The Passage
Book description
Amy Harper Bellafonte is six years old and her mother thinks she's the most important person in the whole world. She is. Anthony Carter doesn't think he could ever be in a worse place than Death Row. He's wrong. FBI agent Brad Wolgast thinks something beyond imagination is coming. Itā¦
Why read it?
8 authors picked The Passage as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This book scratches my genre itch and is also āliteraryā at the same time. Croninās superb world-building is so subtle that you donāt realize that the bookās world and ours are separate until you are half-way through the book and see that there were clues all along the way.
From Stephen's list on dystopian and sci-fantasy novels.
I loved this one because it read like the kind of post-apocalyptic fiction Stephen King might have writtenāa sprawling novel of civilizational fall with a huge cast of characters on an enormous canvas that nonetheless tells intimate stories. Yes, itās technically a vampire novel and a pandemic novel, but unlike other stories in the genre (though Iām not sure this book belongs to a genre), it brings empathy. A heart. Because maybe the virals (the word āvampireā rarely appears in the text) arenāt evil but sick, which could be considered a metaphor for addiction, poverty, or any maligned social group.ā¦
From Richard's list on thrillers that are also literary novels.
I love an awesome end-of-the-world story, including this one about lab-made, escaped vampires that end civilization as we know it. Apocalyptic science fiction and vampire horror make a terrific combination.
Iāve read the series three times and this first book at least one extra time. The sense of doom as the apocalypse unfolds is suspense-filled and pulls the reader along at breakneck speed. I also love the complex and flawed characters.
From Lena's list on books that combine love, action, and speculative elements.
If you love The Passage...
I donāt think Iāve ever read a book that had me experiencing as many emotions as The Passage. Starting in present day and bouncing between now and 100 years in the future, this story navigates the humanity (and lack thereof) of survivors of a vampiric apocalypse. The Passage was tugging at my heartstrings from the first chapter, and the dystopian world Cronin built around the bookās epidemic completely sucked me in. I was dealing with major anxiety when I first read this book, and the gripping story was some of the only relief I could find. I couldnāt putā¦
From Cassandra's list on helping you escape reality.
This book made me want to throw it across the room many times, and I couldnāt recommend it more. Itās about a dangerous virus that escapes and quickly infects most of the world, turning the majority of the population into vampires. But not the cuddly, repenting typeāthe mindless, zombie-esque type. What gives this book edge is that itās an epic urban fantasy, spanning thousands of years, and offers interesting insight into how language and religion develop within human culture that blew my freaking mind.
From Katy's list on a fresh new take on urban fantasy.
It's difficult to place The Passage in a singular genre. Part dystopian, part horror, but far from the typical vampire or monster fare. The timeline spans for generations, and I can't fathom where the other books will lead the story. The author states that the inspiration for this story came from walks with his young daughter, who gave him the basis of the characters and plot. How cool is that?
From Brandon's list on dystopian books to binge read.
If you love Justin Cronin...
When COVID first arrived on the scene and the press was focused on the origins of the virus, I remembered The Passage. It opens with scientists conducting government research involving a virus derived from bats on humans, ostensibly to find a cure for cancer. Instead, they create a lethal virus that turns most of humanity into supercharged vampires who kill almost everyone on the planet reigning down terror for 100 years. I have to confess I did not read the entire trilogy, but the first book was captivating.
From Evette's list on being scared of the future (if you enjoy that).
A plague of vampires? Why not? This book is part of a trilogy but stands well on its own. In fact, I havenāt even read the other books in the trilogy. Maybe someday. The Passage was one of the first books Iād ever read that imagined vampirism as a global pandemic. And I ate it up. Of all the books on this list, The Passage is the least philosophical in its treatment of human nature. So if you came here for a purely apocalyptic adventure with lots of action, then this is your book.
From Nicholas' list on when human civilization collapses overnight.
If you love The Passage...
Want books like The Passage?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Passage.