This book hooked me from the start. I think it's the start of a great series that young readers will enjoy reading.

First of all, this book deserves all the accolades for having what is perhaps, the coolest middle grade cover of the year. Illustration aside, this is a fantastic fantasy/adventure/thriller of dueling dinosaur kingdoms.

This was a wonderful middle school read. Eleri is banished to the deadlands where he overcomes obstacles, finds friends and forms a new herd. The characters reminded me of the dinosaurs from The Land Before Time movies when I was a kid. I very much enjoyed this read and will definitely be on the lookout for book 2 in the series. I've already added it to our purchase list for our juvenile section of the library.

I’m not sure what I was expecting from this book, I honestly requested it based entirely on the cover and the fact that I was watching the new Jurassic World movie with my kid for the 100th time, This ended up being super delightful and I’m ready for the next book in the series, I thought the world building was fantastic, especially considering the reading level. Overall, sentient dinosaurs in a warring society is an amazing set up for a novel.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What worked:
I don’t think I’ve ever read a middle-grade book featuring dinosaurs as all of the characters. Scientists believe a giant meteor may have struck the earth, drastically altering the climate, and killing all of the dinosaurs. This book presents is an alternate reality where the meteor doesn’t kill all of the dinosaurs as the survivors have adapted to the new world. These creatures have the ability to talk and think and species have merged into three groups. Two of the three are herbivores while carnivores form the last group of mostly-independent predators. While dinosaurs have developed the humanlike characteristics of speech and community, they’ve also acquired the ability to wage war. Eleri, the main character, is able to ponder the concept of killing and envisions the value of all lives.
Readers will enjoy the wonderful underdog story where the main characters are expected to die. They’re all exiled to the Deadlands for different offenses but their herds assume they’ll never survive the barren, dry, toxic lands full of meat-eating carnivores. Eleri, disgraced runt son of a prince, is kicked out for warning an enemy about an impending danger, and Tortha, the enemy heir to his herd, is banished for not killing Eleri when ordered to. To complicate the situation, they’re from opposing herds and have deep-seated feelings of animosity for each other. Tortha’s destiny makes it more difficult to adapt to an alliance since she’s trained to become a warrior and has a grumpy personality. Sorielle is a seemingly naive, kind creature but she has an amazing mathematical brain. Lerithon is a world traveler and speaks in philosophical tones while providing spiritual and navigating guidance for the others.
The author creates mystique through events and characters to keep readers wondering. Eleri notices a secret meeting between unlikely characters that doesn’t make sense to him. He also observes some carnivores that seem to be working together even though he’s always been told that doesn’t happen. A minor character flies overhead with the intent of selling secrets to opposing sides in the war. He’s able to view happenings on the prairie and in the mountains and he accepts a deal with a hidden character to ensure Eleri dies. However, watching Eleri and his new team causes him to have second thoughts so readers will have trouble predicting what he will do with this new information.
What didn’t work as well:
I have a hard time visualizing the dinosaurs as they interact, especially as talking, sentient creatures. It might have helped if the author had included pictures of different dinosaurs in the beginning along with identifying their different herds. The introduction already has very general descriptions of each animal but illustrations would help readers envision the lesser-known ones.
The Final Verdict:
The author expertly develops personalities for the main characters, especially the star, Eleri. Readers will empathize with them as they’ve all been exiled from their friends and families and they struggle to survive the Deadlands. The plot builds to an exciting climax and the resolution leads nicely into a sequel. I recommend you give this book a shot.

For readers who like books from an animal's perspective, and enjoy the jurassic era, this book has found family, action, integrity, and an intriguing narrative. I chose this book to review because I know how popular the dragon and animal series books are with my middle grades patrons. I think The Deadlands will be a great addition to our collection and I hope there will be more in the series!

This is middle-grade action/adventure at its finest! AMAZING characters, constant action, and a ton of heart and friendship make this a standout. Perfect for readers who love Wings of Fire, Brandon Mull's book, and John Flanagan's books. Great for dinosaur fans or non-fans alike!

Eleri and his new friends battle unknown threats in the Deadlands. Banished for different reasons, they must overcome their fear and fight for what they believe in. Reminiscent of my childhood, this book reminded me greatly of The Land Before Time. I really loved the bond Eleri and his friends grew in their exile. You cannot help but root for their friendship while they discover their strengths as a group. The secret plot within helped blend together their backgrounds and give them a noble reason to press on and never give up on one another.

I also enjoyed how the dinosaurs could talk, communicate, and trade in this world. It gave a realness to it that helped envision a novel dinosaur setting. The scientific names of the different species was exciting to me, as it helps anyone reading learn more about the dinosaurs. Ending in a way that hints of a sequel, I will definitely be on the lookout for the next installment. All in all, The Deadlands was well-written, addicting, and super entertaining! I would recommend it not only to middle-grade readers, but older audiences, as well

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had it all, suspense, mystery, life lessons, war, friendship… I enjoyed the tale of the Deadlands. I’m excited to recommend this to my students as a middle grades book. There’s plenty for both boys and girls.

Within a mere first few pages of this enthralling tale, I was captivated and knew I must preorder a copy of it to add to my own little library for my two young boys. It’s as if Land Before Time and Erin Hunter’s Warrior series were mashed together and blended it into a page turning epic thriller meant for all dinosaur lovers to delve into and soak in the lyrical prose and delightfully diverse characters. And best yet, so many strong female characters that are wonderful role models, not another dinosaur adventure that is targeted just for boys. And so many species are brought to light and explored in this creative and glorious new world, including several I was unaware of such as an adorable tiny pterosaur species. Lots of fun to be had and you can’t put this book down. I’m on the edge of my seat eagerly awaiting the next addition to this trilogy.

Anthropomorphic dinosaurs are usually a hit and this one is no different, a great middle grade read. My only concerns were I kept hearing and seeing the land before time dinos in my head and I haven't seen those movies in 25 plus years, so the book kept giving me those flashbacks instead of enjoying the book for what it was, plus the super long unfamiliar Dino names kept distracting me.

This action packed fantasy is great for adventure lovers and dino lovers!

In a time after the Fallen Star (the meteor), some dinosaurs have survived and have also gained sentience. They have formed factions and have learned to love in a mostly barren landscape. But they have also been invoved in a seemingly never-ending war.

Eleri is a dreamer, who wishes to one day be a storyteller, not a soldier. When he inadvertently warns an enemy of a looming attack, he gets branded a traitor and exiled to The Deadlands. There, he meets up with a rag-tag group and they have to work together to try to bring peace to the kingdom.

This is a great start to the series. I enjoyed the characters, as well as the dinosaur facts I picked up along the way. I found myself taking to google to see what these characters might look like, or how big they'd be,

Thanks to Netgalley and the Macmillan Children's Publishing for an early copy for review!

A rip-roaring adventure, and a great series-starter. Sure to be a strong favorite of adventure fans, whether they are crazy about dinosaurs or not
In a dystopian land ruled by warring packs of dinosaurs, an unlikely band of would-be enemies come together to save their herds and lay the groundwork for peace.
When Eleri, a young dinosaur, is exiled from his kingdom and left to die in the Deadlands, he instead joins with a motley crew of other outcasts. Together, they discover a secret plan that is a threat to the entire dinosaur kingdom, and must find a way to work together to save the very clans who have disowned them.
But it isn't just the other clans which seek to destroy them--the very land they walk on is rife with deadly traps of all kinds, and it is only by pooling their knowledge and using their unique individual skills that they can survive long enough to try and save their kingdoms and wage peace instead of war.
Though the dinosaur action is thrilling, readers need not be obsessed with dinosaurs to enjoy this story and root for the protagonists. The classic fight of good against evil, of making good decisions in difficult moments, of finding friendship in unlikely places--these are all interesting themes no matter what form the characters take.
This would be a great new series for upper-elementary and lower middle-school readers, and would also be a fun read-aloud. No doubt readers will be left hankering for the next installment in the series, as the newly-formed herd of friends still has work to do!
Mild language, some dinosaur carnage and battle descriptions.
#thedeadlands:hunted #middlegradefiction #dinosaurs #listening_between_the_lions #NetGalley

This was a good adventure book! Family loves Jurassic Work movies and this definitely had that kind of vibe! Good read!