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A review by alli_the_bookaholic13
The Stranded by Sarah Daniels
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
3.75 stars
CWs: death, rebellion, violence, blood and injury detail
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC vie NetGalley.
I’m feeling a bit conflicted about this one. It took me about 50% to really get invested in the story and the characters. I found the beginning was quite slow and drawn out. I appreciated the details that were provided to set the scene and the character relationships, but I wish that it hadn’t taken so long to really get into the action. I struggled to stay focused on the story and wanting to read it, but once I got to part 2 and pst the 50% mark, I flew through the rest of the book. In a couple of hours I finished it, while it took me 2 weeks to find the desire to read the first half. This is definitely a combination of me not being in the right mood, and the story just not quite hooking me fully from the beginning.
I liked Esther alright in the beginning, but once things started to get intense and go badly, I really liked her character. She stood up for things, she was strong and brave, and I was rooting for her. I liked her relationship with her sister, and I wish that we’d seen more of it.
I liked Nik from the beginning. Something about his character was perfect for this kind of story. He was well written and I admired his conviction and loyalty. I liked learning about the rebellion, but I wish there had been more details. Much of it was vaguely discussed even though Nik is a major part of the rebellion. This left me feeling conflicted about the rebellion and I wasn’t fully invested in it or the characters for more than half the story.
The story is told through 3 POVs that of Esther, Nik and commander Hadley. Esther’s and Nik’s POVs are both first-person, but Hadley’s was third. I didn’t mind this, and I actually liked Hadley’s POV a lot. As the villain he was pretty basic, but it was easy to hate him.
CWs: death, rebellion, violence, blood and injury detail
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC vie NetGalley.
I’m feeling a bit conflicted about this one. It took me about 50% to really get invested in the story and the characters. I found the beginning was quite slow and drawn out. I appreciated the details that were provided to set the scene and the character relationships, but I wish that it hadn’t taken so long to really get into the action. I struggled to stay focused on the story and wanting to read it, but once I got to part 2 and pst the 50% mark, I flew through the rest of the book. In a couple of hours I finished it, while it took me 2 weeks to find the desire to read the first half. This is definitely a combination of me not being in the right mood, and the story just not quite hooking me fully from the beginning.
I liked Esther alright in the beginning, but once things started to get intense and go badly, I really liked her character. She stood up for things, she was strong and brave, and I was rooting for her. I liked her relationship with her sister, and I wish that we’d seen more of it.
I liked Nik from the beginning. Something about his character was perfect for this kind of story. He was well written and I admired his conviction and loyalty. I liked learning about the rebellion, but I wish there had been more details. Much of it was vaguely discussed even though Nik is a major part of the rebellion. This left me feeling conflicted about the rebellion and I wasn’t fully invested in it or the characters for more than half the story.
The story is told through 3 POVs that of Esther, Nik and commander Hadley. Esther’s and Nik’s POVs are both first-person, but Hadley’s was third. I didn’t mind this, and I actually liked Hadley’s POV a lot. As the villain he was pretty basic, but it was easy to hate him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail