Reviews

The Ferryman feels like familiar territory. Justin Cronin's latest offering seems to borrow heavily from well-known sci-fi tropes. The book's length seems excessive, detracting from its potential quality. Cronin's prose suffers from awkwardness, melodrama, and inconsistency, disrupting the flow of the narrative. Perhaps a tighter editing process could have enhanced the overall experience. One notable aspect is the portrayal of female characters, which often adhere to traditional archetypes. They appear primarily as daughters, wives, or mothers, limiting their depth and agency to their relation to men.

lloydreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

he11osunshine's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jtemplin's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Content Warnings

lindsayaunderwood's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow. Absolutely loved this book.

okevamae's review against another edition

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4.0

In the secluded island nation of Prospera, the citizens never die – when their quality of life (monitored by the government) dips below a certain level, they are taken to the Nursery to be revitalized, their bodies renewed and their memories wiped so that they can return to society as blank slates to live a new life. Proctor Bennett is a Ferryman, and it’s his job to ensure that those whose lives have declined to that point, as well as those who choose to go, are safely placed on the ferry to the Nursery. But Proctor’s own monitor shows a decreasing level of satisfaction, and he is plagued by dreams, in a society where no one else experiences them. And when his own father’s departure on the ferry goes wrong, ending in a struggle and a cryptic final message, Proctor’s life begins to unravel. Meanwhile, there is a revolution stirring among the Support Staff, Prospera’s less fortunate worker underclass.

I haven’t read a dystopia in a while – at one point I was fully sick of them – but apparently it’s been long enough, because I really enjoyed this novel. There’s a mystery at the heart of the story – part of which I had an inkling of what was happening, but mostly, it was a surprise. The writing is great and the story is well-paced, with a fascinating premise and plot. Give it a try if you like Science Fiction!

Representation: POC characters, disabled characters

TW: suicide, child death

I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

n8duke's review against another edition

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1.0

Not for me.

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