Witch Daughter

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.

"A beautifully rendered mixture of magic and the Middle East." --Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of My Sister's Keeper

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.

"A bold love story." --Lauren Kate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fallen series

"An aching, timeless, and lush tale." --Samantha Sotto Yambao, New York Times bestselling author of The Elsewhere Express

Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 09/22/2026
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.04lbs
Size: 9.18h x 6.32w x 1.12d
ISBN: 9781538780862


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 07/01/2026 pg. 42
Booklist 08/01/2026

About the Author
Tanaz Bhathena is an award-winning Zoroastrian author of contemporary and fantasy fiction. Her books include Of Light and Shadow, 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 short stories have appeared in various publications including The Hindu, Blackbird, Witness, and Room. Born in India and raised in Saudi Arabia and Canada, Tanaz lives in Mississauga, Ontario, with her family.