The stories

The Books

A myth of gods, and the girl who remembers it.

The River Goddess: A Prequel by Punita Rice

The River Goddess: A Prequel

Top 100 in Fantasy Short Stories

A standalone myth of gods and mortals, set generations before the story of Sahira Raazaan (The River's Daughter). Can be read before, after, or separately from The River's Daughter.

When Naga, a goddess who leaves the realm of the gods to live among mortals, falls in love with a mortal prince, the other gods grow jealous, and she’s faced with a devastating choice. The mythic, standalone prequel to The River's Daughter.

The River's Daughter by Punita Rice

The River's Daughter

Amazon #1 Bestseller in FolkloreAmazon #1 Bestseller in Asian Myth & Legend

The River's Daughter is a mythic tale of forbidden love, resistance, ancestral memory, and the magic that stirs beneath the surface.

When Sahira Raazaan discovers powers tied to a mysterious stranger—and the river itself—she must choose between the life she was raised for and the truth in her blood. Inspired by the Punjabi legend of Mirza Sahiba.

Where to start

Reading Order

Three ways into Jaraan, including a fun tandem read.

i.

Chronological order

The River Goddess, then The River’s Daughter

The story of the gods before the story of the mortals, for readers who like their mythology first.

ii.

Release order

The River’s Daughter, then The River Goddess

The order I’d recommend for most readers: Sahira’s story first, then Naga’s origin story to colour in the world.

iii.

The tandem read

The secret third option

Pause The River’s Daughter in Chapter 7, read the prequel as a story-within-a-story, then return to finish.

Read the full reading-order guide