Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

49 reviews

cassielaj's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book is fantastic — the writing sparkles, the characters lodge themselves in your heart and mind, and the premise is so exciting and original! I loved the way Bradley balances the bureaucracy of the Ministry, the excitement of time travel and the expats adapting to the 21st century, and a bit of intrigue and mystery. In addition to being cleverly plotted to the point where I was making these faces at the end 🥺😭🫢🤨, this book addresses themes like colonialism, displacement, legacy, morality, and racism in a unique and thought-provoking way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Murder

Minor: Cannibalism

himpersonal's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Confused about all the hype. It was a good story, though I somewhat disliked the way it was told as well as a few of the characters. Would’ve been ok if I’d never read this book. I mean, it wasn’t inspiring or provocative or poignant or exciting. It was an ok book. So why all the frenzy? I feel like I’m missing something…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War

cheyanne111222's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional funny reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Medical content, War

Minor: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Deportation

abicaro17's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I wanted to like this book SO bad! Graham Gore is a commander for the British Navy who after getting lost in an Arctic expedition gets taken to present day Britain by The Ministry of Time. The main character (who apparently doesn't have a name??? wtf) works as the bridge between Gore and modern day culture and concepts. The issue with this book is %100 the writing and characters. The concept of this book is incredible and if it achieved what it promised this would probably be my favorite book of the year. Unfortunately, this was not only unromantic, unfunny, and boring but it was also so confusing. Gore shows more interest in his best friend Arthur than he does the FMC. They have less than zero chemistry together and it baffles me that she spends like most of the book basically writing in her diary about how handsome he is and how she loves him. He basically only ever talks to her like a roommate even when they hookup. Gore was the most well developed and yet he still fell so flat as a character. The FMC was a one dimensional follower and never decided anything on her own. I was rooting for the bad guys at the end. I fucking hate that I didn't like this book but its just so poorly written it was basically mental torture to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation, Pandemic/Epidemic

softanimal's review against another edition

5.0

emotional 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

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Yet another new favorite! This has been a great year for me in reading newly published books. I thinks this one's best without knowing much going in so I'll just say, best time travel I've read in a long time and very loveable characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Cannibalism, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma

Minor: Drug use, Rape, Colonisation

dkamada's review against another edition

5.0

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

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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

town_scar's review against another edition

4.25

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

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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.

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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

zombiezami's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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Beautiful writing. The ending felt a bit rushed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Vomit, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Genocide, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Slavery, War

skyfluff's review against another edition

3.0

challenging emotional mysterious tense slow-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: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Blood, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism

amanda_mh's review against another edition

3.0

challenging funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I really liked the concept of this book- I thought it was really cool having these ‘expats’ pulled from their time period and be integrating in modern society. The beginning was quite comedic and fun as our nameless main character was introducing Commander Gore to the 21st century conveniences. I’ve lately been into Sci-Fi books so this was definitely up my alley, it made me think and had me guessing the entire time I did not see the ending coming at all. It is more of a character study less action, and you are never really sure what is going on with the ministry which I liked. 

I built up a major glossary while reading this book, many new words I did not know… which made it challenging to read as I looked up words every few pages(and I read a lot of different books). The author really wanted and tried to back everything into this book about the modern world. 
 It’s worth looking into this book if sci-fi time travel is your thing, and check trigger warnings too! Overall glad I read it and definitely has kept me interested in reading more books featuring time travel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation, Classism