Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I had high hopes for this book since I was such a huge fan of The Passage by the same author. It did not disappoint! It kept my attention from start to finish and I’ll read more by this author in the future.

3.5⭐️

<b>That is the design of the world, to trick us into believing it is one thing, when it’s entirely another.</b>

Proctor is a Ferryman who takes retirees to the ferry that will take them back to the Nursery to start again. He enjoys his job and likes providing a calm presence at the end for the people of Prospera. But when the retiree he is assigned is his father, Proctor must try his best to maintain his composure amidst his sadness, but loses it when his father starts to freak out and saying strange things on the way to the ferry.

Proctor has also been dreaming, which is impossible on the island utopia. Once retirees are reset, they come back to Prospera completely wiped clean and start again at age sixteen. Proctor has always had dreams, and used to sleep walk, much to the concern of his parents, and he starts dreaming again as an adult. He begins questioning his reality, and tries to find out the truth.

This book is good, but I don’t think I’m in the right headspace for it right now. I like the characters and the kind of mystery of trying to figure things out, but the pacing is kind of on the slower side and trying to piece things together is overwhelming. I think the drones watching the people on the island was also really giving me Truman Show vibes, as well as the way the people around Proctor act. Overall, not bad if you’re into sci-fi, but hard to get into if you're not.

This was a very interesting book with a dystopian setting. The book is set on a utopian island and they are recycled and live very long lives. The book held my attention and I was not expecting the twist that eventually came. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

I don't quite know what happened with this book, I just could not follow it. I didn’t want to DNF but I put it down so many times in favor of other books that I practically forgot what was going on. Way too many characters and most of it was boring. Unfortunately the plot
has pretty much all been done in other books and movies. And it was far too long, very repetitive.

Published by Ballantine Books on May 2, 2023

The Ferryman surprised me. More specifically, I’m surprised I liked it. While I was reading it, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. The story makes little sense until about two-thirds of it has been told. Once everything came into focus, my mind unclenched and I realized that Justin Cronin had been hiding the real story.

I can’t describe what the novel is really about without spoiling the surprise, so I’ll try to convey a sense of what it seems to be about. The first 300-plus pages introduce about a dozen characters whose shifting roles are likely intended to puzzle the reader.

The protagonist, Proctor Bennett, is a ferryman. Proctor lives on an archipelago called Prospera. At the age of sixteen, he became the ward of his guardians, Cynthia and Malcolm. Adopting a ward is something that people in their position are expected to do. At some point after becoming Procter's guardian, Cynthia did something Prosperans aren’t expected to do. She rowed into the sea, wrapped an anchor around her ankle, and jumped into the water.

Prosperans don’t have children in the usual, biological way. Children are raised on a separate island called the Nursery and brought to Prospera. Not having to raise kids — never having to worry about protecting or losing an infant — might be why their lives are so good.

Everyone in Prospera is hardwired to a gadget that is implanted in their arms. The gadget calculates something like a wellness score. If a resident’s score becomes too low, a Writ of Compulsory Retirement is issued and a ferryman arrives to escort the resident back to the Nursery where they undergo a regenerative process. They aren’t supposed to remember their old lives when they are reborn. As a child, Proctor had dreams that were explained as echoes of a former life. Dreaming is uncommon among Prosperans.

Prospera exists behind an electromagnetic barrier called the Veil that shields Prospera (representing the best of the world) from the worst of the world. Nobody has ever passed beyond the veil and returned.

Prospera seems to be a utopia. For a time, it put me in mind of Erewhon. Both novels begin with a detailed description of a society that is very different from ours before it becomes apparent that the differences are not as great as they appear. At times, Cronin almost adopts Samuel Butler’s formalistic writing style.

As is true in Erewhon, the reader realizes that Prospera is far from utopian. The wealthy citizens live extraordinarily good lives. The servant class lives in squalor. Wealthy Prosperans don’t seem to notice.

Prosperans need a servant class so they can devote themselves to creative and scholarly pursuits. Proctor’s wife Elise is an artist. Her mother is someone important. Procter’s career as a ferryman is a bit disappointing to his family, although he is a managing director of the Department of Social Contracts.

Procter meets a female child who seems to come from nowhere. She wants Procter to teach her to swim. When she disappears, Procter realizes that she seems to tie into the dreams he used to have.

As the story progresses, life in Prospera becomes unsettled. Watchers use drones to maintain surveillance on protestors and use cattle prods to keep them in their place. A woman named Thea is part of a social or religious movement that uses the slogan “Arrival come.” The word Arrival conjures an event like the Rapture. Procter’s life and marriage also become unsettled. Things look bleak when his wellness score falls into the single digits.

Late in the novel, long after we learn what the story is really about, we discover that the story hinges on a morally dubious choice that Procter made, a choice that causes many to despise him. Did he make the right choice? The question is intriguing because it isn’t easily answered. In any event, Procter evolves into a multifaceted, sympathetic character who, in the end, must make a difficult choice that will define his future in a world that, for most of the novel, he didn’t understand.

A theme of haves versus have-nots ends in a way that should please most readers (I assume most readers will take the side of the have-nots, but I might be mistaken). I suspect that the novel’s transition to a story that requires the reader to adopt a new understanding of Prospera will also please readers. I have to admit that I didn’t see it coming.

I was certainly glad the change came because a story that seemed to be falling apart suddenly became clear. The story is structured to fall apart and then to be rebuilt in a way that gives new meaning to the fallen pieces. I give Cronin props for his creative misdirection. I also give him credit for crafting such a fresh and original plot. The novel might be wordier than necessary, but I enjoyed the words.

RECOMMENDED

Ebook/Science Fiction: Bam, this book is awesome and I read this whopper in two sittings. This book is definitely a summer read. It was fantastic.
While reading the novel, I found that some events didn't really make sense. Then in the last couple of chapters, it all comes together, except Marcus. And at one point, I felt the setting was a continuation of City of Mirrors, only decades later.
I highly recommend this book to sci-fi fans. I want to thank Netgalley for a copy of an ARC book.

Justin Cronin is a name that has just been 'haunting' me for years, I've wanted to read the passage and will soon, but this was my first venture into his books......and I was let down.

I ended up Dnfing this at 45% because I found myself mindlessly reading for the sake of finishing it and for me that is not how I like reading and spending my time.
I feel like if you like a slow dystopian book this is perfect for you. For me though it is not what I want, I needed it to move quicker.

Nothing felt real, none of the characters gave anything. It all felt like it was a set up for anything the Procter needed to do. I was just so not invested in what was going on.

I will read more from this author just because The Passage is a hit with so many people I know.

This post apocalyptic story tells the story of Proctor Bennett, he is the Ferryman who helps people thru their retirement process and onto the ferry, using force when necessary. But he soon realizes he has problems and when he eventually has to retire his father, it gets more complicated. I'll be honest, this type of science fiction, post world story is not for me and I struggled thru this, though it was very well written and had beautiful language and dialogue. Fans of this type of genre will love this. I did not but still recommend it to others.

I didn’t think I would like this book and wanted to dnf it multiple times. But I pushed through and ended up enjoying it. It’s not my normal reading choice

I loved the first half of this book and couldn't wait to find out who was behind what was going on in Prospera, and specifically what was ailing Proctor Bennett. Then it all fell apart for me. There were time warps, dreams, and alternate realities - several of them - and it left my head spinning. Sci Fi and fantasy are not my go to genre, but the description of The Ferryman read a lot more like a mystery so I opted to give this book a read. For me the last section of this book could have been the entire book. Once the alternate realities started and I couldn't keep anything straight the book became entirely too long for me and it dragged on. I was also left with some really big questions that were not answered. I am not a fan of spoilers so I will not name them here. If you like a book that leaves you wondering just what is real and what is false, this book will be for you!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to Random House, Ballentine, and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

I was really excited for Cronin's follow-up to his Passage Trilogy, a trilogy I legit still dream about years later. How could he beat that trilogy? What is the encore?

The Ferryman is a fascinating novel, leaning more into Cronin's world-building (and thankfully less horror) and giving us a story that seems to flip itself every few chapters. Is this about a utopian island community? Or a bunch of other things I don't want to spoil? I don't know, but I loved how this story moved, how the characters were constantly learning more, and how the author brought the reader along.

Cronin is a must-read for me and the Ferryman just assures that I'm on board for whatever he is writing.

This started really strong and I read close to 400 pages of it in one sitting. It’s dystopian and mysterious, and while I never really felt connected to any of the characters (they felt like names on a page rather than fully developed characters to me), the plot was quite interesting.
Then it quickly got worse. There’s information revealed that made me roll my eyes and I was honestly mad I had spent so much time reading. The last part really relies on you caring about the characters, which I did not.
I’m disappointed because I really liked this book for so long and then my opinion changed dramatically! I’m not sure I can fully recommend this one because I didn’t feel like the ending was worth how long the book was.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

2.75 rounded up because I did like it at first.

I didn't know what to expect going in. I prefer to avoid reading too much beforehand, and this was quite the adventure. The world building was impressive, which is always a major factor for me. It reminded me of a blend of Inception and Project Hail Mary, with a hint of Westworld. Yes, they are all different but believe me, it makes sense once you read it. I highly recommend it.

I have recently started enjoying speculative science fiction, and The Ferryman did not disappoint! The setting is a utopian island where after a certain age, people are "reiterated" and start life over again. but the way it plays out in this book is unique, engaging and kept me wondering up to the very end what was really going on. Five stars!

Proctor Bennett is a Ferryman in the state of Prospera, three islands home to an isolated and seemingly perfect society. Proctor's job is to get older residents on the ferry to the nursery, where they have their memories erased, and are returned to Prospera for a new life. But when Proctor is forced to send his father to the nursery, the trip does not go as expected, and it sends Proctor on a journey to discover the hidden aspects of his society.

Justin Cronin has made a wonderfully complex, twisty, and smart sci-fi thriller. The book is long, but it moves quickly, exploring many facets of Prospera and building out a detailed, fascinating world for the characters. I put this book down for a while halfway through it only to finally pick it back up and be enthralled by the very surprising second half. The first half is a lot of set up, but if you stick with it, there is so much excellent, mind-bending payoff in the second half. I knew there would be twists and turns coming, but I absolutely did not expect what Justin Cronin had in store for Proctor Bennett and the world that he created. The focus on class conflict and the creation of narrative created some rich thematic context for Cronin's world. This is a great take on the dystopian society novel that will please sci-fi fans and hopefully create some more Justin Cronin fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Dystopian, sci-fi novels are not my go-to genre, but the premise of this twist-filled stunner immediately hooked me. The island of Prospera has been carefully curated so that's it's inhabited by artsy, cultured people living their best lives. Each has a monitor in their arm that tracks their physical and mental capabilities. When these decline, their number gets too low and they're "retired" and rebooted--their memories wiped and their essence put into a new, younger body to live another life. Next to Prospera is The Annex, land inhabited by the "working class" people who serve the Prosperians. Proctor Bennett is a Prospering ferryman, who's responsible for shepherding soon-to-be retired Prosperians to The Nursery, where their reboot begins. The trouble really begins when Proctor has to accompany his own father to the ferry AND his monitor numbers are dropping low really, really fast.

Once this story takes off, the action and twists are non-stop. Cronin's world-building has a lot of moving pieces, but it's impressive in its intricacy and cleverness. The characterization is rich, too. What I really loved about this novel was how Cronin spoke to the environmental and societal issues I see (and worry about!) through the story. How he imagines things will "work out," is compelling and rooted in some real-life ideas. Yet, like with life itself and the challenges and dangers we see today, there's that ever-resilient thread of hope and humanity weaving through.

If you're a sci-fi/dystopian fan--and especially if you're not!--give this one a go. It's a long one, so I read parts and listened to the terrific audiobook. But either way, it's an intriguing and inspiring tale of how humans might respond when natural forces inevitably react to our neglect.

The Ferryman is filled with vivid and immersive world building and the storyline kept my interest. I did find myself having to go back and reread certain details because the book is quite complex so I found I had to set it aside if there were any distractions. But this can be said fir any Justin a Roman book he delved deep so you need to be ready to give it your full attention. The whole FerryMan idea is intriguing & Nursery/Retirement Island was morbidly fascinating. The "newborns" delivered by boat at 16 who come potty trained with speaking capabilities was new. I mean 16 no childhood that’s kind of intriguing and sad lol. And I would certainly hope they can talk and are potty trained… That’s a diaper I don’t want to deal with 😂 Disturbing or the best idea ever hmm both actually so much to think about tied up in that conundrum. The last 1/4 of the book veered off from where I thought it was headed and I fully enjoyed how unexpected it was. The ending flowed differently from the rest of the book and seemed rushed after the pacing of everything else. It did still manger to be a cohesive enough and mostly tied up all the loose plot threads. I honestly can’t believe I would say this because anyone who reads a Justin Cronin novel knows they are LONG but this actually would have paced better and finished stronger with a few more characters to keep the pace intact. But Bravo another solid read from a huge favorite of mine! I definitely recommend it but take a seat it be long.

Justin Cronin’s The Passage series is one of my absolute all time favorites so I was extremely eager to read The Ferryman! The writing here actually surprised me- it’s very different from what I remember of The Passage books. I really enjoyed following the story of this mysterious dystopian futuristic island where of course- everything is not as it seems. I had absolutely zero idea what was truly going on until the reveal, although the ending was just a teensy bit disappointing for me as I’ve seen it “done” several times recently. Wish I could say more but I don’t want to spoil anything!

This book was amazing! Hands down one of the best books I will most likely read in 2023. In the beginning I was a worried about starting a book this size and staying focused until the end but by the end I did not want this book to end.

First and foremost the world building in this book is amazing. It opens with characters living an idealistic life on an isolated and self sufficient island. They are cut off from the rest of the world and they lead a posh life full of arts and culture and have all of their needs met. Then we find out that in order to lead these perfect lives the characters are supported by a class of workers whose lives are far from perfect. The book follows both classes of people and there are many unpredictable turns some of which I am still trying to wrap my mind around.

Overall, this book was amazing and I really hope that there is a sequel.

My head is spinning after finishing The Ferryman! A wonderful standalone after The Passage series. Intriguing, smart, somewhat horrifying, and a blend of several genres, The Ferryman will leave readers breathless by the turning of the final page. Perfect chunkster for those who like a smarter, longer beach read!