I received this as an ARC novel from NetGalley and I really enjoyed reading this. The author took the idea of a viral epidemic and gave it a fresh and interesting setting. What really drew me was that this takes place on a ship and I enjoyed seeing how this played out.

This one was so good. It had high stakes, action, pacing was immaculate, very strong characters and even though its YA it's still very tense. I love how Sarah Daniels challenges our current society throughout this novel and it was a brilliant time

Very interesting premise. I came into the book thinking it would be similar to the Titanic, but I liked the added element of science fiction. It’s more of a dystopian novel in that sense, and I particularly enjoyed how the author crafted Esther and Nik’s individual backgrounds as a student and a rebel.

I was excited about the premise of this book, but it was a bit disappointing. The characters were mostly annoying, especially the Federated States employees on the ship. It's definitely an interesting idea: people stranded on cruise ships after a virus. Coming out of the COVID pandemic, I could almost see this happening.

To be honest, when I read the blurb for The Stranded, I thought it would be a fun fast read, something to enjoy and quick to pass the time but I didn’t think the story would stay with me or have any kind of lasting impact. Oh, how wrong I was!

Every page of The Stranded felt like I was reading a brilliant end of days, tension filled story that can stand next to the likes of The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Fifth Wave and The Host and never feel inferior or like an impostor. This story is bound to become the next classic in YA dystopian reads.

The brilliant way the story unfolds, the way the characters develop and that lovely tension that makes the reader gasp at moments of uncertainty and shock, really mastered the emotions and the horror of such a read.
The Stranded is a ride and a half and one that I will enjoy reading repetitively as well as sharing with all the readers in my life. It is promoted at a YA read but it really ticks the boxes for any age reader looking for a new and bold dystopian read.

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire and I am leaving an honest review. I cannot wait for a hard copy of this on my shelf!!

This is a YA dystopian story about a cruise ship that has been at sea for 40 years. It is at anchor off the coast of the US and full of people who fled Europe when a deadly virus struck. A brutal government- American Federation is in charge and will not allow people to leave the ship and imposes very harsh punishment or death if rules are not followed. Hadley is the leader of this government. And he is a very twisted and evil person.

There arises a rebel group to oppose the Federation. Two sixteen year olds are the main characters. Esther is studying to become a doctor and is reluctantly dragged into the rebellion. Nik is the son of a women who is one of the leaders of the rebels. Nik’s girlfriend May is Esther’s sister. And May is also secretly part of the rebellion.

Daniels is a debut author and for a first book, this was a good read. Lots of action and nice plot twists.

I enjoyed the two good MCs and the bad guy was a true villain. It was nice to see Esther grow and develop into a more mature and stronger person and take in more responsibility. Nik was a loyal friend and all around good guy.

Arc received for a voluntary and honest review.

Gods, I loved this book. It gave me so many flashbacks to early 2010's dystopian YA and I just cannot wait for the sequel that needs to happen. I need so much more of this world and these characters!

The premise of this book played on all of the things that I am absolutely terrified of, so of course I had to read it!! The constant background thrum of a pandemic, plus the setting of the cruise ship gave this book a wonderful, atmospheric setting. I could feel the complete claustrophobia of the ship, and that helped to ratchet up the intensity of the story.
This is an AWESOME dystopian-esque YA thriller. This is not usually my genre anymore (loved them as a YA, but have since moved to other genres), but I absolutely loved this book. I'm so excited to recommend it to my YA-reader friends when it's published.
My favorite thing about this book is the multiple POVs, especially since one of the POVs is from a (very very) bad guy. I think that's a really fun twist on the trope.
The only thing I'll say is that if you're looking to be completely satisfied with the ending, I would say that this might not be your book, or that we should wait to figure out if we're getting a book 2, because to me, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfactory.
Overall, this is a GREAT genre novel that is quick and enjoyable to read.

I loved all things about this book! I loved the connections between the characters, but also the turmoil. The book was paced well, and the characters were fully developed. The Stranded satisfied my want to read an enjoyable dystopian novel. What do you do when you get on a cruise ship...and then never get off and are left to raise your family there? Arcadia sounds like a living nightmare, but there are some strong-willed residents who are trying to make a difference. I couldn't help but root for a rebellion! Sarah Daniels did great right out of the gate!

This book has everything you want in a ya-distorts. The character development was great, I loved the various POVs you get to read from, I loved the imagery and the fight scenes.

The only reason I didn’t give it five starts is because I wanted more backstory to why they are in the position they are in, the virus is vague the reason they are on ships is vague.

Overall a great read.

Wow! I blew through this one in a couple of hours. Such a unique premise! I loved the setting of a cruise ship that everybody had been trapped on for 40 years! I loved learning about the government and this dystopian world. I thought this did a fantastic job of weaving in the real life issues that we are going through right now.

I loved that this was told from multiple perspectives and you could really understand the motivation of each of the different characters and tie it all together.

The ending of the book was such a page turner and kept me on the edge of my seat. So good!

Dystopian thriller set on a cruise ship? Yes, please! I devoured this one, and I truly think this might be one of the big YA up-and-coming books. It had it all-political intrigue, rebellion, romance, action-and I flew through it. The premise-when a catastrophic virus is spread throughout Europe following a continent-wide apocalyptic war, passengers on a luxurious cruise ship found themselves stuck, floating near the now-defunct USA. Decades later, they are treated as outcasts and are refused the right to make landfall by the government. The ship itself is also a world of gangs, upper crust, and have nots. Told through varying perspectives, our heroes AND villains, fight for their freedom and for control.
This was a great one and I cannot wait to add it to the library when it’s released in January 2023!

This was an exciting and action-packed book that had a new development in almost every chapter. Because of this, I kept wanting to read more. I also liked the alternating perspectives since that created some cliffhangers at the end of some chapters. However, one drawback of this technique was that I sometimes had to flip back to the start of the chapter to see who the narrator was because the voices of Nik and Esther were so similar. Most of all, I really loved how complex the characters were. Nobody was completely good or completely evil, and everyone had realistic motivations and conflicts. I also liked that this book avoided some of the more tired YA tropes, like a love triangle with the heroine in the middle. I’m excited to read the next installment in this duology!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles. I really not the opportunity!

I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

WOW. The stranded is one of the best books I have read in 2022, It had everything from a post apocalyptic world to romance and let’s talk about characters, THEY ARE AMAZING, it was the most enjoyable part for me, watching them grow and change through the course of the story, I really hope there will be a sequel because I can’t wait to read more about them and this story which was so compelling I couldn’t tear my eyes off the page, I 100% recommend this book.

The Stranded follows two characters on the ship Arcadia, which was once a refuge for those fleeing an apocalyptic war. The ship is now located within sight of the Federated States, close enough to see its shining buildings but those on the Arcadia cannot leave the ship. This book is packed with heart-stopping moments that left me genuinely anxious. This is perfect for fans of post-apocalyptic and dystopian settings. The Arcadia itself is a fascinating look into a community that has existed for forty years within one “luxury” cruise ship. If you're a fan of books that feel insulated, thrilling, and dangerous, you’ll want to pick up The Stranded!

Not the kind of book I usuallly read - but loved it! Such an interesting take on the future. I read hundreds of books a year and this one definitely stood out. Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 stars

I am not generally a fan of dystopian novels but there was just something about the description of this one that drew me in and I had to give it a shot.

Told from the perspective of three residents on the once luxury cruise ship Arcadia, Ester, Nik, and Hadley share their perspective on a brewing rebellion and life constrained to the ship.

While interesting and a sort of unique take on a post-apocalyptic world, I wasn’t a fan of the short chapters and constantly changing viewpoints.

It was quite fast-paced which helped build the suspense and drive to know what happens. But I was also left unsatisfied with the ending. It felt very abrupt and left me with too many questions to be alright with.

It was a solid YA dystopian novel but just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting concept of a cruise shin set in a dystopian era. The short chapters made it hard for me to develop the story for awhile. I would likely read the sequel as well to see what happens.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels is a YA Dystopia following passengers of a cruise ship turned refugee camp that's been stuck at sea for 40 years. With 3 POV characters, Esther is the good girl, studying to earn a spot to get off the ship, Nik is member of a rebel group, and Hadley is the security leader and villain. The plot is action packed and fast paced, the world is bleak and dark, there's not heavy romance subplot. I'm loving the dystopian revival, this is the perfect book for the dumpster fire times we're in.