Medusa of the Roses is propulsive, unrelenting queer noir. The story follows Anjir, a morbid romantic and petty thief, as he scours modern-day Tehran for his missing boyfriend, all the while undergoing a gender transition with the hopes of reforming their relationship in accordance with Iranian law regarding homosexuality. Steeped in Greek and Persian myth, Medusa of the Roses is at turns gritty and beatific, unpacking the grime and gore and beauty of modern love.
Medusa of the Roses by Navid Sinaki, (List Price: $27, Grove Press, 9780802163035, August 2024)
Reviewed by Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia