What a wild ride of a book. I read Justin Cronin's the Passage quite a while ago, and had every intention of continuing on with the series, yet didn't. His writing is so propulsive and easy to visualize which I so appreciate. I was so excited when The Ferryman was announced as a stand alone novel.

This novel is set in Prospera, a utopian society where there's an upper class that is born on a remote island, called the Nursery, then delivered to Prospera around the age of 17. They are all monitored and when their battery in a sense runs down below 10%, they are sent back to the Nursery to be regenerated...again and again and again. Proctor Bennett is a Ferryman who ushers Prosperians to the Nursery when their monitor time is up. Reality begins to crumble and readers are swept along trying to figure out what is even happening. Part discussion on utopian existence, part commentary on humanity when the world is ending, it was totally engrossing but also so bizarre and thought provoking.

As a note, this starts out so slow, but about halfway in your mind gets blown and the plot really picks up. This reminded me of The Last Cuentista but on a more adult scale. It also kind of reminded me of Recursion in a sense. If you liked either of those, I would definitely recommend!

Unfortunately, I never quite clicked with this book. I do think it will find an audience with other readers, but it ended up not being for me.

As always with Cronin the ideas are so good, the plot filled with twists, and his world-building inventive. But too long, too many female characters get only vague outlines, and overall not that fulfilling or memorable. Editors need to step in more; I know he is a famous author and sells well, but this book could be SO much if it was about 1/4 shorter and tightened. It's a long book, but that isn't the problem. The problem is it could be a better book if it was better paced, more focused, more reader driven. If you like his works, of course, you will like this. But again, could have been better.

This is very much in the author’s usual style. I am not a huge sci-fi reader but enjoy a good tale of futuristic society. This synopsis provided for this book by the publisher does a perfect job of describing without revealing the content. And as is typical of many of Mr. Cronin’s books, it is a long one, 538 pages. I, for one, am not deterred. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5

“It’s all very complex, and it seems to him that within this complexity lies the true essence of loving a child: a joy so intense it can feel like sadness.”

If you’re looking for a book thag makes your brain feel like it’s going to break, this is it! The power of this story snuck up on me, which feels like an odd thing to say considering it was 538 pages long. Never did I feel like it was over done or too much, it was written with the exact amount of words needed to convey everything.

This was a fabulous combination of societal drama, dystopian world, and mysterious coincidences. I was fully invested in all the experiences, the drastic reactions, the convoluted emotions, and the class warfare. And just when I thought I had a grip on what was occurring the entire story is tilted on its axis. I spent the rest of the book trying to get some sort of grip on the experience and never really could. I spent a solid week thinking back in this story trying to make sense of it. It was quite the crazy ride and I loved it!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group & Ballantine Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was about 10% into this story before I really got interested, but don't let that scare you off. The setting, Prospéra, was different in many ways from our own world but not enough to pique my interest. At first. It teased me and dangled its originality in my peripheral, and then it came. What a payoff. I won’t say where that occurred. I’ll leave this story to you to take in. Suffice to say, this story comes from the same writer who gave us, The Passage, which was a brilliant take on the end of the world as we know it. A dystopian nightmare populated with the survivors of a scientific catastrophe that almost ended the world. And vampires.

Cronin’s words and imagery in The Ferryman are rich and lush, as are his characters. The world is multi-layered and fraught with mystery. There is a lot to process as this tale slips and slides and pulls the rug out from under you just when you think you are ‘getting it’.

“You know what your problem is?”
“I’m guessing you’re about to tell me.”
“It’s the same problem most people have, actually. You know a lot of things. You believe almost nothing.”

And Cronin's character is right. Believing in something is difficult, especially in today's world probably because the ability to acquire knowledge is remarkably easy. Probably too easy. And I'm no different. I'm going to take the easy way out and wrap this up by saying if you liked Logan’s Run and 1984, you will be thrilled with this one. And, if not thrilled, certainly chilled.

I would like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this novel.

At 19 hours and 55 minutes this audiobook almost intimidated me but I so glad I looked past the long run time because this was a phenomenal listen. I was absorbed in this one and before I knew it, it was over!
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Set in a dystopian future where a group is living in a perfect island, a fantasy, an utopia. Granted it is a figure where they are microchipped (which, of course they are ) and if their measurements fall to 10% or below, then they “retire” to an island called the nursery. They take a ferry to the nursery where they are renewed and their memories are wiped clean and they can soon start a fresh, new life.
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Proctor Bennett is a ferryman who guides people to retirement but not all go easily. When he starts dreaming he knows things are amiss. No one is supposed to dream. He soon finds himself questioning everything. I really hope this becomes a tv series or movie. I could imagine it all playing out on the screen!
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Huge thank you to @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Justin Cronin plays with your expectations in The Ferryman at every step of the way. Proctor Bennett works as a ferryman on the utopian island of Prospero. He guides older Prosperans across the water to the facility where they are reconstituted into younger bodies. On the day that Proctor is assigned to ferry his own father, with whom he has a difficult relationship, things go very wrong. The cracks in the idyllic society are widening and soon Proctor finds himself on the run and finding allies in the Annex, home to the working class people who keep Prospero running smoothly.

No utopian society is ever truly utopian. That is expected. But just when you think you have things figured out, Cronin throws you a curveball. And then another. Until you are breathlessly following along in a story that defies all expectations. Every twist is earned and Cronin's construction of the plot is magnificent.

The story moves steadily through the first part of the book, carried by strong characters who feel real in their emotions, motivations, and actions. Then when the curtain is pulled back, the pace correspondingly increases to match the new revelations that follow. Cronin maintains this increased pacing all the way to the end, with new revelations and character decisions that will have your jaw dropping.

An incredible plot, fantastic, complex characters, and peerless writing. This is not only one of the best books of the year, but a story that will stick with you for a long, long time. You're going to want to talk to people about this book!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

A fast paced dystopian / sci-fi that's chock full of reveals and twists that will keep readers guessing and glued to the pages. The ending might have people divided but it's well worth the read!

This started out so well, but went off the rails in a spectacular fashion. I loved Cronin’s “The Passage” trilogy and was hoping for more of the same, but alas. The first half of the book was very promising with some captivating world-building and suspense, but the second half devolved into silly metaphysical nonsense I could hardly follow.

This book was interesting, if you want to escape into a whole new futuristic world and get absorbed in it. It is very long and for me, that made it a bit hard to get through. Would have preferred it to be a little less detailed, but understand why the author did it. Lots of philosophical questions, lots to think about.

While I did enjoy the story, the twists were a bit telegraphed throughout. I thought the ending tied up too quick, even at a nearly 500 page book.

I am a long time Justin Cronin fan. I think that he has done so much for the sci-fi genre and, like Blake Crouch, made it way more accessible for the everyday person. My brain feels full and tired after reading this - the sign of a good read in my opinion.

I wound up DNF'ing this book. It just dragged and dragged and not much was going on. I'm sure for some this will slap, but for me, I needed a bit more of a hook and a bit more going on to keep me interested for THIS long of a book.

I kept putting off "The Ferryman" simply because of the length of the book, despite all of the wonderful reviews I was reading about it. I really enjoyed "The Passage" when I read it several years ago, and I had no doubt that I would enjoy "The Ferryman."

I'll say I probably plowed through the first 300 pages or so of the story. I was absolutely engrossed in the plot and the characters, and the premise of this remote island where people live, and when it's time to retire they are taken to The Nursery where they essentially have their memories erased and bodies renewed to become young again. But all is not what it seems (I promise, no spoilers here.)

I would say the last half of the book was confusing for me, and it's really where the heavy sci-fi plot comes into play. it was still really interesting and I wanted to keep reading, but there were certainly points where I had a hard time wrapping my head around it. The sci-fi aspect of this reminded me of the twist in the Netflix show "1899".

The ending was beautifully done.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and am glad I read it. Cronin is a fantastic writer and storyteller.
{Thank you Random House - Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the eARC!}

Going into The Ferryman, as someone who had been drawn into the Justin Cronin Passage hype, I had been eagerly anticipating what kind of worldbuilding and characterization that would be brought to the table this time. After completing The Ferryman, I’m both happy and disappointing with his latest installment.

There’s only so many details that can be given since the plot of the book is intentionally vague, but in a world where mankind has evolved past traditional mortality, people have lifespans that resemble batteries and must be retired/reincarnated once their battery is depleted. However, the world is more than it appears when our protagonists battery begins quickly depleting.

Other than being thrown into an unfamiliar world in the opening, I think the opening and closing had some of the best parts of the book. The pacing is good at start and the closing delivers some satisfying answers to unanswerable problems. But the middle 300 pages were really exhausting to get through.

There were so many perspectives and plotlines that were hard to follow. ESPECIALLY towards the end before things are revealed. It reached a point where I was having to read just to get to the next plot point, but not understanding what was going on.

Overall, I’m glad I read The Ferryman and the temptation to reread it knowing what the plot twists are is real, but I doubt I’ll ever actually pick it back up.

The Ferryman takes place in the future… the world is a very different place than the one in which we live.
I really wanted to love this book, but the premise kept changing and it went on too long to hold my interest. If you’re not a SciFi fan, you can safely skip this one.

I loved Justin’s Passage series and this book did not disappoint. There are many things going on and it will leave you wondering what you just read at times. The setting and feel made me think of the show Lost many times while I was reading. If you have enjoyed books by Blake Crouch you will also enjoy this.

Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE Justin Cronin fan!!! The Passage series has been one of my all time favorites. His ability to make complex characters and stories much like Stephen King can be a blessing and a curse.

This book is about a utopian state that is separate from the rest of the world and the horrors that lie within it. The story follows the struggles of the main character, the ferryman, as he navigates his job, what he’s asked to do and cryptic messages from his father before his death.

There are elements of sci fi and fantasy that should appeal to most of his fans.

I went back and forth with liking this book and then being utterly lost and bored at the same time. There was so much happening at times it was hard to keep it all straight. I didn't find the characters all that likeable and by the end I just felt confused. It may be for others, but this writing style wasn't for me apparently.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐬: Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Mystery
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Physical/Audio
#DeepDiveThisBook

QUICK BITS
•Evolving plot
•Slow burn
•Fever dream-like
•Philosophical/psychological

REVIEW
WOWOWOOW. I did not expect this reading experience.

As you will see portrayed in my pace score, the first half of this book is a slow burn. However, much like my experience with Cloud Cuckoo Land (of note: CCL ended up in my top 3 of 2022) by the time you get halfway it is unputdownable.

I will say going into this one, unlike me initially, don't fight the slow burn. All the details and story components are SO worth taking your time with. Because if you don't you will likely be dying to go back and start it over when everything starts to be revealed.

Much like a Blake Crouch novel, the book you think you are reading is not the book you realize you are reading by the end-- aka mind blowing.

One of those books I quite literally can't tell you anything more about...you just have to pick it up and experience it for yourself.

If you are apprehensive about longer slow burns (up until 50%), then I HIGHLY recommend the audio! I read this in both ebook and audio and BOTH are great.

So...are your ready to sail away and start questioning what you consider to be reality? The ferryman is knocking at the door, will you answer it?

RATINGS
10 Characters
8 Atmosphere
9 Writing Style
10 Plot
6 Pace
8 Intrigue
8 Enjoyment
5 SOS Bonus
4 Impact Bonus
TOTAL= 59+9= 68/14= 4.89

5.00/5.00 SOS Rating
--Truly I had not foreseen where this book was going... by the time you get to the 50% mark everything just starts to be revealed and it's hundreds of pages of internal screaming and crying

4.00/5.00 Impact Rating
--Love when I get to use my impact rating on fiction, this book goes places emotionally I was not prepared for...I will feel the reverberations of this book for the years to come

5.00/5.00 Rounded Rating