Our Darkest Night A Novel of Italy and the Second World War
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To survive the Holocaust, a young Jewish woman must pose as a Christian farmer's wife in this unforgettable novel from USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Robson--a story of terror, hope, love, and sacrifice, inspired by true events, that vividly evokes the most perilous days of World War II. It is the autumn of 1943, and life is becoming increasingly perilous for Italian Jews like the Mazin family. With Nazi Germany now occupying most of her beloved homeland, and the threat of imprisonment and deportation growing ever more certain, Antonina Mazin has but one hope to survive--to leave Venice and her beloved parents and hide in the countryside with a man she has only just met. Nico Gerardi was studying for the priesthood until circumstances forced him to leave the seminary to run his family's farm. A moral and just man, he could not stand by when the fascists and Nazis began taking innocent lives. Rather than risk a perilous escape across the mountains, Nina will pose as his new bride. And to keep her safe and protect secrets of his own, Nico and Nina must convince prying eyes they are happily married and in love. But farm life is not easy for a cultured city girl who dreams of becoming a doctor like her father, and Nico's provincial neighbors are wary of this soft and educated woman they do not know. Even worse, their distrust is shared by a local Nazi official with a vendetta against Nico. The more he learns of Nina, the more his suspicions grow--and with them his determination to exact revenge. As Nina and Nico come to know each other, their feelings deepen, transforming their relationship into much more than a charade. Yet both fear that every passing day brings them closer to being torn apart . . . --Lauren Willig, author of The English Wife
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Our Darkest Night was well researched and well written too. I enjoyed how it took place in Italy (in places I have visited, no less!) and gave a slightly different backdrop for WWII. I appreciated how it played fictional witness to a real event and real people in such a thoughtful and honorable way.
That said, it didn't hit five stars for me because it was maybe too careful. The main characters Nico and Nina were likable but one-dimensional. They didn't have any notable flaws and they never did anything wrong except for what couldn't be helped. It almost felt like the author was afraid to have us think anything bad about them. But humans are all flawed, and to give Nina the humanity the Nazis were trying to take away from her, she needed to be flawed too. Nico came out as the stereotypical hero, always standing up for others, sacrificing himself, and his story largely mirrored Nina's which took the spotlight off of her.
Other than that I enjoyed being swept up in this book. I did cry the entire way through but what can you do? I recommend it to anyone who wants WWII historical fiction that takes place in Italy and with a romance plot.
I was fortunate enough to win an advanced copy of this book from a contest on Jennifer Robinson's Facebook page. It arrived just before my Christmas break, and I got up early every day to read it before my family was awake. I could not put it down! It had a little bit of everything: suspense, romance, history. The narrative is beautifully written and confidently dropped me deep into the plot within the first few pages. All the historical research the author brought to bear on this novel felt very natural and made it both realistic and vivid. The characters are well developed and memorable, and I don't think I will ever forget this moving story that is a tribute to the remarkable people who survived World War II in Italy. I have read Jennifer Robinson's previous novels, and this one did not disappoint. I highly recommend it! I
