A review by leitnerkev
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I find the best speculative fiction stories have small and large stakes - that is the story moves on critical elements that are important to the characters and yet set amongst a larger more cosmic story - whether that be epic or not, something where the story impacts larger society, moved by critical points important maybe only to the characters. The Ministry of Time has this structure and is a very enjoyable story for it, you can get invested in the protagonist and her out-of-time ward, whom she is tasked (ostensibly) with orienting to the 21st century, or the complex time travel conspiracy plot. Or both! It has also my favorite kind of ending, a messy, untidy, unexpected, but also ambiguous and potentially hopeful one, allowing the reader to make some guesses or assumptions about what may be coming next, and how the characters will continue on. Not in the cliffhanger, I want a sequel, type of way, though. I love a standalone book with some mystery around the edges and this has got that in spades. Well deserving of the hype it's been getting.