Night Angels

A Novel

By: Weina Dai Randel

Narrated by: Angela Lin, Jesse Vilinsky, Feodor Chin

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of The Last Rose of Shanghai comes a profoundly moving novel about a diplomatic couple who risked their lives to help Viennese Jews escape the Nazis, inspired by the true story of Dr. Ho Fengshan, Righteous Among the Nations.

1938. Dr. Ho Fengshan, consul general of China, is posted in Vienna with his American wife, Grace. Shy and ill at ease with the societal obligations of diplomats’ wives, Grace is an outsider in a city beginning to feel the sweep of the Nazi dragnet. When Grace forms a friendship with her Jewish tutor, Lola Schnitzler, Dr. Ho requests that Grace keep her distance. His instructions are to maintain amicable relations with the Third Reich, and he and Grace are already under their vigilant eye.

But when Lola’s family is subjugated to a brutal pogrom, Dr. Ho decides to issue them visas to Shanghai. As violence against the Jews escalates after Kristallnacht and threats mount, Dr. Ho must issue thousands more to help Jews escape Vienna before World War II explodes.

Inspired by a remarkable true story, Night Angels explores the risks brave souls took and the love and friendship they built and lost while fighting against incalculable evil.

©2023 by Weina Dai Randel. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“The foreboding tone of this audiobook's narrators suggests the brutality of the Nazi occupation of Vienna. Performed in a low-key yet effective style by Angela Lin, Jesse Vilinsky and Feodor Chin, the novel focuses on Grace Fengshan, wife of a Chinese diplomat who is posted to Austria during a period of pogroms and other actions against the Jews.… The use of a team of narrators works well for the story's multiple characters of various nationalities. While all the narrators handle their roles well, Angela Lin's portrayal of Grace is especially memorable.”—AudioFIle Magazine

“This powerful tale of resistance and everyday heroism will resonate with fans of Pam Jenoff and Martha Hall Kelly.”—Booklist

“Schindler’s List takes an Eastern twist in Night Angels, the incredible true story of the Chinese diplomat who saved thousands of Jews in WWII Vienna. Quiet, scholarly Ho Fengshan has just been made consul general in Vienna, preoccupied with his troubled American wife, Grace, and disquieted by the new anti-Semitic laws sweeping Austria. Grace’s friendship with Jewish musician Lola forces both Fengshan and his wife to the breaking point: How much can one sacrifice to save innocent lives? Weina Dai Randel pens an unforgettable tale of quiet heroism and blazing defiance in the face of evil.”—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

Could not finish

I love novels about world war two and have read dozens. This one intrigued me, because it was a new perspective, that of a Chinese diplomat in Berlin. Let me first say that, since I did not finish the book, I understand that it might have become much better head I stayed with it. I really liked the male lead character. But I could not stand his wife. In my opinion, she was so whiny and clueless and pitiful that she annoyed me and distracted me from the story. It was hard for me to understand how a diplomat’s wife could be so unsuited to her role. Anyway i’m moving on to another book.,

A Real-Life Horror Story

For those of you who like horror stories (which I avoid), this is a good one about real-life events. The narrators are just fine. The writer, Weina Dai Randel, has crafted a novel that builds into cringe worthy status, with justified hatred towards the evilness of Nazis. It becomes hard to listen to and equally hard to stop as you know that you are going to experience heroism at the end. So don't stop. Just increase the listening speed.

A slog

This was a reimagining of Dr. Feng Shan Ho’s life saving work, issuing visas to desperate Jews in Vienna between 1938 and 1941. However, the story is built around the story of Grace, Feng Shan’s second wife, and her fictional friendship with Lola, a Jewish girl she befriended.

Grace is portrayed as a weak and rather dim witted woman, and her friendship with Lola, contrived. I struggled with this one. 3.5⭐️

Engrossing depiction of Vienna early on in WWII

The narrators make this historical fiction timepiece come alive. Very engrossing as told from several characters' perspectives as they grapple with horrific events in Vienna while Chinese Nationalists battle Japan.

Great story

I’m read many books about WW2. From many different experiences From many different countries. I was unaware of this history. I highly recommend.

Important Story Ruined by Overworked Writing

Having read many WWII works of fiction and nonfiction, I was looking forward to listening to this one. The true story that this book is loosely based on is such an important one. Unfortunately the writing was often labored and pretentious. At times a phrase would literally make me laugh or shudder because it sounded so overblown and falsely dramatic.
I enjoyed the narration of Dr. Ho Fengsgsn but the narrator for Grace was so over the top and contrived that it was hard to listen to. The worst though was the narration of Lola, the Austrian Jewess, who sometimes spoke in a German accent and sometimes in an American accent depending on who was narrating the story. It ruined my experience with a book I was very much looking forward to hearing.

Amazing fact based novel

Wonderfully unique WWll fact, based novel with evocative descriptions of Vienna. But I could not empathize with Grace. I thought her character was wimpy and weak.

Enlightening

I am not usually a fan of historical fiction, however this book brought me into the 1940's in which the Nazi Germans took over Vienna. The characters of the book were well developed but it was a slow start. I urge readers to stick with it.

Breathtakingly real

I could picture the characters and thei surrounding clearly! The story shew the width and depth of rhe war and its affect on the world! I highly recommend this book!

A work of fiction about a real brave man

I have read about Ho Feng-Shan over the years. A man who did extraordinary things to save Jews in Austria. Well done!