Reviews
Sample of reviews on Goodreads
Sample of early reviews on Goodreads
Florina Lungu, May 30, 2026, 4 stars
I picked up this book, even if it isn’t in a genre I usually read, because I was intrigued by the fact that it takes place in Romania.
I wasn’t disappointed. It paints such a vivid picture of the troubled times the country has been through that I had to put it down at times, since it pulled at the strings of our collective trauma.
It reads a little like a journal at times, very intimate, very honest.
For someone interested in the history of one of the lesser known areas of Europe (lesser known for most of the world, not for locals), or with ties of some kind to Romania, I recommend checking this book out.
Linda Foster, June 3, 2026, 4 stars
In Darkness and Light is an emotional and interesting historical fiction novel about a young Jewish woman, Dr Tina Friedman. It spans from before World War 2 and through to the 1960s. Tudor writes a vivid and honest description of the troubled times of Romania through the years. It’s based on the true story of his mother-in-law’s life. Romania was once ruled by Germany, but became a part of the communist block under Russia. Tina’s childhood was in Campulung, Moldova. She and other Romanian Jews were forced to relocate to Transnistria during the War. Later Tina was in Timisoara and Bucharest, Romania. To counter her Jewish heritage Tina took an interest in the ideals of Soviet-inspired communism, and joined the Party, along with many other Jews. Gradually the Jews became disillusioned with the realities of the communist party regime. It was not as fair as claimed it to be. There’s sadness and struggle, survival and escape. Recommend.
Kelsey Moon, June 1, 2026, 3 stars
This was a good historical novel that tells the story of a Jewish woman in Romania who joins the Communist Party. It really told the story well and allowed you to put yourself in her shoes.
Judi Zimmerman, June 2, 2026, 4 stars
I’d like to start off by thanking the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC review team of this book. Fans of WWII era historical fiction will enjoy and appreciate the details about the conditions for Romanian Jews. I’ve read many books of this era in history and this was the first one I’d seen that was specifically written about Romania and its ultimate transition from being ruled by Germany to being a part of the Communist block under Russian control. This book filled a few gaps in my knowledge in this area.
Until I read the authors notes, I hadn’t realized that this book is semi biographical which might have made a difference in how I related to the character of Tina who has embraced Communism as a Jewish woman in exile. I personally can’t imagine that would not put her at greater risk during the time of German occupation sine the one thing Nazi’s hated as much as the Jewish people was a communist. The writing is descriptive, creating clear images in my mind of the various locations in the book. Each character had a distinct POV and the timelines were clear.
I found the ending of the book to leave a sense of hope for the future that was somewhat different than some of the bleakness of living under occupation and the early years of communism.
Sara, June 2, 2026, 3 stars
This was definitely different from what I usually read. I enjoy historical fiction, but this felt less like a traditional historical novel and more like an insider’s account of a specific moment in history.
Navigating young adulthood is challenging enough on its own. Add wartime instability, the rise of communism, antisemitism, the loss of friends and family, and the complexities of first love… the burden becomes almost unimaginable. One of the more compelling aspects of Tina’s journey is watching her grapple with her beliefs and confront the possibility that the ideals she once embraced may not lead where she hoped. Recognizing that you might be wrong (and then having the courage to reassess your convictions) is never easy.
Tina, along with many of the people around her, endures tremendous hardship and tragedy. BUT… the story also highlights the resilience of the human spirit and how love can be empowering.
While the book didn’t fully resonate with me on a personal level, I appreciated its historical perspective and the glimpse it provided into a complex and turbulent period of Romanian history that I didn’t know a whole lot about.
Yvonne Kisiel, May 30, 2026, 5 stars
In Darkness and Light is a moving historical novel following a Jewish woman navigating Transnistria, Romanian communism, and ultimately a courageous new life in Israel. Based on his mother-in-law's true story, it centers on a remarkable love story rendered with warmth, emotional intelligence, and vivid humanity.
A wonderful read for anyone who loves historical fiction rooted in real lives and real courage.
Sarah, May 29, 2026, 5 stars
With the publishing of In Darkness and Light, Alexander has once again written a not to be missed work of historical fiction. He tells a moving story of his family’s experiences and ultimate survival before, during, and after their incarceration. I was very interested and moved by his family’s ability to create solutions to survive intolerable living conditions after deportation. Alexander successfully wove into his story why so many Jews during that time were attracted to communism and how they gradually became disillusioned with the realities of the communist party. The courage and tenacity of Tina, the main character, is both memorable and inspiring.
Dominique, July 17, 2026, 3 stars
First, I want to thank the author for the ARC.
This book got me really interested, mainly because the story would be about WWII.
That it took place in Romania, was even more interesting, because I had never read a book about that time, and the years after WWII, in Romania.
It is clear that the author knows a lot about the topics written in this book, which makes it interesting to read.
I knew from the start that it would be a book I wanted to take the time for to finish. Mostly because it's written in a beautiful way, and you need to fully understand everything being said in this book.
The storyline about Tina living through the war was, for me, the storyline I felt most connected to the characters. It was like the characters got less explained after part II, which was why I didn't feel much of a connection anymore.
Everything after part II felt a bit dull to me, because it was somewhat repetitive. I actually had a bit of a struggle to finish the book.
The relationship between Tina and Iulian was such a beautiful sort of love and I think their story will stay with me for a long time.
Knowing afterwards that the story was based on what his mother-in-law lived through, made me think twice about Tina's storyline.
If you want to know more about WWII and communism in Romania, this is a book that's worth reading.
Some lines worth mentioning:
- "Love was complicated, Tina thought, and religion should not matter."
- "But what did one call a person who expected only the best in people? Idealist or naïve? And was being a realist the opposite of being naïve?"
- "How can you talk about love when we're surrounded by suffering?"
Mara P, June 7, 2026, 5 stars
A moving and beautifully written novel about family, friendship, history, life in challenging times, dreams and reality, personal tragedy, resilience, new hopes. The pages practically turn themselves.
Sole, June 24,2026, 3 stars
I was first drawn to request the ARC for this novel because of its setting. I am currently challenging myself to read a novel from every country in the world and the setting of In Darkness and Light stood out to me immediately. There are plenty of historical novels set in WWII, but I have not come across many set in Romania or Transnistria for that matter.
Based on the author’s family’s experience, this is a very moving novel about Tina, a Jewish young woman, who is trying to find her place in the world amidst incredible change, cruelty, greed and war. It is also a love story between her and her beloved Iulian, who has had to learn how to cope with mental illness and disability to navigate a world that doesn’t seem to care for everyone in the same way. The novel touches on their idealism and how it can drive someone in life, but also how it can be overwhelming. It shows how no matter how perfect an idea can be it can be corrupted and how that disappointment in your ideals and the people who you admire can end up leading you in a direction you wouldn’t have thought possible.
The novel begins in post-war Romania, when Tina and Iulian meet and fall in love. During the first part of the novel you get to know about them and their upbringing through flashbacks that carry the reader from 1925 to 1948. I found these flashback chapters really effective to carry the story forward, it helped me to get to know them and understand the wounds they carried. As the story moves forward though the events feel more disconnected, like a list rather than one causing the next. There were many instances where the reader finds out about their characters’ feelings or thoughts by a line of dialogue, or an explicit sentence rather than a nuanced scene. The big emotional moments are not built up, rather they are described, often through rather dry dialogue. The reader can understand what is happening and how the characters feel but cannot quite connect to those emotions. You get what they are feeling, it just doesn’t feel like it. I would say this is not a particular criticism of the second and third part of the novel, it just becomes more noticeable as the novel progresses.
Overall I think Tina and Iulian’s story is worth knowing, it shows how in pivotal moments there are greedy people in positions of power, making decisions in the name of those who cannot do it for themselves and ultimately can’t do anything about it, and there are people caught in the middle who are incapable of moving the needle one way or the other, and at the same time are well connected enough to be incapable of grasping reality and unwillingly support a regime they wouldn’t otherwise.
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Thanks to Victory Editing for sending me an ARC for me to review.
Cudeyo, July 4, 2026, 3 stars
Ambientado en Rumanía entre los años treinta y sesenta, el libro sigue la vida de Tina, una joven judía que, en plena adolescencia y con el antisemitismo creciendo a su alrededor, encuentra apoyo y esperanza en el partido comunista. Con el tiempo, ya de adulta, va viendo que ese sistema que parecía tan ideal no es lo que prometía y acaba sintiéndose decepcionada, incluso engañada.
Al final del libro, en el apéndice antes de los agradecimientos, el autor explica que toda la historia está basada en la vida de un familiar suyo.
In Darkness and Light me ha parecido un libro interesante, con una idea de fondo que llama la atención y momentos que realmente funcionan. La historia tiene buen ambiente y el autor sabe crear esa sensación de luz y sombra que acompaña a los personajes. Aun así, la lectura se me ha hecho un poco pesada por el ritmo. Hay partes que avanzan muy despacio y cuesta mantener la atención, como si la historia se detuviera demasiado en ciertos detalles. No es que esté mal, pero sí que me ha parecido menos ágil de lo que esperaba.
Agradezco al autor la oportunidad de leer este libro, que recibí de forma gratuita en Booksirens a cambio de una reseña sincera.
Set in Romania between the 1930s and the 1960s, the book follows the life of Tina, a young Jewish girl who, in her teenage years and with antisemitism growing around her, finds support and hope in the Communist Party. As time goes by and she becomes an adult, she starts to see that the system that once seemed so ideal is not what it promised, and she ends up feeling disappointed, even deceived.
At the end of the book, in the appendix before the acknowledgments, the author explains that the whole story is based on the life of one of his relatives.
In Darkness and Light struck me as an interesting book, with a compelling core idea and moments that really work. The atmosphere is well done, and the author knows how to create that sense of light and shadow around the characters. Even so, the reading felt a bit heavy because of the pacing. Some parts move very slowly and it’s hard to stay focused, as if the story lingers too much on certain details. It’s not bad, but it felt less dynamic than I expected.
I appreciate the author giving me the chance to read this book, which I received for free through Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
Marcia Crabtree, July 23, 2026, 4 stars
Tudor Alexander, who’s real name is Alex Duvan, was born in Bucharest, Romania in 1950 and moved to the United States in 1977, is the author of several, well received books and short stories written in Romanian and English. He wrote”In Darkness and Light” as a biographical novel based on the life of his mother in law growing up in Bucharest during World War II.
I found it difficult to become engaged with the novel in the beginning and after being uninterested and unmoved by the first few chapters, I skimmed a few chapters until I became more interested in the narrative. For me, it didn’t pick up until the protagonist and her family were involuntarily moved from their homes and transported in cattle cars to a remote, poor, farming community because they were Jewish, where they remained until the end of the war, and Romania was liberated from the Germans by the Soviets. After that, I was engaged with the story and enjoyed it until the end, finding the protagonist’s unwavering dedication to her ideals, however, terribly perplexing, despite objective evidence that would have made me question them far sooner.
I actually would give this book 3.5 stars but am rounding up to four. It’s a different and interesting perspective on World War II than anything I’ve read; I found the execution lacking in parts, particularly the beginning. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ken, June 1, 2026, 5 stars
In Darkness and Light is a historical novel set in the aftermath of the Second World War. It chronicles the struggles and triumphs of a Jewish girl under the oppressive authoritarian regimes of the Soviet Union and Romania and her eventual flight to Israel. The author paints a very vivid and at times heart wrenching picture of life during these times and the challenges people had to overcome simply to survive. The story offers relevant cautionary lessons about how cruel life can be under oppressive governments, especially as regional authoritarianism is on the rise today, but also shows the resilience of people to survive dictatorships and pursue a new life of political and intellectual freedom. This is a must read for any post WW2 history fan and anyone who wants to experience life under a totalitarian government.
Cindy Stein, July 12, 2026, 4 stars
The book opens with Tina, a Jewish young woman living in Romania after WWII, working for a blind journal editor, Iulian, and then later marrying him. We are then taken back to the earlier years of both characters before and during WWII. Tina's family is deported to Transnistria with other Romanian Jews and withstands years of hardship until the Russians arrive.
Both Tina and Iulian are dedicated communists and party members, but as the post-war years go by, each becomes disillusioned.
This book is based on the life of the author's mother-in-law and provides a good overview of the life and treatment of Romanian Jews during this time period.
It is a decent historical novel about subjects not usually covered in other WWII and post-WWII stories.
I was provided an ARC by the publisher via Book Sirens.
Debbie Amster, June 17, 2026, 5 stars
Loved "In Darkness and Light" - such a captivating story of a family's journey through the atrocities of the Holocaust and postwar life in Communist Romania. I found the characters and the challenges they faced engaging, the writing beautiful and the story touching.