Scan barcode
A review by katmystery
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thought-provoking, challenging, and sad.
Some people have compared this to Outlander. It's really not- while Outlander tells the story of a woman from 1940s Britain adapting to 18th century Scotland and falling in love with someone who refuses to budge on his 18th century worldview, The Ministry of Time follows a woman from the near future helping a man from 19th century Britain adapt to modern life and challenge and change his 19th century worldview as they fall in love. Outlander is a historical romance with a dash of fantasy. This is literary science fiction with a dash of romance, and it is extremely political. It's a commentary on the consequences of rationalizing and blindly following orders and who has the privilege to be treated as a human. It's about the unparalleled power of hope to better the future. It is not lighthearted.
The book improves as it goes. The first half meanders around, a mess from a tonal perspective, jumping between silly scenes with characters from the past in the modern world to reflections about the generational trauma of the Cambodian Genocide. I wasn't sure Bradley would be able to tie it together successfully by the end, but she absolutely did.
If you enjoy character-driven sci-fi, political commentary, time-travel-adjacent storylines, and history and don't mind a story that takes a while to find its footing, give it a try.
Some people have compared this to Outlander. It's really not- while Outlander tells the story of a woman from 1940s Britain adapting to 18th century Scotland and falling in love with someone who refuses to budge on his 18th century worldview, The Ministry of Time follows a woman from the near future helping a man from 19th century Britain adapt to modern life and challenge and change his 19th century worldview as they fall in love. Outlander is a historical romance with a dash of fantasy. This is literary science fiction with a dash of romance, and it is extremely political. It's a commentary on the consequences of rationalizing and blindly following orders and who has the privilege to be treated as a human. It's about the unparalleled power of hope to better the future. It is not lighthearted.
The book improves as it goes. The first half meanders around, a mess from a tonal perspective, jumping between silly scenes with characters from the past in the modern world to reflections about the generational trauma of the Cambodian Genocide. I wasn't sure Bradley would be able to tie it together successfully by the end, but she absolutely did.
If you enjoy character-driven sci-fi, political commentary, time-travel-adjacent storylines, and history and don't mind a story that takes a while to find its footing, give it a try.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cannibalism