This book doesn't know what it wants to be. I thought it was about magical characters helping with the underground railroad (which, it is, a bit), and *then* I thought it was about magical characters solving mysteries (which, it is, but not really) but then we have a number of different, weird problems that arise that take the reader completely away from the original, compelling murder mystery. Indeed, the initial murder mystery is almost immediately forgotten as another disaster comes upon the characters, which is then eclipsed by ANOTHER, totally different disaster that happens, while at the same time the fact that the main character STILL hasn't found her sister is constantly looming over the reader and characters and is referred to here and there just to keep things really confusing. The character development is also tricky as we aren't really given the chance to know them as they're dodging one crisis after another. And while the writing is beautiful and I love the concept of this book and these characters, it is just not very well executed. Particularly for a younger readers work.

This is not, unfortunately, a work I would recommend.

'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.

When I saw this book for the first time, I immediately wanted to read it. All thanks to synopsis, that sounded like amazing mix of historical fiction and fantasy. Well, sadly this didn't work for me.
The pacing of this story was just too slow. I was usually bored while I read The Conductors, and I could not make myself to enjoy the story properly. Another problem I had was with writing, which was too descriptive for me, especially when it's combinated with slow pacing in story. That's why I postponed reading of this book many times, until I decided to DNF it. This book was sadly not my cup of tea.
Anyways, now it's time that I mention things I liked in this book. First of all, world-building. The historic setting was just amazing and I loved how magical atmosphere it gave to the whole story. Second of all, I liked characters. There were so many great characters with unique personalities!

Overall, as I said, this was not book meant for me. But you should definitely give it a chance. I bet that a lot of you won't regret it.

DNF at 50%, 2,5/5*
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I was so excited about this book, and while it didn't blow me away, it was a good read. I love to read stories of the underground railroad, so the idea of magic being brought into the mix was pretty cool!

The magical system was really interesting. It corresponded to the stars, which was different, but I would have liked a bit more information about it. Maybe earlier in the story because I felt a bit lost to start. I think that I got into more as the story progressed, but overall, it just didn't capture my attention the way I wanted it to.

I was provided an advanced reader's copy for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Honestly, I'm not sure where to start with this review. Such a refreshing premise and an exciting concept! Unfortunately for me, the historical aspects of the writing overtook the story itself, and it plodded along until the last few chapters of the book. The characters and world-building are exceptional, but the level of detail, at times, felt as if the author was going for filler rather than keeping the reader engaged. Granted, I read an unedited ARC so these issues may be corrected in the final printing. A solid three stars, maybe a little higher -- especially if you are a fan of historical fiction with a bit of magic on the side.

trigger warning
<spoiler> slavery, gambling, domestic abuse, kidnapping </spoiler>

Years after Hetty and Benji worked as conductors, they still take cases when nobody else will help - often this entails saving people who get kidnapped to be sold as slaves in the south. This time, it's a corpse. And this time, it's a friend.

I signed up for this because they told me murder mystery in a historical setting but with magic. I got that. On top of it, there are different kinds of magic used by different people. White people use sorcery that depends on using a wand, while black people, former slaves, didn't have access to that. They use a system of sigils based on star signs, which is why this kind of magic is called celestial magic.

Three dimensional characters, factoids about life back then, and so many things going on you're surprised to realise you forgot some element - or that might be because I was only able to read a few pages at a time as I was in the first half of this novel while I was able to read the second half in two sittings.

The love story. Hear me out. I loved it. Usually, I am a person that tolerates love subplots rather than being there for them, which is why I have such a hard time with the romance genre. Might be my aro side, I don't know.
In any case, this felt natural and not rushed. It fit in there, in the plot, to the characters, and this book is on my small list of instances in which I felt the book would be less without it.

And I want to speak about Hettie. Listen, she's such a well-rounded character. She has flaws, she has talents, most notably sewing, being the best celestrial mage in the city, and being able to annoy <i>everybody</i> which can come in handy when trying to solve a murder, because annoyed people might spill more than they wanted to.
Usually, talent in magic in novels is counterpointed by having a character that's socially inept, but Hettie just doesn't suffer fools. She could. She just doesn't want to. She is not constructed, if you know what I mean, and one of the best female characters I read about this year.

I'll make sure to keep an eye out for further books by Nicole Glover and would like it very much should she return to this world.

I recieved copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Many of wondered how the underground railroad worked and how the conductors managed to save some many lives. This story gives an answer that includes magic. Celestial, zodiac based, as well as sorcery. The story and the characters will draw you in. The mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. I hope this is the first of a series. Amazing story full of history and excitement.

The premise of this book sounded so, so, so interesting. Conductors on the Underground Railroad but with magic?! "Sign me up!", I thought, but, sadly, this was not the story for me. I really wanted to enjoy it as the blurb just sounded so cool but it never captured me.

I thought the magic system with the seals and the connections to the stars/constellations were cool but I think the system needs a brushing up and maybe be place more in the foreground than what its significance was in the story. I think the whole magic part of the story was lost in an overall story I never really got in to. But maybe that more my fault than the actual story and writing itself?

I actually don't know what the story was about, which is sad, and since I can't recall the story I can't really give this story an amazing rating. I did like the idea behind it but had a hard time following the actual product.

Wow wow wow wowwwwww
What a debut!

Gorgeous, delicious prose. Juicy historical-fiction-mystery... but with a touch of magic ✨

Honestly, would not hate it if this turned into a series.

I’m super into the magical lore that Glover has created here— really creative to use the historical context of occultism being born of Black cultures, while also creating the idea that wands used by non-magical folk (usually white people) are made from bones of magic slaves. Also, establishing a “dark magic” component with sorcery.

Also, really enjoyed the romance between Hetty and Benji so, so much. Will definitely be following Nicole Glover for her future works!

I was deeply interested in this book after reading the blurb, because I believed it had everything I love about a good story: mystery, history and fantasy!

I am really happy to say I was right! I loved how the historical background is enhanced by the magical features, expecially because they are used a way to show the racism of that time too. Some people might not like the fact that the origins of the magic are not explained, but I don't feel like it has to be, and it would have made the book quite boring to have every magical detail being lectured to me.

Also, as a fan of detective novels, I'm used to deal with the existence of many characters in a mystery book, and I want to point out that, for me, they were properly introduced (not all of them at the same time) giving the reader time to take each one in.

I enjoyed the flashbacks not only because they explained all the characters relations, but also Benjy and Hettie's, once they are already married at the beggining of the book. And that gives the reader a good point of view on how their partnership grew into a friendship that led to their marriage. I can't even begin to say how much I loved them two, individually and together.

This reading was utterly enjoyable, I recommend to everyone that fancies a good mystery in a historical setting with a twist of fantasy.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.