operation nachthexen
the story of the
night witches
Fierce storytelling. Uncompromising history. A protagonist who will stay with you long after the last page.
posts about the project:
Dive into the stories behind the story—research discoveries, historical deep-dives, and the making of Operation Nachthexen told in real time. Every post is a door into the worlds of brave women.
- about astrid
Meet Astrid Cartesian — historical fiction author, late-night researcher, and the person who will absolutely derail a dinner party talking about World War II. She writes for the readers who want history that hits hard and stays with them long after the last page.
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discover the past
embrace the future
about - astrid cartesian
/latest project 2026
Her debut novel Operation Nachthexen was born from a single, staggering discovery: an all-female Soviet bomber regiment that flew night raids in plywood biplanes, earned a monster’s nickname from the German army, and somehow never made it into the history most of us were taught. Senior Lieutenant Nadezhda Kozlova is her answer to that silence — fierce, complicated, and impossible to forget.
meet the author
astrid cartesian
2026
the book
2026
next book release
Prepare to be captivated by the upcoming release, “Operation Nachthexen.” This gripping work of historical fiction dives into the extraordinary tales of the Night Witches, the fearless female pilots who defied the odds and took to the skies during World War II. Set against the backdrop of Russia’s tumultuous past, this novel promises to transport readers into the heart of a remarkable chapter in history.
the substack
Read more about the brave women who contributed to the war and scared the living daylights (sometimes literally) out of grown men.
Relish in stories of one of our favorite things to do to harmful men who seek to destroy us: terrorizing them.
the blog
Contemplations and musings about the history of women in war, seeking adventure, vengeance, and protecting the communities they worked so hard to build.
Not out of choice, but out of necessity.
the book
This is the novel that fills the gap on your shelf you didn’t know was there. Complex and capable women and utterly impossible to put down. A story rooted in real testimony and fascinating history, dire stakes—because anything less would be an insult to the women who lived it.
- books about
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women's contributions in history
- faq
The Nachthexen is where Astrid’s obsession exists—weekly deep-dives into the history, the research, and the women whose stories the world almost lost forever. This is not your average author newsletter; it’s a front-row seat to the making of Operation Nachthexen, from archive discoveries to exclusive character side stories told in Nadezhda’s own voice. Every Thursday, Astrid goes somewhere most history books fail to reveal: the stories of women. Subscribe and step inside the world that history lessons often do not promote.
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Everything you
need to know here
read the substack
Because the novel only tells part of the story. The Nachthexen is where Nadezhda’s world comes fully alive—the moments that didn’t make the final cut, the memories she carries, the version of events only she can tell. Subscribers get exclusive access to character side stories written in her voice, plus the deep-dive history and behind-the-scenes research that makes every page of Operation Nachthexen hit harder. This is the inner circle.
The ones that change how you read the novel. We’re talking Nadezhda before the crash—who she was, what she feared, what she refused to admit out loud. The relationships between women in the 588th that never make it into official history. The moments of dark humor, fierce loyalty, and quiet devastation that happen between the missions. Fiction rooted so deep in real testimony it feels like memory. If you thought you knew this story, wait until you read it from the inside.
Absolutely not. The Nachthexen is part history deep-dive, part craft journal, part literary experience you can’t get anywhere else. Every Thursday you get something real—a dispatch from someone genuinely obsessed with getting this history right, written for readers who are done with surface-level content. The free tier gives you plenty. The paid tier gives you Nadezhda herself. The difference is immediate and it is worth every penny.
Because the women of the 588th were written out of history once already—and we’re living in a moment that makes that erasure feel less like the past and more like a warning. Reading their story, understanding what they fought through and what they refused to accept, paints a different picture than the typical WW2 battle stories. Subscribers to The Nachthexen are part of a community that believes highlighting women’s history is urgent, necessary work, deserving of ink. Come be part of that. The world needs this story told. 🖤
- blog
brave women & their stories
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She Was Shot Down at 0300. The Mission Was Just Getting Started.
Somewhere over German-occupied territory, in the winter of 1942, a plywood biplane takes a hit. The navigator is gone. The aircraft is going down. And Senior Lieutenant Nadezhda Kozlova—Night...
Every Thursday Night I Go Back to 1942—And I Want You With Me
The first time I read a firsthand account from a Night Witch pilot, I had to put it down and walk away. Not because it was too much. Because...
History Has a Blind Spot
It was 2 a.m. when I found her name. I’d been falling down a research rabbit hole for hours—cold coffee, candle burning low, browser tabs multiplying like they do...