I was very close to putting this book down, it has an interesting premise and setting. However, I found the writing hard to follow and the main character too unlikable. Fortunately, this book has a great plot twist at the end that make you feel better about finishing it!

This was a novel that felt like it was mad it was not a poem. Plot developments often got lost in a swamp of lyrical descriptions, with scene transitions drowning in endless descriptions of flowers and city streets resulting in near-constant disorientation. It was a short book that took forever to get through and felt like trudging through quicksand until about the last 20%, at which point the stuff actually started happening but then it was mostly just baffling and weird. I wanted to feel for the main character, because this man was going THROUGH it, but it was simply so pathetic reading about a person changing their entire body and life to try and be with a guy that cheated on him and then left him that I couldn't dredge up a lot of sympathy.

And please pardon my momentary misandry, but: it's fascinating to me how poorly men often write about sexual desire and sex. When I read sexually explicit writing it's usually written by women and AFAB people, and even the nastiest, filthiest, and most deranged works are still generally hot as hell. Yet somehow, even at their most base and id-driven, these works never approach the raw, ugly VULGARITY of men's writing about sex, the way that men are able to strip away everything sensual, erotic, interesting, and just sexy about sex and leave behind nothing but like, sweaty dicks and cum in leg hair and the grade school feeling that boys are gross and all have cooties. It's published on paper but it's giving nifty.org. It's the literary equivalent of spray painting a dick on a dirty wall and really feeling like you've done something. It makes everything about sex ugly, boring, disgusting, and meaningless.

It's cringe, to put it simply. And every time the writing in this novel veered into explicit territory, which was frequently, it felt like the narrative equivalent of being shoved out of an overwhelming but still reasonably pleasant and fragrant rose garden and onto the sidewalks of 1970s Times Square where you're forced to lick the pavement. I am a bisexual person and reading this book has left me less attracted to men.

Two stars because there is writing talent in here, but man I'm glad this book is over.

My thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the ARC.

I went into this thinking it would be right up my alley, and I unfortunately ended up being a bit wrong in that assumption. I don't at all regret my time spent reading this novel and I found the writing style to be absolutely beautiful and the author's voice unique, but something just felt a twinge lacking in the sense that some parts felt slightly repetitive. I'm a mythology nerd, so I naturally adored the incorporation of such themes and felt that element was very well done. Overall, "Medusa of the Roses" is a dark, devastating poem of a novel, but I won't be rushing to reread it anytime soon.

Thanks Netgalley & Grove Atlantic for the ARC!

Wow, what a powerful story.

As someone who gravitates toward sad, tragic stories, I wasn't expecting to be as.. devastated as I was? I wasn't particularly invested in the characters, but somehow the writing made it so melodic and emotional that I felt really affected by it.

About two young men in love, living in a country that would kill them for their passions, one boy transitions into a woman in order to continue their relationship safely. The story follows Anjir as he narrates his romantic history with a childhood love, and ponders a safer future after a brutal assault leaves him hospitalized and unconscious.

This was so interesting to read as a Westerner (American) because I would argue that trans people face more contempt and face more violence in daily life than queer folks who are simply sexually attracted to the same gender. It's a new perspective and a dark one.
I hate to be that person that says the story is beautiful because of it's tragedy, however, the writing is filled with so much longing and almost wonder, that it has that old-movie warm, soft glow to it that reminds me of hot summer nights spent outside. It's a tragic story, and if you're sensitive to homophobia/transphobia (etc) and the bury your gays trope, please be cautious going into this. It's a short book but not a simple read, and definitely something I'd recommend reading the synopsis to before going in. The book is gritty and graphic in a way that definitely wont be for some audiences. It's very much adult and not for the faint of heart. 

Wouldn't per see recommend this one because it's not generally something I'd read for fun, but I'm sure there are plenty of people that might relate and feel seen through this novel.

"Medusa of the Roses" is a novel like no other that I have read before, I can swear that much.
The story is set in modern-day Tehran in Iran, where homosexuality is illegal and punished by death. However, we are quickly informed that transitioning is vastly more accepted and encouraged, a difference so stark from what we see on the Western news nowadays, where trans people are demonised and persecuted instead.
Sinaki's writing is dark and rich, sensual and provocative, and it was aptly referred to as a cinematic story.
Anjir and Zal's love is marked by death, grief and violence. It is surrounded by these dark and powerful emotions that stem from the society they are raised in, one that does not accept their relationship and forces them into hiding.
Violence to oneself, to one's body and mind, to the people around is a central theme of the book.
Anjir, who is our narrator, descends into violence and vengeance as much as Camus' "The Stranger" descends into madness: slowly, led by misplaced feelings, by mischief and trickery. You're also going to love this if you've enjoyed "All of us strangers" with Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott, mark my words.

I appreciated the snake imagery a lot as well, perhaps as a reminder of the Ouroboros, the fictional snake that eats its own tail to represent an eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth. Anjir sheds his life for love, but he is also tricked and bitten by the proverbial snake.

I don't really know how to feel about this book. It's depressing but I was very engaged with the first half. I didn't really love the characters and sometimes the writing felt a bit random and I didn't really know what was going on. The homophobic language was uncomfortable but I guess that's the point as this is how so many people are treated every day around the world. I'm not a mythology girly so the references were a bit lost on me but I can imagine it worked really well for those who know a bit more about it.

I think the main con for me is that it is a little repetitive. Especially one word (which I won't repeat cause it's rude) which seemed to be used on literally every page for a big chunk of the book. Felt gratuitous.

A bit of a mixed bag but I would recommend to anyone who enjoys LGBTQIA literature.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book so I was hesitant to start it, at the end I’m glad I did. This book probably isn’t for everybody but I do hope people are opened to something different because it’s definitely worth the read.

This book surprised me, it was such a great read for me, very well written. I’m interested in looking into more of Navid Sinaki’s books.

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.