Our Darkest Night A Novel of Italy and the Second World War

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