Witch Daughter is a story about motherhood, about prophecy, and taking our future in our hands. It reminds me of Kaikeyi and explores perception, love, and the dangers of being right. Keep reading this book review of Witch Daughter for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Witch Daughter explores the different roles of motherhood. Of the burden of protector, of making yourself into a villain, making hard decisions for the right reasons, and being an ally, a quiet and safe refuge in a storm. Witch Daughter meets fate head on in a world of misconceptions. Tahmineh is dubbed seductress, witch, daughter, enemy. It’s a mark on her reputation in a world where reputation is everything, social capital deflates like a hot air balloon. At the same time, Witch Daughter examines how the labels of witchery are excuses for fearmongering, attempts to make someone smaller, and stabs at ways to remove power.
Witch Daughter explores not only Tahmineh’s identity as a mother, but also as a daughter as she navigates her own relationships and duties. The gratitude, but also the feelings of resentment and misunderstanding. Witch Daughter has power enemies to be made and the knowledge that with power and acclaim comes attention. Would we rather meet our future head on or decide that what passes is what is meant to be? Witch Daughter is full of the promises and protections we try to give to our children. And a life spent trying to run or outrun prophecies. Find Witch Daughter on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.