Martyr!

In Kaveh Akbar's Martyr!, a newly sober orphaned son of Iranian immigrants embarks on a profound journey to uncover family secrets that intertwine with his past. Guided by the voices of influential figures, he seeks to understand his mother's tragic legacy and his own struggles with addiction. This electrifying novel explores themes of identity, loss, and the quest for meaning, weaving a narrative that resonates with humor and originality. As Cyrus confronts his inheritance of violence and grapples with his passion for poetry, he uncovers layers of truth tied to an enigmatic painter in the Brooklyn Museum.