Why do I do this to myself?! Who reads dystopia in 2025?! That said...this was a good one. It's been on my TBR for a long time (received an ARC, in fact, that I forgot about) but I appreciated the Shakespearean connections; The Tempest has been my favorite play since high school. The premise of this particular dystopia: the remnants of society find themselves on an island called Prospera, where everyone is healthy, wealthy, and wise...until the cracks start to show. I'm still not quite sure what happened at the end of this one, but I think the ambiguity is a feature not a bug. Easy 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This one read a little long but I was so caught up in wanting to know what was happening that I stayed with it and I'm glad I did. The reveals and character development were satisfying and I'd recommend this to someone who wants a unique dystopian.

I was expecting something different, and while I see how this would be a really good read for others, it just didn't do it for me. The writing was objectively good, and so were the characters, but it just wasn't my speed at this current time. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC!

I was intrigued by the premise of this book but the length and pacing ended up being a real miss for me, even with the aid of the audiobook narration toggled with the ebook edition. Readers with patience for pages of contemplative/expository writing in between the action sequences will likely enjoy.

An ambitious sci-fi novel about utopia, memory, and humanity’s ultimate purpose. Epic in scope but deeply personal at its core. Cronin’s world-building and storytelling are top-notch.

I’ve never read anything by Justin Cronin before, but wow what a creative mind! I was hooked from the book summary alone, and now I’m reeling with just how wild this sci-fi mash up was - so much going on, but in a good way? (I say mash-up because there were a lot of “this reminds me of something else” moments.) Very smart, creative, and well developed.

I did not jive with the writing style used in this book. I decided to DNF it a couple chapters in. I need to make this over 100 characters to be able to submit it.

Justin Cronin is one of my favorite authors so of course I jumped at a chance to read and review his latest work.

The Ferryman started off with such promise but then by the last 3rd I found myself scratching my head and the ending left me completely confused.

I would say to pick this book up if you enjoy Fantasy mixed with a bit of Sci-fi.

The Ferryman is an intriguing exploration of a utopian society, offering a thought-provoking premise that keeps readers engaged. While the novel is ultimately a rewarding read, its slow development may require patience. Some stretches of the story feel meandering, making it challenging to stay invested at times. However, those who persist will find an entertaining and worthwhile experience with compelling characters and an interesting world. It may not be a standout favorite for all readers, but it remains a solid and engaging novel for those who enjoy thought-provoking speculative fiction.

Justin Cronin is a masterful author. He sucks you in and then blows you away. There was quite a bit of world building going on with the separate islands and the mysterious horror from beyond. It felt like a really grown up version of The Giver world in some ways, but then there was an explosive crescendo that caused the final third to just blow by.

I swear on Mother that this was too long.

The pacing was way off throughout and characterization development was off.

The Ferryman was slow to develop. There were times where I felt that I wanted to give up because I did not know where the story was going and nothing was developing in the plot for long periods of time. At the end, I did enjoy it, but it was a difficult journey to get there.

Justin Cronin's "The Ferryman" is a masterclass in suspense and atmospheric storytelling, a gripping thriller that explores themes of memory, identity, and the chilling potential of unchecked power. Set on a remote island community seemingly untouched by the outside world, the novel immediately establishes a sense of unease. The protagonist, Proctor, lives a structured and somewhat idyllic life, ferrying the recently deceased to their final resting place. However, this carefully constructed reality begins to unravel as Proctor starts experiencing fragmented memories and unsettling visions, hinting at a past he can't quite grasp.

Cronin's writing is captivating, drawing the reader into Proctor's increasingly disorienting world. The island setting is vividly depicted, contributing to the growing sense of isolation and paranoia. The author expertly builds tension, slowly revealing pieces of the puzzle while keeping the reader guessing about the true nature of Proctor's past and the secrets the island holds. The supporting characters are equally intriguing, each harboring their own hidden agendas and contributing to the overall sense of mystery.

What makes "The Ferryman" particularly compelling is its exploration of memory and identity. Proctor's struggle to reclaim his lost memories is both heartbreaking and suspenseful, raising questions about what defines a person and the fragility of our sense of self. The novel also delves into the ethical implications of manipulating memory and the potential consequences of a society built on carefully curated illusions.

While the pacing is generally excellent, there are moments where the narrative becomes a bit dense, particularly when dealing with the intricacies of the island's history and the complex relationships between its inhabitants. However, this complexity ultimately adds to the richness of the story and its thought-provoking themes.

"The Ferryman" is a chilling and captivating read that will stay with you long after you finish it. It's a novel that blends elements of thriller, science fiction, and dystopian fiction into a truly unique and unsettling story. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy suspenseful narratives with complex characters and thought-provoking themes.

The Ferryman is a standalone post apocalyptic novel from Justin Cronin. The story revolves around Proctor, a ferryman for the land of the Prospera. Prospera is an island utopia where they have learned to reincarnate people so that when they get too old they are ferried to the Nursery to be brought back to life without any memories of your past lives. One day Proctor receives an urgent job to bring in his father, Malcolm, for a "retirement" trip to the nursery. Before Malcolm gets on the ferry he tells Proctor a secret that now has him hunted by the Prosperans. Proctor soon learns that nothing is what it seems and in order to save everyone he must figure out what is happening.

I found the story engaging and thought provoking. It is a story of what should humans learn from their own mistakes and who should be saved from those mistakes. Power, control, and money drive everything and can you really have a utopia of those exist. It also delves into who is responsible for mistakes and can they fix things. I enjoyed this a lot and would definitely recommend it. It is great to have a standalone book from this genre as soon many are now series and intended as series from the beginning. As the reader you get a satisfying conclusion to the story of Prospera and Proctor.

Interesting content. Like nothing I’ve read before. The characters were likable and I didn’t want to put it down!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

For awhile now, I’ve been wondering if dystopian novels are still for me. I love books that explore darker themes and a dystopian setting is a good way to get that. Still, I’ve noticed that quite a few that I’ve picked up in recent years had me either bored or confused or some amalgamation of both. So I was a little trepidatious when I realized that the e-ARC I accepted for The Ferryman had the “dystopia” tag. I thought the premise sounded interesting, though, and it was listed as science fiction, so I decided to give it a whirl.

This story follows Proctor Bennett, a man living on an idyllic island who has it all: the perfect wife, the perfect house, and the perfect job. Proctor works as a ferryman, a person who brings people to their “next stage” in life once they have reached retirement, and he is damn good at his job. Except… Proctor is starting to have increasingly disturbing dreams. And he’s starting to realize that maybe his perfect life isn’t as perfect as it seems.

Okay, first, I have to give this book it’s kudos. The writing in this was absolutely exquisite! Justin Cronin knows how to string together a compelling sentence and that definitely upgraded this reading experience. The writing immerses you into the world from the first chapter. It had me engrossed in the world and did a great job of world-building while not feeling like everything was being dumped on you at once. I will also say that the building of the characters was brilliantly done, to the point where I was emotionally invested to what happened to Proctor throughout the story.

That being said, this book was waaaay too long. I was in it, I was vibing, we hit a chapter where I was like “Whoa, mind-blown, this is a great ending!” …and then it kept going. For, like… 100 more pages. And it’s not that those last 100 pages were badly written or anything. The quality of the writing was kept throughout the story. But they felt so very unnecessary. Like they could have been the beginning of the second book in a duology, you know. Which made the fact that there was only about 100 pages feel like the last bit ended too soon. I don’t know if I’m making sense, but it left me feeling overall confused and underwhelmed.

Overall, this book explores some tense and bleak topics in a way that both hurts and feels like a particularly good session of therapy. It makes you think and has some fantastic writing. The characters are vivid and nuanced and, probably, my favorite part of the entire book! I just wish that it hadn’t dragged out the conclusion to the point that I was wondering when it was going to end, heh.

This was intriguing but it was the second book I read just this year with the same plot twist so I took a star off for originality.

This was a fantastic book, as all of Justin Cronin’s have been in the past. It made me think! Buy it.

Wow! This book swept me away. I had absolutely no idea what to expect with this one, as it was my first of the Author’s books. I absolutely loved it, the world building, the characters and the intrigue behind the idea of the life monitor.

The ferryman is an emotional and mysterious futuristic dystopian novel and I cannot recommend it enough! If you enjoy scifi/dystopian novels that are slower in pace but with a powerful story then definitely give this a read.

The Ferryman is a mind-bending, dystopian thriller set on a mysterious island where life seems perfect—until cracks begin to show. Proctor Bennett, a ferryman who escorts residents to their “retirement,” starts uncovering unsettling truths about his world and his own identity. The twists are wild, and Cronin’s world-building is top-notch. If you like big, thought-provoking stories with a sci-fi edge, this one’s a must-read!