“Martyr!”, Kaveh Akbar’s evocative poetry collection, offers a raw, intricate exploration of faith, doubt, and the inner conflicts we all experience in the search for meaning. Through his poignant verses, Akbar moves beyond traditional notions of martyrdom and presents a nuanced portrait of sacrifice—not just physical, but emotional and spiritual. This review delves into how “Martyr!” functions as a spiritual survival manual, guiding readers…

In a year of bold, disobedient fiction, two books have fiercely divided readers: All Fours by Miranda July and Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. One is described as “a raw masterpiece,” the other as “self-indulgent nonsense.” The twist? Those descriptions apply to both, depending on who you ask. So what’s really going on? Did Martyr! just edge out All Fours as the definitive novel of…