---
product_id: 687696384
title: "Martyr!: A Novel"
price: "€ 28.79"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.fr/products/687696384-martyr-a-novel
store_origin: FR
region: France
---

# Martyr!: A Novel

**Price:** € 28.79
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Martyr!: A Novel
- **How much does it cost?** € 28.79 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.fr](https://www.desertcart.fr/products/687696384-martyr-a-novel)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

desertcart.com: Martyr!: A Novel: 9780593685778: Akbar, Kaveh: Books

Review: That magical rare book manages to live up to and earn its hype. Read it. Read it again. - Rarely enough to keep the experience special does the right book hit you at the right time and it feels like magic. Martyr! was both foreign and familiar, cringe and comfort, fantastical and realistic, and reading it is a memorable moment in time. It's an immigrant story, a generational family trauma, a college novel, an addict survival tale, a LBGTQ+ struggle, and country and city mouse journey, while wrestling with politics, art, love, poetry, writing, creating, mental and emotional health, dreaming, and magical realism. It's got NYC and Brooklyn! It's got everything you could ask for and more that you'd never think of asking it. My advice and while I'll refrain from sharing any plot or thoughts on that ending, is to just open it up and start reading... let it take you somewhere. It brought back coming of age feelings that I haven't experience on paper since Leaving The Atocha Station by Ben Lerner and is already a book I'm buying for others, pressing it into their hands, saying give yourself over to this, trust this book, and it will reward you with riches - then come talk to me about it. It's a book you want to read again right after finishing it. It's that special gift, that rare book, that you've already seen everywhere yet still manages to live up to and earn its hype. Read it.
Review: Choose your media wisely - I will dispense with describing the plot of Martyr! - that's been done enough in other reviews and the novel's publicity communications. To get directly to its net effect... Overall, I found this work very enjoyable, having begun it with no particular expectations and little knowledge of the storyline. HOWEVER, I consumed it as an AUDIOBOOK. Throughout its 10+ hours I wondered if it would be as compelling if I were reading it - indeed, I suspected that certain parts might be outright boring in script form. From what I am seeing in other reviews, I believe those wonderings are borne out. The vocal narration was outstanding. Crucially, it took care of what appears to be the most frequent criticism of the book's multiple POV structure: that, in script, all the characters sounded alike. Narrator Arian Moyayed did a remarkable job of bringing the various players to life and imparting unique personalities/voices to each. To those who rated Martyr! one or two stars, I'd say, well, horses for courses. To the three star raters, I'd say you should have listened to the audio - it might have hit you as a four, or maybe even five. As for other critique points...One, be alerted that Martyr! does not really have a "plot" as such. Like much literary fiction, it is character driven and philosophical point driven. Two, in a couple instances, the "point" being made has little or nothing to do with what is otherwise happening with the main character's life - and it gets a bit soap-boxy. Three, readers/listeners might detect an interesting compare/contrast between the narrative of this protagonist's substance addiction experiences and those of the protagonist in Barabara Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead". Lastly, I've seen that some folks expected more humor based on the book's promotion; I saw none of that promotion so I didn't expect it, and for me the amount of humor was just right. As with all books, this one has its flaws. But if you are a literary fiction fan this is a very good book. I would speculatively rate it a solid three-stars in its written form, and highly recommend it in audio.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,721 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in LGBTQ+ Family Life Fiction (Books) #3 in LGBTQ+ Literary Fiction (Books) #129 in Literary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 10,605 Reviews |

## Images

![Martyr!: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81CTC+CUSfL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ That magical rare book manages to live up to and earn its hype. Read it. Read it again.
*by P***X on May 1, 2025*

Rarely enough to keep the experience special does the right book hit you at the right time and it feels like magic. Martyr! was both foreign and familiar, cringe and comfort, fantastical and realistic, and reading it is a memorable moment in time. It's an immigrant story, a generational family trauma, a college novel, an addict survival tale, a LBGTQ+ struggle, and country and city mouse journey, while wrestling with politics, art, love, poetry, writing, creating, mental and emotional health, dreaming, and magical realism. It's got NYC and Brooklyn! It's got everything you could ask for and more that you'd never think of asking it. My advice and while I'll refrain from sharing any plot or thoughts on that ending, is to just open it up and start reading... let it take you somewhere. It brought back coming of age feelings that I haven't experience on paper since Leaving The Atocha Station by Ben Lerner and is already a book I'm buying for others, pressing it into their hands, saying give yourself over to this, trust this book, and it will reward you with riches - then come talk to me about it. It's a book you want to read again right after finishing it. It's that special gift, that rare book, that you've already seen everywhere yet still manages to live up to and earn its hype. Read it.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Choose your media wisely
*by V***R on November 30, 2024*

I will dispense with describing the plot of Martyr! - that's been done enough in other reviews and the novel's publicity communications. To get directly to its net effect... Overall, I found this work very enjoyable, having begun it with no particular expectations and little knowledge of the storyline. HOWEVER, I consumed it as an AUDIOBOOK. Throughout its 10+ hours I wondered if it would be as compelling if I were reading it - indeed, I suspected that certain parts might be outright boring in script form. From what I am seeing in other reviews, I believe those wonderings are borne out. The vocal narration was outstanding. Crucially, it took care of what appears to be the most frequent criticism of the book's multiple POV structure: that, in script, all the characters sounded alike. Narrator Arian Moyayed did a remarkable job of bringing the various players to life and imparting unique personalities/voices to each. To those who rated Martyr! one or two stars, I'd say, well, horses for courses. To the three star raters, I'd say you should have listened to the audio - it might have hit you as a four, or maybe even five. As for other critique points...One, be alerted that Martyr! does not really have a "plot" as such. Like much literary fiction, it is character driven and philosophical point driven. Two, in a couple instances, the "point" being made has little or nothing to do with what is otherwise happening with the main character's life - and it gets a bit soap-boxy. Three, readers/listeners might detect an interesting compare/contrast between the narrative of this protagonist's substance addiction experiences and those of the protagonist in Barabara Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead". Lastly, I've seen that some folks expected more humor based on the book's promotion; I saw none of that promotion so I didn't expect it, and for me the amount of humor was just right. As with all books, this one has its flaws. But if you are a literary fiction fan this is a very good book. I would speculatively rate it a solid three-stars in its written form, and highly recommend it in audio.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Standout piece of literature
*by P***0 on August 16, 2024*

*Martyr!* by Kaveh Akbar is a standout piece of literature that truly showcases the author’s brilliant writing skills. Unlike many books frequently recommended today, this work is refreshingly different, diving deep into themes that are often overlooked. As an Iranian American, I found that the book resonates on a deeply personal level, capturing the complexities of identity, displacement, and the internal conflicts that come with straddling two cultures. Akbar’s prose is both raw and poetic, making it impossible not to feel the weight of his words. This book isn’t just a read—it’s an experience that lingers long after you’ve finished the last page. Highly recommended for those who seek something genuine and thought-provoking.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Martyr!: A Novel
- James (Pulitzer Prize Winner): A Novel
- The God of the Woods: A Novel

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.fr/products/687696384-martyr-a-novel](https://www.desertcart.fr/products/687696384-martyr-a-novel)

---

*Product available on Desertcart France*
*Store origin: FR*
*Last updated: 2026-01-30*