The Stranded (The Stranded, 1)

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That drew me in instantly with the familiarity of it but the plot line itself was something I haven’t read before. The setting really helps to add to the claustrophobia and horror of the situation and the new world in 2094.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels - Penguin Books Australia The Stranded by Sarah Daniels - Penguin Books Australia

Maybe it will play a larger role in the next instalment, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series. I don’t read/ watch much dystopian so my comparisons are quite narrow, but this really did give me Hunger Games and Divergent vibes. People took refugee on the ship but were never allowed to disembark for fear that the virus that has wiped out most of Europe and the world will resurface, despite not seeing cases aboard for a long time.There's a fantastic yet claustrophobic setting; switching POVs that, at this point at least, aren't love interests along with the villain in 3rd person; a snappy and fast moving storyline and a host of strong characters. The stakes were ambiguous, the tension was nonexistent and I couldn't have cared less what happened to any of the characters we were following.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels | Goodreads The Stranded by Sarah Daniels | Goodreads

We really got to see a sense of the dark, and oppressive world building and the atmosphere through their eyes.Now, the ship floats off the coast of the Federated States, and no one is allowed to disembark without special permission for fear of spreading the long-dormant virus. The vivid and often violent action unfolds slowly, anchored in complex worldbuilding and propelled by political machinations and existential musings. I honestly feel a bit ambiguous about villain POVs, especially if they become glamorised, but there’s no danger of that with Hadley.