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novel_nibbles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed the I book so much I consumed it in a single sitting however it wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me. It felt like it was trying to do too many things- fish out of water comedy, thriller, time travel paradox. forbidden romance- and as a result I felt like I didn’t get enough of any of them.
I am interested to see what Bradley writes next
4/5
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Slavery, Death of parent, Drug use, Cannibalism, Blood, Racism, Colonisation, and Racial slurs
uniquelymace's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Grief, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Blood, Racial slurs, Cursing, Colonisation, Sexism, Body horror, Death, Racism, Homophobia, Murder, and Drug use
dionnesims's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Death, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Murder, Sexism, Violence, Cursing, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Minor: Slavery, Suicide, Drug use, Racism, Cannibalism, and War
nicklybear's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, Gun violence, Gore, Confinement, Murder, Grief, Racial slurs, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, and Alcoholism
Minor: Slavery, Vomit, Misogyny, War, Animal death, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, and Homophobia
essieruth's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Xenophobia, Grief, Confinement, Colonisation, Classism, Racism, Cannibalism, Vomit, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Addiction, Blood, Classism, Alcohol, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Slavery
aileron's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Racism, Racial slurs, and Grief
Minor: Slavery, War, Cannibalism, Animal death, Colonisation, Genocide, Misogyny, and Sexism
saltycoffee's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Drug use, Colonisation, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Classism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Genocide and Slavery
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Slavery, Drug use, Sexual content, Colonisation, Alcohol, Cannibalism, and Suicidal thoughts
coffeekitaab's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
The "Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley is "A time travel romance, a speculative spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingeniously constructed exploration of the nature of truth and power and the potential for love to change it."
The plot centres around a biracial British-Cambodian translator who is employed by the Ministry of Time, becoming one of 4 other officers responsible for facilitating the integration of historical figures into the modern day world. Specifically, she is assigned to manage Commander Graham Gore, who was part of the failed Franklin expedition to the Arctic in 1847.
The story follows a genre-bending tale that seamlessly merges elements of romantic comedy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. Central to the plot is a slow-burning romance that addresses and explores topics such as colonialism, slavery, inherited trauma, and racial identity within the narrative.
With the amalgamation of the two worlds, the historical figures from the past acclimatising to present day, there were so many moments where I would burst out into laughter at their bemusement, curiosity an often shock at just how much the world had changed from how they once knew it.
As the story progresses it does take on a more introspective tone and reflects poignantly on life and society.
The use of characters to bring sensitive issues to the fore was well handled and not preachy/crude in any way. The characters all felt relateable, their motivations and apprehensions were understandable and I love how they were fleshed out in the book - Margaret and Arthur, despite supporting characters made up some of my favourite moments in the book.
The aspects I struggled with was the background/history. Although in this book, it is basic education and readers can read up on it, from a purely subjective POV, where I did not have previous knowledge of the event/an understanding of the consequences, it felt like some concepts of the book went over my head and would feel jarring. The dual timeline with Gore during the Expedition made for great and valuable.insight into the experienc of the character but again, sometimes disrupted the flow of the book for me.
Overall, this was such a delightful read and at no point did I want to put it down. "The Ministry of Time" does not disappoint and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys time-travel, romantic comedy, with a underlying tone of substance and reflection. It definitely made for a hilarious and yet thought-provoking read. I applaud Bradley on a fantastic debut!
Moderate: Cannibalism, Gun violence, Animal death, Death, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, and Slavery