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Review
'The stuff of reading frenzies' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'A modern classic in the making.' SFX 'As far as blockbuster novels go, this is up there with the most compelling.' THE JOURNAL 'A truly epic masterpiece that will have you hanging on for dear life' -- Maxim Jakubowski LOVEREADING.CO.UK
Review
The stuff of reading frenzies (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
A modern classic in the making. (SFX )
As far as blockbuster novels go, this is up there with the most compelling. (THE JOURNAL )
A truly epic masterpiece that will have you hanging on for dear life (Maxim Jakubowski LOVEREADING.CO.UK )
A modern classic in the making. (SFX )
As far as blockbuster novels go, this is up there with the most compelling. (THE JOURNAL )
A truly epic masterpiece that will have you hanging on for dear life (Maxim Jakubowski LOVEREADING.CO.UK )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Passage is a huge book which demands the reader's full attention. If you are not concentrating early on in the story you will be completely lost later. Cronin's narrative is sprawling and wordy but I found myself completely engrossed in the story. The book has been marketed as a vampire novel but there is nothing supernatural about the monsters here, they are created by humans. The story begins with a scientist trying to find a cure for just about everything, he thinks he is on the brink of success. The military see his discovery as a way of creating an invincible army and takes over his project. The only thing is they need real human beings to test their findings on. This is a story about human nature from the best to the worst. It has strong echoes of "I am Legend" and "The Road".
The tale is clearly split into two parts and I much preferred to first part which is set in the near-future. The character of six year old Amy is intriguing and I still don't fully understand all of the early events in the book. I am unclear about how such a young child had such a strong sense of her destiny. I think I may need to re-read it. The relationships between Amy, the FBI agent sent to find her and a sweet nun are very moving. They are all people damaged by loss or violence.
One thing I didn't like was that, just as I was really absorbed in the first part of the story, the tale moves forward by ninety years and it is almost as if another author has penned this part. The latter part of the book is story about human survival against all the odds and about bravery,loyalty and friendship. I think that this part could have been pared down somewhat as it is overly long and there are a lot of characters to keep track of. There are some gruesome moments and strong language as you would expect from this genre.
I am sure that this would make a spectacular film, especially as vampires are so in vogue at the moment. If you haven't time to read such a huge book I would really recommend the audio book version. Narrated by Scott Brick it is 36 hours long and would fill plenty of long train journeys.
The tale is clearly split into two parts and I much preferred to first part which is set in the near-future. The character of six year old Amy is intriguing and I still don't fully understand all of the early events in the book. I am unclear about how such a young child had such a strong sense of her destiny. I think I may need to re-read it. The relationships between Amy, the FBI agent sent to find her and a sweet nun are very moving. They are all people damaged by loss or violence.
One thing I didn't like was that, just as I was really absorbed in the first part of the story, the tale moves forward by ninety years and it is almost as if another author has penned this part. The latter part of the book is story about human survival against all the odds and about bravery,loyalty and friendship. I think that this part could have been pared down somewhat as it is overly long and there are a lot of characters to keep track of. There are some gruesome moments and strong language as you would expect from this genre.
I am sure that this would make a spectacular film, especially as vampires are so in vogue at the moment. If you haven't time to read such a huge book I would really recommend the audio book version. Narrated by Scott Brick it is 36 hours long and would fill plenty of long train journeys.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I usually think I'm missing something when I read a book and really enjoy it, and then see that it got rubbish reviews. This time I'm quite sure that I'm right and those who don't like this book are wrong!
As almost every one on either side of The Passage debate has pointed out, the sudden change of plot a third of the way through the book does indeed jar, and it feels like someone's put two different books inside the same cover, but to say that the second part of the story is boring, or lacks any engaging characters, well, that's just plain silly. I was dismayed at the sudden end of the first part of the book. I had become really involved in the characters and the situation. The end was abrupt. Well, maybe it was meant to be, maybe the world is supposed to end unexpectedly. I found myself thinking in exclamation marks and question marks.
UH? !!!
And then you start again, new characters, new (and alien) situation, new world. So, it made sense to me that the second part of the book was different to the first, because it IS a different story. A less creative writer might have gone for the easy option of the expected course of plot development, but I think Mr Cronin tried something a little more daring and different, and I think to a large degree, if not totally, he succeeded.
I will be buying The Twelve when it comes out, and I don't care if I AM a bit thick, I will enjoy it.
As almost every one on either side of The Passage debate has pointed out, the sudden change of plot a third of the way through the book does indeed jar, and it feels like someone's put two different books inside the same cover, but to say that the second part of the story is boring, or lacks any engaging characters, well, that's just plain silly. I was dismayed at the sudden end of the first part of the book. I had become really involved in the characters and the situation. The end was abrupt. Well, maybe it was meant to be, maybe the world is supposed to end unexpectedly. I found myself thinking in exclamation marks and question marks.
UH? !!!
And then you start again, new characters, new (and alien) situation, new world. So, it made sense to me that the second part of the book was different to the first, because it IS a different story. A less creative writer might have gone for the easy option of the expected course of plot development, but I think Mr Cronin tried something a little more daring and different, and I think to a large degree, if not totally, he succeeded.
I will be buying The Twelve when it comes out, and I don't care if I AM a bit thick, I will enjoy it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have just finished reading 'The Passage' and was surprised to come online and find it had such mixed reception.
Before you begin 'The Passage', the first thing to bear in mind this is a chunky book. Not a veritable doorstop like Kings, 'The Stand' but still not a weekend read. It takes some reading and the style of writing, changes many times with different character emphasis so if you find yourself not enjoying a section of the story STICK WITH IT. I didn't connect with some characters as well as others so when the narrative concentrated on these characters the plot does slow down, there was 100-150 pages where I felt like I was walking through mud but once I bashed through I was whisked up again. Also to be remembered is that this is the start of a Trilogy. Cronin has a lot of foundations to lay here if the story is gonna keep its shape for another two books so trust in the Author, any background stuff is there for a reason so absorb and enjoy it.
As far as plot this book is great. The first section of the book is pretty bleak but it is about the world coming, more or less to an end. The American government have been working on manipulating a virus found in the rain-forest to create supreme soldiers that can be used as weapons, made out of 12 convicted murderers on Death Row. Then, the virus leaks out. Section 2, skip forward nearly 100 years and enter the main world of 'The Passage', a world not two dissimilar to that of, 'The Road' and 'The Stand', with one exception, Vampires. Although I use the term, 'Vampires', loosely as that is what the children of, 'The 12', characteristically, most resemble. From this point on the book follows the life of a group of survivors living in an impenetrable compound of light, safe from the 'Vampires', whose century old 'Safe Haven' is about to come to an end. Anyone who is a fan of Distopian Sci-Fi MUST read this book! Get it on your shelf next to McCarthy, Atwood and King. Anyone who thinks they might enjoy this book, give it a try, read the first section, if it doesn't grab you, give it to a friend. I guarantee with the second and third installment on the horizon, this Trilogy is going to get very big, be a part of it!
Before you begin 'The Passage', the first thing to bear in mind this is a chunky book. Not a veritable doorstop like Kings, 'The Stand' but still not a weekend read. It takes some reading and the style of writing, changes many times with different character emphasis so if you find yourself not enjoying a section of the story STICK WITH IT. I didn't connect with some characters as well as others so when the narrative concentrated on these characters the plot does slow down, there was 100-150 pages where I felt like I was walking through mud but once I bashed through I was whisked up again. Also to be remembered is that this is the start of a Trilogy. Cronin has a lot of foundations to lay here if the story is gonna keep its shape for another two books so trust in the Author, any background stuff is there for a reason so absorb and enjoy it.
As far as plot this book is great. The first section of the book is pretty bleak but it is about the world coming, more or less to an end. The American government have been working on manipulating a virus found in the rain-forest to create supreme soldiers that can be used as weapons, made out of 12 convicted murderers on Death Row. Then, the virus leaks out. Section 2, skip forward nearly 100 years and enter the main world of 'The Passage', a world not two dissimilar to that of, 'The Road' and 'The Stand', with one exception, Vampires. Although I use the term, 'Vampires', loosely as that is what the children of, 'The 12', characteristically, most resemble. From this point on the book follows the life of a group of survivors living in an impenetrable compound of light, safe from the 'Vampires', whose century old 'Safe Haven' is about to come to an end. Anyone who is a fan of Distopian Sci-Fi MUST read this book! Get it on your shelf next to McCarthy, Atwood and King. Anyone who thinks they might enjoy this book, give it a try, read the first section, if it doesn't grab you, give it to a friend. I guarantee with the second and third installment on the horizon, this Trilogy is going to get very big, be a part of it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thoroughly enjoyed
Rightly or wrongly I read some of the reviews on here just after I started reading "The Passage" and as a result I sped towards the time jump with a certain amount of trepidation. Read more
Published 20 hours ago by Wizz38
I was enthralled from start to finish....
So many people have written such 'wordy' reviews of this book that I thought I would keep this one short and sweet. "READ IT BECAUSE IT IS FANTASTIC". Read more
Published 4 days ago by The Honey Monster
Stick with it
I found this book slow to start with and like other people have said, it needs your full attention from the beginning. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Charlysdevil
Wonderful post-apocalyptic epic
If you enjoy dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction don't hesitate in buying this book, you're bound to enjoy it! Read more
Published 19 days ago by Alison
A required rite of Passage
Having been a long term post apocalyptic/ good story afficionado, I followed the good reviews and purchased this tome. What followed is a real humdinger of a tale. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Remeavithanatos
Confused!
I have almost finished this book and - rightly or wrongly - simultaneously read quite a number of one to five star Amazon reviews. Probably a mistake! Read more
Published 27 days ago by PCB
Gripping, Thought Provoking.
I'm half way through this book and I must say, it's not an easy read. But I like a challenge. What's challenging about it? Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. J. M. Foster
A must read
This is a gripping book that has to be one of my all time favourite reads. This really is a must read book.
Published 1 month ago by Robert
Really disappointing
This is my first review on Amazon, but as an avid reader and having read a number of outstanding books recently by the likes of Stephen King, Conn Iggulden, Elizabeth Haynes, C J... Read more
Published 1 month ago by PeterD
read it now and order the sequel
a great book and i look forward to part 2 ( The Twelve - released april 13th )You will not be able to put this book down - take a day of work and read it !
Published 2 months ago by pemsbooks
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