A discovered conspiracy. A ransom gone wrong. A two-month coma.
Spoiled Iranian girl Neda awakes to find her parents dead—a tragic murder at the hands of her now-executed fiancé. But Neda saw the perpetrators, and he wasn’t one of them.
The justice system dismisses her. Evidence mysteriously vanishes. And when others begin to die, she knows her own life could end just as brutally at any moment. All it will take is her enemies catching up—or her suicidal tendencies taking control. When her losses become all-consuming, there is one way forward: turn the tables and finally get revenge.
When the only option is to kill or be killed, one thing is clear: this war will end in blood.
If I'm honest, I don't even know where to begin with this review. Thirteen has been living rent-free in my mind ever since I finished it a few weeks ago. It's not the kind of book that simply you read, move to the side and forget about it, it's definitely one that stays with you. When I turned the final page, I cried. I actually blubbed like a baby. Overly sensitive? Who cares? But mainly, I would honestly say I was invested. However, this just shows the depth of it's impact. It was a full-blown emotional rollercoaster, and I still haven't recovered.
Myself and Ven (A booktuber - I shall link his YouTube at the end of the review) chose this as a buddy read, and I'm so glad we did. Thirteen hasn't received the attention it deserves, truthfully. It's a disservice to readers and the literary world alike, that this book hasn't reached as many people as I would have liked already. This novel is honestly a hidden gem that is riddled in emotional complexity, cultural differences and a narrative structure that completely breaks away from the conventional mold of literary fiction/thrillers. It unfolds through three interwoven timelines, dancing between past and present like pieces of a puzzle coming together. What struck me the most was thinking that you'd see the twists coming, until it's hits you. I was second guessing everything, and when yet another twist came I was wrecked.
At the heart of the novel we see the FMC, Neda. A young woman from a seemingly wealthy family in Iran who wakes up from a coma only to find her world in ruins, her parents are dead and she learns that her fiancé has been executed for being found guilty for their murder. Obviously, Neda knows this isn't true, and she's hellbent on finding justice for their deaths and the truth hidden behind the reason. What begins as a desperate search for the truth quickly unravels into something much more darker, a transformation from a grief-stricken daughter/partner to a woman utterly consumed by vengeance. Her evolution is electrifying. The diary-style first person narration (complete with an Iranian calendar) adds a layer of familiarity that makes you feel like you're living inside her head. Her own voice is raw, intelligent, increasingly defiant, yet naive and annoying all at the same time, which again, is quite unusual for a FMC.
"Some people are born happy. Some pursue happiness their entire lives and don't find it. Others keep redefining it until it fits their status quo. Me? I don't aspire to happiness. A little less than two years ago, fate played a sick joke on my life. Since then, my hopes, my dreams, my existence, have been reduced to one goal, finding the man of my nightmares. Buckle up, for this will be a rough ride."
I had to google a few cultural references and terms, yet it only deepened my appreciation for how deeply embedded the story is in its settings and how committed the author is to authenticity. This book does NOT flinch. It tackles a multitude of harrowing topics such as suicide, political corruption, state violence, mental illness, societal shame. Yet through it all it never becomes repetitive, instead just portrays a powerful story of injustice told through the lens of deeply human characters.
Neda's relationship with Omid, the man who seems to be stuck with her without his own say so, seems innocent, yet also desperately wanting the best for her. Their friendship adds further emotional complexity, as their dynamic isn't one of romance, it's messy, codependent and real. Their mental states affect each other quite deeply, and the way the novel navigates both Neda's and Omid's point of views is both beautiful, yet gut-wrenching.
The supporting cast were equally as important, I won't delve too much into this as it will ruin the novel and the premise. Parvaneh, Neda's friend and also Dr Derakhshan her psychiatrist, each one offered a different reflection of Neda's personality, and we see how her identity fractures and reforms under different types of pressure. Every interaction is loaded with meaning, and every silence is carefully chosen.
Poetry is scattered throughout the book, Neda's poems serve as emotional release, but they are also showcases of the authors range of work. These aren't just filler passages, their stunning in their own right as they are seamlessly woven into the prose and echoes the themes of grief, and defiance. I'm not much of a reader of poetry, however, this was an amazing touch.
The book does come with numerous trigger warnings which can be found on his website, and rightly so, as I have once mentioned. For me as a reader, the more the better (oops) and that's the part, that makes it so brave. The author does not shy away from the true brutalities of the world, instead dives headfirst into them, trusting the reader to follow. It is a risk, I'm not going to lie, however. it's one that pays off well.
So in short, Thirteen is brilliantly constructed, emotionally harrowing and bold. I genuinely believe this book will be underrated forever, and I find it devastating because it deserves to be shouted about, and celebrated. It's a novel that challenges, enlightens and devastates all at once.
To the author, thank you for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. it wasn't just a read, it was an experience, and I'm genuinely looking forward to see more writing coming from yourself.
Vens Youtube:
Ven's Corner - YouTube
To buy the book:
https://mybook.to/neda
To follow the author:
https://x.com/AuthorHFerry
Links | H. Ferry
Trigger Warnings:
Thirteen | H. Ferdosy
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