A dynamic, queer love story set in modern day Iran, this novel is both expansive in scope and narrow in style—the narrative doesn't feel rushed, but it manages to pull the reader through a funhouse of reflections and interactions before spitting you out for the climax. Themes of queer persecution, ill-fated love, and identity are all embedded into the main character's account, along with an interesting perusal of different cultural mythologies and rose-centric symbolism.

If this book felt particularly cinematic it's probably because the author is also a filmmaker, but I wonder if I would have felt the same way if I hadn't known that going in. I often feel that books become movies in my head—it's one of my favorite parts of reading, honestly—but the way the scenes moved from one moment to the next with little transition really encouraged that feeling of jumping between cuts.

As basic as it seems to say, I think readers of Andre Aciman would enjoy the style of Navid Sinaki.

Thank you to Grove for the opportunity to read and review!

This is an incredibly moving, heartbreaking story of what lovers will do for each other. Poetic and yet incredibly raw, this story of queer love and pain in Tehran is a captivating read.

Two Iranian men, deeply in love, nurture their relationship from childhood into adulthood, discovering their sexualities and deepening their bond over their lives. The mystery that unfolds after one of the men is attacked when on a rendezvous with another man is compelling and incredibly well paced.

The ending left me speechless, and the language - more than once - left me winded.

I would definitely advise readers to carefully consider the trigger warnings before they read, but this is a story I will recommend to many.

4 stars.

*Medusa of the Roses* is a striking debut that blends mythology, identity, and the harsh realities of life in modern Tehran. The story follows Anjir, a non-binary person who embarks on a dark, twisting journey to find their missing lover, Zal, after he’s brutally attacked. The catch? In Iran, being openly gay is punishable by death, but transitioning and living as a trans person is technically allowed—if not exactly accepted.

The prose is gorgeous, almost dreamlike at times, and it really pulls you into Anjir’s world. The story starts off a bit slow, but once it picks up, you're hooked. It’s a slow burn that shifts into something intense and gripping. The mix of personal struggle, familial ties, and the complex nature of love and identity makes for a very rich read.

What really stood out to me was the way the book weaves in ancient myths, particularly the story of Tiresias. Anjir’s personal journey mirrors these mythological elements, which adds a whole layer of depth to the story. I also really appreciated how the author explored Anjir's family dynamics. The relationship with their mother and uncle was beautifully written and added a lot of emotional weight to the narrative.

While this book isn’t light by any means—expect some heavy themes like violence, identity, and the pursuit of freedom—it’s a really impactful read. If you’re looking for something that makes you think and feel, and offers a window into a culture not often explored in literature, *Medusa of the Roses* will definitely stick with you.

This book challenges conventions and dives into complex territory, all while telling a beautifully haunting story about love, identity, and the pursuit of self-determination. Definitely worth the read, especially if you're into books that are both poetic and thought-provoking.

I enjoyed MEDUSA OF THE ROSES. It felt like a modern response to Baldwin's GIOVANNI'S ROOM, in some ways, if almost too directly so at times. I found the tone and the complex toxicity of the main relationship really interesting. I'll definitely be recommending it to friends.

A devastating queer story. The writing was enjoyable but can't say I liked the characters... but perhaps that wasn't the intention of the author?

Medusa of the Roses was a great read. I loved the character development and the writing was propulsive.

Medusa of the Roses by Navid Sinaki was such a vibe! The reimagining of Medusa’s story had me hooked from the start—it’s dark, poetic, and absolutely captivating. The way Sinaki brings new depth to Medusa’s character, blending mythology with fresh twists, is chef’s kiss. The world-building is rich and immersive, and the themes of power, revenge, and transformation hit deep.

The pacing was a little uneven at times, and there were moments where I wanted a bit more from the secondary characters, but overall, it kept me hooked. If you’re into retellings with a mix of mythology, emotional depth, and badass female characters, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am so thankful to Grove Press, Navid Sinaki, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

What beautiful writing. However this is a story full of tragedy and sadness, and if you’re expecting a lovely story with plenty of happy moments this is not it.

another sad gay story. i fear the gays will never get a happy ending lol. there was a lot of emotional depth in this book, most of it devastating, but i loved the representation that this story depicted of queer people living in tehran. definitely a unique perspective! but again, so fucking sad...ugh.

The writing style was beautiful and I expected tragedy and heavy themes based on a character who lives in Iran and chooses gender reassignment surgery to be with his childhood lover because being transgender is more acceptable in that culture than same-sex relationships.

But the love story was so tragic and each love interest so ireedemable as people that I was left wondering why do any of this for people you don't really love. It just fell into the "bury your gays" trope that seems like the only way that gay men can get published now if it's not a romance or other mainstream genre and I find myself growing tired of gay trauma porn.

The writing was gorgeous, just struggled with the depressing if realistic story, even knowing all the possible content warnings in advance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A very interesting read for sure. For one, it's great to read about queer people outside of Europe because it highlights different experiences, and Iran on that regard specifically is quite a strange case. I don't especially mind mentions of sex but even here it was maybe a tad bit too much, even in just 6h, it started to get a little old around half of the story. I did find it very beautifully written, the prose was so poetic. I do recommend it, it deals with interesting themes.

I don't think retellings or reimagining are for me, as most of the time I either don't know enough about the source material or it just doesn't work. This felt a bit too exploratory to me. Definitely some interesting themes going on though.

enjoyed the way the narrative was constructed, the way it continued spiralling until the end, every page taking away a little more of the apparent stability of the world the characters inhabit.

"Medusa of the Roses" by Navid Sinaki is a captivating reimagining of the myth of Medusa, blending elements of fantasy and psychological depth to create a powerful narrative. Sinaki's prose is both lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a world steeped in ancient lore while exploring themes of beauty, power, and the complexity of identity.

The novel centers on Medusa’s journey, delving into her backstory with a fresh perspective that humanizes her character and transforms her from a mere monster into a relatable figure grappling with her circumstances. Sinaki masterfully explores themes of isolation, betrayal, and the search for self-acceptance, making Medusa's plight resonate on a profound level.

The pacing is well-crafted, balancing moments of tension with introspective passages that allow readers to connect deeply with Medusa's emotions. The supporting characters are also well-developed, adding layers to the narrative and enhancing the exploration of the central themes.

Overall, "Medusa of the Roses" is a beautifully written and thought-provoking tale that challenges traditional narratives and invites readers to reconsider the stories we tell about women in mythology. It’s a must-read for fans of reimagined tales and anyone interested in rich, character-driven storytelling.

I’m all for exploratory literary fiction, but I’m honestly not sure how to feel about this one!

Anjir and Zal are childhood friends turned lovers who live in Iran. It’s illegal to be gay. Zal is jumped and beat up after being caught with another young man. The story unfolds through Anjir putting the pieces together, living his life, searching for Zal, and forming an escape plan to get the future that he desired: to be with Zal, he will undergo a transition to female. The entire story is seeped in persian and greek mythology, which I really enjoyed. However, I wanted to know more about Anjir’s family. I wanted to see Zal and Anjir interact - or rather, have confirmation that Zal was onboard and Anjir wasn’t delusional. I wanted to hear less about c*m. I wished that Anjir wanted to change for themself rather than for Zal - on this note, seems strange to keep reiterating “I couldn’t love you as a man, though I didn’t mind being one”. I wish this book didn’t try to become a thriller in the third act, or rather, to have a cohesive plot in general.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy through Netgalley.

Medusa of the Roses is gritty, raw, and unapologetic. Telling the story of gay lovers in Tehran, this love story navigates the nuances of long-term relationships, identity, and what it truly looks like when your choice of lover could mean absolute death. My heart broke over and over and over again, and not in the ways that you may think by reading the synopsis. Finding out that this author is also a visual artist added further clarity as to why their writing style is the way it is. It can sometimes be rambling and messy (which is not necessarily a criticism). There are twists and turns and more twists, but the ending came really quickly and could have been more robust. 3.5 stars

I very sadly ended up dnf-ing this at about 30%. I think the concept is very interesting and the writing was good but it was difficult for me to settle in and become invested. Part of this may have been due to reading it on my kindle because there didn’t seem to be chapters or a great way to mark an end of one portion (which became confusing due to time jumps). Overall just a bit too vibey for me.

Medusa of the Roses by Navid Sinaki is a story of Anjir and Zal, childhood best friends whose relationship evolved into lovers/boyfriends as they grew into adults. The setting is modern-day Iran where being gay is illegal but the government seemingly accepts trans people (it was implied that this isn't a true acceptance). Anjir is planning on transitioning to a woman even though he's not trans just so he can be together with Zal and the two can get married. Their plans are ruined when Zal is brutally attacked on the streets and ends up in a hospital.

This is just the premise but so much happens in this novel! In the official blurb, it's described as queer literary noir and it's a quite accurate way to describe the book. As Anjir tries to unravel the mystery of who attacked Zal, he meets all kinds of eccentric characters and we get a glimpse into the sceneries of gay life in Tehran. There are also lots of twists and unexpected reveals!

The language is quite poetic; it took a little bit of getting used to but I found it very beautiful. There were a few times where I wasn't 100% sure what was going on but I went with the flow and the puzzle pieces always fell to their places.

I really loved the incorporation of ancient Greek and Persian mythology. One example would be Tiresias, whose name came up quite often. He was turned into a woman according to myth so Anjir identifies with him throughout the story.

I really enjoyed this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it but I want to warn everyone that it's extremely violent at certain points and violence against queer people is told in graphic detail. That's the reality of gay people in Iran though so I tried not to 'look away' but it was borderline triggering. The book is definitely worth reading but be careful if this is something you find hard to read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, and the author for graciously providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review! 💜

This would’ve been an absolute banger of a novella if the first 100 pages had been condensed and clarified.

It was hard to understand what was happening in parts of the story, like I didn’t know where we were or why we were there. Some kind of page breaks may have helped. We were just kinda smash-cutting between scenes without giving time to absorb or react to what just happened.

It feels like there were so many good ideas that just didn’t get cleaned up.

Overall, my takeaway from this being literary fiction is that Anjir’s transition into becoming a woman felt more like becoming the kind of person that a man would let down rather than the actual desire to become a woman. Mostly due to lines like “I couldn’t love you as a man, even though I didn’t mind being one.” Like Anjir was bending to become anything Zal wanted, only to be let down every time.

I wanted to like it far more than I did, the first half was just sporadic and wildly horny. The second half felt like a great short story and the kind of thing that would make a great short film.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!