Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The British government, after discovering a door in time, have pulled through several “expats” into modern day London. These historical refugees, who originate from the 1600s to WWI, are assigned a Ministry employee to serve as their “bridge” to help them adjust to modern life. What follows is a genre-defying caper—part romance, part spy thriller, part meditation on history, race, and humanity.

I really loved these characters. The “expats” all had unique, well-developed personalities and I felt real affection for them. I really enjoyed the banter between the protagonist and her expat, a real-life 19th century Arctic explorer named Graham Gore, and the development of their relationship was a highlight.

My biggest gripe is with the book’s structure. Especially in the first half, I found myself struggling at times to get into a flow while reading. The book had longish chapters composed of many short sections. Several times, just as I was getting into a scene, it ended, often at the most interesting part. The reading experience felt a little choppy.

In all, this book took a big swing, and I found it to be a very promising debut. I will look for Kaliane Bradley’s future novels.

I feel like I'm gonna stay thinking about this book for a while.

In an alternate universe (or the very near future) in which time travel has been found out, our narrator has been given a promotion within the Ministry to work as bridge (or caretaker) for people that th Ministry has pulled out of the past and brought to the present. Our narrator has to then figure out how to acclimate a naval officer from the 1800s to modern day society. And then our narrator has to figure out her growing obsession (maybe too strong a word) for her 1800s client, And then our narrator has to figure out what seems like a conspiracy.

I make it sound a bit silly, but it was very thought-provoking and very easy and quick to read. There are some touches on racism, being white-passing, the future of the environment, ethics, and naivete and thinking you are the smartest person in a room. It was very interesting, and though I kind of wish it would have shaken out differently, I found the story to be very realistic, given that there is time travel. Context stays missing in regular adult conversations sometimes, people don't hear you out, and one can make mistake after mistake and not realize that any of it was ever a mistake at all.

I also thought the way the story was written was very intriguing. Some fourth wall breaks, some flashbacks, etc. I quite liked this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Avid Reader Press for the e-ARC!

Ministry of Time is an inventive and original take on a time-travel romance. There are elements of history, science fiction, fantasy, and romance all seamlessly blended together. I love how serious themes are explored throughout, but the tone never feels preachy. In fact, I found myself laughing out loud at the antics of the characters more than once. Kaliane Bradley has written an utterly charming, effervescent tale with elements of the fantastical. The ending just left me wanting more, and I was sad for the story to be over. Thank you to Netgalley and Avid Reader Press for the review copy. Ministry of Time will publish May 7, 2024.

This one just didn't work for me. I DNFed about 40% through. The story kept getting lost in it's own attempt at quirkiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of "The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley. This was a charming tale of time travel, science fiction, romance, Arctic expedition, spies, racial identity, and family (the one we are born into and the one we make for ourselves). Our unnamed narrator is an agent assigned to a time traveling arctic explorer and follows her chronologically over the year she helps him integrate into our current timeline. It took me about 15-20% through to really get into the book but then I was rushing to finish. It was a truly unique and moving story.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this roller coaster of book. 4/5 stars, a wonderful read that I don't know if I'll read again.

I definitely went into this thinking it was gonna be a silly little time travel romance and got absolutely smacked in the FACE with how deeply introspective kailane bradley's writing is - not just about race and ethnicity but also about the roles that we as individuals play in upholding the system we're trapped in. the narrator's musings on race and identity really gave the whole time travel plot grounding in real life, and I think that helped me connect with her character more. bradley does quite a bit of telling and not showing with the plot points of the book that made me feel a little disconnected from the plot and characters at times, so having the narrator's thoughts about these deeply personal things made me feel like she was more real. I didn't think I would've gotten so attached to all the characters because again, bradley does a lot of telling and time passes almost nebulously in the middle parts of the book, but the snippets we're shown of these different characters are so full of life and individual personality and really helped endear me to all of them, especially gore.

the last bit is mostly due to my personal preference for happy endings. i'd classify this ending as more bittersweet/hopeful, and the tension between the narrator and gore kept building until it felt like I was standing on the edge of the 'will they or won't they' cliff, so the sap in me wanted a happy ending for them, but I think some things are done on purpose and for the better of the story, so I can't be too upset. anyway, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a little time travel book and also get their heart slapped around :)

A genre defying novel full of time travel, government agency’s, immigration, romance and millennial life. Safe to say i’ve never read anything like this and would definitely recommend it just for this reason.

Parts of this really worked for me— I loved the expat characters, Graham and Margaret were especially endearing. The concept kept me intrigued. The dialogue was fast paced and fun. Then parts didn’t— the main character fell a bit flat, the world-building needed a bit more description for me to fully understand and the first half was slow.

I would recommend this if you’re looking for something quirky and plot driven with some nice character development. It is thematically a very thought provoking read done in a light way, which i think is the major triumph of this novel!

Such a fun, compassionate, singular book!

Part world-weary spy novel, part fish-out-of-water comedy, part romance, part social justice novel, a lot of speculative sci-fi, and time travel that mostly doesn't irritate me -- a feat in and of itself. Bradley's characters felt real from the beginning. I was invested in their relationships -- all of them, friendships, work relationships, romantic ones and adversarial ones -- always wondering how she'd pull it all together.

Looking forward to putting this in readers' hands.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

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.