I was sent an advanced reader copy of Witch Daughter by Tanaz Bhathena by the publisher, and while the premise sounded incredibly interesting, I could not possibly have anticipated the work of absolute art that landed in my hands.
Witch Daughter is a reimagining of a story from the Shahnameh, an eleventh-century epic about the ancient rulers of Iran. It creates a world in which Tahmineh, the maligned woman without whom the story could not exist, is the main character, and blends Persian history, Zoroastrian myth, and a tragic story of love, magic, and sacrifice.
Tahmineh, Princess of Samangan, has spent her life at her father’s court under swarming accusations that she’s a witch. Everyone from maids to her stepmother, the Queen, treats her as if she is dangerous.
With her father ailing, her position at court is at risk, so she turns to drastic measures to secure her safety in the form of a prophecy. The vision shows her a husband, a fearsome warrior, whom she is destined to marry. This marriage would surely secure her place, as no one would dare turn against the wife of Rostam, Iran’s most powerful general.
Just when Tahmineh thinks her problems might be solved, another prophecy shatters all her plans. A father and son lay dead on a battlefield, and Tahmineh will do everything in her power to stop it from coming to pass.
Witch Daughter uses characters from a story that is nearly a thousand years old, but creates a new perspective for them, focusing on Tahmineh as a woman, a wife, and a mother. While Rostam and their son Sohrab are still important characters, the focus is entirely on Tahmineh, her story, and her motivations.
All of the significant characters in this story are entirely imperfect. They make bad choices, do things that feel cruel, or stupid, or motivated by wild emotion, but they are written in such a way that still draws empathy from the readers, which is particularly true for the main character, Tahmineh.
How else did you make a man into a legend if you did not skew the truth a little?
The prose in this book is absolutely gorgeous, weaving all the included stories and myths together beautifully with language that is so well crafted it’s astounding. All at once, this book is sensual and subtle, sharp and strong, and heartwrenchingly emotional.
I flipped him on his back and captured his laughter with my lips, imagining it encased within me for one glittering moment like a butterfly in amber.
In Witch Daughter, the story itself is infused with a wonderful kind of drama, the kind that would win it an Oscar if this were a film. Every scene is intentional, and every piece of this story leaves an impression.
Like so many myths and their reimaginings, this story has a message, which essentially boils down to: don’t fuck with fate, or risk walking into your own trap. Far beyond that message, though, is a fundamental theme of womanhood, motherhood, and sacrifice that will stay with readers long after turning the last page.
Temptress. Conniver. Lover. Liar.
Now, I don’t deny I am these things. What woman isn’t? For that matter, what man — what hero worth his salt — does not tempt, connive, love, and lie during his lifetime?
Witch Daughter by Tanaz Bhathena releases September 22, 2026. I highly recommend heading to your favorite bookstore that day and purchasing this book immediately. This is a book I know I will read time and time again, and recommend to everyone and anyone.
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