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.