The Ministry of Time was a fun time (and mind) bending romp. A bit noir, a bit sci-fi, a bit romance. I don't think I've ever read anything like it before.

How do I even begin to describe this book??? It's like going on a roller coaster ride, not knowing where you are. Just when you think you have your bearings, everything is topsy-turvy again. I admit it did take a while to get going, but once it did, I was hooked. Well deserving of the GR best in Science Fiction award.

The Ministry of Time had an intriguing premise but ultimately fell flat for me. While I’m not a big sci-fi reader, I was drawn to the concept, yet the slow pacing and lack of connection to the characters made it a tough read. It’s a creative idea, but it didn’t hold my interest.

I don’t know how I feel about this one. It’s very sci-fi for me and the beginning is slightly confusing and hard to get into and the middle I enjoyed and then the end really got confusing… I think this is another book though that was very over hyped and just didn’t need to be. If you are into time travel and sci-fi stuff and history, I recommend.
I did really enjoy all of the characters and their banter and relationships. It was a little weird the old guys forming a relationship with someone new in the world but then fast forward to the end it makes sense. Idk again the end really made me not enjoy the book because it just got confusing.

Kaliane Bradley's The Ministry of Time is a captivating blend of historical fiction and time-travel adventure. The novel follows a young archivist who is unexpectedly recruited to work for a secret government agency that protects the timeline.

Bradley's vivid descriptions and meticulous historical research bring the past to life, transporting readers to different eras with ease. The characters are well-developed and endearing, with the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and personal growth forming the heart of the story.

The novel's exploration of time travel paradoxes and the impact of historical events on the present is both thought-provoking and entertaining. While the pacing may vary, the overall plot is engaging and full of surprises.

The Ministry of Time is a delightful read for fans of historical fiction and time-travel adventures. It's a perfect blend of historical accuracy, imaginative storytelling, and heartfelt emotion.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended.

Absolutely loved this unique and lovely story! The entire concept was so well-done and the story was un-put-down-able. Highly recomend.

I read this a while ago and was a little surprised to see that I gave it four stars instead of three. Not that it wasn’t good, but I remember some parts where it felt like a slog to get through it, and I know I didn’t feel as much for the romance… However, the premise is fantastic (that twist!) and I think the end really saved it for me.

This book did not work for me. IMHD, I'm not a huge sci-fi reader but thought the premise was interesting. The pace was slow and I didn't connect to the characters.

I loved this book! The time traveling aspect was so interesting and I really loved the idea of the time travelers and their bridges. I loved that it didn’t dip too much into the mechanics behind stuff. I consumed this book in two days.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

So incredibly boring that I could not finish. I wouldn’t really call this a romantic thriller. Just someone telling an old guy from the past how not to sound racist.

this started out as such a fun book! I enjoyed seeing Gore adjust to modern life, it’s a fun concept. but about 1/3 of the way in it quickly turns into more of a romance and that’s where it lost me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between them and would’ve preferred it just stay them being friends like in the first part of the bok

I love reading books with time travel, and was really excited to read this one. I've tried picking it up several times but I just can't get through it. I think this particular time travel adventure is just not for me. Unfortunately, it's a DNF for me, but I'm glad to see from the reviews that so many readers are enjoying it!

2.5/5
I really wanted to love this, esp since the blurb sounded so interesting. Unfortunately, by trying to do too much I think this story ended up falling short across the board. It reads more like slice of life romance with speculative elements that never quite feel developed or satisfying.

We follow a set of 'time ex-pats' pulled from various points in the past through a time door that the British government has commandeered and is using for...some purpose that we’re never told. We’re also never told why these particular people.

Anyways, our narrator is an unnamed “bridge”, basically a glorified government babysitter to one of the 5 expats, Graham, while he adjusts. Most of this expat’s characterization comes from the classic fish-out-of-water experiences the time travel genre loves: his amusing confusion over things like bikes, current fashion, and pop music. Overall, I did enjoy the characters themselves, esp some of the other expats, and their interactions with each other.

This book was such a let down for several reasons. First, the marketing and description were honestly a bit misleading. I was sold on a wild time travel ride but ended up with a book where very little *actually* happens.

The pacing was also completely off. Over 10 long chapters, we follow Graham and his bridge as they just basically go through regular life. I distinctly remember getting past 50% and asking myself how i was only that far and why this book was so damn long. Suddenly, the last quarter of the book turns into an action spy thriller (more like what i expected) that is completely rushed and then just… ends.

If the pacing had been better, I honestly wouldn’t have minded that the first parts of the book were more character-driven. My issue was that none of that time was used to explore any themes critically. The contrast of the bridge (who is half-Asian if I’m remembering correctly) and Graham (a white explorer who died in 1847 in a failed arctic expedition) could have been used to dive into so many themes that she barely touches on—history, colonialism, racism, gender, etc. Whenever these topics came up with Graham or with her Black coworker, it almost felt performative because they were just kind of left there.

I also hate when a magic system or, in this case, time travel isn’t explained in a way that makes sense because I find it lazy on the author’s part. This book should've devoted even a little time on the sci-fi speculative nature of the time travel bits.

On top of this, the writing itself was awkward and clunky. There were SO many similes/metaphors on every page, many of which did not make any sense when you stopped to read them back (“I was a doll, with no more inner intelligence than a bottle of water.” … what?). If the author just cut back on the amount of metaphors used, the book could’ve been significantly shorter and would’ve felt like less of a chore to read.

There were also a lot of weird word choices or phrases that felt like it was trying really hard to be poetic or deep, when in most cases the simpler word would've been better. These words took me out of the story because of how awkward they sounded

So yea, I wish this book had had much better editing because it really had the potential to be a fun, solid escapist read but instead it just dragged and by halfway through, I was ready for it to be over. I am glad I slogged through because the last quarter of the book where it turned into a spy thriller was the best part.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I am conflicted on what star rating to give, as this story line was not my thing, but it may be something you enjoy reading. Kaliane Bradley took some time and researched Graham Gore, a Royal Navy and polar explorer during the 1800's. I do appreciate she took the time to write a fun story on something she found interesting, thus creating 'The Ministry of Time'. However this story about time travel was not my thing. Due to the Ministry using assigned numbers for their expats (those who they extracted from the past and brought to the future) I found myself lost with the story for a little while trying to remember who was who by their assigned number. I felt the begging of the story was slow and need to set the book aside for a while. I would say this is due to the way my brain works and comprehends information. After about 25% into the story, I pulled out the audio to follow along with and I would say, my brain did better at compounding the story. Also after about 75% of the story it does pick up and become interesting and I found myself wanting to know how the story ends.

** Thank you NetGalley, Avid Reader Press/ Simon & Schuster Publishing, and Kaliane Bradley for an eARC copy of 'The Ministry of Time'.

Unfortunately this book did not work for me. There were too many plot holes and the pace was very slow. I enjoyed the writing but wanted more from the plot and more development from the characters.

In a near-future setting, an unnamed narrator introduces us to a unique group of “time ex-pats”—people taken from various historical eras through a time portal now under British government control for reasons unknown.

Our protagonist is assigned as a “bridge” (essentially a government-appointed chaperone) for one of these ex-pats, Graham, who was extracted from a failing Arctic expedition in the mid-1800s. Graham’s adjustment to the modern world offers plenty of classic fish-out-of-water moments, with his bewilderment over bicycles and pop music serving as the main source of humor.

The narrative unfolds across ten lengthy chapters, primarily following the protagonist and Graham—nicknamed “1847,” the year of his extraction—through the routines of daily life in modern London, with little action or purpose. Then, in the final stretch, the plot takes a sudden turn into an action-filled spy thriller before coming to an abrupt conclusion.

It was an interesting read, and I'm glad I tried it!

It took me months to finish this book, and honestly, it was a bit of a slog. I found myself wondering what the author was even trying to achieve—was it sci-fi, historical fiction, fantasy, contemporary romance, or a spy thriller? It felt like a confusing mishmash of all of those genres without really committing to any of them, resulting in a narrative that didn’t quite hold together.

The blurb promised excitement, especially with the time travel romance angle, but the execution was disappointingly average. While there were moments that echoed the Loki TV series, the time travel elements were muddled and unclear, making for a chaotic reading experience. By the time the plot started to gain some traction, it felt too late to salvage my interest.

As for the characters, they mostly fell flat—except for Graham, who stood out with some emotional depth and a well-rounded personality. I appreciated his blend of firmness and gentleness, along with his strong moral compass. It was refreshing to see him navigate new ideas with curiosity. However, I can’t even remember the name of the female lead, which speaks volumes about her one-dimensional portrayal.

The romance did redeem itself somewhat by the end, but the time travel subplot remained baffling. Overall, this was a hit-or-miss read for me, leaning more towards the latter. It felt like a potentially intriguing story that just didn’t hit the mark.