This book was awesome! Definitely a good read for the middle grade ages, but also for anyone who enjoys YA and dinosaurs. I am a huge fan of both Jurassic Park/Jurassic World and the Wings of Fire series, so the tagline about this book being like these two series meeting is what got my attention immediately.

The narration is very good, and the narrator did a great job with the different voices. The characters are all very interesting and unique, and the story is as well. It's a great combination of action, wit, and even some sarcasm!

Now one constructive criticism, because I have a daughter OBSESSED with dinosaurs. There was mention of water dinosaurs, and during that part I could already hear her complaining that there were no water dinosaurs and instead they are "marine reptiles", so just something to note as she's a kid who takes her dinosaur knowledge very seriously! Despite that, I already pre-ordered her the hardback!

Thank you for giving my the opportunity to listen to the ARC and give my thoughts!

The plot of this work was somewhat predictable, but I highly enjoyed the setting. The author excelled at worldbuilding, incorporating lush and vivid descriptions of the setting ranging from the dangerous tar pits to the rare but coveted oases. I enjoyed the details surrounding the dinosaur kingdoms, as well as the lore that was incorporated into their cultures. This was such a well-constructed and interesting setting, especially for a Middle Grade read.

The characters were also enjoyable and well written. While they were a little cliché (the sensitive young prince who would rather be a storyteller than a leader, the overzealous and rigid fighter, the sunshiny and slightly annoying one, etc.), when combined together they added much to the story. It was also fun to have each character be from a different tribe/kingdom, as it allowed more room for worldbuilding to be smoothly incorporated into the story. I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and the narrator did a wonderful job with the different voices, making each character that much more unique.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable Middle Grade read that I highly recommend for younger readers. It’s also the start to a series, but this work concludes neatly enough to be a satisfying read on its own. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work, which will be published 4 April 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

So very good!! My son and I listened to this and both loved it. Great story and really well done narration. It brings the book to life for you.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

I have been on a good run when it comes to reading this year so far and this is another great book.

Did I think a book about Anthropomorphic dinosaurs would touch me so much? Nope! It most certainly did hook me and make me care so much for plucky story teller Eleri and the friends he picks up along the way after being exiled and banished to the Deadlands after warning an "enemy" of an incoming carnivore attack. John Pirhalla was a great narrator who encaptured Eleri's voice as well as his friends. The accents were spot on.

This tale about dinosaurs that become sentient after a great meteor has much to offer. War, friendship and loyalty are some of the things this novel covers. I know that this is a middle grade book but I am someone that enjoys all kinds of novels and I feel like anyone would enjoy this.

I am super excited for the next book! Can we have it now please Skye??

I absolutely loved this book! The Deadlands: Hunted is the first book in this new series and I can not wait for more. It’s a middle-grade series not a middle age like me but who cares it was a lot of fun. When I was younger I loved the movie The Land Before Time, this felt like a more mature version of that.

The plot was interesting and very easy to follow. The characters are all dinosaurs but it was so easy to relate to them. The main character Eleri is just the best. He may be small but he is brave. I loved watching his character really develop.

This was an excellent way to start a series. You set up a wonderful group of characters, get us to fall in love with them all, and then set the plot. This book was mostly all set up but it feels like much more than that. Now that they understand their world and their conflict I can not wait to see where book 2 will take us.

If you’re middle grade or middle age I can’t recommend this book enough.

THE DEADLANDS: HUNTED is a heartwarming middle-grade book that follows a group of young dinosaurs who are banished to the Deadlands. Despite the danger, they band together to stop a war between the various dinosaur clans and prove that friendship and unity can conquer all. The book is filled with action, adventure, and humor, making it a page-turner. The characters are endearing and relatable, and the message of standing up for what's right and coming together in the face of adversity is one that will resonate with readers of all ages. This is a must-read for dinosaur lovers and fans of middle-grade fiction alike.