I spent much of this book feeling confused about what was really going on but it put me in good company with Proctor, Thea & the rest of the characters. As the reality of what was really going on was unveiled I was blown away by the turn in the story. I don’t want to spoil it but this is one of the most original stories. It was like a cross between the Matrix & Inception with a twist. I enjoyed Cronin’s The Passage trilogy and this book was a great addition to his bibliography.

Thanks to Penguin Random House & NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It is a different genre then what I normally read but every once in awhile I like to throw something different in the mix. This book is about citizens living on an island paradise and living out there life there until their implanted microchip tell them it is time to retire. When this happens Proctor, the Ferryman, takes you over to the other side where your chip is removed and your memories are wiped clean to start over with a brand new life. What happens when the Ferryman has to take is own father over to the other side and while doing so his father starts to ramble of some information that Proctor must try and figure out its meaning. Not only that but Proctor's lifeline is starting to get close to retirement and he is having flashbacks and memories that he should not be having. Will he be able to figure out what is going on before his battery level reaches zero percent. If you enjoy Blake Couch books you will definitely like this one. Enjoy!!!

Love Justin Cronin books…this was no exception. The read reminded me initially of Thi perfect Day by Ira Levin where people existed I a demarcated , controlled society, where they were starting to rebel. It developed into a complicated sci-fi story that I couldn’t put down.

This book was a wild ride that left my head spinning! I was lost and confused for many parts but the concept was intriguing and one that many readers will enjoy. Dystopian/ fantasy/ sci fi/ apocalyptic thriller. I need someone to explain the ending to me! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not for me!! Big sigh!!

Science fiction can be a hit or a miss for me, and unfortunately, The Ferryman was a miss. Sometimes I have difficulty grasping what is going on in Science fiction stories, and The Ferryman is a complicated story, and most of what was happening flew right over my head. As much as I tried, I could not follow the storyline or pick up on the themes, and I gave up at the 70% mark.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada, Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for an advance copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to this book after reading The Passage series but this story fell short for me.
I found the story to be a bit boring and confusing. The book synapsis alluded to a dystopian type event of earth with survivors having found a paradise island to survive on. It wasn't till the very end that the story made any kind of sense and I wish that there had been some type of introduction earlier in the telling to the final events. I know this all sounds very cryptic but I can't give any further explanation without ruining the ending of the book. The ending for me was the best part of the entire plot and I wanted more of that storyline.

This was just an okay book for me and I'm not likely to recommend it to many people. Definitely not for everyone.

Excellent world-building in a post-apocalyptic world where on a set of islands, mystery and intrigue abounds.

I received an ARC of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Justin Cronin’s Passage series and so when I saw this, I was very excited. Time to go on another mind bending ride and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. I don’t want to spoil anything so my review is purposely vague. The reader needs to have their own journey.

This novel had surprise after surprise. Fantastic world building, great premise, characters you root for and others you love to hate. At the end of it all, I was left with some questions but I was ultimately very satisfied with how this all wrapped up. It was incredibly thought provoking and paints an interesting portrait of how our world could be if we continue along the path we’re on.

I’d definitely recommend it and I’m excited for what this author writes next.

Having not read any books previously published by this author, I went into this one not knowing what to expect, it was a very pleasant surprise. Proctor Bennett is a Ferryman, it is his job to escort someone who's monitor has dipped below ten percent to the Ferry to be taken to the Nursery, where their mind and body is renewed (reiterated), they spend a period of time in the Nursery before coming back as a ward to a couple (Guardians). This takes place in Prospera, an island that includes two smaller islands, one is home to the Nursery the other is the Annex, which is where support staff live, these are the individuals who do the menial tasks of keeping Prospera functioning. Every person in Prospera has a monitor imbedded in their forearm, this monitor alerts authorities when a person needs to be taken to the Nursery, it is usually due to age or illness. Proctor is notified that his father needs to be taken to the Ferry, this is an emotional escort for Proctor, his mother had committed suicide some years earlier and his father and him had drifted apart. During the process his father tries to run away but is quickly caught and is muttering words that make no sense to Proctor. Not long after, the beginnings of an uprising appear in the Annex, words are spray painted on buildings, work stoppages begin to affect Prospera citizens. Proctor is married, but their relationship is on the wane, Proctor's mother in law is one of the council that run Prospera, she is a very powerful lady. This is a very good book, I did find it a tad slow in the beginning and getting to know all the characters, but it really kept my interest and it was well worth it. I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Ballantine Books for the ARC.

Wow, my mind felt a bit broken after reading this--in a good way, though! I can see why so many reviewers have alluded to twists, but it was hard to find any clues as to what that twist may be. (Yes, I'm the kind of reader who likes to spoil things for herself, haha.) I really didn't see the major twist coming, as it completely changed the context of the novel's settings and characters, and I actually really like that the author dared to do something like that. I feel like the story could have easily maintained its course and safe setting within Prospera, but I appreciate the boldness of that narrative decision. As a result, the second half of the novel was where I blew through the pages, wanting to understand just what the hell was happening; the first half of the novel was a bit too slow for my taste, and I think the whole book could have been a bit shorter overall. All that said, I'm keeping an eye out for Cronin's next book.

I just finished The Ferryman by Justin Cronin and here is my review.

When your monitor falls below 10%, the Ferryman is called to bring you to the nursery, a place where your body is renewed, your memory wiped clean and you get a clean slate.

Proctor Bennett is a Ferrymay for the department of Social contracts, a career he enjoys until one day, he is called to ferry his father to the nursery. This on top of having dreams, something he shouldn’t be experiencing during sleep. His father drops a cryptic message as he is wrestled onto the ferry. A message that sends Proctor on a new path, one directly into a resistance group.. A group who knows the truth and will do anything to bring it all to light.

As someone who enjoyed The passage series, I had seriously high expectations for this book. The synopsis, so tantalizingly delicious I had to set the time to devour it in one sitting and it did not disappoint!! The pace was a bit slower than I normally like but it worked out really well in this one.

The plot was exceptionally brilliant! Cleverly executed and well thought out. Really felt the genius in the writing. The character development was well balanced and I felt each person I was introduced to had something special to add to the storyline and I enjoyed the depths and layers with the clever twists that gently unraveled all the way through. The storyline was a little complex but that just added to its beauty.

What didn’t I like…. I hated Proctor's decision at the end of the book. I understood it, I wish he had made a different one. I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone so I won’t explain that but it left me with a little empty hole, cheated out of a HEA a little.

Sci-fi isn’t normally my go to genre but Cronin always manages to blend his books so delicately that you won’t feel overwhelmed if sci-fi isn’t your go to either. I really feel if you haven’t read anything by this author before, you should definitely pick this one up!

5 stars… all the stars! You won’t regret this book. Not even a little.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouseca for my gifted copy

I loved The Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin so was excited to be granted access to his latest, The Ferryman, from Netgalley. There was a little trepidation on my part that it wouldn’t live up to The Passage but I needn’t have worried because it definitely does not disappoint. It is well-written and well-plotted with fascinating world-building and memorable characters, the kind of story that you need to set time aside for because it pulls you in right from the first page and keeps you immersed, coming up for air only when absolutely necessary, One of my favourite reads so far this year.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Whenever I say the name of this book I want to break into song and not pay him, I’ve been told that I shouldn’t even set a price. But this ferryman has more in common with Charon than a Chris de Burgh song.

Justin Cronin is a master at creating worlds within worlds and stories that span lifetimes. It’s just fiction, why give it limits? In The Ferryman, Cronin has created a fantastic world filled with fabulous characters. Proctor Bennett is the glue that holds all of this together. The bulk of the story is told from Bennett’s perspective, with a little filler coming from the supporting cast. We don’t know more than Bennett. The truth is out there, and we will find it, but only when Bennett does.

It is a story with multiple plotlines, secrets, and some really nasty characters that I loved to hate. It is a story that makes the reader take a long hard look at privilege, class structure, and has an awesome twist that was completely unexpected that ties everything together. Cronin puts a lot of thought into his story-building, it must start with an idea, then other ideas get embedded into the main story, masking the original until the great reveal. Sometimes there is nothing better than a story that gets to say, “Gotcha!”

I really enjoyed my time in Prospera, but I may have had my expectations set too high. While an inventive, well-presented story, The Ferryman is not up there with The Passage; then again, The Passage was roughly 50% longer than The Ferryman. More time to develop more story. I wanted a story to blow my socks off, and The Ferryman wasn’t quite there.

*4 Stars

Prospera is an island unto itself. In Prospera, residents live with a monitor in their arms to indicate their contentedness. If the monitor falls below 10%, they go on a ferry ride to rest, return with no memory, and are completely refreshed. This story follows a ferryman, Proctor, who escorts the retiring folk off of the island. We get a glimpse into Proctor’s life and the chaos occurring in Prospera.

This story is intricate and weaves together quite beautifully. Some twists and turns are neatly tied up in a complex plot. It would be best to focus on this novel while reading so you don’t miss anything. I was a little distracted sometimes, and I may have missed some things. It’s probably worth rereading to pick up on things, but at almost 600 pages, that can be taxing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this created world; the characters were all complex, and their stories were woven together perfectly. If you like sci-fi, this is right up your alley.

Justin Cronin is a magician when it comes to world building, character development, and twists and turns around every corner.
This is completely unlike his Passage series, so don't expect anything like that. It's a slower burn that builds you up at a steady pace to a dramatic revelation. I don't want to say too much because I think every reader deserves the chance to unravel this world on their own, but be prepared to fall into it and feel like you've been given a glimpse into an alternate reality that surely must exist somewhere out there, it's so well crafted.

I'm pretty sure at this point that I will love anything Justin Cronin writes. The Passage series has been a favourite of mine, and while this story is more sci-fi than that series, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well-written, good character, and an epic feel all made this one a standout for me.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Justin Cronin's new novel is a tour de force of immersion. Each scene flows so beautifully, it is like watching a movie. More importantly than this, each scene is necessary. There are no "filler" scenes or scenes leaving the reader wondering "why is this even here" or "what even was the point of this scene". Each scene has either distinct qualities or particular information that either helps build the narrative or plant information that matters later.

On the surface, Prospera is the place to be and who wouldn't want to live in a place where you can be what you want or who you want and if your life turns out catastrophically or you get sick / injured, well, you get to try it all over again. If this sounds fabulous, Prospera is the place to be. If, however, this sounds appalling, you may need a trip to the Ferry with the Ferryman in order to adjust that attitude - whether you want it adjusted or not.

The way the setting / environment of Prospera is drawn makes it a character worthy of study all on its own. Without giving away any spoilers, it can safely be said that the static nature of Prospera is not insignificant. The Annex on the other hand is a character that is sketchily drawn but so dynamic it makes the static nature of Prospera seem sketchy.

Cronin is a master of creating worlds and environments that are familiar but create a feeling of wrongness for some reason. The reader can't always say what is wrong or even why it is wrong but you just feel off somehow. It is brilliant. I really enjoyed that unsettled feeling where you are wondering why you just can't settle because the scene reads familiar. He did it in The Passage Trilogy and he does it now.

All of the characters in The Ferryman are great but there are a couple that I wish would have had more "screen time" as the saying goes. Pappi and Mother both really needed a lot more screen time than they got. I think that they both had depths that just weren't explored enough.

It has been a long time waiting for Mr. Cronin's new book but this well worth the wait.

There is something about Justin Cronin’s writing that keeps my eyes glued to the page.

I loved The Passage series and was therefore extremely excited for this book. Although my expectations were high, this book easily met it!

This is a lengthy book and very sci-fi heavy, but there are themes that will attract all readers. The mystery is great, the plot is fresh and unique, and the characters each have a sense of realism to them that you don’t normally find within stories like these.

Whether you’ve read Justin Cronin’s past work or are a first time reader, I highly recommend diving into this story - you won’t regret it!

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

I was wondering what J Cronin might come up with after the Passage, and this did not disappoint.

The Ferryman is about Director Bennet who lives in the world of Prospera - an isolated island, very much like utopia, which was closed off from the rest of the world to save the inhabitants from climate disasters, wars and starvation. When people get old or sick they are regenerated and Director Bennet has the job of taking them to the ferry which brings them to regeneration. Everyone is happy, healthy and wealthy, and when their monitors go below a certain percentage, they are ready for regeneration. It gives me a lot of Black-Mirror-vibes.

It gets a bit creepy with all these constantly happy people, and Director Bennet clearly feels that something is off. Just like in the Passage, what is happening is not quite what you think is happening.

On the whole, I think this was a really good story. It was a bit longwinded at times and a little too focused on the science of the science fiction. I would have liked a bit more focus on what motivated some characters so their actions would have been less shocking at times. Still, a really good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review in one sentence: "What did I just read?!" [Said in admiration and awe]

The Ferryman is the story of Proctor, who fills the role of a ferryman in Prospera, a land where as peoples' health deteriorates, they have the opportunity to go to "the nursery" to regenerate. As a ferryman, Proctor is responsible for transitioning individuals from their lives in Prospera to the ferry that takes them to the island where they will restart their lives with fresh bodies and minds. But Proctor is unsettled and we are taken on a journey as Proctor's own health deteriorates more quickly than normal and he questions the reality around him.

Justin Cronin has this way of revealing the world in slivers of tidbits, perspectives, and experiences. I found myself even at about 70% of the book saying out loud "I'm not entirely sure what's going on!" I found myself questioning everything - just as Proctor was. I felt discombobulated - just as he was. And just as I thought I was getting a grasp of what was going on in Prospera, I would learn something new about the world or about a character.

This is not a breezy read; it took a lot of focus to follow the storyline to try to get a grasp on what was going on, but I love the way Cronin doesn't shy away from including a breadth of complex characters and perspectives in order to move the plot ahead.

I would categorize this book as dystopian science fiction, and would recommend this book to those who enjoyed Recursion or Project Hail Mary.

I can't wait for my hard copy in May to shelve alongside my other Cronin favourites. And I know this will be a book I'll re-read to catch all the nuances I missed my first go around.

I am so grateful to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy which was provided in exchange for an honest review. This was my very first ARC book, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an early read of one of my favourite authors.