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Azizam: A Woman's Flight from Silence and Flame
325 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2025
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About the author
Mahnaz Badihian
8 books1 followerMahnaz Badihian is an Iranian American poet, painter, translator, and novelist whose work has been published in multiple languages worldwide. Her most recent work, Azizam: A Woman’s Flight from Silence to Flame (2025), is a novel exploring themes of resilience, exile, and love. She is also the founder and editor of MahMag.org, a multilingual literary magazine dedicated to bringing together poets from around the globe.
Her previous books include the Pushcart-nominated poetry collection Ask the Wind (Vagabond, 2022), Raven of Isfahan (2019), and the international anthology Plague 2020: A World Anthology of Poetry and Art about COVID-19, which she edited. Her work has been featured in Prairie Schooner, Rhino Poetry, Poetry Flash, The Dhaka Review, Maintenant: A Journal of Contemporary Dada Writing and Art, and numerous international anthologies.
Mahnaz has presented her poetry at festivals and conferences worldwide, including Nepal, Italy, Cuba, Chile, Kerala, and Peru, and she continues to represent Iranian and global voices on the international stage. In addition to her literary achievements, she has exhibited her artwork in San Francisco, most notably in her 2018 solo exhibition Visual Metaphor.
She holds an MFA in Poetry from Pacific University and is an active member of the San Francisco Revolutionary Poets Brigade. She currently resides in San Francisco, California.
“My brush and pen explain and explore life as it happens. Without them, I would be in the solitude and alienation I found as a child. Whatever may affect me—happiness, war, or human suffering—will be expressed by my brush and pen.”
Her previous books include the Pushcart-nominated poetry collection Ask the Wind (Vagabond, 2022), Raven of Isfahan (2019), and the international anthology Plague 2020: A World Anthology of Poetry and Art about COVID-19, which she edited. Her work has been featured in Prairie Schooner, Rhino Poetry, Poetry Flash, The Dhaka Review, Maintenant: A Journal of Contemporary Dada Writing and Art, and numerous international anthologies.
Mahnaz has presented her poetry at festivals and conferences worldwide, including Nepal, Italy, Cuba, Chile, Kerala, and Peru, and she continues to represent Iranian and global voices on the international stage. In addition to her literary achievements, she has exhibited her artwork in San Francisco, most notably in her 2018 solo exhibition Visual Metaphor.
She holds an MFA in Poetry from Pacific University and is an active member of the San Francisco Revolutionary Poets Brigade. She currently resides in San Francisco, California.
“My brush and pen explain and explore life as it happens. Without them, I would be in the solitude and alienation I found as a child. Whatever may affect me—happiness, war, or human suffering—will be expressed by my brush and pen.”
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 27, 2025
"Azizam - A Woman’s Flight from Silence and Flame" by Mahnaz Badihian is a moving story about a woman who learns to find her voice after years of silence and control. The book begins with her childhood in Diyar, where she secretly reads books and writes poems while living under strict family rules. As she grows up, she is forced into an arranged marriage that traps her even more. Despite the control and violence she faces, she quietly fights back through her imagination and writing. Her secret strength shines through every page.
When she finally escapes her home, freedom brings new struggles. Living in exile, she faces loss, loneliness, and the pain of being far from her homeland. Still, she keeps writing—it becomes her way of healing and holding on to who she is. The author beautifully shows how hard it is to rebuild a life in a strange land while carrying the weight of old memories.
Her story is filled with quiet moments of love, fear, and courage. The relationships she forms—with people like Hamid and Ze’a—show that even in silence, love can survive. Small things like dried petals, hidden letters, and old photographs remind her of where she came from. Each memory becomes a piece of hope that keeps her going, even when everything else feels lost.
In her new life, the woman slowly starts to find a sense of belonging. The refugee camps, new languages, and unfamiliar places are hard, but she finds comfort in small acts—gardening, learning, and sharing stories with others. Through writing, she starts to turn her pain into strength. Her son Arman’s curiosity and the women she meets in exile help her remember that healing can come from community and kindness.
By the end, "Azizam" becomes a story of courage and renewal. It’s about turning silence into strength and using words to survive. The book reminds us that even after loss and pain, hope can grow again. Through her journey, the woman shows that every voice—no matter how quiet—deserves to be heard. "Azizam" is a gentle but powerful story about resilience, identity, and the endless search for freedom.
When she finally escapes her home, freedom brings new struggles. Living in exile, she faces loss, loneliness, and the pain of being far from her homeland. Still, she keeps writing—it becomes her way of healing and holding on to who she is. The author beautifully shows how hard it is to rebuild a life in a strange land while carrying the weight of old memories.
Her story is filled with quiet moments of love, fear, and courage. The relationships she forms—with people like Hamid and Ze’a—show that even in silence, love can survive. Small things like dried petals, hidden letters, and old photographs remind her of where she came from. Each memory becomes a piece of hope that keeps her going, even when everything else feels lost.
In her new life, the woman slowly starts to find a sense of belonging. The refugee camps, new languages, and unfamiliar places are hard, but she finds comfort in small acts—gardening, learning, and sharing stories with others. Through writing, she starts to turn her pain into strength. Her son Arman’s curiosity and the women she meets in exile help her remember that healing can come from community and kindness.
By the end, "Azizam" becomes a story of courage and renewal. It’s about turning silence into strength and using words to survive. The book reminds us that even after loss and pain, hope can grow again. Through her journey, the woman shows that every voice—no matter how quiet—deserves to be heard. "Azizam" is a gentle but powerful story about resilience, identity, and the endless search for freedom.
November 7, 2025
Azizam is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that follows Sola on her journey escaping from silence, unspoken violence and oppression as a female in Iran. Her harrowing escape is through refugee camps and danger, yet what stands out most is her quiet strength and determination to survive. Writing becomes her lifeline, at first secretive and hidden from her family during childhood and then in her forced arranged marriage as self-preservation, but gradually transforming into something powerful and freeing. Her writing tells her own life story but Sola is also able to tell the stories of the other refugees and immigrants, as a cathartic healing process for those around her.
What I loved about this book is how it captures not just the struggle of displacement, but the long, emotional process of trying to belong somewhere new. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh bureaucracy or the loneliness refugees face, but it also celebrates the small, everyday joys that make life meaningful again. Sola’s memories of the people she loves give her courage, and through her writing she rebuilds herself piece by piece.
The prose is lyrical and poetry is woven into the storyline. It is grounded in very human emotion. It made me think about how easily we take freedom of expression for granted. I found myself reflecting on resilience, identity, and how self-expression through her writing helped heal even the deepest wounds.
Azizam is a story about survival, hope, and the quiet beauty of starting over. Everyday small tasks such as cooking together or observing nature mindfully allow Sola to build herself back up to become a strong female voice representing those around her; she regains her confidence and self-respect. I found the novel to be original and extremely well written; it would not have been a book that I would have usually have chosen but I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it. It’s one of those rare novels that reminds you how powerful a single voice can be.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I loved about this book is how it captures not just the struggle of displacement, but the long, emotional process of trying to belong somewhere new. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh bureaucracy or the loneliness refugees face, but it also celebrates the small, everyday joys that make life meaningful again. Sola’s memories of the people she loves give her courage, and through her writing she rebuilds herself piece by piece.
The prose is lyrical and poetry is woven into the storyline. It is grounded in very human emotion. It made me think about how easily we take freedom of expression for granted. I found myself reflecting on resilience, identity, and how self-expression through her writing helped heal even the deepest wounds.
Azizam is a story about survival, hope, and the quiet beauty of starting over. Everyday small tasks such as cooking together or observing nature mindfully allow Sola to build herself back up to become a strong female voice representing those around her; she regains her confidence and self-respect. I found the novel to be original and extremely well written; it would not have been a book that I would have usually have chosen but I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it. It’s one of those rare novels that reminds you how powerful a single voice can be.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2025
Azizam by Iranian American Mahnaz Badihian is a beautifully written novel that blends Middle Eastern fiction, women’s literature, and lyrical prose into an unforgettable story. At its core, this book is about a woman’s flight from silence to flame - a journey of resilience, courage, and survival.
Badihian’s poetic background shines through in every line, creating vivid imagery and emotional depth that rivals the best works of contemporary literary fiction. Readers who enjoy stories of strong women, feminist literature, Iran, and novels set against the backdrop of political upheaval will find Azizam both powerful and deeply moving.
What makes this book so unique is the way it weaves poetry and narrative together, making it not just a novel but also a work of art. It is perfect for fans of historical fiction, women’s empowerment stories, and readers who appreciate international literature that gives voice to silenced histories.
Azizam is a book you won’t forget - a moving tale that belongs on the shelf of anyone who values powerful women’s stories and poetic, thought-provoking fiction.
Badihian’s poetic background shines through in every line, creating vivid imagery and emotional depth that rivals the best works of contemporary literary fiction. Readers who enjoy stories of strong women, feminist literature, Iran, and novels set against the backdrop of political upheaval will find Azizam both powerful and deeply moving.
What makes this book so unique is the way it weaves poetry and narrative together, making it not just a novel but also a work of art. It is perfect for fans of historical fiction, women’s empowerment stories, and readers who appreciate international literature that gives voice to silenced histories.
Azizam is a book you won’t forget - a moving tale that belongs on the shelf of anyone who values powerful women’s stories and poetic, thought-provoking fiction.
August 6, 2025
Azizam is a haunting and beautifully rendered portrait of a woman’s fight to reclaim her voice in a world determined to erase it. Through Sola’s journey, from enforced silence in Iran to the perilous path of escape, Manhaz Badihian captures the razor’s edge between survival and self-expression with rare honesty and grace.
Every page pulses with the quiet power of resistance: forged papers, hidden poems, and a love so fierce it defies law and fear alike. This is not only a story of exile and resilience, but also a celebration of the unbreakable bond between mother and child.
Lyrical, urgent, and deeply human, Azizam lingers in the heart long after the last page. A must-read for anyone who believes in the transformative power of a woman’s voice.
Every page pulses with the quiet power of resistance: forged papers, hidden poems, and a love so fierce it defies law and fear alike. This is not only a story of exile and resilience, but also a celebration of the unbreakable bond between mother and child.
Lyrical, urgent, and deeply human, Azizam lingers in the heart long after the last page. A must-read for anyone who believes in the transformative power of a woman’s voice.
August 4, 2025
This story doesn’t just tell you what it means to survive under oppression—it makes you feel it. Sola’s journey, fleeing with her son across borders, armed only with hidden poetry and a fierce love that refuses to die, is heartbreaking and brave. The writing is beautiful—raw in places, lyrical in others—and it stayed with me long after I finished.
Manaz Badian has created something unforgettable here. Azizam is for anyone who’s ever felt silenced, trapped, or torn between home and freedom. It’s a tribute to mothers, to rebels, to the quiet acts of defiance that echo louder than any scream.
This book deserves to be read, shared, and remembered.
Manaz Badian has created something unforgettable here. Azizam is for anyone who’s ever felt silenced, trapped, or torn between home and freedom. It’s a tribute to mothers, to rebels, to the quiet acts of defiance that echo louder than any scream.
This book deserves to be read, shared, and remembered.
January 2, 2026
A fictional story about a repressed woman caught up in an arranged marriage. While escaping the marriage, she builds a new life for herself and her son, eventually finding her voice and authentic self along the way.
The author writes in a lyrical prose that I found confusing at times. The subject drew me to the book, but more dialogue was needed to further enrich the story.
The author writes in a lyrical prose that I found confusing at times. The subject drew me to the book, but more dialogue was needed to further enrich the story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews