It’s 2094. Four decades ago, war erupted in Europe with virus laden warheads. Fleeing land, many people escaped the crisis on cruise ships. Many left the European warring nations and berthed on United States shores.

The United States has now fractured into two, The Federated States left in charge of the cruise ships docked off their bays and ports. Still fearing the virus, no cruise ship passengers were allowed to leave. Forty years later, the cruise ships have become cities in their own right.

Original ticket holders and their next generations live on the top decks of the Cruise ship Arcadia, and the lower the deck, the poorer the people are. Rival gangs run the lower decks and the flotilla of boats and structures now shackled to the bottom of the Arcadia.

The ships are ruled by force by visor wearing soldiers and the use of drones and bots. Both the gangs and the ruling forces have hidden agendas. The gangs are part of a growing rebellion. The soldiers led by a commanding officer by the name of Hadley will eventually be used to sink the ships and everyone on them. Neither knows the other’s plans.

Caught in between are sisters May and Esther, raised not to ask questions of authority, follow the rules and keep their heads down. They are studying hard to become an officer (May) and a doctor (Esther), for a chance to actually leave the ship for good. Not realising the other has been caught up in separate tensions on board, they try to keep things normal, even as tensions rise, bullets fly and betrayal is rife.

The rebellion is years in the making, but Hadley is insane and bent on revenge after a punishment bound him to the ship. No-one is going to back down. Thousands of lives are at stake.

The Stranded is part one of this riveting series set in the future. So many things mirror our reality now. Fractions in the US. War in Europe. A worldwide virus that left 1000’s on cruise ships unable to disembark.

This is a solid read at 448 pages, but there are no slow spots. Swinging between viewpoints, the action rises steadily along with the underflow of betrayal, rebellions and final solutions. Looking forward to the sequel in 2023!

Author – Sarah Daniels

Age – 13+

(Violence)