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meggiemeggie52's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Listen, I'm not a sci-fi girlie, but I wanted to branch out from my go-to genre (romance)--and this was said to have some romance so I thought it was a good starting point.
Maybe it's just because I don't read this genre often, but I found the first two-thirds so hard to get into. There are only 10 chapters (plus a few pages before each that give an account from Graham's perspective), and they're LONG, which made it feel like it was taking forever to get through. Sometimes it got hard to follow plot-wise, but that's only partly because of the long chapters and mostly because I'm not a sci-fi girlie.
That being said, I really liked the characters--especially Graham and Maggie--though I found the narrator kind of felt a bit like an unreliable narrator at times (though maybe that was the point?). And I was genuinely surprised by a few of the plot twists at the end!
TLDR: I didn't dislike it, but it's not something I'll reread. Chapters were too long, but really liked the characters.
Maybe it's just because I don't read this genre often, but I found the first two-thirds so hard to get into. There are only 10 chapters (plus a few pages before each that give an account from Graham's perspective), and they're LONG, which made it feel like it was taking forever to get through. Sometimes it got hard to follow plot-wise, but that's only partly because of the long chapters and mostly because I'm not a sci-fi girlie.
That being said, I really liked the characters--especially Graham and Maggie--though I found the narrator kind of felt a bit like an unreliable narrator at times (though maybe that was the point?). And I was genuinely surprised by a few of the plot twists at the end!
TLDR: I didn't dislike it, but it's not something I'll reread. Chapters were too long, but really liked the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Cannibalism, and Racism
Minor: War, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
nebulous_tide's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The time travel in this book makes little sense. But that's okay, because it's simply a device to reach the point, which is less about time travel and more about people.
There are some very well-presented insights into culture and cultural transition. Some of my favourite parts of this book were when past and present attitudes were compared.
The pace was a bit off in the middle - lots of rehashing the same ground. But the end made up for it. A solid 4/5.
There are some very well-presented insights into culture and cultural transition. Some of my favourite parts of this book were when past and present attitudes were compared.
The pace was a bit off in the middle - lots of rehashing the same ground. But the end made up for it. A solid 4/5.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War, Cannibalism, Xenophobia, Murder, and Confinement
caitlin_bookchats's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wish the book had had a stronger single thesis, or perhaps I am simply reading it wrong.
The first half was delightful and because I had seen only mixed reviews about the book I kept wondering "what is going to go wrong in the second half?"
Then I guessed something that, I'm not certain the author is really hiding from the reader, and I thought I know what would mar the ending. But that element was used more interestingly than I expected.
What really made this a three star for me and not something higher is that the first 70% or so of the book felt like it was building towards something narratively and thematically but ultimately that was messy. I think the messiness might work for the narrative but I wanted more clarity around theme.
The first half was delightful and because I had seen only mixed reviews about the book I kept wondering "what is going to go wrong in the second half?"
Then I guessed something that, I'm not certain the author is really hiding from the reader, and I thought I know what would mar the ending. But that element was used more interestingly than I expected.
What really made this a three star for me and not something higher is that the first 70% or so of the book felt like it was building towards something narratively and thematically but ultimately that was messy. I think the messiness might work for the narrative but I wanted more clarity around theme.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual content
Minor: Colonisation, Racial slurs, Homophobia, War, and Cannibalism
kelly_e's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Title: The Ministry of Time
Author: Kaliane Bradley
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: 2.50
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Creative • Clunky • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
A civil servant starts working as a 'bridge' - a liaison, helpmeet and housemate - in an experimental project that brings expatriates from the past into the twenty-first century. This is a science-fiction story.
In a London safehouse in the 2020s, a disorientated Victorian polar explorer chain-smokes while listening to Spotify and learning about political correctness. This is a comedy.
During a long, sultry summer - as the shadows around them grow long and dangerous - two people fall in love, against all odds. This is a romance.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The Ministry of Time was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases. The premise sounded fantastic, unlike anything I'd read before. I certainly had high hopes when I was gifted an ARC, and even more so after it was announced as a GMA bookclub selection. I definitely couldn't avoid all of the hype surrounding this one.
Unlike some other reviews, I thought it started really strongly. I was interested and the concept was fascinating. However, the tone and direction completely shifted several times, especially in the final third, making it feel like a completely different book and story each time. I believe I'd have liked it more if it had kept the same trajectory as the beginning and if I'd gotten to spend more time with each of the characters rather than focusing primarily on one.
Equal parts time travel, romance, and spy thriller, this novel tries to do a lot and really ended up not doing anything at all. It needed more character development, more editing, and more cohesiveness. The lack of character depth, made it hard to believe the romance. With very little direction in the writing, from one page to the next, I often felt like pieces of the story were missing.
There is a lot of social commentary sprinkled into this story. From colonialism and racism to power and sexuality to climate change and corruption, the author probably should have picked a couple areas to focus on rather than trying to do it all. It convolutes the actual story and maybe that was the author's intent. It just didn't work for me.
A criticism I have seen is that the middle is bogged down with historical details. I, however, liked learning about the expedition and Graham's life. Given his character is based on a real person, I think it was necessary to include these details in order to give the reader context. It was also interesting take on seeing this early explorer in the present day.
The Ministry of Time had all of the right ingredients, yet they didn't come together in a way that worked. I have to commend the marketing team as they have done their jobs in promoting this book and I have no doubts many people will love it. The execution just wasn't there to make this book a stand out for me. My opinion is definitely the unpopular one, so I would say give it a shot if it's something that interests you. I'd definitely be curious to read something else written by Kaliane Bradley in the future.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• fancy language
• stories that don't fit into a box
⚠️ CW: death, grief, violence, gun violence, war, murder, blood, injury/injury detail, cannibalism, colonization, genocide, racism, racial slurs, xenophobia, homophobia, sexism, misogyny, sexual content, drug use, alcohol, cursing
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"If you ever fall in love, you’ll be a person who was in love for the rest of your life."
"It can get better, but you must allow yourself to imagine a world in which you are better."
"Forgiveness and hope are miracles. They let you change your life. They are time travel."
Author: Kaliane Bradley
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: 2.50
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Creative • Clunky • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
A civil servant starts working as a 'bridge' - a liaison, helpmeet and housemate - in an experimental project that brings expatriates from the past into the twenty-first century. This is a science-fiction story.
In a London safehouse in the 2020s, a disorientated Victorian polar explorer chain-smokes while listening to Spotify and learning about political correctness. This is a comedy.
During a long, sultry summer - as the shadows around them grow long and dangerous - two people fall in love, against all odds. This is a romance.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The Ministry of Time was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases. The premise sounded fantastic, unlike anything I'd read before. I certainly had high hopes when I was gifted an ARC, and even more so after it was announced as a GMA bookclub selection. I definitely couldn't avoid all of the hype surrounding this one.
Unlike some other reviews, I thought it started really strongly. I was interested and the concept was fascinating. However, the tone and direction completely shifted several times, especially in the final third, making it feel like a completely different book and story each time. I believe I'd have liked it more if it had kept the same trajectory as the beginning and if I'd gotten to spend more time with each of the characters rather than focusing primarily on one.
Equal parts time travel, romance, and spy thriller, this novel tries to do a lot and really ended up not doing anything at all. It needed more character development, more editing, and more cohesiveness. The lack of character depth, made it hard to believe the romance. With very little direction in the writing, from one page to the next, I often felt like pieces of the story were missing.
There is a lot of social commentary sprinkled into this story. From colonialism and racism to power and sexuality to climate change and corruption, the author probably should have picked a couple areas to focus on rather than trying to do it all. It convolutes the actual story and maybe that was the author's intent. It just didn't work for me.
A criticism I have seen is that the middle is bogged down with historical details. I, however, liked learning about the expedition and Graham's life. Given his character is based on a real person, I think it was necessary to include these details in order to give the reader context. It was also interesting take on seeing this early explorer in the present day.
The Ministry of Time had all of the right ingredients, yet they didn't come together in a way that worked. I have to commend the marketing team as they have done their jobs in promoting this book and I have no doubts many people will love it. The execution just wasn't there to make this book a stand out for me. My opinion is definitely the unpopular one, so I would say give it a shot if it's something that interests you. I'd definitely be curious to read something else written by Kaliane Bradley in the future.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• fancy language
• stories that don't fit into a box
⚠️ CW: death, grief, violence, gun violence, war, murder, blood, injury/injury detail, cannibalism, colonization, genocide, racism, racial slurs, xenophobia, homophobia, sexism, misogyny, sexual content, drug use, alcohol, cursing
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"If you ever fall in love, you’ll be a person who was in love for the rest of your life."
"It can get better, but you must allow yourself to imagine a world in which you are better."
"Forgiveness and hope are miracles. They let you change your life. They are time travel."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Genocide, War, Homophobia, Misogyny, Blood, Racial slurs, Murder, Xenophobia, Sexism, Cannibalism, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content, Drug use, Cursing, and Alcohol
alexrobinsonsupergenius's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, Confinement, Alcohol, Colonisation, Death, and Drug use
laraamaee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Extremely compelling, exciting, and an interesting insight into Britain’s possible future(s).
As other reviews have said, the actual logistics of time travel are not explored in depth, but to be honest I don’t mind because I’m not a massive sci-fi reader…I was more captivated by Bradley’s writing; very metaphor-heavy and striking.
I could have read about the “expats” adjusting to the modern-day forever. I wish there was more of that!
As other reviews have said, the actual logistics of time travel are not explored in depth, but to be honest I don’t mind because I’m not a massive sci-fi reader…I was more captivated by Bradley’s writing; very metaphor-heavy and striking.
I could have read about the “expats” adjusting to the modern-day forever. I wish there was more of that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Murder, Gore, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body horror, Racial slurs, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia
littlelizzieborden's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Racism, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Classism, Colonisation, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, War, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cannibalism
nell_nell0's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Racism
nailartklaudia's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
uniquelymace's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Grief, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Blood, Racial slurs, Cursing, Colonisation, Sexism, Body horror, Death, Racism, Homophobia, Murder, and Drug use