One of the best dystopian reads I have experienced in a long time! Justin Cronin's The Ferryman opens to a utopian society that sounds perfect. However, there are secrets that are beginning to come to light, and Proctor Bennett is beginning to question his role in Prospera's existence.

The formula for dystopia is here: Government that may be suppressing their citizens, the ordinary citizens that want to rebel, and the high society citizens that don't want their perfect world disrupted...until some are made aware of what is really going on behind the scenes. Cronin may follow the script, but he has a masterful way of laying the foundation and outcome of Proctor's story that grabs you the instance you begin reading.

It was hard to put down! I am eager to read more by Cronin!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Well, that was a ride!

I just finished this yesterday and I’m honestly still processing the experience. Here’s what I can tell you:
- it’s extremely original and mostly entertaining
- this is true sci-fi and if that’s not necessarily you’re genre I’d describe it as a little less palatable than a Blake Crouch or Andy Weir novel
- I kept going back and forth on whether I was enjoying it or not 🤣
- there’s not a TON I can say without giving things away

Ultimately, if you’re a sci-reader or a fan of this author — I’d say definitely pick this up. I bet you’ll love it. If that’s not your thing and you’re looking to dip your toes in the water I’d probably point you to one of the authors mentioned above first. I’m glad I stuck with this and found out how it all ended, but there were moments in the middle I wasn’t so sure about it. I am always in awe of a sci-fi writer’s brain and how they are able to come up with their ideas and all their supporting details. For that, Cronin gets 5⭐️.

To die, to sleep – to sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub, for in this sleep of death what dreams may come...

Sci-fi meets closed circle mystery in this tale of a perfect life. The island of Prospera has mild temps, easy living, and beautiful families served by the service staff who live on the Annex in comparative poverty. When the Prosperans are tired of their life, they head to the Nursery to begin a new iteration as a teen ward. All is well until the eponymous Ferryman, Director Proctor Bennet meets a strange teen, Caeli who doesn't quite fit in. Is she a dream? Where did she come from - not the Nursery nor the Annex.

Delightful yet creepy parable of class consciousness and good intentions gone awry

Justin Cronin is a master storyteller. In The Ferryman, we follow Proctor Bennet on the seemingly utopian island of Prospera. Nothing is as it seems. It’s really better to go in blind, because anything else will spoil it. Definitely recommended if you liked The Passage series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

This book was a wild ride! I have not read anything else by this author so I didn't know what to expect. This was a wonderful dystopian sci-fi novel that keeps you guessing. It started a little slow and is a bit long so I'm rating it 4.5 stars. The storytelling was amazing and I definitely plan to pick up more books by this author.

Proctor Bennett is a Ferryman, he takes residents of Prospera, an island chain in the middle of the ocean, when they are ready to "retire" and be reiterated at the Nursery. Prospera is a utopia, seemlingly perfect...unless you live on the Annex, where your only job is to serve the people on Prospera. People from the Annex also don't have the option to be reiterated, unlike the Prosperans, who begin life at around 16 years old, people from the Annex are born, grow up, work, and then die. And the Annex is starting to rebell against Prosperans, and Proctor is caught in the middle between them. His wife's mother is the leader of Prospera, but he feels like things aren't right for everyone. While Proctor struggles with this, the island seems to be falling apart, the weather is out of control, with heat waves and tornados and torrential rain. After a disastrous medical exam, Proctor is slated to be involuntarily reinterated, and that's where everything just falls apart.

I started out not really liking this book. Cronin had a stranglehold on the vocabulary, insterting some really random, almost obscure, words into the text. Thank goodness I was reading this as an e-arc so I could look up the words on the go lol. But at around 20-25%, he relaxes on the $20 words and the book just...takes off. I read almost all of this in one day, because it was that absorbing. This started out as a 2.5-3 star book, but in the end I'm definitely giving this a 4.5.
It took me to a place I was 100% expecting, and then took it beyond, to a place I never expected. I didn't like all the characters all that much, Elise is kind of a wooden cutout that creaks as she moves, but many of the characters, including Procter himself and many of the inhabitants of the Annex are vibrant and well fleshed out. I think that if you've liked Cronin's previous books, you'll like this one. I really liked the storyline, and it speculates with how humanity deals with things like the climate crisis, on putting humans into stasis, and how our ability to dream affects us as a person.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine, Justin Cronin and Netgalley for an advance digital copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Somewhere, not shown on any map, are three hidden, isolated islands. The largest, the island of Prospera, is a utopian paradise, where people live long healthy lives, wanting for nothing, while pursuing their passions. The people that work for the Prosperans live on the tiny island of Annex and struggle to get by. The only way to the third island, the Nursery, is by a ferry. It's a journey every Prosperan takes twice in their life, once as a teenager and once when they retire, when they then go through a regenerative process, where they are "reiterated" and "born again" to live life over (and over).

MC Proctor Bennett is a ferryman - he escorts retirees to the ferry where they go to begin life anew. One day Proctor is told he must escort his father to the ferry. Everything is going normally until they reach the dock, when his father jumps out of the car, running around, rambling, saying outlandish, crazy things. At first Proctor dismisses what his father said, but as he starts to dig into what his father could have meant, he begins questioning things around him, and shocking truths are revealed and begin to unravel not just his life, but his entire existence.

When I began The Ferryman, I knew diving in that I was embarking on an epic journey. I set aside time away from any distractions that might normally interrupt my reading, and let myself become fully immersed in this new world. Books like this come along rarely. I'm lucky if I get to read a book like this (my favorite tbh) - an action-packed, dystopian/sci-fi, wondrous thrill ride, that has that mysterious, confusing (wtf) vibe that I love - that's this good, once maybe twice a year. The Ferryman has everything I love in a book from the start.

The writing, which is sublime, combined with the high level of detail in the world building let's you picture Prospera, the Nursery, and the characters in your mind. The story which feels fresh and new, is so intriguing, the novel's long length (445p) flies by. And just when you think you know what's going on, Cronin turns the story 180 degrees. If you like the kind of books that don't make any sense, until they do, you'll love this.

The Ferryman isn't just another science-fiction novel; it's a thought provoking, dreamy, contemplation of some of the real world problems of today.

"The mind works wondrously; it is capable of astonishing feats. It is the only machine in nature capable of thinking one thing while knowing its opposite."

Highly recommended for lovers of: Science-fiction, Action-Adventure, Suspense, Thrillers, Mystery, General Fiction, Literary Fiction

I was first introduced to Justin Cronin's writing through his first novel, MARY AND O'NEIL. His quiet character study of a couple won the Pen/Hemingway Award as well as my admiration. I then read THE SUMMER GUEST and enjoyed that as well.

When Cronin began to explore the worlds of speculative fiction / sci-fi / horror, I stopped reading his books for a while because those are not my preferred genres. I crave a quieter more introspective read.

I decided to try again with THE FERRYMAN. Justin Cronin's writing is as sharp as ever, building worlds for his readers. The story of Proctor Bennett, his wife, Elise, and a host of other characters, drew me in at first. His lush descriptions of the surroundings are vivid.

Once the story picks up in intensity and the mysteries start to reveal themselves, the excitement kicks in and yet I had trouble keeping up with it all. If you like speculative fiction and dystopian novels, there is much to enjoy about THE FERRYMAN. I appreciated the overall message and writing, but it felt very long at times, clocking in at over 500 pages.

I continue to admire Justin Cronin's imagination and I'm grateful to Netgalley and to Ballantine Books for the early digital review copy.

I received a copy of The Ferryman from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Tax season got away from me and I was working an extraordinary amount so I didn't get to read as much as I thought I would. So, I haven't quite finished the book yet, but I am enjoying it a lot so far. The world building is very interesting and I have enjoyed the multiple points of view in the narrative. There is an interesting dynamic at olay between the haves and the have-nots as well as the unique society of people forced to "retire" and then be reborn in a young body to start over.

I am looking forward to all the reveals at the end and am going to be reading this as time allows until I finish it!

This was an absolute wild ride that kept me invested and and asking so many questions up until the very end. I have not read any of Justin Cronin's previous work but I definitely want to know!

This is not my typical type of book I pick up but the depth in the story was intense. I would not call this a light read and at times there was a lot going on so I had to pay attention to many details. I did love how it came together though and was throughly entertained!

First off, I am a big fan of Justin Cronin. I absolutely devoured The Passage trilogy, and this book is the perfect example of why I’ll read anything and everything from him. I was thrilled to get my hands on the ARC.

Five stars with no hesitation.

Thank you to Justin Cronin, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the early copy.

I was provided a free advanced copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book will be hard to review. It has so many layers... like an ogre, or onion, or even parfait (everyone loves parfait)! When you read the back and begin the story you believe one thing, as you continue on you start to question those beliefs, and about three or four times throughout the whole story all you believe is turned on its head! And yet, I couldn't get enough!
This is my first Justin Cronin and it will not be my last. It felt similar in style to some Bake Crouch books I've read. I loved it!
You will not be able to put this book down as you navigate the lives of these characters! It is pretty long, and it takes a bit of time to get into the world as a lot needs to be built up, but I definitely feel like it picked up fairly quickly and was pretty full force til the end!
I would say it may be difficult as an audiobook. There are some points where even as a visual reader I was questioning what was happening and flipping back to make sure I didn't miss something. When I've read books like that before on audiobook it was more of a jarring feeling and harder to "flip back". Seeing the visual breaks helps you recognize shifts that can't always be portrayed the same way through audio.
This comes out tomorrow, so you won't have to wait long for this fun ride!
#TheFerryman #NetGalley

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.

{4.5 stars}

“Why, when our waking lives are so satisfying, should we feel the need for such torturous flights of storytelling?”

————

As in real life, Earth is dying. Prospera is humanity’s only hope. Citizens live in peace and structured prosperity when they come to the end of their very long lives they are retired. They take a trip with the Ferryman to start anew. But there is some unrest brewing in the community. Our main character, Proctor finds himself at the center of it all and must figure out what is really going on before the whole community collapses.

Justin Cronin does it again! He’s a master storyteller, able to blend multiple genres together to create an immersive and emotional story that will take you away. A little Blake Crouch, a dash of Andy Weir with a helping of Steven Baxter… there are so many elements that I enjoyed about this story. If sci-fi is not your thing, I wouldn’t worry about it. There’s so much excellent storytelling in the first 2/3 of the book by the time the science really kicks in at the end you’ll be so immersed in these characters.

I’m landing at 4.5 stars for two reasons. One, there are a lot of characters to get to know, and there is not a clear delineation between chapters as to where you are in time in space until you’re a little way into the chapter. That could have been tightened up a bit. And two, another epilogue I could have done without. Otherwise this is a beautiful masterpiece.

Thanks to Ballantine Books for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions above are my own.

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.