In the secluded island nation of Prospera, the citizens never die – when their quality of life (monitored by the government) dips below a certain level, they are taken to the Nursery to be revitalized, their bodies renewed and their memories wiped so that they can return to society as blank slates to live a new life. Proctor Bennett is a Ferryman, and it’s his job to ensure that those whose lives have declined to that point, as well as those who choose to go, are safely placed on the ferry to the Nursery. But Proctor’s own monitor shows a decreasing level of satisfaction, and he is plagued by dreams, in a society where no one else experiences them. And when his own father’s departure on the ferry goes wrong, ending in a struggle and a cryptic final message, Proctor’s life begins to unravel. Meanwhile, there is a revolution stirring among the Support Staff, Prospera’s less fortunate worker underclass.

I haven’t read a dystopia in a while – at one point I was fully sick of them – but apparently it’s been long enough, because I really enjoyed this novel. There’s a mystery at the heart of the story – part of which I had an inkling of what was happening, but mostly, it was a surprise. The writing is great and the story is well-paced, with a fascinating premise and plot. Give it a try if you like Science Fiction!

Representation: POC characters, disabled characters

TW: suicide, child death

I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

THIS is the dystopian I have been waiting for literally all of 2023. I was questioning literally everything as I read and couldn't stop turning all 500+ pages. I don't want to say much about this book because I'm afraid revealing literally anything might take away the fun from so many of the reveals. I can't wait to read the next Cronin because he simply does not miss.

A heavy, intriguing, possibly triggering post-apocalyptic story. It became more suspenseful than I expected, but it just added to the story. The characters were wonderfully developed and it read a lot faster than the number of pages would lead you to believe.

What a journey! This book was the perfect one to get that dystopian-vibe I was looking for. The characters were strong, the story was strong, and overall I truly enjoyed reading it!

Thanks for the ARC Netgalley!

A post-apocalyptic society has emerged from the destruction of the planet. Proctor Bennett has the job of ferrying citizens back to the home base shop when their monitors head down to single digits. There they will be re-born in a nursery and emerge as youngsters to start a new life. However, something is faulty with Proctor's programming. He is dreaming of things past. That is not supposed to happen. A counter-culture secret rebel group is planning an action. What will be the result? Do not miss this extraordinary sci-fi/fantasy tale. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

My brain feels wrung out and thoroughly exercised—in the best kind of way. This is the kind of novel where you can’t stop gripping the edge of your seat and the journey is wild from start to finish. I adore books with twists and turns and this book checks all of the boxes for me. I am so obsessed.

Prospera seems like an idyllic island paradise, separated from the deteriorating outside world. Proctor Bennett is a ferryman on Prospera, meaning his job is to help people "retire" when the time is right. After "ferrying" his own father through this process, things start to go very wrong and it becomes clear Prospera is not as perfect as it seems.

I LOVE dystopian novels, and I was really excited to read this! The world-building was really thorough and smart, and I loved the little bits that kept dropping to make the place start to feel insidious (they always are!). There were a lot of twists and turns that I definitely didn't see coming, which is always a delight to me. There were definitely some parts that felt a little long and my attention started to wain a bit, but I was quickly wrapped back in by another plot twist. The book was so detailed, which I appreciated, but it felt almost at times there were too many stories/subplots happening at once, and I wanted to get back to the "main" story. In the end, everything did tie together really well and I was picturing the whole thing in my head unfolding like a movie, which doesn't always happen when a book isn't developed well. It's hard to describe without divulging too much, and the enjoyment of reading this really does improve the less details you know going in. If you're a a regular sci-fi reader/dysptopian reader, you must add The Ferryman to your TBR!

Nothing is as it seems in this Sci-fi dystopian mystery. Just when you think you know what's going on, the story takes unexpected turns that leave your head spinning. This is a hard book to review without giving spoilers, I'll just say it is worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin is an unusual, original, provocative novel about a futuristic society, with many secrets and layers to uncover. Engaging and interesting! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

The Ferryman is a fascinating mix of Brave New World and The Truman Show. Our main character, Proctor, lives on the island of Prospera, a utopian society where the privileged citizens are almost perfect specimens, never having to experience childhood or extreme old age. But there is trouble brewing amongst the working class of Prospera, who are not afforded the same luxuries as the others. But is this the real danger of this world? Is anything real at all?

I really enjoyed the level of world-building that went into The Ferryman. While there were points I got confused, especially when the novel switched perspectives, it felt like I was constantly on the edge of cracking it's secrets. The Ferryman was able to use old tropes in a new and refreshing way. It lulled slightly around 2/3 through, but the climax and ending were definitely worth the read!

I enjoyed this book and I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing was really well done. It made you want to keep reading.

At first glance, the isolated archipelago of Prospera seems like a utopia. Residents are free to pursue a life of luxury and the arts and are reborn as teenagers once more before old age hits them, and it's Proctor's job to help residents at the end of their current life transition into the next one. However, as he begins to unravel the island's secrets, he begins to question his role and whether the island is the paradise he once believed it to be.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin presents readers with a literary sci-fi … or at least it tries to be one.

Don’t get me wrong. The opening prologue with Cynthia is fantastic and haunting and really hooked me in, but once we get to Proctor's first-person POV, the book quickly went downhill from there.

Proctor’s narrative voices comes off more as someone poorly imitating the style of 19th century writers. He lapses into long pseudointellectual internal monologues after banal conversations and gives page upon page of info dumps that aren't even relevant to the current scene. For, instance, no, I don't need a lesson in the island's infertility issues when the main character is casually taking a morning swim.

Overall, and if you're looking for a thought-provoking dystopian that delves into aging and the importance of memory, you'd be better off watching “San Junipero” or reading Kazuo Ishiguro's works.

well, this was crazy.

the majority of this novel had me thinking, "beautifully written but why don't i care about any of these characters?" which made for a bit of a slow read, but the premise was so strange & implausible that i just wanted to find out what the hell was going on. it definitely had the feel of a parable rather than a straight-forward novel.

after the big reveal in the last quarter(?) of the book, everything is explained & i *think* the vagaries & nebulousness of the characters could be attributed to the deux ex machina in the last act.

this is a long book but it contains many themes: family units, income inequality, privilege, mourning, climate change.

this was a challenging but rewarding read.

The Ferryman is yet another creative writing product from the mind of Justin Cronin. I am sitting here mulling over whether I liked it, sort of liked it, or really liked it. I believe I really liked The Ferryman although I am not sure as to why. I began reading and the first half of the book I believed to be a sophisticated murder mystery. The middle part of the book I transitioned into the belief that Cronin had me immersed into a sophisticated romance novel. Then the last part of the story convinced me that this novel is essentially a gentle, evocative science fiction story.

Thank you NetGalley for the adventure of reading The Ferryman. Now I am going to read a bunch of reviews by fellow readers that will deepen my understanding of what I just finished reading!

I loved this book - I was anticipating reading it because I liked The Passage trilogy so much. This one was different in many ways, but not in a bad way. Cronin starts out with a look at a world that seems almost utopian - yet gives just enough hints that something isn't quite right here. And he does a wonderful job of giving you just enough info to make you think you know what's going on - then taking a little jink to make you realize that no, that's not quite it. It's difficult to talk about too much without giving away more than I'd like. Let's just say I loved his use of language, his world-building, his pacing, and yes, the story he was ultimately telling. Can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Justin Cronin has released his latest book, THE FERRYMAN. I could not wait to get my hands on this book because I had devoured The Passage trilogy. The Ferryman is a dystopian novel with many twists and reveals, and it feels like a rollercoaster ride. It is a very quick read. The book does give some Westworld and Interstellar feels.

I have one complaint. Why, in a future dystopian world, do we have to continue the tired trope of a curmudgeon librarian who shushes patrons? I was not amused. The only thing I shush is the continuation of that trope.

Overall, I would recommend this book to patrons and will wait anxiously again for Cronin's next book.

⛵️ This is my first Justin Cronin book and I am impressed. This was an epic reading experience.

⛵️ This is a much thicker book than I typically read (500+ pages) but once the story got going, I whizzed through it.

⛵️ I definitely engaged with the story. The concept of knowing exactly when your time is up based on a monitor embedded in your arm may not be wholly unique… but you don’t die. Instead, you are ‘retired’ and ‘reborn’ as a new person. This was quite intriguing to me. But the book is so much more than this!

⛵️ The world-building was amazing!

⛵️ I loved the characters and truly felt connected to most of them.

⛵️ The ending was a shocker! Mind-blowing to say the least. I didn’t anticipate it in any way, shape, or form and I LOVED IT.

⛵️ I feel like this is an anemic review, but I think you should read this book with as little information as possible ahead of time. I truly think you’ll enjoy it more with no preconceived notions about what is coming.

⛵️ I’ve been trying to read more science fiction lately, and this one fits the bill nicely. As a matter of fact, this could be considered a thriller, fantasy, or even dystopian as well. There is literally something for everyone in this book and I highly recommend it.

Thank you @NetGalley and @randomhouse Ballantine for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The Ferryman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Justin Cronin

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Founded by a mysterious genius, 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.

Proctor Bennett, of the Department of Social Contracts, has a satisfying career as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the retirement process--and, when necessary, enforcing it. But all is not well with Proctor. For one thing, he's been dreaming--which is supposed to be impossible in Prospera. For another, his monitor percentage has begun to drop alarmingly fast. And then comes the day he is summoned to retire his own father, who gives him a disturbing and cryptic message before being wrestled onto the ferry.

Meanwhile, something is stirring. The Support Staff, ordinary men and women who provide the labor to keep Prospera running, have begun to question their place in the social order. Unrest is building, and there are rumors spreading of a resistance group--known as "Arrivalists"--who may be fomenting revolution.

Soon Proctor finds himself questioning everything he once believed, entangled with a much bigger cause than he realized--and on a desperate mission to uncover the truth.

My Thoughts: I personally do not care for sci-fi type books but will read a few here and there. This novel is lengthy. This novel was thought-provoking, mind binding, complex, and multifaceted. The twists that are delivered the last quarter of the book will tangle your mind. The story feeds you pieces and will finally tie everything together at the end, so if you are struggling, just hang on and continue through. Our MC, Proctor, starts to question everything when he has to deliver his father for a “second chance at life.”

This story is really a combination of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy (as you need to suspend belief a little bit to truly enjoy this piece of art), and dystopian drama. This story really touches on a lot of issues we have in life today, global climate concerns, social classes, the all changing power struggles, and of course, family and grief within the family. The story is mainly told through our MC, Proctor’s POV, however there are other POVs sprinkled in along the way. The characters are built so well that you can feel the connection. The writing really immerses you into this storyline and is so powerful. The world that Cronin builds is beyond fantastic.

For sci-fi readers, you will LOVE this novel. I would recommend this book to any reader, but it really a knock out for sci-fi readers.

THE GOOD:
Definitely an intriguing story line - pages keep you turning to see where it goes.
The world of our characters, and their social structure, is an interesting one.
Overall, the tale is a bit like The Matrix mixed with The Truman Show with a healthy side if Logan's Run.

THE BAD:
An interesting mix of writing styles. Starts out almost like literary fiction, phases into sci fi world- building, then barrels right into a high-speed suspense thriller.

CONCLUSION:
Nothing terribly original, but it is a fun journey, with a soft surprise of and ending. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I enjoyed this so much that I ended up listening to the audio once the book was released as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this-- excellent writing.