Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the arc.
I love me a mystery sandwiched in a light-magical setting with historical backdrop and significance. Hetty's journey is heard and worthy of reading. The themes are quite heavy but that's exactly why it should be read and explored.. it reflects the past and the possibility of it happening in miniscule instances today.

The Conductors by Nicole Glover is a captivating blend of historical fiction and fantasy, set in a world where magic exists alongside the struggles of post-Civil War America. The story follows Hetty and Benjy, former underground railroad conductors who now use their magical abilities to solve mysteries in their Philadelphia community. When a murder occurs, the two must navigate a web of secrets, magic, and danger to uncover the truth.

The writing is engaging. The magic system is unique, grounded in African traditions, and the characters are both complex and relatable. Hetty, in particular, is a strong and resourceful protagonist whose determination to protect her community drives the plot.

A+ concept and ideas. I was so excited for this book, but the writing style didn't work for me. Listened to the audio and even Bahni Turpin couldn't save it for me. the magic system was unique and creative but I couldn't find any consistent logic to it. The cast was delightfully black, with the only named white character having a secret of her own. Friendship was a huge part of the story, and I loved the inclusion of a queer couple. So much to like. I just wish I would have enjoyed it more overall.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Harper Voyager for sharing an advanced copy of #TheConductors with me.

This book had a great concept, and I loved how the main character is married and stays with the same person the whole time so the book has enough going on without adding a falling in love subplot. However, I found myself wanting more of the magic, and I felt like the magic system wasn’t explained very well and we see so little of it compared to what we’re just told exists.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

"The Conductors" by Nicole Glover is a captivating historical fantasy novel that introduces readers to a unique world filled with magic, mystery, and intrigue. Set in post-Civil War Philadelphia, the story follows Hetty and Benjy Rhodes, a married couple who are former conductors on the Underground Railroad and now work as investigators, using their magical abilities to solve crimes in their community.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its richly imagined setting and historical detail. Glover skillfully brings to life the atmosphere of post-war Philadelphia, incorporating elements of African American history and culture into the narrative. The magic system, which is based on sigils and rituals drawn from African traditions, adds depth and complexity to the story, creating a sense of wonder and mystique.

The characters of Hetty and Benjy are compelling protagonists, each with their own strengths, flaws, and secrets. Their dynamic relationship is at the heart of the novel, and Glover does an excellent job of exploring the complexities of their marriage, as well as the challenges they face as black professionals in a predominantly white society.

However, one weakness of the novel is its pacing. While the premise is intriguing and the world-building is strong, the plot can feel slow-moving at times, with the central mystery taking a while to fully develop. Some readers may find themselves wishing for more action or suspense to drive the narrative forward.

Additionally, the supporting cast of characters, while diverse and well-rounded, could have been further developed. Many of them feel underutilized or overshadowed by the main characters, which detracts from the overall impact of the story.

Despite these flaws, "The Conductors" is ultimately a compelling and thought-provoking read that offers a fresh take on the historical fantasy genre. Nicole Glover's debut novel showcases her talent as a storyteller, and I look forward to seeing where her writing career takes her next.

A truly enjoyable read that weaves together a mystery and a time period in a new and innovative mannr.

thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Conductors is a good debut novel that I didn't love, but I would still recommend it because I think it would click for some readers. The story follows Hetty and Benjy, a married couple who live in Philadelphia shortly after emancipation. Most of the plot centers around as the two navigate their life and friend group while also trying to solve a recent murder mystery. At the same time there are flashbacks to their earlier life working with their magic, bravery, and smarts to help free enslaved people. I was drawn in with the beautiful cover and hopeful for the mystery and interplay of historical fiction & magic, especially as it is completely focused on black main characters.

Here are some top three elements I enjoyed, but with slight caveats of how I might have enjoyed them a little bit more. Regardless, this is a solid debut and I think worth checking out.

- strong focus on depicting a wide circle of found family and the main character's social group in Philadelphia. There are intimate small gatherings with some of Hetty & Benjy's closest friends as well as interactions some folks they are less keen on but still interact with and a strong scene around a memorial for the character in the group who died. I think Glover does some interesting stuff around depicting how Hetty & Benjy's relationships with people shifted overtime, especially depending on how people related to their trauma. At times, it felt like a lot of characters were being introduced quickly and would have appreciated a different pace for that.

- a unique approach to magic that emphasizes people, especially depending on their community learning experience & magical heritage. so many of the points of reference are based on how magic functioned as part of black community and resistance during enslavement. Hetty also diffuses magic throughout her work, be it her current sewing work or her previous experience of being a conductor. I think the magic feels very visual and I can imagine it being beautifully cinematic. however, it's also a bit confusing especially as it's introduced.

- the relationship between Hetty and Benjy is especially lovely and a lot of Hetty's interior experience throughout the book is her developing understanding about how she relates to her husband. The book has this lovely theme of partnership that underpins the romance. My favorite parts of the book easily were the flashbacks and the small moments focused on their life together. I would love to read a prequel or something that really focuses on the earlier days of their relationship.

As I said earlier, I think it's a solid debut with a lot to like even if there are some issues. I look forward to watching what else Glover does in the years to come!

This book was full of creativity. It was chock full of things I love to read about (historical, fantasy, magic, mystery). I felt like I was transported to another time and place while reading this story. This was my first read by this author. I look forward to reading more.

I tried to read it a few times and every time I felt completely disconected and I couldn't progress the reading. The book seems good and I was very excited, but I don't know what went wrong. I just didn't like enough to continue.

The Conductors centers on husband and wife team Hetty and Benjy Rhodes, previously conductors on the Underground Railroad and now, in the Reconstruction Era, solving crimes in Philadelphia.

From a historical fiction point of view, I think this book was excellent in it's depiction of the lives of Black people during Reconstruction. It hits on the prejudices of the time while still making room for spots of joy in the lives of our characters.

However, the fantasy aspects of this story fell flat for me. I was initially intrigued by the two types of magic - celestial magic (wielded by Blacks) and sorcery (wielded by whites). But outside of the knowledge that practitioners of celestial magic create constellation glyphs imbued with magic and that sorcery requires a wand, we never really learned anything about these systems and I would have loved to see them more fleshed out.

The story itself was a little slow-paced; with the action not really picking up until the last 20% or so of the book.

Thank you so much to net galley for sending me a copy of this book. It was very interesting, but not really for me.

I really wanted to love this story. I loved the idea of bringing magic to historical fiction, but it also really confused me. I tried listening to this and reading it more than once and I just was confused the whole time. DNFed after 30% (which is probably just me)

What a fun read this was!

Hetty was a badass and I really loved most of our characters.

The alt-history was well done - as were our villains.

What I really enjoyed most, though, was the magic system in the book. It was unique and a lot of fun.

I do think I would have liked a touch more background, but I really enjoyed this one!

The Conductors is a beautiful blend of Historical Fiction with slight fantasy or magical realism. The writing has a depth that transports the reader into the story that it’s as if the story is playing in front of you. The characters are well crafted, and the plot moves at an enjoyable pace. I think this was a great story, especially for fans of magical realism. While I enjoyed it, I don’t think it would be a story that I would reread or plan to own a physical copy. However, I will recommend this to anyone I think might enjoy it.

Sadly I have to DNF this book, while at first the premises was interesting I found the mistery part lacking and the twists were predictable.

Interesting take on slaves, magic, family ties and the road to freedom... I do not really care for slavery or trauma-based books but this was a good book.#theconductors #netgalley

This was a book that was great conceptually, but the writing didn't work that well for me. I really enjoyed Hetty and her circle of friends and the relationship between Hetty and Benjy was sweet too. I found the plot a little bit convoluted at times and the mystery was a bit confusing. However, I did enjoy the magic system (where the drawing of star constellations allow certain magical spells to manifest) and the overall setting was compelling too. I will pick up the sequel and just hope that the plot is a little bit more coherent for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Conductors

By: Nicole Glover

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books

Publish Date: 02 March 2021

Sci-Fi and Fantasy

#TheConductors#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I want to first thank both NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin for allowing me to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

Introducing Hetty Rhodes, a magic-user and former conductor on the Underground Railroad who now solves crimes in post–Civil War Philadelphia.

As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Hetty Rhodes helped usher dozens of people north with her wits and magic. Now that the Civil War is over, Hetty and her husband Benjy have settled in Philadelphia, solving murders and mysteries that the white authorities won’t touch. When they find one of their friends slain in an alley, Hetty and Benjy bury the body and set off to find answers. But the secrets and intricate lies of the elites of Black Philadelphia only serve to dredge up more questions. To solve this mystery, they will have to face ugly truths all around them, including the ones about each other.

Book Review:

I gave this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed reading it and wish I got this done before it hit the market. I enjoy reading about history in any form and this one was a little different but still enjoyable. The book in mainly set after the Civil War but does have some flashbacks so you get to know the characters better. Hetty is a strong-willed lady and isn’t afraid to let anyone know how she feels. Her and her husband work together to solve mysteries and they actually complement each other well. When they worked for the underground railroad, there was a certain symbol they used to figure out who needed the help the most. They still use this symbol to determine what is going to be their priority cases. I enjoyed the friendships in this book. You really weren’t able to figure out who the killer was until the end and it still came as a surprise for me. I can’t wait to read the next book.

The Conductors is Nicole Glover’s debut novel. It combines the history of the Underground Railroad with a great magic system. The main characters are Hetty and Benjy, they are ‘conductors’, solving murders and disappearances that the police won’t look into. I enjoyed the whole cast of characters of this story, and even though there are some pacing issues, the story was compelling and interesting to read, would recommend! 3.5 stars, rounded up