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Click Your Poison #5
Marooned: Will You Endure Treachery and Survival on the High Seas?
3 Unique Storylines. Over 50 Possible Endings. Just one question... Will YOU Endure Treachery and Survival on the High Seas?
"More thrilling than fifteen men on a dead man's chest--more fun than a bottle of rum!"
-Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island
"If I could only bring one book to a desert island, that book would be MAROONED."
-Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe
"I wish I'd thought to make mine interactive..."
-Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick
Find a weapon. Time to fight off these pirates and help your liberators! Go to page 106
Sabotage the ship. Drop the anchor and strike the sails! Go to page 259
Get MAROONED!
*Click Your Poison is in no way associated with these other brands and companies.
Praise for MAROONED:
"More thrilling than fifteen men on a dead man's chest--more fun than a bottle of rum!"
-Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island
"If I could only bring one book to a desert island, that book would be MAROONED."
-Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe
"I wish I'd thought to make mine interactive..."
-Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick
Here's how it works: You, Dear Reader, are the main character of this story, a youth born to prosperity in the English countryside. Now it's up to you to sail atop the vast oceans or be swallowed into their murky depths; the choice is yours.
You're captive on a pirate ship, but the Royal Navy is giving chase. What do YOU do?
Find a weapon. Time to fight off these pirates and help your liberators! Go to page 106
Sabotage the ship. Drop the anchor and strike the sails! Go to page 259
Set in the Golden Age of Piracy, MAROONED is your chance to climb aboard a wooden ship and set sail in a swashbuckling adventure that will pit you against pirates and mutineers, real-life deserted island survival scenarios, and naval battles as one sovereign wars against the crown across the sea.
Whether you're a fan of the classic book series like Horatio Hornblower and Aubrey / Maturin, or more modern films and shows like Pirates of the Caribbean or Black Sails, this is the one piece you need to live your own high seas adventure! Like the gamebooks popular in the 80s - 90s (Choose Your Own Adventure, Give Yourself Goosebumps, etc)*, this is a series where you choose to progress through the book. Unlike any others, this is the first series designed specifically for adults.
Get MAROONED!
*Click Your Poison is in no way associated with these other brands and companies.
- GenresGamebooks
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2018
113 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
James Schannep
12 books154 followersJames Schannep has no tragic backstory.
Having grown up in a fairly ordinary suburban household, with a family who loved him, he was forced to dream up far flung adventures on strange new worlds where the hero can save the day and make a difference through strength of character alone.
Schannep attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in English Literature with a minor in General Engineering. After serving honorably as a Nuclear Missile Command and Control Officer, he returned to trying to make a difference through story.
As a screenwriter, game designer, and novelist, he is probably best known for his Click Your Poison series of interactive gamebooks.
Social Vampire is his first novel.
When not dreaming up strange new worlds, James lives in the one inhabited by his wife, who faithfully remains the patroness of his art, and with his children, who don’t quite grasp what they’ve inherited yet with such an eccentric father.
Having grown up in a fairly ordinary suburban household, with a family who loved him, he was forced to dream up far flung adventures on strange new worlds where the hero can save the day and make a difference through strength of character alone.
Schannep attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in English Literature with a minor in General Engineering. After serving honorably as a Nuclear Missile Command and Control Officer, he returned to trying to make a difference through story.
As a screenwriter, game designer, and novelist, he is probably best known for his Click Your Poison series of interactive gamebooks.
Social Vampire is his first novel.
When not dreaming up strange new worlds, James lives in the one inhabited by his wife, who faithfully remains the patroness of his art, and with his children, who don’t quite grasp what they’ve inherited yet with such an eccentric father.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 13, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an early beta reader copy of the book in exchange for feedback. This review is entirely my decision and my honest opinion.
I loved this book! As a fan of the other Click Your Poison books (I’ve read them all), this one did not disappoint. In fact, I would say it’s my second favorite now, but only because I’m a sucker for murder mysteries.
Even though Murdered still tops my list, I can definitely tell the writing is stronger and tighter here. Each path felt unique and there is so much variety along the way, no matter what choices you make. I’ve gone through the book five times now and am still discovering new things.
You can tell the author did his research, and there were many scenes and descriptions that made me think that maybe being a pirate was not as exciting as Hollywood wants us to believe. Not to say the paths weren’t exciting here, because they definitely were, but make an ill-fated choice and you’ll see what I mean. Some of the deaths you can fall victim to are not for the faint of heart.
If you enjoy interactive fiction, then you’ll definitely have a good time with this one. And if you’ve been curious to try a CYOA book, this would be a great introduction for you.
I loved this book! As a fan of the other Click Your Poison books (I’ve read them all), this one did not disappoint. In fact, I would say it’s my second favorite now, but only because I’m a sucker for murder mysteries.
Even though Murdered still tops my list, I can definitely tell the writing is stronger and tighter here. Each path felt unique and there is so much variety along the way, no matter what choices you make. I’ve gone through the book five times now and am still discovering new things.
You can tell the author did his research, and there were many scenes and descriptions that made me think that maybe being a pirate was not as exciting as Hollywood wants us to believe. Not to say the paths weren’t exciting here, because they definitely were, but make an ill-fated choice and you’ll see what I mean. Some of the deaths you can fall victim to are not for the faint of heart.
If you enjoy interactive fiction, then you’ll definitely have a good time with this one. And if you’ve been curious to try a CYOA book, this would be a great introduction for you.
September 8, 2018
I loved this book! It was my first from Schannep as well as my first CYOA. I wasn't disappointed. To those who pick up this book, you wont be either.
Will you stay and have a drink even though you know its taboo? Or will you walk away? Will you jump overboard to help save a pirate? Will you die at someone else's' hands? The choice is yours. Which path will you take to decide your fate?
Schannep does an excellent job keeping the pace and the storyline regardless of which path I took. There are so many options that I can read the same book 2-3 times and come out with a completely different story.
Read it. You wont be disappointed.
Will you stay and have a drink even though you know its taboo? Or will you walk away? Will you jump overboard to help save a pirate? Will you die at someone else's' hands? The choice is yours. Which path will you take to decide your fate?
Schannep does an excellent job keeping the pace and the storyline regardless of which path I took. There are so many options that I can read the same book 2-3 times and come out with a completely different story.
Read it. You wont be disappointed.
February 18, 2019
Marooned is an adult version of the “choose your own adventure” books that were popular several decades ago. Set sometime between 1500 and 1850 – a time that can be further narrowed to 1650-1725, for those thinking this specifically occurs suring the golden age of piracy – you are the main character and depending on which path you follow, you will find yourself immersed in one of three storylines.
The story begins with you – no age specified, but old enough to travel alone (which may or may not be the wisest decision you make) – bound for London on a bumpy carriage ride. Your queasiness is a small price to pay to be the first to hear your cousin’s adventurous tales of life at sea, now that his ship has come home. Your task is to bring him back to his mother, your aunt, and you have just enough money to get there, feed the two of you, and return whence you came. But the docks of London are a scary place, especially for someone as naive as yourself. Luckily, James arrives just after you alight. What you don’t expect is that he isn’t too keen on the idea of returning home. Instead, he wants a drink and a woman, which leaves you with a decision to make: join him at the pub, immediately drag him back home, or venture into a mysterious brothel.
The shortest story line, and the one I tended to find myself on more than once, places you aboard a Royal Navy frigate. You may volunteer or you are forced, but for better or worse, you’ve taken the king’s shilling and must now do as you’re told. You may find yourself on the lower decks amid a host of others, or you may be on the path to become an officer. Whichever path you select, it is but the first of many dangers you will encounter. Some result in your demise; others lead to glory and higher rank. It just depends on the choices you make.
The second story line lands you aboard a merchant ship, bound for the colonies. You may have signed aboard willingly or been seized by crimpers. This leads to a fork in the road, so to speak, that will take you on an adventurous journey or lead you to the dark side, where mutiny and piracy abide. There’s even a murder mystery to solve.
There are occasional lapses in historically correct dialogue, where a modern word slips in (for example, rubber-necking), which may jerk you out of the story. There are also subtle toasts to people who have influenced the author, such as the frigate HMS Hornblower, Vice-Admiral Maturin, or a sailor/pirate named Rediker. The history of the time period and pirate life demonstrates a significant amount of research, and the ingenuity required to craft a well-told book like this is remarkable. Even the myriad deaths you might experience come straight from the past and the dangers of life at sea in the Age of Sail.
Schannep does provide hints as to what path you follow – anchors, skull and crossbones, and palm trees – but you’ll probably find yourself too caught up in what’s happening to pay much attention to these and not all pages have them. For those who have read previous titles in the series, there are references to those books in this one and he dares you to find them. While some pages overlap in the story lines, you eventually find yourself on a unique path.
Once you begin Marooned, you’ll find yourself unable to put it down . . . even if you die. After all, with more than fifty possible outcomes, you just have to explore them all.
The story begins with you – no age specified, but old enough to travel alone (which may or may not be the wisest decision you make) – bound for London on a bumpy carriage ride. Your queasiness is a small price to pay to be the first to hear your cousin’s adventurous tales of life at sea, now that his ship has come home. Your task is to bring him back to his mother, your aunt, and you have just enough money to get there, feed the two of you, and return whence you came. But the docks of London are a scary place, especially for someone as naive as yourself. Luckily, James arrives just after you alight. What you don’t expect is that he isn’t too keen on the idea of returning home. Instead, he wants a drink and a woman, which leaves you with a decision to make: join him at the pub, immediately drag him back home, or venture into a mysterious brothel.
The shortest story line, and the one I tended to find myself on more than once, places you aboard a Royal Navy frigate. You may volunteer or you are forced, but for better or worse, you’ve taken the king’s shilling and must now do as you’re told. You may find yourself on the lower decks amid a host of others, or you may be on the path to become an officer. Whichever path you select, it is but the first of many dangers you will encounter. Some result in your demise; others lead to glory and higher rank. It just depends on the choices you make.
The second story line lands you aboard a merchant ship, bound for the colonies. You may have signed aboard willingly or been seized by crimpers. This leads to a fork in the road, so to speak, that will take you on an adventurous journey or lead you to the dark side, where mutiny and piracy abide. There’s even a murder mystery to solve.
There are occasional lapses in historically correct dialogue, where a modern word slips in (for example, rubber-necking), which may jerk you out of the story. There are also subtle toasts to people who have influenced the author, such as the frigate HMS Hornblower, Vice-Admiral Maturin, or a sailor/pirate named Rediker. The history of the time period and pirate life demonstrates a significant amount of research, and the ingenuity required to craft a well-told book like this is remarkable. Even the myriad deaths you might experience come straight from the past and the dangers of life at sea in the Age of Sail.
Schannep does provide hints as to what path you follow – anchors, skull and crossbones, and palm trees – but you’ll probably find yourself too caught up in what’s happening to pay much attention to these and not all pages have them. For those who have read previous titles in the series, there are references to those books in this one and he dares you to find them. While some pages overlap in the story lines, you eventually find yourself on a unique path.
Once you begin Marooned, you’ll find yourself unable to put it down . . . even if you die. After all, with more than fifty possible outcomes, you just have to explore them all.
May 5, 2022
This is my second CYP book I've read (the first being Super Powered), and I absolutely loved it. It took about 5 choices for me to be really hooked, but once I was it was such an enjoyable read. The writing is incredibly descriptive and I felt like I was truly in the story. I've only read one of the three main storylines so far (the Royal Navy one) but I'm excited to read the others! Side note - I met the author when I purchased this book and he was incredibly nice! He also lived in England while writing Marooned which I found super cool!
May 16, 2019
Pretty typical choose your own adventure stuff--mediocre writing and sometimes odd choices--but at least it seems to have more complex storylines than the ones I read as a kid.
I only followed one storyline, so I can't say for sure about content, but as brothels were mentioned among the choices I'd say this is probably not safe for younger readers.
I only followed one storyline, so I can't say for sure about content, but as brothels were mentioned among the choices I'd say this is probably not safe for younger readers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews