Illustration of a woman in traditional Croatian attire with long hair standing in a stylized nature scene, surrounded by floral patterns. From the novel HOUSE OF LAVENDER by Natalie Kikić.  Illustration by Ksenia Kholomeva.

HOUSE OF LAVENDER

Beware the House of Lavender—something dark blooms there.

2026, Croatia:

Petra Babić has always longed to know more about her mother’s past before coming to America. All she’s inherited are tales of loss, the untimely demise of her father and grandparents. But after her mother’s death, Petra discovers a shocking secret: her grandmother is actually alive and her mother cruelly abandoned her. Searching for answers, Petra ventures to her ancestral home, known for its sprawling lavender field—and the spirit that haunts it.

1895:

Whore. Sinner. Witch. No matter how many people Magdalena Derokov heals, the rumors persist. So when she’s asked to heal the matriarch of the grand House of Lavender, she sees a chance to gain a new reputation, and maybe even love. Yet the malaise afflicting the house is more than mere sickness, and what unfolds within its walls will reverberate for generations.

The Hacienda meets Croatian folklore, HOUSE OF LAVENDER is an Adult Gothic Horror-Romance about the parts of our lineage we celebrate—and the parts we try to bury.

Art by Ksenia Kholomeva (@milirine_)