Author name: Judith

Shadows of Tehran Book Reviews

Manhattan Book Review | Nick Berg’s Shadows of Tehran: A 5-Star Manhattan Book Review

What distinguishes this novel is its ability to marry historical complexity with deeply personal stakes. Ricardo, born to an Iranian mother and American father, embodies the fractured self of the modern exile. From the beginning, he is a child “from two different worlds,” straddling cultural chasms and emotional divides that few can navigate without scars. The author’s preface warns us that “this is not just a recounting of events,” and indeed, what unfolds is a richly textured exploration of family, abandonment, resilience, and ultimately, identity.

The early chapters are particularly vivid. I was moved by the descriptions of the family’s Tehran home—a place “built in the mid-1800s…with colorful pomegranate trees and lemon and orange trees with fragrant blooms.” Berg’s ability to describe the setting with such sensory immersion is one of the book’s great strengths. His Tehran is not just a city; it is a character in its own right, both nurturing and oppressive.

Shadows of Tehran Book Reviews

MIDWEST Review | “Shadows of Tehran is more than just another story of a war.”

Critique: Although a compelling work of fiction, “Shadows of Tehran” by Nick Berg is based on a true story. Of immense appeal to readers with an interest in deftly crafted stories of ‘resilience, rebellion, and the enduring human spirit’, author Nick Berg’s genuine flair for compelling and narrative driven storytelling makes “Shadows of Tehran” especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Military/War themed action/adventure collections.

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