This was an enjoyable read that gave me lots to think about. For me, the "time travel culture shock" aspect of it was unique, and the way it ended was very satisfying. When recommending The Ministry of Time, I will be sure to note that the pace for the first half is on the slower side and that I don't see it as a romance but rather a speculative novel with romantic leanings. I think those who choose to read it knowing those two things will be very glad they did.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

I really enjoyed this unique science fiction/fantasy book in which a special government agency is able to bring people back from different time periods and has one of the 'scientists'/people in charge falling for a man who was trapped on a stranded Arctic expedition ship and whose fellow crew members all died.

The author does a great job exploring the culture shock of bringing people from the past to a newly imagined future/present and the forbidden love story aspect kept things extra interesting. Great on audio read by George Weightman and Katie Leung (two new to me narrators). If you like speculative time travel type books this is one not to miss!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Librofm for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Kaliane Bradley is a new to me author and this is definitely not my usual genre but I really loved it and look forward to reading more by Bradley in the future!

Unfortunately, this novel was not for me. I was expecting a romance and a funny time travel read but this was a dry, slow-paced novel. I had read some reviews which made comparisons of this book to Outlander. I thus think that my expectations were wrong and I just couldn’t get into this novel. I skim read the last half of the novel. I think that I am the wrong audience for this one.

My thanks to the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Explore the depths of time, love, and redemption and uncover the mysteries that await!!

⭐️ 3.75 /5

A story where our narrator remains a mystery, a character without a name! But alas, the ending suggests the protagonist is YOU (ME)! I felt like it challenged me to ponder what choices would I make and will I make decisions that will prevent the “mistakes” the “past me” did or will I heed my “past me’s” warnings. And, that was very compelling!

Meanwhile, Commander Gore, which I learned was a real person! (I wonder to what extent was our male main character is based off the real Gore). Anyway, he will steal your heart away! A gentleman, intelligent, and virtuous.

The pace felt like a slow dance at first, for the world building and to get to know the characters like long-lost friends. But at 40%, it picked up for me! And just being nit-picky, I like a crystal-clear happy ending and that was left slightly unsatisfied. I don’t just want to know there is one but I want to witness it unfurl in all its glory. Regardless, at its core, the theme of time travel is familiar yet endlessly fascinating. Adding a sprinkle of romance made it even more captivating, and added a layer of emotion.

Thank you @simonschusterca for this advance reader’s copy ❤️

What would you get if you cross the movies “Kate and Leopold”, “The Time Travellers Wife”, the song “Alchemy” by Taylor Swift, and sprinkle in some history and mystery? You get the novel The Ministry of Time. The story written by Kaliane Bradley is a great read with lots of humour and heartfelt moments. The end packs a few punches which had me reading through some tears, mostly conjured by the skillful writing of Bradley.
This book will stay with me for a long time.

The time travel premise of the book had me hooked from the start. I liked that the historical characters were brought to the present and that that brought a unique tone to the book. However, I found the beginning and the middle a bit slow, but the last quarter of the book really picked up for me.

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book.

This book is heavily marketed as a romance however the main character refers to him as an “overgrown son” early on in the story, which immediately puts me out viewing this book as anything remotely close to romantic.

Reading the description of this book I was given the impression that it would be fun given how many times that word is seen. However, I found this book to be incredibly dry in terms of writing style and this lead to everything from plot to characters coming off that way. The pacing of this book was very slow, it genuinely felt stagnant for at least the first third of the book as I had no idea what we were working towards. The characters had no real personality or interest to capture my attention and I frankly was not given any emotional weight to develop a care for them.

I think it is entirely possible I went into this book expecting something different which lead to my trouble enjoying this book.

Book review

Book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️ (at the end)

Thank you so much to @simonschusterca for the arc of this book. It was my first one from a publisher and I’m so grateful.

Summary: A branch from the UK government called the ministry has a Time Machine and decide to bring back people from different point in time for an experiment. Our main female character becomes the protector of one of the time traveller, Commander Gore. She has to help him navigate this century and explain what happened after his time. This book is a spy thriller with romance and intrigue that will make you want to know what happened next.

Review: This book was really surprising! I liked it more than I thought I would! It was really intriguing and sometimes intense. The spy stuff was really fun and the twists and turns were really twisty 😂 I had fun reading it!

I really like Commander Gore and seeing how he adapted to this century. He is a really good and interesting main character that you’re happy to follow in his journey.

The ending was good and finished the story beautifully 🥰

Happy reading!

Where do I even start with this one? Wow. Just. Wow.

This book was written on the premise "What would it be like if you plucked someone out of time, and made them your roommate?" It started out charming, funny, quirky, and endearing. Initially I was describing it as if Kurt Vonnegut had co-written Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

While the story holds on to these qualities, it grows and matures as it carries on. It has moments that are devastatingly sad, to the point where it felt like my heart cracked in two. There is also the tension that comes with any spy novel.

This story also explores themes of personal identity, inherited trauma, and the fine line between obsession and love. These moments are touched upon in subtly painful ways and it takes your breath away.

Kaliane Bradley has hit on something truly special with this story. I can usually sum up a story in a single emotion by the end, but Ministry of Time has me feeling it all.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

The heroine (whose name I have just realized we never learn) lives in a near future version of London, and is employed by 'the Ministry' to be a 'bridge' in a secret project whereby people from different times in the past are transported to the present day and studied for the implications of time travel (at least I think that was the idea - by then end I was just going with the flow and had stopped trying to work out what was going on). The heroine is the bridge for a Victorian naval officer from the Franklin Expedition called Graham, and has to help him assimilate while also reporting on his behaviour and health etc to her handler.

There was a lot going on here theme-wise: climate change, assimilation, colonialism, migration. Graham was a great character and the writing was excellent. I enjoyed this, and would recommend it, but I wouldn't like to summarize the last quarter of the plot.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was utterly unique mixing a wide range of genres. Normally I don’t enjoy books where the author can’t make up their mind what category their book falls into but Kaliane Bradley makes it work. The way she mixed time travel, romance and a spy story was so intelligent and extraordinary that I just got lost in the words and the world-building. I also enjoyed how she researched and mixed a real-life character with fictional ones.

Even though there are serious spy vs. spy issues throughout and a budding romance I found the book to be very humorous. I can’t count how many times I laughed out loud at the expats. The characters behaved like their timeframe and were very well developed. They had idiosyncrasies and personalities…their needs and wants were realistic. This is a wonderfully well-plotted book. I can imagine the author with lots of Post-it notes all over a storyboard trying to keep everything together in their proper order and timeline. Her world-building style made it so easy to read and imagine. I could picture in my mind’s eye the devices, clothing, the ship in the Arctic ice etc.

Overall Bradley is a genius. The twisty ending blew my mind and I did not see it coming. I read all 350+ pages in a few sittings, I was riveted. I can’t believe this is a debut, remarkably well done.

I unfortunately had to DNF this book. While I felt that the prose of the book had a charm to it that made me want to keep reading in the beginning, it's been brought to my attention at how not only similar, it is in name, but plot to a Spanish tv series. Not only that, I just felt like there was so much going on with no proper development, the plot twists were sub-par, and the romantic sub-plot is sort of half-baked. While I went into this book knowing Graham was real, I have to admit something about using actual historical people that were real and writing them into s*x scenes are icky?

I also struggled to relate to the protagonist as well. She just seemed sort of an archetype of some sorts and I felt no real sense of humanity or connection to her as I feel she was just so awkwardly written.

This novel was a thrilling fusion of time-travel and well developed relationships, offering a captivating read for enthusiasts of the genre. Bradley's imaginative portrayal of the Ministry of Time immerses readers in a world where history intertwines with contemporary challenges, showcasing meticulous attention to detail and authentic historical settings.

What sets this novel apart is its focus on relationship building amidst the complexities of time travel. Bradley crafts compelling characters whose emotional journeys and interpersonal dynamics deepen the narrative, offering readers a heartfelt exploration of human connection across different eras.

"The Ministry of Time" not only delivers on the excitement of scientific discoveries with time travel but also delves into themes of personal growth and understanding. Through introspective moments and historical dilemmas, the characters confront their inner conflicts, adding depth and humanity to the story.

In summary, "The Ministry of Time" is a tale that seamlessly blends adventure with heartfelt bonds. As someone who would not read this genre or pick it up in a bookstore, Bradley's storytelling ensures an engaging read that will leave readers yearning for more. I really enjoyed it!

The Ministry of Magic by Kaliane Bradley starts with so much promise but slows down to the point it feels like there is no movement. Unfortunately, after 100 pages, my interest was lost.

Nevertheless, thank you Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

Review: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

The Ministry of Time will appeal to science fiction / literary fiction readers. It delves into the question “what if we could travel through time?” And, in a labyrinthian way, explores the problems of time travel, overlapping time lines, and the erosion of self. The story also explores colonialism and racism.

I, personally, found the story a bit long and the protagonist confusing at times. In an effort to not spoil anything, I will say little else, but the character and story development was difficult for me to follow and immerse in. That being said, the complexity would appeal to many other readers of science fiction.

A single girl gets a job that comes with an amazing salary as a 'bridge'. Her (I think I just realized she's never named!) 'expat' is, Commader Graham Gore of the doomed Franklin Expedition of 1845, one of many people plucked from history to see if time travel is really possible.
Discovering that as a bridge, she not only has to report on Gore's progress but must live with and assist him in navigating this modern world. As the year progresses the true nature of the Ministry's experiment starts to reveal itself while our bridge's feelings for our expat evolve from awkward uncomfortable roommate to love. Faced with choices, can they navigate the changing world and future??
Being a history buff, The Ministy of Time, started out as a fun romp for me. What would it be like to meet and interact with someone from the past? What would they think of our excessive lives?? Full of humour, tension, love and humanity. By the end I was left wanting more and questioning our past and future. What a brilliant page turner by Kaliane Bradley
Now if you'll excuse me I've got to go Google Graham Gore