Reviews

Our Darkest Night: A Novel of Italy and the Second World War by Jennifer Robson

rmcgahan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

nicholebeaudry's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

sydbrazealel's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this book. This book broke my heart. This book made me cry. This book made me hope.

mdodson's review against another edition

4.0

My favorite historical fiction stories have always taken place during WWII. Nina’s perspective and relationships with Nico and Father Bernardi is a story I haven’t seen before as they hide her behind their Catholic faith, a very interesting story that echos the history of the author’s older extended family as they helped hide those escaping persecution during the Holocaust.

sassypantsreading's review against another edition

5.0

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I really enjoyed Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson. I don’t think I’ve cried that much while reading in quite a while! Our Darkest Night is told from the perspective of Antonina “Nina” Mazin Gerardi, a Jewish woman from Venice. As the German threat increases, Nina’s father makes arrangements for Nina to be hidden, by posing as Niccolo “Nico” Gerardi’s wife. The first part of the book spends a good amount of time on Nina acclimating to farm life from the city, and the large, loving Gerardi family. Nico, who at one point was in seminary, was aiding various refugees to safety. The German official in Mezzo Ciel, Karl Swerger, was a former seminary classmate of Nico’s, and an all-around bully. He eventually figures out the truth and both Nina and Nico are arrested, though separately. The second half of the book describes the harrowing time Nina spent as a prisoner in various camps.

During the first part of the book, there wasn’t too much action, and so I got comfortable, assuming it would be a tale about provincial life during World War II, and the ways people found to survive. Enter the second half of the book - it was so deep, so emotional, and so very raw, I couldn’t bear to put it down. The hopelessness that Robson depicts is so realistic, I was feeling the hopelessness right along with Nina. The twist at the end will definitely pull at your heartstrings.

Overall, I’m very glad I read this book. Sometimes historical fiction, especially WWII fiction, can get bogged down with unrealistic situations. Our Darkest Night is truly fantastic fiction, and I would highly recommend it to all readers.

kikaa's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

emilybreck's review against another edition

3.0

I loved the story, but I did feel like I was just aching for it to end. I didn't expect what happened to happen so the author did a wonderful job of keeping me in the dark of what was to happen.

curlypip's review against another edition

2.0

I expected more. The characters were not well developed, and it was only a surface level look at some very serious topics.
I would have given it 3 stars until the ending, which was predictable, disappointingly unbelievable and absolutely ridiculous.
I give it 2 stars rather than 1 for the acknowledgments

dtwigg410's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

bookishblondegirl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad

3.5