Nevini

At the heart of this work is the neglected rural microcosm of Banija Krajina – a literal border, not a political one – where new life is born from the ashes of burned houses, and history is passed down in whispers or in silence.

The story follows generations of broken people: children bear the burden of absent, despotic fathers, inheriting the guilt and trauma of wars, exodus and returns. Haler explores the psyches of women condemned to solitude, where intimate suffering is intertwined with collective oblivion. The language is poetically broken into “verse” passages, provocative and courageous, with an emphasis on the female perspective – like Lila Ceruolla from Ferrante’s novels, but on the ruins of Banija.

The novel is a sovereign establishment of Haler as a leading voice of Central South Slavic prose: impressive maturity, fascinating style and deep psychological analysis. Without revisionism, but with a focus on individual trauma, the work calls for confronting one’s heritage. The award-winning author, architecture student, and media contributor proves here that a new generation is ready to uncover the hidden stories of the border.