her again. However, things are not always as they seem. Not with Esther's boyfriend, or Nik Lahill who ends up being her sister's boyfriend, much to Esther's surprise. Esther is pulled into a world she did not know existed when her sister leaves the ship - perhaps more than she bargained for, but Esther is not one to shy away from a challenge. The book ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger, and it is clear that another book will follow, as it was set up well for a sequel.

I found I needed to suspend my disbelief, but the story was good enough that I was willing to do this and go along for the ride. This YA novel kept my interest, and I will be happy to pick up the second installment and see where Sarah Daniels takes the story. I think this was a great first novel for this writer.

If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and The Divergent Series, definitely give this book a read.

The year is 2094, and for the past four decades the cruise ship Arcadia has been anchored offshore, harboring a city of European refugees fleeing a virus that is now keeping them stranded at sea. Despite the fact that there have been no positive cases for thousands of days, only a select few people are permitted to leave the ship to live on the mainland. Sixteen-year-old Esther has her sights set on being a medic for the Federated States and is working diligently toward that goal even as she prepares for her older sister May to make her own way to land. But when resistance activities begin occurring on the ship with greater frequency, the chances of departure become ever slimmer, and it is unclear whether anyone will ever escape the confines of their sea bound home.

From the first moments, this book is riveting, especially coming off of the COVID-19 pandemic that brought the world to its knees. The narrative is presented through multiple points of view, which gives readers insight into just how complex and interconnected the many people living aboard the Arcadia have become. Though the dystopian future in which these characters find themselves differs from the present day, the author does an excellent job introducing readers to this world and making them feel a part of it. Action, deception, rebellion, and human relationships are all integral to the plot of this book, and it is a gripping debut in the young adult space. Fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent will readily fall for the similar intensity of this book and its overall message of doing the right thing, even when it is hard to do. This is a fantastic addition to library collections for teen readers.

A fairly compelling dystopian thriller with plenty of detailed post-apocalyptic world-building. Too much world-building, maybe. Most of the dialogue seemed to serve as exposition to lay out the rules and realities.

This book may be directed to young adults, but it should be listed as for all adults. I loved this book. I could not put it down. The story is of a people who had been stranded on a cruise ship forty years before and not allowed to disembark due to a horrible virus. People lived, had children, died, fought, loved all on this ship.
There is a rebellion. I was totally engrossed in the lives of the main characters. There are good guys, bad guys, in between guys, really bad guys and non stop action, adventure, fear, and suspense. Truly, when I am yelling while reading a book, you know I was drawn into it. My only complaint is that the book ended far too soon. I hope there is more to come.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital arc

On the Arcadia, a once sumptuously decked out cruise ship, hundreds of people struggle to survive. Their families have been on the ship moored off North America for forty years. After a war in Europe, the refugees were refused admittance to the Federated States. The leaders of this former part of the U.S. reward just a few of the ship's residents by permitting them to become medics or otherwise serve the Federated States.

Esther has been training to become a medic and escape the ship her whole life. Her older sister, May is to join the Army. May's secret boyfriend, Nik is plotting with others to end the standoff and allow the detainees their freedom. When Ester gets pulled into the plot, her boyfriend does as well. But he is loyal to the existing hierarchy and so things begin to go wrong.

The story ends in dramatic confrontations, on land and sea. Reminiscent of The Hunger Games (though with less crowd appeal), The Stranded is a sturdy entry into the field of dystopian literature