I really enjoyed this near future dystopian with elements of sci-fi story. I definitely agree with other reviewers who got Divergent and Hunger Games vibes. This was a great YA debut, and I’m glad I read it. I’m looking forward to the next entry in the series.

My thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I liked this book. A lot. In fact, I plan to recommend it as one of the four titles we will use in our summer reading program next summer. In this program, all of our high school students have the option to pick one title for their summer reading. I think this book will make a great addition. It has action, romance, vengeance, betrayal, and a fantastic setting - everything a high school student could want. That is not to say it is perfect. The villain is a little too one-dimensional and the resolution dealing with him is a little too abrupt. I also felt like the background information on the virus and devastation in Europe could have been better detailed. Most readers will want to have a better understanding of why the Arcadia is in the position it is in. However, these a minor quibbles. For most, this will be an enjoyable read and they will eagerly wait for the sequel, which the ending clearly hints toward.

Snowpiercer meets the Hunger Games? Sign me up! I immediately wanted to read this book based on this one line synopsis as I love both of those. A luxury cruise ship is turned into a refugee camp after being driven from Europe after an apocalyptic war. The Arcadia has been stuck in the ocean off the coast of the Federated States for the past forty years; not being able to make landfall. We follow Esther who is working to get off the ship and become a medic for the Federated States and a chance to live a semi-normal life. However, she is sucked into a rebellion that is happening on the ship and she needs to decide what team she will choose. Will the Arcadia be liberated or will everything crash and burn?

I definitely enjoyed this book! I loved the dystopian feel and I enjoyed the fact that I could see this happening in real life. This is a multi perspective story which I always enjoy as well. The character development is a little lacking in my opinion but I do understand that it is a YA book and those tend to not have as much development. I am excited to find out that this is going to be a series and there is going to be another book coming out soon. If you do enjoy The Hunger Games and/or Snowpiercer, then I highly recommend checking this book out.

*Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.*

I received a digital ARC from Sourcebooks Fire through NetGalley.

I appreciated the premise of this book, but the story fell flat for me. There were too many characters to keep track of. I wish there was more about their lives on the ship. There was a lot of action, but I did not care about the characters enough.

A fun YA dystopian story! The cover alone caught my attention, thank you Netgalley and Source Books Fire for my gifted copy for review!

For forty years, residents of the Arcadia have been prohibited from making landfall. It is a world of extreme haves and have nots, gangs and make-shift shelters.

Esther is a loyal citizen, working flat-out to have the rare chance to live a normal life as a medic on dry land. Nik is a rebel, planning something big to liberate the Arcadia once and for all.

When events throw them both together, their lives, and the lives of everyone on the ship, will change forever . . .

Imagine being trapped on a cruise ship, living in constant fear of being arrested and the trouble that comes along with that. Great descriptions of how places on the ship transformed from luxury cruise line to a city. From the cafe to the market, very easy to imagine what it would look like.

I loved hearing the POV from several characters. A normal citizen, the rebellion, the citizen secretly helping the rebellion, and the villain. Knowing all sides just added more to the story. All the wild technology and action keeps you up turning pages!

I wish there was more background information on the virus. Like, are we talking Outbreak, Walking Dead, Covid? I just wanted more on what happened when the virus hit, what it caused, and why they were being isolated on the ship for 40+ years. Maybe that will come out in what I’m hoping will be book 2. Daniels leaves this one with quite the cliffhanger!

The Stranded is a good choice for readers who want lots of nail biting action, gut dropping thrills and plenty of unexpected danger. Short chapters propel the action; a solid plot twist keeps the pages turning; and the strong braided narrative, including the villain’s voice: a sadistic tyrant himself a prisoner, keeps readers compelled. Appropriate for grade 7-12 collections with no excessive violence or adult situations to prevent both teens and middle grade readers from enjoying this thriller. Adult readers will see through some plot holes and immature decision making but teen readers looking for escapist adventure will love this high intensity near-future dystopia. Teen library and High School Library collections will want multiple copies of this tense, gripping story full of secrecy, threats of violence, betrayal, revenge, secret plots, and dramatic rebellion. The world building and conclusion will have readers clambering for another volume.

Summary: The Arcadia has been stranded off the coast of what used to be the United States for over 100 years. Plague virus and destructive warfare have rewritten the North American map, decimated Europe, and trapped thousands on the ship permanently. Nik and Esther are fighting to survive, escape and secure a future off the ship. But nothing is predictable, everyone is untrustworthy and no one is coming to help them.

Thanks #Netgalley #SourceFireBooks for the opportunity to preview this title that publishes 1.3.23

Overall this was an interesting return to dystopian for the YA genre. I had trouble rating it for a few reasons, among them that it is impossible not to compare this to the Hunger Games dystopian wave and I was not aware this was a duology going into the story.

While knowing this is a two part story gave context to some of the pacing issues, I would have liked a more clear resolution to this first installment, rather than ending on a cliffhanger.

Overall the strengths of this novel were the concept and the conflict that kept me reading. The worldbuilding was interesting, but feel story of atmospheric to me. I enjoyed the character, but didn’t feel as attached them as I wanted to be, especially given what they experience in the course of the book.

I will likely read the sequel to see how the author concludes the series, but this isn’t a stand out title for me.

ATTENTION READING PASSENGERS, THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING!

This is a YA dystopian novel you DO NOT want to miss! Jump on board for the cruise ship ride of your life where you will cruise in... ummm... yeah, you will cruise to destination nowhere for the mere price of your whole entire life.

Forty years after biological warfare, there are 16 stranded cruise ships being told they can not dock anywhere due to possibility of contagion. There is a split within the United States during the war with states seceding and forming their own country, The Federated States. Life on the ship is tough. The ship is breaking down and there are food rations being implemented. There is a small class being held for medics and the chance at getting to be allowed to come ashore and live on land. Things seem very bleak.

Told from multiple viewpoints of passengers on the ship, this novel takes off not like a cruise ship, but rather a rocket ship--blasting off at full speed. There are nods to current situations in the world, making this a fun, fast, relatable read. I can not say enough good things about how this book sets the pace for a sure to be exciting series!

Thank you so much to #NetGalley, the publishers #Sourcebooks, and the talented author #SarahDaniels for extending an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions

My full review will be posted on all my social media sites, blogs and retail sites upon release day in January of 2023.

<i>The Stranded</i> was an incredibly fun YA dystopian novel. Told from multiple perspectives, we learn why the Arcadia, previously a luxury cruise ship, is docked along what remains of the United States and how very few people are permitted to leave the ship for a better life on land. Life on the ship is rough, with it slowly breaking down after so many years 'at sea', and the inhabitants' lives are still a debated political matter. I enjoyed our main characters and seeing Esther's character growth in particular. Our villain had an interesting and fleshed out backstory, that showed (rather than told) tidbits of the situation in the Federated States.

Well-written and fast-paced from the start, <i>The Stranded</i> was a ride. There was little expanse on the state of the world, which was fitting for this first novel as it takes place on the ship where news is heavily regulated by the Federated States. I think this will turn out to be an excellent series and I look forward to learning more about the world in the next book. Loved it, and I'm looking forward to book two!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oooooohhhhhhh this book was so so good!! WOW. The plot was so interesting and creative and left me on the edge of my seat. I could not wait to see what happened. I really hope that this is going to be a series because I need to know what happens next. Without giving you too much information: Imagine being stranded on a cruise ship for 40ish years, You might have even been born on the ship. You are not permitted to leave the ship, the powers that be have everyone on a tight lease. You can’t talk about what’s happening on other ships - it could get you killed. How long would you live in those conditions?!?

Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don’t typically like dystopian novels, but this one was amazing! It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. The action for me was just the right amount and man there were a few characters I couldn’t stand and some made me want to scream at them to get moving. That to me makes a great book! I felt like I was right in the action and seeing and smelling what was really happening. Great character development and the scenes were drawn so richly I could see everything.

This was a great read from the first word to the very last word.

The Stranded is a YA dystopian fiction set in the near distant future on board a stranded cruise ship. Forty years after a biological war in Europe, several cruise ship sit along the coast of the Federated States, under quarantine and strict government rule. The story follows sixteen year old Nik, a member of the resistance - the group trying to end the ships' quarantine and free its residents - and sixteen year old Esther who unwillingly gets swept up into the resistance's plans. We also follow Hadley, the commander of the soldiers who are sent onto the ship to keep the residents in line.
I did enjoy this book, it was fast paced, with lots of action moments in the plot. I liked the alternating POVs between the three characters. Hadley's chapters gave an interesting look into the villain's choices and actions. .
I do think I could have used a little bit more world building; The Federated States are part of the former United States, but it's never fully explained what parts - there's talk of a "southern border wall" but there wasn't much more of a geographical description, so I had a hard time visualizing what area of the country the story was taking place in. Also, the events are taking place 40 years after the war, but there seems to be nobody alive who was on the ship when it originally left Europe. Esther's grandparents were on their honeymoon, and her parents were born on the ship, so in theory her grandparents could be in their 60s, but are all dead with little discussion as to what happened to the original passengers of the ship.
Overall, I found The Stranded to be an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of dystopian thrillers. It is the first in a duology, and I look forward to reading the second half of this story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dystopian YA is a beloved genre, but often falls victim to overused tropes. This story struck me as a bit more unique. I was so impressed by the near-future apocalyptic world debut author Sarah Daniels created on what was once a luxury cruise ship called the Arcadia. In the aftermath of a war the passengers and now their offspring have been forced to live at sea, essentially as refugees, for 40 years. We've got lots of action, sophisticated sci-fi tech, gangs, secret loyalties, an evil government, and the rebels who set out to liberate the people of the Arcadia. Definitely looking forward to the conclusion of the duology!

Short synopsis: A stranded cruise ship The Arcadia, has been floating off the coast (full of passengers for 40 years to avoid the spread of a deadly virus.

My thoughts: It’s been awhile since I’ve read a dystopian novel and this was the perfect one to jump into. Action packed from the first pages all the way through to the cliffhanger ending. I will be anxiously awaiting July 2023 when the second book in this duology is published.

Ester is training to be a medic and hoping to get sent to land to complete her training and Nik is a rebel planning to overthrow the Arcadia’s government. And we also get the point of view from Hadley, with glimpses into why he makes the decisions he makes.

I loved the multiple POV and how they all interconnected with each other. There were so many twists it left me constantly questioning everyone’s intentions. The characters were developed nicely and the atmosphere was laid out so realistically.

Read if you love:
* YA Dystopian novels
* Rebels and loyal citizens
* Corrupt government
* Unique settings
* Brave heroines

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book! Publication date is Jan 3, 2023 so grab it for your next thrilling adventure.

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.