NECTAR - Sounds of Soft Things Breaking: A Literary Fiction Journey Through Memory, Mystery, Trauma, and the Dark Secrets of Intimacy That Bind Us

When 22-year-old Ayla wakes up in St. Luke’s Hospital in Thessaloniki after a devastating car accident, her body is broken, her mind in fragments—and her past erased. The doctors say she should be dead. Her parents say someone named Selen was with her. The police say there’s an ongoing investigation. But Ayla remembers none of it.

There is no body. No explanation. Only silence, secrets, and a name that refuses to settle into meaning.

As Ayla struggles through pain, trauma, and memory loss, she begins to ask questions no one wants answered. What really happened the night of the accident? The police hover around Ayla, asking questions she can’t answer, but no one tells her what they know. And who, exactly, is Selen?

Then there’s Pappi, a man she meets at the hospital, and who stays out of things that aren’t his business. Desperate to find the truth, Ayla ropes him into the search.

NECTAR: Sounds of Soft Things Breaking is a literary fiction masterpiece that blends intense emotional depth with the dark allure of mystery.

Follow Ayla, a young woman recovering from a near-fatal accident, as she grapples with memory loss, a missing sister, and a complex relationship with her powerful father. In this gripping story, mystery books enthusiasts will find themselves captivated by the fragmented narrative, where nothing is quite what it seems. As Ayla’s journey unfolds, the line between reality and imagination blurs, leaving readers questioning what is true and what is fabricated.

With raw explorations of psychological trauma, mystery thriller suspense, and the complexities of intimacy, this novel offers an unforgettable reading experience. Perfect for fans of murder mystery books, mystery thriller books, and those seeking something deeply introspective, NECTAR will pull you into its emotional whirlwind.

Set against the haunting backdrop of Thessaloniki, Greece, the novel touches on themes of addiction, violence, and the female experience. Ayla’s quest for answers unfolds through poetic prose, capturing the delicate balance between fiction and fractured reality. If you're searching for new fiction releases 2025, this is a book that explores the depths of trauma and self-discovery.

Whether you're drawn to mystery books for adults or fiction books that challenge conventional storytelling, NECTAR will leave you reflecting long after the final page. Perfect for fans of complex, literary narratives, this novel is a must-read for anyone seeking an emotionally charged, thought-provoking journey.

Kanina Krisalis is a Balkan-born author who graduated from the American University in Bulgaria and completed a creative writing program at Boston University.

Her debut novel, NECTAR. Sounds of Soft Things Breaking, is a dark, genre-defying exploration of memory, disappearance, and the slow unraveling of identity.

She divides her time between Sofia and Thessaloniki and writes under the pen name Kanina Krisalis to let the stories speak for themselves.

“Nectar is a gripping page-turner that pulls you in from the first page and never lets go. Each chapter unveils new clues and dark secrets, stoking your curiosity and keeping you guessing long into the night. The final revelation is a gut-punch twist that flips the whole story on its head. ”

IORDAN MATEEV, Publisher of FORBES Bulgaria