Martyr!

Cyrus Shams is a recovering alcoholic and acclaimed poet haunted by his Iranian family's past and his own mortality. He embarks on a journey to understand sacrifice, belonging, and redemption through profound encounters with art, history, and faith while navigating the complexities of identity in America. Why You Should Read? Explores identity and heritage – A deeply personal story examining Iranian-American experience, cultural legacy, and the weight of martyrdom. Poetic and powerful prose – Kaveh Akbar's lyrical writing blends poetry with narrative, creating an emotionally resonant literary experience. Universal themes – Tackles grief, addiction, faith, and the search for meaning in a way that speaks to anyone grappling with personal trauma. Critically acclaimed debut – A standout literary fiction novel that offers both intellectual depth and emotional impact. About the Author Kaveh Akbar is an Iranian-American poet and novelist. He is the author of the poetry collections Pilgrim Bell and Calling a Wolf a Wolf, and his poems have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Poetry. He is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize, a Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. Akbar teaches at Purdue University and in the low-residency MFA program at Randolph College.