Wow, no one builds a world like Justin Cronin. Be prepared to enter the archipelago of Prospera!

Prospera is an amazing island paradise where the citizens live long, long lives. After a minimum of a 100 years, when their wrist monitor detects deterioration, the inhabitants surrender themselves to a journey back to "The Nursery" where they become a new person, and return to Prospera to live another wondrous life on the island. The journey to the Nursery is via ferry and Proctor Bennet, the main ferryman is our 'protagonist.

Our Ferryman, has begun to question his life and the meaning of Prospera. His life is not as perfect as he has hoped and there seems to be some civilian unrest in the streets. However, it is not until he is scheduled to retire an esteemed guest, that Proctor begins to recover memories, and dreams of other times. This event of course, does not go unnoticed, and the powers running Prospera are quick to move to stop Proctor from questioning life as it is. Proctor finds himself at war with his friends and family and everything he knows.

For me, the novel was lovely but not thrilling until I was about 60 % through. At that point, look out! The ending alone is worth the price of admission. True Cronin thrills, as only he could create. If you love a thrilling, mind bending, life questioning novel - look no further, Justin Cronin is back with The Ferryman
.#RandomHouse #Ballantine #JustinCronin #TheFerryman #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for a free copy of this book. I don't need to thank Netgalley but I reallly really want to because they offered me a chance to read Justin Cronin's book way early. I can't go into what the book is about without giving it away too much.
It's a weird mix of dystopia, the struggle and of the have and have nots, secret conspiracies and so much more.
I will say this isn't as good as The Passage but that's kind of hard of be but this is a great book. A solid science fiction novel with great twists and turns.

I’m a huge fan of Justin Cronin’s The Passage trilogy so when offered an early eGalley of The Ferryman I may have squealed a bit.

The Ferryman tells the story of an island paradise known as Prospero which is hidden from the rest of the world. Proctor is a Ferryman who counsels and helps the elderly go to an island known as The Nursery where they “retire”, their bodies and minds are renewed and they come back to Prosperos as older teens to live with their newly assigned guardians. Prosperos is a perfect utopia and everyone who lives there are happy and healthy and have everything they could want or need.

The Annex is another island where all the laborers live who are there to serve the Prosperos residents.

While reading this book, I was getting mad vibes of The Giver, Logan’s Run, Lost, The Matrix, and a few other books/TV. No matter what happened, I just couldn’t predict what could possibly happen next. Eventually, an event happens whereby Proctor begins to recognize that everything is not as it seems and the twists and turns started blowing my mind.

Yes, there were times when I felt as lost as Proctor but those twists! Brilliant! Everything finally made sense.

The Ferryman is a big mix of dystopian, sci-fi, and fantasy, and I loved it all. Although this book was almost 600 pages I flew through it too fast and purposely would stop reading because I didn’t want it to end. I’m definitely going to experience a book hangover after this.

*Thank you so much to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this amazing advance copy!*

"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. The bright, busy surface of life—that is the key. How easily it distracts us, like a magician who waves a wand with one hand while, with the other, he plucks a rabbit from his vest."

What a wild ride this book was! It starts in what looks to be a utopian world of people who live in a beautiful and secluded island where life is perfect but it quickly becomes clear that there are issues brewing just below the surface. Class issues, political unrest, and more hidden secrets.

Proctor lives in this beautiful world, married to a stunning woman and has a respected job as a Ferrryman who escorts people who are at the end of their lives to the ferry so they can be retired. Proctor's dad gets belligerent and utters what seems like nonsense words on the day he is retiring and that starts Proctor's journey towards unraveling the spool of lies.

"Here is the golden morning, we say; here is the beautiful sea. Here is my beautiful home, my adoring wife, my morning cup of coffee, and my refreshing daybreak swim. We look no deeper into things because we do not desire this; neither are we meant to. That is the design of the world, to trick us into believing it is one thing, when it’s entirely another."

Unlike the whole world, I have not read The Passage before so this was my first Cronin book and I could not put it down from the moment I picked it up. The world was so vividly portrayed, the characters were so well constructed and it was so clear that something was deeply wrong that it was hard to not want to stay up all night to find out what was behind Prospera.

"It’s all very complex, and it seems to him that within this complexity lies the true essence of loving a child: a joy so intense that it can feel like sadness."

And when I got to the 70% mark and bits and pieces of the story started unwinding and I started putting together the truth, for some reason, it felt like a bit of a let down. I really enjoyed the author's creativity and the plot was really one I could not have come up with so it was a pleasant surprise to have it be so unique and wild. I enjoyed every moment I spent with this book.

with gratitude to netgalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Arc Received!
This is a placeholder as the tentative release date is 05/02/2023.
I will release a full review at the two week mark to release, per expectations.

I will say that I sat down and read this in two sittings. It was an amazing read and I look forward to sharing more. Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for this opportunity!

An invitation to read this came in my inbox. I normally wait a bit before accepting because I want to see if it's worth reading but the premise of this was too good and I got it right away!

The island of Prospera is perfect. Life begins at age 16 when they sail to the island. They are ferried off the island when they are too old and refreshed back back with no memories.
I loved how everything came together in the end. I think this is going to end up being a movie. Okay now I need to go read his other books!

Wow! What a novel!
The story had me hooked from the very beginning and I could not wait to see how it would end.

Proctor Bennett is the main character who lives on an island called Prospera.
People live their "best" lives until their life monitor runs down (like a battery) and people are sent to a place called the "Nursery" to regenerate and begin again. Sounds perfect? Is it really?
Bennett is the Ferryman. He will take the elderly, worn folks on this path.

All is well until- he has to escort his father who is failing.
Things do not go as planned and Bennett realizes all is not as it appears.

The details in the story are nothing short of brilliant and when I first began the novel I thought I was rewatching the movie "Lost Horizon".(I am dating myself.)
It is long so prepare yourself to enjoy this journey over time and absorb it fully.
If you like Science Fiction, this is for you!!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #RandomHousePublishing for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.

I unexpectedly received an ARC of The Ferryman--it was unexpected because I am not really a science fiction reader and had never read anything by Justin Cronin. I decided to give it a try anyway, and I am really glad I did! The Ferryman takes place in a utopian/dystopian future--utopian for the residents of Prospera, where everything is wonderful, and dystopian for the residents of the Annex, who are tasked with tending to the needs of Prosperans. The titular Ferryman is reasonably happy with his life as an esteemed Prosperan, but that changes drastically when he "retires" his father--helping him along the journey to The Nursery, where aging Prosperans go to be reborn.

Although the book is relatively long, the plot is fast-paced and well-written. In addition to a great story, The Ferryman raises a lot of interesting themes about climate change, the relationships between "the haves" and "the have nots," and the future of our society in general. I loved the twist near the end of the book, which added a whole new dimension to the story.

This book is a great choice for ALL readers, even those (like me) who don't consider themselves science fiction fans. Highly recommend!

This was just a wonderful book.

I was already a Cronin fan because of The Passage series, so I was probably a bit predisposed going in. That said, this was a great story that provided mystery, surprise, corruption, hard decisions, love, multi-faceted characters, loss, hope and determination. There are some lovely passages I highlit and will remember. The setting was captivating and I found Proctor a very easy narrator to go with.

All along the way, there were elements that reminded me of Logan's Run, LOST, the current world and some books and movies with themes I can't even mention because it would be too spoilerific. Okay if you really want to know: <<spoilers redacted>>. All that kept me wondering and reading trying to figure out what was going on and where this would all end. I got some things right, others wrong and enjoyed it all. After the final word of the Epilogue, this standalone had me feeling like I could check in on these folks again to see how things are going. A good sign, I'd say.

I can only recommend this. Highly.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House!

I must acknowledge that I am extremely biased. Justin Cronin is one of my absolute favorite authors; and I met him at NYCC in 2018 as a volunteer helping with his signing line, where we talked about Greek mythology and philosophy and how both inform his writing. The Ferryman is of course a different kind of story than The Passage, but it possesses the hallmarks I love and expect of Cronin—cerebral and thought-provoking speculative fiction with a deeply human cast of characters that are complicated and well-developed (and of course homages and references to the Greeks). It is frankly a brilliant novel.

This may be one of the greatest books I’ve ever read. The Ferryman completed exceeded any expectations I had. This ARC kind of fell into my lap randomly; I had never heard of Justin Cronin before Netgalley randomly sent me a copy and I had no idea how much hype there was around his other books. I wasn’t sure if I was going to read at first simply because my impatient ass wasn’t sure if I wanted to read a book that was almost 600 pages. Normally, I would’ve looked at the page count and said NO WAY, but the premise of this book had me intrigued enough to give this a try. I started the first few pages before putting down, but after picking it back up, I read the remaining 95% of this book in one sitting. It is THAT compulsively readable.

Prospera is an island where the residents live “perfect” lives. They do not dream, because why would they need to dream when their lives are already perfect? There is no pain, no poverty, only perfection. There are no babies or children because everyone’s lives begin at around age 16, the earliest biological age of all new iterants. They arrive onto Prospers by sailing to the island to be claimed by their assigned parents. When they become too old to function properly, they are ferried away from the island to the Nursery, where their bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped, and they are reincarnated once again back to the earliest biological age of 16 as someone else with no memory of their previous life.


If it weren’t for The Giver, I would’ve thought that this premise was insanely unique. The premise does seem quite similar to The Giver, enough that my mind almost kept mixing up the plots of the two books in my head when I first started this book. However, once you get around halfway through, you can see that it’s definitely different and the second half especially veers into a completely different direction. One of the big mysteries of the book is not exactly hard to figure out early on, especially if you’ve seen The Matrix or read The Giver, but this doesn’t detain tension from the book at all. There is still a lot of mystery around the little details and secrets behind it all. One of the most compulsively readable, unputdown-able books I’ve ever read. A literary masterpiece. (Minus this illogical part at the end that spiked some minor annoyance. I’m sorry but you cannot break a literal car seat off by just pushing on the headrest a bunch of times lol?)

This would actually be brilliant as a feature film and I sense that Hollywood will snap this right up. Incredible story, incredibly visual writing, and simply cinematic. Easy 5 stars. Now I wonder if I should read Justin Cronin’s other books if this is what I’ve been missing?

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an advance copy of The Ferryman in exchange for an honest review.

The characters in The Ferryman captivate from the outset, drawing the reader into the mysteries of Prospera. While some themes are recognizable from Cronin’s previous works, new thought-provoking ground is covered as well. This mind-bending story flies along with action and delivers reveals that satisfy. Five stars for another gripping tale from Cronin.

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!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Books - Ballantine, and the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for my review!

Cronin is a master storyteller in creating unique worlds that are just a little off from the real world. The Ferryman is a world that’s a tad off to the reader as well as the main character Proctor. For the most part, the novel is really enjoyable but I found the end a tad muddled as it transitions into the second part. I would have loved to read more back story in the Nursery as well. Interesting take on this particular story without giving to much away of the ending. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for this ARC.

4.5 stars

Justin Cronin delivers again! I loved the build up and the moment when everything comes together. Justin writes in such a way that you really become part of the story, not just a reader/outsider looking in. I was fully engrossed in this book the entire time. 10/10 recommend!

It’s nice, every now and again, to use your brain in a matter that you are not used to. Justin Cronin, like Blake Crouch, makes you do just that. This book was no exception. The beginning starts out like a mystery or a thriller. It’s not until you get towards the back half of the book that the pieces start falling in place. The story starts making sense. You get that “Ah ha!” moment. The author makes it so you are just as confused as the main character and as he starts putting the pieces together, so do you. I’m not going to get into the synopsis of the story because other reviewers (Nilefur, on Goodreads, does a good job) have already done that. NetGalley offered me this book as an ARC and I sat for good long while wondering if I was interested enough and had time enough to read this book. I’m glad that I chose to, since it’s one of those books that sticks with you after you’ve read it. So, definitely, thank you NetGalley for allowing me to break my brain with this Arc in exchange for my unbiased review. I will now go reassemble my brain.

Wow. What a trip. Though the description is accurate, this book is so much more than that. With each act, the story brings us deeper into these people and their world and lives, hopes and dreams. Unique and powerful story beautifully told. I've already recommended it to many friends and can't wait for the chance to discuss it with them.

Up front disclosures: I received an advance review copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley. And I rarely summarize fiction plots, mainly because I think it unfair to the author - there are plenty of people who do for those on the hunt, and there is almost always an extra teaser blurb somewhere - and I think it unfair to the reader who, like me, dislikes spoilers. In a rare confluence of my requests, I have two fiction ARCS, each with a partial style that I initially found offputting, and yet each eventually drew me in. (Partial because it wasn't the main style.) In this case, there were some present tense segments that mildly jar the reader away from the narrative, although, the Prologue opens with some. Regardless, I adapted and as said, it drew me in. The pacing was a slow acceleration as things unfold until it became frenetic in the last quarter. I did predict a couple of major things, both of which turned out true, but there are still many twists and turns in this engaging story. it went from reluctant to get into to "can't put it down" (the other ARC got bumped).

Though I don't summarize, two phrases got highlighted:
"The sea is full of stars."
{Love this. And curiously, the only other reference to that phrase I found was where I heard it before: Jack Chalker's Well World book with that as the title.}

"A large kidney-shaped pool, with jagged stone edges and a tiled wall with a spigot, from which water lazily decanted."
{"lazily decanted" - I like that}

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I LOVE Cronin’s Passage trilogy. It’s one I want to revisit every few years. I’m such a fan that I’ll read anything he publishes. When NetGalley offered this one to me, I jumped on it immediately. Not only do I love the author, but it’s also dystopian, which is my favorite genre. And I can easily say this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I was hooked and never saw all the twists this book takes.

From Goodreads: Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, 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.

This book just kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next. When I was convinced I knew where the book was headed, I realized I was only halfway done. The plot pulls the reader in so many different directions that you are also solving the mystery of just what is going on along with the characters. I’ve read more dystopian books than any other genre, and this one is definitely one of the more unique ones. It’s a mix of 1984, The Giver, and The Truman Show (along with others that I won’t disclose because of spoilers). I loved that the story is told in both first and third-person narrators. Proctor is first person, but the other characters are third, which leaves them in a bit of a mystery. I never expected a shift like this to work, but it was great, and I had no trouble following it. The worst thing about this book is that it’s not out until May, so I can’t make all my friends read it now. I absolutely loved this one.

Justin Cronin books have same side effects with Blake Crouch’s sci-fi novels : after you finish them, you feel like your brain cells have run a marathon and each of them is out of usage!

This brilliant novel deserves more than five stars! It’s extremely mind bending, intelligent, complex and challenging! It’s Westworld meets Inception.

It’s long but you don’t want it end. You want to devour each chapter slowly, enjoying your time as you smell the smoke coming out of your grey cells!

Especially the big twist at the last quarter was shocking! Partly I loved the first third quarter a little bit more but for making things more explainable that big revelation was absolutely necessary!

Without giving much away, I’m gonna summarize the main plot:

The story takes place at the archipelago state called Prospera exists in splendid isolation, hidden from the world. Its climate is entirely beneficent: warming sunshine, cooling ocean breezes, and frequent, gentle rains. It’s an island covering 482 square miles. Island two, known as the Annex, is home to the support staff-men and women of lesser biological and social endowments.

The last of the three islands is different from the others: they called as Nursery Isle, or, more simply, the Nursery. Protected by dangerous shoals and towering cliffs, it might be likened a floating fortress.

Prosperans devote themselves to the highest
aspirations: Creative expression and the pursuit of personal excellence!

To leave Prospera is, naturally, forbidden. Word of our existence would threaten everything.
But who could desire to leave such a place?

The main character Proctor Bennett director for District Six of the Department of Social Contracts, Enforcement Division, a. k. a. “Ferryman” accompany the elder citizens who are emotionally distressed to the ferry that is headed to the nursery where their memories are erased, having second chance to reborn and come back for another lifetime.

Everything is determined by contracts including marriages. Proctor married with Elise: a brilliant fashion designer, signing a contract that lasts for 15 years. Elise is daughter of Madam Chair, the head of the organization.

Proctor seems satisfied with his life and occupation till the day who’s assigned to assist to his guardian father to the ferry.

Their relationship was estranged after guardian mother’s suicide. Now seeing his father opens up his old wounds. And unfortunately the accompanying process didn’t occur as expected. His father has an episode, talking about the world they’re living is not real and screaming a name “Oranios”! Then watchmen attack his father and Proctor finds himself defend his father.

His intern newbie Jason Kim and the people around the pier become witnesses of unfortunate event! His father’s blubbering opens can of worms and Proctor finds life upside down as a rebellious group called themselves “Arrivalists” in Anex start their highly detailed scheme, trying to contact with Proctor to see the events from their perspective!

I have to keep my mouth shut now! I already told too much! Just read and enjoy this FANTASTIC BOOK! Get ready to expect unexpected!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for making my dreams come true by sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.