The River’s Daughter A dark romantic fantasy of forbidden love, feminine rebellion, and river magic—rooted in South Asian folklore. She let the river take her fully, blue markings blooming beneath her skin as ancient waters whispered of memory and change. There was no ribbon in her hair now—only loose strands, wild in the breeze… In the town of Jaraan, women are bound by stillness: trained to be silent, obedient, and contained. Nineteen-year-old Sahira Raazaan has always been the perfect Covenant daughter. Silent. Still. Her future arranged, her desires contained. She's betrothed to the town's golden boy, expected to fulfill the life laid out for her. But when she meets the gaze of a forbidden stranger, a river-marked musician from the Mehr’an people, something ancient stirs. Water moves at her touch. Blue markings bloom beneath her skin. The river begins to speak to her. Sahira begins to unravel the truth about her mother’s disappearance, and about the long-suppressed power hidden in her own blood. With her marriage ceremony fast approaching and her family’s honor on the line, Sahira must choose: the life she was raised for, or the truth buried in her blood. The river’s pull, and the stranger’s touch, promise a freedom she never dared imagine. Some currents cannot be contained forever... Inspired by the legend of Mirza Sahiba, The River’s Daughter is a lush, spellbinding tale of forbidden love, feminine rebellion, river magic, and reclaiming your voice. Perfect for readers who love: ✔ forbidden love and arranged marriage tension ✔ morally gray, river-marked outsiders ✔ sensual awakening and high-stakes romance ✔ Punjabi folklore, cultural fantasy, and magical realism ✔ mythic retellings, coming-of-age rebellion, and feminist themes This is a story for readers who crave slow-burn romance with rich emotional payoff, forbidden attraction between soul-tied strangers, and heroines caught between duty and desire. With elements of magical realism, river-based elemental magic, and a mythic retelling of South Asia’s (Punjabi) tragic love story Mirza Sahiba, this novel blends cultural fantasy with feminist awakening. This standalone romantic fantasy is steeped in atmosphere—moonlit rituals, haunting river dreams, and the pulse of a love that defies tradition. If you enjoy the lush prose of Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus), the romantic ache of Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler’s Wife), or the mythic atmosphere of Madeline Miller (Circe, The Song of Achilles), The River’s Daughter belongs on your shelf. Fans of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Power, The Wrath and the Dawn, and South Asian folktales will be swept away by this lyrical, emotionally rich debut. The River’s Daughter is a dark romantic fantasy—filled with magic, myth, sensuality, and revolution. A perfect read for fans of forbidden love stories, coming-of-age journeys, and lyrical feminist fantasy. Abigail Smith Reedsy A twist on South Asian folklore that explores the dangers of obedience, as well as the unlocking of one's true self. Synopsis The River's Daughter is a mythic tale of forbidden love, resistance, and river magic, inspired by the Punjabi legend of Mirza-Sahiba. In the town of Jaraan, women are bound by stillness. Nineteen-year-old Sahira Raazaan has always been the perfect Covenant daughter. Silent, obedient, contained. She's betrothed to the town's golden boy, expected to fulfill the life laid out for her. But when she meets the gaze of a forbidden stranger, a river-marked musician of the Mehr'an people, something ancient stirs. Water moves at her touch. Blue markings bloom beneath her skin. The river begins to speak to her. Sahira begins to unravel the truth about her mother's disappearance, and about the long-suppressed power in her own blood. With her marriage ceremony fast approaching and her family's honor on the line, Sahira must choose: the life she was raised for, or the truth buried in her blood. The river's pull, and the stranger's touch, promise a freedom she never dared imagine. Some currents cannot be contained forever... Inspired by South Asian folklore, The River's Daughter is a lush, lyrical tale of forbidden love, feminine rebellion, and river magic... and the courage to reclaim your voice. The River's Daughter is a good novel that delves into the depths of South Asian folklore with a protagonist who must choose between the life she knows and the life that is meant for her. Sahira has been betrothed to Tavin, the boy she has crushed on since her younger years who has just come back from travels abroad. He also happens to be a horrible person, but social conventions dictate Sahira is quiet and obedient, as women are expected to be in her town. When a Mehr'an visitor takes a marked interest in Sahira, she must face the truth about her identity, her mother's disappearance, and her place in society. Will she follow the river's calling, or will she stay with all she has known? The writing style of this novel is wo