Novel set in the DOLOMITES
GIVEAWAY: 3 copies of Istria Black
2nd November 2025
GIVEAWAY: 3 copies of Istria Black by Mike Downey, set mainly in CROATIA.
UK Entry Only
Istria Black by Mike Downey:
Book 2 in the Istria series (Istria Black can be read as a standalone)
James Joyce lived in Pula, but this master of the pen did not dedicate a single literary work to the beautiful Croatian peninsula of Istria. His compatriot Mike Downey corrects this injustice with his trilogy “Three Colours Istria,” in which family mysteries and secrets from the past are unravelled against the backdrop of significant world events.
In “Istria Black,” three timelines intertwine, revealing the fate of a Croatian family during three turbulent historical periods. The scholar Pepi and his beloved Lydia try to find their way to each other during World War II, when the fascist Independent State of Croatia was created. A path that takes them to Argentina. Pepi’s nephew, the partisan Nino, and his wife Faida, faithful to their ideals, which will later be covered with oblivion, work to build a new Yugoslavia during Tito’s time. And in modern Croatia, Nino’s grandson Marco and his friends encounter resurgent fascist movements and realize that the wounds of the past can easily bleed again.
“Istria Black” tells a story of hatred that sprouts generously in wounded hearts, and of its eternal rival—forgiveness. It is a novel about the different incarnations of a beautiful country tormented by human mistakes and about people’s desire to believe in something greater than themselves.
HOW TO ENTER
- You need to be a member of TripFiction. Simply go to tripfiction.com and scroll down to the JOIN NOW tab. And we do check!
- Just let us know in the Comments below by midnight, 15 November 2025, which part(s) of modern Croatia you would like to visit
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Winners:
Philatel
sam arnold
Kelos
I like city breaks, so definitely Zagreb.
I’d like to go to Split
Dubrovnik
The whole country of Croatia sounds amazing.
Split and the islands for me. Absolutely beautiful.
I like visiting National Parks, so I would go to Plitvice Lakes to see its lakes and waterfalls.
I would like to visit the capital Zagreb to see what it has to offer in terms of culture, museums, sights and nightlife.
Zadar would be top of my spots to visit as I’ve heard it has amazing sunsets and a relaxed, chilled atmosphere.
I would like to visit Dubrovnik for it’s famous medieval city walls and beautiful coastal views.
I’d like to visit Split.
As a fan of the wonderfulCroatian places & people, I’d love to revisit Dubrovnik & the surrounding coast.
Split would be nice to see
I know so little about Croatia, so I guess Zagreb would be the place to start
Croatia is a country I know so little about which is a very good reason to visit and explore it all at my own pace. If only time and budget allowed. As usual I will do the next best thing and use my passion for books to escape to other countries.
Any – especially near to the water!
I’d love to go back to Brač – the view from the top of Vidova Gora is breathtaking!
Dubrovnik and around, never been
Dubrovnik because that’s where Game of Thrones was filmed in places!
Croatian Adriatic Island of Hvar
Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik
any I can drive to, too scared to fly
Plitvice Lakes
Zagreb
Korcula or Zada
I would like to visit Split
I would like to visit Pula
Dubrovnik
I love Dubrovnik but I’d like to go to Split
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
I would like to vsit the Plitvice Lakes National Park as it looks beautiful
I’d like to see any of Croatia however ive heard amazing things about Pula
I would love to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park
Dubrovnik
Have been to Croatia a couple of times, but would love to visit Pula 🙂
I would like to visit Split but I have never had the opportunity to visit Croatia.
I’d like to go to Rovinj
I’d love to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park — the waterfalls and turquoise lakes look absolutely breathtaking! Croatia’s natural beauty is so captivating.
I’d like to visit Split and also see some of the waterfalls and lakes, they look stunning.
Anywhere – have not had the chance to visit Croatia yet!
I’d love to visit split and zadar especially the Sea Organ
Krka
Dubrovnik
Croatia looks beautiful generally but probably Zagreb would be my choice to visit!
Dubrovnik
I would love to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park
Dubrovnik or Zagreb
Dubrovnik
It would be wonderful to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park
I would like to return to Pula, wonderful place.
I have visited Croatia 7 times now, I love it so much!
However, I have never visited inland Croatia & would love to go to Zagreb, if I could be torn away from the Adriatic for long enough!
Got to be the centre of Zagreb!
Zagreb
Dubrovnik