Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

Yowza, this book was long. It definitely held my interest and told a compelling story, but either could have been significantly shorter or broken up into a series or trilogy. I love long books (huge Stephen King fan here) but the length here didn't serve the story. Honestly it just ended up feeling long winded and unnecessary.

This book tackles a lot of diverse topics; global warming, nuclear warfare, societal collapse, parenting, suicide, psychosis, end times prophecies...it's a lot. I can absolutely see this being turned into a Netflix series, and I would have probably loved it as a series of 2 or more books, but I was exhausted by the end and was just ready to be done.

The author writes well, intelligently, and compassionately. I'm interested to read more of his work.

Intriguing dystopian novel. From first page to the last could not put book down. Thought invoking futuristic novel foretelling what could happen to our world. Albeit a little confusing at times as multiple characters experience dream state verses real time exchanges.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

My head is still spinning. So much to think about.

Proctor Bennett lives on an island paradise called Prospera along with its two neighboring islands Annex (where workers live) and Nursery (where aged residents are sent back to). Proctor’s job is to help the older members make the journey to the Nursery when it is their time. He is given a cryptic message by his father and the cocoon of his life starts to unravel. There is social unrest among the Annex workers.

About 3/4 of the way through the book it takes a huge turn which I can’t even begin to describe. Don’t read too many reviews, let yourself take the journey and be surprised. Gripping read, lots of social commentary of the elites vs. the common man. I am very tempted to go back and reread the book immediately ignoring my towering pile of to be read pile. Very unique book and well crafted story.

This was such a creative book. There’s a utopian world, cut off and protected from the rest of the world. People live to an old age, and when their energy and mental health begin to finally deteriorate the Ferryman comes to put them on the ferry and transport them to the Nursery. There they are promised a new beginning. The Ferryman has always enjoyed his life and his work until things happen that cause him to question his entire existence. This book has romance, mystery, and at the same time is a commentary on human behavior and societal norms. #TheFerryman

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I've been a big fan of Justin Cronin since The Passage so was excited to get this early look at his new book for 2023.
It introduces us to a world where people are recycled into new lives once they get too old or they get injured in a permanent way. Is this a utopia or a kind of hell? People enter into relationship contracts where they can renew or end their relationship when the contract expires. Again, either a genius idea or a mad social experiment? This book flips the story a few times which kept me guessing as I gathered more information, but it definitely kept me reading.

Cronin delivers a multi-layered, highly complex tale blending science fiction, suspense, and social commentary, all colliding at the intersection of plausibility and insanity. The island of Prospera can only be described as a dystopian utopia, populated by two classes of people. The Prosperans are the privileged upper-class, and the Arrivalists are the disadvantaged worker-bees who are relegated to living in the lower-class Annex. This long-standing social imbalance has finally reached a tipping point, and absolutely no one is safe. The unexpected solution takes the reader on a mind-bending thrill ride through alternate realities of time and space, that strike uncomfortably close to home. Prepare to be amazed! “Arrival Come!”

When reading books in this genre, it’s often helpful to suspend criticism, and focus on the message. The author does an excellent job of showing the value of time and relationships through a very entertaining story.

Justin Cronin is delightful in this story, capturing so much of what I love about science fiction. This is a well-crafted world with thrills, and well worth reading for fans of science fiction, adventure, and thrillers.

Wow, Justin Cronin just continues to "wow" me with his writing and ingenuity. This is a MUST read for all fans of his work, actually this should be required reading. It held my attention throughout the book. A literal page turner. I hated to put the book down and was excited to get back into it. GET THIS BOOK NOW!! In the vein of Michael Creighton.

This review is just my opinion of what I read. It does not reveal anything about the story itself. Due for release in 2023, Justin Cronin has once again delivered a well-crafted, well-written story with well-developed characters which is…well, one of the best stories I’ve read this year. I found it unpredictable and almost impossible to put down. I really wasn’t expecting all the feels I got from it. There are several great characters in this book, but Proctor Bennett truly goes all out for those he cares about, and he is a character I won’t soon forget. The different settings, the masterful telling of this story and how different situations make this a book one the reader can easily relate to make this a book I would recommend for anyone on the planet. I thought it had a few really important messages. Bravo, Justin Cronin! Hopefully, this book will make people pay attention to what is going on in our own world. I would like to thank Ballantine Books, Justin Cronin and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC free for an honest review.

Life on the island of Prospera is peaceful and cyclical, but not everything is as it seems for the man responsible for ferrying retirees to be prepared for a renewed life in The Ferryman by Justin Cronin.

On the island paradise of Prospera the privileged residents enjoy long lives and as they reach their end, when an embedded monitor in their arms falls below 10 percent, they retire to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories of their current life are wiped, and they are made ready to begin life again at the age of 16. Proctor Bennett is well-established in his career as a ferryman, someone who gently helps to guide people through the retirement process, but Proctor’s not as well or satisfied as he may appear; he’s been dreaming of the sea, stars, and swimming, which is supposedly impossible in Prospera, his monitor percentage has been dropping, and then he is called to retire his father. The retirement of his father created a bit of a spectacle, especially with the words he shared when parting: “Oranios” and “the world is not the world”. While Proctor’s life and world come crashing down around him and he questions what he knows as real, an unrest among the “normal human” Support Staff living in the Annex stirs into action through an Arrivalist revolution, wreaking havoc on the established order and threatening those in power. Drawn in to a larger cause and desperate to learn the truth, what Proctor uncovers has a much bigger impact than he could have anticipated.

Offering an engrossing and layered narrative, this story primarily features the relationships and innerworkings of one man while also exploring societal structure strife, governmental corruption, and climate change exacerbated by human (in)action. The writing easily and quickly conveys a sense of unease that everything is not as it might seem, piquing curiosity to discover the underlying cause. Establishing the basics of the world and the characters involved consumed a bulk of the story and the pace was relatively slow as a result so when truths began being revealed the pacing picked up considerably resulting in the latter portion moving rather swiftly to address the many questions raised. As the various realities depicted began bleeding together there’s a mind-bending quality to it while trying to reconcile the disparate realities to either one reality or to follow the thread of how they’re all connected; there are details used consistently throughout that create bridges between realities and skillfully hint toward the truth.

Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In the ocean, we find several islands grouped together. The main island, Prospera, houses most of the citizens. They live in harmony. There are two classes of people, citizens and support staff. The citizens have health monitors embedded in their bodies and when their health is down to 10%, they retire off the island and return renewed in mind, body, and spirit. Proctor Bennett has helped guide elderly citizens to their renewal for years. He is surprised when he is requested by his father to act as his escort, ferryman, to his retirement. Proctor is also disturbed because he has been dreaming and in Prospera, no one dreams. His father's retirement does not go smoothly and Proctor is being investigated for this mishandling. Proctor wonders what will happen. While he awaits the conclusion of the investigation, he notices some of the support staff are not doing their jobs. They seem angry and this has never happened. Also, he sees a rogue group called the Arrivalists stirring up the utopia that they are living in. What is causing this challenge to society? Proctor's father whispered a message to him, what does it mean? Will Proctor be cleared of wrongdoing?

I was astonished to uncover the answers to Proctor's questions. The creation of this society and its manner of operation is unique. As the dystopian story unfolds there are many surprises and many more questions to be answered. The Ferryman is a vast story that entertains but bogs down as the true situation Proctor is in becomes clear. Perhaps a more straightforward explanation would suffice. I enjoyed the characters and the concept of Prospera but felt the ending needed clarity to take the book to the next level.

My rating (****) -- I actually read this twice. The first read was remarkable for the beautiful and haunting imagery. I read slowly, savoring the words and seeing the story in my head. It would make a great movie. But the ending left me disappointed and confused. SPOILER: Proctor was the author of his own demise in an elitist and judgmental way. In the end, did he really reach Earth, or was it a continuing dream? Hence my second read, and I still don't know the answer. This is the kind of good book that can leave you with questions and a lot to think about.

Copy Editor Notes:
Chapter 4 - "she she" page 22 0f 46 "Possessing a head of flaming red hair and a brisk,no-nonsense manner, she she was far too smart for her job."
Chapter 23 - "Inside., the" page 1 "Inside., the temperature plummeted;"
Chapter 23 - "vven" page 29 of 49 "There are --" I did a quick head count -- "vven people in this room, not including us."
Chapter 24 - "mental" page 12 of 41 "Pretending to stretch out my calves, I placed my hands against the mental."
Chapter 26 - "meant" page 35 of 40 "I don't think I've ever meant anyone like you."
Chapter 37 - "of courses" page 10 of 35 "and of them, apparently. Do you ever get tired of playing God? No, of courses you don't."
Chapter 37 - "it's" page 15 of "I swung the car in a one-eighty, jammed it into gear and punched the gas; the car leapt forward, it's undersized steering wheel jerking in my hands as I bounded across the field.:

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin is a long book but well worth the read. The book is about a group of survivors on a hidden island utopia—where the truth isn't what it seems. I kept going back and forth if I really liked this book or not. Even though the book was quite long, the story flowed well, and I felt like I was watching a movie while reading. The storyline is believable, and the characters are intriguing.

This is a great dystopian fantasy story where Cronin draws the reader in with his world-building and storytelling, which brings the story to life and is quite compelling.

Now I need to go back and read his other book, The Passage since I liked this book so much!

I would recommend this book and this author. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

#TheFerryman #NetGalley @atrandom

Cronin!
In a futuristic dystopian society, where the elite are essentially reborn after each very long life; and the serving class is set to lead a mortal existence, trouble is brewing. But the truth isn't always what it appears to be. How far will the main character go to discover this truth? And will his life ever be the same once he does?

The story hooked me right away, but the twist ending left me disappointed.

Proctor Bennett lives in a dystopian society called Prospera, where he facilitates the retirement of the elderly and those who cannot find a place in society to the "Nursery," where they will be reborn into a new life. As one of the elite class, he has a beautiful wife and a great job, where he rarely has to interact with the commoners who work in the Annex. But he's plagued by constant dreams, echoes of a life half-remembered.

However, his father's retirement does not go peaceably, and in his last moments he says some strange things. Proctor's investigation into his words put him in danger of being forcibly retired early, especially after a chance meeting makes him aware of a cult called "The Arrivalists." Meanwhile, the citizens of the Annex are growing increasingly restless with their second-class treatment.

Proctor is a highly likable and sympathetic character, even in the end when his choices become bleak. His instant, unexplainable connection with people who may be echoes of a past life provide great tension and drama. At times, with Proctor's dream world revealing truths, it felt a bit like Inception.

I don't want to say too much and spoil it, but suffice to say, this book had one of my least favorite endings. I found it less than satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It is true science fiction that blew me away. The story's premise (I won't give it away) was a combination of facts and preservation of humankind, with the "possibility" of another future. You have to read it to understand what I'm stating. It's a must-read book. The beginning and middle were muddy and confusing to read through as I tried to figure out what was happening. At the time, it felt like the story mimicked the movie The Truman Show (it is not, keep reading). Once the storyline was revealed, it was easier to follow, but now I have to read slowly to understand the science of it all. The science was captivating as there is science in research and development right now; some are far-fetched yet somehow attainable. Every character was fully developed. Proctor's character seems a little jumble. He's all over that place. His action and personality don't seem to match. It changes with the situation. There's no core to this character. The storyline was exciting, with a touch of mystery. The ending for me was weak. The author wants to tidy the story and put a bow on it. Proctor's faith seems vanilla. There should be more there. Not to mention a new place yet to be discovered and left unexplored in the story. I hope there is a second book to continue where this book left off. It's not exactly a cliffhanger; however, I wanted to know more at the end.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was already a Cronin fan because of The Passage series, so I was probably a bit predisposed going in. That said, this was a great story that provided mystery, surprise, corruption, hard decisions, love, multi-faceted characters, loss, hope and determination. There are some lovely passages I highlit and will remember. The setting was captivating and I found Proctor a very easy narrator to go with.

All along the way there were elements that reminded me of Logan's Run, The Prisoner, LOST, the current world and some books and movies with themes I can't even mention because it would be too spoilerific. Okay if you really want to know: (view spoiler). All that kept me wondering and reading trying to figure out what was going on and where this would all end. I got some things right, others wrong and enjoyed it all. After the final word of the Epilogue, this standalone had me feeling like I could check in on these folks again to see how things are going. A good sign, I'd say.

I can only recommend this. Highly.

So I've read other books by this author and they were wonderful but. . had a lot of pages. If you're like me, that's one of the first things you notice about this one, it's length. Don't let the length stop you from giving this one a shot! It's a bit slow in the beginning, as the world is slowly built, but from midway, it's a race as you start getting answers and things are slowly shown to you.

It starts with Proctor. He's a Ferryman and off to work. He slowly reveals that this world is kind of like ours, but. . .not. It has interesting areas, different jobs and it's fascinating as you learn the different parts.

But really, it's good to go in to this one knowing as little as possible. Learning the secrets as they were revealed was part of the enjoyment and it's good to get them as they come. It's an amazing read that analyzes people, their realationships and society as a whole and how we work and run. I had vague guesses of the twists but didn't get them all right. The ending was so satisfying, so well done, I read the epilogue twice just to smile again.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

📖 👀 📖 Any Justin Cronin fans out there? The Ferryman (out in May 2023) is SURE to be on your must read list. I just finished a preview copy and am still processing the layers of crafted storytelling. The world building descriptions are so vivid that I was completely immersed. Certainly a book to stick with you long after you read the last page!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Many thanks to #netgalley #randomhouse and #ballantinebooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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