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Stranded
Six contestants pair off into three teams of one man and one woman as part of a pilot season for a new reality show called Stranded. The challenge: Survive thirty days in a hostile and brutal environment for a chance to split a half-million-dollar prize.
Victor, the show’s creator, chooses the northern Arctic as the first location, but after a single day, his mistake is clear: They are not alone.
Their presence awakens a relentless and unforgiving predator that feeds on greed, lust and fear.
In this game, the lucky ones get to die.
Victor, the show’s creator, chooses the northern Arctic as the first location, but after a single day, his mistake is clear: They are not alone.
Their presence awakens a relentless and unforgiving predator that feeds on greed, lust and fear.
In this game, the lucky ones get to die.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2018
6 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Renee Miller
49 books200 followersI'd like to say I hate talking about myself, but that would be a lie. I don't mind in the least. Will it be interesting? Meh, probably not.
Let's see, I write suspense, comedy, paranormal, horror and erotic horror fiction. Basically all the dark fiction.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter (@ReneeMJ) and wherever else it's not creepy to follow someone.
Let's see, I write suspense, comedy, paranormal, horror and erotic horror fiction. Basically all the dark fiction.
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter (@ReneeMJ) and wherever else it's not creepy to follow someone.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 10, 2018
Anybody who has been following my reviews for a while likely knows that I have a particular fondness for arctic-based horror. Drop a group of folks in the middle of a freezing and inhospitable terrain where they are blinded by snow, frostbitten, and mentally at their wits end and at each other’s throats, and let the blood spill. I love shit like that, and Renee Miller clearly does, as well.
Stranded has all of the above, plus a mysterious monster rooted in indigenous folklore. While the creature is of the rough and tumble sort, this book's cast is heavily loaded with plenty of greedy human monsters to root against, too. Half the fun of Stranded is in seeing a lot of these bastards get their comeuppance, and Miller does a fun job of thematically arguing the point that greed is the root of all evil.
A handful of contestants are picked to compete in a brand-new reality show called Stranded, an extreme survival show where the stakes are raised with a bit of matchmaking. The players are whisked off to a remote, uninhabited arctic island in the Canadian north to seek fame, fortune, and glory, but a few of them have some dark secrets they’re hoping to escape. There’s a corrupt cop hoping to circumvent the investigation into her pay-off from pimps, and an unstable sex addict on the edge. Not to mention the show’s skeevy creator, producers, and crew who won’t let trifling nuisances like a spate of murders and disappearances wreak havoc with their guaranteed hit.
As I said above, there’s a lot of people to root against, and not many to root for. Stranded gets pretty dark and readers who need likeable protagonists to cheer on will likely find a few things to fret about here. Me, I’m good with nasty people meeting their nasty end by way of even nastier supernatural forces, and in this regard Miller delivers all kinds of violent fun. What I most appreciated, though, were the subtle layers of commentary about greed and its relationship to the monstrous force at play here. Miller doesn’t beat her readers over the head with preachiness or demands for her audience to repent, but there is a nice bit of thematic meat on this novella’s bones.
Most of all, though, Stranded is a fun, quick read, the kind of pulpy entertainment that’s right up my alley and hits all my sweet spots. It’s got blood-drenched snow, a terrible climate for its characters to endure or succumb to, and a nifty creature to boot. Renee Miller has crafted a brutal tale of monsters and madness, one that will make your blood run cold. Perfect for fans of The Thing, Stranded is arctic terror at its chillingly scary best.
[Note: I received an advance reading copy of this title from the publisher, Unnerving, to provide a publication blurb. I have chosen to review Stranded, as well, because I dug the hell out of this novella and hope you will too.]
Stranded has all of the above, plus a mysterious monster rooted in indigenous folklore. While the creature is of the rough and tumble sort, this book's cast is heavily loaded with plenty of greedy human monsters to root against, too. Half the fun of Stranded is in seeing a lot of these bastards get their comeuppance, and Miller does a fun job of thematically arguing the point that greed is the root of all evil.
A handful of contestants are picked to compete in a brand-new reality show called Stranded, an extreme survival show where the stakes are raised with a bit of matchmaking. The players are whisked off to a remote, uninhabited arctic island in the Canadian north to seek fame, fortune, and glory, but a few of them have some dark secrets they’re hoping to escape. There’s a corrupt cop hoping to circumvent the investigation into her pay-off from pimps, and an unstable sex addict on the edge. Not to mention the show’s skeevy creator, producers, and crew who won’t let trifling nuisances like a spate of murders and disappearances wreak havoc with their guaranteed hit.
As I said above, there’s a lot of people to root against, and not many to root for. Stranded gets pretty dark and readers who need likeable protagonists to cheer on will likely find a few things to fret about here. Me, I’m good with nasty people meeting their nasty end by way of even nastier supernatural forces, and in this regard Miller delivers all kinds of violent fun. What I most appreciated, though, were the subtle layers of commentary about greed and its relationship to the monstrous force at play here. Miller doesn’t beat her readers over the head with preachiness or demands for her audience to repent, but there is a nice bit of thematic meat on this novella’s bones.
Most of all, though, Stranded is a fun, quick read, the kind of pulpy entertainment that’s right up my alley and hits all my sweet spots. It’s got blood-drenched snow, a terrible climate for its characters to endure or succumb to, and a nifty creature to boot. Renee Miller has crafted a brutal tale of monsters and madness, one that will make your blood run cold. Perfect for fans of The Thing, Stranded is arctic terror at its chillingly scary best.
[Note: I received an advance reading copy of this title from the publisher, Unnerving, to provide a publication blurb. I have chosen to review Stranded, as well, because I dug the hell out of this novella and hope you will too.]
September 16, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Man alive, I am on a Miller kick and it’s been outstanding.
Having recently cruised through ‘Church,’ ‘Cats Like Cream,’ and ‘Howl,’ I’ve now landed on ‘Stranded.’
I had attempted to read 5 of Renee’s books in 5 days recently, and sadly I failed. But this is book 4 of 5 and I’ll be starting ‘Blood Lake Monster‘ most likely tomorrow.
What I liked: So, what can I pass on to potential new readers of Miller that I’ve discovered from reading so much of her work in a short period of time? A few things. Miller creates real, raw characters. She doesn’t make anyone a photoshopped version of themselves. We get the good and the bad. Miller also doesn’t shy away from ramping up anything and going into NC-17 territory, which happens a few times in ‘Stranded.’ That is not a bad thing at all. It actually elevated the tension and the scenarios.
‘Stranded‘ follows both a cast of characters chosen to participate in a pilot reality series and some of the crew filming it. It’s a survival/romance show. The creator and producer is hoping that by pairing up three groups consisting of a man and a woman and plopping them someone completely isolated they’ll fall for each other while surviving. At the same time, tasks will come their way to earn rewards etc. Last team standing wins.
From that straightforward idea, Miller gives us some of the best icy filled gore since ‘The Thing‘ movie by Carpenter and really shifts into high gear when we get some incredibly fantastic back story. I can’t say too much more, but it was amazing to see that it wasn’t simply a mindless, mutated killing machine.
What I didn’t like: There were a few moments where characters did some things that seemed ‘off’ of what I’d expected from them, but nothing overtly annoying. It is a survival story around a survival show, so people will often do ridiculous things when money is a motivator.
Why you should buy it: ‘Stranded‘ is Miller operating at her absolute best. From the other books I’ve read of hers, this took all of the fantastic parts and tossed them in a blender. If you read any of my reviews, you’ll know I love, love, love, icy-winter settings and the added throw-in of the reality show concept was a blast.
If you need to start anywhere with Miller, this is the place to do it. She’s become a must-read author for me, in a short period of time, and I suspect soon she’ll fall into that category for you as well.
Man alive, I am on a Miller kick and it’s been outstanding.
Having recently cruised through ‘Church,’ ‘Cats Like Cream,’ and ‘Howl,’ I’ve now landed on ‘Stranded.’
I had attempted to read 5 of Renee’s books in 5 days recently, and sadly I failed. But this is book 4 of 5 and I’ll be starting ‘Blood Lake Monster‘ most likely tomorrow.
What I liked: So, what can I pass on to potential new readers of Miller that I’ve discovered from reading so much of her work in a short period of time? A few things. Miller creates real, raw characters. She doesn’t make anyone a photoshopped version of themselves. We get the good and the bad. Miller also doesn’t shy away from ramping up anything and going into NC-17 territory, which happens a few times in ‘Stranded.’ That is not a bad thing at all. It actually elevated the tension and the scenarios.
‘Stranded‘ follows both a cast of characters chosen to participate in a pilot reality series and some of the crew filming it. It’s a survival/romance show. The creator and producer is hoping that by pairing up three groups consisting of a man and a woman and plopping them someone completely isolated they’ll fall for each other while surviving. At the same time, tasks will come their way to earn rewards etc. Last team standing wins.
From that straightforward idea, Miller gives us some of the best icy filled gore since ‘The Thing‘ movie by Carpenter and really shifts into high gear when we get some incredibly fantastic back story. I can’t say too much more, but it was amazing to see that it wasn’t simply a mindless, mutated killing machine.
What I didn’t like: There were a few moments where characters did some things that seemed ‘off’ of what I’d expected from them, but nothing overtly annoying. It is a survival story around a survival show, so people will often do ridiculous things when money is a motivator.
Why you should buy it: ‘Stranded‘ is Miller operating at her absolute best. From the other books I’ve read of hers, this took all of the fantastic parts and tossed them in a blender. If you read any of my reviews, you’ll know I love, love, love, icy-winter settings and the added throw-in of the reality show concept was a blast.
If you need to start anywhere with Miller, this is the place to do it. She’s become a must-read author for me, in a short period of time, and I suspect soon she’ll fall into that category for you as well.
July 14, 2022
This was so much fun. Did not know alot about it going in but this was fast paced, dark and a great ride. I felt the icy cold coming of the page. Highly recommend giving this one a try.
January 15, 2021
Six contestants pair off into three teams, eager to be a part of the pilot season for a new reality show where victory will land half a million dollars in their pockets. All they have to do is overcome the environment and earn points by completing challenges – sounds easy, right? The last thing they expected was to be dumped in the northern Arctic, where life seems non-existent until the howling begins and people start dying. Now they must forget the cameras and the money, their lives depending on it.
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
With an interesting concept that included an immersive and severe battle with the elements, Stranded was my second Miller novella to date, the first being the highly recommended Cats Like Cream. I tend to like the reality-show-gone-wrong idea, because why not make an already terrible thing even more terrible? It was fast-paced and fun, what grasped me the most being its Arctic locale and the detrimental effects it had on the characters – I seriously can’t get enough of cold climates. There’s something about freezing temperatures and inhospitable terrain that strikes me as so atmospheric, and the writing here didn’t disappoint in that regard; Miller’s a capable author who can set a scene. However, despite my overall appreciation of the setting, it’s going to be a difficult one to remember down the line. Even now, the cast of characters – six contestants as well as various crew members – have merged together into an unidentifiable blob, but that is more so to do with the type of reader I am. Without enough time to acquaint myself with personalities, I often have difficulty distinguishing between multiple names, and it’s something that novellas are especially at risk of. I feel that there just wasn’t enough to tell them apart in such a short length of time, with the exception of Max, for reasons I’ll leave out. I also believe there was something missed by not exploring the dynamics of the couples further, and by not including some of the challenges that were intended for them – I’d have loved an extended version of this story.
From my understanding there were two separate entities at play, although it was left largely unclear throughout as to the specifics, with only speculation and brief descriptions. Whatever exactly it was had an appetite for bloodshed, which likewise entertained and interested me due to the peppering of indigenous folklore involved. The ending only piqued my curiosity all the more, as not everything was as cut and dry as it first appeared. I just like monsters, what else can I say?
In conclusion: Atmospheric and brutal, Stranded painted a harsh landscape and supplemented its bleakness with human greed. There were elements that appealed to me, such as the struggle for survival in an environment so depressing, yet I had some difficulties keeping up with the characters who all seemed a slight too similar. The bodies started piling up pretty quickly, involving creatures that were never truly identified, but I found the mystery surrounding them intriguing. For the most part, I enjoyed it for the speedy read it was, but I also couldn’t help but wish for more development, especially when it came to the competition and pairings.
Notable Quote:
This feeling brought with it a knowledge he’d prefer not to have; they were all going to die.
© Red Lace 2021
Blog ~ Twitter
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
With an interesting concept that included an immersive and severe battle with the elements, Stranded was my second Miller novella to date, the first being the highly recommended Cats Like Cream. I tend to like the reality-show-gone-wrong idea, because why not make an already terrible thing even more terrible? It was fast-paced and fun, what grasped me the most being its Arctic locale and the detrimental effects it had on the characters – I seriously can’t get enough of cold climates. There’s something about freezing temperatures and inhospitable terrain that strikes me as so atmospheric, and the writing here didn’t disappoint in that regard; Miller’s a capable author who can set a scene. However, despite my overall appreciation of the setting, it’s going to be a difficult one to remember down the line. Even now, the cast of characters – six contestants as well as various crew members – have merged together into an unidentifiable blob, but that is more so to do with the type of reader I am. Without enough time to acquaint myself with personalities, I often have difficulty distinguishing between multiple names, and it’s something that novellas are especially at risk of. I feel that there just wasn’t enough to tell them apart in such a short length of time, with the exception of Max, for reasons I’ll leave out. I also believe there was something missed by not exploring the dynamics of the couples further, and by not including some of the challenges that were intended for them – I’d have loved an extended version of this story.
From my understanding there were two separate entities at play, although it was left largely unclear throughout as to the specifics, with only speculation and brief descriptions. Whatever exactly it was had an appetite for bloodshed, which likewise entertained and interested me due to the peppering of indigenous folklore involved. The ending only piqued my curiosity all the more, as not everything was as cut and dry as it first appeared. I just like monsters, what else can I say?
In conclusion: Atmospheric and brutal, Stranded painted a harsh landscape and supplemented its bleakness with human greed. There were elements that appealed to me, such as the struggle for survival in an environment so depressing, yet I had some difficulties keeping up with the characters who all seemed a slight too similar. The bodies started piling up pretty quickly, involving creatures that were never truly identified, but I found the mystery surrounding them intriguing. For the most part, I enjoyed it for the speedy read it was, but I also couldn’t help but wish for more development, especially when it came to the competition and pairings.
Notable Quote:
This feeling brought with it a knowledge he’d prefer not to have; they were all going to die.
© Red Lace 2021
Blog ~ Twitter
April 21, 2021
Okay, so I'm a huge fan of shows like survivor. Put some random strangers in a remote location and have them survive and I'm in my happy place.
If I could tweak any thing about the book, it would be to add more contestants and more reality show aspects (like lots of comps). Of course, it's been ages since a new season of my favorite show, so this may be more a *me* sort of thing.
The author does handle the reality show issues well - complete with picking some dramatic and problematic contestants!
Add to that, truly fearsome chompy things, forbidden places where we should NOT be filming a reality show, and a few chompy-type humans, and you've got a really great story!
Very fast moving, chilling for all the right reasons, and an absolute adrenaline rush!
Happy I read it!
If I could tweak any thing about the book, it would be to add more contestants and more reality show aspects (like lots of comps). Of course, it's been ages since a new season of my favorite show, so this may be more a *me* sort of thing.
The author does handle the reality show issues well - complete with picking some dramatic and problematic contestants!
Add to that, truly fearsome chompy things, forbidden places where we should NOT be filming a reality show, and a few chompy-type humans, and you've got a really great story!
Very fast moving, chilling for all the right reasons, and an absolute adrenaline rush!
Happy I read it!
November 3, 2018
This review first appeared on scifiandscary.com
‘Stranded’ is a short horror novel about the filming of a reality TV show where six ordinary people have to survive in an icy wilderness. This being the horror genre, they don’t just have the elements to contend with, there are also some supernatural monsters. It’s a fun premise, and the book kept me entertained on a long cross country train journey. The problem is that if you spend 5 minutes thinking about what a book with that premise would be like, you don’t really need to bother reading ‘Stranded’.
I loved Miller’s deranged psycho story ‘Cats Like Cream’. It surprised me and creeped me out enormously and I thought she did a great job of getting into the mind of the main character. ‘Stranded’ feels a bit of a let down by comparison. There’s a lot to enjoy here: it’s tense and thrilling at times, the characters are diverse and there are some creepy moments. It’s all just a bit obvious though, and ends up playing like a low budget horror movie rather than challenging the reader like ‘Cats Like Cream’ did.
Let me focus on the positives though, because this is a nasty, fun read and worth your time, especially if you have Kindle Unlimited. Miller’s take on the exploitative nature of reality TV is interesting. The unscrupulous producers of the Stranded show are enjoyably oily and the set up works well, The six contestants are split into three teams, each comprising a man and a woman, to maximise the chances of on-screen shenanigans to supplement the icy peril. The fact that one of the men is a dangerous sociopath adds to the tension. The premise of the show has the teams having to undertake various challenges, but the events of the book quickly overtakes things and they never really get the chance to do this. I was a little disappointed by this. It felt like a good way for the reader to get to know the characters and the dynamics between them. Instead the build up is fairly slight and whilst there are some scenes about the contestants just trying to survive in the wilderness, the action moves pretty quickly into more traditional monster mode.
Miller mixes things up a bit by including the camera crews filming the contestants as characters/victims. She keeps the body count high and does a good job of providing a range of dangers for the characters to face. There are the obvious environmental perils, the supernatural monsters and treacherous humans trying to cover their backs. The issue is that in 126 pages there isn’t really time for the reader to get to know the characters well enough to really care about them. The book ends up feeling a bit rushed, which is a shame because the monsters are creepy and some of the characters are good. The psycho, Max, is believably self-obsessed and creepy. Likewise the ratings focussed producers are enjoyably nasty. Unfortunately many of the other characters ended up blurring together a bit more me. They became “contestant 1” or “crew member 3” rather than living people.
I normally bemoan the fact that modern books are too long, but ‘Stranded’ felt too short to me. The action is solid, but there’s too little sizzle beforehand to get the reader hungry for the steak. I’d love to see an expanded edition, that spent a bit more time building up the characters so that I really cared about them by the time shit hit the fan.
‘Stranded’ is a short horror novel about the filming of a reality TV show where six ordinary people have to survive in an icy wilderness. This being the horror genre, they don’t just have the elements to contend with, there are also some supernatural monsters. It’s a fun premise, and the book kept me entertained on a long cross country train journey. The problem is that if you spend 5 minutes thinking about what a book with that premise would be like, you don’t really need to bother reading ‘Stranded’.
I loved Miller’s deranged psycho story ‘Cats Like Cream’. It surprised me and creeped me out enormously and I thought she did a great job of getting into the mind of the main character. ‘Stranded’ feels a bit of a let down by comparison. There’s a lot to enjoy here: it’s tense and thrilling at times, the characters are diverse and there are some creepy moments. It’s all just a bit obvious though, and ends up playing like a low budget horror movie rather than challenging the reader like ‘Cats Like Cream’ did.
Let me focus on the positives though, because this is a nasty, fun read and worth your time, especially if you have Kindle Unlimited. Miller’s take on the exploitative nature of reality TV is interesting. The unscrupulous producers of the Stranded show are enjoyably oily and the set up works well, The six contestants are split into three teams, each comprising a man and a woman, to maximise the chances of on-screen shenanigans to supplement the icy peril. The fact that one of the men is a dangerous sociopath adds to the tension. The premise of the show has the teams having to undertake various challenges, but the events of the book quickly overtakes things and they never really get the chance to do this. I was a little disappointed by this. It felt like a good way for the reader to get to know the characters and the dynamics between them. Instead the build up is fairly slight and whilst there are some scenes about the contestants just trying to survive in the wilderness, the action moves pretty quickly into more traditional monster mode.
Miller mixes things up a bit by including the camera crews filming the contestants as characters/victims. She keeps the body count high and does a good job of providing a range of dangers for the characters to face. There are the obvious environmental perils, the supernatural monsters and treacherous humans trying to cover their backs. The issue is that in 126 pages there isn’t really time for the reader to get to know the characters well enough to really care about them. The book ends up feeling a bit rushed, which is a shame because the monsters are creepy and some of the characters are good. The psycho, Max, is believably self-obsessed and creepy. Likewise the ratings focussed producers are enjoyably nasty. Unfortunately many of the other characters ended up blurring together a bit more me. They became “contestant 1” or “crew member 3” rather than living people.
I normally bemoan the fact that modern books are too long, but ‘Stranded’ felt too short to me. The action is solid, but there’s too little sizzle beforehand to get the reader hungry for the steak. I’d love to see an expanded edition, that spent a bit more time building up the characters so that I really cared about them by the time shit hit the fan.
May 6, 2019
The cover implies this novella has wolves, it does not, something bigger probably ate them! Instead it has a really cool beast inspired from indigenous folklore, which is a vicious crossbreed between a wendigo and the snow-beast in Dan Simmon’s The Terror. The creature does not mess around and appears not long after the intruders arrive and quickly terrorises the contestants and crew monitoring them. At a brief 126 pages, it hits the ground running, it’s lean and very mean, with a quickly mounting body count.
You can read Tony's entire review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's entire review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
November 11, 2018
The Jack Londonesque White Fang style cover does not do justice to this chilling (in more ways than one) novella, as the creature which inhabits these pages is significantly nastier than the skinny looking wolf gracing the front. There is certainly a survivalist element to Stranded and if the legendary adventurer London was indeed Renee Miller’s original inspiration, then she brings 21st century game elements to this page-turning tale of a reality show which goes horribly wrong.
There’s an age-old literary fact which is worth repeating here: never judge a book by its cover. Ashamedly, I would have been guilty of not following my own sage advice with Stranded if not for the recommendation of Michael Patrick Hicks. This author is also an outstanding reviewer who often gives great tips and it was his nod which prompted me to pick up this gripping and blood-drenched novella.
A television producer, Victor, has created a new survival show called Stranded and in the hunt for viewer ratings decides to set the programme in a location as remote as possible. This was originally supposed to be Canada, but after their request to film in the original spot is declined, it is shifted elsewhere; much further north and well inside the Arctic Circle. Stupidly, and running short of time, they fail to scout the location adequately and the terrain is rough, dangerous and not exactly the ideal spot to film a television show.
The show has six contestants, three of each sex, whom are paired off just before they arrive at the island. The winning couple will share $500,000 after surviving a month and a number of group challenges on the island. The producers hope there will be some romance to spice up the television ratings, with cameras filming everything within their basic survival shacks. However, nobody truly realises how cold it will be and the possibility of romance under eight layers of clothes and frozen lips is pretty remote! We’re sketchily introduced to the six contestants, all of which have their own issues ranging from corrupt policeman to sex addict. None of the bunch are particularly likeable, but the island is so brutally inhospitable you cannot help but feel sorry for a couple of them as they realise what they are up against.
Before arriving on the island, the location was kept secret and the poor suckers naively dreamed of being filmed on a Caribbean island and so this barren landscape was a genuine shock to their systems. The author’s descriptions of the level of cold is put across exceptionally well, man, I felt cold just reading it! The six contestants scavenging for wood on an island with no trees might not have made the most exciting reality television show, but it is riveting to read.
The cover implies this novella has wolves, it does not, something bigger probably ate them! Instead it has a really cool beast inspired from indigenous folklore, which is a vicious crossbreed between a wendigo and the snow-beast in Dan Simmon’s The Terror. The creature does not mess around and appears not long after the intruders arrive and quickly terrorises the contestants and crew monitoring them. At a brief 126 pages, it hits the ground running, it’s lean and very mean, with a quickly mounting body count.
Renee Miller never lets us forget that the end product of Stranded is supposed to be a ten-part television show and so money and greed is never far away. Even after being made aware of the first couple of deaths, the producers carry on filming and avoid the dire warnings, thinking that in the end a tragedy will only make the show a bigger hit. This adds an extra level of spice to the novella, as everyone is not on the same side and have their own agenda. There is even a very clever plot twist halfway through which I did not see coming, which makes survival even trickier.
If you’re a fan of artic or survival horror, Stranded is a simply but superbly written pulpy addition to the genre which you will read in a couple of sittings, possibly one. The blood-letting is over-the-top, the action is unrelenting, and the chance of survival is minimal. It also has an outstanding monster which would use Big Foot as a tooth-pick. If old-timer Jack London read Stranded, he would turn tail and head for the Caribbean. After revisiting this novella to write this review, I have the overwhelming need to turn to turn the central heating up! Outstanding fun.
There’s an age-old literary fact which is worth repeating here: never judge a book by its cover. Ashamedly, I would have been guilty of not following my own sage advice with Stranded if not for the recommendation of Michael Patrick Hicks. This author is also an outstanding reviewer who often gives great tips and it was his nod which prompted me to pick up this gripping and blood-drenched novella.
A television producer, Victor, has created a new survival show called Stranded and in the hunt for viewer ratings decides to set the programme in a location as remote as possible. This was originally supposed to be Canada, but after their request to film in the original spot is declined, it is shifted elsewhere; much further north and well inside the Arctic Circle. Stupidly, and running short of time, they fail to scout the location adequately and the terrain is rough, dangerous and not exactly the ideal spot to film a television show.
The show has six contestants, three of each sex, whom are paired off just before they arrive at the island. The winning couple will share $500,000 after surviving a month and a number of group challenges on the island. The producers hope there will be some romance to spice up the television ratings, with cameras filming everything within their basic survival shacks. However, nobody truly realises how cold it will be and the possibility of romance under eight layers of clothes and frozen lips is pretty remote! We’re sketchily introduced to the six contestants, all of which have their own issues ranging from corrupt policeman to sex addict. None of the bunch are particularly likeable, but the island is so brutally inhospitable you cannot help but feel sorry for a couple of them as they realise what they are up against.
Before arriving on the island, the location was kept secret and the poor suckers naively dreamed of being filmed on a Caribbean island and so this barren landscape was a genuine shock to their systems. The author’s descriptions of the level of cold is put across exceptionally well, man, I felt cold just reading it! The six contestants scavenging for wood on an island with no trees might not have made the most exciting reality television show, but it is riveting to read.
The cover implies this novella has wolves, it does not, something bigger probably ate them! Instead it has a really cool beast inspired from indigenous folklore, which is a vicious crossbreed between a wendigo and the snow-beast in Dan Simmon’s The Terror. The creature does not mess around and appears not long after the intruders arrive and quickly terrorises the contestants and crew monitoring them. At a brief 126 pages, it hits the ground running, it’s lean and very mean, with a quickly mounting body count.
Renee Miller never lets us forget that the end product of Stranded is supposed to be a ten-part television show and so money and greed is never far away. Even after being made aware of the first couple of deaths, the producers carry on filming and avoid the dire warnings, thinking that in the end a tragedy will only make the show a bigger hit. This adds an extra level of spice to the novella, as everyone is not on the same side and have their own agenda. There is even a very clever plot twist halfway through which I did not see coming, which makes survival even trickier.
If you’re a fan of artic or survival horror, Stranded is a simply but superbly written pulpy addition to the genre which you will read in a couple of sittings, possibly one. The blood-letting is over-the-top, the action is unrelenting, and the chance of survival is minimal. It also has an outstanding monster which would use Big Foot as a tooth-pick. If old-timer Jack London read Stranded, he would turn tail and head for the Caribbean. After revisiting this novella to write this review, I have the overwhelming need to turn to turn the central heating up! Outstanding fun.
October 12, 2022
Okay this book ended up being so much more than I first thought. By the halfway point I was questioning why some characters were doing certain things as it didn't seem like that's how the author had set them up. But it is all intentional on the authors part and the ending was better because of it. I even complained about it during a progress update here on goodreads but I was only a little further than halfway at that point. I wont waste time breaking the actual story down or giving a synopsis since if youre reading this then the synopsis is right above this review. Plus i kind of dislike when i go to read a review for books here on goodreads and all it is are quotes and the synopsis..like yeah i read that already thats why im reading user reviews to see what people thought of it. A very original premise in my honest opinion. If you like books with frozen arctic settings and Native American mythology thrown in you cannot go wrong with this novella. This is my first time reading this author and I can honestly say I look forward to my next book by her. I found out about this book initially from the "rewind or die" book/novella series. Series as in every book is different and have no connecting story lines or characters at all. It's a series dedicated to the 80s and 90s vintage horror scene. Crazy cover art. Crazier premises. I'm so glad I found this series of books as there's a bunch to choose from I want to say at least 20. Just Google rewind or die books and you should get a link for their website. 4 out of 5 stars.
CONTENT WARNING-there is a sexual assault scene in this book. I know some people are sensitive to that kind of stuff so I wouldn't feel okay not mentioning it in my review...just so you know.
CONTENT WARNING-there is a sexual assault scene in this book. I know some people are sensitive to that kind of stuff so I wouldn't feel okay not mentioning it in my review...just so you know.
April 23, 2024
I have been on the hunt (no pun intended) for a good horror book for a few weeks now. I was looking for something that would really and truly scare me, with a solid monster to haunt my dreams. This was not that book, but that definitely isn't to say I didn't enjoy it.
Stranded follows 6 contestants and a TV show producer who are about to be dropped into the arctic tundra for a new reality show called Stranded. The contestants will be left with nothing but the packs they were provided with and will have to survive in the wilderness for the chance to split a cash prize. Once the contestants arrive, though, they quickly realize that they are not alone in the great white North and they will be surviving much more than freezing temperatures if they want to see home again.
This book felt like one of those 90 minute horror movies - fast paced, very little character development, and a low budget. I want to be clear that I in no way mean this as a dig - I love those movies. They're easy to revisit again and again because they don't require a huge time commitment and follow a predictable, comforting story line. If you love those movies in the same way that I do, you'll probably very much enjoy this novel. I absolutely recommend it to horror junkies both new and seasoned.
Stranded follows 6 contestants and a TV show producer who are about to be dropped into the arctic tundra for a new reality show called Stranded. The contestants will be left with nothing but the packs they were provided with and will have to survive in the wilderness for the chance to split a cash prize. Once the contestants arrive, though, they quickly realize that they are not alone in the great white North and they will be surviving much more than freezing temperatures if they want to see home again.
This book felt like one of those 90 minute horror movies - fast paced, very little character development, and a low budget. I want to be clear that I in no way mean this as a dig - I love those movies. They're easy to revisit again and again because they don't require a huge time commitment and follow a predictable, comforting story line. If you love those movies in the same way that I do, you'll probably very much enjoy this novel. I absolutely recommend it to horror junkies both new and seasoned.
November 10, 2022
I love reality TV, so this book seemed like an interesting concept. I honestly wish there was more stories out there creating faux reality tv shows, because the drama is limitless and entertaining.
Unfortunately this book does not deliver on that type of entertainment. The main issue for me is that characters are introduced very rapidly and briefly- I could barely keep track of the contestants of the show, then adding in the crew names I was like wait who is this again? Most of them are awful people but since you don't get to know them better you don't even care when people start dying. Add in the uncomfortable sexual assault scenes and this book was not one I enjoyed.
Unfortunately this book does not deliver on that type of entertainment. The main issue for me is that characters are introduced very rapidly and briefly- I could barely keep track of the contestants of the show, then adding in the crew names I was like wait who is this again? Most of them are awful people but since you don't get to know them better you don't even care when people start dying. Add in the uncomfortable sexual assault scenes and this book was not one I enjoyed.
August 17, 2022
I really liked the plot and the setting for this book - the author does a fantastic job of letting you feel how miserable the characters are. Who wouldn't hate being in the arctic with very little resources for heat and food? The only issue I had was the characters - they weren't developed enough for me to care if they lived or died - I just needed more fully-developed characters.
December 13, 2024
The overall story was alright. It was slow at times and other times as it fell like they were throwing for the story.
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