What the community thinks
summary of 60 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
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Death (5 reviewers), Slavery (5 reviewers), Violence (4 reviewers), Racism (3 reviewers), Torture (2 reviewers), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), Racial slurs (1 reviewer), Blood (1 reviewer), Trafficking (1 reviewer), and Murder (1 reviewer)Moderate
Death (3 reviewers), Racism (3 reviewers), Slavery (3 reviewers), Domestic abuse (1 reviewer), Infertility (1 reviewer), Racial slurs (1 reviewer), Violence (1 reviewer), Medical content (1 reviewer), Kidnapping (1 reviewer), Grief (1 reviewer), and Murder (1 reviewer)Minor
Miscarriage (2 reviewers), Domestic abuse (1 reviewer), Drug use (1 reviewer), Infertility (1 reviewer), Racism (1 reviewer), Torture (1 reviewer), Violence (1 reviewer), Kidnapping (1 reviewer), and Abortion (1 reviewer)Moods
adventurous 87%
mysterious 87%
emotional 35%
tense 32%
hopeful 22%
dark 19%
funny 12%
reflective 9%
informative 6%
inspiring 6%
sad 6%
challenging 3%
lighthearted 3%
mysterious 87%
emotional 35%
tense 32%
hopeful 22%
dark 19%
funny 12%
reflective 9%
informative 6%
inspiring 6%
sad 6%
challenging 3%
lighthearted 3%
Pace
medium 70%
slow 22%
fast 6%
slow 22%
fast 6%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 57% | Plot: 36% | Character: 5%Strong character development?
Yes: 48% | No: 31% | It's complicated: 20%Loveable characters?
Yes: 76% | No: 11% | It's complicated: 7% | N/A: 3%Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 93% | It's complicated: 6%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 57% | No: 26% | It's complicated: 15%Average rating
Buy The Conductors
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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.
As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Hetty Rhodes helped usher dozens of people north with her wits and magic. Now that the Civil War is over, Hetty and her husband Benjy have settled in Philadelphia, solving murders and mysteries that the white authorities won’t touch. When they find one of their friends slain in an alley, Hetty and Benjy bury the body and set off to find answers. But the secrets and intricate lies of the elites of Black Philadelphia only serve to dredge up more questions. To solve this mystery, they will have to face ugly truths all around them, including the ones about each other.
In this vibrant and original novel, Nicole Glover joins a roster of contemporary writers within fantasy, such as Victor LaValle and Zen Cho, who use speculative fiction to delve into important historical and cultural threads.
As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Hetty Rhodes helped usher dozens of people north with her wits and magic. Now that the Civil War is over, Hetty and her husband Benjy have settled in Philadelphia, solving murders and mysteries that the white authorities won’t touch. When they find one of their friends slain in an alley, Hetty and Benjy bury the body and set off to find answers. But the secrets and intricate lies of the elites of Black Philadelphia only serve to dredge up more questions. To solve this mystery, they will have to face ugly truths all around them, including the ones about each other.
In this vibrant and original novel, Nicole Glover joins a roster of contemporary writers within fantasy, such as Victor LaValle and Zen Cho, who use speculative fiction to delve into important historical and cultural threads.
Buy The Conductors
United States
Bookshop US
Other countries
Bookshop UK
Blackwell's
The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. We earn commission on any purchases made.
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.
As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Hetty Rhodes helped usher dozens of people north with her wits and magic. Now that the Civil War is over, Hetty and her husband Benjy have settled in Philadelphia, solving murders and mysteries that the white authorities won’t touch. When they find one of their friends slain in an alley, Hetty and Benjy bury the body and set off to find answers. But the secrets and intricate lies of the elites of Black Philadelphia only serve to dredge up more questions. To solve this mystery, they will have to face ugly truths all around them, including the ones about each other.
In this vibrant and original novel, Nicole Glover joins a roster of contemporary writers within fantasy, such as Victor LaValle and Zen Cho, who use speculative fiction to delve into important historical and cultural threads.
As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Hetty Rhodes helped usher dozens of people north with her wits and magic. Now that the Civil War is over, Hetty and her husband Benjy have settled in Philadelphia, solving murders and mysteries that the white authorities won’t touch. When they find one of their friends slain in an alley, Hetty and Benjy bury the body and set off to find answers. But the secrets and intricate lies of the elites of Black Philadelphia only serve to dredge up more questions. To solve this mystery, they will have to face ugly truths all around them, including the ones about each other.
In this vibrant and original novel, Nicole Glover joins a roster of contemporary writers within fantasy, such as Victor LaValle and Zen Cho, who use speculative fiction to delve into important historical and cultural threads.
What the community thinks
summary of 60 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
View warnings
Graphic
Death (5 reviewers), Slavery (5 reviewers), Violence (4 reviewers), Racism (3 reviewers), Torture (2 reviewers), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), Racial slurs (1 reviewer), Blood (1 reviewer), Trafficking (1 reviewer), and Murder (1 reviewer)Moderate
Death (3 reviewers), Racism (3 reviewers), Slavery (3 reviewers), Domestic abuse (1 reviewer), Infertility (1 reviewer), Racial slurs (1 reviewer), Violence (1 reviewer), Medical content (1 reviewer), Kidnapping (1 reviewer), Grief (1 reviewer), and Murder (1 reviewer)Minor
Miscarriage (2 reviewers), Domestic abuse (1 reviewer), Drug use (1 reviewer), Infertility (1 reviewer), Racism (1 reviewer), Torture (1 reviewer), Violence (1 reviewer), Kidnapping (1 reviewer), and Abortion (1 reviewer)Moods
adventurous 87%
mysterious 87%
emotional 35%
tense 32%
hopeful 22%
dark 19%
funny 12%
reflective 9%
informative 6%
inspiring 6%
sad 6%
challenging 3%
lighthearted 3%
mysterious 87%
emotional 35%
tense 32%
hopeful 22%
dark 19%
funny 12%
reflective 9%
informative 6%
inspiring 6%
sad 6%
challenging 3%
lighthearted 3%
Pace
medium 70%
slow 22%
fast 6%
slow 22%
fast 6%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 57% | Plot: 36% | Character: 5%Strong character development?
Yes: 48% | No: 31% | It's complicated: 20%Loveable characters?
Yes: 76% | No: 11% | It's complicated: 7% | N/A: 3%Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 93% | It's complicated: 6%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 57% | No: 26% | It's complicated: 15%Average rating