The Stranded

A floating prison. A fractured society. Two teens caught between obedience and revolution.

Once a gleaming cruise liner, the Arcadia now drifts off the coast of a fractured United States―its passengers trapped for decades, forbidden from ever stepping on land. Inside its rusting walls: a harsh regime, brutal class divides, and a population clinging to hope or plotting rebellion.

Esther knows the only escape is to follow the rules. As a medic-in-training, she dreams of earning one of the rare passes to the mainland. Nik knows the only way out is to fight. A rebel raised in the ship's depths, he's ready to risk everything to change the system.

When their lives collide, a dangerous secret surfaces―one that could ignite the uprising the Arcadia has feared for years.

The Stranded is a gripping young adult dystopian thriller packed with high-stakes action, forbidden alliances, and the fight for freedom in one of the most claustrophobic worlds imaginable. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, Snowpiercer, and Divergent.

Sarah Daniels is a former bookseller who studied archaeology and now lives in rural Lincolnshire, UK. Her work has been published in various online magazines and has been nominated for Best British and Irish Flash Fiction.