Tanaz Bhathena Books in Order (Updated March 10, 2026)

Tanaz Bhathena writes mostly standalones, with one clear series: The Wrath of Ambar. That means there is no single mandatory master order for her whole bibliography. The real choice is whether you want the duology first or whether you want to read the standalones by mood and genre.

For most readers, the cleanest entry point is A Girl Like That if you want contemporary YA, or Hunted by the Sky if you want fantasy first. Her official books page currently lists A Girl Like That, The Beauty of the Moment, Hunted by the Sky, Rising like a Storm, Of Light and Shadow, and the forthcoming adult fantasy Witch Daughter.

Quick answer

Best Tanaz Bhathena reading order

1. A Girl Like That
2. The Beauty of the Moment
3. Hunted by the Sky
4. Rising like a Storm
5. Of Light and Shadow
6. Witch Daughter

That is the simplest practical order if you want to read across her major books while keeping the only direct sequel pair together.

The one series that must be read in order

The Wrath of Ambar

1. Hunted by the Sky (2021): Gul and Cavas are pulled into palace danger, prophecy, class conflict, and rebellion in a fantasy world inspired by medieval India.
2. Rising like a Storm (2021): With a new tyrannical queen in power, Gul and Cavas fight to survive, regroup, and try to build a more just future for Ambar.

This is the only Tanaz Bhathena sequence where order really matters. Read these two in publication order.

The standalones

1. A Girl Like That (2018): After Zarin Wadia and Porus Dumasia are found dead in a car crash in Jeddah, the novel rebuilds their story through multiple perspectives and challenges everything people thought they knew about Zarin.
2. The Beauty of the Moment (2019): Susan, newly arrived from Saudi Arabia to Canada, and Malcolm, still carrying grief and anger, move through art, family pressure, and first love in a contemporary coming-of-age story.
3. Of Light and Shadow (2023): A bandit queen and a prince are forced into uneasy proximity in a standalone romantic fantasy inspired by the badlands of 17th-century India.
4. Witch Daughter (2026): Bhathena’s adult fantasy debut follows Princess Tahmineh in ancient Persia as prophecy, love, and rumors of witchcraft reshape her future.

Recommended reading orders

Best order for most readers

1. A Girl Like That
2. The Beauty of the Moment
3. Hunted by the Sky
4. Rising like a Storm
5. Of Light and Shadow
6. Witch Daughter

This order works well because it starts with her earlier contemporary novels, keeps the duology intact in the middle, and then moves into the later standalone fantasies.

Best order if you only want fantasy

1. Hunted by the Sky
2. Rising like a Storm
3. Of Light and Shadow
4. Witch Daughter

That gives you the full fantasy track without mixing in the contemporary YA novels.

Best order if you only want standalones first

1. A Girl Like That
2. The Beauty of the Moment
3. Of Light and Shadow
4. Witch Daughter

This is the easiest no-series route.

Publication order

1. A Girl Like That (2018): Bhathena’s debut starts with a death and works backward through gossip, shame, love, and social judgment.
2. The Beauty of the Moment (2019): A contemporary YA novel about migration, expectation, art, and emotional risk.
3. Hunted by the Sky (2021): The first Wrath of Ambar book opens Bhathena’s Indian- and Persian-inspired fantasy duology.
4. Rising like a Storm (2021): The second Wrath of Ambar book completes that duology.
5. Of Light and Shadow (2023): A standalone epic fantasy about political tension, capture, betrayal, and attraction.
6. Witch Daughter (2026): A forthcoming adult fantasy based on Tahmineh’s story from the Shahnameh.

Optional anthology appearance

• Magic Has No Borders: This is a YA fantasy anthology listed on Bhathena’s books page, but it is not a Tanaz Bhathena solo novel and does not belong in her main book order the way the six core titles do.

Where to start

Start with A Girl Like That if you want the clearest introduction to Bhathena’s contemporary YA voice. Start with Hunted by the Sky if you are here for fantasy and want the only true series first. Start with Of Light and Shadow if you want a self-contained fantasy and do not want to commit to a duology yet.

Included, optional, and separate continuity

Included

• A Girl Like That
• The Beauty of the Moment
• Hunted by the Sky
• Rising like a Storm
• Of Light and Shadow
• Witch Daughter

Optional

• Magic Has No Borders anthology appearance

Separate continuity

• The Wrath of Ambar is its own duology
• A Girl Like That is a standalone
• The Beauty of the Moment is a standalone
• Of Light and Shadow is a standalone
• Witch Daughter appears to be a standalone adult fantasy based on current official listings

Latest release status

The most recent Tanaz Bhathena book already released is Of Light and Shadow from 2023. The next confirmed book is Witch Daughter, which her official site describes as her adult debut and says will be published in fall 2026. Hachette’s listing gives the on-sale date as September 22, 2026.

FAQs

Do Tanaz Bhathena’s books all connect?

No. Only Hunted by the Sky and Rising like a Storm form a direct series. The rest are standalones based on her current official bibliography.

What is the best Tanaz Bhathena book to start with?

For contemporary YA readers, start with A Girl Like That. For fantasy readers, start with Hunted by the Sky.

Is Of Light and Shadow part of The Wrath of Ambar?

No. It is listed as a standalone epic fantasy.

Is Witch Daughter YA?

No. Bhathena’s official site describes it as her adult debut.

Conclusion

Tanaz Bhathena is best read as one duology plus several standalones, not as a giant interconnected bibliography. Keep The Wrath of Ambar together, then choose the standalones based on whether you want contemporary YA or fantasy. For one safest recommendation, start with A Girl Like That for contemporary or Hunted by the Sky for fantasy.