If you’re looking for a novel that’s equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking, and mind-bending, Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar is your next obsession. Hailed as “the best novel you’ll ever read about the joy of language, addiction, displacement, martyrdom, belonging, and homesickness” (Lauren Groff) and praised by Tommy Orange (There There), this debut is a literary firework—exploding with wit, raw emotion, and questions that will haunt you long after the last page1.
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Meet Cyrus Shams: Poet, Addict, and Professional Mess
Cyrus Shams is a train wreck you can’t look away from. A newly sober Iranian-American poet, he’s haunted by two things:
- His mother’s death—shot down in a plane over the Persian Gulf when he was a baby.
- His father’s life—a man who spent years killing chickens in an American factory, numbing himself to survive.
Now, Cyrus is on a mad quest for meaning, obsessively researching martyrs (hence the title Martyr!) and chasing a rumor that his mother might not have died the way he was told. His investigation leads him to a terminally ill artist living in the Brooklyn Museum, who might hold the key to his family’s secrets1.
Why You’ll Devour This Book
- A Voice That Crackles Like Lightning
Akbar, an acclaimed poet, writes with lyrical ferocity. Cyrus’s narration swings between self-deprecating humor (“I was the kind of drunk who’d argue with a stop sign”) and aching vulnerability (“Grief isn’t a thing you move on from—it’s a thing you move through”). The prose is so sharp, you’ll want to underline every other sentence1. - A Deep Dive into Iranian-American Identity
Martyr! doesn’t just explore addiction—it’s a brilliant dissection of displacement. Cyrus straddles two worlds: the Iran of his parents’ memories (filled with revolution and loss) and the Midwest of his upbringing (where he’s too brown for white kids, too American for Iranians). His uncle—a man who dressed as the “angel of death” on Iranian battlefields—adds another surreal layer to this exploration of heritage1. - The Perfect Audiobook Experience
If you’re an Audible fan, the narration brings Cyrus’s chaotic inner monologue to life. The dark humor and emotional gut-punches land even harder when spoken aloud—making this a top pick for listeners who loved The Vanishing Half or On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous12. - A Plot That Defies Expectations
Is Martyr! a family mystery? A satire of art and academia? A love letter to language? Yes. Akbar blends genres like a master DJ, dropping historical footnotes, poetic interludes, and surreal dream sequences into Cyrus’s journey. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the story twists like a knife1.
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Who Should Read Martyr!?
✔ Fans of irreverent, voice-driven fiction (think Less by Andrew Sean Greer or Lincoln in the Bardo).
✔ Anyone who’s grappled with addiction, grief, or cultural displacement.
✔ Poetry lovers—Akbar’s background shines in every metaphor.
✔ Audiobook listeners craving a performance that crackles with energy.
Final Verdict: A Novel That Demands to Be Discussed
Martyr! isn’t just a book—it’s a conversation starter. It asks: How do we live with our past? How do we forgive our families? And what does it mean to be “brave” when the world keeps kicking you down?
By the end, you’ll want to hug Cyrus, shake him, and then buy him a coffee (decaf, obviously). Kaveh Akbar has written a modern classic—a novel that’s as messy, beautiful, and unforgettable as life itself.
- Martyr! book review
- Kaveh Akbar novel
- Best literary fiction 2024
- Books about Iranian-American identity
- *Addiction and
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