I enjoy reading history, and I read quite a bit of non-fiction about WWII. This book takes a fictional look at the regiment of “Night Witches,” a group of female Russian pilots. The regiment is based on historical fact. Unfortunately, the story Runyan has woven around it does not ring true. The author takes a broad-brush approach with little detail. We do not know any of the troop movements, logistics, strategy, or tactics, even when one of the main characters is in charge. The protagonist is supposedly a female Russian pilot, but she acts like a contemporary American. For example, she and her colleagues casually criticize Stalin, which would have been extremely risky behavior during Stalin’s reign of terror.

A superfluous romance is included. The meetings between husband and wife during the war are unlikely to have been permitted. The ending includes an unnecessary and far-fetched epilogue. I am always dismayed when writers of historical fiction do not remain true to the era, especially since many readers these days to not consult non-fiction to distinguish between fact and fiction.
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I won a KINDLE version in a GOODREADS giveaway sponsored by Amazon Publishing. ( )

WWII genre books are one; if not the #1 genre I read. I am adding this one to my favorites list. This novel educated me to events I was not aware of. Learning about the Night Witches of Russia was fascinating. Accurate historical research if very important to me and this was spot on.
I will definitely recommend this book to others. Once you begin this book, it is hard to put down. A moving, stirring tale of daring women during war. ( )

Novel based on the exploits of "The Night Witches" -- Russian women pilots whose night raids harassed the German army with their nighttime bombing runs in small, underpowered, and generally unarmed planes. It's a bit slow to start -- the heroine doesn't actually get into the air until midway through the book -- but after that point, it moves along with memorable characters and scenes. ( )

During WWII, a few regiments of women piloted bombers and fighters in the Soviet Air Forces. The Germans called them Night Witches, because they bombed German bases during the night. This novel tells the fictionalized story of these women through the eyes of Katya. From an early age, Katya decides she wants to be a pilot. She studies hard in school and gets her military training. As women, Katya and her peers have to prove themselves better than the men to be taken seriously at all, and they accomplish this marvelously, with far more sorties than any of the male regiments, and better records in general.
As a wartime story, there is of course hardship and misery, yet this book tempers that with hope and triumph. This book is great for anyone who wishes to know more about a little-known piece of WWII history. Sofia Orlov, Katya’s commanding officer, was based on real-life heroine Marina Raskova. I would very much like to read her story. ( )