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Gone by Nightfall
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A young woman is torn between her home and her dreams during the Russian Revolution.
It’s 1917, and Charlotte Mason is determined to make a life for herself in czarist Russia. When her mother dies, Charlotte is forced to put her plans to go to medical school aside to care for her unruly siblings. Then a handsome new tutor arrives. Charlotte has high hopes that he’ll stay, f ...more
It’s 1917, and Charlotte Mason is determined to make a life for herself in czarist Russia. When her mother dies, Charlotte is forced to put her plans to go to medical school aside to care for her unruly siblings. Then a handsome new tutor arrives. Charlotte has high hopes that he’ll stay, f ...more
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Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
January 21st 2020
by Swoon Reads
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This book is a great read despite my lack of interest in war and politics. I like Charlotte's attitude on boyfriends during the war because she thought there was no point on getting to know of handsome soldiers and time spent on correspondences until sooner or later she will receive news of their death in battle. I like her family full of siblings. Definitely interesting to be reminded of how historically wealthy family hire in-house tutors for their children. Additionally, the children are tale
...more

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can also be found here at Booked J.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Vivid and imaginative. Historical fiction at its brightest. We all know that historical based fiction can be hit or miss due to inaccuracies, lack of passion in the world as it was, nonsensical elements or general slowness but Gone by Nightfall isn't one of those novels. In ...more
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Vivid and imaginative. Historical fiction at its brightest. We all know that historical based fiction can be hit or miss due to inaccuracies, lack of passion in the world as it was, nonsensical elements or general slowness but Gone by Nightfall isn't one of those novels. In ...more

A clean YA fiction set in a turbulent time in Russia in a fascinating period in history.
I liked the heroine Charlotte and her wish to become a doctor in a time when a woman could only be a nurse. It had a beautiful setting and I enjoyed Charlotte's family very much and hence I'm a bit disappointed that everyone but Charlotte was lightly characterized. Dmitri was an interesting love interest and I really wanted him to have more interaction with Charlotte, but I need to feel a bit more complexity ...more
I liked the heroine Charlotte and her wish to become a doctor in a time when a woman could only be a nurse. It had a beautiful setting and I enjoyed Charlotte's family very much and hence I'm a bit disappointed that everyone but Charlotte was lightly characterized. Dmitri was an interesting love interest and I really wanted him to have more interaction with Charlotte, but I need to feel a bit more complexity ...more

Jan 23, 2020
Liberty Ireland Historical Graffiti
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
What an amazingly well-written historical fiction book - and it's done with teens in mind! Do you know how rare that is? I was drawn in from the very beginning by the descriptions of the setting. I cannot imagine living in Russia at the time of the Revolution but Ms. Garretson painted a clear picture of the upheaval, tension, and terror that existed at that time.
The characters were amazing and made the story. Charlotte was so relatable, someone I could truly sympathize with. Dmitri was a unique ...more
The characters were amazing and made the story. Charlotte was so relatable, someone I could truly sympathize with. Dmitri was a unique ...more

I really appreciated the period and location details - it really brought a specificity to the narrative. I will say that things went at an absolutely breakneck pace. This did feel authentic to Charlotte's character as the person juggling a million plates mostly on her own, as well as reflecting the upheaval and rapid changes of the Russian Revolutionary period, but it also didn't leave much time to settle into the story or connect with most of the characters. (At one point Celeste tells Charlott
...more

This was an amazing look at the life of one teen trying to keep afloat a hospital her mother made, her siblings, and step-father. All while keeping everyone out of the clutches of the secret police. I had an amazing time reading this one and can not wait to see what else this author has in store for readers. This was a great stand alone but I could see the author coming back and doing another companion novel. I loved the characters and the story and just the fast pacing of the story. If you are
...more

...takes a screeching breath and tries to calm down
Alright, let's start with the setting. It's February 1917. We're slowly introduced to the Cherkassky family in the middle of war-torn Petrograd, Russia. The war is manifested in food shortages and rumors or reports that breach Russia's border. Everything is uncertain and nothing is stable, and it's only about to get worse.
Characters: (finding our their personalities is so fun, so I'll leave that with you)
Charlotte - the eldest Cherkassky (sta ...more
Alright, let's start with the setting. It's February 1917. We're slowly introduced to the Cherkassky family in the middle of war-torn Petrograd, Russia. The war is manifested in food shortages and rumors or reports that breach Russia's border. Everything is uncertain and nothing is stable, and it's only about to get worse.
Characters: (finding our their personalities is so fun, so I'll leave that with you)
Charlotte - the eldest Cherkassky (sta ...more

An excellent romantic historical fiction novel set during the Russian Revolution of 1917. Eighteen-year-old Charlotte lives on a large estate outside Petrograd, with her Russian retired general father and her many siblings and stepsiblings (a complicated situation as her American mother, now dead for a year, had three marriages, as did her Russian stepfather!). When Dmitri, a new tutor, arrives to teach her brothers, Charlotte is at first suspicious that the young man might be spying on them for
...more

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fly by the seat of your pants fast paced read and I absolutely loved it. Lottie had to make big decisions for her family and once she made them she swiftly and efficiently carried them out.
My heart was in my mouth so many times while reading this book. Lottie and her family faced some very scary situations and going into this book totally blind I had no idea what the outcome was going to be. I thought a few times about enlightening myself ...more
This was a fly by the seat of your pants fast paced read and I absolutely loved it. Lottie had to make big decisions for her family and once she made them she swiftly and efficiently carried them out.
My heart was in my mouth so many times while reading this book. Lottie and her family faced some very scary situations and going into this book totally blind I had no idea what the outcome was going to be. I thought a few times about enlightening myself ...more

This is one of the most richly written historical novels for young adults that I've run across, one that truly brings the time frame to life.
Charlotte Mason is a young girl living in Russia in 1916. Since her mother passed away, it's her dream to continue the dream of helping others, and she's determined to go to medical school. But with the world around her revolting, chaos is found around every corner. She's told to leave and return to her relatives in America, but with her siblings, her mothe ...more
Charlotte Mason is a young girl living in Russia in 1916. Since her mother passed away, it's her dream to continue the dream of helping others, and she's determined to go to medical school. But with the world around her revolting, chaos is found around every corner. She's told to leave and return to her relatives in America, but with her siblings, her mothe ...more

I was drawn into this story from the very first pages. The descriptions of setting were so vivid that I felt almost as if I were experiencing Imperial Russia’s final days . Dee Garretson wove just enough historical fact through her fictional narrative to give a greater understanding of what it might have been to live through those harrowing events.
I quickly sympathized with Charlotte. She’s a strong character on a variety of levels. She knows what she wants in life and works for it despite frust ...more
I quickly sympathized with Charlotte. She’s a strong character on a variety of levels. She knows what she wants in life and works for it despite frust ...more

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I din’t realize how immersed I was into this story until I was fifteen chapters in! Gone by Nightfall surprised me in many ways. I didn’t expect to enjoy the story this much but I did and I can’t wait to share my thoughts about it with you all.
Charlotte was an amazing character who I’m sure lots will be rooting for. She had big dreams and, no matter the circumstances, was always there for her family and friends.
Ch ...more
I din’t realize how immersed I was into this story until I was fifteen chapters in! Gone by Nightfall surprised me in many ways. I didn’t expect to enjoy the story this much but I did and I can’t wait to share my thoughts about it with you all.
Charlotte was an amazing character who I’m sure lots will be rooting for. She had big dreams and, no matter the circumstances, was always there for her family and friends.
Ch ...more

Gone by Nightfall is an accurate Historical Fiction that was written with the passion to research and the drive to tell an amazing story. It's driving force is the compelling plot, which focuses primarily on how Charlotte and her family get caught up in the revolution unfolding around them.
The descriptions of the setting were so vivid that I felt almost as if I were experiencing Imperial Russia’s final days. I quickly sympathized with Charlotte. She’s a strong character on a variety of levels. S ...more
The descriptions of the setting were so vivid that I felt almost as if I were experiencing Imperial Russia’s final days. I quickly sympathized with Charlotte. She’s a strong character on a variety of levels. S ...more

Thank you to the author for sharing with Collabookation.
Charlotte Mason has been managing her brothers and sisters, working as a nurse in the hospital her mother founded, and tending her own wounded heart as this book opens. However, Russia is spiraling into chaos with rebellion groups working against the czar in every way. When the czar finally abdicates, Charlotte must figure out a way to rescue her family from the crowds wanting to destroy any semblence of Russian nobility.
I loved this fast- ...more
Charlotte Mason has been managing her brothers and sisters, working as a nurse in the hospital her mother founded, and tending her own wounded heart as this book opens. However, Russia is spiraling into chaos with rebellion groups working against the czar in every way. When the czar finally abdicates, Charlotte must figure out a way to rescue her family from the crowds wanting to destroy any semblence of Russian nobility.
I loved this fast- ...more

Ok I really liked this one!
I probably mention this in every review for historical novels, but historical fiction is something I'm usually pretty nervous about reading since I'm picky. I loved Charlotte as a character, and I'm actually gonna miss her now that the book is done! Dmitri is also a great character, but I would've liked him to have been fleshed out a bit more. There's quite a bit of romance here, too. While we do see that they have a connection, it did feel almost like insta-love, but ...more
I probably mention this in every review for historical novels, but historical fiction is something I'm usually pretty nervous about reading since I'm picky. I loved Charlotte as a character, and I'm actually gonna miss her now that the book is done! Dmitri is also a great character, but I would've liked him to have been fleshed out a bit more. There's quite a bit of romance here, too. While we do see that they have a connection, it did feel almost like insta-love, but ...more

Gone by Nightfall is one of the only World War One books I’ve read & is almost certainly the only one that’s not focused on the Tzar & his family; it was a new perspective on the Russian Revolution & Dee Garretson did an incredible job of showing a balance perspectives of all sides of the Russian community during this time. Charlotte was a well balanced character with an intriguing family & I loved that she was never quite sure how she felt about the unrest in her country. This was an educationa
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Feb 13, 2020
gwendalyn _books_
marked it as to-read
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
As the Russian Revolution is just in cusp, Charlotte Mason in 1917, is an American girl living within the splendor of culture of czarist Russia, her esteemed stepfather is a Russian general. When her mother suddenly dies, everything changes, and her dreams of medical school take the back seat, when she has step up and care for her two both ...more

Okay, I kind of spoiled myself for the ending by going right to the last page before I started reading, but the ending still hurt. Though of course, it was kind of expected, given the events that were happening.
This book's pacing was fast, but also just right. It highlighted how fast the events were developing and how unpredictable everything was, which left Charlotte wondering what to do next very often.
Charlotte has been very strong throughout the story, trying to take care of all her siblings ...more
This book's pacing was fast, but also just right. It highlighted how fast the events were developing and how unpredictable everything was, which left Charlotte wondering what to do next very often.
Charlotte has been very strong throughout the story, trying to take care of all her siblings ...more

If you enjoy calmer, historical novels with a hint of romance thrown in. This one may be perfect for fans of Russian history!
We follow a main character who aspires to be a doctor, but struggles with societal norms and family dilemmas. This is a story of safety, survival, and siblings.
If you are looking for a historical romance, this plot may not be what you are looking for. While it is there, it doesn't take up the bulk of the plot's attention. There were moments that I felt like there could h ...more
We follow a main character who aspires to be a doctor, but struggles with societal norms and family dilemmas. This is a story of safety, survival, and siblings.
If you are looking for a historical romance, this plot may not be what you are looking for. While it is there, it doesn't take up the bulk of the plot's attention. There were moments that I felt like there could h ...more

As anyone who has ever read my reading history I am a sucker for a Russian revolution historical novel. When I first came across Gone by Nightfall I was immediately swept away by the premise of the story. In Gone by Nightfall we follow Charlotte Mason as we uncover secrets and hidden danger. Do I think you should read this book? Yes without a doubt. It has everything one could want from a book, secrets, action, romance and self love.

* I RECEIVED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR *
I will sum this book up with one word "breathtaking" I was swept up in to this story so quickly and it never let me go! I loved the characters, so much strength and the descriptions of Russia and the war were so detailed. This book is a breathtaking piece of literature and should be on everyone's To Be Read list! ...more
I will sum this book up with one word "breathtaking" I was swept up in to this story so quickly and it never let me go! I loved the characters, so much strength and the descriptions of Russia and the war were so detailed. This book is a breathtaking piece of literature and should be on everyone's To Be Read list! ...more

This would be an excellent book for young teen girls. I enjoyed it but would have liked a little more depth to the story. I learned some about the Russian revolution that I didn't know and there were some good twists to the story, but some were rather predictable. The romance in the story was sweet and definitely appropriate for younger readers.
...more

This was a beautifully written historical fiction novel centered around the fall of the Romanov family in 1917. It shows the tremendous hardships of the people and the unrest caused by Romanov policy, possible war with Germany, the Revolution, and the political turmoil that brought along the rise of Lenin and the Bolshevik Party.

Well-researched YA historical set in 1917 Russia. Charlotte Mason watches revolution come to St. Petersburg, bringing danger to her and her family. Garretson does a good job of ratcheting up the tension as Charlotte sees violence and knows her family has been targeted until finally, they have to make a nightmare trip to flee the country.

Intriguing, fresh historical fiction set during the Russian Revolution. American expat Charlotte Mason is a resourceful and believable hero, and I especially loved the close ties of family and friendship within her Russian-American family. The action unfolds in a believable, thrilling way and Garretson gives an balanced historical view of the opposing factions in the political struggle.

A unique look at the events leading up to the Russian Revolution told from the perspective of a smart, determined, American girl who called Russia and its people home even as Russia was sinking into some of its darkest hours. If you like your historical fiction with a touch of romance and intrigue then you will enjoy this book!!

I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel set at the start of the Russian Revolution. It had a good, fast pace, and I liked Charlotte a bunch. As a homeschooling educator, I did a double-take with her name hoping she was "that" Charlotte Mason (founder of an educational philosophy). Alas, she is not.
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Favorite setting, favorite time period. It wasn't the most engaging book at first, but I got into it eventually. Charlotte was a fun character to read about. And with that ending, I wonder if there'll be a sequel? Or maybe a book from Dmitri's POV? I'd read either!
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