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Stranded #2
The Only Way Out: The Rebellion Has Begun
The exciting conclusion to The Stranded duology!
Trust no one.
It's been six months since the Arcadia set sail. But this wasn't the freedom the inhabitants were hoping for. Esther did what she had to do, but she left a trail of destruction in her wake. Now the wrecked ship is abandoned, and its inhabitants are in exile, trapped in makeshift shelters.
Esther and Nik, architects of the rebellion, are on the run. Esther is in hiding and Nik seems to have abandoned all hope. But neither of them wants to face up to their true feelings for each other. And there's a new villain in ruthless Admiral Janek who wants to deal with the traitors while outrunning her own shady past.
When the shaky ceasefire negotiated by Nik's mom, General Lall, falls apart, Nik and Esther find themselves in a world of betrayals and double crossings—a game of power with no one to trust but themselves.
Trust no one.
It's been six months since the Arcadia set sail. But this wasn't the freedom the inhabitants were hoping for. Esther did what she had to do, but she left a trail of destruction in her wake. Now the wrecked ship is abandoned, and its inhabitants are in exile, trapped in makeshift shelters.
Esther and Nik, architects of the rebellion, are on the run. Esther is in hiding and Nik seems to have abandoned all hope. But neither of them wants to face up to their true feelings for each other. And there's a new villain in ruthless Admiral Janek who wants to deal with the traitors while outrunning her own shady past.
When the shaky ceasefire negotiated by Nik's mom, General Lall, falls apart, Nik and Esther find themselves in a world of betrayals and double crossings—a game of power with no one to trust but themselves.
480 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2023
26 people are currently reading
3840 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Daniels
2 books157 followersSarah Daniels writes stories set in dark futures. In the past she's been an archaeologist, a bookseller, and worked in a (probably) haunted night library. She lives in rural Lincolnshire with her family. The Stranded (book one) is out now. Book two coming July 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 24, 2022
Well, I wrote it so I don't think it's a spoiler to say I give it five stars. This book has been a ride to write. I'll tell you the things I enjoyed getting into 1) the love triangle - someone new has caught Esther's eye 2) the villains - Janek is as bad as they come, and there are people from Nik and Esther's past with scores to settle 3) one of the most heartbreaking scenes I've ever written 4) even more evil Coaly contraptions.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Want to read
December 13, 2022Can this please release sooner😭😭😭
July 17, 2023
Thank you, Sarah, and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read, THE EXILED. I had been counting the days. Review below:
The second in a dystopian duology that's told in Multi pov. I love dystopian and I love multi POV so for me, this was always going to be a winner. Slow burn in exactly the right way with threads of tension weaved in at exactly the right moments. The short chapters will keep you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning. Characters you will route for, journey with and cry with. 5 stars from me.
In this continuation we see Esther and Nik separated and both living lives of equal distress. The federated states are looking to find and execute them and all they want is to create a peaceful and hopeful existence for those that are living like prisoners. Not only that, unresolved feelings exist for both of them that will need to be addressed one way or another...
I love the characterisation, especially the addition of Meg. Although her motives were misplaced, I still had a soft spot for her and one particular scene with her and Esther brought a tear to my eye.
Daniels has a real knack for creating characters you love to hate! If you thought Hadley was bad, just wait for Janek!
I was eagerly awaiting this book and was completely immersed into their world again from the first page. Daniels grabs you and doesn't let go!
A must read for all dystopian fans. I hope others will grab this and not let go!
The second in a dystopian duology that's told in Multi pov. I love dystopian and I love multi POV so for me, this was always going to be a winner. Slow burn in exactly the right way with threads of tension weaved in at exactly the right moments. The short chapters will keep you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning. Characters you will route for, journey with and cry with. 5 stars from me.
In this continuation we see Esther and Nik separated and both living lives of equal distress. The federated states are looking to find and execute them and all they want is to create a peaceful and hopeful existence for those that are living like prisoners. Not only that, unresolved feelings exist for both of them that will need to be addressed one way or another...
I love the characterisation, especially the addition of Meg. Although her motives were misplaced, I still had a soft spot for her and one particular scene with her and Esther brought a tear to my eye.
Daniels has a real knack for creating characters you love to hate! If you thought Hadley was bad, just wait for Janek!
I was eagerly awaiting this book and was completely immersed into their world again from the first page. Daniels grabs you and doesn't let go!
A must read for all dystopian fans. I hope others will grab this and not let go!
September 18, 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2024
The first one was a lot better. I had trouble staying engaged and struggled finishing it. The ending felt very rushed.
November 8, 2025
I tried. Twice. I can’t get into this book. Snore festival. DNF.
June 7, 2024
I have such such fond memories of the first book and I’ve read it and listened to the audiobook and would recommend both formats. I’ve been looking forward to this book for an age! But true to form, as many a bookworm, I bought it immediately, got busy and had it sitting on my shelf waiting patiently and I FINALY got round to it!
Given it’s been a while for me, it took me a few chapters to get my brain in but it hooked me fairly quickly. Nice to be back with Esther and Nik again and I love the sci fi feel of it. I also loved the differing POV’s and it made the chapters snappy and addicting!
They’ve escaped the Arcadia, but now have new dangers to face. Coalies to avoid, oppressed people to save, murder attempts to dodge. They have a lot going on!
Sarah Daniel’s is a truly great writer and she ended this duology with perfection. I can’t wait to see what else she will come out with!
Given it’s been a while for me, it took me a few chapters to get my brain in but it hooked me fairly quickly. Nice to be back with Esther and Nik again and I love the sci fi feel of it. I also loved the differing POV’s and it made the chapters snappy and addicting!
They’ve escaped the Arcadia, but now have new dangers to face. Coalies to avoid, oppressed people to save, murder attempts to dodge. They have a lot going on!
Sarah Daniel’s is a truly great writer and she ended this duology with perfection. I can’t wait to see what else she will come out with!
March 11, 2025
It was really slow, and I don’t really like any of the characters. I also skimmed a lot of it.
February 18, 2025
Soooo I’m giving this a 2.5 !
July 31, 2023
4.5 stars
With a gap of a few months since the end of the first book The Stranded we spend a little while filling in what and happened and why. We also get some new POV characters introduced. First up we return to follow Esther who is stuck in the camp but exiled from the rebellion she was instrumental in. Although there’s a new love interest in town to keep her somewhat busy.
And Meg, a character we met in book one but who was never named then. Meg is a complex character and as readers our relationship with her is equally as complicated.
While the pace of the first book was breakneck it does slow a little here, allowing us to settle into the reality of Esther’s new day to day. There’s quite a few chapters back and forth between these two until we get to hear from Nik again - and Hadley’s old Boss Janek picks up where his evil left off. Nik has run away from everything - literally -and his grief for May continues and isn’t just swept aside.
I guess one aspect I’d have liked to better understand in this series is what happened to split the US apart so dramatically and how the Federated States came to be so dire in relation to human rights but then I look at what is currently happening in the world (not just the US) and sadly can see how something like that could happen.
In the first book Hadley - although terrible - had a personal backstory that gave a hint of relatability to him. Janek has no such redeeming feature and just seems intent on destruction. Luckily some of the other characters around her have more humanity!
As soon as Nik and Esther were back together I felt the tension ratchet - both between them and in the story as a whole. It was another white knuckle ride to the finish.
I have to admit that the bot technology I found freaky as anything, and the scene with Nik near the end did not help with my fear of normal nor robotic spiders.
Overall this Duology has a great series of characters, a compelling drive towards escape and freedom and brilliant writing. I did slightly prefer the claustrophobic nature of book one but this was a strong conclusion which upped the stakes from fighting the Coalies on the ship to battling the whole Federated States and a lot of evil individuals along the way. The ending was both hopeful for our characters and disappointing for society - because humans never learn from our mistakes and seem doomed to repeat them!
One of the things I loved the most was that this was not a chosen one tale. Neither characters had special powers, and both were thrust into positions in the rebellion they weren’t ready for. I enjoyed how Esther’s calling as a doctor remained consistent throughout and although she steps up into badassery and wavers at times, she remains gentle at heart too.
Huge thanks to The Write Reads and the Publisher for the gifted copy for the purposes of this honest review. The rest of the tour is ongoing but I think everyone is loving this series.
With a gap of a few months since the end of the first book The Stranded we spend a little while filling in what and happened and why. We also get some new POV characters introduced. First up we return to follow Esther who is stuck in the camp but exiled from the rebellion she was instrumental in. Although there’s a new love interest in town to keep her somewhat busy.
And Meg, a character we met in book one but who was never named then. Meg is a complex character and as readers our relationship with her is equally as complicated.
While the pace of the first book was breakneck it does slow a little here, allowing us to settle into the reality of Esther’s new day to day. There’s quite a few chapters back and forth between these two until we get to hear from Nik again - and Hadley’s old Boss Janek picks up where his evil left off. Nik has run away from everything - literally -and his grief for May continues and isn’t just swept aside.
I guess one aspect I’d have liked to better understand in this series is what happened to split the US apart so dramatically and how the Federated States came to be so dire in relation to human rights but then I look at what is currently happening in the world (not just the US) and sadly can see how something like that could happen.
In the first book Hadley - although terrible - had a personal backstory that gave a hint of relatability to him. Janek has no such redeeming feature and just seems intent on destruction. Luckily some of the other characters around her have more humanity!
As soon as Nik and Esther were back together I felt the tension ratchet - both between them and in the story as a whole. It was another white knuckle ride to the finish.
I have to admit that the bot technology I found freaky as anything, and the scene with Nik near the end did not help with my fear of normal nor robotic spiders.
Overall this Duology has a great series of characters, a compelling drive towards escape and freedom and brilliant writing. I did slightly prefer the claustrophobic nature of book one but this was a strong conclusion which upped the stakes from fighting the Coalies on the ship to battling the whole Federated States and a lot of evil individuals along the way. The ending was both hopeful for our characters and disappointing for society - because humans never learn from our mistakes and seem doomed to repeat them!
One of the things I loved the most was that this was not a chosen one tale. Neither characters had special powers, and both were thrust into positions in the rebellion they weren’t ready for. I enjoyed how Esther’s calling as a doctor remained consistent throughout and although she steps up into badassery and wavers at times, she remains gentle at heart too.
Huge thanks to The Write Reads and the Publisher for the gifted copy for the purposes of this honest review. The rest of the tour is ongoing but I think everyone is loving this series.
February 27, 2025
NOTE: This review contains spoilers to The Stranded. Oh wow, what an exciting and gripping sequel and conclusion to The Stranded! After the Arcadia crashed into Federated States land, the survivors of the wreckage are now trapped in a makeshift camp. While Esther and Corp spend their days tending to the sick people of the camp, along with newly trained medic Pat, Nik is miles away in the United States trying to forget about Esther and what happened. But with few supplies and little food getting into the camp, Esther is struggling to cope, and when a terrible illness breaks out things only get worse.
I really loved The Stranded and this book picks up a few months after The Stranded finishes with Esther part of the survivors of the Arcadia crash trying to cope with the conditions of the new camp. The story alternates between different characters in different chapters with a new character of Meg being added to the story near the beginning. Meg is an interesting character and although I did guess some aspects of her story surrounding certain characters, I didn’t guess what would happen and it was interesting to see how her story unfolds in relation to Esther’s.
At first the story focuses on what is happening with Esther and the others in the camp. The conditions there are terrible and although it’s a lot of information to take in, how things have changed so much since the ending of The Stranded, it’s well written and made it easy to understand their whole situation. I like the similarity with The Stranded book with the extra page before some chapters of a broadcast/report being made, and I like how Esther has developed as a person in this book and how much stronger she’s become in this story. With a current ceasefire existing between the Federated States and the camp of survivors, basically being allowed to exist while on Federated States land without being invaded, i like how this story shows us what happens as things unfold with some of the new technology mentioned, like the AR mask and booby traps playing an interesting and sometimes dark role in the story.
A lot happens in this book and I don’t want to reveal it to spoil it, but I like how this story switches after some time to show us what is happening with Nik and our new bad character of Janek who was seen briefly in The Stranded, with this part of the story going back several days in time. Nik’s chapters are interesting although at first you aren’t sure what he’s doing exactly, but I like how the story develops, revealing more about his character and there’s a bit of an environmental message in his early chapters too in regards to what he’s doing. The story becomes more and more exciting as things become more and more dangerous for all of the characters and I like how Nik’s chapters soon catch up to the story happening in the camp and what happens when we see some more dark characters appear.
This story has an even more dystopian feel than the previous one in The Stranded, with a lot of the political side of the story as well as the conditions of the camp and technology used against those stuck in the camp being very dark. There are some eerie and darker parts of the story in this book that can remind you briefly of the pandemic and there’s some very twisted stuff going on politically which was interesting. Despite the darkness of this story though, I love how despite everything the characters go through, it’s ultimately a brilliant and exciting tale that does have a good and satisfying ending. The story builds up to a brilliant and thrilling conclusion, and the quick switches of viewpoint and chapters towards the end make this feel so much like a movie. I love title of part two and how they go about doing it and how this book kept me guessing as to what would happen with everyone, especially what would happen with Nik towards the end.
The ending is so brilliant, you really feel like you’ve been watching a fast-paced movie by the end of the story and I love how everything wraps up so well. The book does have a lot of darker moments though, some deaths mentioned, blood, violence, attacks and occasional use of the s swear word too. On the inside front and back covers are two maps, one showing the camp and the other the Federated States and where the ships are that were all docked nearby. I like these maps as they help you to understand the layout of the place better and I wish I’d had the map of the Federated States and the ships in the first book The Stranded too. The front cover also features some clever glossy finishes that can be seen when you tilt the book in the light that show compass arrows in the top left corner and part of a cruise ship i nthe bottom right, I’ve tried to show these in photographs but it was hard to get the camera to see it clearly, but I like this fun touch that makes the book feel more special to me. 🙂
Overall this is such an amazing and thrilling conclusion to the Stranded story. Although this book is a longer read, every moment of it is exciting and there are some shocking moments and twists in the story which were so good! I like some of the twisted politics going on in the story too, and how it influences what happens for the survivors of the Arcadia. The ending is such a brilliant and exciting one with every moment keeping you glued to the pages, and even though I’ve just finished this at the time of writing this review, I already want to delve back into the story and read both books all over again! The Exiled is a brilliant sequel to this briliant duology that I would recommend. 🙂
-Thanks to Penguin for a free copy.
I really loved The Stranded and this book picks up a few months after The Stranded finishes with Esther part of the survivors of the Arcadia crash trying to cope with the conditions of the new camp. The story alternates between different characters in different chapters with a new character of Meg being added to the story near the beginning. Meg is an interesting character and although I did guess some aspects of her story surrounding certain characters, I didn’t guess what would happen and it was interesting to see how her story unfolds in relation to Esther’s.
At first the story focuses on what is happening with Esther and the others in the camp. The conditions there are terrible and although it’s a lot of information to take in, how things have changed so much since the ending of The Stranded, it’s well written and made it easy to understand their whole situation. I like the similarity with The Stranded book with the extra page before some chapters of a broadcast/report being made, and I like how Esther has developed as a person in this book and how much stronger she’s become in this story. With a current ceasefire existing between the Federated States and the camp of survivors, basically being allowed to exist while on Federated States land without being invaded, i like how this story shows us what happens as things unfold with some of the new technology mentioned, like the AR mask and booby traps playing an interesting and sometimes dark role in the story.
A lot happens in this book and I don’t want to reveal it to spoil it, but I like how this story switches after some time to show us what is happening with Nik and our new bad character of Janek who was seen briefly in The Stranded, with this part of the story going back several days in time. Nik’s chapters are interesting although at first you aren’t sure what he’s doing exactly, but I like how the story develops, revealing more about his character and there’s a bit of an environmental message in his early chapters too in regards to what he’s doing. The story becomes more and more exciting as things become more and more dangerous for all of the characters and I like how Nik’s chapters soon catch up to the story happening in the camp and what happens when we see some more dark characters appear.
This story has an even more dystopian feel than the previous one in The Stranded, with a lot of the political side of the story as well as the conditions of the camp and technology used against those stuck in the camp being very dark. There are some eerie and darker parts of the story in this book that can remind you briefly of the pandemic and there’s some very twisted stuff going on politically which was interesting. Despite the darkness of this story though, I love how despite everything the characters go through, it’s ultimately a brilliant and exciting tale that does have a good and satisfying ending. The story builds up to a brilliant and thrilling conclusion, and the quick switches of viewpoint and chapters towards the end make this feel so much like a movie. I love title of part two and how they go about doing it and how this book kept me guessing as to what would happen with everyone, especially what would happen with Nik towards the end.
The ending is so brilliant, you really feel like you’ve been watching a fast-paced movie by the end of the story and I love how everything wraps up so well. The book does have a lot of darker moments though, some deaths mentioned, blood, violence, attacks and occasional use of the s swear word too. On the inside front and back covers are two maps, one showing the camp and the other the Federated States and where the ships are that were all docked nearby. I like these maps as they help you to understand the layout of the place better and I wish I’d had the map of the Federated States and the ships in the first book The Stranded too. The front cover also features some clever glossy finishes that can be seen when you tilt the book in the light that show compass arrows in the top left corner and part of a cruise ship i nthe bottom right, I’ve tried to show these in photographs but it was hard to get the camera to see it clearly, but I like this fun touch that makes the book feel more special to me. 🙂
Overall this is such an amazing and thrilling conclusion to the Stranded story. Although this book is a longer read, every moment of it is exciting and there are some shocking moments and twists in the story which were so good! I like some of the twisted politics going on in the story too, and how it influences what happens for the survivors of the Arcadia. The ending is such a brilliant and exciting one with every moment keeping you glued to the pages, and even though I’ve just finished this at the time of writing this review, I already want to delve back into the story and read both books all over again! The Exiled is a brilliant sequel to this briliant duology that I would recommend. 🙂
-Thanks to Penguin for a free copy.
February 7, 2024
Lacks the fluidity of the first book. Characters and main plot points feel half-hearted.
March 1, 2025
Had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! A gripping and immersive dystopian novel that's earned its place as a valiant member of the genre.
May 20, 2025
This series is so good! There were some boring parts but over all it was an amazing plot! For the hunger games readers, the villains are as evil as president Snow.
September 28, 2025
Easy read, short chapters, rebels, villains and spies! Teenage love triangle was a weak point for me, but also not what I’m reading for.
January 14, 2024
The Arcadia is no more. Esther and Nik are outlaws and have been separated. Can they find their way back to each other? What awaits their fate and that of the former occupant of the Arcadia?
When I finished reading The Stranded I had so many questions because of the ending. The Exiled picks up shortly after the events of the first book with the Arcadia grounded and Nik’s plans being a success to a certain extent. Although the inhabitants of the Arcadia are no longer on the Arcadia they are now in another version of the same in nearby camps still being controlled. There was a little uncertainty at the end of the first book about the fate of Esther and Nik but we quickly find out that Esther is hiding out in the camps whilst Nik is hiding with the rebels. They are both outlaws being hunted by The Federated States and are trying to lie low. Although their biggest threat was Hadley, a new and greater threat appears in the introduction of Admiral Janek who will do whatever it takes to find them. I would describe Janek as more ruthless than Hadley and power hungry. Another character Meg who made a short appearance in the first book plays a key role in this book and one whose intentions are not what they seem. When the real reason behind why she was attempting to get close to Esther was revealed I was taken aback and was shocked to see the reappearance of another character connected to Meg that I wasn’t expecting.
The pace of this book was definitely quicker than the first and it was full of action from the beginning. Whereas the first book was about striving for freedom, this book was about striving for survival. Although this is a duology each book stood out on its own and the story flowed seamlessly. There was definitely more politics in this book and it was hard at times to know who to trust as each character appeared to have an ulterior motive. Although only a few months have passed since the events of the first book Esther and Nik have gone through immense growth as characters. Something happened between them that neither of them addressed. As the book begins Esther and Nik are not together. Esther wants nothing more than to be reunited with Nik but Nik wants to create distance between him and Esther. Neither of them can stop thinking about each other because they actually both need each other. When they are reunited Esther is involved with someone else and I think it’s that that makes Nik realise how he feels about her. Esther is a much stronger character having gone through such a lot in the first book, losing someone close to her and not knowing what happened to her parents. At the same time Esther carries a lot of guilt because her actions led to the current fate of the inhabitants of the Arcadia. She is aware that she wasn’t able to save everyone and in some ways may have made things worse for them. The Esther we meet in this book is completely different to the Esther first introduced. Nik is also mourning someone he lost but he knows he has to move forward. At the same time his role in the rebel group is rapidly growing and at one point he has to step in as their leader.
A must read if you are a fan of the YA dystopian genre.
When I finished reading The Stranded I had so many questions because of the ending. The Exiled picks up shortly after the events of the first book with the Arcadia grounded and Nik’s plans being a success to a certain extent. Although the inhabitants of the Arcadia are no longer on the Arcadia they are now in another version of the same in nearby camps still being controlled. There was a little uncertainty at the end of the first book about the fate of Esther and Nik but we quickly find out that Esther is hiding out in the camps whilst Nik is hiding with the rebels. They are both outlaws being hunted by The Federated States and are trying to lie low. Although their biggest threat was Hadley, a new and greater threat appears in the introduction of Admiral Janek who will do whatever it takes to find them. I would describe Janek as more ruthless than Hadley and power hungry. Another character Meg who made a short appearance in the first book plays a key role in this book and one whose intentions are not what they seem. When the real reason behind why she was attempting to get close to Esther was revealed I was taken aback and was shocked to see the reappearance of another character connected to Meg that I wasn’t expecting.
The pace of this book was definitely quicker than the first and it was full of action from the beginning. Whereas the first book was about striving for freedom, this book was about striving for survival. Although this is a duology each book stood out on its own and the story flowed seamlessly. There was definitely more politics in this book and it was hard at times to know who to trust as each character appeared to have an ulterior motive. Although only a few months have passed since the events of the first book Esther and Nik have gone through immense growth as characters. Something happened between them that neither of them addressed. As the book begins Esther and Nik are not together. Esther wants nothing more than to be reunited with Nik but Nik wants to create distance between him and Esther. Neither of them can stop thinking about each other because they actually both need each other. When they are reunited Esther is involved with someone else and I think it’s that that makes Nik realise how he feels about her. Esther is a much stronger character having gone through such a lot in the first book, losing someone close to her and not knowing what happened to her parents. At the same time Esther carries a lot of guilt because her actions led to the current fate of the inhabitants of the Arcadia. She is aware that she wasn’t able to save everyone and in some ways may have made things worse for them. The Esther we meet in this book is completely different to the Esther first introduced. Nik is also mourning someone he lost but he knows he has to move forward. At the same time his role in the rebel group is rapidly growing and at one point he has to step in as their leader.
A must read if you are a fan of the YA dystopian genre.
December 19, 2023
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Unsupervised in a Bookstore
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I absolutely loved The Stranded when I read an ARC last year, and waiting a whole year to read the sequel was tough! I rushed out and bought The Exiled on launch day, and jumped straight back in to the dystopian plot.
To recap: refugees from a war-ravaged Europe have been stuck at sea for more than forty years, confined to the cruise ships that were supposed to bring them to safety. A fractured US refuses permission for them to come ashore, fearful of the weaponised virus that might lie dormant in the bloodstream of everyone on board.
I don't want to give too much away, but after the events of The Stranded, protagonist Esther's hopes for a better life are fading. Leaving her cruise ship – the Arcadia – and making it to the Federated States was supposed to be her ticket to freedom, but the refugee camp isn't where she hoped to end up. She's exchanged shipboard anarchy for land-based oppression and gang rivalry, her parents and friends are missing, and she's wanted by the Federated States.
Narration is shared between Esther, Nik (her sister's former boyfriend), Meg (a girl from the Arcadia), and Janek, this book's utterly delicious baddie. I thought Hadley, the sadistic administrator of the Arcadia in The Stranded, was a fantastically nasty antagonist, but Janek is even better. Unlike Hadley, she's in a position of power in the Federated States, with the means and motive to punish the refugees and prove her loyalty to the president. As Janek's efforts provoke support for rebellion in the camp, Esther finds herself in even greater danger. Unsure of who she can trust, she is pushed into taking risks she has been desperately trying to avoid.
It's another twisty plot, with heartbreak and bravery, adventure and betrayal, and a constant feeling of being on the edge of disaster. I absolutely loved it.
I absolutely loved The Stranded when I read an ARC last year, and waiting a whole year to read the sequel was tough! I rushed out and bought The Exiled on launch day, and jumped straight back in to the dystopian plot.
To recap: refugees from a war-ravaged Europe have been stuck at sea for more than forty years, confined to the cruise ships that were supposed to bring them to safety. A fractured US refuses permission for them to come ashore, fearful of the weaponised virus that might lie dormant in the bloodstream of everyone on board.
I don't want to give too much away, but after the events of The Stranded, protagonist Esther's hopes for a better life are fading. Leaving her cruise ship – the Arcadia – and making it to the Federated States was supposed to be her ticket to freedom, but the refugee camp isn't where she hoped to end up. She's exchanged shipboard anarchy for land-based oppression and gang rivalry, her parents and friends are missing, and she's wanted by the Federated States.
Narration is shared between Esther, Nik (her sister's former boyfriend), Meg (a girl from the Arcadia), and Janek, this book's utterly delicious baddie. I thought Hadley, the sadistic administrator of the Arcadia in The Stranded, was a fantastically nasty antagonist, but Janek is even better. Unlike Hadley, she's in a position of power in the Federated States, with the means and motive to punish the refugees and prove her loyalty to the president. As Janek's efforts provoke support for rebellion in the camp, Esther finds herself in even greater danger. Unsure of who she can trust, she is pushed into taking risks she has been desperately trying to avoid.
It's another twisty plot, with heartbreak and bravery, adventure and betrayal, and a constant feeling of being on the edge of disaster. I absolutely loved it.
August 6, 2023
I was super excited to start this book after finishing The Stranded and it really lived up to all my expectations, answered any questions I had after book one and is a brilliant sequel overall. This is a YA dystopian series that you don’t want to miss!
We are thrown back into the chaos 4 months after the rebellion really takes off which left the Arcadia crashed and abandoned on the coast of the federal states. However, instead of being aboard this disorderly ship, we now get to witness the cramped fenced in area where the surviving passengers of the Arcadia have been exiled to. As well as this, the Coalies are still a huge problem, the exiled are now faced with more starvation, destruction and disease among the camp. So it’s not looking good for any of them.
Much like the first book, the world building is so detailed to the point where I could walk alongside Esther down the alleys (not that I would want to), feel the desperation of the exiled passengers in the cramped and diseased warehouses and feel the contrast in this with the luxury that the Coalies & the Government get to experience.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love multiple povs but this one hits differently. We get to see the world and the mayhem created from so many different views and sides of the rebellion, like the first book. This made it so easy to get consumed by this book and the short chapters really make it easy to fly through.
Overall, The Exiled is as dark and eerie as The Stranded which is the perfect atmosphere for a YA Dystopian. With more evil and ruthless bad guys and more at stake for the fight to freedom, you will not be able to turn the pages fast enough. Sarah Daniels has created such a unique and powerful story that I will find hard to forget!
We are thrown back into the chaos 4 months after the rebellion really takes off which left the Arcadia crashed and abandoned on the coast of the federal states. However, instead of being aboard this disorderly ship, we now get to witness the cramped fenced in area where the surviving passengers of the Arcadia have been exiled to. As well as this, the Coalies are still a huge problem, the exiled are now faced with more starvation, destruction and disease among the camp. So it’s not looking good for any of them.
Much like the first book, the world building is so detailed to the point where I could walk alongside Esther down the alleys (not that I would want to), feel the desperation of the exiled passengers in the cramped and diseased warehouses and feel the contrast in this with the luxury that the Coalies & the Government get to experience.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love multiple povs but this one hits differently. We get to see the world and the mayhem created from so many different views and sides of the rebellion, like the first book. This made it so easy to get consumed by this book and the short chapters really make it easy to fly through.
Overall, The Exiled is as dark and eerie as The Stranded which is the perfect atmosphere for a YA Dystopian. With more evil and ruthless bad guys and more at stake for the fight to freedom, you will not be able to turn the pages fast enough. Sarah Daniels has created such a unique and powerful story that I will find hard to forget!
August 24, 2023
The Exiled by Sarah Daniels was a satisfying conclusion to The Stranded duology, and I really enjoyed reading this Young Adult dystopian fiction.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The Exiled picks a few weeks after Esther crashes the Arcadia on the shores of the Federated States and Nik is injured in the Coalies attack. Esther, isolated from the rest of the rebellion and living with Corp, finds herself hunted by the Federated state. Esther has found a new cause in trying to find a way of the camp but ended up being confronted with consequences of one of her decisions on the Arcadia.
Esther and Nik continue to be point of view characters but are joined by Meg, a ship person from Esther’s past and Janek, the ambitious Admiral from the first book. The addition of Janek, is interesting as it gives more of an idea of why the Federated Stated have decided to treat the ship- people as they do but also refuse to allow them to migrate somewhere else. There is also some light shed on how the Federated States treats their own citizens as well.
The book describes the human cost of people living in limbo- people’s desperation for the basic of human needs is well described and also relevant to the time. I’m not sure when the author this book but her floating ship prison sounds like it could have been taken from today’s news.
As a grown-up, I’m not the target audience for this book, so I did groan when a little love triangle appeared but I loved how Esther made a decision and the story moved on.
Esther and Nik, grow as characters but Corp’s story was particularly heart-breaking.
The worlding building is well developed, a perfect blend of fancy tech and primitive tents.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The Exiled picks a few weeks after Esther crashes the Arcadia on the shores of the Federated States and Nik is injured in the Coalies attack. Esther, isolated from the rest of the rebellion and living with Corp, finds herself hunted by the Federated state. Esther has found a new cause in trying to find a way of the camp but ended up being confronted with consequences of one of her decisions on the Arcadia.
Esther and Nik continue to be point of view characters but are joined by Meg, a ship person from Esther’s past and Janek, the ambitious Admiral from the first book. The addition of Janek, is interesting as it gives more of an idea of why the Federated Stated have decided to treat the ship- people as they do but also refuse to allow them to migrate somewhere else. There is also some light shed on how the Federated States treats their own citizens as well.
The book describes the human cost of people living in limbo- people’s desperation for the basic of human needs is well described and also relevant to the time. I’m not sure when the author this book but her floating ship prison sounds like it could have been taken from today’s news.
As a grown-up, I’m not the target audience for this book, so I did groan when a little love triangle appeared but I loved how Esther made a decision and the story moved on.
Esther and Nik, grow as characters but Corp’s story was particularly heart-breaking.
The worlding building is well developed, a perfect blend of fancy tech and primitive tents.
August 31, 2023
We are starting where we left off last time. The second book is in a dual-narration dystopian trilogy. This would always be a winner for me because I enjoy dystopian fiction and multiple points of view. The perfect amount of tension is woven into the slow burn in the right places at just the correct times. There are other locations where THE EXILED is set. Most of it takes place in a refugee camp, but we also see the capital of the Federated States and a clean-up of ocean trash.
There is still a tonne of action, but there is more political intrigue this time. I naturally adored that element of it. Additionally, the rebels act circumspectively, making it difficult to determine who to trust and who is working for whom. This time, there are four points of view; Esther and Nik are back, while Meg and Janek have joined the narrating team as newbies. Meg and Esther are the only two characters in the novel at the beginning because they are both present. The focus then shifts to Nik and Janek before combining their stories. I will keep the characters from this novel dear to my heart for a while because they are so complicated and flawed. While reading The Stranded, I developed a solid attachment to Esther, Nik, and the other characters, and this novel further strengthened that bond by introducing fresh faces. Once again, the story's protagonist was nasty and insane, perfectly complementing the mood. It made the characters seem more genuine that they made a comeback in a continuing storyline from the one in the prior book.
The prose flows smoothly and is ideal for a dystopian young adult. Although Sarah Daniels' universe and story are original, they have a YA dystopian vibe.
There is still a tonne of action, but there is more political intrigue this time. I naturally adored that element of it. Additionally, the rebels act circumspectively, making it difficult to determine who to trust and who is working for whom. This time, there are four points of view; Esther and Nik are back, while Meg and Janek have joined the narrating team as newbies. Meg and Esther are the only two characters in the novel at the beginning because they are both present. The focus then shifts to Nik and Janek before combining their stories. I will keep the characters from this novel dear to my heart for a while because they are so complicated and flawed. While reading The Stranded, I developed a solid attachment to Esther, Nik, and the other characters, and this novel further strengthened that bond by introducing fresh faces. Once again, the story's protagonist was nasty and insane, perfectly complementing the mood. It made the characters seem more genuine that they made a comeback in a continuing storyline from the one in the prior book.
The prose flows smoothly and is ideal for a dystopian young adult. Although Sarah Daniels' universe and story are original, they have a YA dystopian vibe.
July 17, 2023
I received a review copy as part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
THE EXILED finished off this YA dystopia duology in full "resist and rebel" style.
After THE STRANDED was set almost entirely on the one ship, THE EXILED takes place in more locations. It's mostly based in the refugee camp (which is an even more obvious parallel to the refugee camps we see in the news than the Arcadia was), but we see a ocean rubbish clean up and the capital of the Federated States.
There's once again plenty of action, but with more political intrigue. I, of course, loved that aspect of it. Plus the rebels are being very cagey, so it's hard to know who to trust - and just exactly who is working for whom.
There are four POVs this time - Esther and Nik return, with newcomers Meg and Janek joining the narration crew. The book starts out with just Meg and Esther for a while, as they're in the same location. It then switches to Nik and Janek, before bringing all their stories together.
Janek is replacing Hadley's role of "show the reader what the villains are up to", while also delving into the cut-throat political backstabbing of the Federated States' upper echelon's. Meg, in contrast to Janek, has a much murkier set of motives and plays a greyer role in the book. She and Esther have a (fleeting) past in THE STRANDED, and it was nice to explore how that has emotionally impacted them.
In all, it's a fun duology, calling back to the age of "classic" dystopia but with it's own reflections on society today.
THE EXILED finished off this YA dystopia duology in full "resist and rebel" style.
After THE STRANDED was set almost entirely on the one ship, THE EXILED takes place in more locations. It's mostly based in the refugee camp (which is an even more obvious parallel to the refugee camps we see in the news than the Arcadia was), but we see a ocean rubbish clean up and the capital of the Federated States.
There's once again plenty of action, but with more political intrigue. I, of course, loved that aspect of it. Plus the rebels are being very cagey, so it's hard to know who to trust - and just exactly who is working for whom.
There are four POVs this time - Esther and Nik return, with newcomers Meg and Janek joining the narration crew. The book starts out with just Meg and Esther for a while, as they're in the same location. It then switches to Nik and Janek, before bringing all their stories together.
Janek is replacing Hadley's role of "show the reader what the villains are up to", while also delving into the cut-throat political backstabbing of the Federated States' upper echelon's. Meg, in contrast to Janek, has a much murkier set of motives and plays a greyer role in the book. She and Esther have a (fleeting) past in THE STRANDED, and it was nice to explore how that has emotionally impacted them.
In all, it's a fun duology, calling back to the age of "classic" dystopia but with it's own reflections on society today.
July 18, 2023
This was a brilliant sequel to The Stranded, and reading them back to back made me immerse myself in the story so much more.
The plot followed on well from the first book whilst building in intensity and adding new threats for Esther and Nik to face. There was one small plot twist I predicted but everything else was so well orchestrated that I couldn’t know what was going to happen next, driving me to keep reading this book so that I could find out the fate of those who escaped the Arcadia. Not only that but the climax of the book was tension filled and well paced and while I was reel overly long it did not drag.
The characters of this book are so complex and flawed and I will hold them close to my heart for a little while. I got very invested in Esther and Nik and the cast of characters whilst I read The Stranded and this book only built on that whilst adding new characters to the mix. Once again the protagonist of the book was evil and psychotic and it matched the atmosphere wonderfully. I really liked how characters returned in a continuing arc from their one in the previous book, making them feel more real.
The writing is well paced and perfect for a YA dystopian. The world and plot Sarah Daniels has created is so unique but does hold the feel of the YA dystopians I read when a couple years ago and that only added to the wonders of this book. I am really excited to see what she does next.
I was kindly sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
The plot followed on well from the first book whilst building in intensity and adding new threats for Esther and Nik to face. There was one small plot twist I predicted but everything else was so well orchestrated that I couldn’t know what was going to happen next, driving me to keep reading this book so that I could find out the fate of those who escaped the Arcadia. Not only that but the climax of the book was tension filled and well paced and while I was reel overly long it did not drag.
The characters of this book are so complex and flawed and I will hold them close to my heart for a little while. I got very invested in Esther and Nik and the cast of characters whilst I read The Stranded and this book only built on that whilst adding new characters to the mix. Once again the protagonist of the book was evil and psychotic and it matched the atmosphere wonderfully. I really liked how characters returned in a continuing arc from their one in the previous book, making them feel more real.
The writing is well paced and perfect for a YA dystopian. The world and plot Sarah Daniels has created is so unique but does hold the feel of the YA dystopians I read when a couple years ago and that only added to the wonders of this book. I am really excited to see what she does next.
I was kindly sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
July 31, 2023
Almost following straight on from ‘The Stranded’ this book “The Exiled” is set six months after the ‘Arcadia’ crashed into the Federated States. With the residents now housed in camps, in equally as bad conditions as those on board the ship (if not worse), the vivid descriptions the author relays to the reader really does have you at the centre of their terrible lives, deep in the thick of disease, poor sanitation and horrific living conditions.
After the tense action of the previous book, “The Exiled” continues with the fast paced suspense and addictive storyline and brings Esther and Nik back together to save the residents from potential slavery or even execution. I loved these characters previously and I still love them now. As an adult I completely immersed myself in these books and can only imagine teenagers, who these books are predominantly aimed at, would enjoy even more! I still say a tv series would make a fabulous viewing, such a unique concept for a dystopian thriller series and due to the clear, concise and interesting description the author conveys, together with a compelling narrative, I’d be first to sign up to watch.
Another mind blowing, thought provoking (what would you do in their situations) and page turning novel, I can happily recommend these two books and Sarah Daniels and her exemplary writing. Scarily realistic and not at all unbelievable for future happenings.
#TheExiled - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After the tense action of the previous book, “The Exiled” continues with the fast paced suspense and addictive storyline and brings Esther and Nik back together to save the residents from potential slavery or even execution. I loved these characters previously and I still love them now. As an adult I completely immersed myself in these books and can only imagine teenagers, who these books are predominantly aimed at, would enjoy even more! I still say a tv series would make a fabulous viewing, such a unique concept for a dystopian thriller series and due to the clear, concise and interesting description the author conveys, together with a compelling narrative, I’d be first to sign up to watch.
Another mind blowing, thought provoking (what would you do in their situations) and page turning novel, I can happily recommend these two books and Sarah Daniels and her exemplary writing. Scarily realistic and not at all unbelievable for future happenings.
#TheExiled - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 22, 2023
A thrilling sequel to The Stranded! Full of edge-of-the-seat drama, action and intense emotions - The Exiled continues Esther's, Nik's and the inhabitants of Arcadia's stories.
It's hard not to give spoilers to those who haven't read the first book but, I can say they face even greater heartbreaking conflict and life altering decisions in The Exiled.
Meanwhile other characters from book one face difficulties as they discover life, following the events at the end of 'The Stranded', is harder than ever. And with deadly secrets, spies and manipulation by the powers at the top - no-one can be sure who to trust or what to believe. This distrust and uneasiness pits allies against each other and leads the characters into dangerous and often unwise directions.
This duology is one of the best, most enjoyable YA speculative thriller series out there. With complex characters that I really cared about and a vividly created world so immersive it's easy to imagine this happening in our present reality.
A fast paced, heartstopping, storyline that draws you in and keeps you up at night turning pages. With thrilling action, an engaging plot, thought-provoking themes, relationship angst and underlying love story - this sequel is a satisfying, excellent conclusion to this duology.
Suitable for teens and adults, I highly recommend these books to both. If this duology was a movie, it'd be a blockbuster cinema hit enjoyed by a wide range of ages.
It's hard not to give spoilers to those who haven't read the first book but, I can say they face even greater heartbreaking conflict and life altering decisions in The Exiled.
Meanwhile other characters from book one face difficulties as they discover life, following the events at the end of 'The Stranded', is harder than ever. And with deadly secrets, spies and manipulation by the powers at the top - no-one can be sure who to trust or what to believe. This distrust and uneasiness pits allies against each other and leads the characters into dangerous and often unwise directions.
This duology is one of the best, most enjoyable YA speculative thriller series out there. With complex characters that I really cared about and a vividly created world so immersive it's easy to imagine this happening in our present reality.
A fast paced, heartstopping, storyline that draws you in and keeps you up at night turning pages. With thrilling action, an engaging plot, thought-provoking themes, relationship angst and underlying love story - this sequel is a satisfying, excellent conclusion to this duology.
Suitable for teens and adults, I highly recommend these books to both. If this duology was a movie, it'd be a blockbuster cinema hit enjoyed by a wide range of ages.
November 7, 2023
The Exiled continues from the first book. It’s been six months since Arcadia crashed, and its inhabitants have had to set up came ashore.
The story continues to unfold through multiple POVs, just like in The Stranded. This time around, we hear from Esther, Nik, and two new characters, Meg and Janek. It has been nice to see some familiar characters return as well as seeing new ones.
Once again, the characters are well done, and this time around, they felt even more complex and flawed. It was also much harder to work out who to trust and who exactly some of them were working for. There were definitely a couple of surprises.
Although I flew through this book, I did find the pace a little slower than The Stranded, especially during the first half of the book.
Now, I loved the whole concept and the development of the story from start to finish, but one thing that let me down was the whole love triangle, romance trope. If you’ve been following me for a while you’ll know this is a trope I’m not a fan of as for me it takes away the focus from the main plot, and makes me lose a little interest in the book. Obviously, this is down to personal preference but a big put-off for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this duology very much and can’t wait to see what to read more from this author soon.
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced YA dystopian.
The story continues to unfold through multiple POVs, just like in The Stranded. This time around, we hear from Esther, Nik, and two new characters, Meg and Janek. It has been nice to see some familiar characters return as well as seeing new ones.
Once again, the characters are well done, and this time around, they felt even more complex and flawed. It was also much harder to work out who to trust and who exactly some of them were working for. There were definitely a couple of surprises.
Although I flew through this book, I did find the pace a little slower than The Stranded, especially during the first half of the book.
Now, I loved the whole concept and the development of the story from start to finish, but one thing that let me down was the whole love triangle, romance trope. If you’ve been following me for a while you’ll know this is a trope I’m not a fan of as for me it takes away the focus from the main plot, and makes me lose a little interest in the book. Obviously, this is down to personal preference but a big put-off for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this duology very much and can’t wait to see what to read more from this author soon.
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced YA dystopian.
August 2, 2023
The Exiled is the second in the Dystopian Duology that started with The Stranded. This picks up six months after the end of the first. I was really glad I had the second book to begin as soon as I finished The Stranded. It really made it such a great reading experience.
Sarah Daniel's keeps the high standards she sets in the first one. I hardly felt like I was transported back to the occupants of The Arcadia immediately. Sarah Daniel's world building is that good!
I was so invested in Nik and Esther, who are so unique and well developed. In fact, all the characters held me fast, not willing to leave this world. I felt like I was inhabiting. There is all the drama and suspense, just like the first book, too. The characters I love to hate are here, too. I was hoping they would get their comeuppance sooner rather than later.
I am so looking forward to reading more from Sarah Daniels after reading this well written, young adult, dystopian duology.
Thanks to The Write Reads and Penguin for the copy of the book to write my review.
Sarah Daniel's keeps the high standards she sets in the first one. I hardly felt like I was transported back to the occupants of The Arcadia immediately. Sarah Daniel's world building is that good!
I was so invested in Nik and Esther, who are so unique and well developed. In fact, all the characters held me fast, not willing to leave this world. I felt like I was inhabiting. There is all the drama and suspense, just like the first book, too. The characters I love to hate are here, too. I was hoping they would get their comeuppance sooner rather than later.
I am so looking forward to reading more from Sarah Daniels after reading this well written, young adult, dystopian duology.
Thanks to The Write Reads and Penguin for the copy of the book to write my review.
April 25, 2024
I loved the concepts of these books because it felt like it was bringing in real world problems into a fictional book (pandemic, our political climate and climate change). The first book dragged in places but I still overall liked it and I had high hopes for the second book.
But it still fell short for me. It was very predictable so it didn't give me that wow factor or gut wrenching ending. I didn't understand why all the characters were read in first person except for Janek changed to third person either. Was it because it was the other side of the rebellion so we are meant to not feel as in touch with the character? It just felt odd.
I still enjoyed the read overall!
But it still fell short for me. It was very predictable so it didn't give me that wow factor or gut wrenching ending. I didn't understand why all the characters were read in first person except for Janek changed to third person either. Was it because it was the other side of the rebellion so we are meant to not feel as in touch with the character? It just felt odd.
I still enjoyed the read overall!
August 8, 2023
This is the sequel to THE STRANDED and is a satisfying finish to the duology.
I enjoyed this one a lot more! We still have multiple POVs and action, but we're introduced to more locations, and there's more political intrigue too. Esther and Nik make a comeback and are joined by two other characters, their stories weaving together with the same page-turning tension I came to love in book 1. I wished for more character development and more revelations about the world, and I wasn't disappointed!
I enjoyed this one a lot more! We still have multiple POVs and action, but we're introduced to more locations, and there's more political intrigue too. Esther and Nik make a comeback and are joined by two other characters, their stories weaving together with the same page-turning tension I came to love in book 1. I wished for more character development and more revelations about the world, and I wasn't disappointed!
August 10, 2023
The Exiled takes up six months after The Stranded finished, the continuation was seamlessly done. If you can I would definitely recommend you read them in series order as they won't work as standalones - you'll have no idea what's going on.
Many of The Arcadia's residents now find themselves in exile, seeking shelter in disused buildings, whilst trying to evade the Coalies and stay alive.
A fantastic conclusion to the Stranded duology, fast paced, exciting and a proper page turner.
Many of The Arcadia's residents now find themselves in exile, seeking shelter in disused buildings, whilst trying to evade the Coalies and stay alive.
A fantastic conclusion to the Stranded duology, fast paced, exciting and a proper page turner.
August 8, 2023
This duology reads like a TV series, and I mean that in a good way. I'd love to watch this show. I'd perhaps have liked a little more lore about the world and how it came to be the way it is, as that sort of thing always interests me. At times I felt the pacing was a little off - either too slow or too frenetic. But overall I really enjoyed this series and the story and characters will stay with me a while. A solid 4.5 stars. I look forward to more from this author!
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