#BookReview: The Passage

by Justin Cronin

About the Book

Deep in the jungles of eastern Colombia, Professor Jonas Lear has finally found what he’s been searching for – and wishes to God he hadn’t.

In Memphis, Tennessee, a six-year-old girl called Amy is left at the convent of the Sisters of Mercy and wonders why her mother has abandoned her.

In a maximum security jail in Nevada a convicted murderer called Giles Babcock has the same strange nightmare, over and over again, while he waits for a lethal injection.

In a remote community in the California mountains, a young man called Peter waits for his beloved brother to return home – so he can kill him.

Bound together in ways they cannot comprehend, for each of them a door is about to open into a future they could not have imagined. And a journey is about to begin. An epic journey that will take them through a world transformed by man’s darkest dreams, to the very heart of what it means to be human.

My Review:

I was inspired to read this book after watching the TV series of the same name. I read the whole 766 pages in just ten days and only stopped reading because life intruded, lol. It was that good. So fantastic, in fact, that I’ve gone straight onto book 2 (The Twelve).

The characters are realistic and sympathetic and make you root for them. The world building is excellent too, and the narrative provides plenty of twists and turns.

The begins with the apocalyptic event(s) and then moves into the post-apocalyptic aftermath. We get to see how humanity manages to survive in small pockets while not knowing if they’ll live to see another day. Who knew bright lights could become so important … and keeping them running.

If you want a gripping read of epic proportions, then this book is for you. It’s gets a resounding five stars from me.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS:  I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!  — Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read.  Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it. 

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

14 Comments on “#BookReview: The Passage

  1. I too really enjoyed The Passage and hoped they would do a second series and disappointed to hear it has been cancelled..at least there is a Book two… thanks for a terrific review Harmony.

  2. I watched a show called The Passage this past year. I don’t think it’s the same thing. However, now that I read your review, I want to read this book!

    • Okay. I just went to Amazon. It is the same series. I think I understand why the series has been canceled—the book sounds so much better! (And I really liked the series.)

      • Oh, no … cancelled!?!? I was looking forward to the rest of it, lol. I have to say that the book had a lot more going for it 😊

    • Ten days not two! Lol. But, yes, an extraordinaryly good read. Thanks, Mae 😊