A review by kari_f
An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim

dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

This book does a bit of a genre-bend, blending elements commonly found in dystopian, time travel, and pandemic literature. I’ll be honest in saying that I was expecting more of a sci-fi adventure, but what I got was perhaps even better: a deep look at the immigrant experience. Our protagonist is a time-traveling-refugee-turned-indentured-servant, at the lowest part of the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. We witness the displacement she feels as she is thrust into a world very different than the one she left behind, having to deal with the consequences of a bargain she didn’t fully understand.

She clings to the hope of reunion as she works to repay her debt, though it feels like all the cards are stacked against her in a system where she can never get ahead. She is pretty naïve in how she deals with people,and it’s painful to see her learn the hard way that others will take advantage of that. 

Overall I enjoyed the book and found the premise to be quite unique! It’s raw and dark at times, with many ideas that caused me to pause and reflect. I enjoyed the time travel element, even if it wasn’t what I was expecting. Don’t come into this book expecting a quick-paced, action-heavy adventure. Come into it expecting an insightful speculative fiction story that is full of raw emotion,  bleak circumstances, and resilient hope.