A review by unfiltered_fiction
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I loved this book. The wry narrative style had me instantly hooked, and the infinitely varied, complex characters soon drew me in even deeper. The author shows immense dexterity in handling the tonal slalom between bloody and brutal scenes with moments of aching tenderness. The writing does leave the reader to put in some work; occasionally I found sections hard to follow, as the author leaves a fair few things off the page as ambiguous or unresolved. Those choices do make sense against the wider narrative approach and thematic exploration of truth and immutability, but this was a minor drawback for me as I find inference in fiction tricky to follow. Overall, this is a book rich in emotion, excitement and provocation; I'll sit for a good long while with the line that "It can get better, but you must allow yourself to imagine a world in which you are better." 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings