Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder
Moderate: Racism, Cannibalism
Minor: Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Xenophobia
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
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
Minor: Murder
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Brilliant read so original I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and characters and above all the ministry of time.
Want more… what characters enjoyed the all 1847 gore them all.
Want more… what characters enjoyed the all 1847 gore them all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
The premise was interesting and I enjoyed the first half of the book, but kinda lost interest once the romance started, I found it cringe tbh for some reason
I will say that I didn't see that plot twist coming, but the ending was messy and it got annoying that the narrator was feeling sorry for herself for so long 🤷♀️
Also didn't care for the chapters about Gore, so ended up skipping them every time, sorry not sorry!
I will say that I didn't see that plot twist coming, but the ending was messy and it got annoying that the narrator was feeling sorry for herself for so long 🤷♀️
Also didn't care for the chapters about Gore, so ended up skipping them every time, sorry not sorry!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Deportation
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A very unique and interesting take on time travel. However, I think the conversations about race and colonialism fell flat. The author didn’t go as deep into that commentary as I thought she was going to.
Also, aside from Graham, the characters felt one-dimensional. And, I don’t mind an unnamed narrator when it’s done well. In this case, it wasn’t. The main character was already flat enough, so making her nameless didn’t help.
On the plus side, this book has some of the best sex scenes I’ve ever read. They were sexy without being cringy or smutty. Writing good sex scenes is not an easy thing to do. Major props to Kaliane Bradley for that!
Also, aside from Graham, the characters felt one-dimensional. And, I don’t mind an unnamed narrator when it’s done well. In this case, it wasn’t. The main character was already flat enough, so making her nameless didn’t help.
On the plus side, this book has some of the best sex scenes I’ve ever read. They were sexy without being cringy or smutty. Writing good sex scenes is not an easy thing to do. Major props to Kaliane Bradley for that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Sexism
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