The Haunting of Lavender House

by Natalie Kikic

A crumbling home surrounded by lavender fields. A decades-long curse. A nightmare from Croatian folklore with a thirst for blood. The Lost Apothecary meets The Hacienda in this multigenerational, haunting gothic saga set on the Adriatic Sea.

2026. All Petra has inherited are tales of loss. Which is why, after her mother’s passing, she is shocked to learn that her grandmother is not dead like she’s always believed, but alive and living on Tolba, a small island in Croatia. Desperate to find her last surviving family member, Petra ventures to her ancestral home, famed for its sprawling lavender fields. While she's happy to be reunited with her grandmother, rarely does a night go by that Petra doesn’t lose herself to vivid nightmares and the dizzying sense that something—or someone—is always watching in Lavender House.

1895. Whore. Sinner. Witch. No matter how many people Magdalena heals, the rumors persist. So, when she’s asked to help the matriarch of Lavender House, she seizes the opportunity to rehabilitate her reputation. As Magdalena races against time to heal the ailing woman, she finds herself unexpectedly falling for the son of her greatest enemy, the man responsible for her ostracization. But are true love and acceptance possible for a woman who has always lived on the margins?

Back in the present, Petra finds it increasingly difficult to ignore the rumors plaguing her family: that a mora, a spirit from Croatian folklore, haunts Lavender House for revenge. Her grandmother says it’s nothing more than gossip made up by jealous townsfolk. But as her nightmares turn darker, invading her waking hours and threatening her newfound romance, she suspects there’s something more sinister lurking beneath the island’s surface. As the sole heir to Lavender House, Petra must discover the truth of her inheritance—or else fall prey to the same curse that claimed her family.

Through the intersecting stories of Petra and Magdalena, Natalie Kikić’s gorgeous debut asks us to consider the lengths to which we go to belong, the cost of choosing love, and what it really means to be a monster.

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Halloween

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2026

Reviews

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A gothic debut surrounding a decaying mansion in a small village in Croatia that is surrounded by lavender fields, decades old curse, and folklore surrounding the mora. Another book that simply called to me!!

This debut is haunting, dark, creepy yet it is also filled with longing, the desire to find a place where we belong, the rewards and detriments of love, and questions how a monster is really created- is it paranormal, or from human frailty?

The story is told through the POV's of Petra and Magdalena, and the House.

2026- Petra has recently lost her mother, and discovers that she has a grandmother in Croatia on the Island of Tolba. Her mother refused to talk about Croatia so Petra, still dealing with her grief, decides to go to Croatia and get to know her grandmother and her history. Arriving in Tolba, Petra soon discovers that the crumbling mansion holds much more than just her family history. On her first night there, she has night terrors, and a smoky figure keeps coming to her room and reaching for her. She also has terrible nightmares that seem very realistic. As she walks through the town, she finds that the townspeople do not like her- whispering and giving her looks- but she has no idea why. Eventually, she discovers that her family and the home live in are under a "curse". Petra delves into the history of her family and discovers dark secrets and the lore of the "mora", which is a woman who was scorned in love, but has come back as an entity to extract revenge.

1895- Magdelena is a healer, using herbs to help the village people. However, they come to her in secret and call her a witch and sinner in public. One night Nicoli comes to Magdelena to ask for her help in healing his mother who is languishing from an unknown illness and she is wasting away. Although Magdelena is at first hesitant, she decides to help. She has a limited amount of time to help before Nicoli's father comes back from his trip. Nicoli's father is responsible for the banishment and hatred towards Magdelena. Through all of this Magdelena soon finds herself falling for Nicolai.

The "Interludes" of the story are told from the House as it observes all that has happened through the centuries.

This was such a well written story. It is more than just a dark gothic horror as it tells the story of the family and the secrets, betrayals and effect this has on all the people of the village. The inclusion of the "mora", and "the evil eye" that are tied into Croatian folklore really tied the story and centuries together. I felt for Petra as she is trying to get to know her grandmother and find a place where she belongs, but she is treated by the villagers as if she is the one that has brought evil back to the town. Petra just wants to know her history, and what really happened to her father and why her mother left and never came back.

I also liked how the author used the juxtaposition of love/betrayal to bind the curse to the family.

But the most effective thing about the story is that at the end, I found I was questioning who was really the monster, and although things worked out for some, was justice really given to the other?

The notes by the author are a must read. Natalie Kikic is from Croatia, and shares so much interesting information about the area and the folklore.

Fantastic debut, and I am looking forward to reading other stories from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Title/Author: The Haunting of Lavender House
A Haunting, Gothic Story of Croatian Folklore by Natalie Kikic
Format Read: audiobook (Libro FM-purchased)
Pub date: October 20, 2026
Publisher: Park Row
Page Count: 320
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978077830...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Atmospheric Gothic Horror
- Dual timelines and POV's-Petra/2026 and Magdalena/1895
- Croatian folklore/Haunted history & mystery
- Romance (love and relationships are an important aspect of both timelines)
- Nightmares/Curses/Haunted House/Psychic Trauma
- House POV
__
Minor complaints:
- Just to set proper expectations, I would recommend this book with "Haunting Love Stories" with themes of unrequited or tragic love, betrayal, murder, revenge, jealousy, and light elements of witchcraft, folklore and the occult INSTEAD of "Haunted House" or "Gothic Horror"

Final recommendation: 
NARRATORS
Natasha Soudek, Carlotta Brentan & David DeSantos- I loved this audiobook production. Petra and Magdalena's narratives are voiced by brilliant narrators and the house POV by David DeSantos is excellent. The story is set up perfectly and I invested right away. Natalie Kikic's prose is lyrical and beautiful. She has a gift for describing setting. I love horromance and this has dual timelines-one modern and one historical and both have sex & romance. I loved that this book explores the Mediterranean + Gothic and village folklore. Petra's passion for solving the secret history of her ancestral home through psychic trauma and opening herself up to the haunting was well done. I especially loved the historical timeline with Magdalena-a healer-and it reminded me a lot of Philippa Gregory's Royal Witch story that I just read. Overall, this is an immersive, romantic, fast-paced debut and I am looking forward to more stories from Natalie Kikic

Comps: Isabel Cañas books, Sanctuary by Valentina Cano Repetto, The Royal Witch by Philippa Gregory, A. G. Slatter's Sourdough Universe books, Sarah Penner, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

~thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review~

I’ve been slacking on my reading lately but damn this was good. I loved how it was written. The different POV chapters were cool and I like how it all tied in together at the end. & the epilogue was gooooood.

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

A gothic, suspenseful debut about the lengths to which we go to belong, the cost of choosing love, and what it really means to be a monster. This book got a whole lot darker than I was expecting and I absolutely loved it.

Two timelines- 2026 and 1895.

2026- Petra goes to Croatia after her mother’s passing to meet her grandmother. At night she has terrible nightmares. The house seems haunted.

1895 - Magdalena has a gift of healing the sick. People call her a witch, a sinner, and a whore.

Petra will soon learn what actually happened to Magdalena and why the horrible deaths have been happening.

The narration was fantastic! The descriptions of Croatia and the lavender throughout had my attention. I could hear the pain and the evil in these characters voices and they did not disappoint.

There is a bit of romance, suspense, and all hell breaks loose in the end. I loved it and highly recommend either format.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the publishers for the gifted copies.

[BookCharmedLife · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikić is a gothic beauty. As a first-generation Croatian American writer, Kikić isn't just using folklore, she's returning to it. Her debut novel is based on folklore with a thirst for blood, set in a crumbling home surrounded by lavender fields on the Adriatic Sea. The author’s world-building is impressive and lush. It's The Lost Apothecary meets The Hacienda in the best way, but the Slavic soul is all its own.

We begin with Petra, the sole heir to Lavender House. After the death of her mother, Petra finds letters from a grandmother she didn’t know existed. Hurt by her mother’s secrets, but determined to meet the only family she has left, Petra sets out on a journey of discovery and connection. We then meet Magdalena, a healer who lived on the same small island where the Lavender House exists. Magdalena is a woman struggling with the loss of her own mother, and fighting to rehabilitate her reputation. Though their lives are separated by more than a century, Petra and Magdalena are both cursed by tragedy, yet hopeful to find a place to belong. Maybe Lavender House is the answer to their prayers…

I did an immersive read of The Haunting of Lavender House and it was fantastic! Natalie Kikić's writing is wonderful on its own, but the audiobook took it further. The narrators did an excellent job of pulling me even deeper into the story than the book alone, and listening helped so much with Croatian pronunciations I wouldn’t have known otherwise. Narration made Kikić’s folklore feel alive, not just read.

Natalie Kikić’s novel is atmospheric, romantic, and genuinely gothic in that slow-dread way. It’s the kind of haunting tale of love and loss I want more of. If you love gothic debuts, folklore horror, and the house as a main character, preorder this book. Out October 20, 2026 from Park Row Books.

Thank you to Edelweiss, Harper Collins Publishing, Park Row Books, and author Natalie Kikić for the opportunity to read an advance copy!

(I received an Advance Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petra gets off the boat on Tolba hoping for a tender little ancestral homecoming, and instead the locals start staring at her like she just personally reactivated a curse at customs. Which, in their defense, she kind of did by showing up. Her mother has just died, Petra has discovered that the grandmother she was told was dead is actually very much alive, and now she has crossed an ocean looking for the only family she has left. Meanwhile this tiny Croatian island has apparently maintained a multigenerational group chat about her bloodline, and Petra is the only person who wasn't added.

Then she gets to Lavender House, which is exactly the kind of ancestral property that should come with paperwork reading, “Beautiful views, original stonework, absolutely do not investigate noises after midnight.” Her grandmother Karmela has been living there alone since Petra's mother left for America, and their reunion is sweet and awkward in that very specific way two people can desperately want to be family while also being complete strangers. Petra is trying to learn about her mother, Karmela is sitting on approximately a century of family secrets, and the house is slamming doors, producing nightmares, and generally behaving like it has opinions about this reunion. At one point I realized the HOUSE itself gets a say in things, which is never what you want from your real estate.

And Petra, my girl, people keep telling you your family is cursed. You are having nightmares. You are seeing things. Everyone on the island looks at your house like it owes them money. Perhaps we entertain the supernatural explanation before bedtime? But Petra wants answers because she has spent her entire life knowing almost nothing about this side of herself. Her mother didn't just leave Croatia, she basically put Croatia in witness protection. So Petra keeps digging because every horrible thing she learns is also one more piece of her mother, and that part got me. When someone dies, even the secrets they kept start feeling precious because at least they're still something you can discover about them.

Meanwhile, 1895 is over there screaming, “Would you like to know WHY everyone is traumatized?” Enter Magdalena, a healer who has already been branded a whore, sinner, witch, and presumably whatever else the village council could fit onto the flyer. She gets called to Lavender House to treat an ailing woman and sees a chance to prove she isn't the monster everyone has decided she is. Naturally, because this family has apparently never encountered an emotionally safe decision, Magdalena also falls for Nikola, the son of the man responsible for making her an outcast. Ma'am. There are other men. I realize it is 1895 on a small island and the inventory is limited, but perhaps we shop outside the enemy bloodline.

Watching Magdalena's story creep toward Petra's was where I really got sucked in, because you already know somebody back there made a catastrophically cowardly choice and everybody in 2026 is still paying the invoice. The mora haunting Lavender House isn't some random ghost who woke up irritated. This thing comes out of Croatian folklore, gets tangled up with love, rejection, vengeance, and generations of people refusing to deal with what happened, and suddenly Petra isn't just trying to understand why her mother ran. She's trying to figure out whether the nightmare stalking her family is folklore, history, or an extremely committed combination of both.

Also, because Petra apparently does not have enough happening, here comes Luka. Handsome neighbor. Chef. Initially moody with her because obviously the woman who just discovered her entire childhood was built around a gigantic family lie needed one more local man acting suspicious. Their relationship warms up, though, and I liked them together, especially because Petra has a very understandable terror of loving someone when loss has already rearranged her entire life. The problem is that falling for somebody while investigating a supernatural entity with extremely strong feelings about doomed love is the Croatian gothic equivalent of eating a sandwich next to a bear trap. Petra knows this. Luka knows things are getting weird. They proceed anyway. People in haunted houses remain undefeated at refusing to prioritize personal safety.

There were moments in the middle where I was ready for everyone to stop walking around the lavender fields being vaguely concerned and please tell Petra what happened to her family. Karmela knows things. The island knows things. The house DEFINITELY knows things because apparently the building has been keeping minutes. Meanwhile Petra is collecting information one emotionally constipated Croatian at a time. But every time Magdalena showed back up, I was right back in it, because watching the old choices line up with Petra's present-day problems gave the whole thing that delicious feeling of realizing these people did not bury the past nearly deep enough.

And underneath all the haunting, what got me was Petra wanting somewhere to belong after losing her mother. She goes to Croatia looking for the family she thought she didn't have, but finding your roots doesn't magically make you feel rooted. Sometimes you arrive at the place you're supposedly from and everyone there still sees you as an outsider. Sometimes the person who loved you was also the person who kept you from an entire piece of yourself. Sometimes home isn't something waiting patiently for you to return. You have to decide where it is. That landed. Moving on before the margarita becomes emotional support.

Once the secrets finally start falling out, everybody's old bad decisions come home at once, and I was very happy to watch generations of silence finally get dragged into daylight. Some of what was coming wasn't exactly hiding behind the lavender bushes, and I wanted a little more time inside a few of these relationships before everything went fully supernatural family reckoning. But I finished The Haunting of Lavender House at a very comfortable four stars, wanting to visit Croatia immediately while also knowing that if a picturesque stone villa surrounded by lavender is suspiciously affordable, I am asking exactly how many women have cursed the property before signing anything.

And thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and for teaching me that apparently lavender can smell gorgeous while an entire bloodline is having the worst century imaginable.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book from Natalie Kiki’s and I enjoyed The Haunting of Lavender House. I very much would like to visit Croatia now! It sounds so lush and beautiful; I could practically smell the lavender. The ambiance was dark and romance was more at the center than I expected. I’ve never heard of a Mora prior to this reading, but it lent itself well to the story. There was quite a bit going on and some portions were a bit formulaic so I did deduct one star. I definitely think it’s worth the read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenna O'Malley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars! 🪻

A beautiful debut horror novel about family, female rage, vengeance, healing, and choices.

Thank you to Netgalley and Park Row for a copy of an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This reminded me so much of the show “Widow’s Bay” and gave me “Japanese gothic” vibes with the home being surrounded by lavender fields, and the fact that a story from the past as well as the present intertwines.

In “The Haunting of Lavender House” Petra Collins was raised to believe she had no living family members and is taken by surprise when she learns that she has a grandmother in Croatia where her mom left long ago-to never return. She decides to visit her mom’s childhood home and learn of her past. As she familiarizes herself with the town of Tolba, a sweet man named Luka who questions her intentions, and gets closer with her grandmother, she also begins to learn of rumors about a mora that has haunted her family for generations. We are also following the perspective of Magdelena, a healer in 1985. The townsfolk make assumptions and spread false accusations about her intentions. She only wants to help people, but they have labelled her as a witch. One day a wealthy man begs her for help in healing his mother who has mysteriously fallen gravely ill - who is also the wife of the man running the Lavender business in their small community. Presented with an offer she cannot refuse - she agrees. Will this venture also lead to her demise?

I am so thrilled to see what this author does next! This was a brilliant debut and had the perfect elements needed to capture a bone chilling story that is generations old. Vivid nightmares, creepy figures, and an old house that remembers. The interlude chapters were quite honestly some of my favorite ones, as they provided insight on how the home holds the family’s trauma - even after all this time.

Magdalena was a complex and deeply misunderstood character. She was quick to hope, help, and provide grace to others that was not granted to her in return. She felt deeply and loved boldly - which in return led her to her downfall. Her story is truly one of feminine rage and heartbreak.

Petra was hopeful in bonding with her family’s past, but not so much others, and definitely not wanting nor needing an emotional, romantic connection. Scared to love too closely, she always kept her flings short and sweet. Nothing serious. I am so proud of her for demanding justice for the sins of her family’s past. An eye for an eye made them all blind, and she broke the generational trauma/curse that has followed them for centuries. She also allowed herself to break some of her old patterns and let love in.

Luka - I hope you find your found family because you truly deserve everything good in this world.

Very excited for this to be published 💜

[ali skibicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Haunting of Lavender House is such a solid debut! This is a dual timeline Gothic fiction, one historical and one modern day, set in Croatia and filled with Croatian folklore! This was well written, atmospheric, and had a touch of female rage which makes it perfect for this time of year.

It did have a little bit of a slow start but once I got into it (about 30%), I was hooked for the rest of the story. I did a hybrid read between the audiobook and physical copy. I really enjoyed them both. The audiobook narration really helped bring the characters and Croatian setting to life.

Thank you The Hive/Park Row for physical ARC & audiobook!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie Kikic have written a beautiful debut horror novel about vengeance, female rage, family, healing, and the choices we make.

The Haunting of Lavender House is atmospheric and genuinely gothic in that slow-dread way. I loved the Croatian folklore woven throughout the novel.

If you love gothic debuts, folklore horror, and the house as a main character you need to read this novel.


Big thanks to Edelweiss and Park Row for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

[Billi · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5

The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikic

Haunting, creepy, and heartbreaking! The lead up to figuring out what was causing the haunting was really atmospheric and interesting. It was an interesting mix of romance, horror, and mystery!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the alc of this book via NetGalley.

Audio narration was fantastic! Recommend the audiobook for sure.

I loved how Petra really has to grow. She has to learn to open up in order to figure things out. Such an atmospheric setting. I really enjoyed all the characters in this book but Petra was my favorite. She was so fierce and unafraid. She was legit being haunted and yet she still chose to stay and figure things out.

Loved the lore and the setting of this. Probably my favorite part of the novel. It was really well written. I do wish there had been a little more emotional depth between Luka and Petra. I know we have a little but I felt like the end left something to be desired for me.

I definitely enjoyed this though.

[Erin Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Atmospheric gothic horror set in Croatia!!✨

I absolutely loved The Haunting of Lavender House! Gothic horror is my favorite genre and this book is a great example of why that is!!

This book is drenched in dread inducing atmosphere and Croatian folklore. I haven’t read anything set in Croatia before so I really enjoyed that. I loved the dual POVs and timelines too. Petra is such a great character and very well written. I also really loved the romance aspects too. This book is just absolute perfection! A new favorite!👏

Everything I love about a gothic novel is present here and very well done. I can’t wait to see what Natalie Kikic writes next! 🪻

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released October 20, 2026 .

[mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/ i absolutely loved this book and i have so much to say

the haunting of lavender house is an atmospheric gothic horror romance rooted in a unique croatian folklore and set on a fictional croatian island. it revolves around the concept of a ‘mora,’ a nightmare come to life in the form of a woman experiencing unrequited love, and who now haunts and seeks revenge for eternity. our MC Petra’s ancestral home is haunted by one, and we follow Petra as she unravels the dark history of her family to try and undo this evil curse, all while trying hard not to fall in love and risk an innocent man's life.

i absolutely loved reading a book set in croatia and using croatian words and phrases and vibes and descriptions, and the fact that its a combination of 2 genres i love - gothic horror & romance - girl this book was made for me. i was so happy reading this book (despite all the horror and terror happening) and im so thankful to the author natalie kikić for writing something like this and being able to put it out into the world. i love a book that feels like lots of research was done, and especially after reading the authors note, it’s obvious that’s the case here.

the story is told in alternating timelines, between the late 19th century from the pov of Magdalena, someone closely connected to the history of the mora and Petra's ancestors, and the modern day from Petra's pov. the author did an excellent job building up suspense, as well as building the readers' comprehension, of the mora through Magdalena's diary entries juxtaposed against the horrors Petra was experiencing. as a result, this book was kind of a slow burn. the last like 5% was when the climax hit, and i wish that the scene was built up a little better, but whatever my heart was still pounding and i was still stressed out for everybody involved.

as for the romance, it was very sweet, but considering the fact that this is marketed as a horror romance and that the premise of the mora relies on finding people in love to haunt and terrorize, i really wish petra and luka's relationship was developed a little bit more. like i was very invested in their relationship and i teared up at the epilogue (it was beautiful) but something was missing for me... i think i just needed more tension and grittiness to go with the dark atmosphere?

also final note - special shoutout to the book cover. whoever designed it and incorporated the milje into the haunting design, u slayed it.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Haunting of Lavender House
Author: Natalie Kikic
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Park Row, for sending me an ARC. This one took me by surprise. I was pulled in very quickly to the Croatian backdrop and mythology. Croatia is a country that I am not very familiar with and it was very engaging to read a story from this country.


Petra has always believed her grandmother was dead. After her mother's death, she discovers that her grandmother is actually alive and living on a small island in Croatia. Desperate to find her last surviving family member, Petra travels to the family's ancestral home, Lavender House. The house is surrounded by beautiful lavender fields, but something about it feels wrong. Petra begins having vivid nightmares and constantly feels like someone is watching her. Her grandmother insists there is nothing to fear, but the island is filled with rumors about a curse and a terrifying spirit from Croatian folklore called a mora. The story also takes us back to 1895 and follows Magdalena, a healer who has been labeled a witch by the people around her. When she is asked to help the sick matriarch of Lavender House, she sees an opportunity to change how the town views her. Things become complicated when she falls for the son of the man who helped ruin her reputation. As Petra investigates her family's history, the stories of the past and present begin to come together. The more she learns about Magdalena, Lavender House, and the curse surrounding her family, the harder it becomes to dismiss the legends as simple gossip. Petra must uncover the truth before the same darkness that haunted her ancestors claims her too.

This one took me by surprise. I was pulled in very quickly by the Croatian backdrop and mythology. Croatia is a country that I am not very familiar with, and I found it really engaging to read a story set there and learn more about its folklore and history along the way. There was something really interesting about being introduced to a place that I do not know much about through a gothic story. The lavender fields, the small island, the old family home, and the stories surrounding the area all created this atmosphere that felt beautiful and unsettling at the same time. I could almost picture the lavender fields and the house while I was reading, which made the creepy parts stand out even more.

One of the things I found especially interesting was the use of the mora from Croatian folklore. I had never heard of a mora before reading this book, so I really enjoyed learning about it and seeing how that piece of folklore was woven into the story. The idea of a spirit connected to nightmares and revenge added another layer to the haunting atmosphere. I always enjoy when a book introduces me to mythology or folklore that I am not already familiar with. It made the story feel like more than just a gothic haunting because there was an actual cultural history behind the legend. I found myself wanting to learn more about the mora and the folklore surrounding it while I was reading.
I also really enjoyed the dual timeline in this story. We follow Petra in the present as she comes
to Croatia for the first time as an adult and begins learning about a part of her heritage that she has never really known. Petra has always believed that her grandmother was dead, so finding out that she is actually alive completely changes what she thought she knew about her family. I liked watching Petra arrive in Croatia and slowly become more connected to this part of her history. She is not just coming to visit a relative. She is discovering where her family came from and learning about a history that was kept from her for most of her life.

I thought that made Petra's storyline especially interesting. She is experiencing everything for the first time. She is learning about the island, her family, the house, and the folklore surrounding it all at the same time. There is a real sense of discovery as she starts putting together pieces of her family's past. The more she learns, the more questions she has. I enjoyed watching her go from someone who knows very little about her heritage to someone who is determined to understand what happened to her family and what Lavender House means to her.

The historical timeline follows Magdalena in the late eighteen hundreds, and I thought her story added another layer to the book. Instead of simply hearing stories about the past from Petra's perspective, we actually get to experience what happened through Magdalena. Her storyline gives us a better understanding of the people connected to Lavender House and how some of the rumors and legends surrounding the house began. I also enjoyed seeing how her experiences eventually connect with Petra's story.

The two timelines worked well together because each one gave me pieces of the bigger mystery. Just when I was becoming invested in Petra's story, I would get pulled back into Magdalena's. Then something from Magdalena's timeline would make me look at Petra's story a little differently. I liked having to slowly put everything together rather than being given all of the answers at once.

What I especially liked was how Petra's experience felt like discovering Croatia alongside her. She is learning about the country, her family's history, and the folklore connected to the island, and I felt like I was learning right along with her. That made the setting feel much more important than simply being a backdrop for the story. The Croatian mythology was one of the biggest surprises for me, and it made me want to learn more about the folklore behind the story.

Overall, this was a really atmospheric read that surprised me in the best way. The gothic setting, Croatian folklore, the mora, family secrets, and dual timelines all worked together to create a story that pulled me in. I really enjoyed watching Petra uncover her family's history while also seeing the events of the past unfold through Magdalena. I went into this one not knowing quite what to expect, and I ended up really enjoying the journey. It was creepy, atmospheric, and different from what I normally read, which made it all the more memorable.


This book comes out on October 20, 2026.

[Linda Galella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual timelines with 3 POV’s, THE HAUNTING OF LAVENDER HOUSE is Natalie Kikic’s debut novel.

Current day, Petra discovers her Grandmother, Karmela, is alive. Her mother hid letters, keeping details about her early life and leaving Croatia. Now that her Mom, Marija, has passed, Petra wants nothing more than to connect with her family and ancestral land. When she arrives at Tolba, the island her mother grew up on, got married and widowed on, Petra is met by Karmela’s neighbor, Luka. He’s not very welcoming.

Lavender House is not what Petra envisioned. Aside from the luscious fields of lavender, there’s nothing lovely about the house her grandmother lives in. Petra is the rightful heir but does she want it?

Luka’s not the only one who treats Petra with thinly veiled disdain. She has no clue what’s going on. Things get more difficult when she has disturbing dreams and apparitions.

Croatia is a land full of folklore and supernatural history. A prime example in this story is the MORA, a supernatural female character likened to witches. The cultural details regarding them is fascinating. Readers would do well to read the author’s note prior to reading the story to better understand the significance of them as they read.

In the 1895 timeline, we’re introduced to Magdelena, Cast as a witch by her community, Magdelena is also an healer. As such, she is summoned to Lavender House to help a woman living there. She’s determined to improve how the community views her but things get complicated when she gets involved with a man living in the house.

Lavender House is the common bond between these timelines. Author Kikic does a good job drawing them together. A bit of an unusual but effective twist - the house is POV number three, writing in chapters of its own.

I was surprised by how much God and the church is woven into the story. Catholic ideations embrace the supernatural making intriguing counterparts.

Themes include: hidden secrets, family expectations, lies, self value, love, finding family connections and more.

Kikic’s writing is descriptive and atmospheric without being burdensome. Her ability to build a world in two different centuries and draw them together was seamless. I did find myself wanting more from the ending but that seems to be a current trend with young writers.

Recommended for those who enjoy gothics, light horror, folklore, supernatural stories or Croatian mythology.

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC via Kindle with thanks to the publisher and author.

[Kat · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

A well-paced and unique gothic. I absolutely loved the Croatian setting and folklore in this book, along with the way it intertwined its modern and historical timelines through the epistolary format.

The prose was plain and perfectly serviceable, which will be ideal for plenty of people, but I personally like a bit more flourish. Especially in a gothic. I also found all of the characters to be extremely flat, which made the romance unaffecting to the point of feeling tedious.

Still, this was tightly executed and pulled off its desired tricks well. The direction of the plot twist becomes clear pretty early on, but I think this book chose exactly the right point to show its hand without dragging the reveal out. The ending neatly braided together the book’s themes of persecution with the complicated experience of homecoming and discovering ugliness in your own heritage.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Charlene Carr]

A gorgeous, atmospheric book that made me long to explore the Adriatic! Kikic paints a vivid and lively portrait of the land, the water, the people, and traditions. The points of view were skillfully navigated, and the novel's exploration of family, identity, community, vengeance, and healing gave the book just the right amount of substance to keep me coming back for more. A highly engaging and entertaining read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the early read!

(Mom, not for you!)

[Nicole Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is how a story is told! The POVs are compelling, the Croatian lore is sublime, the romance is alluring, the haunting is believable. I'm loving books that don't use technology, that are set in remote locations and rely on personal interactions to move them forward. This mesmerizing, atmospheric gothic debut is sure to be a hit!

[Grace R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am swooning over the Croatian Gothic Romance of my dreams! ❤️

After the death of her mother, Petra Klarin sets off on the adventure of a lifetime to reconnect with the grandmother she never knew on the island of Tolba. An outsider in a land that knows her by the very blood that courses through her veins, Petra soon learns there’s something amiss about her ancestral home. A spectral vision, fever dreams, and a curse that must be lifted for the island, and her family, to finally be rid of the past that has scarred The House of Lavender. 🌊

Author Natalie Kikić delivers the Gothic atmosphere, by using common backdrops of Dalmatia. No longer are we women running from castles, we are women running from stone houses, through island ruins, emerging in the lush landscape of lavendar fields and olive groves. 🪻

As someone who is also a part of the Croatian diaspora, this book hit so many notes for me as a reader. That feeling of not being “enough” of one thing - American or Croatian - the loss of language due to assimilation, and that yearning to belong to a place that feels like home.🌊

I also appreciated that Kikić took inspiration from her father’s home island of Olib, as well as from fascinating academic texts on witchcraft in Croatia. I’ve paired my e-book here with illustrations of folk dances from a few of the islands and mainland of Dalmatia. 🪻

With the vibes of Practical Magic x Mexican Gothic x The Haunting of Alejandra, this is the perfect summer read! So, if you have NetGalley, RUN and make your request from @parkrowbooks because it doesn’t come out until this fall. 🌊

Thank you @harpercollins | @parkrowbooks | @netgalley | @natkikicwrites for the advance readers copy of this fantastic novel! I can’t wait to hold a copy in my hands later this year. 🪻

Now, I’m going to pre-order another copy through my local independent bookstore, @thepaperheartbooks. You should pre-order this through your favorite store, too. 😘

#gothicromance #gothichorror #gothicliterature #croatiangothic #bookstagram

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely enraptured my mind! I loved the gothic atmosphere, the dual timelines, and the way the story unfolded through the perspectives of our main characters.

One of my favorite elements was the concept of a mora which we find out is an evil spirit, or what the locals essentially consider to be the devil, haunting the small island of Tolba, Croatia. The story moves between Petra in 2026, who just discovers the the existence of her grandmother after the death of her mother, and Magdalena in 1880 who who is also coping with the loss of both her parents. She finds comfort documenting her every day life while living among the townspeople who fear and ridicule her, branding her a witch for her knowledge in healing remedies. One thing I really loved was the way the author highlighted the fear, judgment, and lack of power women faced in that time, especially when they were simply trying to help others!

I also have to highlight the romances. It was so interesting to read about the two very different relationships both Petra and Magdalena formed and how that all played out at the end.

Definitely goes down as one of my favorite books to date. I loved how easily I was able to play out the scenes in my head like a movie.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! 💜

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a book like this before. The gothic haunting contrasted with seaside Croatia made the atmosphere unique. I was especially engrossed with the historical timeline POV and loved how that story was told. Slow burn romance but perfect for the story!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This was SOOOO good. This had a creepy old house, a centuries-old curse, lavender fields, and women being labeled monsters for daring to exist, and I was eating every single moment up. The Haunting of Lavender House was a gorgeous, atmospheric, and unexpectedly emotional read, and I went into this expecting a spooky gothic story, but I got so much more than that. Natalie Kikić has created a haunting tale filled with family secrets, forbidden love, generational trauma, and Croatian folklore that completely pulled me in. The setting was EVERYTHING, and I loved how the beauty of the island contrasted with the darkness hiding beneath the surface.

I LOVED the dual timelines following Petra in 2026 and Magdalena in 1895. I always love dual timelines, but it was done particularly well in this book. Petra arrives in Croatia hoping to reconnect with the family she thought she had lost, only to discover that her ancestral home comes with a whole lot of baggage (and by baggage, I mean a potentially murderous supernatural entity). Meanwhile, Magdalena’s story broke my heart in so many ways. Watching a woman who genuinely wanted to help others be ostracized, judged, and treated like a monster was infuriating, especially when you see how much of that cruelty comes from fear, jealousy, and the need to blame women for things people don't understand. The way these two timelines slowly intertwine was so well done, and I loved piecing together the history behind the haunting right alongside Petra.

One of my favorite aspects was the Croatian folklore! I wasn't familiar with the concept of a mora before this, and I thought the way Kikić incorporated it into the story was fascinating. There is something unsettling about a haunting rooted in heartbreak, betrayal, and vengeance, and the fact that the house itself gets its own perspective made everything even creepier. Lavender House felt like a character all on its own, holding onto generations of pain and secrets within its walls. The atmosphere was immaculate, and I could practically picture the crumbling stone house surrounded by those beautiful lavender fields... gorgeous setting, absolutely terrible place to spend the night, though.

My only real complaint is that I wanted MORE! I would have loved a little more development in Petra and Luka’s relationship, and I felt like the climax moved a bit quickly after all the wonderful tension and buildup. There were certain moments I wanted to sit with longer, especially emotionally, because the story had me so invested in these characters and the choices that shaped their lives. That said, I still found the ending satisfying, and I really appreciated the deeper questions the story raises about who gets to decide what makes someone a monster. Sometimes the scariest things aren't the spirits haunting a house, but the people who create the conditions for them to exist.

This was a fantastic horror book, and I am so glad I picked it up! It's atmospheric, haunting, heartbreaking, and beautifully written, with just the right mix of gothic horror, mystery, folklore, and romance. I especially loved the exploration of belonging, the weight of family history, and how the past can continue to haunt the present when the truth is buried. If you love creepy ancestral homes, dual timelines, misunderstood women, folklore-inspired horror, and stories that leave you thinking about them for a LONG time, PLEASE add this one to your TBR. Natalie Kikić, I will absolutely be ready for whatever you write next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Park Row for this ARC!

[Olesya Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of gothic I love—romantic, eerie, and with a historical hook that leads back to the homeland, to home, and to the people that make it so—family. Oh, and with a dash of Slavic folklore and female rage thrown in. Atmospheric, unique in setting, and compulsively readable. I ate this one up!

Thanks to the author & publisher for a free ARC via NetGalley, read in tandem with the audiobook, which was also excellent. All opinions are my own.

[Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a supernatural horror/thriller set in Croatia. It is described as gothic, but truthfully this did not feel gothic to me. The story is not bad, the writing is solid, and the setting is good. But overall, I just don’t feel like this was anything new or unique. The plot formula felt very basic and predictable to me. I think some people would love this but ultimately not my favorite.

Thank you to HTP books for the gifted copy

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Every keyhole in the house has a rag pushed into it. There is an iron horseshoe nailed over the front door, iron round the neck of the bad-tempered Dalmatian, and a crucifix or a saint on almost every wall. Petra Babić notices all of it on her first evening at Lavender House and assumes her grandmother is simply old-fashioned. That night she wakes unable to move, and a tall shadow grows on the lace canopy above her bed while something dry and rattling breathes on the other side. The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikic puts its rules on the board before its heroine knows she is playing, and the reader learns them a few pages ahead of her.

How the Haunting of Lavender House Works

Petra is twenty-nine, a marketer in San Francisco, and three months bereaved. Clearing her mother's attic, she finds letters proving that the grandmother she was told died in the Homeland War is alive, widowed and living on Tolba, a fictional Dalmatian island with no cars and barely a hundred people. She books a month there. Her grandmother Karmela greets her in mourning black; the neighbour, Luka, a chef at his family's harbour restaurant, makes it plain he thinks she is a tourist with a guilty conscience.

The island has a story about her family. A mora, the nightmare spirit of Croatian folklore, sits on a sleeper's chest and steals their breath, which is how old villages explained what doctors now call sleep paralysis. One is said to have fixed on the Klarins generations ago. Whoever a Klarin loves dies. Iron weakens her, and she slips in through keyholes, which explains the rags.

Kikić tells it in three voices. Petra narrates in first person, present tense. Magdalena Derokov, an outcast herbalist in 1895, writes a diary to her dead mother after the lord of the manor's son asks her, secretly, to treat his wasting mother. And between chapters the house itself speaks, in short interludes: proud, snobbish, frightened of being left empty like the abandoned homes around it. Those interludes rarely run past a page or two, but they shape how The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikic reads: the reader always knows slightly more than Petra does, and worries accordingly.

The Haunting of Lavender House Turns the Monster Around

What the structure is really doing is asking where a monster comes from. The modern chapters are a haunting; the 1895 chapters are a social novel about a clever, poor, unmarried woman in a village that resents her skill. As the two timelines close in, The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikic shifts its sympathy in a way that the first hundred pages do not prepare you for, and the late chapters land with real anger about how communities decide whom to blame.

The romance matters to that design. Two love affairs run in parallel, one in each century, and the curse makes every tender scene a threat. It is a clever way to keep a slow-burn story tense, and The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikic uses it well, even when the modern half of the pairing is the weaker of the two.

What works
The house is a terrific narrator. It sulks, schemes and takes sides, and its pride in its own bloodline is both funny and sinister. Several odd details in Petra's chapters turn out to have been its doing.
Magdalena is the best company in the book. Prickly, vain, lonely and very good at her job, she is catty about her rivals and honest about her lovers. Her perfume lesson with the young heir, a drop of scented oil on her wrist and a walk outside to test how far it carries, is the most charged romantic scene in the novel.
The set pieces are strong. A stone shepherd's hut where someone is sobbing with no one inside, and a lavender bath that goes very wrong, are as frightening as anything in recent mainstream gothic.
The diaspora grief is real. Petra's broken Croatian, and the sense of a homeland her parents left and never explained, give the ghost story an ache underneath it.

Where It Gives Ground
The night terrors run on a loop. For much of the first half, The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikic repeats one sequence: dream, paralysis, figure, the dog arrives, morning rationalisation. By the fourth round the pattern has lost its teeth.
The diary strains belief. Magdalena records whole conversations verbatim and sometimes writes while events are still happening, which is a novelist's convenience rather than a diarist's habit.
The modern romance takes the familiar road. A grumpy local with a teasing nickname for the American, a confession interrupted at the key moment, and a third-act lie told to protect him. Readers will see each beat coming.
The climax is crowded. The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikic juggles a curse, a second piece of folk magic and a sentient house, and the finale stacks them all on one night. The resolution afterwards is tidier than the darkness earned.


Worth Your Shelf

The scares repeat, the islanders are thin and the love story in the present rarely surprises. But the house is an inspired narrator, Magdalena is a heroine worth meeting, and the folklore is handled with care and knowledge rather than borrowed for colour. The Haunting of Lavender House by Natalie Kikic is a confident debut that knows the oldest gothic truth: the walls remember what the family would rather forget.

Read it on a hot night with the windows open. Then check the keyhole.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept coming across this cover and found myself irresistibly drawn to it. If you’re into the aesthetic of a "Croatian creaky mansion surrounded by lavender fields, where the walls seem to whisper secrets of their previous owners," then congratulations! You’ve stumbled upon your soulmate property listing.

The gothic vibe of this story unfolds across dual timelines and multiple perspectives, primarily through Petra (in the present) and Magdalena (in the past), with interludes narrated by the house itself. Rooted in Croatian folklore, this tale revolves around the mora and a multigenerational curse that began in 1895. Back then, Magdalena was a healer who was careful not to be labeled a witch or sinner. She devoted herself to helping those in need, but such efforts often went unnoticed. When an opportunity arose to assist a prominent family on the island, she took it, but unfortunately, she fell in love and became pregnant, leading to her being ostracized by the very family she sought to help.

Fast forward decades later, and Petra finds herself on the same island, uncovering the surprising truth about her family ties to Lavender House. After her mother's death, Petra never knew she had relatives. This revelation sparks her curiosity, prompting her to explore her options. As she delves deeper, she begins experiencing nightmares, unearthing family secrets, and learning about Magdalena's tragic fate. It’s fascinating to see how the past shapes the present, and how Petra’s connection to Lavender House influences her life today.

On a personal note, I was astonished by how closely my language (Czech) resembles Croatian, with so many similar words and pronunciations! The narrators truly brought the story to life: Natasha Soundek, Carlotta Brentan, and David Desantos formed an excellent team. They captured the accents, atmosphere, and overall mood beautifully. I was genuinely impressed! Well done!

The author excelled in creating an immersive atmosphere. You can feel the unsettling gothic vibes and the grip of nightmares deep in your bones. The vivid descriptions made it easy to visualize the lavender fields and imagine their intoxicating scent. I loved learning about Croatian folklore and the haunting presence of the mora. The supernatural elements added depth, evoking emotions beyond mere fear. There’s also a touch of gothic romance as we explore the forbidden love Magdalena experiences and the social rejection that follows.

The story is haunting and suspenseful, albeit a bit slow in parts, but I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook. If you’re drawn to atmospheric settings, historical mysteries intertwined with the supernatural, and themes of prejudice and haunted inheritances, then this is definitely for you! The narrative examines the sense of belonging, family legacy, the persecution of women, love, betrayal, and the quest for identity and self-discovery. I absolutely loved the ending! It left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling! Seeing Petra finally find her place in the world and not be alone anymore was everything I could have hoped for. Lavender House has really evolved beyond just a setting; it’s become a captivating character in this genuinely eerie tale. It added so much depth to the story, making the whole experience even more memorable!

Thank you, TheHive, HTPBooks, ParkRow, HTP Audio, and NetGalley, for the gifted DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bookish.Helen · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Natalie Kikic delivers a stunning debut with a gothic, folktale, feminist horror mystery that also threads in a quiet romance. It is not my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Told through dual timelines and two female points of view, both connected by a house on the fictitious Croatian island of Tolba, plus a limited third perspective from the house itself, the novel explores family curses, female rage, grief, and the consequences of unending cycles of revenge. It sounds like a lot for one book, but Kikic pulls it off with an engaging writing style and a well crafted story.

Kikic and I are both second‑generation daughters of Yugoslavian immigrants who grew up in the immigrant diaspora. Her exploration of the split that comes from being separated from ancestral roots, the imposter syndrome that follows, and the longing for a home you know mostly through stories added an extra layer of resonance for me. The Croatian baking in this book was an added bonus of nostalgia for me, but I think all readers will find Petra’s journey in Croatia compelling.

The two storylines here follow young women who have suffered the loss of their mothers, Petra in the present day, and Magdalena whose story unfolds in 1895, both on the island of Tolba. Petra seeks to understand her identity, is drawn to Croatian culture, and begins to have disquieting and disturbing nightmares. Magdalena is a healer like her mother, and is both sought out by the islanders and reviled as a witch, depending on which is more convenient. After agreeing to help a prominent and prosperous family, she is drawn into a tragic love for Nikola while trying to help his mother in secret.

There is also an interwoven story about the mora, a female figure who takes lives and brings paralyzing nightmares to people on the island, exploring a Croatian folktale that becomes central to both storylines. Most of the horror aspect comes from this part of the novel.

This is a book review, so I will not get into the fascinating political symbolism woven throughout, but I was left with a feeling of awareness about the ways the former Yugoslavia was torn apart by ethnic rivalries and the quest to avenge past wrongs.

As a novel, this is a great read, and provides a wonderful and very satisfying epilogue. Despite some exaggerated language common to many contemporary romances, there is also beautiful lyrical writing. The uniqueness of this story and its various strengths earns it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

[BookishlySonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An atmospheric witchy story infused with Croatian folklore. We follow dual timelines, the historical path being walked by Magdalena in 1895 and Petra in 2026 as she attempts to learn more about her Croatian roots.

I think the less you know going in the better it will be because I do think it’s a very well written book that follows a very predictable path and going in blind allows for the story to unravel more organically. Once you read the synopsis it’s easy to follow the thread of where it will lead. I do find this to be typical of most witchy books with dual timelines but it never affects my enjoyment.

There is an aspect of this story that I think will bother some readers who require concrete explanations rather than leaving it up to be interpreted. It didn’t bother me but I can also say that removing the whole subplot wouldn’t have changed much and would have made for a tighter narrative.

Thank you to The Hive and Harlequin Audio for the ALC,
Natasha Soudek, Carlotta Brentan, David DeSantos did a great job with their respective characters. At one point they had to voice each other’s characters and I found they did a great job matching the original voice. The production was crisp and clear without any distracting mouth sounds.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Gothic that follows a very standard story structure and doesn’t fully take advantage of what could have been a uniquely rendered setting.

Because there are so many modern Gothics that use essentially the same story as this one, it needed something to set it apart to make it memorable and engaging. Unfortunately we don’t really get anything new in terms of plot or character here, and the pacing is uneven and the dialogue stilted.

It doesn’t help that there’s nothing truly scary about what’s happening here, partly because you know exactly where it’s going and partly because the atmosphere has been neglected.

What did hold my interest here was the Croatian folklore and the sense of place, which was mostly ignored but quite well rendered when it was addressed.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Camille Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not just saying this bc I picked this book for book club - but I really loved this book. It hit the sweet spot between fun fiction and mystical/spooky. It was written exceptionally well. It was endearing and had a good pace. I highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end to see how the lore was all researched and inspired. Having just come back from Croatia all of the references tied on so nearly to what I learned while i was there. I really enjoyed this book! Id recommend it - full heartedly.