A review by thekristinashow
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

Admittedly, I finished listening to Martyr! several days ago, and it's taken me this long to sit with it, process it and put together this quick review.

The MC, Cyrus Shams, is a young Iranian-American poet, recovering addict, and orphan searching for meaning amidst the weight of his past.

Set against the haunting backdrop of the 1988 Iran-Iraq war and the tragedy of the USS Vincennes, Akbar's debut novel masterfully delves into grief, guilt, sexuality, and the fight to reclaim one's story.

With striking lyricism and raw honesty, this book is a profound exploration of what it means to live with loss.

It's really no wonder @nytimes named it one of the best books of 2024 so far.