About the book
Set in the sensual richness of India, Shobhan Bantwal's gripping new novel asks: Where can a woman turn when her life's greatest blessing is seen as a curse?
It's a girl! For most young couples, news of their unborn child's gender brings joyful anticipation. Not so for Isha Tilak and her husband, Nikhil. They already have a beloved daughter, but Nikhil's parents, hard-wired to favor male children above all, coldly reject little Priya at every turn. Vain and selfish, they see female grandchildren as burdens, and would just as soon never meet the one growing in Isha's belly. Even the obstetrician agrees, going so far as to suggest the unthinkable, throwing Nikhil into a rage--and changing Isha's life forever. . .
When Nikhil is discovered brutally murdered, Isha is convinced it had something to do with his reaction to the doctor's hideous \"solution\" to their problem. Alone, grief-stricken, and relentlessly oppressed by in-laws who believe her baby is a bad omen, Isha sets out on her own. Born into a privileged class, Isha doesn't know the first thing about fending for herself, but to protect her precious daughters, she will learn. And she will cling to the hope given to her by a strange old mystic: that her baby will arrive on the auspicious night of Kojagari Purnima, the full harvest moon, and be a gift from Lakshmi, the goddess of well-being. Isha and her girls will need all the blessings they can get, for the greatest danger of all lies ahead. . .
Praise for Shobhan Bantwal and The Dowry Bride
\"Splendidly depicts passion, brutality, and cultures in conflict.\" --Dorothy Garlock
\"Vivid, rich. . .expertly portrays a young woman caught between love and duty, hope and despair.\" --Anjali Banerjee
Editions of The Forbidden Daughter
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780758220301
- EBook
- ISBN 9780758235671
Read an Excerpt
Set in the sensual richness of India, Shobhan Bantwal's gripping new novel asks: Where can a woman turn when her life's greatest blessing is seen as a curse?
It's a girl! For most young couples, news of their unborn child's gender brings joyful anticipation. Not so for Isha Tilak and her husband, Nikhil. They already have a beloved daughter, but Nikhil's parents, hard-wired to favor male children above all, coldly reject little Priya at every turn. Vain and selfish, they see female grandchildren as burdens, and would just as soon never meet the one growing in Isha's belly. Even the obstetrician agrees, going so far as to suggest the unthinkable, throwing Nikhil into a rage--and changing Isha's life forever. . .
When Nikhil is discovered brutally murdered, Isha is convinced it had something to do with his reaction to the doctor's hideous \"solution\" to their problem. Alone, grief-stricken, and relentlessly oppressed by in-laws who believe her baby is a bad omen, Isha sets out on her own. Born into a privileged class, Isha doesn't know the first thing about fending for herself, but to protect her precious daughters, she will learn. And she will cling to the hope given to her by a strange old mystic: that her baby will arrive on the auspicious night of Kojagari Purnima, the full harvest moon, and be a gift from Lakshmi, the goddess of well-being. Isha and her girls will need all the blessings they can get, for the greatest danger of all lies ahead. . .
Praise for Shobhan Bantwal and The Dowry Bride
\"Splendidly depicts passion, brutality, and cultures in conflict.\" --Dorothy Garlock
\"Vivid, rich. . .expertly portrays a young woman caught between love and duty, hope and despair.\" --Anjali Banerjee
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Forbidden Daughter about?
Set in the sensual richness of India, Shobhan Bantwal's gripping new novel asks: Where can a woman turn when her life's greatest blessing is seen as a curse?
It's a girl! For most young couples, news of their unborn child's gender brings joyful anticipation. Not so for Isha Tilak and her husband, Nikhil. They already have a beloved daughter, but Nikhil's parents, hard-wired to favor male children above all, coldly reject little Priya at every turn. Vain and selfish, they see female grandchildren as burdens, and would just as soon never meet the one growing in Isha's belly. Even the obstetrician agrees, going so far as to suggest the unthinkable, throwing Nikhil into a rage--and changing Isha's life forever. . .
When Nikhil is discovered brutally murdered, Isha is convinced it had something to do with his reaction to the doctor's hideous \"solution\" to their problem. Alone, grief-stricken, and relentlessly oppressed by in-laws who believe her baby is a bad omen, Isha sets out on her own. Born into a privileged class, Isha doesn't know the first thing about fending for herself, but to protect her precious daughters, she will learn. And she will cling to the hope given to her by a strange old mystic: that her baby will arrive on the auspicious night of Kojagari Purnima, the full harvest moon, and be a gift from Lakshmi, the goddess of well-being. Isha and her girls will need all the blessings they can get, for the greatest danger of all lies ahead. . .
Praise for Shobhan Bantwal and The Dowry Bride
\"Splendidly depicts passion, brutality, and cultures in conflict.\" --Dorothy Garlock
\"Vivid, rich. . .expertly portrays a young woman caught between love and duty, hope and despair.\" --Anjali Banerjee
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Forbidden Daughter?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of The Forbidden Daughter?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780758220301
How long is The Forbidden Daughter and how many pages does it have?
The Forbidden Daughter has 336 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Forbidden Daughter?
Shobhan Bantwal
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Forbidden Daughter is available as paperback(ISBN 9780758220301) and ebook(ISBN 9780758235671)
Where can I buy The Forbidden Daughter online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Forbidden Daughter from below
Where can I buy The Forbidden Daughter?