Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr is a stunning, poetic debut novel that masterfully blends heartbreak, with a deep exploration of faith, addiction, and identity. Akbar’s ability to capture longing, grief, and the search for meaning is perhaps the most impressive part of this novel. 

What keeps this from being a full five stars? At times, the novel’s fragmented structure and poetic density can be a bit challenging although I still enjoyed it. However, I must say I was saddened by the ending and was hoping for a different conclusion.