A review by askoda
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

5.0

Depression is a monster we all struggle to talk about. It’s the monster we all try to privately slay. Yet, we never fully understand the different forms it can morph into until it affects either you or someone you love. If you’ve ever been curious about what it is like to live with depression or simply looking for hope and understanding, please read this book.

Khorram built a world waiting for Darius to discover. He built a world reminding us that somewhere our place is empty- even if we haven’t stepped foot near it. Yet, despite the beauty and love that surrounded him, his depression constantly kept him at bay. It held him hostage from things he wanted to understand.

Between the covers were some incredible one liners that just struck me. Khorram knew exactly how to strike the chords of my heart. He depicted the need to belong, the need to understand, the need for acceptance over something that isn’t tangible.

And on top of all of this, I learned so much about Iran. Khorram painted such a lustrous and intimate portrait of the culture I couldn’t help to become transfixed.

It may be a YA… but everyone needs to read this.