Why can't I get into this book? Omfg. I tried like 5 times. I can't seem to break the page 45 curse. And this book is long. It's a chunky boy. I'm sure other people will love it. It's just too dry for me.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Ferryman is a epic story about the island nation of Prospera. Prospera is a beautiful island country completely isolated from the rest of the world. Its residents do not know what lies beyond their borders and for the majority of them they don’t care to know.

But under this idyllic setting lies a mystery that will shake Prospera to its very core. When the main character of Proctor Bennett encounters certain things he can’t explain he begins to unravel a grand conspiracy that leads him to discover just where and what Prospera is.

I absolutely loved this book. It is a slow burn that takes its time to get going, but once it does it left me enthralled to the very end. I was very impressed with how much it left me guessing and trying to figure out what exactly was going on.

This sweeping tale is great for anyone who enjoys sci-fi, mystery, or great world building.

Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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As seen mentioned by other reviewers, I am also a fan of Stranger in a Strange Land, Logan's Run, 1984, The Matrix, and the TV series Lost, and I too was blown away by The Ferryman. This dystopian novel is a masterful blend of elements from these classic works, while also standing out on its own as a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

Like Logan's Run, The Ferryman explores a world where age and longevity are of utmost importance. The Matrix comes to mind with the theme of the individual vs. the system, as well as the intricate world-building and immersive storytelling. And like 1984, The Ferryman showcases the potential horrors of a society where control and conformity are prioritized over personal freedom.

But The Ferryman also carves out its own unique path, with a haunting and surreal setting that recalls the philosophical questions posed in Stranger in a Strange Land. And much like the TV series Lost, The Ferryman keeps you on the edge of your seat with its unpredictable plot twists and enigmatic characters.

Overall, I highly recommend The Ferryman to fans of dystopian literature, sci-fi, and anyone looking for a gripping and thought-provoking read. Cronin has truly outdone himself with this one.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to review the ARC.

I read "The Ferryman" by Justin Cronin on NetGalley. I have read his works before, and this book did not disappoint. I did not want to put it down. The main character, Proctor, lives on a hidden, modern utopia after climate change affects the rest of the world. This is the story of what occurs in that utopia, which may not be the promised land. The book kept my attention throughout the entire story. I became invested in the various characters and enjoyed the twists and turns that occurred.

The Utopia of Prospera is an island paradise where the citizens live long fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Once that happens they retire themselves to a mysterious island known as the Nursery where their bodies are renewed and their memories wiped clean and they are brought back to Prospera as just “born” teenagers.

Proctor Bennett has a satisfying career as a ferryman, the one in charge of guiding people through the
retirement process. But when Proctor is summonsed to retire his own Father, who gives him a cryptic message that leads him to a group of people known as “Arrivalists”, Proctor finds himself questioning everything he once believed. Is he wrapped up in something much bigger than he ever realized?


Oh my goodness! This book was so unbelievably incredible! It’s definitely THE BEST BOOK I’ve read this year. Hands down.

I am someone that no matter how crazy the twist or complex the plot, I’m normally able to figure out exactly what is going on pretty early in the book, but this was not the case with “The Ferryman” and I LOVED it! Every time I thought I had everything figured out something new would happen that would throw everything up in the air again. And yet, I didn’t feel confused. I was so intrigued the entire time!

I loved the complex characters and how interesting all of the relationships were. And the world building was off the charts amazing! Everything felt so real and yet incredibly unique to the world.

This was one of those books that I couldn’t put down, but I didn’t want it to end either! I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book and couldn’t even fathom a negative thing to say.

Obviously, I would 100% recommend this book to anyone and everyone, but if you enjoy Blake Crouch or Andy Weir books, the movie “Inception”, or the TV show “Severance” I think you will absolutely LOVE this book!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.

Justin Cronin brings readers a powerful premise and excellent world-building in The Ferryman. This post-apocalyptic science fiction novel features a world founded by The Designer and consisting of three islands. Prospera is where the administrators, enforcement personnel, and wealthy live. The Annex is where support staff live and the third is the Nursery. Prospera’s citizens live long lives in luxury until the monitor embedded in their forearm falls below 10 percent indicating that their physical and/or mental health has deteriorated significantly. They are then retired and take a ferry ride to the Nursery where their bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped, and they restart life.

The main character, Proctor Bennett, is the managing director for District Six of the Department of Social Contracts, Enforcement Division. He’s a ferryman, who helps people through their retirement process and onto the ferry, using enforcement when necessary. But Proctor finds he has problems. He’s a tortured, but capable protagonist. Then, one day he is summoned to retire his father, who gives him a cryptic and confusing message before being forced on the ferry. Meanwhile the support staff are questioning their place in the social hierarchy and rumors of a resistance group spread.

The author brilliantly portrayed the islands, the people, and their very different lifestyles. The story has a complex and deeply involved plot. While I was transported to this archipelago of three islands, at times I felt the pacing was somewhat slow in the first half of the book. I was also confused at times in trying to understand what was really happening. However, the last half of the novel picked up the pace and had plenty of action. Readers should pay close attention to the details of what is and what isn’t being said to get clues. There’s plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged and guessing. Trying to understand the fallout from things lets multiple characters’ personalities shine or become tarnished. What an ending! Will it catch you by surprise?

Overall, this book is emotionally-charged, unique, intense, challenging, and thought-provoking, with fantastic world-building and great characterization. It’s creative and is captivating with its unpredictable plot. Themes include children, health, social status, fighting for justice, empathy, political maneuvering, and much more. This is the first book I have read by this author and I’m looking forward to seeing what he writes next. I believe this could have a fascinating sequel.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Justin Cronin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 02, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

You know you are in for it when you are only halfway through the book and the action is building and you think you are approaching the denouement, because clearly you aren't. In this case, it just get crazier and more surprising, and you will struggle to put this book down. In a utopia like society for the haves, and a working class society for the have nots. Prospera (and the Annex) live outside the destruction of the rest of the world. Director Proctor Bennett is a ferryman which means he takes people at the end of their lives and sends them to a nursery where they are "reincarnated." Life moves as expected until one day, while accompanying someone to the ferry which will take them to the nursery, that person says, "The world is not the world. You're not you." These two sentences make Proctor question everything he knows about the world and his place in it. As I said, you think it is resolved about halfway through, but you would be completely wrong. Justin Cronin is a master in his field.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy. My opinion is my own.

3.5 stars. A little bit of <I>The Giver</I>, a little bit of <spoiler><I>Dark City</I></spoiler>, a BIG bit of <spoiler><I>1899</I></spoiler>, this book is very intriguing but doesn't quiiiite hold together. Points for originality, despite the many similar media I just listed, but like many <spoiler>it was all a simulation</spoiler> stories a lot of the nuts and bolts worldbuilding kind of falls apart in retrospect.

I highlighted this book on my Booktube channel. The video will go live on 5/3. You can access it here: https://youtu.be/diwMaCxtRao

This book was such a trip! There was so much going on, I had to keep stopping to let it sit for a bit and understand what happened before reading again. It reminded me a bit of a blend between a Blake Crouch book and an Andy Weir book. It made my head hurt but I think I enjoyed it lol. I think fans are sci fi are going to love this one!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC

I was a huge fan of Cronin’s The Passage series, so I was very excited to read his next book. I honestly went into this not knowing anything about it…I didn’t even read the description.

The book starts in what seems like a Utopia, where death never comes and you have the chance to live countless lives over and over. Everything is perfect…or is it? Proctor is a Ferryman, whose job it is to usher the elderly to be reset for their new lives. But when he escorts his father figure to the ferry, his dad has a break and says some very strange things, leading Proctor to realize that everything he thinks he knows is an illusion and trying to escape paradise.

I’m going to try not to say too much about the reveal of this book, because part of the fun was learning what the truth really was, and it was very different from what I expected. I like the way Cronin writes characters, who could seem very stock but make you want to root for them anyway. The setting of Prospera was super interesting, especially the Annex, where the people there did not have access to the technology and served the Prosperans. The setting was very dream-like, with things shifting so much I was often unsure what was happening or where we were.

Once the truth was revealed, everything started to make sense and that was when I really started to love this novel. I will add a trigger warning for child death, which I do wish I had known about and think others need to know as well. But I loved the reasoning and action at the climax of the novel to fix what was wrong, and the ending left me thinking. I read this book in 2 days…I couldn’t put it down. It was thought-provoking and entertaining, which is what I really want from a book. I highly recommend it with the included trigger warning.

What an interesting premise. The story follows Proctor Bennett, the Ferryman in Prospera. Prospera appears to be, on its face, a utopian or possibly dystopian future where people don't have children, but they are brought in as a "ward". This story was so engaging and different in ways that were very similar to some of Cronin's other work, but in ways that were fun and exciting to behold in this book. I would highly recommend this if you enjoy post-apocalyptic books, or if you have recently read and and enjoyed "How High We Go In the Dark" which I so interestingly had done. This is a more engaging and dystopian version, with interesting fascist themes!

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been a fan of Justin Cronin’s since the release of his marvelous series, The Passage. I was beside myself when I got the opportunity to review his latest standalone novel ahead of publication (5/2/23), thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Press. The Ferryman is a beautifully crafted novel that straddles science fiction, dystopian/utopian fiction, and character-driven detective story. Set in an idyllic world protected and kept secret from the rest of society, the islands of “Prospera” offer their citizens a chance to live in tightly controlled and monitored splendor until which time they’re ready to be retired and reborn as teenagers who will enter the community for a new life. The main character, Procter, is a “Ferryman” by trade who helps support the old and infirm as they transition from the main isle to the nursery isle to be reborn. Things are not as they seem, and as he gradually peels the layers back on his reality you’re taken deeper into this complex world. Beautiful prose, rich characters- highly recommend!

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel. What a ride! I own the Passage Trilogy but have not read it yet so this was my first Justin Cronin book. I feel like I did when I finished Dark Matter or Recursion by Blake Crouch....my mind is blown. It's tough to review this without spoilers but definitely read it. The plot summary does NOT do this book justice.

Wow. This book was something else! The ending was certainly worth the confusion and questions I had for about 80% of the book (although I wouldn’t have minded a few more answers early on, or for the early parts to have been a bit shorter).
Cronin’s writing is breathtaking, all throughout, and his creativity with this one astonished me. I did think of other science fiction books and movies while reading, but it doesn’t feel derivative, just inspired.
All the things I want to say about this book are rife with spoilers, but let me give a little premise and who I think this might be for.
Premise: a ferryman takes citizens of the island Prosper across the ferry at the end of their lives, where they will be reiterated into a new life. There’s another island with staff support for the wealthy, elite inhabitants. Something about this whole set up is very wrong, even phony. It’s not going to be the classic dystopian tale, and what’s really going on is fascinating and will blow your mind.
So, if you like speculative fiction, science fiction (not too heavy on the science, more about the people), or a slow burn mystery where you try to figure out what is really happening, this is going to be a good book for you. It’s profound, interesting, even beautiful. I shed a tear or two.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the advance digital copy.

I just finished reading this... not even 2 minutes ago...
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC.
I really loved this book, genuinely. Even if sometimes I just don't know if I have the intellectual capacity to go through something like I just went through. I may need more time to ruminate on what happened and what I'm supposed to do with my life now that this book is over...

Justin Cronin, you did me a favor! I loved the entire story. Couldn't put it down.

Wow, this is easily one of the best books I’ve read lately. It’s one of those books that you finish and almost want to reread right away because you know you missed stuff along the way that will just make it better. Proctor is the main character and has what seems like the perfect life - a good job, a loving wife, a nice house. But there are cracks not only in Proctor’s life, but within Prospera’s society. I won’t deny it, I was shocked at the twist in the last quarter or so of the book, but it is oh so good and really elevates the book to top tier. I’d recommend this to anyone that enjoys books that make you think, especially if you enjoy grey characters, and introspective looks at society.

THE FERRYMAN was the first of Justin Cronin's books I've had the privilege of reading and it definitely will not be the last. From the first enigmatic scene where a woman rows straight out into the ocean and in short order ends her life through the final closing scene, I was gripped by taut, powerful storytelling at its best. Cronin's imaginary utopian world is not the blessed and simple paradise it seems to be and through the eyes of the ferryman who ensures its calm, orderly progression of young to old to young again in a world where the surface is beautiful, but the reality just beneath is complex, twisted, and cruel. Proctor the ferryman and other supporters of the perfect world come to question and challenge the way things work just as others arrive in their world to threaten its very existence. Cronin's steady pace, incredible imagination, and beautiful writing created a marvelous escape. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

The Ferryman is a science fiction novel about a utopian type society in crisis and the man who risks everything tries to find out what is happening.

Proctor is a “Ferryman” in the utopian city of Prospera. It’s his job to escort aged citizens to the Nursery where their bodies will be swapped out for new ones, memories wiped and they will emerge as shiny new Prosperans. But when Proctor has to escort his own estranged father to the ferry his world starts to crumble. In order to keep Prospera the sparkling city by the sea there is a society of low wage workers live in poverty in the Annex. As Proctor starts to dig deeper into the Annex and their growing resistance he realizes there is a lot he doesn’t know about Prospera and what happens at the Nursery.

The Ferryman has Justin Cronin’s ability to blend dystopian elements and suspense. Despite the length of the novel and the speculative fiction elements the pace is quick and lively. There is also a wit and humor to the characters and dialogue which helps the more serious philosophical discussions go down easy.

Overall, The Ferryman is a well-paced science fiction novel about a society in crisis and I highly recommend it.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Random House Publishing and Netgalley got an ARC of The Ferryman by Justin Cronin in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Ferryman is a work of science fiction that had my head spinning for days. My first Justin Cronin book and I could say it will not be my last. Science fiction books could take you for a real spin bc it’s so far from the realm of possibility but it makes you think, “is it really?” The way the world looks, is it possible that science will really go to the extent,somewhat, as some of these fiction novels go.

In the Ferryman, the world is completely different. There are no children. There are no people dying of old age. Humans have devices that read their quality of life. Once they get below 10% they get ferried to an island, The Nursery, to be “reborn” into a teenager that will be adopted by families. That’s about the first 70% of the book, but then it takes a wicked turn. I’m not going to say it wasn’t confusing. I had no idea what was going on but it became clearer as the book went on.