Reviews

The Conductors by Nicole Glover

natcommon's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book so much more than I thought. The relationship between Hetty and Benjy were beautiful and real. I liked the magic and how it was mystic and not fully explained. Also, the mystery was a lot of fun and I'm excited to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher to sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

kevinmccarrick's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

meaninglessmischief's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.5

nicolemhill's review against another edition

3.0

I kept wanting this to be more: more magic or more mystery. Instead, the story fell between the two and never fully gelled — IMO — with either. That said, I found the characters engaging and the premise enjoyable. I'll be curious to see how the second book builds and improves on the first.

emdw26's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this! Hetty is such a badass character. Can't wait for Nicole Glover's next book!

juliemb's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

dragoninwinterfell's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Conductors by Nicole Glover is a fantastic, magical read filled with realistic characters, strong relationship dynamics, and excellent world building that flawlessly blends US history with a magic-filled alternate reality. Hetty as the protagonist was so entertaining to follow as she navigated her world with confidenceand self-respect as well as vulnerability. The story is told switching between the present where she and her husband are investigating the murder of their friend and interludes into the past that explore her backstory as an escaped slave who seved as a conductor in the Underground Railroad, leading others to freedom. As such, we get to see her at different points in her life, dealing with varied struggles from life threatening danger to personal struggles to issues with employment and rent. Glover makes each aspect of Hetty's story compelling. I'm excited to move forward with the sequel.

ashtonj's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

chronicallyhanreads's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.75

claire_michelle18's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.75

A really cool concept for a mystery story, set in an alternative post-abolition world where both enslaved people and their enslavers possess magic and use it in very different ways. The protagonists Hettie and Benji are former enslaved people who acted as underground railway conductors and now solve crimes in the Black community in Philadelphia. The characterisation of Hettie and Benji, and the development of their relationship, was fantastic however the set up of a lot of the background characters was a little bit lacking for me - I wanted to see them more deeply characterised to give the central mystery more depth and importance.