kalarosereads's review against another edition
4.0
I was shocked to find out that this is the debut book from this author! The description intrigued me from the start and I knew I just had to see what this book was all about. The dystopian world Sarah Daniels has built is so creative and so unlike anything else I have ever read. I loved the multiple POV's, I wish more books included more than 2 as I feel it gives the reader a better, more well-rounded view of the plot and all of the characters. This book brings to light topics of government, morality and social class issues all while still delivering an entertaining story with both action and plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat.
authormirandajoy's review against another edition
4.0
I believe this was Daniels’ debut, and if so, this is an incredibly promising start. I see a bright future in store.
The Stranded is a wonderful YA dystopian! It hits all the right notes: romance, adventure, action, plot, character growth, etc.
It’s close enough to our reality (mysterious virus, war, stranded on a cruise ship) to not be entirely unrealistic, yet at the same time, it’s not too close that it’s painful to read.
Want an enthralling, fast-paced escape? Read it!
The Stranded is a wonderful YA dystopian! It hits all the right notes: romance, adventure, action, plot, character growth, etc.
It’s close enough to our reality (mysterious virus, war, stranded on a cruise ship) to not be entirely unrealistic, yet at the same time, it’s not too close that it’s painful to read.
Want an enthralling, fast-paced escape? Read it!
brkjohn's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
booklvrkat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Mini blurb: Welcome to the Arcadia. Once a luxurious cruise ship, it became a refugee camp after being driven from Europe by an apocalyptic war. Now it floats near the coastline of the Federated States - a leftover piece of a fractured USA.
My thoughts: The notion of being stuck at sea for centuries on a dilapidated mega cruise ship due to politics, biological warfare, country upheaval is chilling. Our author has created an entire dominated world, class system and pecking order under the rule of a dictatorship. Where you would expect to be dining on lobster, Creme Brûlée, and sipping on a Macallan Double Cask 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch, Daniels takes us on a trip that won’t be forgotten. Surprisingly, this is a debut novel and I’m sure I should not have read this story before going on a cruise in late November. *facepalm*
"On the Arcadia, we live under the constant threat of being arrested. Look at a Coli wrong,? Arrested. Break a rule in front of one of the many surveillance cameras? Arrested. Stand too close to someone doing something shady? Arrested. Wrong place wrong time is basically the ship's motto."
tamreel_stitches's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. The story was good, it reminded me divergent. It makes you think of what could have happened if people were made stay on ships when covid hit. Kind of a scary thought.
yeagleyreads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lawbooks600's review against another edition
3.0
Trigger warnings: Shipwreck, pandemic mentioned
6/10, where do I begin with this, so I was hoping that after reading the Nine Emperors by David Logan which was OK but not the best novel ever this would be better but it ultimately turned out to be a very underwhelming debut from Sarah Daniels and I had a lot of problems with this which I'll get to later on. It starts off with an interesting premise where the characters were stuck on a ship called the Arcadia in 2094 after a pandemic swept through Europe in 2051 so they escaped and stayed off the coast of the Federated States. The writing style was fine but rather basic and non-descriptive and fragmented so that bothered me a bit but I didn't mind since I think it was intentional to make the story more action packed.
Esther and Nikhil weren't the best characters ever since they were quite bothersome to read and I don't like the decisions they made since they were questionable at best and jeopardising at worst and I couldn't care for them since they never really developed themselves. It also kind of dragged on for 300 pages, and the action was a bit too quick since the characters planned to escape the Arcadia and crashed it into the port despite the antagonist Hadley's best efforts to stop them but he was in the background most of the time so I never really saw him and it already ended on a cliffhanger but I hope the second book might be good. I think this was inspired by 1984 by George Orwell and definitely not the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins but it was full of action but I recommend those novels over this.
6/10, where do I begin with this, so I was hoping that after reading the Nine Emperors by David Logan which was OK but not the best novel ever this would be better but it ultimately turned out to be a very underwhelming debut from Sarah Daniels and I had a lot of problems with this which I'll get to later on. It starts off with an interesting premise where the characters were stuck on a ship called the Arcadia in 2094 after a pandemic swept through Europe in 2051 so they escaped and stayed off the coast of the Federated States. The writing style was fine but rather basic and non-descriptive and fragmented so that bothered me a bit but I didn't mind since I think it was intentional to make the story more action packed.
Esther and Nikhil weren't the best characters ever since they were quite bothersome to read and I don't like the decisions they made since they were questionable at best and jeopardising at worst and I couldn't care for them since they never really developed themselves. It also kind of dragged on for 300 pages, and the action was a bit too quick since the characters planned to escape the Arcadia and crashed it into the port despite the antagonist Hadley's best efforts to stop them but he was in the background most of the time so I never really saw him and it already ended on a cliffhanger but I hope the second book might be good. I think this was inspired by 1984 by George Orwell and definitely not the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins but it was full of action but I recommend those novels over this.
elva08's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
ishouldbewriting's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! Its setting is terrifying in how realistic it could be. I love the characters and the depths of their personalities. There were a few bits that had be worried a certain relationship would set sail and I would've absolutely hated it, but I'm so glad we didn't go down that route. We have crazy science and fighting for freedom from two angles and a smidge of teenage drama. Oh and heartbreak. Can't have a good book without heartbreak that makes me hate the writer while also respecting her dearly. I don't know if there's a plan for a sequel but I would love to see more of the story, while also being totally content with it ending here.