The Ministry of Time

by Kaliane Bradley
The Ministry of Time cover
Good Books rating 4.06
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
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Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £16.99
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  • ID: 476
  • Added: 2025-09-12
  • Updated: 2025-11-01
  • ISBN: 9781668045152
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2025-04-01
  • Formats: 56
  • Reviews: 4

In the near future, a civil servant joins a secret government ministry tasked with gathering 'expats' from across history to explore the feasibility of time travel. She is assigned to be a 'bridge' for Commander Graham Gore, a survivor of Sir John Franklin's doomed 1845 Arctic expedition, who is disoriented by modern life but quickly adapts with the help of a chaotic cast of fellow expats. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to deep love, the true purpose of the Ministry's project is revealed, forcing the bridge to confront the consequences of her actions and the potential to change the future. The Ministry of Time is a genre-blending novel that combines romance, thriller, and workplace comedy with a thought-provoking exploration of history, power, and the nature of love. Praised by critics and readers alike, it offers a unique and exhilarating reading experience that challenges the boundaries of time and human connection.

Reviews
Tarvolon · 2024-12-19
ambitious 3.00

The book ambitiously combines time travel, romance, immigrant experience, and political intrigue but struggles with tonal consistency and plot overload.

This reviewer notes that while the novel ambitiously attempts to weave together many plotlines—time travel, romance, immigrant identity, and political thriller elements—this complexity sometimes detracts from the overall cohesion and focus. The breezy and fun writing style works well for the quirky romance aspect but does not always suit the thriller tone, causing some unevenness. Despite these flaws, the book's multifaceted approach offers a rich, if somewhat scattered, reading experience that still has its merits.

Quick quotes

    It's a proliferation of plotlines that I honestly had not gathered from other reviews before I picked this one up.

    The writing style is breezy and fun and a value-add for a quirky romance, but it doesn't tonally serve the time travel thriller.

    The Ministry of Time is trying to do a lot more than those two things, mostly to its detriment.

R.R. Horton's Blog · R.R. Horton · 2024-09-22
heartwarming 4.50

The love story is beautifully handled, and the depiction of near-future life is both fraught and believable. The book offers a unique exploration of the expat experience.

The Ministry of Time stands out for its beautifully handled love story, which is both tender and compelling. The near-future setting is fraught with challenges, making the characters' journey all the more engaging. The book also offers a unique exploration of the expat experience, highlighting the complexities and nuances of living in a foreign land. The depiction of near-future life is both fraught and believable, adding depth to the narrative. The love story is a highlight, adding emotional resonance and making the book a heartwarming read. Overall, it's a book that will resonate with readers on multiple levels, offering both entertainment and emotional depth.

Quick quotes

    The love story is beautifully handled, adding emotional resonance to the narrative.

    The depiction of near future life is fraught and believable.

    The examination of the expat experience is both complex and nuanced.

The Guardian · Bidisha Mamata · 2024-06-23
engaging 4.25

The novel is praised for its intelligent and witty fusion of a love story, mystery, and postcolonial narratives, making it a sparkling and engaging debut.

Bidisha Mamata appreciates how the author skillfully combines multiple genres—romance, mystery, and social commentary—into a cohesive and intelligent narrative. The witty writing style and nuanced exploration of postcolonial themes enrich the story, elevating it beyond a typical time-travel romance into something more thought-provoking and delightful to read. They found the novel to be a sparkling delight that balances emotional depth with sharp cultural insights.

Quick quotes

    The author's intelligent and witty first novel effortlessly fuses a love story, a mystery and postcolonial narratives.

    Time travel romance is a sparkling delight.

    A novel that is both emotionally engaging and intellectually stimulating.

Cristina Sanders' blog · Cristina Sanders · 2024-06-21
sparkling 4.50

The novel is celebrated for its great premise, excellent character development, and sharp social commentary woven through a sparkling and engaging narrative.

Cristina Sanders was impressed by the novel's ability to blend social commentary on feminism, racial equality, and bureaucracy with a compelling story about time-traveling characters adapting to modern life. She highlights the vivid characterizations, particularly of the historical 'expats,' and how the book thoughtfully explores their trauma and adjustment to a new era. The witty and sparkling writing style makes for an enjoyable read while addressing serious themes with nuance and insight.

Quick quotes

    The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley gets my book of the year so far.

    A good bit of social commentary runs through the sparkling text as our bridge explains to her charge concepts such as feminism, racial equality, on-line etiquette, bicycles.

    The time-travellers are called ex-pats ‘from history’.

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