In Darkness and Light

by Tudor Alexander

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

I was born in Bucharest in 1950 and moved to the United States in 1977. I hold a Master’s degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. I live in Maryland with my wife, Viorica, and we have two adult children.
I started writing in high school, publishing many short stories in literary magazines. After the 1989 Romanian revolution, I began contributing to a Romanian literary weekly. I published several novels and short story collections in Romania, including The Runners, Smoke, Planet New York, One Morning and One Afternoon, and The Visitor.
I now write in both Romanian and English. My books feature immigrants yearning to escape their past and adapt to their new surroundings. Like myself, my characters are people who took a leap of faith to find political and intellectual freedom.
Planet New York and No Portrait in the Gilded Frame are available on Amazon. The Last Patient, was published by Boyle & Dalton in February 2025. My new novel, In Darkness and Light, launched in early June 2026, is a companion novel to The Last Patient.

Reviews

[Yvonne Kisiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Florina Lungu · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ruth Coulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 1930s it was very easy to have some inclinations towards communism, especially if a person was thinking in terms of fairness and equality. How much more likely to be attracted to the Communist Party one were Jewish, and if living in Romania or some other country close to the Soviet Union, with a very active Communist Party. I have always thought that communism sounds like the perfect way to organise a country. Pity is that humanity is not at the moment perfect enough to manage such a system.

Tina, who was Jewish, was only young in the 1930s when she was encouraged by a friend to join the Communist Party in the Romanian town where she lived. She joined willingly and believed fervently in party ideals.

World War 2 was a bad experience because of Nazi presence in Romania. Tina was among those who were welcoming in the post war years to Soviet influence in Romania. She was still a communist idealist.

The book is interesting for its istorical value, showing what happened in Romania in these years. Most of us in the comfortable countries of the west have little idea of what was involved on a personal level. It is also a love story about Tina and Iulian. Iulian was a beautiful man, blind, but a poet and a journalist who was also a party member. They fell in love and to some extent it is their story that carries the weight of the novel along. They have a daughter, Lydia, and when Iulian suicides Tina is left alone to care for her. She became a doctor, and earned enough to keep the two of them.

Things in Romania became difficult by the 1960s. There were tales of attacks on Jews and Jews could not expect preferment in their professions. Tina remarried in the 1960s and her second husband was in favour of emigrating to Israel. Not yet, said Tina. But eventually she became disillusioned enough and they decided to go. They would be joining Tina's sister and her family and numerous friends.

Tina still believed in the ideals of communism. Who could find a problem with them? But when the Communist Party was hijacked by people who subverted it for teir own ends it was something else entirely.

I don't feel that I am spoiling anything by revealing that they managed to emigrate to Israel in the end. I think the whole novel builds inexorably toward that expected end, and so it is intrinsic to the story. But I can't help wondering how countless Tinas and Lydias and others, then coped in their new country. I think I am asking for a sequel.

So a story of falling for an ideal and suffering disillusionment, of a great love ending in grief, but still with the hope of new beginnings. Read it. It's worth it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Linda Ann Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Dominique ☄ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3,5

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kelsey Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Anda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review here

For the Romanian reader, I believe this book can start important conversations. Contemporary Romania is witnessing increasingly aggressive attempts to reinterpret history for political purposes, and Holocaust denial and the minimization of historical atrocities are no longer unthinkable positions. A novel like this offers readers a chance to learn, to question, and to continue researching.

For readers outside Romania, I think the book is equally valuable. Romania is often absent from international conversations about the Second World War, despite the significant role it played in many historical developments. Through this novel, foreign readers can gain insight into a part of European history that is too often overlooked.

In Darkness and Light by Tudor Alexander is a book I am glad I read. I am grateful to the author and to BookSirens for the opportunity, and I encourage readers to give it a chance. The book is not difficult to read in terms of language or structure, but it may become a slower reading experience if, like me, you keep Google open beside you, searching for historical references and wanting to learn more about the events it portrays.

[Elusive.TBR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy received from the author.

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.

[Sole · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

---

Thanks to Victory Editing for sending me an ARC for me to review.

[Cudeyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Joram Piatigorsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tudor Alexander’s new novel, In Darkness and Light, complements Planet New York and The Last Patient as stand-alone fictional memoirs based on his life-journey from birth in 1950 in Romania to immigration in 1977 to the United States. In Darkness and Light starts with idealistic Tina Friedman, the major character, having a job interview with Comrade Iulian Frau, a blind, esteemed, irresistibly charming poet and amateur violinist in charge of a major publication, who becomes her great love and husband. Both Tina and Iulian are deeply committed to communism during its promising early stages in Romania but suffer the consequences when it develops into an oppressive dictatorship. Thus, the novel’s story is about the interwoven challenges, loves, disappointments and losses of Tina and Iulian, their friends and professional colleagues, and Tina’s siblings and mother (modeled after the author’s real mother-in-law). The novel’s title, In Darkness and Light, encapsulates the hardships and losses (the darkness) and escapes and survival (the light) of their lives. Written in a straightforward, poetic and sensitive style, the novel focuses on obstacles and human suffering, the importance of family, immigration, and, ultimately, adaptation. The author’s first-hand knowledge of communism in Romania gives the novel unquestioned authenticity. The same can be said of Alexander’s two preceding fictional memoirs. Although indirect, comparison of some descriptions of the autocratic government of Romania at the time with today’s turmoil in the U.S. administration might be taken as a warning of possible dangers of a budding autocracy, making Romanian history a timely topic. A final point that should not be missed is the philosophical gems throughout the novel. One that will remain with me occurs in the last chapter and hits a central theme of the book: Accepting reality is not a compromise. Indeed! I strongly recommend this riveting fictional memoir embracing believable characters that became my friends surviving and adapting in a troubled world, which left me a richer person with new perspectives.

[Marcia Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Judi Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Stela Bratescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Focusing on the avatars of his mother-in-law life, the author writes a deeply moving chronicle of the last century in Eastern Europe through the dramatic destiny of a Jewish-Moldavian teenager, who is deported to one of the hunger ghettos of Transnistria during the WWII, passes her youth in the Romanian communist dictatorship as the wife of a prominent journalist and eventually emigrates to Israel.
The author shows again his subtle and concise use of language when depicting the different types of love by means of his heroin feelings: close friendship, teenage infatuation, first almost love, deep passion and mature relationship.
The tragic end of a supporting character, the abbot who shelters the leftist jew during the war, describes better than a treaty of history the essence of communism, a society driven by fear and the consequent lack of solidarity.

[Craig Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As he did with The Last Patient, Tudor Alexander has crafted another outstanding and beautifully written tale of ordinary lives caught up in extraordinary times. The poignant love story of the central characters, Tina and Iulian, is especially compelling. I deeply felt each of these character's joys, pains, and uncertainties as they navigated through their slowly darkening and decaying world in post-WWII communist Romania. The historical aspects of the novel, based on true events, are profound and often heartbreaking. Yet the ending is as lovely as a sunset - full of hope for a new day to come.

[Cindy Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dan Preotescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tudor Alexander's great new novel is about overcoming tough historical times and surviving personal tragedy, with extraordinary lifescapes and dynamics, and with a heartbreaking love story with very complex and high emotional depth characters. It is also about strength while facing difficult, life-changing decisions, and about looking forward with an evolving perspective and acceptance of reality. A fascinating piece of writing, contributing valuable help to the never-ending building of our understanding of the human condition.

[Debbie Amster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved "In Darkness and Light" - such a captivating story of a family's journey through the atrocities of the H e volocaust and postwar life in Communist Romania. I found the characters and the challenges they faced engaging, the writing beautiful and the story touching.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but hard to get into

I really wanted to like this one. I thought the perspective was cool and it was interesting to learn about things that happened outside the concentration camps, but I found the story a little dull and hard to get into.

[Andrei Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story and bildungsroman set in 20th century Eastern Europe, "In Darkness and Light" is also the saga of the troubled times when you could go to sleep in a country and wake up the next morning in another one; when you could live the life of a normal teenager only to find yourself deported with your family, under horrible conditions, by a fascist regime; when the Communism you believed in as a young idealist ends up wanting to control every aspect of your life.

The novel follows its protagonist, Tina, as she grows up, falls in love and does her best to build her own life, family and career, while politics and history keep intruding. Can she do it while staying true to herself, without compromising her humanity? Read Tudor Alexander's latest novel and join Tina on her journey.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fictional tale of Rumania/Romania between and after the world wars, told through the experiences of several mail characters. It is interesting, but a bit slow.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as a free download ARC copy. This one was a little slow for me. It was my first read regarding WW II Romania. Learning all of the different regions & character names was a struggle at the beginning. This would probably be more suited for those that are interested in that era & region of HF books.

[Teri M Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Darkness and Light is a historical fiction by Tudor Alexander. This book is the second book from the author about living in Romania during and following WWII. Tina is a young Jewish girl who determines communism, rather than Zionism, is the answer that makes the most sense in an antisemitic world. When she is forced to the village of Transnistria and suffers with her Jewish friends and family, her communist convictions solidify. But when Romania becomes communist, Tina meets Iulian and begins to see that the ideals of communism aren't matching the actualities.

I love this book because it shows a young girl's progression along with Romania's progression. It is also a beautiful, but tragic, love story. And a story of resilience and grit and reinvention.

I absolutely loved this book!