Otac kamenoga srca

Otac kamenoga srca (The Father with a Heart of Stone) is a novel by Croatian author Ivka Ilić-Kovačević, based on a true story. It was published in digital format in 2020 and in print in 2021. At the heart of the work lies the poignant story of a young girl named Ivona, marked by the loss of her mother, her father's actions, and a long search for familial love.

Ivona is only four years old when she loses her beloved mother. Her brother, two years her senior, also faces loss and uncertainty. Although kind people offer them the chance for a more peaceful childhood, the past continues to shape their lives. Sudden events and the revelation of family secrets disrupt their hard-won sense of security.

The relationship between father and daughter holds a central place in the novel. The title symbolizes the father's emotional coldness and the consequences of his decisions, which deeply affect the young girl. In contrast stands the memory of her mother, who remains a source of comfort and inner strength for Ivona.

As she grows up, Ivona strives to overcome painful experiences, pursue an education, and build a life of her own. A significant turning point comes with her meeting her sister Maja, whom she had not known previously. Their bond paves the way for a new kind of closeness and understanding.

The novel explores themes of parental loss, family secrets, emotional neglect, growing up, forgiveness, and human kindness. At its core lies the question of the extent to which parental actions can shape a child's destiny, as well as whether an individual can break the inherited cycle of suffering.

The Stone-Hearted Father is, above all, a family saga and a story of resilience, the need for belonging, and the possibility of forgiveness, even after profound disappointments.