I loved this book. The protagonists are two former underground railroad conductors turned ad hoc investigators.

It takes place in post Civil War America, one in which magic is a reality. White people are allowed to practice sorcery and blacks allowed to utilize the "lesser" natural magic.

The author creates a rich world with interesting characters. The protagonists take it upon themselves to solve a series of murders.

My review doesn't adequately give this book the praise it deserves. It is a wonderfully written historical fantasy novel. I hope there are more to come.

My one criticism is that the book needs more copy editing.

I received a free ARC. I am leaving my honest review.

I really enjoyed my time reading this! This book follows Hetty and Benjy, who used to be Conductors on the Underground Railroad (which is super cool). They discover a man with a symbol on his chest, that just so happens to be a cursed symbol. They then proceed to investigate the murder, with the book switching between past and present.

The magic in this book is really cool. Definitely one of my favorite aspects of the book. I also really loved Hetty. She’s one of those characters you can’t help but enjoy, because she’s powerful but makes the story more enjoyable with her wit. I felt like the setting was well fleshed out for a historical fantasy novel, which was also nice. My only issue was how long it took for me to fully get into the story. Overall an enjoyable read!

The Conductors is the story of Hetty and Benjy, both former Conductors on the Underground Railroad. When Hetty and Benjy find a dead man with a cursed symbol on his chest, they decide to use their magic to investigate. Switching between flashbacks from their past as Conductors to present day, Hetty also searches for her sister Esther as they attempt to unravel the murder. As clues and questions surface, both start to wonder...could the murderer be someone they know?

I absolutely loved The Conductors!! Hetty is one of my favorite characters: witty, powerful, and so much fun to read as she races to solve the murder. The magic system was well-designed and complex. With solid pacing and excellent supporting characters, I couldn’t put this book down! Anyone looking for historical fiction, murder mysteries involving magic, and fantastic characters will enjoy The Conductors. Spending time with Hetty and Benjy was a joy, hopefully they’ll return to solve another mystery. I highly recommend The Conductors, releasing March 2, 2021. Thank you to Nicole Glover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.