<i>First, a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

I have intensely mixed feelings about this book.

To start, I want to say I was a HUGE fan of <i>The Passage</i> series, especially the second book, [book:The Twelve|13281368] - so when I found out there was a new book by Cronin coming out, I knew I had to read it.

I'll be completely honest - I put off reading this book because I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype of <i>The Passage</i> series (and my memory), and that it would leave me not as excited about Cronin as an author.

So even though I got this book from Netgalley, originally, my signed, pre-ordered copy arrived and I ended up buying the ebook on sale before I got around to actually just reading the damn thing.

With that out of the way... I mean, yeah. The "twist" wasn't much of a twist at all when you're a person who's consumed even a modicum of media in the past few years (<spoiler>did anyone else binge the short-lived Netflix original <i>1899</i> in a Covid-induced haze, or was that just me?</spoiler>) and therefore was a bit of a let down. I see many reviews saying the same, that they saw the "twist" coming from a mile away.

Then the question becomes, is a story not worth telling if it is not wholly original? I think the answer to that is "No" - if it were true, the <i>Star Wars</i> franchise and [book:Dune|44767458] would have been in trouble.

So - the next question is, was the prose, the characters, the relationships between them, etc etc unique and compelling enough to make you not care as much about the plot and being willing to overlook its lack of originality?

I hate to say it, but I don't think I can objectively say that Cronin knocked these parts out of the park. Listen, Cronin has a way with words - he has a way with character relationships - hell, that was entirely the best part of <i>The Passage</i> series to me. And I gotta say, I don't think he really did better here than he did there... I am not entirely certain it was even necessarily on par (sorry Cronin!).

BUT... and this is a big BUT... I dunno y'all, this book made me <i>feel</i> things. Not that I am an especially unfeeling person (why yes I DO cry at all those sad animal commercials every time they're on TV), but I can't deny the connection I felt to these characters, even if I don't think the craft of their existence was particularly masterful.

Like, for crying out loud - I started this book <b>LAST NIGHT</b> and I finished it hella quick - so that has to count for <i>something</i>, doesn't it?

So with all of that being said, I'm not entirely sure I would recommend this book to someone else without all the caveats I listed above; clearly, lots of others didn't feel the connection I somehow did is I see a lot of my mutuals DNF'd this one.

But... I dunno. For me, it was worth it. And in the end, I don't regret reading this book.

I adore this authors work, and this book was no exception. It pulled you in from the beginning, and you really rooted for the main character and I was captivated by the tale and finding out what happened as it all unfolded. Would highly recommend.

The world created in The Ferryman was well crafted and immediately immersive for me. Cronin builds great characters and makes you care about their outcomes and who can ask for better than that from an author?

This book had me riveted from beginning to end. It's a novel that will have you thinking and rethinking what life really means through the relationships we all hold. A definite must-read!

The world of Prospera lies distant from the rest of the world in an island paradise served by those who live on a neighboring island. The people living in Prospera are monitored intimately--their emotional and physical health must remain above 10%. And when they retire, they go off to a lovely place called the Nursery to start all over again. Note, those living in Prospera cannot have children but adopt teenagers--those "retired" folks who have been born again (and start life as teenagers.)

The Ferrymen takes people to the Nursery for retirement and rebirth. The director of the Ferrymen, Proctor Bennett, is a decent man who loves his career. Until his own health starts to fall. And then he's called to ferry his father to the Nursery. And his father has secrets Proctor will have to uncover.

Meanwhile, issues arise in Prospera, and the once peaceful paradise is abuzz with doubt and questions. What is paradise for some is a lifetime of servitude for others.

The author uses fascinating concepts, tying together age, class structures, and what it means to be family as well as what purposes we serve in life. There is a huge secret that must be revealed, and it changes how you see all the events in the novel. Such a well-written, well-rounded book full of rich characters and thoughtful prose.

This was my first time reading a Justin Cronin book, and I'm sad to say I didn't love it. The beginning was great and pulled me in, but unfortunately the middle dragged and there were too many lengthy dream sequences. The main character was hard to like because of his interactions with female characters among other things. I can see why some people might love this, but it wasn't for me.

It is so hard to talk about this book without giving anything away. What starts as one type of story becomes more and deepens. It is creative and expansive while pondering memory, love, loss, and what it is to be human.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin - ARC Backlist - 5/2/2023 Pub Date

Thanks to Netgalley, Ballantine, & Justin for an advance copy of The Ferryman.

Title: The Ferryman
Author: Justin Cronin
Genre: Sci-Fi
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Rating: 4 stars

Prospera is a utopian archipelago where residents live out a beautiful existence…until the chips embedded in their bodies say they’re no longer healthy enough to continue. At this point they set off on a ferry to the Nursery, one of the islands in this oasis. Once there, they are given a clean slate and start a new life.

Proctor works for the government as a ferryman who helps the residents cross over to the Nursery which he’s always enjoyed until recently. Things are happening to him that should not be happening, including a rapid decrease in his health according to his monitor.

Shortly after, he is tasked with ferrying his father who leaves Proctor with a cryptic message which coincides with some unrest building within the lower ranks of Prospera’s workforce. Armed with the knowledge that (if his monitor is correct) his time is quickly running out, he works to figure out if there’s something more sinister going on in Prospera and it is not the paradise that he’s been led to believe.

Those three paragraphs hardly begin to scratch the surface of what goes on in this book. There is a lot. And despite a very slow start of building the world, once the story picked up, it took off and left me with a lot of thoughts. I do dabble in sci-fi but it is not my main genre and I’m sure there can be many comparisons drawn and inspiration came from a variety of places, but for me Westworld was a big one for me. Tha’t’s not to say that I think in any way that this book was a direct rip of anything. It was absolutely its own story and very creative.

The world that Justin built is dystopian wrapped in a utopian package. Everyone is under the impression that Prospera is a fantastic place with a fantastic plan for its residents, even upon expiration. They’ve painted such a beautiful picture that no one questions things…until they do. Like they say in The Hunger Games, it only takes a spark.

The world was mysterious, I could not figure out where the story was going to go and even though I had no idea, I still ended up being shocked. I felt as though I imagined Proctor feeling, which made it that much more enjoyable for me. I knew when I entered the story that the world was not as it seemed, and I sensed that Proctor also knew this prior to the odd conversation with his father.

There are a variety of topics hit throughout this book ranging from society to personal and all of the layers seem to intersect throughout the book which gave it such a cohesive and ‘real’ feeling.

This was my first Justin Cronin, but I will absolutely look into his backlist and keep an eye out for future releases. This was a great book to get lost in.

As a non-Sci-Fi reader, I actually really enjoyed reading The Ferryman. The last 1/3 of the story can get a bit complicated and I wasn't super into the ending, but definitely an interesting and engaging story.

Think of this like The Truman Show X The Matrix

Don’t let the book’s length scare you, I was mesmerized the entire way. It is quite a journey to be savored. You think about societal structure, good and evil, and the beauty of his words. It is also a fascinating story with memorable, deeply drawn characters.

Listed as a Polygon best book of the year, The Ferryman by Justin Cronin is a gripping work of science fiction that explores themes of reality, consciousness, and humanity. While a bit slow at times, the character depiction is rich in this novel.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

We saw this title have a resurgence at the holidays this year, so I decided to give it a shot finally! I enjoyed it, as I typically do with speculative fiction, but it dragged for me in places as well. I think it is a great winter read!

This book started a little slow but steadily got faster and faster till I couldn’t stop reading. It was easy to read, the world building was complex yet written in a way that was easy to comprehend and the characters were well fleshed out. I did guess one part of the mystery but the ending truly suprised me. Definitely recommended

I really wanted to enjoy this novel having really loved one of the author's earlier novels The Passage. I found this novel to be confusing. Couldn't follow it at all. I gutted it out and finished it but it wasn't my cup of tea. Your mileage may vary, dear reader.

I loved this book. I had no idea about the ways this book would bend and weave together. It did get a little lengthy towards the end (I think about 100-150 pages could have been condensed) but I found the characters interesting.

I enjoyed the story and surprises through to the end. I certainly wasn’t expecting the plot to take take several twists and turns and challenge what I knew to be true at the start of the book. If you like to get to know an array of characters deeply, love utopian and dystopian worlds, and a bit of suspense and thrills, The Ferryman won’t disappoint! I don’t want to say too much in order to avoid spoilers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

I gave The Ferryman a couple of tries but unfortunately it wasn't for me. There's definitely a lot of potential and the premise is so intriguing but the pacing didn't work for me to care enough to keep going. Thank you for the ARC!

WOW this book was fascinating. Yes, it's a beast (the audiobook ran nearly 18 hours long) but the worldbuilding is magnificent (three distinct settings) and the twists keep you on the edge of your seat. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy. I also received a complimentary audiobook from the publisher via libro.fm.

A Riveting Journey into Utopia's Abyss: Justin Cronin's "The Ferryman" Delivers a Masterful Thriller

Justin Cronin's "The Ferryman" is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of a utopian society teetering on the brink of revelation and revolution. Cronin, known for his narrative prowess in "The Passage" trilogy, once again proves his ability to craft intricate and immersive worlds, this time taking readers to the enigmatic archipelago of Prospera.

Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, Prospera appears to be an island paradise, shielded from the deteriorating outside world. Its citizens live long and fulfilling lives, guided by the ever-watchful monitors embedded in their forearms. The narrative takes a chilling turn when these monitors, the arbiters of physical and psychological well-being, drop below 10 percent. At this critical juncture, citizens retire themselves, embarking on a mysterious ferry ride to the Nursery. There, bodies are renewed, memories wiped clean, and life restarts afresh.

Proctor Bennett, a ferryman from the Department of Social Contracts, guides citizens through this process with a seemingly satisfying career. However, all is not well in Prospera. Proctor, despite the impossibility of dreaming in this utopia, experiences unsettling dreams. Simultaneously, his own monitor percentage plummets at an alarming rate. The narrative takes a deeply personal turn when he is summoned to retire his own father, setting off a chain of events that unravels the carefully constructed fabric of Prospera.

Cronin skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense, blending elements of dystopia, psychological thriller, and social commentary. Proctor's journey becomes a gripping exploration of identity, truth, and the consequences of blind compliance. As he grapples with his own beliefs and faces the unsettling realities of Prospera, readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride through a world that challenges the very notion of utopia.

The world-building is meticulous, with Prospera's facade of perfection contrasting starkly with the growing unrest beneath the surface. The Arrivalists, a mysterious resistance group, add layers of tension, prompting Proctor to question the foundations of his reality.

"The Ferryman" is a testament to Justin Cronin's ability to captivate readers with his storytelling prowess. The narrative unfolds with precision, balancing heart-pounding moments with introspective depth. It is a journey into the unknown, a thriller that transcends genres to deliver a tale that is both thrilling and intellectually stimulating. For fans of dystopian fiction and those who appreciate a narrative that challenges perceptions, "The Ferryman" is an absolute must-read. Cronin has once again proven his mastery in crafting narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.

This may be one of the best books you'll ever read. I started reading it one afternoon, expecting what the publisher's description said it was - a story about people who had taken shelter on an island hiding from the apocalypse taking place on the rest of the world. Hiding, because if knowledge about the island got out, they would be deluged by desperate people trying to save their themselves and their families. But it was so much more.

Around 2 AM in the morning on a workday, with four chapters left to read, I finally forced myself to put it down and go to bed. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I received an e-ARC of this exceptional book from Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine) via Netgalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback