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adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Classism
Minor: Genocide, Racial slurs, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking
adventurous
funny
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Murder, Classism
Minor: Cannibalism, Alcohol, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one may require a reread to fully enjoy it. Perhaps I took too long of a pause in between fits of reading it. At times the language and diction went right over my head, but most of the time I found the craft of this book riveting. Overall I loved the story. It was compelling, messy, and fascinating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia
Minor: Body horror, Genocide, Slavery
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia
Minor: Cannibalism
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Utterly achy and cozy at the same time. Soft in the beginning with an underlying darkness that had me filled with questions but not racing myself to find the answers. Getting to know Graham Gore through the eyes of our protagonist was both charming, heartbreaking, and a wonderful amalgamation of a time gone and a time still developing.
As the book continues, the vignettes of life become more complicated and more palpable and suddenly many questions you had are answered and many questions you didn't have are discovered.
It's been awhile since I've felt this connection with a book that doesn't have romance as the main genre in how we think of the genre today. I am so out of practice with these genres (literally fiction/fantasy/sci-fi/spy thrillers) that I was worried I would not be able to get into this book. But it had enough of everything to cross genres that it both fit in everything and nothing.
It made me laugh, it made my heart ache, it had social commentary that I was not expecting. But I enjoyed every moment of it.
As the book continues, the vignettes of life become more complicated and more palpable and suddenly many questions you had are answered and many questions you didn't have are discovered.
It's been awhile since I've felt this connection with a book that doesn't have romance as the main genre in how we think of the genre today. I am so out of practice with these genres (literally fiction/fantasy/sci-fi/spy thrillers) that I was worried I would not be able to get into this book. But it had enough of everything to cross genres that it both fit in everything and nothing.
It made me laugh, it made my heart ache, it had social commentary that I was not expecting. But I enjoyed every moment of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Murder
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
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: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Such a clever idea deftly executed. When I first started the book (on audio, which I don’t think I’d recommend), I was a little nervous things would get cheesy or maybe kind of weird/icky, but I quickly found this kind of bonkers concept to be handled with nuance. Like it’s a book about time travel, which can get sticky conceptually, but that’s just the beginning. It’s a story about intergenerational trauma, survivor’s guilt, climate (and just generally the future) anxiety, about how we can change the future by changing the present. I loved the characterization of each character, they felt lived in and real (if sometimes a bit goofy). The writing was so beautiful and precise, there was humor and romance and poignant lines, making this absolutely a page turner. Reading it physically definitely was the way to go, I felt I missed too much by listening to it (especially when things got time-travelly-twisty). This was so fun to read while also remaining very thoughtful, a gem of the year for sure!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Kidnapping
Moderate: Genocide, Xenophobia
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Colonisation
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay, I enjoyed reading this book...I liked the mix of historical fiction and sci-fi, I thought the sex scenes were surprisingly hot, and the humor was dry which always gets a laugh from me. For the anime watchers reading this, it's a slice of life for sure. The ending was kinda roughshod... not a happy ending, not a sad ending, potentially a cliffhanger for a duology if she wanted. Ultimately an interesting concept and I'm glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Cannibalism, War