Truly a genre-bending novel: a historical fan fiction, a time-travelling romance, a sci-fi adventure and a spy thriller all in one! How does time travel affect the body and the mind? The Ministry of Time, a department of the British government, is trying to figure this out by transporting people from the past into the near-future London. Our unnamed narrator is a mixed-race woman who works as a “bridge,” a roommate and friend for one of the time-travelers (“ex-pats”). Her assigned ex-pat is real-life historical figure Lieutenant Graham Gore of the HMS Erebus (Erebus is the sister ship of The Terror). Graham and our narrator begin a will-they-won't-they romance, and we meet different ex-pats from different eras as well as their respective bridges (we get some LGBTQ rep here).

I thought this book was fascinating, though slowly paced (perhaps due to the fact that the author was blending so many different genres and I didn't know what else to expect, which can be a good thing). Our narrator was an obvious self-insert (hey, we all do it) and a bit bureaucratic and passive for my taste, but I liked her just the same. Generally, the erotic fan fiction element made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I just kept thinking about if someone took me from history and wrote sex scenes about myself without my consent... felt a bit ethically wrong. Otherwise, this wasn't a bad book by any means, but I got the most out of the "fish out of water" elements, especially with Maggie. However, ultimately, this book was not for me.

This timey-wimey romp was such a blast! I'm a huge fan of Jodi Taylor's St. Mary Chronicles, and this story was reminiscent of those. Bradley's pacing and humor was perfect.

"The Ministry of Time" is a debut cross-genre novel that immediately drew me into the storyline. Unfortunately, it failed to hold my attention as it started to get a bit heavy handed (in my opinion) with exploring the topics of racism and sexual orientation.

For lovers of time travel stories, the premise of the story is sure to appeal. The Ministry has selected historical figures at the anticipated moment of their demise and brought them to the present day. The next year is spent trying to understand the physical, psychological and emotional ramifications of that decision; one their subjects had no say in.

For romcom enthusiasts, there is at least one (and possibly two, if I read things right) love triangles at play.

There is also espionage going on as well, since not everyone in the Ministry is in favor of the time travel experiment. So, as some people are working feverishly to protect the displaced people, they're also left with no idea who they can trust.

It's this interweaving of the various genres that the author has managed to work out really well. And some of the conversations, especially the banter between Graham and his "bridge," are a lot of fun. But then there's so much that I just couldn't follow or wasn't interested in and that didn't seem to serve the story well at all. So I have mixed feelings about the book. While many other reviewers commented on not being able to put the book down, I actually found myself avoiding picking it back up, which is a rare experience for me.

Thanks to Kaliane Bradley, Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

One of my favorite book accounts on IG said "this is the closest thing to outlander since outlander" and I would have to agree! This was a great read and super entertaining. I love books about time travel and this did not let me down. I was a bit confused at times and feel like I couldn't keep track of the who what where but enjoyed it nonetheless. Thank you for the ARC!

This was stunning. I thought there was going to be too much going on here with genre descriptors ranging from science-fiction to historical fiction to romance to time-travel, but Bradley seamlessly weaved it all together. The love story is beautiful and the plot is deliciously original. I found myself laughing out loud and crying throughout the course of the book. I will be recommending this to people for a long time!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this title.

I gotta be honest, I was constantly moving between feeling confused and baffled of how this concept and execution ended with such a dry result. Everything action based seemed thrown in and without much in-depth thought. How did she even pass the interviews to get this job? She’s under qualified and the romance? Blah. To the people around me, the sex scenes probably had my face looking twisted up like I’d been sucking on a mouthful of warheads. I didn’t need to witness those.

The time travel wasn't actually shown being used and how it actually worked in person. We didn't really get to see the process of the Ministry employees do any of those things. The "expats" were already in current time from the start. They were just thrown out into the modern day world of super populated London instead of a secluded area to cut down on possible triggers (like cars and women having rights lol). Seemed extremely reckless and nonsensical.

I think I might be time traveled out. If this would've came out 6+ months ago then I probably would've been more intrigued. Time travel seems to be the trend across various media right now and the spark is leaving for me. Shows are still doing it for me but in books? I definitely need a break. lol


Thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing a copy for an honest review.

This was at times charming, and unsettling and generally a truly original read. I loved the cast of characters. I found the contrast between the fantastical situation and the bureaucracy very funny, though it did get quite dark in the end. I also really enjoyed the diary entries from the Franklin expedition which I thought I'd find a bit of a dry departure. I think the author really did some interesting things addressing race, gender and sexuality across the timelines represented. I also have to admit I did not see the twist coming. At no point did I really know where the book was going, but the character development was such that I was happily along for the ride. When things got really sinister and the plot was revealed I found the whole thing very exciting and well drawn out. Unlike anything I've read in a long time, and will highly recommend.

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4⭐

This book is probably one of the most unique books I've ever read and I think I'll need 5-10 business days to process it. If you liked reading This Is How You Lose the Time War and Handmaid's Tale (aka weird dark twisty sci fi), then you definitely need this book

It's been almost a month since I finished this book and I only just realized we never learn the main characters name.

Our unnamed protagonist is moving up in the British governmental world to serve as a "Bridge" for a new project involving time travel - her job is to help a man from the 1800s adapt to modern 21st century life. Her charge, Commander Graham Gore from 1847, may just be the weirdest roommate yet.

The premise of this book is fun, appealing, and made me want to read the book. However, it started dragging about halfway through and the end felt rushed, resulting in some truly messed up pacing. The chapters from Gore's perspective were confusing and did not add much to the story for me, but he was an interesting character. The unnamed protagonist, however, seemed to stay passive for the majority of the story, which annoyed me greatly.

Overall, a bit of a disappointment, but I'm not surprised it is one of the sci-fi leaning books that is trending towards mainstream right now.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc!

I really wanted to love this one. I’m not a huge science fiction reader but I am immediately drawn to anything with time travel. I did like the romance aspect of this
book but was a little bored with the spy drama sections.

The characters in the book all have distinct personalities that play well off each other. The expats' adjustment to 21st-century London and the heroine's personal experience—she is white-passing, but her mother is a refugee from Cambodia—allow the reader to explore issues like global warming, racism, colonialism, feminism, LGBTQ+, and religion.

I really enjoyed the banter between the characters and the narrator's internal thoughts. I'm a sucker for a grumpy gentleman with a slightly sarcastic wit so I loved Gore's character. Bradley's writing is lovely. That being said, there were times, especially towards the start of the book, when it took me time to work out who was who and who was speaking. This is probably just because the characters would also refer to themselves as the year they were originally from, so it took me time to memorize which year referred to which character name.

The pacing of the book felt a little off; compared to the rest of the novel, a lot happened in the last quarter. Still, The Ministry of Time was a great read, and I'm excited to read Bradley's next book!

Trade between the United Kingdom and its Asian partners would greatly benefit if a Northwest Passage could be found. Two ships, The HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror departed from Kent in May, 1845. All perished in the worst disaster in British polar exploration including First Lieutenant Graham Gore, second in command aboard the HMS Erebus.

The British government, experimenting with time travel, developed “The Ministry”. “Expatriates to the twenty-first century [who] would have died in their own timelines…are extracted…from historical war zones, natural disasters and epidemics”. What effect would time travel have on the nervous system? Might these travelers die during the extrapolation? How can they adjust to a different century when all markers of prior life have perished? Lt. Graham Gore…welcome to the 21st century! He had been thrown “into the world when they think they’re in the afterlife…”.

Who was extracted?

1645-a lieutenant from The Battle of Naseby
1665-a woman from The Great Plague of London
1793-a woman from Robespierre’s Paris
1845-Graham Gore, Arctic Explorer
1916-an army captain from The Battle of the Somme

Our narrator, a bi-racial Cambodian woman, chosen after six rounds of interviews, had scant knowledge of the high paying job at hand. What was the Ministry’s secret agenda? She was told that her job as a “bridge”, would be to help an expat transition from past to the future. This full time position would involve being Graham Gore’s housemate, monitor and report on his well being, and help him acclimate to his new life. If Graham truly adjusted to the 21st century, he could then embark upon life outside the confines of the Ministry of Expatriation at year’s end.

Who was Graham Gore?

-A handsome, thirty-seven year old man
-Had theoretical knowledge of cars but had never ridden in one
-Had never seen a washing machine, radio, vacuum cleaner or fridge
-Unfamiliar with enfranchisement of the working class

This character driven, time travel novel, despite its mystery and suspense, did not resonate with this reader. Perhaps the target audience is not inclusive of those who find speculative fiction too ungrounded. That said, many issues were brought to light including survivor’s guilt, displacement, sexual orientation, colonialism, Victorian values and budding romance.

Thank you Avid Reader Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of those books that makes me want to write because I enjoyed the writing so much. I learned long ago with time travel novels that I need to suspend disbelief and avoid trying to understand the permutations of time, and that advice served me well in this novel as well. I loved how Graham was written and the “fish out of water” nature of a nineteenth century Arctic explorer being placed in modern-day London. I didn’t quite understand all of the political machinations, but it didn’t reduce my enjoyment of the story. I’d recommend this for history buffs and spy novel fans!

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a sucker for time travel books so I was really hoping to like this more. This book did a lot of nothing until 87% in and then it threw everything at you with a sack of marbles. I liked Graham being an expat from a polar expedition but I don't think anyone at the ministry was making smart decisions.

Bradley's writing shines in her ability to balance multiple genres and themes. The novel expertly weaves together a time-travel romance, spy thriller, and workplace comedy while exploring deeper issues of power, colonialism, and the potential for love to effect change.

The central relationship between the protagonist and Commander Graham Gore, a Victorian-era Arctic explorer brought to the present, is both charming and thought-provoking. Their romance serves as a vehicle to examine the clash between historical and contemporary perspectives, particularly on issues of race, gender, and empire.

While tackling serious themes such as climate change, government corruption, and intergenerational trauma, Bradley maintains a light and engaging tone throughout. Her witty prose and clever observations keep the narrative buoyant even as it delves into weighty subject matter.
The novel's exploration of time travel's implications is refreshingly nuanced, focusing more on the emotional and societal impacts rather than scientific technicalities. This approach allows for a deeper examination of identity, belonging, and the lasting effects of historical actions.

Many thanks to the publisher for the digital copy of THE MINISTRY OF TIME. This unique and quirky book is out now!

Kaliane Bradley has somehow blended the genres of time travel, science fiction, romance, and workplace comedy into a very captivating and imaginative story. At the heart of the story is Graham Gore, a real-life British explorer who met his untimely end during an ill-fated 19th-century Arctic expedition. A secretive organization sometime in the near future has brought Graham (and others) to modern-day London, to be paired with a “bridge” or handler to help ease their entrance into a different time period.

I found this book to be surprisingly funny and poignant. The workplace comedy element provided a refreshing and entertaining twist, offering a nice balance to the more profound themes of the plot. In addition to the thrilling aspects of time-travel, a very tender (and spicy!) romance blossoms between Graham and his handler, the unnamed female protagonist.

This is a truly unique and captivating read. If your interest is piqued by the many different genres of this book, I suggest giving it a try. I’m still thinking about the real-life Victorian explorer Graham Gore! An incredible debut from Kaliane Bradley.

Unique idea – I love time travel, spy thrillers, and romances – but it didn't quite work all mashed up into one. The story took a while to get going and make sense. The flashbacks were insightful but a bit convoluted. And I still wish they would have explained how the time travel portal worked.

This was a very interesting and unique concept for a book. Overall I enjoyed but I thought there could be better character development. I wasn't very invested in any of the main characters. It got better at the end with the twists and turns.

Have you ever wanted to read a book that is 95% a slow, dull Mork and Mindy retelling and then in the last 5% goes absolutely nuts with rapid fire futuristic geopolitical subplot that’s confusing then wraps up into absolutely nothing? This book is for you! I had such high hopes from the summary and reviews, but this book felt like binge watching Mork and Mindy then watching the finale of Loki out of context.