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karcitis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Gore, Torture, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Alcohol
owlstory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Blood, and Murder
As the book's main character is a former slave and was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, any historical context, including the horrible ways enslaved people were treated, is included in this book. Generational trauma related to slavery is a theme from the book.laurareads87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Medical content
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Miscarriage
nullandvoidlibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
stephbakerbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Secondly, this book has a lot of elements to it, but I think it’s primarily a mystery story. There’s not a ton of world-building or explanation as to how this magic works, and it’s not the main focus. It’s more like Hetty is a detective who happens to do magic also. I would have liked a bit more exploration into the magic side, but I think the story still works as it is. Just don’t go into it expecting a big fantasy story.
The characters are all great but I especially loved Hetty and her relationship with Benjy. We get flashbacks throughout the story of Hetty’s past and their history together, and I loved slowly learning their story at the same time that Hetty is discovering new feelings and truths about herself in the present. I’m a fan of this romance 😍
This book does end neatly (no cliffhanger), so I was excited to learn there will be a sequel out later this year! I will definitely be reading it because I want more Hetty and Benjy 🙌🏼
Thank you to Libro.fm, the publisher, and the author for my ALC!
Read if you like: historical fiction, mysteries, detective duos, Philly.
Graphic: Death, Racism, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Police brutality
qace90's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Full review closer to publication but if you’re looking for a slow murder mystery set post Civil War with a sweet romance and fantastic chosen family, you’re going to want to check this book out!
Full review:
The Conductors is a fantasy murder mystery set in post-Civil War America and also has wonderful elements of chosen family and community, plus a sweet romance between Hetty and Benjy (whose marriage is one of friendship, not romance). From the moment I heard about this book, I was intrigued, and in no way did it disappoint!
Hetty is amazing and fierce and a very good example of competence porn. She’s very skilled with magic, and also at making clothes. She’s also known to meld the two together and sew sigils into the clothes she makes. I love her brashness and how she stands for what she believes in. But sometimes that also gets her into trouble, especially as a Black woman who used to be a Conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Her husband, Benjy, is also an amazingly competent individual and he does so many little things for Hetty to show his care, though sometimes she’s oblivious to the significance of his actions. He followed her to lead people from slavery because he was “bored” and together they balance each other and strengthen their skills in a way that ensured they were more often than not successful on their trips. Since the Civil War, they’re known to help people with unusual incidents - like finding a body in an alleyway with a cursed sigil carved in his chest.
All of the side characters feel fleshed out and the mystery was wonderfully layered. The clues were there, but at least for me I felt like I was along for the ride with Hetty rather than figuring everything out on my own.
I really enjoyed this story, and I’m looking forward to the continuation of this series. I loved the chosen family and community especially because it shows friendships growing from common pasts and how everyone in their community will help and when they can. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy slower paced mysteries, especially with a unique magic system.
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Racism and Slavery
Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Torture
maryellen's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Miscarriage and Racism