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adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
I really loved the concept of this book, and thought the different elements individually were very strong (the romance, the social commentary, the sci fi, the spy thriller ??)
However when it all came together, it felt at times like it was trying to do slightly too much in one, which could create some tonal whiplash (particularly in the final act, where all the action suddenly kicked off at once, seemingly out of nowhere).
Each individual element/subplot of the book was so so good, any one of them could have been the main focus, which was slightly it's downfall. When putting everything together, the different parts didn't quite get enough breathing space each. However, this did always leave me with the nice feeling of wanting more!
The characters were fantastic to follow - particularly the side ones. I defo need more books in their world to learn what happens to them next.
A enjoyable read which some truly stand-out moments, that occasionally get lost in ambition.
Also, the author really loves a metaphor.
However when it all came together, it felt at times like it was trying to do slightly too much in one, which could create some tonal whiplash (particularly in the final act, where all the action suddenly kicked off at once, seemingly out of nowhere).
Each individual element/subplot of the book was so so good, any one of them could have been the main focus, which was slightly it's downfall. When putting everything together, the different parts didn't quite get enough breathing space each. However, this did always leave me with the nice feeling of wanting more!
The characters were fantastic to follow - particularly the side ones. I defo need more books in their world to learn what happens to them next.
A enjoyable read which some truly stand-out moments, that occasionally get lost in ambition.
Also, the author really loves a metaphor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Colonisation
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
I'm sorry, but this book tries so many genres, from romance to comedy to sci-fi to spy thiller, that it ended up overall being a mess. The prose felt off, with many metaphors/similes that just didn't make sense that got in the way of the actual narrative.
I was also bored throughout most of this, in a way that I feel that the book was falsely advertised. There's very little sci-fi to be seen in this with little regard to how the time travel works in this world, I didn't find it humorous enough to be considered comedic, the spy elements felt tacked on last minute and the romance simply did nothing for me.
I kinda wish that this book could have just focused more on the characters that are out of time. My favourite parts of the book were Graham, Arthur and Maggie hanging out and experiencing the 21st century together(I would also be totally down for reading a book solely focused on Maggie, love the idea of a lesbian from the 17th century being able to exist as herself in modern times).
I also found the narrator to be rather dislikable and I was rather irritated with how obtuse and manipulative she was to other characters and how she really doesn't experience much growth or consequences for her actions(and don't get me started on Adela being her from the future, that raises so many plot holes I don't want to spend time covering)
I did find the exploration of her hertitage of being British-Cambodian and the child of a refugee interesting, but with how much this book tried to cover I would have prefered to have a whole book to focus solely on that. Also I must say the way the narrator and the plot treat Simellia, the only black character in the book, felt really off to me both in how the narrator dismisses Simellia's challenges with racism as one of the only black employees at the ministry and especially how it turns outshe's the traitor who, to be honest, was right considering how in the future the narrator makes things so much worse globally but while the narrator gets off bascially scott free for her actions, Simellia will be killed if she appears in public again.
I especially wasn't fond of the romance between her and Graham Gore, there was a very apparent imbalance in the relationship where she felt rather controlling about him, almost trying to mold him into the type of person she would date that just put me off the idea of it. It made the ending whereGraham realises he's being manipulated and leaves her only then to send a note saying that he still loves her while she has basically learned nothing feel completely unearned.
There's also something about writing an explicit romance with an historical figure who died horribly that just gives me the ick. It comes off as in poor taste. I kept thinking throughout how I wish Graham could have been the main character instead, as the small chapters we see from his perspective are very introspective.
In all, this is a book that tries so many things and yet fails at being an engaging narrative.
I was also bored throughout most of this, in a way that I feel that the book was falsely advertised. There's very little sci-fi to be seen in this with little regard to how the time travel works in this world, I didn't find it humorous enough to be considered comedic, the spy elements felt tacked on last minute and the romance simply did nothing for me.
I kinda wish that this book could have just focused more on the characters that are out of time. My favourite parts of the book were Graham, Arthur and Maggie hanging out and experiencing the 21st century together(I would also be totally down for reading a book solely focused on Maggie, love the idea of a lesbian from the 17th century being able to exist as herself in modern times).
I also found the narrator to be rather dislikable and I was rather irritated with how obtuse and manipulative she was to other characters and how she really doesn't experience much growth or consequences for her actions
I did find the exploration of her hertitage of being British-Cambodian and the child of a refugee interesting, but with how much this book tried to cover I would have prefered to have a whole book to focus solely on that. Also I must say the way the narrator and the plot treat Simellia, the only black character in the book, felt really off to me both in how the narrator dismisses Simellia's challenges with racism as one of the only black employees at the ministry and especially how it turns out
I especially wasn't fond of the romance between her and Graham Gore, there was a very apparent imbalance in the relationship where she felt rather controlling about him, almost trying to mold him into the type of person she would date that just put me off the idea of it. It made the ending where
There's also something about writing an explicit romance with an historical figure who died horribly that just gives me the ick. It comes off as in poor taste. I kept thinking throughout how I wish Graham could have been the main character instead, as the small chapters we see from his perspective are very introspective.
In all, this is a book that tries so many things and yet fails at being an engaging narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Murder, Lesbophobia
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, War
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Story, ending, concept and the idea was great. The pacing, however, wasn't and it was confusing at times. I also don't like how the historical figures were after actual historical figures
Adela being the FMC in the future!? Best plot twist. I immediately knew Simmelia was the mole tho
Adela dying? Authur dying? No. Quinten was sad but also made sense. And the ending!?Did they meet? Get together!? Help!
Adela dying? Authur dying? No. Quinten was sad but also made sense. And the ending!?Did they meet? Get together!? Help!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Lesbophobia
Minor: Torture, Police brutality, Cannibalism
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Cannibalism, Lesbophobia
Minor: Animal death, Genocide, Slavery, Colonisation
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Cannibalism
Minor: Drug use, Genocide, Homophobia, Slavery, Alcohol, War
adventurous
emotional
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Cannibalism
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Complicated
‘But I wrote it down because I need you to bear witness to it. He was here, by and with and in my body. He lives in me like trauma does. If you ever fall in love, you’ll be a person who was in love for the rest of your life.’
As a piece of RPF, incredible. As a piece of speculative lit fic radio 2 book club book, incredible. As a slightly mismatched layering of these two things on top of one another, a bit less enjoyable for me personally - but still a lot to love!
As a piece of RPF, incredible. As a piece of speculative lit fic radio 2 book club book, incredible. As a slightly mismatched layering of these two things on top of one another, a bit less enjoyable for me personally - but still a lot to love!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really good fun read. I loved the characters and the relationships. I loved the ambition. I can't say that the time travel timelines or the aims of the ministry made sense at any point. The foreshadowing of what happened between the protagonist and one of the other bridges just didn't make any sense when it happened, and although it explained later the earlier part just looked like a clunky set up for what eventually happened. All that said, I really enjoyed it. The personal stuff interweaving what happened to Graham on the mission with the modern day was really effective. Messages about climate change were powerful. And I found the thread about empire and racism really interesting even if it was a bit confusing as it related to the plot. The relationship between the narrator and Graham and the other time traveller was adorable.
I think a lot of people didn't like the ending but I found it satisfying.
I think a lot of people didn't like the ending but I found it satisfying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Murder
Minor: Racism, Cannibalism
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Five individuals are taken from the past and must integrate in modern society. We follow one individual and their caretaker for the first year of their integration. Along the way there is romance and intrigue.
I enjoyed the entire book. I felt that our protagonist, the caretaker, was a convincingly human character. I also thought that the romance aspects felt natural and unforced. I also liked the conspiracy and intrigue that accompanied the implications of government control of time travel. The prose was smooth, the side characters had depth. All around a very good book.
I enjoyed the entire book. I felt that our protagonist, the caretaker, was a convincingly human character. I also thought that the romance aspects felt natural and unforced. I also liked the conspiracy and intrigue that accompanied the implications of government control of time travel. The prose was smooth, the side characters had depth. All around a very good book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Violence, Cannibalism