The only word I can come up with in regards to this book was long.

This was a very long book. It did not need to be so long and it would have made getting through the story so much better.

Spoilers ahead

I can actually spoil this with one really old reference. Do you remember Dallas? Do you remember how Bobby came back to life?

Anyways, in here we have Proctor Bennett, a man who has a job offboarding people from Prospera. Things are going along normally until his "dad" tells him something and then things start to go sideways.

There was so many details in here. SO MANY

I knew that this was going to be a long title, I mean, I read the writers other books, but I dunno, I think you can get away with writing a good story with less pages.

Needless to say that I did not like this mc. Its hard to enjoy a story when you are hoping the main protagonist gets tossed overboard and not get his HEA.

This story took many twists and turns along the way and it really made my brain spin. The premise is one thing, but it's not really what you think.
I was so excited to see that Cronin had a new book coming out because I really loved The Passage series. I enjoyed the story overall, but I did feel like some of the writing was a bit odd in places and it did take me out of the flow. I'm still left a bit confused at the end about what really happened.
It's really not easy to review this without giving away spoilers, but it is a dystopian, sci-fi, futuristic story that will keep you guessing the entire way.
Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!

This book was a mind trip. I loved the creativeness of it, the world, and the direction that the author took the book. It is thought provoking, mind blowing, intelligent and creative. I have not read many books like it at all. This story follows Proctor Bennett and his adventures on the island of Prospera. The creativeness and the direction the book takes were totally unexpected. Enjoy the read!

I liked this book even though I didn’t love it. This is one of those books that leaves you questioning what is real and I would recommend trying to go into this story as blindly as possible. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I would realize that I didn’t understand a thing. Unfortunatly, this often left me feeling confused but that may not be such a bad thing because the story definitely was able to keep me guessing.

Proctor Bennett is a ferryman which means that he helps people on their final journey or retirement. When he is assigned to do this for his own father things take a turn when his father tells him something that leaves him questioning everything. I did not see coming and I was kind of amazed by the direction that the story went and I liked the fact that this book was able to completely surprise me.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that both of the narrators did a great job with their vocal performances. I thought that both of their voices fit the story well and I liked the fact that they were both able to add just the right amount of emotion to their reading. I thought that both of their voices were very pleasant and I had no problem listening for hours at a time.

I do think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one even more than I did. This was a well-done science fiction tale that kept me questioning everything until the very end. I do hope to read more of this author’s work sometime soon.

I received a review copy of this book from Ballantine Books and Penguin Random House Audio.

Title: The Ferryman
Author: Justin Cronin
Release Date: May 2nd, 2023
Page Count: 530
Format: Netgalley/Audiobook
Start Date: April 12th, 2023
Finish Date: May 8th, 2023

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

I got a copy of this book and was excited. I recognized the author. I started to read his book The Passage. I never finished it due to things coming up. I fully plan to dive into the trilogy when I'm able to. But I digress. This book was disturbing yet unique. I really enjoyed it. I started reading the arc I got through Netgalley until it was released. Then I listened to the rest in audiobook. I had preordered a copy anyways since I knew I was enjoying the book and wanted to purchase a copy to listen to later. The cover isn't really all that appealing, but it's not really horrible either. I plan to buy this book in paperback when I'm able to so that I can add it to my bookshelves next to the trilogy.

This sci-fi tale had me in suspense much of the time. What was really going on did not become evident until three quarters of the way in, at which point I was already heavily invested. The characters were compelling and, in at least one instance, haunting.

Cronin’s plot was not easily followed. I was not exactly scratching my head at any point, but I honestly could not see where this was going. Part of the impetus for most of the story did leave me rolling my eyes because I have a logical problem with some of the societal and ethical assumptions that are made, but those are quibbles and didn’t really detract from the story.

Four and a half stars for “The Ferryman.” This was a great stand-alone story that was told well. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. My thanks to Ballantine Books via NetGalley. All expressed opinions in this review are my own.

#TheFerryman #NetGalley #IfCatsCouldRead #RescuedIsMyFavoriteBreed #Bookstagram #Catstagram #BooksAndCats #CatsAndBooks

I have no idea what I read, but I think maybe I liked it?
This was my first experience reading Justin Cronin, so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. The beginning sucked me in, but I feel like the middle lost me. The pacing was way to slow, and took me a while to get through, also not sure how I feel about the end. I will say I spent a lot of time while reading this, not really knowing what was going on. And when I thought I knew, I definitely didn’t.

Set on an idyllic island called Prospera whose elite residents live a life of luxury, Proctor Bennett, one such resident, is a ferryman. His job is to transport citizens to the Nursery once the digital wellbeing monitor in their arms drop below 10%, often when someone is quite old, where they will be peacefully refreshed and reborn a new iteration of themselves. But Proctor's peaceful existence is punctured when transporting his own father goes awry leading Proctor to become a target of both the government and an underground faction known as "Arrivalists".

The Ferryman is a book which incorporates elements of many genres, though it's probably best labeled as speculative fiction. This is definitely the kind of story best embarked without knowing a lot about it, the magic is in the journey and it's a hell of a ride.

A world where your life is constantly recycled with little or no memories of your previous lives. This is the back drop for the latest dystopian title by Justin Cronin. It starts off slow and steady and gets increasingly more intense as the story builds into mind blowing revelations. An action packed story that will keep you turning each page until the very end. Best to go into this blind without any spoilers and enjoy the ride.

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheFerryman #JustinCronin

This was my first novel by Justin Cronin and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought the synopsis was interesting, and the book itself did not disappoint!

Proctor Bennett is part of a group of Prosperans who live on a utopian island and enjoy long lives. As a ferryman, his job is to escort elderly citizens to a place called the Nursery. At the Nursery, Prosperans’ minds and bodies are refreshed so they can begin another life. Proctor has always found his work fulfilling, until some strange events lead him to question the beliefs he holds about his life and society.

This book has great descriptions in it—I almost felt like I could picture the scenes as clearly as a movie. I was hooked early in the story and found myself trying to figure out this utopian world and the factors at play. I was kept guessing with all the twists and turns until the end! I enjoyed the characters in the story as much as the plot. I just felt the story was unique and well told, especially since I am not typically a big sci-fi reader. By the halfway point of this book, I was so engrossed I had trouble stopping to do things that I had to do, like work! 🤪

If you are curious, I recommend trying this one, even if it’s outside of your normal read. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for allowing me to read and review this ARC!

Definitely give this book a chance at first I wasn’t sure if it was my cup of tea but I ended up devouring it and couldn’t wait to read before bed!

"The Ferryman" has been done before. Justin Cronin’s latest novel is nothing more than a slight variation of some popular sci-fi movies and TV shows.

(No, I will not name names. To do so would give Cronin’s twist away.)

The book, however, starts out well enough. It’s about a group of people living in paradise on a secluded island. But the island and its people are a bit too perfect. Especially the people, seeing as they never die. A health monitor is embedded in the forearm of each person, and when the number on it drops below 10 percent, that person is ferried over to an island called The Nursery to be healed, to have their memories erased, and to start a new life.

Proctor Bennett is our narrator. He works as a ferryman, meaning he assists with the retirement process by providing emotional support to those boarding the ferry. Though Proctor loves his life and is fulfilled by his job, he suddenly finds both himself and the island unraveling, thereby forcing him to uncover the truth of the world he lives in.

Initially, I was so engrossed in Cronin’s tale that only my children’s cries of hunger could tear me away from it. But the more I read, and as more hints leading to the twist of the story were dropped, my brain painted a picture of where the novel was headed.

And my brain was right. Nothing about "The Ferryman" surprised me. I was neither wowed by it nor all that driven to finish it, near the end.

The good news is a less experienced sci-fi fan may fare better with the book. It’s just not a great fit for readers who are well versed in the genre.


My sincerest appreciation to Justin Cronin, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

Synopsis (carefully copied from GoodReads to avoid spoilers): Founded by a mysterious genius, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. Prospera's lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives in this island paradise until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire, embarking on a ferry ride to the island called the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh.

This book was exceptional, with excellent character development, worldbuilding, and excitement. I know this is a long one (560 pages), but the story flew by and kept me guessing. I loved how it all came together at the end, too.

I can’t say more without ruining it for you. So I will just say: If you enjoy complex sci-fi/fantasy/dystopian storylines that are well-crafted and executed, I strongly recommend this one. I want to talk to you about it!

Thanks, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for a digital review copy. THE FERRYMAN is available now!

I’m a big fan of The Passage series (I’m still bitter over the TV show cancellation), so I was absolutely giddy when I saw Cronin had a new release on NetGalley. This is one of those reviews where the less said about the plot the better. I wouldn’t dare spoil anything for other readers. I’ll just say it’s complex, mind-bending, mysterious, twisty and sure to leave your head spinning.

Prospera is an idyllic place, but there’s a big class divide between the haves and have nots. The have nots, or support staff for the wealthy, live in the Annex – a much less than idyllic place. The wealthy live advantageous lives until the numbers on monitors embedded in their forearms drop below ideal levels. They’re then retired and transported to the Nursery where their bodies are renewed, memories wiped clean, and given a new life. Proctor has enjoyed a satisfying career as a ferryman, someone who helps citizens through the retirement process, until everything goes off the rails. He’s a flawed character and never claims otherwise, but he knows something isn’t right and does his best to figure out what’s going on in Prospera. You’ll root for him at every turn.

Although this novel is over five hundred pages, it didn’t feel that long to me. I finished the bulk of it in two days. With outstanding world-building and an ending that’s heart-wrenching but nothing short of perfection, it’s a novel I highly recommend. You’ll still be thinking about it days after finishing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Genre-bending reading experience -
Reading "The Ferryman" by Justin Cronin felt like the science fiction dystopia of Blake Crouch had a baby with Andy Weir's space based fiction. Both of which are authors and reading experiences that absolutely love. These are the kinds of books that you wish you could have the opportunity to read again for the first time!

Not only did "The Ferryman" explore different sub genres within science fiction, it also had a great deal of character development reminiscent of your typical literary fiction plot. I think this book would be a great entry into science fiction, as long as the length wasn't a reading deterrent.


The twist is earned -
This book is easily ruined by spoilers, so I have to be careful here - the plot of "The Ferryman" definitely pulled me in quickly and while I was very confused at times, I think Cronin did an excellent job of making that confusion pay off. Ultimately the story does all make sense and you can tell that Cronin carefully plotted, planned, and rewrote to make sure his story was internally consistent. Too frequently, especially in popular thrillers, a twist is so abrupt that it feels disconnected from the rest of the book, and like a very cheap writer's trick, that was not the case with "The Ferryman".

About that Plot Twist -
There is a significant plot twist that occurs in this book around the 70% mark. And while I do think it is worth it (see above), and I gave "The Ferryman" four stars, the bulk of the beginning was frustrating to make sense of - because it isn't supposed to fully make sense. It took me a really long time to forgive that feeling once everything started to come together - just know that you will likely spend a good chunk of time slightly confused and that it might or might not be worth it.


The Length -
I truly think that this book could've been a hundred pages less with the same story and it would likely not negatively effect the reading experience. As someone who does not primarily read science fiction, I'm not used to reading books this long. My typical reads are between 350 and 400 pages. And at a certain point, I start to get reading claustrophobia anywhere past that. It feels like I will be trapped reading this book forever unless I put it down and start a new one. While I did struggle for the first 70%, once the plot twist hit I flew through the ending of the book.

I am a MASSIVE fan of Justin Cronin's trilogy that begins with "The Passage," and this is his first published book since that concluded. I was looking forward to it but also reminding myself that I could not expect it to be an exact replica of those books. And I was very pleasantly surprised.

Cronin has a gift for writing about fantastical worlds, yet making his characters come to life in the most human, relatable ways. "The Ferryman" does just that. Where "The Passage" was more of a horror story, this one is firmly in the science fiction genre, but it centers on being trapped, escaping, and figuring out what role you want to play in the future of society.

I loved this one and was actually hoping it would be a series by the end of it.

Wow. The Ferryman by Justin Cronin was a very complex novel. It was a sci-fi novel that felt a bit like dystopian, but at some point went into almost fantasy. If I am being honest, I almost knocked a star off what I ultimately rated it because it was very confusing to me at times. However, in the end, I stuck with 4 stars since I do think the author created a deeper meaning that will hit different readers uniquely and he did it effectively despite the occasionally confusing juxtapositions between setting changes. (Not to mention, readers who are fans of sci-fi and fantasy will not likely struggle as much as I did with these quick changes from one reality to another.) And I presume that many people who read The Ferryman will have read the author's The Passage trilogy. And that trilogy used a bit of that same style.

For me, I preferred The Passage for entertainment purposes, but I appreciate The Ferryman for deeper meaning. I really do think there are so many themes that are touched on in this novel that it would almost be a shame just to read it for entertainment. It makes the reader think. It makes the reader feel. It occasionally makes the reader cry. It definitely challenges the reader's preconceived notions about many things. I am glad I took the time to go on the journey of The Ferryman.

Director Proctor Bennett appears to lead a charmed life in a colonized world created to protect the citizens from the destruction happening to the rest of the planet. He has a beautiful wife, lives in a wonderful home, and life has no struggles. There are citizens who are like Proctor and live long, easy lives and the other citizens are “the Support Staff” who do all the jobs and work to make life for the privileged easy. It seems to work but things aren’t what they seem. Odd things happen that make him question the world around him. What is happening and why?

This story is intriguing with a slow build of circumstances that break open what is really happening to these people. It will keep you wondering what twist of circumstances will happen next and how will they get their lives back on track for establishing their new colony.

The Ferryman was a good read. A sci-fi mystery with a mix of global warming, end of world and starting over. Because this type of sci-fi read is not a normal trope for me, I took a leap of faith and wasn’t disappointed.

Justin Cronin’s work is a marvel, and this latest novel is no exception. The world he builds, and that we live in for a while is grand, and absorbing. A great summer read, and I’m telling everyone