When I read the description of this book, I really wanted to like it. I had a hard time getting into this book. I almost didn't finish it. The story itself was good. Homophobia in Iran. But I found the writing dry and the characters were hard to connect with. This book wasn't for me.

In Iran, being gay is illegal, but transitioning in order to live a life with your partner as husband and wife is not only preferred, but legal as well. This is the path Anjir chooses to follow in the aftermath of an aggression Zal and an unnamed lover are subjected to.

The book explores the homophobia that pervades the country and how it shapes the lives of the people that choose to not conform to heteronormative standards, for whatever reason; it’s paired with a lyrical, Siken-esque language and many references to Greek and Persian myths.

The story is sound and the characters (especially the protagonist) have a very clear voice, something that makes their choices very understandable. Also there is a scene towards the end that I did not see coming (although I probably should have) that made me audibly gasp. Still, I struggled a bit to keep my interest up.

I do believe the book could have an expansive audience, with its quotable sentences and its portrayal of a grimy and violent reality.

wow. just wow. this was so very beautiful. explicit and brazen, but brought to life with such a tender, terrible yearning. the longings of queer desire and the lengths we must go to to hide our true selves in a society unwilling to accept queer love is explored thoroughly, in uncomfortable clarity— but perhaps that’s just what we need. to remove the stigma around queer people and understand that the underlying cause of why it often makes people uncomfortable is because prejudices still linger deep down inside.

the prose was absolutely gorgeous. evocative nostalgia in word form, it absolutely elevated what was otherwise, for me, a less plot driven book. i don’t believe this book was written to be a thriller at all. it may have thriller elements, but the main plot focus, the driving force is a study in gender and sexuality, something which is fluid yet unchanging, and an exploration of what love does to us. there’s commentary on transphobia, homophobia, and misogyny— all of this is more prevalent throughout the whole book than the subplot of whoever was watching anjir, which is why i believe medusa of the roses first and foremost is intended to be read as a critical exploration of queerness.

for me, though, the explicitness of the book was a little off putting. not because i have a thing against sex in general, but because there were… a surplus of descriptions and imagery about bodily fluids, which while natural, i always find a bit… icky. but it’s not a big deal- i still enjoyed the book regardless.

this was a great read. thank you for the arc!

3.75/5

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

The setting and the culture was described really well in this book. I loved the side characters and the overall storyline.
I did however feel like the side characters were more fleshed out than the main character? I liked how everyone was flawed in their own way. It didn't devastate me in the way I expected, maybe because I barely cared for the main character. 
Overall, a nice read but not one that will stick around with me for a long time.

I really liked this book and I specifically thought the pacing was really well done. That can really mess up a book but it worked SO well. The plot was also brilliant!

If you are into queer literature that deeply examines obsession with all consuming love, sex, and death, with a side of mythology, this book is so for you. Think the queer yearning of Oscar Wilde and Emily Dickenson, the violence and madness of Crime and Punishment, and doomed Greek myths rolled into one. It is an epic tragedy that will one day be studied alongside the works of Shakespeare. All that is to say that the writing style and atmosphere of this book are impeccable. The main character was also a highlight. While I wouldn’t describe him as likeable by any means, he is incredibly complex and undergoes development over the course of the story through self reflection and relationships both old and new. However, I do wish the story had been a bit faster paced, and I have mixed feelings about the ending. While it felt fitting for the themes of the story, I still wanted something different. It also felt a bit rushed and abrupt. But overall, I highly recommend this book, though I also recommend checking the trigger warnings.

I was immediately intrigued by its premise. This novel offers a narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking.

The intricate dynamics of the relationships portrayed within the story added depth and complexity to the characters. The exploration of Iran's cultural landscape provided a compelling backdrop, offering valuable insights into a queer experience in a context I know very little about. I couldn't help but contemplate certain passages that seemed to have underlying themes of transphobia and misogyny. However, I acknowledge the potential for differing interpretations in such matters - it could just be me and the situation I was reading the book in.

While the pacing of the book was undeniably swift, I found certain segments to be somewhat repetitive - but not detracting significantly from the overall narrative flow. I think some of my review of the book is a bit colored by the expectation I had set on it, which I can't really separate my experience of the book from.

the prose was nice but it felt somewhat transphobic-y with a dash of misogyny at times so? yeah idk :/

This was a great debut. I love the noir and mythology aspects of the book and the symbolism that they created for the characters and the plot. I can't wait to see more from this author

Thank yo NetGalley for providing me with this eARC!

This was a book I probably wouldn't normally read, but I did enjoy it. It's very raw, dark and emotional, which you definitely need to enjoy reading about if you want to read this book. I would have liked to see a bit more of the greek mythology references though. There were also some issues with the structure of some sentences and paragraphs and I'm not sure that was just the formatting of the e-book.

But overall, I would definitely recommend this queer noir novel if darker stories are what you're into!

Such a great debut. Beautifully written, will definitely recommend. Looking forward to more from this author. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this!

Anjir and Zal have been friends since childhood, and find themselves in love in adulthood. But Iran isn't a forgiving place for gay men. When Zal is attacked, Anjir decides to pursue their plan for him to transition, so they can live together as man and wife in another city.

Definitely a work of literary, noir fiction, this book is filled to the brim with violence, sex, addiction, obsession and mystery. The description of 'bold and cinematic debut' is definitely apt - the story feels like a movie. I was pulled in and didn't want to put it back down until I finished the book - mesmerized by the writing style and the use of mythology references to colour the story, the writing wasn't so complex as to go over my head (as some literary fiction does sometimes).

I only wish I felt more connection to the main characters, as the various side characters still felt a bit superficial, despite being pivotal to the main character's development.

Dark, raw, honest, sharp, I recommend this to anyone who isn't afraid of a book that is darker than a night in a city with a blackout.

Zal and Anjir were best friends as kids who are now in love as adults. The only issue is that they must undergo surgical transition to pass for cis straight individuals because they reside in Iran, where it is illegal to be openly gay, and the government appears to accept transgender people. Anjir, who has always identified with the mythical gender-changing Tiresias, becomes even more determined to carry out their long-standing plan for the future: Anjir will become a woman, and they will move to a new town for a fresh start as husband and wife. This plan is further strengthened when Zal is brutally attacked after being seen with another man in public, despite the betrayal.

Subsequently, Zal disappears, leaving a mysterious message that prompts Anjir to search for the other man in the hopes that he will lead to Zal. Anjir discovers that someone is following him as he follows and steals his way through Tehran's streets, clubs, library stacks, hotel rooms, and museum halls. There, he meets his troubled mother, his addict brother, and the vibrant Leyli, a new friend going through a transition of her own. Anjir's gender identity and morals are tested as she pursues love, peace, and self-determination, and it soon becomes evident that using more violence would be the quickest path to liberation.

I honestly thought there would be huge Greek mythology influences, and there were, just not in the way I expected them to. It’s so unique and clever. However, I didn’t really connect to the writing style, so I didn’t really enjoy this as much. If it was at least 50 pages longer, I would have believed that the novel would be better, and I would have rated this book higher. It’s not that the book was bad, it was just not for me. Would still recommend it though.

I was initially attracted to the premise and was excited when I got approved for the arc. The book was a fresh and subversive take on the thriller and romance tropes. I enjoyed the complex relationship dynamics. It was fascinating, albeit sad, learning about the cultural environment in Iran. I would consider the pacing fast. Felt like an episode of Blacklist. I felt some parts were repetitive. Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of the authors work.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Four stars.
I was hoping to like this more than I did. It's gorgeous and well written and the pattern is not for me. It's devastating as heck and I was sad and moved and engaged right from the beginning. Oh boy. Also, who has ever written a book like this? If you have an answer please tell me. But I can't think of an answer and that makes this book even better.

Thank you to whoever approved my request for this book. I am a different person now I've read this.

A love story told by a lost soul who wills themselves into a tragedy at every turn.

Poetic. Sharp like broken teeth (a line I’m stealing from the marketing of a book I almost remember).

It’s depressing, upsetting, stomach turning, and biting. You want to continue reading because of the rich descriptions and another part of your brain begs for you to put it down to experience happiness once more.

The use of mythology throughout was intense and intriguing. It provided strong context for the mindset of Anjir, shaping his view of the world.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

I was really excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley, as everything from the cover, to the title, to the description, intrigued me from the word go.
The dark themes explored in this work are adequately explored, in my opinion. However, it is worth noting that said themes are very personal in nature, and will likely resound differently with different readers who have different life experiences. The bits of Persian and Greek mythology throughout are unique touches and the familiar reflections in the characters was a clever take. As a historical fiction buff, this fresh take on retelling of myths managed to tick my boxes.
Where this piece fell short for me is the choppy, rigid structure of the storytelling. While some of this could be attributed to the formatting of this ARC (PDF), the lack of fluidity from scene to scene, and chapter to chapter, made the reading a bit more difficult than it should have been, and therefore less enjoyable.
Overall, I think this is definitely a worthwhile read and I am confident that there are many readers out there who will be able to connect with the material and writing style, and I do look forward to the author’s future works.

Captivated from the first page. I love me some mythology tie ins and this book gave me that in buckets.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book.

The writing had an almost song like quality to it and it made me think maybe one of the muses or Orpheus himself wrote something as beautiful.

This book is definitely an acquired taste, but if it’s come up as recommended for you I highly recommend giving it a shot as it’s a title I will be revisiting time and time again.

I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of "Medusa and the Roses" by Navid Sinaki. I finished this book a few weeks ago, but I needed time to sit with my thoughts and revisit certain aspects of the novel before formulating my final thoughts. 9Finished roughly mid Feb)

"Medusa and the Roses" is a fascinating and dark exploration of forbidden queer love in modern-day Tehran. The story follows Anjir and Zal, childhood friends turned lovers, as they navigate the complexities of their relationship in a society where being openly gay is criminalized. The novel delves into themes of sex, vengeance, and betrayal, weaving a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

As a mythology geek, I particularly enjoyed the mythological references sprinkled throughout the book. These references added depth and richness to the story, enhancing the overall reading experience.

However, it's important to note that "Medusa and the Roses" is a dark and violent novel, and it may not be suitable for all readers. The author tackles sensitive topics with unflinching honesty, and readers should be mindful of trigger warnings before diving into this book.

Personally, I felt comfortable with the dark content of the novel, as I often read and write in similar veins. However, I acknowledge that some readers may find certain themes unsettling.

The premise of "Medusa and the Roses" is bold and cinematic, and Navid Sinaki's debut novel is a testament to his talent as a writer. The story is intricately woven, and the characters are complex and compelling. Anjir's journey to find Zal takes readers on a gripping adventure through the streets of Tehran, where they encounter a diverse cast of characters, each with their own struggles and desires.

In conclusion, "Medusa and the Roses" is a dark and compelling tale that pushes the boundaries of storytelling. Navid Sinaki's bold narrative and unapologetic exploration of queer love in Iran make this a must-read for fans of literary noir. I give "Medusa and the Roses" a solid four-star rating, and I look forward to reading more from this talented author in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC!

I was super excited to read this!! And I was not disappointed. The story was engaging and immersive. Also, the narrative style and the queer characters were fascinating. There were elements of sadness, danger, and romance but I think the book focused more on the former than the latter. But the ending was satisfactory.

I would love to read more from Navid Sinaki!