Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar

A Debut That Cuts to the Soul

Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! is not just a novel—it’s a lyrical journey through identity, faith, grief, and the complexities of being. At its center is Cyrus Shams, an Iranian-American addict and orphan, who is on a desperate search for something to believe in. When a tragic event leads him to uncover the story of a mysterious Iranian martyr, Cyrus embarks on a journey that questions everything—religion, belonging, and what it means to live or die for something greater than yourself.

With Akbar’s poetic mastery and philosophical depth, Martyr! blurs the line between prose and poetry, offering a reading experience that is both visceral and transcendent.

Main Themes of the Book

• Faith and Doubt
• The novel wrestles with spiritual longing, disillusionment, and the power of belief.
• Cultural Identity
• A raw exploration of the Iranian-American experience and the trauma of displacement.
• Addiction and Redemption
• The protagonist’s battle with substance abuse is treated with honesty and nuance.
• Art, Sacrifice & Memory
• The idea of martyrdom is redefined through personal and historical lenses.

Why you should choose this book

• A powerful debut by acclaimed poet Kaveh Akbar
• Blends narrative fiction with lyrical, poetic style
• For readers of Ocean Vuong, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Zadie Smith
• Thought-provoking and deeply emotional storytelling
• Hailed by The Guardian, The New York Times, and John Green

Martyr! is a novel that doesn’t offer easy answers—but rather the kind of questions that linger. With bold language, aching vulnerability, and spiritual weight, Kaveh Akbar’s first novel announces him not only as a major new voice in fiction, but as a guide through the murky waters of meaning, faith, and personal salvation.