White Nights, Red Morning

The Russians #6

by Judith Pella

As the year 1905 draws to an end, great changes sweep through Russia. The tragic events of ""Bloody Sunday"" usher in a sequence of massive and paralyzing national strikes that eventually force the tsar to turn his government into a constitutional monarchy, and it appears that the radical element has finally won. But for Anna Fedorcenko, the overwhelming tragedy of that fateful day was the slaying of her beloved husband, Sergei. While her loss is a painful struggle, it is Sergei’s sons who are most dramatically affected by their father’s untimely death. Andrei, the youngest, becomes driven to see his father’s death avenged, and thus his boundless energies are aimed toward the downfall of the monarchy. Yuri, the oldest, is also grief-stricken, but he approaches it with characteristic confusion and uncertainty and finds he cannot support his brother’s revolutionary fervor. As Russia plunges from World War I into the ensuing civil war between the Bolsheviks and an army of White Russians comprised of nobility and others opposed to Lenin, the family of Anna Fedorcenko is caught in the middle of conflicting national interests. Will their faith and love be strong enough to help them survive?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Christian Historical Fiction

448 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

Judith Pella is a bestselling, award-winning author whose writing career spans two decades. Her in-depth historical and geographical research combines with her skillful storytelling to provide readers with dramatic, thought-provoking novels. She and her husband make their home in Scapoose, Oregon.

Reviews

[♥emma ۪۪۫۫ ༄ؘ ˑ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 stars

I was thoroughly disappointed that the series went downhill after the first three books. Nevertheless this is still a deeply emotional story that is a very dark, history-heavy read. There were definitely times in this book where it felt more like I was reading my 10th grade world history book than a historical novel. That said the characters were still generally likable, although the older characters that we cared the most about faded into the background.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg brings tragedy to the Fedorcenkos in 1905, the family's younger son develops a taste for vengeance, the older son feels driven to take his rightful place as an aristocrat, and societal unrest heightens into revolution in White Nights, Red Morning by author Judith Pella.

I'm nearly finished with this historical ChristFic series after reading this sixth novel, and I'm kind of on pins and needles as I imagine how the saga might wrap up.

As I've mentioned before, it's the plot that's hooked me to this series more so than the characters. Many of the people in these stories still have a fairly caricatural, sometimes melodramatic feel, and as for drama on the whole, I think it's overdone when the narrator exclaims (!) the story at the reader. Also, I still haven't been able to find any of the romance convincing, mostly because I'd need the characters to feel more real and natural.

Even so, the wealth of history here—the parts I already knew and those I'm reading about for the first time—is fascinating. And the reminders of humanity's vices and hazardous tendencies are disturbing, including people's susceptibility to brainwashing when they give too much trust and devotion to prominent, vainglorious, self-serving figures who manipulate people (even many people) through their fears.

Yes, that kind of stuff really happens, and those who cannot remember the past are condemned to...

Well.

As with the preceding novel, the climax in this one is gripping, and the short conclusion teeters on uncertainty. I'm quite curious to see how World War I, revolution, and civil war in Russia will play into the end of this series. On to Book Seven.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know you're in for something crazy when the author has to put up a disclaimer in the beginning of their novel. "Whoa guys, things are going to get racy!"

Makes me wonder who told her to put the disclaimer in there, surely she did't think of it herself. The publishing company? Her editor? Her agent?

Guess it doesn't really matter for it serves its purpose. This book does need a disclaimer and not a nice one either.

Ouch.

Just when you think The Russians can't get any worse BAM! it gets worse. For starters, I'm really disappointed with how all the old characters have virtually disappeared. Am I the only one who wants to spend time focusing on Anna or Misha or Paul or perhaps Dmitri? Even Mariana or Daniel from the last two books? But no, apparently the last FIVE books before this one really didn't matter. The author doesn't care what happens to all those characters as they continue to grow old and experience life, she wants to know what babyfaces Yuri and Andrei are up to.

Guess what? Nothing much. You know, maybe I could have accepted the drastic shift in characters if Andrei and Yuri had been fascinating or had added some new, previously unreached angle about Russian life. And I guess that's what the author intended with Yuri being a doctor to the Tsarevich and Andrei being a Bolshevik revolutionary. Which yeah, would have been awesome if the author had actually focused the majority of the novel on that. No. Instead we have Yuri and Andrei. Yuri and Andrei fighting with each other like five-year-olds. Yuri and Andrei fighting over the same girl. Yuri and Andrei just basically disagreeing with each other whenever and wherever possible. They're not mature in any way. We don't ever get to see some brotherly affection except near the end because Andrei's dying so Yuri has to show he loves his brother somewhat or he'd be a jerk or anything to indicate that they used to have a good relationship (which they did), nope, just whining and complaining and angsting (and not the good kind either). All. The. Way. Through.

And on the off chance that the chapter you're reading today isn't about that, you know what it is about? (Hint: it rhymes with Putin) That's right, Rasputin!

Look, I get it. I really get it. This Rasputin guy was weird. He did things that historians and doctors today still can't explain. And he did play a significant role in the downfall of the Romanovs. But you know what else did? How about the war where millions of men died and deserted every single day. How about about the food shortages that were wracking the cities. How about the endless strikes and how the Tsar's personal guards left him for the rebels. Rasputin played a part, to be sure, but there was also a great deal of other factors which the author doesn't focus on or when she does, mentions it only in a couple of sentences, a few pages tops. Rasputin gets pretty much the whole book devoted to him. And honestly, some of the stuff the author pulls with Rasputin isn't even historically accurate. While certainly Rasputin was at the very least a weird guy who had no manners, some of the worst rumours about him, like the whole "raping aristocratic women", were propagated by revolutionaries and those trying to overthrow the government. You know, like Andrei. Rasputin may have done horrible things like this, he might have not. We'll never know. But randomly inserting allegations is not helpful nor historically accurate and FYI when a 1930s film called Rasputin and the Empress was made and it implied that Irina Yusupov had been raped by Rasputin, her husband, Felix Yusupov, sued. That's right, one of the real guys who actually killed Rasputin and totally hated him, sued a Hollywood company because it showed his wife being raped by Rasputin. And that's why films always have the disclaimer that their characters are entirely fictitious. And perhaps that's exactly what this book should of had as a disclaimer, up front and centre, instead of saying that it was being oh so "historically accurate".

The only reason I gave this book two stars instead of one was because of one scene. One great, beautiful, horrific scene. The one where Yuri is at the front and everything is a mess. The one where Yuri has to somehow deal with the fact that most of his patients are in pain and dying and there is nothing he can do about it. Where he has to put guns to people's heads in order to get more supplies. That scene was awesome. Made me kind of mad actually. It reminded me too much of what this author could do and how awesome this book could have been. If Rasputin, and Andrei and Yuri feuding hadn't gotten in the way.

Meh. I just feel sad now. Think I'll go back and read the first book since this book is clearly not the best The Russians has to offer.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well-written and truly interesting historical subtly Christian novel, which is part of a series set in Russia. At this point in the series, the novels are focused on the early 1900s when the Revolution really starts to take shape. All of the characters are still well drawn, and most of them are also likeable. I took the rating down to 3 stars for this one because I thought the ending really stank, but overall, I really enjoyed the novel and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago as either a middle schooler or underclassman in high school. I adored the book and entire series then. This remembered adoration helped me make the decision to skip these books when reading through my collection four years ago. I read many books by both of these authors since then and gradually became aware of the glaringly obvious shortcomings of their authorship. These shortcomings infected every book I read by them. I had no hope that these books would survive a second read. As I supposed, they did not.

[Kristelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

After getting used to the switch to focus on Marianna this one switched to focus on Andrei and Yuri. It is hard to watch the characters on a path of self destruction and I am glad Andrei is able to get back to St. Petersburg to see his family. I must say I have mixed feelings about Yuri helping to kill Rasputin even though the man was evil.

[Whitney White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the contrast between Andrei and Yuri, although I have to admit that Yuri's a pretty big clueless jerk. I did not like how Mariana dropped off the face of the earth once she and Daniel got married. I thought that the best part of the book was the end, but then I found out that there is a seventh book.

[Taryn Spearey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book by Judith Pella. There is a war going on, and Anna is worried about her sons going into the war. She had already lost her husband and she didn't want to lose her sons as well.

My one problem with this was all the names. I didn't quite know how to pronounce half of them. The war aspect was sad and interesting at the same time.

Onward i go!

[Kw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving this series. This one sort of stopped, rather than ending, but I know it'll all be wrapped up in the final book. Very interesting take on the Russian revolution and the nation in general.

[Sharilyn Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Russians

Does it have to end? Is there a book 7? I plan to read more by these authors. The history is accurate and characters created are so real. Must read for anyone who loves Christian historical novels.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing with this series... Interesting to read how long a period of time the Russian revolution was breweing.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved most of this series but this book lost me.

[Amanda Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this book for free and read it and liked it so much I bought the next one to find out what happened!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this over 15 years ago. Judith Pella was one of my top 3 authors of the time. Christian historical fiction - a wonderful genre!

[Diena Riding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction. There is so much I am learning about this time period in Russia. Can't wait to finish the series with the last book.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I learned so much about the changes of power in this nation. I look forward to reading the final book. This one sure left me hanging on so many levels!

[Sandra Benford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting for #7 to come from Amazon...love this series

[Gabrielle Van Ryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was extremely interesting in the sense that it was the beginning of a more modern and revolutionary Russia when the aristocracy was on the brink of extinction. Characters like Rasputin are portrayed very accurately, and it is a fascinating book as the lives of the two young Fedorcenko boys become a bigger focus in the series. Each story of the Fedorcenkos/Remizovs/Christinins is unique. This book is not quite as good as the previous books in the series, but overall is well written and a great story.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books in "The Russians" series. I love watching Yuri and Andrei grow and mature (or not, in some instances!). The actual history continues to be faithfully represented, as well; Pella's depth of research is amazing.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the series. I enjoy learning the history of Russia leading to WWI and the revolution.

[Tunes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pella is a good author, but she doesn't write very convincing romances.

[Nell Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author speaks with authority about this painful time in Russian history. It was the best book of the series so far in my opinion.

[Jessalyn Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Susy C. *MotherLambReads* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The family story of the Burenins continue. Faith, love, courage, and determination.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith Pella is one of my favorite authors. I enjoy history and find it even more enjoyable when a good plot is wrapped around the historical events.