This was an interesting read for me. I was totally invested in the beginning, got kind of lost in the early-middle, but then probably about 60% of the way through, I became invested in it again. I loved the premise of the book and think it was done pretty well. There were times that I was confused, but I think wrapping your head around time travel can often be a little confusing.

I thought the characters from the past were very entertaining, and I loved the scenes with them, especially when several of them were gathered together. I enjoyed the relationship between the main character and Graham Gore, who she was the "bridge" for (a bridge was a person in present-day that was assigned to someone from the past to help them acclimate to the current time period).

This book was sometimes character driven, and sometimes plot driven. It's a mix of all different genres: speculative fiction, mystery, part spy thriller, and a hint of romance.

Overall it was an entertaining read and one that I'm glad I pushed through to finish (I had considered DNFing about 40% of the way through because I just wasn't invested). I'm probably in the neighborhood of 3.5 stars (which means I really liked it), rounding up to 4 for this review.

Thank you to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley is a breathtaking exploration of history, adventure, and the complexities of time travel. Bradley masterfully weaves together a captivating narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The story centers around the enigmatic Ministry of Time, a clandestine organization tasked with preserving the integrity of history by preventing unauthorized time travel and correcting historical anomalies. As the protagonist, Agent Emily Caldwell, navigates through different time periods, Bradley skillfully brings to life a diverse array of settings, from ancient civilizations to pivotal moments in human history.

What sets "The Ministry of Time" apart is its meticulous attention to detail and historical accuracy. Bradley seamlessly integrates real historical events and figures into the narrative, offering readers a compelling blend of fact and fiction. Whether it's rubbing shoulders with Leonardo da Vinci in Renaissance Italy or witnessing the fall of the Roman Empire firsthand, each time-traveling escapade feels immersive and authentic.

However, it's not just the historical elements that make "The Ministry of Time" such a captivating read. Bradley also excels at crafting well-developed characters that readers can't help but root for. Agent Caldwell is a formidable protagonist, with a blend of intelligence, wit, and vulnerability that makes her journey all the more compelling. The dynamic between Caldwell and her fellow agents adds depth to the story, as they grapple with moral dilemmas and personal conflicts while carrying out their mission.

Furthermore, Bradley's prose is elegant and evocative, painting vivid pictures of each time period and drawing readers deeper into the story with every page. From the bustling streets of ancient Athens to the serene landscapes of feudal Japan, the vivid descriptions transport readers to distant worlds and immerse them in the sights, sounds, and sensations of each era.

Overall, "The Ministry of Time" is a tour de force of storytelling that will delight fans of historical fiction, science fiction, and adventure alike. With its gripping plot, richly drawn characters, and meticulous attention to historical detail, Kaliane Bradley's novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers long after they've turned the final page. Highly recommended for anyone seeking an exhilarating journey through the annals of time.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is a first-person POV contemporary sci-fi following a civil servant who works for the Ministry and Graham Gore, a sailor from the failed Franklin Expedition in 1879, who is brought to the present day. The civil servant is Graham’s bridge and housemate and later his romantic interest as he learns more about the world since his time.

We never get the civil servant’s name as she is our POV character and she isn’t addressed by name. Our unnamed narrator is a biracial Cambodian-British woman who spends a decent chunk of her narration discussing different labels (‘refugee’ vs ‘immigrant’), being biracial and her family history (her grandfather was a political figure back in Cambodia), and different social movements (such as Black Lives Matter). It’s integrated in a way that doesn’t feel preachy but instead feels organic to the character and her Voice and gives us an exploration of one point of view regarding identity.

For Graham, he behaves in a way that is consistent with the time period he comes from but he also does grow and change as he learns more about the new time he’s in. Some of his language and behaviors change but he always smokes cigarettes when he’s stressed and he has some moments in his relationship with our POV character regarding sex and romance that feel old-fashioned to us but feel right to him. Of course, some of the language he and the other ‘expats’ (the people brought to the future) use is outdated and some of it is now recognized as offensive, but it’s handled well.

The romance between the narrator and Graham is a slowburn and we get some discussions around Queerness as it was treated in the past due to Graham having feelings for a woman from the era of the Black Plague who was a closeted lesbian and another time traveler, Arthur, who is in love with Graham. What I really liked about the romance was how Graham’s Victorian sensibilities come forward, with him being more prone to wanting the lights to be off and there being not shame but a kind of shyness towards sex and even discussing it.

I would recommend this to readers looking for a sci-fi grounded in our present time discussing current issues. fans of time travel novels, and those looking for a very richly characterized first person POV character.

This is a general fiction, romance, sci-fi & fantasy. From that perspective, it definitely lived up to the genre. Set in a not-so-future London city, the main character, (daughter of Cambodian refugee who escaped the Khmer Rouge) is working as a special agent in the Ministry of Time. The Ministry has managed to import into the present time 5 persons from the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries with the help of a time travel machine. Our MC is the handler of one such "expatriate", Graham Gore, who supposedly died in the Franklin Expedition to the Arctic Circle. When the Victorian Graham meets 21st century independent woman, sparks will fly in more ways than one. I loved reading snippets about Graham's past and his hilarious reaction to some of the mundanities of the present world. This was one of the better parts of the book and did elicit quite a few laughs. What probably kept me from really loving this story was the slow pacing, the use of highly advanced British vocabulary in paragraph-long sentences and the references to British slang from modern and Victorian times which I am not very familiar with. While I did find some of the expatriates endearing, I could not bring myself to really like any of the characters. The book also tries in its own way to deal with issues of racism, colonialism, misdirected Government projects, climate change and the like. Probably a case of Its not the book, its me. The last few pages did keep me on the edge of my seat so some redemption there. Overall, an original sort of read for fans of time travel romance with a historical twist.
Thank you Netgalley, Avid Reader Press and Kaliane Bradley for the ARC.

The Ministry of Time was a very medium experience for me - it felt for about the first 150 pages that we're just doing stuff (ie all vibes, no plot) and when the plot (finally) properly kicked off I was very into that portion of the story - but I was fighting for my life to get there.
In the vibes portion - I loved the characterization of the expats, it was very fun reading time travellers attempting to blend.
The book is comprised of many genres - spy, sci-fi, speculative fiction, romance, a touch of historical fanfictioning the male main character - so there is something for almost every reader to enjoy - but for the pacing.

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review

Having read an interview with Kaliane Bradley in a promotional email about this book, I was intrigued. For me, this was one of those books that was never on my radar, just randomly fluttered by me in my rat race of a reading life and whoosh, scooped me up out of my reading slump and just like that I've found a treasure. This book was simply lovely. The premise was interesting, the characters were fully formed, and the plot was well balanced. There are so many different aspects of this story that could reel any potential reader in. It has time travel, romance, humor, espionage, and even mundane workplace drama. All of this and more entangle with larger social issues, but Bradley does such a great job of weaving each thread into the others that it is never jarring to read or so heavy in one aspect that it topples the story as a whole. One of my favorite books of the year so far. Never thought I would be enchanted in 2024 by a Victorian polar explorer but here we are. The power of storytelling.

A giant thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC of this book. I couldn't contain my excitement to see the approval notification on this title!

What a truly original, unique novel - and what a way to debut! Kaliane Bradley's The Ministry of Time is a wild combination of time travel, spy thriller, romance, a writing style of literary fiction, and tinges of apocalypse and climate fiction. The book follows an unnamed government employee retelling her story of becoming a "bridge," the handler and teacher of sorts for Commander Graham Gore, an "expat" (and real-life figure) from 1847 brought to the future along with a handful of others. For much of the book, there is not much of a plot, more of an engaging depiction following the expats' acclimation to the present and a quiet friendship into love story. It ratchets up into a thriller and explosive ending pretty quickly, one that is teased here and there as the bridge and Gore go about a life that is fairly mundane for a while. In that area of the book, the writing is thoughtful, the scenarios and dialogue funny and charming. Beyond that, it's a hard book to discuss, but it also includes polar exploration, examinations of British power and government, reflections on mixed race identity and immigrant parents, and even more. This is one of the most unique books I've ever read, and I look forward to seeing what Bradley dreams up next.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this ebook.

I wanted so badly to love this book. However, I struggled to connect or get engrossed in this story. I found it to be very wordy and slow paced, so unfortunately this was not the book for me. HOWEVER, if you’re a fan of speculative fiction and have a penchant for time travel, then I am sure you will enjoy this book! It’s definitely an ambitious debut, and I do believe there will be quite the audience who adores this novel.

"The Ministry of Time" presents a captivating blend of science fiction, romance, and historical intrigue. As the protagonist navigates her role as a bridge between the past and the present, she finds herself drawn into a complex relationship with Commander Graham Gore, an expat from 1847. The novel explores themes of love, discovery, and the consequences of altering history in a thought-provoking manner. Kaliane Bradley's imaginative storytelling and vibrant characters make this book a compelling and unforgettable read.

The Ministry of Time is sure to be my favourite book of 2024, despite being only a third of the way through the year when I read it. It may be cliche to say, but it really is a book that has everything, crossing genres and written with such a huge amount of heart.

Speculative fiction at its finest, this book has enough science-fiction tropes to be of interest to sci-fi fans, whilst being realistic enough to be perfect for people who aren't drawn to this genre.

Our unnamed protagonist and the commander and the perfect characters, I was drawn to them in such a strong, compelling way, that I felt utterly bereft when the book was finished. Perfectly flawed, enigmatic and entertaining, they are characters who's story will continue in my mind for a long time. You really know that you are drawn to characters in a book when their misguided actions make you weep as much as if they had been directed at you.

Bradley captures the beauty of pain like no other and I genuinely look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Oh.

Oh YES.

YES, this.

This is the book I have been wanting to read. While it falters a little bit in the ending (there's a twist conceit at the end bit that doesn't quite work until it does), the novel starts off with a lot of handwaving—just sit back and don't think about how time travel works, mkay? Just enjoy it.

Part romance. Part spy thriller. Part time travel. Part anti-colonial. Part generational trauma. Part vertical integration. Part doomed polar exploration. Part locked-room tension between a modern woman and a Victorian-era man. All character study. All cli-fi.

I received an ARC from NetGalley

The Ministry of Time, Kaliane Bradley's debut novel, is built around the premise that in a near-future society the British government has just discovered a way to transport people through time. Given the nascent nature of the technology, they decide to pull a few select "expats" from the past and monitor them to see if time travel is safe, both physiologically and mentally for those involved. As part of this experiment, for the expats are essentially lab rats, they are paired with a "bridge", a government worker who cohabitates with them and acts as their guide to the modern world.

The book was marketed as a spy thriller with bits of time travel, romance and humor, and I agree with some of that, but those components are in relatively short supply. Instead, Bradley uses the arrival of the expats to delve into an abundance of social commentary. The primary expat we focus on is Graham Gore, a polar explorer transported from 1847 just before his expedition perished after being trapped in the Arctic. Gore questions some of the absurdity of modern society, which does add some moments of levity, but more often his questions are used as a prompt for Bradley and her unnamed narrator to flog society over sins of the past.

Gore's confusion on certain topics lead to the narrator's uncomfortable explanations, or apologies, or topic avoidance. British colonialism is at the forefront; Cambodian genocide, race, sexuality, gender, the Holocaust all make an appearance as well If there's something that carries with it some historical shame, it will almost certainly be worked into conversations with the expats. The narrator is a woman of Cambodian and British heritage, and one passage from her is particularly illustrative of what seems to be a good amount of frustration or anger with a wide swath of topics:

"When I first joined the Ministry and they'd pressed me through HR, a woman ran her finger down the column with my family history.

'What was it like growing up with that?' she asked.

She meant it all: Pol Pot Noodle jokes on first dates, my aunt's crying jags, a stupa with no ashes, Gary Glitter, Agent Orange, we loved Angkor Wat, regime change, not knowing where the bodies were, Princess Diana, landmines, the passport in my mother's drawer, my mother's nightmares, fucking chink, you don't look it, dragon ladies, fucking paki, Tuol Sleng was a school, Saloth Sar was a teacher, my grandfather's medals, the firing squad, my uncle's trembling hands, it's on my bucket list, Brother Number One, I've got a thing for Latinas, the killing fields, The Killing Fields (1984), Angelina Jolie, do you mean Cameroonian? do you mean Vietnamese? will you say your name again for me?

I considered. 'I don't know,' I said. 'What was it like growing up without it?'"

That's a lot, and the heavier moments like those above are far more common than the fish-out-of-water moments of levity.

The pacing is slow, especially for the first 50-60% of the novel. Once the basic premise of the novel is established, it's primarily focused on Gore acclimating to modern society, and very little happens in terms of plot development. It's a vehicle for commentary above anything else, which made me consistently think of Stranger in a Strange Land as I was reading it. At one point in the novel, Gore even references that phrase ("There is no one left in the world who has known me for longer than a few months. I am a stranger in a strange land."). The pace does accelerate during the final third, and there are some interesting plot choices that I appreciated, but by that point I was mostly ready to be finished with the story.

I will also say this: on the heels of reading The Book of Doors, which suffered from leaving too many loopholes open regarding time travel, Bradley does a clean job of handling the potential pitfalls. Beyond that, she cheekily (via the narrator) tells the reader not to get hung up on it:

"Anyone who has ever watched a film with time-travel, or read a book with time-travel...will know that the moment you start to think about the physics of it, you are in a crock of shit. How does it work? How can it work?...I'm here to tell you: don't worry about it. All you need to know is that in your near future, the British government developed the means to travel through time but had not yet experimented with doing it."

There were components of The Ministry of Time that I appreciated: it's thoughtful, it's a somewhat-fresh take on a well-trod theme, and it does marry several different elements (social commentary, humor, some bits of sci-fi / mystery, some romance) without losing its overall tone or sense of self. But it certainly dragged for me in the middle third, and I expected something that would be more plot-driven than what was essentially a letter of apology on behalf of the last 200+ years. Approaching with those eyes wide open and clear expectations of what lies ahead will hopefully increase one's enjoyment, but for me it was just so-so.

Somehow (and I’m still trying to wrap my head around HOW exactly) but THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley is a romance, spy thriller, cli-fi, lit fic all at once?? I am perplexed. And obsessed.

THE WRITING!!! I’ll never be over how many times I chuckled reading this debut author’s intrinsic wit that was perfectly woven throughout her characters. Other highlights include: The gutting romance lines (that would make Taylor Swift proud), the extremely real observations on race and culture, and more.

I can’t entirely explain what it was about this book but I strongly suspect it was the fact that it was wholly unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read.

Sorry, forgot to mention what it’s even about. Ok so in the near future, the UK has discovered time travel and brought back a handful of people who won’t be missed by history to see how they hold up in the modern world ~for science~. Each one gets a ”bridge” — someone to live with them and educate, support, and guide them through the transition. Commander Graham Gore (cast as Jude Law in my mind) from 1847 is assigned to our unnamed protagonist, who is increasingly more intrigued by him and what exactly the Ministry has asked her to do.

This was a thrilling mix of sci fi and historical romance that I didn’t see coming! The heroine was relatable but still unique and well fleshed out and side characters were quirky but realistic and deep.

In the near future of THE MINISTRY OF TIME, by Kaliane Bradley, a woman is assigned to be a "bridge", kind of like a handler, for Commander Gore, a man rescued from the past in an experiment to see how time travel affects a person. Can a person assimilate, physically and mentally, into a future world. Told from the perspective of the "bridge', the story follows Gore and his fellow time travelers. The travelers all have different levels of understanding and acceptance of their new reality, but the question becomes whether they can make it in the present and is their a larger plot hidden beneath what seems like a straightforward experiment?
There are so many things that Bradley did right in this story. Gore and the bridge have a complicated attraction to each other that is profound and real, yet their vastly different lives that lead to this point often makes it hard to communicate. There is the time travel aspect that brings a fascinating science fiction component that is both unique and feasible. As the novel progresses, a hidden agenda seems to be poking through which grows into compelling plot that takes some surprising twists. There is plenty of humor, mostly from the travelers and how they react to the present that they have been thrust into, Along with that, all of the travelers are entertaining and captivating people that I would happily reader an entire book about each of them. As the end of the book approaches, the story becomes an spy action thriller that keeps the reader on the edge of their seats right up until the very end.
Crossing so many genres, THE MINISTRY OF TIME will appeal to so many different readers that I can' imagine why it won't be successful. Riveting, funny, and thought-provoking, this is a novel I won't soon forget and I look forward to reading another book by Bradley in the future.

THE MINISTRY OF TIME is set in London and follows a civil servant assigned to a time traveler from the 1800s. The unnamed narrator’s subject is Lt. Graham Gore, the charming polar explorer of the doomed Franklin expedition. As the narrator helps Graham acclimate to modern society, she becomes undeniably attracted to him and realizes the time-travel mission is more dangerous than she was led to believe.

This book was an absolute delight and has something in it for everyone; it’s a time-travel mystery, a forced proximity romance, and an espionage thriller. The story merges all of these elements seamlessly and manages to be incredibly funny at the same time. From their hilarious banter to their slow burn chemistry, I fell head over heels for the two perfectly matched protagonists, as well as the endearing side characters. I swooned, laughed, cried, and loved this one-of-a-kind story wholeheartedly.

This gem comes out on 5/7! Thank you so, so much @avidreaderpress for my gifted copy. ⏰

The ministry of time follows a young lady who is a “bridge” to a historic figure, Commander Graham Gore, from 1847. Gore is doing his best to adjust to life in the 21st century. As the days move on and life becomes the new normal, the FMC starts to fall for the historic figure.

Unfortunately, this is the best I can do in a synopsis of this book. I don’t understand what is going on in this story. It feels very clunky. The writing jumps from one spot in time to the next without any real rhyme or reason. After the first 10 pages the book just slogs. I read into the book about 60 pages and decided this wasn’t for me. I was also informed this book may have been plagiarized from a Spanish television show sharing the same title.

I’m stingy with my 5-star reviews. Sometimes, I wonder if I’m too stingy - is there really that much of a difference between a 4.5 and a perfect 5? Such were my thoughts before reading The Ministry of Time, which was, hands down, one of the best books I’ve read in 2024. Tense, action-packed, laugh-out-loud funny, and swooningly romantic, it’s the kind of book that stands a cut above the rest - the kind of book that more than earns that extra 0.5.

This is the story of Bridge, our unnamed narrator, a civil servant tasked with monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. Graham is an “expat” in a heavily metaphorical sense: he’s from the 1840s, and has been brought through time to test the limits of time travel. A repressed Victorian, Graham grapples with the challenges of adjusting to concepts like “ washing machine,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” Over the course of their time together, Graham and Bridge develop a tentative friendship - and, eventually, heartbreakingly, something more.

This book absolutely destroyed me. Bridge has such a compelling and charming narrative voice, and her relationship with the expats was an absolute treasure. I couldn’t put this book down: at one moment, I was laughing out loud over Graham’s discovery of Motown; the next moment, I was sobbing over the expats’ visit to a museum.

The strengths of this book lie both in the writing and the characters. This is a difficult book to quantify: pitched as a science fiction romance, it’s equally a found family spy thriller. Personally, I could take or leave the science fiction/thriller elements. I did, on occasion, skim over a paragraph or two of science so I could get back to the meat and potatoes of it all: the love story.

It’s not a spoiler to say this is a love story. It’s a love story in the Fleabag “this is a love story” kind of way. It’s a love story between Bridge and Graham, but it’s equally a love story between Bridge and Maggie, Maggie and Arthur, the expats and the present, and the expats and their past. This is a book that mulls on what it means to craft a narrative, to live in the shadow of empire, and whether it’s even possible to change history given that history is, after all, a semantic construction. As a historian, I was floored by how much empathy and care was given to these questions, but as a reader, I was equally blown away by how real Graham, Arthur, Maggie, and, of course, Bridge felt.

This is a book that emotionally destroyed me. I laughed, I cried, and the final page left me so emotionally upended that I found myself staring at the cracks in the ceiling. I’ve heard there’s a BBC series (!) produced by A24 (!!), and I cannot wait.

If you’re a fan of history, science fiction, romance, thrillers — any and all of the above, really, I am begging you to read this book. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go listen to some 19th century sea shanties while I stitch my heart back together.

4.5 stars

I loved this book so much. The prose is so well written. The phrases and descriptions used are incredibly unique, but nothing feels out of place or like it's trying too hard, which is really difficult to effectively pull off. The prose was still very easy to read and the plot was interesting. It was well paced and at not point did I feel like it was stagnating.

The characters were all so compelling. Even if I didn't like them, I was still interested in each character. There were tiny little things thrown here and there that were really interesting minor details that gave some of those smaller characters depth. I did wish there was a little but more with the sister but I also think what we were given as so interesting where I'm sort of okay with there not being more?

Some of the plot twists were predicable and some were very unexpected. I thought the themes (memory/knowledge, guilt, power, identity/community) were really interesting. Bradley definitely put time and thought into engaging with these ideas.

The only reason I haven't given it a full five stars is because I have slightly forgotten about it over the past few weeks. It doesn't haunt me in the way a 5 star read should, but I think when I reread it (which I know I will want to soon), I will find more in the novel and it could get a full give stars then.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the eARC!

The Ministry of Time is thrillingly ambititious; a blazing, inventive, hilarious and heartbreaking novel. I realise that's a lot of descriptors but it really did tick all the boxes for me. Bradley's debut is part time travel romance, part spy thriller and part exploration of the legacy of British Colonialism, and the author somehow manages to blend these disparate elements nearly seamlessly.
A deeply romantic sci-fi that also manages to raise interesting questions about colonialism, The Ministry of Time is achingly slow burn and deliciously satisfying.

The Ministry of Time is light on plot, but big on concepts: set in a near-future (?) Britain, it's a story told to us by The Bridge, a young British-Cambodian woman who works for the aforementioned ministry. The Ministry of Time is a secretive branch of the government that has recently discovered time-travel. They have gathered 5 "expats" from various different time periods and want to see what happens to them. Civil servants, including our narrator, are drafted in - under intensive NDAs - to help the expats adjust to the new time periods that they find themselves in. What nobody really anticipates - least of all the Bridge herself - is a slow-burn and intensive romance to build between herself and Commander Graham Gore, her expat, who is fresh from the Antartic winter of 1847.

This is a really introspective book, a slow-burn romance, and a wild ride. It can be difficult to get your head around - I would have loved a hard copy to annotate and make notes in - as there is a plethora of characters, locations and times to get to know. Different characters have wildly different ways of speaking, and some of the expats have several nicknames that kept me on my toes to keep up with who was who. It's not a perfect book by any means, especially given Bradley's high-wire act to keep all of her genres in the air. But she largely pulls it off, and also does a great job of building the world and its characters so no-one feels one-dimensional. I will say that it is dense, and requires a lot of thought - it's not a difficult read but it did take me a long time to get through as I had so much food for thought.

Dense but never boring, it's also a really, really funny novel! Bradley imbues The Bridge with a dry sense of humour that I couldn't get enough of, and it really made the character sing for me. The expats are funny in a fish-out-of-water way (obsessed with the scenes where Maggie learns about dating apps) but they're sweet, too. Once the slow-burn romance kicked in, it became clear that The Ministry of Time is an unabashedly romantic novel. There were scenes that had me kicking my feet (the christmas telephone call!!!!) and the central couple's chemistry jumps off the page. Obsessed tbh.

I also found the novel's tackling of Britain's colonial legacy really excellent, and biting. Authors of colour are tackling knottier issues of race these days, it seems, and this is the second 2024 debut I've read that carries it off with aplomb. The unpacking doesn't impact on the plot massively, in terms of action, but does massively impact the relationships The Bridge has with others in the novel.

I was blown away by Bradley's mish-mashing of genres: it's audacious, and thrillingly unique, so I am willing to overlook the flaws in the novel. Not perfect, but pretty damn close.