*Full review to be posted closer to publication in May 2023!*

Although I've seen Justin Cronin's name and books around for many years, this is the first book of his that I've actually ever gotten around to reading–and now I'm realizing I need to go get more of his books!

The Ferryman is a brilliant novel that kept me engaged the entire time, whether the pacing was moving at a fast or slow speed. This is a really unique story full of twists, turns, and tons of creative world-building and plot points that I couldn't have predicted or expected. This is a dystopian fantasy of sorts that I'm sure will be a hit with many fans of the genre, and even those that aren't.

I'd bet money that this was pitched as The Truman Show meets Arthur C. Clarke's 2001. And to be honest, that's about all you need to know about it. HAL is replaced with a group of "brilliant" people who are mostly devoid of ethics; the backdrop is pods and pods of people in hibernation on a generation ship to another planet; the crux is that the brilliant people, who dislike each other, have all been creating havoc for the sleepers and the mission in general. At the end, I wasn't intrigued, and I didn't think it was clever or very interesting. I didn't care how it ended.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House for the opportunity to review this book as an ARC. This book is a difficult one to summarize. It put me in mind of several other books and movies I have enjoyed in the past- Logan's Run, Life on Mars, The Matrix, to name a few. This is more than just a pastiche of familiar science fiction tropes. It is a fully realized, epic story told from the perspective of one man, who may or may not have all of the information. Proctor Bennett is a man who lives in a place called Prospera. It is a beautiful shining city on the hill type of place. He works for the government, as Director of Social Contracts.( more on that later). He and his wife Elise are part of the beautiful people. They live work and belong to the ruling class. There are 3 parts to this world, Prospera, the Annex and the Nursery. While the Prosperans live a good life, the people in the Annex do the work. Prosperans have a monitor in their arms, which gives a value to their overall health. When the number goes below 10, they must retire. When a Prosperan retires, they are taken to a ferry by an employee of the Dept.of Social Contracts, and taken to the Nursery. This is where they die and are reborn( reiterated is the term) as a 16 year old. These teenagers are taken in as wards by Prosperan couple. Proctor Bennett is the head Ferryman, and one day everything changes for him. He is told to bring his father to the ferry. Malcom Bennett is at first ready to "retire" and goes with Proctor willingly. At the ferry, however, he becomes disoriented, speaks incoherently and gives Proctor a cryptic message.This changes Proctor's life.
Much is changing in Prospera- the people in the Annex are becoming unhappy with the Prosperans, and there is unrest, strikes and a movement for change. Proctor is caught up in it, and unsure of what he must do.
This is a well written book. I enjoyed the first half very much. Things got a little confusing as it went on, with a large twist about 3/4 of the way through it.I found myself having to go back and reread sections to make sure that I had read it correctly. While the twist was not unexpected, it changed a lot of the dynamics of the storyline and characters.The characters were well written and interesting. Thanks again for the opportunity to read this book.

Proctor Bennet lives on the utopic island of Prospera, where residents live long & happy lives protected from the horrors of the outside world. He works as a ferryman, where he guides Prospera's citizens toward their retirement where Nursery to be given new bodies, their memories cleared, and they start life again. But throughout the story the reader, and Proctor himself, realizes that not everything is as it seems.

This book sucked me in, and it didn't let me go. Something about Justin Cronin's writing absolutely captivated me, and I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. This was my first book by Cronin, and he has such a unique writing style. The world building was fantastic, and it made Prospera feel like a real place.

I didn't love the end of the story, but the rest of the story and the writing still made for a great, enjoyable read. If you like Blake Crouch I really think you'll like this!

The Ferryman took me on quite a journey. Just when I thought I had it all figured out the story shifted and I was left guessing again.

Prospero is home to the privileged. An Island where needs are met and life is happy. Proctor, our main character is a Ferryman. His job is to help those whose monitor has dipped below to accepted rate and now need to retire to the Nursery. There they will be renewed, with new bodies and their memories erased, to return to Prosperos again. Given a guardian when they come back as young teens, they will start the cycle again. Prosperos is a perfect.

Those that serve the community of Prosperos live on another Island called The Annex.

After Proctor has to put his father on the Ferry to The Nursery, the story takes its first real turn. We begin to see the darker side of Propero and what is going on the keep the society going. I thought I knew where the story was going. Boy was I wrong.

The Ferryman is a roller coaster ride of a journey and I am incredibly impressed with how the author put this one together. I enjoyed the writing and was engrossed with the story the entire way through. While it took me some time to read, I always wanted to pick it back up again and keep going.

This is my first Justin Cronin book and I am going now pick up his first series.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the arc. This is my honest review.

A philosophical rollercoaster ride!

New to Justin Cronin's work, I had no idea what to expect. Just when I thought I was catching on, a new twist through what I thought I knew into a new dimension of queries to ponder. This work was layered with nuances that spanned sci-fi, morality, gender roles, and hierarchies. I never had anything "figured out", so I couldn't devour each new twist and turn fast enough. It was intriguing and engaging from start to finish.

I'll tell my students about: language, sex, violence/death/gore, reproductive rights, family structures, corruption

**Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the free ARC prior to publication. All opinions expressed are my own.**

I loved it! First time I read a book by this author. Thank you! Have no idea how to capture all the emotions I felt for these characters.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

The premise of this book was intriguing and the reveal was interesting, but the journey was a bit tedious. I can usually get through a book in a couple days (maybe a week if it's a long book), but this took me over a month to finish. I think the biggest lag for me was a lack of emotion throughout. Even the first person narrative of the main character felt like he was delivering a business report instead of telling a story (and one that included some pretty emotional stuff).

I did like how the story examines concepts of culpability and consequences, and how to determine when someone's actions truly matter. By the end, I wasn't sure I really liked any of the characters but had to second guess myself and wonder if I could hold them accountable for any of their actions throughout most of the book.

One nitpicky (and probably just a personal pet peeve) thing. Please, male writers, stop using the word "pert" when describing female characters (unless it's "that" kind of novel). It happened twice in this book, including once for a teenager, and it just felt .... kind of icky.

Spectacular! I do believe I have found a new favorite Author!
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin is beautiful, heartbreaking, electric. It is both a nightmare dystopian, and an epic fantasy. It is a dream world, and supreme realism.
I truly cannot rave enough about this book. Not how fast I went, and purchased ALL of the Author's other books. The Ferryman stirs up so many emotions, and leaves you absolutely breathless. Each of the POV's are haunting. However, if you think you have a favorite? You do not. The longer you read this, the more mind blowing it becomes. Do yourself a favor, and pre-order. This was the book that I never knew I needed in my life. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read such a haunting tale.

Since I’ve loved other books by this author, my expectations were perhaps too high. I enjoyed the concept the characters and the writing very much. Maybe that’s why I found the ending disappointing. I had anticipated more complexity, but thought the resolution too quick and a bit simple. Still liked the book for those who enjoy this genre, but don’t expect it to be like author”s other titles.

Readers of Justin Cronin's work know he is a fiercely entertaining writer with dark, interesting stories to tell. The Passage was a blast to read. Cronin's new novel is something quite a bit different. It still fits in the science fiction genre, but this novel is a little more philosophical and a little more emotionally resonant. The downside is the book lacks some of the visceral thrills and pure horror of The Passage but makes up for it with more thought provoking elements. I am not a big science fiction fan, despite the occasional dabble, so I like that Cronin's books are focused on the story, plotting and character, not world-building or lengthy expositions on technological advances. The world here is very simple -- the people live on an isolated island, subject to a somewhat draconian society, where they retire and regenerate, with completely new memories when they die. These people, completely isolated from the world, are supported by another island of workers and staff who do not regenerate but are mortal and poor. The protagonist, the eponymous Ferryman, takes the regenerators to their retirement, to be re-born, helping them along on their fearful journey. Those are the basics and things unwind from there. I don't want to spoil a thing. Some of the writing/prose and the themes can feel cliched and overworn -- the haves and have-nots, separate planets/islands for the privileged and poor, religious underground cults, etc. But none of those issues detract from a fantastic story that is a lot of fun to make your way through as a reader. At the end of the day, THAT, more than anything else, is the writer's job and Cronin accomplishes it,

ARC from NetGalley

A book of many worlds which include the same people. There’s a ferryman who takes “retiring” people to the Nursery to be rejuvenated. Very interesting plot and actions. Moral: pay attention to your dreams, they’re important.

This was my first Justin Cronin, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard so much about The Passage but never picked it up (I will most definitely be seeking it out now, though). The story was incredibly well-thought-out and kept my attention from the time I picked it up (the 2nd time - mood reader, here😅).

This book is wild! I honestly never knew what to expect while reading and even when things started coming together for me, I had to keep reading to find out for sure what was going on. I never felt bored with this book. Some parts give science-y details that felt foreign to me but I didn't feel as if it took away from the reading/plot at all. The details were necessary.

I think this story gives off Black Mirror vibes with a touch of space/what else is out there. I'd definitely classify this as a sci-fi suspense and I will have this book in my head for a while. It truly makes you think.

I would like to thank Penguin Random house for providing a digital copy of this novel via NetGalley.
Prospera is a paradise in an otherwise dying world. Its citizens enjoy great lives, but they have to wear monitors at all times that measure their health as a percentage-akin to a health bar in a video game. When a person’s health drops below 10%, they are sent to an island called the Nursery to retire. This retirement involves, a renewal where their memories are erased and their health is restored.
Proctor Bennett is a ferryman in this society who transports people to the Nursery. When he is assigned to transport his own father, this sets off a series of events that finds Proctor losing his place in society and trying to solve the mystery of how he came to be in this predicament. The novel does a great job at building this world and slowly revealing its many mysteries. The story takes numerous unexpected turns and by the book’s end I found myself having really enjoyed the journey. There are some beautiful moments, particularly towards the end. The book’s finale feels like a well realized, satisfying conclusion that wraps up the story’s main plot points and themes.

The Passage trilogy will go down as one of my favorite stories. It had everything I could have hoped for in a post-apocalyptic thriller. When I saw Justin Cronin had a new story to tell, I was naturally excited and couldn’t wait to start reading “The Ferryman.” As the book won’t be released until next year, I can’t give too much away, but I will say get ready for a wild ride. It’s a fantastic read and has the same hallmarks that drew me in to The Passage. I tend to read before bed and this book kept me up late multiple nights in a row because I couldn’t put it down. It has definitely been my favorite book this year.

Special thanks to Ballantine Books / Random House for gifting me this early advance copy.

This book hooked me from the very start. The writing was engaging--but also the plot! The Island is an eden where everyone has their ideal job, they can switch marriage partners after a few years and have servants to do menial tasks. Children are not born --but made at the nursery and are delivered as older children to their guardians. At the end of a person's life, they are taken by the ferry back to the Nursery to be reintegrated into a younger body. Proctor is the chief Ferryman for the Island. However he is having dreams/echoes of previous lives. His quality of life is starting to go down and strange things start to happen. I couldn't put this one down!

The Ferryman
by Justin Cronin (Goodreads Author)
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Rosemary Patterson's review Nov 23, 2022 · edit
it was amazing

I was given what I consider the honor of reading a prepublication edition of this astounding book. It is hard to characterize and/or even describe but I will try. The story is about man's ongoing destruction of our beautiful planet and the carelessness of earths' inhabitants safeguarding its natural resources. Also man's inhumanity to his fellow man. The book is so well written and intriguing. I finished it in three days, which at this time of year is amazing. I really don't want to say more because that would give too much away. And remember, the above are only my thoughts. Not written in stone. Just amazing writing, amazing characterizations. Justin Cronin is a master. Read this book.

This story is set on the island of <s>Utopia</s> Prospera where the rich live an idyllic life of luxury. They live their perfect lives, creating art and beauty, and when they start to get old, they're retired to The Nursery. The Nursery is a peaceful place where they're made young again and get to restart their lives and re-experience all the perfection that is Prospera. That sounds lovely and definitely is not leading anywhere sinister, right??

Our main character, Proctor, is a ferryman - one who helps those who are old (or, rarely, those who are injured) complete the final steps and then connect them with the boat that takes them to The Nursery. He has a tragic backstory because his mother killed herself when he was younger. Now, he's shepherding his father to his regeneration when something happens that causes his world starts to fall apart. He starts to question everything he knows and (shockingly) discovers that Prospera isn't as perfect as it seems.

Our other main character is Thea. She's another Prosperan (Prosperian?) but she recognizes the plight of the working class (since there's a working class forced to support the idyllic lives of the rich who obviously live in squalor and are treated as 3rd class citizens). There are smaller focuses on other characters, but overall, those are the two main narrators.

Thea and Proctor are an interesting juxtaposition. We have 2 people representing those who are in power, but we see one who is waking up to the inequality and one who already is aware. I appreciate how great of a job Justin Cronin does with multiple stories and narrators. Proctor is told in the 1st person but everyone else is 3rd person - it was very successful. The characters were well differentiated so I could keep track. Cronin weaves very vivid worlds which was one of the things that I loved about the Passage.

There was a big reveal and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It reminds me of when I read <i>Stranger in a Strange Land</i> and I was into the story, thought I understood what I was reading, and then suddenly, it's a whole different book. I don't want to give anything away (and it's not the same shift as <i>Stranger</i> had - no sex cults). The twist was really well done, but not my favorite thing.

As other reviews have mentioned, the story is a bit derivative. It's easy to compare it with any number of other stories where you have the paradise that isn't actually paradise plus the other bit that I can't say without giving things away. The whole time, I kept thinking that I had read this before. That's not necessarily a bad thing and the whole book was so well done; but if you want a unique story that isn't like anything you've read before, this isn't it. If you're good with a vivid dystopian world, great characters, and an exciting plot, this is a great read.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance copy.

I'm always afraid his plot might become earth's reality! A wonderful twisty and disturbing plot with compelling characters. I could t put this one down. He has outdid himself with this novel!

The Ferryman has so many layers it's a challenge to explain all the ways this book works.

. With his dying breathe, Proctor's dad utters a message that will change the course of Proctor's previously well-established life. Searching for the meaning of the message forces Proctor to re-evaluate his entire trajectory. Haunted by dreams and his mother's death, Proctor finds himself searching for answer as the his world collapses.

Don't let the length of this book scare you. Not only does Cronin weave in complex societal questions, he creates tangled relationships and intricate characters that kept me hooked for over 500 pages. The reader learns about the world along with Proctor, which makes the suspense and confusion worth it.

ARC provided via NetGalley.