Inspiring, heartbreaking, and bittersweet, NIGHT ANGELS: A NOVEL tells yet another story of heroes in the shadows of WWII, this time set in Vienna. The agonizing decisions women and men faced during that era, and their truly staggering courage, will challenge the reader again and again, prompting the question: Could you have done what they did? Weina Dai Randel writes straight from the heart. Her novels achieve a perfect balance of poetic prose and a propulsive narrative style. Highly recommende...

The story of Dr. Ho Fengshan, the diplomat who issued thousands of visas to save Jews in Vienna, first came to me while I was writing The Last Rose of Shanghai. Actually, the same friend who encouraged me to write The Last Rose of Shanghai brought it to my attention. So, why did I write Night Angels: A Novel?It's not exactly trendy to see a Chinese diplomat as a hero, and it pains me to say this, but novels about Chinese people don't often break into the mainstream here in the US. Still, I felt ...

3.5 stars, rounded up!Weina Dai Randel's *Night Angels: A Novel*, inspired by true events, delves into the courageous risks people took to shield the vulnerable from the Nazis. What truly sets this book apart is its unique perspective – China's position during the war. While many authors concentrate on European or American viewpoints, Randel centers her story on a Chinese man and his American wife.Dr. Ho Fengshan, the Chinese consul general in Vienna, and his American wife, Grace, risk everythin...

I gave it my best shot, I really did. *Night Angels: A Novel* by Weina Dai Randel is historical fiction inspired by the life of Dr. Ho Fengshan, the Chinese consul general stationed in Vienna. Along with his American wife, Grace, he worked to help Jewish people escape Austria before they were deported to concentration camps. It *should* have been an incredible book – and a lot of readers seem to think it is – but I just couldn't connect with the writing. It felt like things didn't quite make sen...

In many ways, this feels like a prequel to *The Last Rose of Shanghai*, which explores the experiences of Jewish refugees during World War II. *Night Angels: A Novel* imagines the life of Dr. Ho Fengshan, a Chinese Consul in Vienna who heroically saved thousands of lives by issuing visas to Jewish people when so many other nations had closed their doors. It took me a little while to really get invested in *Night Angels: A Novel*. To fully grasp the context of Dr. Ho's actions, the reader has t...

I've read countless books about World War II, but "Night Angels: A Novel" is definitely one that will stay with me forever. The narrative alternates between diplomat Dr. Ho Fengshan and his wife, Grace. The author mentions in her notes that Dr. Ho Fengshan was a real historical figure, and his storyline is based on fact, while the characters of Lola and Grace are fictional. Regardless, I cried so many times while reading "Night Angels: A Novel", especially in the last third of the book. I'd ne...

My January Amazon First Reads selection turned out to be a real letdown, if I'm being honest. "Night Angels: A Novel" had such a promising premise and historical setting, but the book itself was a disappointment. The character development was weak and uninspired, the plot and events felt rushed, and the overall flow was just dismal. I always feel bad giving low ratings to books based on true events, and while the subject matter of Weina Dai Randel's "Night Angels: A Novel" was interesting, the w...

I was completely absorbed by Night Angels: A Novel, which is based on the true story of a Chinese diplomat in Vienna who issued thousands of visas to Jewish people when Western countries had either closed their doors or turned a blind eye to the horrors of Hitler's regime during the Holocaust. I simply couldn't put it down. This is a must-read for those interested in historical fiction and World War II stories. The ending left me with a slightly bitter taste (artistic license and all), but I'm g...

Got this free through Amazon Prime First Reads. Wasn't immediately sold on the writing style, but once you get past that, it's a fantastic story. I love historical World War II fiction, and discovering one about a story I barely knew anything about was a real treat. It even had me Googling the historical figures involved, and that's always the mark of a good book. Definitely recommend "Night Angels: A Novel" by Weina Dai Randel if you're looking for gripping historical fiction!

This is a blatant exploitation of my father's story and a deeply offensive distortion of Holocaust history, all dressed up as "historical fiction." For a detailed explanation of my concerns, please see the link provided: https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/20...For more on this issue, I urge you to read "Novel about Chinese Rescuer Of Jews Raises Questions About Fact vs Fiction in Holocaust Stories" by Jordyn Haime of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. You can find the article here:https://www.jta.or...