I am a huge fan of The Passage and was excited for this book. It did not disappoint. It was layered, imaginative, beautiful, poignant and meaningful. It contained concerns and issues of our time, a look into a possible future and some cool imagined science. It was about people and relationships and family and love and hopes and dreams, among other things. One of my favorite things was that I honestly could not figure it out - I couldn’t guess the solution to the mystery - nothing was given away. The author kept you guessing, kept you enthralled and gave you little pieces but effectively kept you guessing much of the way through. I loved this book!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: May 2, 2023

Another sci-fi stunner from Justin Cronin. Complex and mind-bending, with amazing world-building and twists along the way…you won’t be able to put this one down.

In general, I have very little interest in science fiction or fantasy books, so this is not a normal galley I would request. Because I read and enjoyed the author’s previous trilogy (The Passage), I decided to give this one a shot.
Overall, I liked the story of the utopian/dystopian islands of Prospera, and the haves and have-nots who inhabited them. After the halfway point, it started getting complicated, with different Matrix-y realities coming into play, which is usually where my mind begins wandering to less fantastical things. Admittedly, it’s my own fault that I was occasionally confused as to what was going on, but like I said, science fiction is not my thing. I was able to follow most of the story, and had no trouble understanding the gist by the time I got to the end. I found most of it engaging, and despite the lengthy tome, it went quickly.
Thanks to #netgalley and #ballantinebooks for this #arc of #theferryman by #justincronin in exchange for an honest review.

Before reading this review, I highly recommend checking out the synopsis for this book because I could not do it justice through my own explanation.

This book is a chonk, both in page length and content, so I am going to be breaking up my review into thirds:

First third: Cronin has created a very detailed world where age and health are critical to this society’s success. In this first part we are introduced to our main character Proctor. We learn about his past and his present on the island of Prospera, the island utopia where he lives. I love sci-if and fantasy, but I will say the hardest part is becoming familiar with the world and its rules. This chunk was very detailed and there were times I had trouble following what exactly was happening, who was who, and other small details. There were times I had to go back a few pages and reread a section to gain clarity. So far, this book is full flowery language that does not help with engrossing myself in this world any easier. 2.5 ⭐️ for this section.

Second third: Now that I have started to get a handle on this world, the story is moving faster and is becoming more interesting and engaging. There has been a ton of action and mystery with the added bonus of a potentially unreliable narrator. There still is not a lot of clarity on what the problem with this world is and what the Arrivalists are trying to prevent, but the twists and turns to figuring it out have been fun. Characters are starting to be more fleshed out in this section, and the part at The Nursery was incredibly creepy in that typical dystopian fashion. 3.5 ⭐️ for this section.

Last third: This was the section I felt had a little bit of a disconnect because it was almost like I was reading two different stories. I do think the direction the author went in regards to Prospera was well executed and I did not expect THAT, per se. The writing was much clearer in this section, and while there was an info dump, it felt like it fit into the narrative as a whole. The book has a very satisfying ending, even though I wanted to know more about our main character’s new situation! 3⭐️ for this section.

Overall thoughts: If you like science fiction or dystopian novels, I think you would absolutely love this one. I do have to author for taking a story idea with lots of details, nuances, and twists and turns and writing it fairly clearly to be accessible for the average person. There were times this book was a little wordy, and would have done better as a duology. The reveal would be much more impactful if it was set up like this. I did enjoy this book and will most likely check out more of this author’s books in the future.

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

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin was unfortunately not the right read for me. I can appreciate the level of work put into building the environment but the story revealed itself to be simpler than I hoped and it made me feel like the build up wasn't worth the payoff. I'm sure many will enjoy this one but it wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC - The Ferryman is out now!

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. I was immediately immersed in the world of The Ferryman. There were so many twists and turns and storylines that I didn't see coming.
Most of the first half kind of reminded me of the Truman Show, but then it went into a completely different direction that I absolutely did not anticipate.
I couldn't put this book down. I'm not normally into sci-fi, but this one was amazing, and I will definitely be recommending it to everyone I know.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wow, I so enjoyed the Ferryman! Nothing like I expected and immediately I was engaged and interested in the story. Why can't more books be written like this?

Classism with a sci fi dystopian spin?? YES YES YES!

And yet somehow we're addressing topics like grief, loss, and other ethical issues related to survival. Really compelling and engaging!

First of all, I loved this book. It's been a long time since I've lost myself in a story like this one. The Ferryman is the best of science fiction and dystopian fiction with plenty of insinuations about humanity to mull over. It is both riveting and thought-provoking with a huge dose of intrigue and suspense. It also gave me The Giver and Black Mirror vibes.

In the community of Prospera, Proctor Bennett is a Ferryman- his job is to help transition those people who are "retiring" by choice or not, to the ferry where they will travel to the nursery to be reiterated and embark on a whole new life. When bringing one of his charges to the ferry, he hears something confusing, something- he quickly finds out- that someone doesn't want him to know about.

The story is so intricate and the plot is unraveled expertly in a way that keeps much of the history of Prospera hidden until suddenly it is revealed and all makes sense. I highly recommend this one and am so excited to have discovered this author!

Justin Cronin tells of a group of isolated islands where the wealthier inhabitants get reincarnated. Proctor Bennett works as The Ferryman (hard from Ballantine Books) helping the aged and sick to the Nursery island where their bodies will be reborn and their minds reset. The worker class live on the annex island and are born and die normally. One day, Proctor’s client is the man who mentored him (father) and at one point he whispers a mysterious word. That causes his whole life to go off his tracks, and at the same time the Annex is priming for rebellion. There is a nice puzzle behind this world of the archipelago of Prospera, I suspect this will be on several award nominations.

A really sterling example of horror from Cronin. Riveting from start to finish and downright frightening.

This is not my usual genre of book but it sound interesting and thought I would try it. I was NOT disappointed. I couldn't stop reading this stayed up all night just to complete it. Please don't pass this book up.

This was a well written, thought provoking story. I liked the concept of taking you down one path to then reveal a different outcome. I thought most of the characters were interesting although I thought it was a little odd that Elise, given her primary role in the story, was not further developed in depth. I have not read any of the authors other books, but this one makes me think of investigating the others. I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the advance copy. Good book and deserving of success in the market.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Passage comes a riveting standalone novel about a group of survivors on a hidden island utopia—where the truth isn't what it seems.

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. (Amazon Synopsis)

I read the Amazon synopsis above and thought this would be a mind-bending sci fi fantasy in the vein of the passage. We follow the protagonist, Proctor Bennett, who works for the Department of Social Contracts on Prospera as a ferryman - someone who ferries the retired back to the Nursery for their renewal. His mother mysteriously dies, and on the day his father is to retire, Proctor has an unusual experience that leaves him confused about his past and future. Proctor begins to question everything he has ever known. Amid his confusion, other characters are introduced that show a rift growing between the haves and have nots of Prospera - who also share cryptic messages about how Prospera came to be and what it will be in the future.

That is all to say that you will have no idea where this novel is going - it has enough twists and turns to make you turn the page more and more quickly to find out where the story is going. Although this is completely different from Cronin's Passage trilogy, it is equally bizarre and unusual. Science fiction that will make you keep reading and thinking about this world and the world we live in. If you are one of those people who have always been curious about alternative realities or simulated worlds, you will want to pick this up. This did not flow as well as Cronin's previous works for me, though it is good. 3/5 stars.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. Wow! This science fiction thriller grabbed me and never let go! The story is unique and the characters are fully flawed! I recommend this book to readers who enjoy science fiction or fantasy and appreciate a fresh approach.

Justin Cronin has been on my radar since his novel The Passage captured audiences' attention in 2010. At that time, I was just getting back into reading, and I hadn't even started my blog yet. As is often the case, I put the book and the subsequent trilogy on my TBR list, but never got around to actually reading it. I vowed to read whatever new work Cronin came up with next. Enter his latest novel The Ferryman. Cronin's publisher sent me a copy of his new standalone book, and I finally had an excuse to read his writing.

For the survivors, the small archipelago of Propera has become a place of refuge. As the world surrounding this place crumbles, Prospera has become a utopia of promise. Those lucky few who call the place home live their days of comfort and satisfaction, a life in sharp contrast to the people living in the outside world. The only caveat to this utopia is that it can't last forever. Each citizen is equipped with a monitoring device in their arms. As their physical and psychological well-being drops, they voluntarily retire to a place called The Nursery. Retirees board a ferry that takes them to be mentally and physically renewed.

Proctor Bennet has the important job of being a ferryman. He's responsible for guiding citizens through the retirement process, beckoning them to the boat that will take them to The Nursery. Usually, this is an almost celebratory moment as the elder citizens welcome this next chapter in their lives. Sometimes, though, Proctor has to more forcefully enforce the tradition. Strange things have been happening with Proctor. It is supposed to be impossible to dream on Prospera, yet he dreams vividly. Even more strange, his monitor is beginning to show he is rapidly declining, approaching the very state that sees him guide people to the ferry. His personal and professional lives come to a head when Proctor is tasked with helping his own father retire. At the last moment of the ritual, Proctor's father becomes agitated, needing to be restrained and forced to the ferry. In these brief moments, he relays a cryptic message to his son. This message will set into motion a series of events that will leave Proctor questioning everything he's ever known.

The Ferryman sees Justin Cronin conjure a world filled with moral ambiguities that will have readers contemplating the truths of everything they are presented with. I was instantly drawn into the world that Cronin created. His main character Proctor serves as a kind of in-between for the reader, allowing us to see the beautiful utopia of the world while questioning the motivations of those who have created it. The first third of the book had me completely enthralled. Cronin alternated between the POV of his main character with that of someone tied to the outside world, giving the reader an into each side of this fantasy. Toward the middle of the book, I became a bit lost in the weeds. The driving plot began to meander, and I wasn't sure what was happening. Things come together for a satisfying and twisty conclusion, but the book is probably a hundred pages too long.

The Ferryman had me hooked from the very beginning. I was sucked into this world immediately because it reminded me of something like the Truman Show. But as the story develop and threw in so many twists and turns, I really couldn't put it down. I feel like there's good commentary on society and the haves vs the have nots, and was presented in an approachable way for people who might not think about that subject often. The big twist towards the end of the book actually caught me totally by surprise, which I feel like is rare these days. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone I know that loves sci-fi and is looking for a book to get sucked into.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin is a deep dive into an alternate world. One where everything is seemingly perfect. The upper class live in Prospera, the support staff live on a different island, The Annex, and people do not die; but rather, are shipped off to a place called “The Nursery” to be reincarnated and brought back to Prospera. They come back, being adopted by older Prosperans, not as babies, but as teenage beings who must re-learn the world.

We follow Proctor Bennett (The Ferryman) and other individuals in his life through the novel. Cronin’s world building is fantastic. I felt like I was in Prospera, The Annex, and The Nursery at various stages of the novel.

This is a layered novel with a lot going on. I really enjoyed the first half. But as I got into the second half, there was so much happening, that I found it dragging and difficult to follow. I think I would have enjoyed it more had it been a bit shorter and more succinct in the back half. Then again, that’s when you start to get all the juicy details about what’s actually happening with Prospera and it’s residents. This novel would be great for someone who loves a long, complex, deep dive with detailed world building.

I waited a few weeks after finishing the novel to write my review. I’m glad I did. I ended the book frustrated about it being so long. I was glad to be done. But this book has stuck with me. It is memorable. Had I been in a place to really settle into a long, complex story, I think I would have enjoyed it more. Four stars for me. It started as a five, ended as a three. Bumped back to a four as I love a novel that I sticks with me for a long time. This one will.

Special thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the digital ARC via NetGalley.

Okay so. This was the longest audiobook I’ve ever listened to and I very much did not have a good time. It just went on and on and on...

I will start off by saying, audio probably was not a great format for me, personally, for this book. World building is a thing I always struggle with so I was lost for most of this book. But. I will say, I don’t think I would’ve liked this no matter the format?

I read a lot of reviews saying the first half of this book was interesting and the second half was terrible. For me, it was the opposite. I found the first half super boring (and a little hard to follow?) but the second half I enjoyed more.

However. My main problem with this boiled down to that this felt like a story I’ve seen or read before and I thought it was done better by others. This reminds me of quite a few things (I won’t say what because spoilers) and I just ended up liking them so much more. This was an interesting concept but the execution just wasn’t it, for me.

But I will say this has some truly beautiful writing, especially in a couple of sections on grief. I actually scoured the e-copy I also had for some of my favorite quotes just so I could highlight and save them.

So. Overall, this just felt a little too long and too… much? I just didn’t really love the story. It was a miss for me. Except for the third chapter from the end. That was *chef’s kiss*

Anyway. Thank you to NetGalley, Libro.fm & Random House for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved the first 150 to 200 pages of this novel, and then everything sort of fell apart for me. I felt like the quality of the writing went progressively downhill after that point, but this is probably because of all the action scenes. Just as I get bored watching action scenes in movies, I always get bored reading them as well (this is why Razorblade Tears, which was so beloved by everyone, was a total slog for me). In the beginning of the novel, I could imagine where it could go, and the writing was lovely. Then the book went somewhere I didn't expect and became confusing, with characters who didn't feel well-defined and hundreds of pages of boring action and an ending that didn't matter that much to me after I'd skimmed through wanting to be done with it. Ultimately, it was a pretty significant disappointment, but I think some readers will love it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this novel.

The Ferryman is Justin Cronin’s latest sci-fi thriller. He is known for his intrinsic world-building and it is showcased here in this twisty stand-alone novel. The story takes place on an archipelago in the middle of the ocean. Each sectional island is inhabited by distinct classes of people. Each individual’s well-being is monitored and when it reaches a particular low, they are taken to the Nursery where they are reinvented as a new creation of sorts. It’s a cyclical dystopian society. We follow Proctor Bennett who is the ferryman, transporting people from the respective homes to the Nursery. When he takes his estranged father on the ferry, questions arise that make Bennett question the life he leads and the society as a whole.

Various themes are discussed and dismantled in this novel, making it rather contemplative and reflective in nature. The plot is fairly complex and complicated, the novel is decidedly lengthy, but also engaging, mysterious and wrought with tension. This is a compelling, original novel and one that will fascinate many readers.