Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE CONDUCTORS by Nicole Glover
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about. It is a meme that I have loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.
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My selection for this week is THE CONDUCTORS by Nicole Glover. I know this book doesn’t come out until next year, but it just sounds like such a fantastic read that I couldn’t wait to share it with you all. The comparisons to Jim Butcher and Octavia Butler caught my attention right away, and even though I love historical fiction, I’ve not read many set in the post Civil War landscape so I’m intrigued by that. I also can’t wait to meet Hetty and Benjy and learn more about them and about their line of work.
THE CONDUCTORS by Nicole Glover
Publication Date: April 13, 2021
From Goodreads:
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.
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I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂
This sounds fantastic!
Doesn’t it? I wish it released sooner because I’m so ready to read it.
Oh hello, this does sound *fascinating*!! I lvoe the premise, and Hetty and Benjy solving mysteries no one else would — with magic no less. ‘The Ugly truths about each other’ adds another layer of complexity to the story and the characters. Great pick!
Thanks!
Sounds like a fantastic and interesting historical twist.
I think so too. 🙂
I love the sound of this one! This is where fantasy fiction can come into its own – shining a light in corners that within the real world would be too raw and painful. Thank you for sharing, Suzanne:))
You’re welcome!
I think this sounds so good, and also very timely. I’m definitely going to add it to my list!
I hope you enjoy it if you read it!
So interesting to have a fantasy set in that time period! And comparisons to Butcher and Butler certainly give it some cred.
Right? I thought so too!
Yes please! I’m pretty sure this one is already on my wishlist but I’m off to make sure.
Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Sounds fantastic. Civial war, crime and figures who seem to be very intriguing. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome!
I am really eager to read this one as well. It sounds so good! I hope we both enjoy it when we read it!
I hope so too. 🙂
I love the sound of this! Mixing historical fiction with fantasy is a trend I’m really enjoying lately…
Me too!
Ooh beautiful cover! I think my sister would LOVE this one. She used to work at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
-Lauren
Oh cool!
I love the sound of this and wow it is aways out.
Sounds great, doesn’t it?
I added this to my To Read list based on the cover alone. But that plot makes the book a must read.
I think so too.
This one sounds fascinating! And the cover is so eye-catching!
Isn’t it? I love it.