I first saw this book in my local library and was curious enough to take it home, a good move on my part since it turned out to be one of the best books that I have read this year.

I'm not much into vampires and apocolyptic tales, but this one caught and held me from the first chapter. Justin Cronin is an amazing storyteller with this book (the 2nd in the series isn't as well written). They say that those who can't, teach. Justin Cronin proves that wrong. If you were starting to think there are no good books out there anymore, read this one. You won't be disappointed.

i started this right after the hunger games phenomenon. so i was looking for a book with the same exciting fast paced nature. the reviews on this book are extremely high with exceptions of a few negative. *****what drove me insane is the soft cover version the print is tiny....WHY???***** i have great vision and it took my eyes chapters to adjust to the print. i kept reading the wrong sentence the first quarter of the book was really good (ex: wolgast, amy, lacey, doyle and carter) great set up for the story to follow the half way to point was a drag. for some reason i could not keep straight all the characters. honestly there was so many characters and their povs that i could not keep up. it also dragged quite a bit here. last quarter amazing zipped through like it was nothing. by this time i was use to the characters and who was who. use of nick names mixed with their actual names can be confusing in general good book. i think readers will enjoy it. great post apocalyptic story. i can see why they will make it into a movie. it will be great on screen. i do agree with one past review that 100 pages could have been cut out- totally unnecessary for some details. i didn't find it as creepy as past readers, but it was intense. if you are looking for a series to get into that is post apocalyptic, end of the world, things that go bump in the night this is it. at the time i was definitely sure i would not getting the second one. as i have finished it now i stand to be corrected i will be getting "the twelve" when it hit shelves in the fall.

This book felt like looking into a keyhole. At the beginning you think you know exactly where the story is going and you know all the characters, then suddenly the doors are blown off and an entire other world opens up. The writing is fantastic, the story is incredibly engaging, and Cronin manages to take a genre and subject that have been used and reused to death and make it his own and breath a whole new life into it. I actually dropped the book at a certain twist. I can't recommend this story enough.

This book was a very in depth read. When I picked this book up I was excited as I love the feel of a thick book wondering how far it will draw me in. And this book drew me in. The plot while familiar was enthralling. The characters were inspiring and motivating to see how they dealt with challenges in an apocalyptic future that we could never imagine and yet we wonder whether it's coming. I highly recommend it as it was very entertaining and perfect to sit on the beach or enjoy on a wintery day as you are drawn into the life and experiences of these survivors.

I've got to say, when I first started reading this my first reaction was, "Wow!" Cronin's novel definitely looks like a challenge of a read, but instead he has created something that could whisk you away into a disturbing, and frighteningly possible (due to all the secret stuff we don't know about the government), apocalyptic future. I think one of the things that I enjoyed most is how at times the action and storyline was so well written and so moving that I actually voiced my astonishment. From scenes that were truly heartbreaking, to scenes full of so much action and suspense that I had to put the book down for a sec just to collect my emotions. Believe me, when I first started reading it I was kind of weary, since it is nearly 800 (thin) pages long. But, what fascinates me is how quickly I went through it, not noticing that I'd gone through a hundred pages before turning in for the night. The reason why I didn't give The Passage a five is because it started out a bit slow. I'd heard good things about this novel and nearly nothing bad, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and continued along. I was not disappointed, since the events that define the novel shortly after the fifty or so pages. Masterfully written. Relatable and strong characters. Spine tingling moments of awe. If you're looking for that next good apocalyptic/non-sparkly vamp read, then definitely check this one out. You won't regret it. p.s. The ending will leave you guessing enough to excitedly await The Twelve.

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and being a fan of vampire novels I was very excited to give it a try. I was not disappointed. I felt this book did a wonderful job of putting the scare back into the vampire genre, while at the same time pulling on the other human emotions. This was a book I could not put down and I can't wait until the next one!!

Te story is based on a subject that has been used and reused so many times...but the quality of the writing is simply remarquable. The author was able to immerse me in the vision he had of this world....and of this EPIC adventure. Can't wait to read the other books...characters are well developped, to a point where you care about them. However, there is sometimes a LOT of details..which can be frustrating because you get so anxious to know the development of the story but are slowed down by the details.

Addictive. This book is an apocalyptic vampire thriller, but these aren't your "Twilight" vampires. This epic horror story chronicles the devastating fall and the tentative re-birth of mankind. This is not a quick read, with numerous characters and locales, but it is entirely satisfying and exciting. If you only have a few minutes to read, think before you start this book. Otherwise, all of your other activities will fall by the wayside. I did not want this book to end, and did not know it was a proposed trilogy when I started it. I am VERY excited about the continuation.

This novel makes absolutely ZERO sense. It is a rambling excuse for a novel and it makes me sick to think Cronin is profiting from this. He must have anxiety, wondering when someone's gonna break down his door and call him out for the fraud he is. This was a waste of not only my precious reading time, but also my money