Witch Daughter

by Tanaz Bhathena

In her adult debut, award-winning author Tanaz Bhathena expertly weaves a tale of love and loss in ancient Persia with her take on the timeless tragedy of Tahmineh, a temptress, a witch, a victim, or, perhaps, a woman trying her hardest to protect her loved ones.

Rumors of witchcraft follow Princess Tahmineh like a storm cloud, making it impossible for her to secure herself a marriage or any kind of future. With her father, the king’s, health in question, it becomes shockingly clear how desperate her situation will soon become in his absence. If she doesn’t act now, she will quickly find herself destitute and desperate.

Tahmineh seeks out a prophecy, from which she learns she will fall in love with a warrior of great renown named Rostam and bear him a son. However, she is warned this match is a dangerous one for her. Heedless of the warnings, Tahmineh boldly orchestrates a meeting with Rostam and the two develop a close friendship and ultimately fall in love and marry. At the peak of her joy, Tahmineh gives birth to Sohrab, Rostam’s son.

All too soon, Tahmineh learns the tragic second part of the prophecy. Father and son will meet as enemies in battle and one will die at the hand of the other. What follows is a mother’s desperate attempt to undo the threads of fate and try to protect her son at all costs.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Retellings, Adult

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 22, 2026

About the author

Tanaz Bhathena is an award-winning Zoroastrian author of contemporary and fantasy fiction. Her young adult books include Hunted by the Sky, which won the White Pine Award and the Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize, and The Beauty of the Moment, which won the Nautilus Gold Award for Young Adult Fiction. Her acclaimed debut, A Girl Like That, was named a Best Book of the Year by numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, Seventeen, and The Times of India. Her debut adult fantasy, Witch Daughter, will be published in fall 2026 by Grand Central.


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Reviews

[Tanaz]

Dear reader,

The story of Tahmineh comes from the Shahnameh or the Book of Kings by Ferdowsi—an eleventh-century epic poem about the kings and queens of ancient Iran. Growing up in a Zoroastrian household, I often heard stories and legends from this poem, including the tragic tale of Rostam and Sohrab. When I read the Shahnameh as an adult, however, I was more intrigued by Tahmineh—Rostam’s wife and Sohrab’s mother—the woman without whom their story would have not existed.

This novel is the result of that intrigue.

Much like the Shahnameh, which blurs the lines between history and mythology, Witch Daughter is not meant to be a true representation of any historical period. In the nature of retellings—or rather, reimaginings—it intertwines elements of Persian history and Zoroastrian mythology to offer a different perspective on a much-loved story about the great heroes and heroines of Iranian literature.

I hope you enjoy it.

~Tanaz

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mythology retellings hook me every time, especially when told from the perspective of a character not originally taking center stage. Tanaz Bhathena gave voice to Tahmineh, who saw a heartbreaking prophecy about her husband and son and vowed to do all she could to prevent it from coming true. With incredible world building and desperate stakes, it was so easy to fall into Tahmineh’s life. To feel for her. To see the reasons she made the choices she did. Witch Daughter had me flipping the pages, every part of me tense as I neared the end. Such a beautifully told story, rich with mythology and magic, prophecies and love.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch Daughter immediately called to me, for I am both Persian and Zoroastrian by birth. That said, unlike many of my relatives, I grew up learning very little about the legends. Yes, I have heard of the tale of Rostam and Sohrab, but more in name and passing, than about the tragic ending of their story. As such, I began my read of Witch Daughter with relatively fresh eyes.

Bhathena’s expansion and exploration of the lives of the three characters, centering the novel on Tahmineh’s perspective, allowed for deep reflection on the lengths to which one will go in order to protect a loved one, much less a child. While I did not connect with Tahmineh as much as I expected to (and wanted to), I was struck by the inevitable conclusion of the tale, hoping for hope’s sake that the outcome would change. With that said, I was a bit underwhelmed by the manner in which the novel skimmed over Sohrab and Tahmineh’s fates, for I felt they deserved more attention and respect. So too was the focus of the epilogue an interesting choice, given the fact that the character had merely a blip role in the novel itself. Perhaps this was on purpose, seeing how many novels of a similar time period chose narrators with little to no importance in the action.

The rich imagery and narration, particularly in the scenes with Zari and Bushyasta, was what truly drew me in— that and the ease that Bhathena’s writing style lent to the complexities of the world she created. I found myself wholly ingrossed in the magical elements too, though a bit more interaction with the characters of the realms might have provided a better understanding of the powers each one possessed and their place in the world.

With a relatively quick pace and narrow focus, Witch Daughter felt like it was but one installment in a wider series, one which would explore the different kingdoms, or rather, the different magical beings and how they interact with the mortal world. I hope Bhathena considers penning another novel in this universe, for it is one about which I very much wish to read more.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the privilege to read this ARC!

[Mary Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a long shared Persian tale - Tahmineh is a princess desperate to secure a marriage for her own safety. In seeking out a prophecy, she learns about her future husband, a great warrior from a neighboring country. She also learns they will have a son. However she is told to be cautious, that this will only end in heartbreak. But she pursues the man and is married. She realizes, too late, that the prophecy of heartbreak is real. As the story unfolds, we see a mother doing everything in her power to save her son.

This was a whirlwind of a story. Once I started reading I had a hard time stopping. I love that the author took an old story about a father and son and instead focused on the woman that put the pieces in motion. I enjoyed the morally ambiguous nature of Tahmineh. The growth we saw with her character was excellent. And the ending was better than I could have expected.
This is an excellent read if you’re looking to expand your reading to include other cultures and backgrounds.

I did struggle understanding the magic system, but that could easily be due to not having a better understanding of Persian myths and folklore.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witch Daughter by Tanaz Bhathena is a compelling and atmospheric novel that blends magic, identity, and resilience into an engaging story. Bhathena crafts a vivid world where the supernatural feels grounded in real emotions, and the main character’s journey is both captivating and relatable.

The writing is immersive, with strong pacing that keeps the story moving while still allowing space for character development. The protagonist’s struggles with power, belonging, and self-acceptance add depth, making her easy to root for. There’s also a rich sense of tension throughout, as the stakes steadily build.

At times, certain plot elements feel familiar within the genre, and a few moments could have been explored more deeply. Even so, the emotional core and the vivid storytelling carry the novel forward in a satisfying way.

Overall, Witch Daughter is an engaging and thoughtful read that earns four stars for its strong atmosphere, character-driven narrative, and magical intrigue.