What readers think of The Lion Women of Tehran, plus links to write your own review.

THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali

4.5 stars
Narration by Mozhan Navabi and Nikki Massoud was very well done. Mozhan Navabi is a favorite narrator of mine.

Ellie and Homa, two young girls growing up in Tehran meet at school in early 1950s. Ellie, who is descended from Persian royalty, lives in grand comfort until the death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Ellie and Homa do everything together and become the closest of friends and share their ambitions for becoming “lion women.” Things change for the girls when Ellie and her mother are able to return to their previous bourgeois life. Ellie meets new friends and soon Homa begins to fade. Years later Homa reappears in Ellie’s life. As they come of age together during a time of political upheaval that is building in Iran, they’ll learn that their lives will forever be changed by the course of their friendship. Though the story is Ellie’s, Homa is the real star in this.

This is a compelling and beautifully crafted historical read about the power and complexities of deep friendship and resilience during a time of political unrest. With love, ambition, loyalty, jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness, the complex nature of mother-daughter relationships, family shame and secrets.

“Lionesses. Us. Can’t you just see it Ellie? Someday, you and me — we’ll do great things. We’ll live life for ourselves. And we will help others. We are cubs now, maybe. But we will grow to be lionesses. Strong women who will make things happen.”