“A powerful and moving novel about the devastating choices women face when their worth is tied to their wombs but not themselves. Parnaz Foroutan takes the timeless themes of love, honor, sacrifice and betrayal and makes them new.”—Gloria Steinem“[A] powerful and moving debut novel . . . a riveting, finely wrought novel by an author who joins the ranks of other young cross-cultural writers who tell their stories through the lens of gender. In that tradition, it will not be easily forgotten.”—New York Journal of Books“In this stunning first novel, Foroutan draws on her own family history to integrate the lore and traditions of old Iran. Suspenseful and haunting, this riveting story of jealousy, sacrifice, and betrayal and the intimately drawn characters within will not be easily forgotten.”—Booklist (starred review)