STRANDED is Bracken MacLeod's atmospheric and chilling thriller/mystery, with a twist.
The initial comparisons to The Terror are perhaps obvious, but this is not really what this is. STRANDED has plenty to offer of its own.
MacLeod has a gift for writing atmosphere, as well as good characters. STRANDED is an engaging, gripping mystery/thriller. Recommended.

Fabulous book, wonderful atmosphere. The setting is a character.
if you loved The Terror like I did, you'll love this
Bracken has a unique mind, and an intelligent voice the respects his readers.

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Noah is traveling aboard the ship Arctic Promise, the toxic domain filled with a crew who hates him. but the money is worth the effort. Every time Noah goes out on the sea he risks not returning to his daughter who is the light of his life and wants something better for both of them. In that spirit, this will be his final voyage with he Arctic Promise. The Promise ends up mired in a especially thick fog rife with secrets to be revealed, lives to be lost an surprising mysteries to be uncovered.

The fog also brings a mysterious illness that both terrifies and incapacitates the crew. Then the Arctic Promise becomes stuck in the ice..but they are stuck in a place they shouldn't be, and time is running out.

From the get-go this novel is eerie, with a story that doesn't make sense altogether: why does the crew hate him and the captain especially? Why does Noah feel a sense of foreboding and feel overpowering guilt? Over time, we learn bit by bit about the crew, their history creating a rich and full world heavy with shame, guilt, terror and sorrow. Its the slow unveiling of the deep secrets of the crew in tandem with the strange, creeping illness to which each man is succumbing that really makes this a fantastic read.

I loved Noah for his bravery and strength as well as his deep sensitivity. He is our every man, attempting to get home to his family but not at the expense of his crew. Yet, he is deeply scarred and throughout his journey learns to not only forgive himself, but also others.

Without giving anything away, there's a bit of time travel, a bit of fantasy and a definite HMS Erebus and HMS Terror flair.

Also, its a slow burn horror novel on the sea written by an exceptional writer. Whats not to love?

Damnit, I wish I had read this on release week as I feel like I was the last to show up to the party. Stranded is a fully immersive story with a great cast of characters and a very solid flip to the narrative. Highly enjoyable and quite satisfying. Mr. MacLeod pretty much owned my #TBR list this year, starting early with Stranded I ended up reading four of his books and a couple of anthology short sorties, with Stranded being the one to hook me the hardest. I am a new fan.

Bracken MacLeod takes horror adventure fiction to an entirely new level in his newest novel. This thing is brilliant and terrifying and I can't recommend it highly enough. Must, must, must read.

Simply outstanding. Weird, atmospheric and dark storytelling at its finest. MacLeod is an author to watch in the future.