From the publisher: A compelling debut by a new voice in fantasy fiction, The Conductors features the magic and mystery of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files written with the sensibility and historical setting of Octavia Butler’s Kindred: Introducing Hetty Rhodes, a magic-user and former conductor on the Underground Railroad who now solves crimes in post–Civil War Philadelphia.

The Conductors is a delightful blend of history, mystery, fantasy, and romance. Hetty and Benjy met as conductors on the Underground Railroad and thought it made sense to stay together. Theirs is a marriage of convenience – or is it? Then dead bodies marked with a cursed symbol start turning up, and it seems natural for the pair to investigate.

The story opens with a bang, as Hetty and Benjy work together to free some people who have been kidnapped so their magic can be harvested. The magic in this story is pretty cool; without too much explanation it still made sense to me. Hetty and Benjy are an interesting couple. Both carry secrets – and both care more than the other knows. Hetty is a prickly strong and independent woman who has a good heart. She and Benjy are equals in their relationship. Their talents complement each other, and they protect one another.

Flashbacks to before the war, when Hetty and Benjy were escaped slaves, flesh out the story without being confusing. There are a lot of characters to keep straight, but they add a lot to the story. The humor is subtle and believable. This book is not nonstop action. Some might call it slow moving. That didn’t bother me, but it might not be fast paced enough for all readers.

The Conductors would make a terrific movie. I hope we see more of the adventures of Hetty and Benjy and their friends. I read an advance reader copy of The Conductors from Netgalley. Unfortunately this amazing book won’t be available until March 2021, when the Galesburg Public Library will own it as a print book, an audiobook, and an ebook.

This book really surprised me.
I was not able to read it in the beginning and I thought of dnfing it alot of times. But then one fine day I started reading it again and then *boom* I was so hooked into it. The main characters is so well written and I loved them both. This is the type of story which I always search for but couldn't get it that much.
Overall,this book is full every elements which a book needs. So I highly recommend it to everyone.

The Conductors by Nicole Glover is a supernatural filled mystery with elements of history and romance. Hetty and Benjy met while they were conductors for the Underground Railroad, eventually marrying and settling in Pennsylvania where they’re known for their knowledge of celestial magic and problem solving. Glover does an incredible job of world building by detailing relative historical accuracy of the aftermath of the Civil War merged with the original take of people being inherently magical. Her cast is almost exclusively Black people, and the stakes are heightened because of that. The characters are rich and fully realized, with the central relationship of Hetty and Benjy showcased as a lovely progression of romantic ideals.

To start off, Hetty, the main character is one of the strongest characters I've read this year. I love her backstory and her motivations, they really offer some depth next to the main storyline. But further (and it might be me) I was expecting something else from reading the summary. The pitch of this book made me believe it was going to be a suspenseful dark fantasy fused with historical mystery. The latter is true, though. Although I like my fantasies as I like my tea (yes, very dark), I had trouble getting into this book and remain captivated.

The pacing of this book felt really slow and it put me off because the atmosphere is 100% there. I just wish I could've experienced more suspenseful action or psychological manipulation.

The historical fiction part of this book is definitely on point and if this would've been pitched differently, I would probably have different expectations and give it more stars.

I finished this book in one sitting. I had my suspicions and even if they were right the execution was excellent. Ben and Hetty are such an odd couple but I love that about them. I love how they complement each other and I love that this truly was a smart mystery. Can't wait to read more from this author. If writing was her plan b, she should really stick with it.

This book had a very slow start and I contemplated putting it down a couple times however slowly but surely I became invested in the characters and once that happened I could not put it down and was anxious to see them solve the mystery.

A fascinating, engaging book. Although Glover has created a historical mystery with strong fantasy elements, it's also clearly well-researched and based in historical context. I desperately hope that this becomes a series. I'm recommending it to everyone!

The premise of this novel is intriguing: there are two types of magic, sorcery (wands and incantations used only by white people), and celestial, or primal magic (draws on astrology, and used only by black people). Laws restrict the two kinds of magic. Hetty and Ben have escaped slavery and freed others, and they also investigate crimes, using their wits and their magic.

I like the idea, but I found the execution irregular, sometimes drawing me in, sometimes leaving me skating, puzzled and disengaged, along the surface. I think there's definitely something here, even though it's something that didn't always entirely work for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC!

This was on my radar since I had looked up upcoming 2020 releases. This book had since been pushed back into early 2021, but I was still hyped to get cleared for an ARC of it.

This is a historical mystery with magic running throughout it. There are a multitude of mysteries that all end up running alongside the major mystery. But I was never overwhelmed with them, nor did I feel that I was getting plot points confused. And most important: all of the plot points felt like they did get resolved in a way that makes sense. I was also shocked by the reveal about the reality of the main mystery, but it all made sense once I thought about it. Usually I hate multiple plot threads, but this book does it very well.

The magic system isn't incredibly deep in a sense that there are like pages of building and explaining every niche detail about it, but it is very obvious that you aren't going to get that from the book early on. It has magic, but don't go in expecting like a high fantasy magic system where there are pages of world-building set aside explicitly for magic system details. It is a mystery with magical elements, and I think that is the best way to approach it.

I also really loved the cast, and by the end I was wanting spin-offs for all of them. Everyone felt like they were actual people, and I could picture them in my head. Hetty was such a fun MC to experience, and her relationship with Benjy was so fun (and sweet!) to read about. I know romance is big seller for books, so know that they're married and their relationship deals with things in a healthy way. They do have arguments, but it is made very clear that they still love/support each other even in the moments they have disagreements.

The worst part about reading this, is the fact I won't be able to get a physical copy until March 2nd, 2021.

'The Conductors’ is a truly compelling debut that did at first have a rough start but page by page, I become engrossed in Hetty and Benjy, infamous duo that now solves crimes in post-Civil War Philadelphia, journey in discovering who were committing the horrific murders while they dealt with the bubbling feelings and well guarded secrets neither one expected during the course of their marriage of convenience.

It was a perfect blend of an historical novel with fantasy and mystery elements all in one that made this a riveting read that was just too hard to put down. This is ideal for readers looking for a well paced cozy whodunit mystery filled with a fascinating premise, subplots, magic, fantasy, and characters that standout.

I adored this delightful, thrilling, emotional, and magical journey from the opening and I couldn’t put it down. I love alternate histories with fantasy mixed in and I love detective novels so this was a blast! It was wonderfully crafted,even if it could have used a tad bit more editing, but it made up for the bloat with fantastic characters that you could tell this author loves. A twist filled mystery overflowing with magic and mayhem. I’m gonna need many more adventures with Hetty Rhodes and the rest of these supporting players. What a great time!

This is a fantastic #ownvoices title that is suitable for YA readers as well as adults who enjoy alternate history fantasy. It's set after the Civil War. Hetty and her husband Benjy were conductors on the Underground Railroad, as the description implies, and they helped many slaves to freedom. They also happen to have magic powers. Now, they focus on solving mysteries and murders in their community that white authorities ignore.

The book is set in Philadelphia's seventh ward for the most part. It starts off with advertisements calling for the return of runaway slaves -- I'm not sure if they were based on real ones, or fictionalized for this story, but they struck me as incredibly real and added to the narrative.

There are some restrictions that forbid slaves and free persons of colour from performing magic or other forms of spellcasting. Some are permitted "as long as they are performed within the constraints defined by local authorities." They say things such as: "It is unlawful for any former slave or free person of color to possess or use a wand. Any person or persons so offending shall face imprisonment no less than ten days in the discretion of the Court or jury before whom the trial is had." (Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) -- I thought adding restrictions like that to the history made sense and added to the narrative, as mentioned above.

I don't want to spoil it, but there is a very interesting and unique magic system. Even though the novel is set during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War has ended, slavery forms a huge undercurrent of the characters' lives and forms the backbone of the narrative and magic is a huge part of this.

For readers who enjoy mystery mixed in with their speculative fiction -- as well as alternate realities -- this is a wonderful novel that's packed with action, heart, and much more. It is an engaging story that will keep you turning the pages.

While I thought the concept of this book to be very original and fresh, I found the execution to be lacking. The story dragged for me. There was too much left for the reader to discover along the way and the mystery aspect of the book was the least exciting part. I wish I had gotten a better feel for more of the characters. I did really enjoy how the author created the magic system in the book. And the historical setting/reimagining was inspiring. I am giving the book 2.5 stars, but I would be willing to read more of this author as she is new to the writing scene. She clearly has the imagination and creativity required for excellent storytelling.

I loved all of the elements put together in this book. Not only are the magic and fantasy elements unique, but the author ties it into the civil war and prejudice against African Americans quite well. I really liked the romance between the characters Hetty and Benjy. Their relationship feels natural and the interludes that are included really help to explain what they went through together. Overall, I think this book has some very unique elements and is a great start for this author.

Nicole Glover is being lauded as the next Octavia Butler, and the comparison isn’t far off the mark. While Butler is recognized as a giant in the fantasy & science fiction worlds and forged the way for socially conscious Black fantasy (Kindred is probably the most perfect story I’ve ever read), Glover brings a freshness to the genre. A member of the Harry Potter generation, Glover clearly has been influenced by the flood of magic and mystery that erupted in the wake of the HP mania of the 1990s and early 2000s. However, her use of fantasy and magic to reimagine the lives and abilities of Africans both during and after slavery is new to me and absolutely fascinating.

Riffing off the use of the night sky by Africans escaping slavery in the American South, Glover creates a new magical infrastructure wholly separate from the HP universe. Africans practice Celestial magic, drawing on the power of nature and the universe. Whites, on the other hand, rely on Sorcery enabled by wands.

Glovers main characters, Hetty and Benjamin Rhodes, are the titular Conductors - those who guided slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Now, post emancipation, they function as detectives. They solve problems, they find people and things, and they right wrongs.

This will be one of the hottest books of 2021, and I really, really hope it gets picked up for television or the big screen.

The cover and title hooked me!! I was impressed with this read.

After assisting on the Underground Railroad, Henrietta and Benjy have to solve a crime, when it affects someone close to them. Of course, it's not just an open and shut case. There are a series of events!! We get to know many characters. The story is interwoven with the past, which makes for a great read.

Vibrant work of speculative fiction by a new author. Set in post-Civil War Philadelphia, Glover weaves the tale of a classic who-done-it murder mystery combined with magical elements. Former Conductors on the Underground Railroad use celestial magic to solve mysteries, both large and small, that would otherwise go unsolved in their community. The plot is well-paced and the characters are diverse, engaging, and mostly well developed. The system of celestial magic is not as fully explained as it could have been. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Completely original! Historical fiction rarely gives us a glimpse into the Underground Railroad, much less fantasy, so this story was a complete treat. Look forward to more from this author.

Historical fiction but with MAGIC and MURDER MYSTERY. Nicole Glover's debut novel features an expansive cast of characters led by Hetty and Benjy, former conductors along the underground railroad, now living in Philadelphia, building, protecting, and maintaining their Black community. When they begin to discover dead bodies marked with a cursed sigil, they begin the search for connections and a killer. This book moves slowly, with brief interludes into the past, to truly build and show the intricacies and complexities of each character as well as the home they've built together. The magic system woven throughout is pulsating and powerful. As I turned the last page, I wept from how much I'm going to miss the characters. Guess I just have to read it again.

I’ve recently been on a binge of historical fantasy, a genre I had once shied away from because I haven’t had the best (read: most exciting) experiences with historical fiction. However, I recently received THE CONDUCTORS by Nicole Glover via Netgalley, which felt like fate because it was also the same day I had finished DREAD NATION by Justina Ireland, another historical fantasy set during the Civil War-era.

If you’re intrigued by the premise (as I most certainly was), then read on.

I received THE CONDUCTORS by Nicole Glover as an ARC via Netgalley. The novel sets us in Philadelphia in May 1871, five years after the Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1866. We follow the journey of Hetty, our protagonist and wielder of powerful magical abilities. She and her husband, Benjy, are conductors on the Underground Railroad, shuffling escaped slaves out of the south and into the north. Their pasts as slaves permeate each and every calculation they make, and this book is timely in the sense that it fits in with the transition that the publishing world is making towards pushing out work focusing on BIPOC characters and narratives.

The majority of the plot revolves around Hetty and Benjy investigating missing children, arcane magic, and mysterious murders in Philadelphia. When a friend of the couple winds up dead in an alley and a dark sigil etched into his skin, that’s when we hit the main plot point.

Glover’s world works with a magic system that I thoroughly enjoyed–in theory. There is a marked and unsubtle separation of the magic that white characters utilize, Sorcery, and the magic that Black characters utilize, Celestial magic. Sorcery involves the usage of wands, incantations, icons and wrist-waving that the popular world has associated with Harry Potter-esque witchery, whereas Celestial magic touches upon Afro-Caribbean roots in nature, constellations, and sigils.

It’s heady stuff, and I wish that the author had been less vague about how magic actually worked. I want to know more about how magic drains the user, how it gives and takes in unequal measure, and why there is such a differentiation between the systems utilized. I also would have found it more helpful to explain the magic earlier on in the book. I understood it, but it took some creative inferences.

The cast of characters is varied, and I was so relieved when the author did not portray stereotypes of post-Civil War people. Not every Black person was a slave, and although the focus of the story is centered around Hetty and her mission, we are party to Black socialites, free men, and empowered, witty people. The events are no doubt grievous, and as an American wading through the current civil rights movement, it gives me, the reader, time to also pay closer attention to the time period and history this novel is set in. Glover treats the situation with gravity and allows us to do so, as well.

I am very disappointed with the pacing of the novel, however. This novel was seemingly pitched as a tense mystery historical fiction with elements of fantasy. While the prose was well-written and the characters relatable and likable, I would’ve been more prepared going in with the correct mindset if this novel was placed in the historical fiction genre containing a mystery subplot with fantasy elements.

It’s a subtle differentiation, but it was enough to throw me off with the novel carried me in an almost leisurely manner. It certainly wasn’t tense enough for me to be carving through every page to get to the ending, which was a bit of a lukewarm letdown. Clarence was the clear villain from the start for me, and it made me unravel the mystery early on from his interactions with Eunice, Hetty, and Benjy.

Quicken the pacing, cut down on Hetty’s tedious navigations with her social circle, and push the romance and interludes further. The latter two points were the strongest areas of the novel and the ones that I was most invested with. They were fresh and easily outshone the mystery aspect.

The novel is a quick breath of air and a fresh perspective, and the characters are fun, attractive, and relatable. In the end, I oscillated between 3 to 4 stars, but found that it needs a stronger editor and tighter pacing for it to truly shine.

3.5 stars.