Wow. What a trip. Though the description is accurate, this book is so much more than that. With each act, the story brings us deeper into these people and their world and lives, hopes and dreams. Unique and powerful story beautifully told. I've already recommended it to many friends and can't wait for the chance to discuss it with them.

Up front disclosures: I received an advance review copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley. And I rarely summarize fiction plots, mainly because I think it unfair to the author - there are plenty of people who do for those on the hunt, and there is almost always an extra teaser blurb somewhere - and I think it unfair to the reader who, like me, dislikes spoilers. In a rare confluence of my requests, I have two fiction ARCS, each with a partial style that I initially found offputting, and yet each eventually drew me in. (Partial because it wasn't the main style.) In this case, there were some present tense segments that mildly jar the reader away from the narrative, although, the Prologue opens with some. Regardless, I adapted and as said, it drew me in. The pacing was a slow acceleration as things unfold until it became frenetic in the last quarter. I did predict a couple of major things, both of which turned out true, but there are still many twists and turns in this engaging story. it went from reluctant to get into to "can't put it down" (the other ARC got bumped).

Though I don't summarize, two phrases got highlighted:
"The sea is full of stars."
{Love this. And curiously, the only other reference to that phrase I found was where I heard it before: Jack Chalker's Well World book with that as the title.}

"A large kidney-shaped pool, with jagged stone edges and a tiled wall with a spigot, from which water lazily decanted."
{"lazily decanted" - I like that}

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I LOVE Cronin’s Passage trilogy. It’s one I want to revisit every few years. I’m such a fan that I’ll read anything he publishes. When NetGalley offered this one to me, I jumped on it immediately. Not only do I love the author, but it’s also dystopian, which is my favorite genre. And I can easily say this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I was hooked and never saw all the twists this book takes.

From Goodreads: Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera’s lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire themselves, embarking on a ferry ride to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh.

Proctor Bennett, of the Department of Social Contracts, has a satisfying career as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the retirement process–and, when necessary, enforcing it. But all is not well with Proctor. For one thing, he’s been dreaming–which is supposed to be impossible in Prospera. For another, his monitor percentage has begun to drop alarmingly fast. And then comes the day he is summoned to retire his own father, who gives him a disturbing and cryptic message before being wrestled onto the ferry.

Meanwhile, something is stirring. The Support Staff, ordinary men and women who provide the labor to keep Prospera running, have begun to question their place in the social order. Unrest is building, and there are rumors spreading of a resistance group–known as “Arrivalists”–who may be fomenting revolution.

Soon Proctor finds himself questioning everything he once believed, entangled with a much bigger cause than he realized–and on a desperate mission to uncover the truth.

This book just kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next. When I was convinced I knew where the book was headed, I realized I was only halfway done. The plot pulls the reader in so many different directions that you are also solving the mystery of just what is going on along with the characters. I’ve read more dystopian books than any other genre, and this one is definitely one of the more unique ones. It’s a mix of 1984, The Giver, and The Truman Show (along with others that I won’t disclose because of spoilers). I loved that the story is told in both first and third-person narrators. Proctor is first person, but the other characters are third, which leaves them in a bit of a mystery. I never expected a shift like this to work, but it was great, and I had no trouble following it. The worst thing about this book is that it’s not out until May, so I can’t make all my friends read it now. I absolutely loved this one.

Justin Cronin books have same side effects with Blake Crouch’s sci-fi novels : after you finish them, you feel like your brain cells have run a marathon and each of them is out of usage!

This brilliant novel deserves more than five stars! It’s extremely mind bending, intelligent, complex and challenging! It’s Westworld meets Inception.

It’s long but you don’t want it end. You want to devour each chapter slowly, enjoying your time as you smell the smoke coming out of your grey cells!

Especially the big twist at the last quarter was shocking! Partly I loved the first third quarter a little bit more but for making things more explainable that big revelation was absolutely necessary!

Without giving much away, I’m gonna summarize the main plot:

The story takes place at the archipelago state called Prospera exists in splendid isolation, hidden from the world. Its climate is entirely beneficent: warming sunshine, cooling ocean breezes, and frequent, gentle rains. It’s an island covering 482 square miles. Island two, known as the Annex, is home to the support staff-men and women of lesser biological and social endowments.

The last of the three islands is different from the others: they called as Nursery Isle, or, more simply, the Nursery. Protected by dangerous shoals and towering cliffs, it might be likened a floating fortress.

Prosperans devote themselves to the highest
aspirations: Creative expression and the pursuit of personal excellence!

To leave Prospera is, naturally, forbidden. Word of our existence would threaten everything.
But who could desire to leave such a place?

The main character Proctor Bennett director for District Six of the Department of Social Contracts, Enforcement Division, a. k. a. “Ferryman” accompany the elder citizens who are emotionally distressed to the ferry that is headed to the nursery where their memories are erased, having second chance to reborn and come back for another lifetime.

Everything is determined by contracts including marriages. Proctor married with Elise: a brilliant fashion designer, signing a contract that lasts for 15 years. Elise is daughter of Madam Chair, the head of the organization.

Proctor seems satisfied with his life and occupation till the day who’s assigned to assist to his guardian father to the ferry.

Their relationship was estranged after guardian mother’s suicide. Now seeing his father opens up his old wounds. And unfortunately the accompanying process didn’t occur as expected. His father has an episode, talking about the world they’re living is not real and screaming a name “Oranios”! Then watchmen attack his father and Proctor finds himself defend his father.

His intern newbie Jason Kim and the people around the pier become witnesses of unfortunate event! His father’s blubbering opens can of worms and Proctor finds life upside down as a rebellious group called themselves “Arrivalists” in Anex start their highly detailed scheme, trying to contact with Proctor to see the events from their perspective!

I have to keep my mouth shut now! I already told too much! Just read and enjoy this FANTASTIC BOOK! Get ready to expect unexpected!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for making my dreams come true by sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This was a very compelling story with great writing. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you to the publisher for an ARC!

Finished review coming soon! Review will be posted to Netgalley, retailers, Instagram, and TikTok!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This novel is Science Fiction and, I believe, Fantasy. Both are genres I do not normally read. It is the story of Proctor, Prospera and the people who are part of it. It is also the story of a Utopian society that evolved into a police state. There is so much to this remarkably well written novel that it is hard to select portions of the many plot twists to talk about. It is also filled with spoilers. My recommendation…read it. It is amazing. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an ARC for an honest review.

Just finished reading Justin Cronin’s newest book “The Ferryman “, courtesy of NetGalley. In the past I read Cronin’s Passage series and loved them. I was so excited to hear he had a new book coming out!
The story is about two classes of people who live on an island. There is a lot of dislike and distrust between the two classes of the society. The story focuses on a man named Proctor and his wife, Elise, who are members of the more privileged class. In this dystopian society, couples do not give birth to children but adopt an adolescent child that comes from the “Nursery” on a neighboring island. Proctor’s job is that of a Ferryman who takes the elderly to the island, where they undergo some type of process that allows them to come back as adolescents and start a new life with a clean slate. There are many layers to this story and it takes some unexpected turns. I thought the story was well written and a bit creepy. I enjoyed the characters, both good and bad. If you are a fan of Justin Cronin or the synopsis sounds intriguing, I think you would enjoy this book. Happy reading!

Cronin takes today’s divide between the have and have nots and bumps it up a notch and moves it to dystopian world called Prospera. Set on an archipelago, Prospero is a haven hidden in a world that has descended into chaos. In a Logan’s Run scenario,the citizens of Prospero have a limited shelf life, when the monitors in their arms go off, they are taken off to “retire”, their bodies are refreshed and their memories wiped clean. Proctor is a ferryman, his job is to take retirees to the island where they are “reborn”, but lately, he’s been questioning what he does. It may have something to do with the fact that his own monitor has been speeding up, or the fact that he’s heard it’s time for his father to retire, but either way, Proctor is having serious doubts. Further threatening the stability of Prospero is an uprising in the Support Staff, the people tasked with making sure that everything runs smoothly for the entitled residents. They are tired of being taken advantage of and the resistance is growing. Cronin is a master craftsman, and he creates a terrifyingly realistic view of a future where money and position hold even more sway than they do today

This was an amazing book. It follows the key character, Proctor Bennett, who is the Ferryman. In this future world, the people living in Prospero have a good life living apart from the rest of the world, which has been pretty much destroyed.

The Ferryman brings people who need to "retire" to the ferry which will take them to an Island known as the Nursery where they will be rejuvenated and with memories wiped, will come back as teenagers to live with their new guardians and this keeps the population going.

However, there are those who live in another area and they are not subject to the same physical rules or way of life. They are basically the serving class. They live their lives in service of the ruling class.

Something is quite wrong though and Proctor starts to investigate it which is definitely not allowed. Hell breaks out all over. I have to say that at one point here I was feeling as lost as Proctor and his friends, not knowing what was going on. It all gets resolved in the unusual and brilliant ending. All is revealed. (almost all)

This was a great story and I am so happy that I was invited to get an early read. Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley.

Many thanks to Justin Cronin, Random House, and Net Galley for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel.

The Passage Trilogy ranks among my all-time favorites, and so it is not an exaggeration to say that I could not wait to read Cronin’s new novel. I inhaled this book — could not put it down and could not stop thinking about it whenever I did have to put it down. The Ferryman tells an intriguing, captivating story in Cronin’s signature style: gorgeous writing and authentic characterization, all with moving emotional resonance. Even though it is very different in subject matter from The Passage, The Ferryman has a similar depth, complexity and impact.

This novel is another triumph from Justin Cronin and I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to read it early. It is truly not to be missed — mark the release day, May 3, 2023, on your calendar!

What a ride!

My head is spinning!

I will try to form some coherent thoughts as this is a review lol but I’m reeling. The journey I was just on was DELIGHTFULLY DISORIENTING and I need to be carful to not give any clues away that would dampen the wild ride everyone who picks up this book will go on.

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Welcome to Prospera! An island home…a sanctuary where inhabitants get to live to their full potential. Illness is almost entirely eradicated. Skills are honed to perfection. Poverty is but a notion…not a reality for the people or Prospera.

Meet Proctor. He is a resident of a Prospera and he has a very challenging but rewarding job: he’s the ferryman. His job is to ferry the elders of Prospera to their next iteration…their next journey when they return anew. He takes his job duties solemnly but when he is ordered to ferry someone close to him, his entire reality is shaken.

The person utters words to him that appear, at the time, as dementia twisting sense to nonsense. But he can’t let the words go. Do they have meaning? Can he uncover the meaning?

What follows is an absolute WILD ride into the genius that is Justin Cronin. He’s created a new world…one that has echoes of The Matrix and In Time (movie with Justin Timberlake) but is, at its core, wholly new and inventive.

This really is a book you WANT to go in to blind. Trust me folks! It’s dystopian and sci-fi and has a human heart of many great literary works. It’s asks painful questions about what it means to be alive. Is pain something from which beauty and purpose spring? Is good/great art made from such pain? What is art or life without pain? Is a world without pain heaven-like or its own type of hell?

I could go on and on. It’s exciting! It’s riveting! It’s fast paced and sucks you in! It’s deeply sad and poignant too.

It’s a fantastic book and I recommend it to anyone who likes Cronin’s work (you’ll be in familiar hands with this one), who enjoys dystopian fantasies or sci-fi, or anyone who wants a few hours of immersive escapism!

It comes out May 2023. Mark it on your calendars folks!

Scheduled for May 3, 2023, publication, Cronin’s “The Ferryman” is a boundless science fiction fantasy that will spin your head around in circles. You may feel that you are at first revisiting Logan’s Run, the Matrix, 1984, Lathe of Heaven, Stranger in a Strange Land, and the TV series Lost. That is because you will literally fall down through several rabbit holes as you journey through this novel.

The heart of the story is of course a dystopian fantasy as seen through the experiences of Director Proctor Bennett. It is a utopian paradise known as Prospera where art and science flourish and the ferryman leads those whose monitors have expired to the ferry for retirement or, at least, a return to the Nursery for a new iteration.

The beginning is ushered in with poetic license, leaving the reader to gasp at the wonder of this world, although later we learn that someone has to make things work and there is an underclass that is exploited and resentful. With revolution seething below the surface, Proctor begins to see that all is not as it initially seems and that things are not quite right for all. That is, his world shatters when he learns a secret and learns about Arrivals. As a Ferryman, he only really knew about Departures.

Of course, Proctor eventually is red-pilled and begins to see the world differently again and again. He understands that there are possibilities beyond the horizon and that there might be an escape. The question as always though is what can you achieve through revolution or flight and will it be a better world or just a new design of an old one.

What makes this work is that the world of Prospera is believable and the storyline changes are slowly fed to the reader so that nothing is quite jarring although there are points where a reader might be confused for a bit. All in all, it is a compelling tale that this reader could not put down before finishing in one long evening.