The Witch Doctor’s Daughter

by Kathrina Mohd Daud

Longlisted for the 2021 Epigram Books Fiction Prize

Safiyya loves her charlatan parents, but after years of watching the heartbroken and grieving come to them for fake and futile spiritual aid, she has had enough. So she leaves the Water Village to stay with her mother's people at the longhouse in the jungle, where she learns traditional medicine, meets an enigmatic linguist and finds herself caring for an orphaned newborn. Along the way, Safiyya must discover what she truly wants from life.

Genres: Fiction, Ebooks, Adult, Asia, Literary Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2022

About the author

Kathrina Mohd Daud is the author of three novels: The Halfling King (2017), The Fisherman King (2020) and The Witch Doctor's Daughter (2022). She holds a PhD in Writing from the University of Manchester, and is an Assistant Professor in Universiti Brunei Darussalam's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, specialising in Bruneian literature and Creative Writing. She has published both creative and academic work, and is currently undertaking an English translation of the seminal Bruneian novel, Norsiah Gapar's Pengabdian (Submission, 1987), and co-editing a special collection of essays on Brunei's first feature film, Gema Dari Menara (Echoes from the Minaret, 1968). She works actively with local creative communities, is an art critic for The Scoop.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first piece of Bruneian fiction I've ever read and wow, what an introduction.

The Witch Doctor's Daughter is a rich, thoughtful portrayal of life in Kampung Ayer, a neighborhood built on stilts above the Brunei River. The story mostly revolves around the coming of age journey of protagonist Safiyya, a young woman whose parents deal in sometimes-fake, sometimes-real spiritual and supernatural encounters. Throughout the book, she's presented with multiple choices: life in Kampung Ayer versus the remote longhouse in the Bruneian jungle that her mother is from (and the distinctions the book makes between from and of were so heartwrenching), the passionate young teacher from a privileged background or the university researcher who knows the jungles and the river like the back of his hand, her dreams and ambition set against the possibility of becoming a wife and mother. Although the only similarity between Safiyya and myself is the fact that we're Southeast Asian, I deeply felt all the conflict she has about her parents, her duties and responsibilities, love, schooling, her future, and so much more. It was lovely to read about her carving her own path through all those possibilities.

This book somehow manages to be both uniquely Bruneian, such that reading it was an incredibly vivid experience, and also relatable on a deeply personal level to other Southeast Asians.

Honestly, my only criticism (and the reason for the star I knocked off the final rating) was that I felt some of the story beats were tackled in too brief a manner and deserved to be fleshed out even more.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book and I'm looking forward to reading more of Kathrina Mohd Daud's work!

[Akhmal · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received an advanced readers' copy from the publisher/author in exchange of an honest review]

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Kathrina really has a way with her words, her language. Her writing is so eloquent and tastefully done.

It's not fair to compare The Witch Doctor’s Daughter with The Fisherman King because they are simply unique in their own way despite both having set in Brunei. This time we follow Bintang (later named as Saffiya) converting to Islam, and learning more about her indigenous family's crafts while finding herself adopting a baby. Along the way she undergoes a spiritual journal of self-discovery.

This is a pretty chill coming-of-age read. Not necessarily adrenaline-fuelled but the way Kathrina writes about the jungle, the kampong ayer, the atmosphere of Brunei is just as exhilarating. You could almost feel like you're there in the scene. I also love the ambiguity and the mysticism she writes on, say, the interaction between religions and superstitions. That includes things we keep hearing growing up in Brunei but never question why they are what they are - like (p. 160) "Of jinn, sneaking in to spirit a baby away, to hide under monstrous bosoms or in shadowy otherworld." Things that we don't have answers to - and not necessarily need to be answered. Like what Kathrina writes (p. 29) "some things were best left undisturbed."

Overall, this is a gem <3 Thank you Kathrina for being the voice of contemporary english lit in Brunei. Can't help but feel a sense of pride being a Bruneian reading Kathrina's work.

[xyZeereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of jinns and nasi pusu!

As an 80s child who grew up in the jungles of Brunei (not literally but the country is 81% rainforest, so...), reading Kathrina Daud's The Witch Doctor's Daughter is like taking a pleasurable stroll down memory lane. From the bustling yet comforting Tamu Kianggeh to the intimate longhouse and historical Kampong Ayer, I felt like I was living and breathing the life of Safiyya, she of rebellious mind and strong heart who is lost but always tries to find a way.

Perhaps it is the subtle greenery on the cover, but I couldn't help feeling that reading this book is akin to leafing through the pages of every Bruneian who has ever lived dual lives; be it in the confines of a Sultanate that has the potential to expand beyond its means or in the claustrophobic metropolis on the other side of the world that constantly undermines your self worth and background but provides perpetual hope. Make of that what you will, but I felt it.

I can't help being personally biased when reviewing this evocative work of fiction by a fellow countrywoman; let's just say I'm forever a fangirl of Kathrina's work!

[Fadillah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Years later, after my parents gave up the pretence of being Muslim in anything but name, I came across a verse in the Qur'an. "And it is He who created the stars for you, that you may be guided by them in the deep darkness of land and sea.." I could have stayed Bintang, I thought.”
- The Witch Doctor’s Daughter by Kathrina Mohd Daud
.
.
I wonder why epigram did not use The Bomoh’s Daughter as the title of the book - just to capture that ‘Nusantara’ feels. The witch doctor doesnt really translate what ‘Bomoh’ did for the Malay community back then. They are guardians, protectors, healers, and even helped some villagers to even get an old good revenge. In this book, we were first introduced to Bintang or Safiyya - once her family converted to Islam. Both of her parents also changed their name from Bintang to Khadijah and Matthew to Umar (Eventually to Haji Umar once he completed his pilgrimage). Khadijah has an ability to see the spirit and it helped her talent in healing people. Both her parents has been an expert in healing illness using traditional method. Either it is due to Placebo effect or their method truly works, Safiyya has her own doubt about it. She refused to be part of her parents work and seek to forge her own path. What i like about this book is it does not shy away from stating how much religion infringed upon Malay identity. Islam - which by default is seen as universal religion but since it came from Saudi Arabia, the practice of arabization is starting to creep in. Name were being altered to arabic names once they decided to become a muslim. Although, it has been stated that its not necessary to change their names but many do to legitimize that they are muslims. Safiyya or Bintang also find out that she could have just use her old name once she encountered the verse that mentioned star in the Holy Quran (Context - ‘Bintang’ meant Star). Kathrina Mohd Daud still used ‘Kampung Ayer’ as the setting of her story but this time, highlighting the plight of school kids that lived there. They are unmotivated and lack of aspiration to actually be curious on what is waiting for them outside the area. The MC, Safiyya herself admitted that she did not finish her school and her O Level result will not be able to get her anywhere. Fate brought her to meet Amin, a privileged and oversea graduate teacher that stayed in Kampung Ayer. The class gap were subtly shown but Safiyya found comfort in him. On the other hands, Safiyya also befriended Jonah, A language researcher that came to the long house where her grandmother used to stay. Jonas was half Malay and Half White but Safiyya felt that they have similarity as Jonah felt detached with his mixed lineage while safiyya with her parent’s job. This is the first time i am rooting for both male characters in the book no matter whom Safiyya choose - as both are unproblematic and treat safiyya as their equal. Overall, 188 pages passed me by in 1 sitting and i was left wanting more. I believed I enjoyed The fisherman king more upon finishing this book because i believe safiyya characters could be developed more and her relationship with her parents could be added more at least 2 chapters. Still, this is an enjoyable reading and i will not regret recommend it to people.

[Suzesmum · Rating 2 out of 5]

132📱🇧🇳BRUNEI🇧🇳I had high hopes for this book after enjoying Daud’s first novel so much. Sadly, it didn’t do it for me. So much unrealised potential with the ingredients of great story: strong heroine, kooky but supportive parents, the getting of wisdom, learning ancient knowledge and two love interests but in the end I was disappointed and frustrated. The novel centres on a young woman Safiyya (or known by her Muslim name Bintang) who lives with her parents. Her father is a charlatan witchdoctor who converted to Isalm because it would be better for business. Whereas her mother has real powers where she can exorcise evil spirits, known as jinns. Safiyya didn’t inherit these mystical powers, but has a talent for creating healing teas from indigenous plants. She decides to leave home on a bit of a whim to go and live with her mother’s people in a traditional longhouse in the jungle. Now, this is where the book should get really interesting. We should have learnt all about the indigenous plants and their healing properties, the culture and traditions of the indigenous people but we don’t. I can’t help wonder if Daud didn’t do her research. Instead we are introduced to two love interests: Amin a wealthy school teacher who lives in her parents water village of Kampong Ayer. He falls madly in love with Safiyya but her chip on her shoulder holds her back. The other is Jonah, the tall and mysterious ethnolinguistic anthropologist. He keeps disappearing into the jungle for months on end, only to reappear with a baby, he named Adam, who he gives to Safiyya to raise! Gah! How to keep a young woman from gaining independence and achieving her ambitions! Seriously?! The feminist in me is livid 😠Hey, Jonah, next time you rescue a baby from an indigenous tribe who’s mother has died and who’s father abandons him, how about you look after him yourself? #🌏📚#readingworldtour2021 #readtheworld #worldliterature #readingworldliterature #reading #readingwomenchallenge #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #bookstagram #booklover #book #booknerd #bibliophile #travel #travelogue #fiction #nonfiction #nonfictionreads #travelbooks #ayearofreadingaroundtheworld #brunei

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book with magic just beneath the surface, or glanced at the edges of your vision. I loved the cultures of Brunei brought to life, water village, longhouse, 'town' and even University!

There are so many issues covered - conversion, poverty, loss, grief, love, relationships and finding purpose in life. It encompasses the supernatural to the scientific. Definitely something for everyone!

I loved the writing, and Safiyya's journey - I hope there is more!

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

this is the first time I've explored this side of the Malay world in English fiction and I'm so grateful for Kathrina for writing it. it's strange to be able to understand the references. it makes the reading process feel like breathing air — essential but imperceptible. opens up all sorts of thoughts, but I'll leave it at that for now.

the tale follows Bintang, or Safiyya, as she figures out what she wants out of her life. disenchanted by aspects of the work her parents engage in, she visits the longhouse her mother was from, picking up herbal medicine from its residents. there, she forms a friendship with Jonah, a linguist conducting fieldwork on dying tribal languages. other developments ensue and intertwine, which eventually lead her to discover the person she wants to be, if not in life, then in the moment. the following are my immediate (~1 day upon finishing it) impressions.

I like it. I like the way it reads, I like the details in the sentences, the images that are conjured. the characters, with all their flaws, are all likeable and relatable. it's easy to follow and kinda hard to put down. and the plot is really one you can't anticipate. with that, I can't help but feel that everything resolved itself almost too quickly, too neatly. maybe it's because I'm in Safiyya's predicament at this point in my life, and it all seems to pass so easily for her — although by no means were her experiences easy. idk.

the word that describes this book for me is "lukewarm". I don't dislike it, but I don't love it either, at least not loudly.

[David Soldier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent glimpse into choices that face us when we are young and a country I knew very little about. The descriptionof life, religion environs are captivating. Kathrina Mohd Daud is a poet and you will feel the environment as much as the emotion. A great read that was over far too quick.

[Jolin (twentycharm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I absolutely adored this book and would like to declare that it has greatly surpassed the already high expectations I had for it, having read and loved Kathrina Mohd Daud’s The Fisherman King in 2020.

At its core, The Witch Doctor’s Daughter is Safiyya’s journey of self-discovery, but it encapsulates much more than that. Topics like tension in familial relationships (particularly between parent and child), the coexistence of nature and mankind, religious faith, privilege, loss, and countless other subdivides.

I’m simply unable to articulate my feelings for this heavily impactful story, so I will leave my review here, but please pick this book up! I strongly recommend it to all of you; there is something to take away for anyone and everyone who reads this.

Thank you again to @epigrambooks for my copy and @katdakoo for this work of art.

“Above us, the moon is rising; below us, the earth is humming. We humans—we are only in-between.”

[Nicole Bergen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story from the first author from Brunei I’ve ever read. It’s so much fun and I loved the characters and the SE Asian herbalism. I’ll definitely have to read The Fisherman King now.

[Jee Koh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A richly observed coming-of-age tale. If the plot is quite simple and straightforward, I still like the slight twist of having the adoption of a child, and not the choice of a husband, be the trigger for maturation. It's a different take on the age-old marriage plot.

[Swati · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Kathrina Mohd Daud’s ‘The Witch Doctor’s Daughter’ Safiyya’s parents earn their living through spiritual practices that incorporate the supernatural. Safiyya finds this to be mostly performative and hovering between belief and fraud. As she grows older, she is faced with many choices. Should she choose the conventional path and marry or pursue higher education and choose a path that may or may not include marriage? Should she continue to remain with her parents and be complicit in their actions or break away and create an independent life? These kinds of questions start building up as accumulating pressures, each one sharpening Safiyya’s awareness of who she might become.

Daud’s lyrical writing excels in its vivid descriptions of Brunei’s neighbourhoods and in highlighting emotional nuance. The distinction the novel draws between being from a place and being of it is particularly striking, lending real weight to Safiyya’s internal conflicts. Her uncertainty about belonging within her family and community is quite palpable. While Safiyya’s circumstances are specific, her anxieties mostly stem from Asian cultural expectations around duty, education, and aspiration, which feel familiar.

What makes ‘The Witch Doctor’s Daughter’ particularly compelling is how confidently it moves among multiple registers like the supernatural and the scientific. I liked that supernatural belief systems and rational inquiry are allowed to coexist without putting one down. Daud also lets themes like religious conversion, poverty, grief, and loss jostle with each other without making them collapse into moral certainty. Instead they give us an idea of the complexity of Safiyya’s world.

At the same time, I also felt that because these themes barely skim the surface, they remain largely as a backdrop without ever offering any concrete spaces. Similarly, the brevity of certain narrative arcs involving emotional loss and transformation move more quickly than I would have liked them to.

Even so, The Witch Doctor’s Daughter remains a thoughtful, assured debut.

This was my first pick of the year for the #readanewcountry challenge and I’m happy to have found this book!

[isabelle ‘izzy’ kratz:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was not what i expected, but it had a number of lines that really moved me, and i empathized heavily with where the main character is at in her life: feeling a little lost, trying to find her purpose and place in the world.

i loved when safiyya realized how her mother and father compliment each other and how their relationship functions: "my father, firm, telling me he was taking my mother on holiday, and i'd have to look after myself for a bit. he had been worried about her. not for the first time, i marvel at how different my parents are, my pragmatic, theatrical father with his delight in himself and his tricks, and my quiet, still mother who only wants to help. what holes do they fill for each other that allow them to live together, to love each other? is that what love is, not a sameness of personality, but an understanding of spirit?"

safiyya figuring out why she's restless and how amir is comfortable and a safe love, but not the love for her, especially after he tells her that she should give up adam, even though it comes from a place of love, but that decision tells saffiya everything she needs to know about the future of the relationship. "it is a desire to be more, more than this longhouse, more than tea, more than myself. the itch is a child, adam-aged, maybe, a feeling that all i am is not enough yet for what i want to offer him. there is more, and i must reach for it, i must understand what that more is."

and when safiyya talks to her father to try and understand why he does what he does: "that you are looking for consistency, but the human heart has never been consistent. we can love something even when it is bad for us, terrible for us, kills us, harms us. we can believe and not believe. we can hold the truth in our hands and still year for falsehood."

and safiyya's emotional reckoning: "all this talk of roads, of paths. straight when the world is curved. i think of my first name, nestled in the sky. it has been a long time since i have reached for it."

[Jay M. Johar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of Kathrina’s book I finished in an afternoon. Compared to The Fisherman King, this is a much more grounded, slower story with only very light supernatural elements. The focus is very much on the coming of age of protagonist Safiyya, who still rues her childhood conversion to Islam leading to her putting her birthname Bintang away.

Set mostly either in Kampung Ayer or a remote longhouse in the jungles of Brunei, it’s an incredible feeling to again feel such familiarity with everything from the Bruneian macrocosm to its tiniest details. Being a person with Kampung Ayer heritage and having taught in a school whose student demographic had a significant Kampung Ayer population, much of what Kathrina said about its socioeconomic problems and situations rings especially true to me.

I found the characters to be quite richly described and multidimensional, effortlessly representing so many different aspects and cultural idiosyncrasies of the Bruneian people without resorting to unnuanced stereotypes.

Because of this, I find myself subconsciously translating the dialogue into Bruneian Malay. Unfortunately this left me wishing that more of the Bruneian Malay language was used in the dialogue. It’s very jarring that everything about the book felt so distinctly Bruneian except the spoken dialogue.

Overall, I really enjoyed the relatively gentle tone of this book, and Kathrina’s use of language is always a delight to read. Detailed, descriptive, but clear and elegant. Beware however, as it is very different to The Fishmerman King, both in genre and pacing.

[Siti · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, it is hard for me to dislike the story. From the title of the book, what I understand is that, although her mother Khadijah is a witch - having a spiritual career related to jinn - it also invites her daughter Safiyya to find a love life related to medicines. Just how both fields are connected and in harmony.

Throughout the book, the first lesson I have learned is about the importance of retrieving a lost language from Doctor Jonah.

Besides that, the thought-provoking part of adopting an orphaned baby over the marriage with a teacher, Amin, and having their own children, leading to the advice of Khadijah towards Safiyya after their break-up from the Quran. To reflect how this verse relates to her situation.

Third lesson is that, although you are not satisfied with your parents, they are still there for support. For instance, when Safiyya wants to go to the longhouse for soul-searching and the break-up with Amin.

There are other lessons as well, whether it is in her career or her love life. Twenty-one years old is indeed a ripe age for self-discovery. In a nutshell, it is worth the read.

[Zuliana Masri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous story ... I can't help but be invested in all the characters - down to Gerard and Make Timinah. What happened to them?? What about Uncle Ben and Jonah? When I fully expected a whole sequel based entirely on the honeymoon, I knew it was a point of no return.

The lushness of the jungle drew me in - I could feel the humid but cool atmosphere, the trees that seem to hide more than the eyes can see. Unlike Safiyya, I felt more connection to it than I do with Kampong Ayer, on account of me "being made for land".

Overall, it was lovely to see words like jinns, education, scholarships and herbal pastes leaping off the pages, amidst stories of exorcism versus lawyers, doctors and teachers, markers of the modern world, perhaps incongruous to some but perfectly congruous in my world.

Can't wait for more.

[Aziratul Shafiqah · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5/5)

Very slow paced slice of life story. Compared to the author's other work, this one is a very cozy read.

I think the biggest appeal to me is the fact I know the places talked about and I know the culture, the religion and the superstitions mentioned. The fact that they're familiar makes me relate to these characters and situations more.

There is also a love triangle (or corner!) in this book and as much as I am not a big fan of romance, this book had me screaming at 9PM and rooting for one of the male leads. This just shows how the characters are just greatly written.

Speaking of writing, the author has never failed to make beautiful descriptions about Brunei. Even in the eyes of someone who hasn't been to these places would feel like they are there.

A beautifully written piece, would read it again.

[Diana Ionescu-Tudor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hidden gem.

Seeing the very limited options I had for Brunei for my #readaroundtheworld challenge, I was mentally preparing myself to read a book that I would not enjoy.

However, after a bit of research, I found Kathrina Mohd Daud and I can only say that I am thankful that I started the challenge this year, after this book was published in English. I enjoyed it a lot - it is an easy, refreshing read which is hard to put down. The storyline is easy to follow, while it also pictures a bit of Brunei.

[QB · Rating 5 out of 5]

More moving and personal than its predecessor, TWDD's captures the tension of being caught in between two worlds - of faith, of class and ultimately between two men who embody Saffiya's own inner conflict.

It's wonderful to see uniquely Bruneian stories on the page, but at the same time the writing explores themes which are universal.

I hope Daud's work finds the wider audience it deserves, she has done much to elevate Bruneian literature.

Should be optioned for a Netflix series!

[nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

wholesome…love the topics touched on here even if it tended to be almost too brief, and it was all written so beautifully. might have resonated with it more since i’m the same age as safiyya with the same anger and guilt and initial helplessness in regards to future plans, but it was lovely seeing her find her calling! gives me hope that i could find mine someday soon too <33

[Maria do Socorro Baptista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A história de uma garota que, em busca por si mesma, encontra suas origens, aprende sobre sua cultura tradicional, e vai além disso, incorporando conhecimentos ancestrais ao conhecimento científico. Ao descobrir quem é e o que quer, a jovem, convertida ao Islamismo por ordens do pai, encontra sua fé, seu amor, e constitui sua família. Muito bom.

[Atika Zamimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the story! I wished it could be a little bit more beefy, there's a lot of things to explore from all aspects of the main character's life. Some things are quite vague (like the romance between her and a potential partner). Overall I enjoyed the book and the topics in it.

[Azim Daud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to the Brunei-verse and looking forward to more stories from this author.

[ranjita_dilraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written book. The rich imagery transports one to the rainforests in Brunei. It's a good read with a feel-good element to it.

[Miza Razanah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[aisah c.]

We can love something even if it’s terrible for us, kills us, harms us. We can believe and not believe. We can hold the truth in our hands and still yearn for falsehood.

[nay]

Perhaps some things needed to be felt, not healed.