Snowpiercer meets The Hunger Games in a gripping near-future dystopian.
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.
For forty years, residents of the Arcadia have been prohibited from making landfall. It is a world of extreme haves and have nots, gangs and make-shift shelters.
Esther is a loyal citizen, working flat-out to have the rare chance to live a normal life as a medic on dry land. Nik is a rebel, planning something big to liberate the Arcadia once and for all.
When events throw them both together, their lives, and the lives of everyone on the ship, will change forever . . .
I’m a fan of both the Snowpiercer movie and series, and The Hunger Games is always a favorite. A blend of these comp titles was like a dream come true.
In the year 2094, decades after an apocalyptic war, several cruise ships are still at sea due to the possibility of the passengers spreading the virus to those on land. But after nearly 16,000 days at sea, the Arcadia has remained virus free for the majority of that time. The Federated States, most on the eastern seaboard, have split from the US and don’t want the ships to dock. They send supplies and very limited food rations, but life aboard still isn’t easy. The Arcadia consists of fourteen levels, the lowest controlled by gangs and the top tiers for the wealthy. With a couple generations never having set foot on land, most staterooms are passed down within families. Can I just say the world-building is well-crafted and fascinated me.
Opportunities for a future off the ship are almost nonexistent, but Esther and her sister May are both fortunate to have them – Esther as a medic and May as a soldier. Esther has kept her head down and worked hard so she and her boyfriend, also a medic, can leave the Arcadia and have a normal life. She just didn’t account for Nik and the rebel group. And then everything changes.
I certainly understood Esther’s motives, but I wasn’t her biggest fan at the beginning. She can’t see what’s right in front of her and pays the price for it. By the end, she redeems herself in my book. Nik is my favorite character, and he’s prepared to give his all for the resistance, but suffers a significant loss along the way. Chapters alternate between Esther, Nik, and Hadley’s (a despicable villain) POVs. Pacing is a little uneven, but the last twenty percent is thrilling and moves at warp speed, almost like a domino effect.
The Stranded is a phenomenal debut novel, and I’m anxious to see what happens in the conclusion of this duology. I’d highly recommend it to dystopia/postapocalyptic YA and adult fans.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! What a start of 2023! I hope the novel is not predictive. Thanks for sharing the information and this touching review, Teri! A Happy New Year to you and yours! Best wishes, Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
So do I, Michael. The author mentioned in her note that she came up with this during Covid when several cruise ships were stuck at sea. Thanks so much for sharing – Happy New Year!
LikeLike
Those are intriguing comps. I didn’t see Hunger Games in it so much as The Last Ship (which I loved), but then again, I didn’t read the book and am going off the description. Glad you enjoyed the story so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Snowpiercer – definitely. Hunger Games – not so much. I hadn’t heard of The Last Ship and had to look it up. How did I ever miss that one?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know if it ever had the following it deserved. It was good, though. (And it didn’t hurt that my muse looks remarkably like the actor who played Wolf. 😉 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just looked him up – I can totally see why you’d create a muse in his image.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Create him? He found me! (How I wish. lol)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad Esther’s character arc won you over in the end. Great review, Teri!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was ready to pitch her overboard several times, Priscilla, lol. She seemed to wise up in the last quarter of the book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s an interesting plot. Would you believe I’ve never read/seen the movies for the Hunger Games. I did try Snowpiercer , and need to give that one a more dedicated shot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That surprises me, Mae – you may be one of the few in the US, lol. The first book had me hook, line, and sinker – I’d never read anything like it. With the Snowpiercer TV show, actor Daveed Digs does an incredible job. He’s hands down my favorite on the show. Hope you give all of them a try!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a good one, Teri. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the best I’ve read over the past couple months, John. I’m on a streak right now of books that didn’t turn out like I’d expected.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that book would make me so anxious!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get it, Sophie. You can see how this scenario isn’t quite so far-fetched.
LikeLike
It sounds wonderfully intense and engaging. I like what you compared it too – they are favorites of mine too. One more for my stash 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
It amazed me that people had been living on the ship for so long, Tessa – nearly two generations who’d never stepped foot on land. I’m ready for the sequel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
O already like the concept and I wish to get it ASAP. Amazing review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Yesha! This was an exciting read – and very tense toward the end. Can’t wait for the sequel.
Not sure why, but I’m having problems commenting on your blog today. Some weird fluke I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Teri, this sounds very interesting. I wonder if the idea was sparked by the cruise ships not being able to dock during the recent pandemic. Being trapped on a ship is very creepy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s exactly what got the author thinking about this story, Robbie. Real life inspiration. Kind of scary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, especially seeing as we’ve just lived it and now there is more covid issues on the horizon.
LikeLiked by 1 person