Title:

The Lion Women of Tehran

Author:

Marjan Kamali

Category:

Literature

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

January 26, 2026

he Lion Women of Tehran is not the type of book I typically read, but a glowing review convinced me to order it from the library. There was a long wait list; it took a while for me to get a copy. When it did come in, I was already reading other books and had to return it unread (unable to renew due to the long wait list). I placed another hold on it, again a long wait, but this time I read it when I got my hands on it. It is coincidence I read it while mass protests against the oppressive theocracy of Iran are ongoing, with reports of more than 12,000 protestors murdered by the country's corrupt rulers.

The Lion Women of Tehran is told in first person by Elaleh "Ellie", though a few chapters in third person describe events relating to other major characters. Ellie is seven years old when the book begins. Ellie enjoys a life of wealth and privilege; her mother is descended from royalty. Her father has just died. By custom, Ellie's mom should marry her dead husband's brother, Uncle Massoud. But she refuses to marry him, so Uncle Massouds locates Ellie and her mother in a dingy house in the poor section of Tehran with a small stipend. Ellie is sent to school with the other poor kids while her mother laments her loss of status and comfort. Being the new kid, Ellie is intimidated at school. But an ebullient young girl named Homa befriends Ellie, and soon they are fast friends.

Homa is a force of nature. She is daring, smart, independent-minded. Together, Ellie and Homa become the best students in the class. Homa dreams of going to university and becoming a judge. Homa wants to right all the wrongs in Iranian society. The two children imagine themselves as courageous women leading Iran into a utopia; they promise that they will be "lion women" when they grow up.

The story is woven into the recent history of Iran. It is 1950 when Ellie is seven. Iran is ruled by the democratically elected Mosaddeq. Despite a democratic government, major reforms are needed - women cannot vote, all laws favor the husband in cases of divorce and child-custody. Later in the novel, as Ellie and Homa grow, the USA-engineered coup that installs the Shah happens. The Shah implements some reforms, but conditions for the poor did not improve under his autocratic rule. Then, in 1979, the disastrous revolution that installed the Ayatollah Khomeini occurred, soon followed by an invasion from Iraq led by Saddam Hussein, which results in a costly, bloody nine-year war.

For three wonderful years, Ellie and Homa are fast friends. But one day, ten-year old Ellie comes home early from school and accidentally sees her mother copulating with her uncle. Soon they are married, and move back uptown, to the wealthy, privileged area of Tehran. Although the children initially attempt to keep in touch, inertia soon dissolves their tight friendship. Ellie goes to an elite high school, the link to Homa is severed.

Homa is left in the past. Or is she?

The characterization is the best part of the book. Ellie and Homa are real personalities that the reader cares about. All the secondary characters are equally well drawn, from shy Abdol, handsome Mehrdad, beautiful Afarin, and Ellie's judgmental, superstitious mother. The depiction of Homa's loving family makes you want to meet them yourself.

Given the dark history of Iran, it is not a book with a totally happy ending, but the main characters enjoy some moments of peace and joy. The oppression and hardship of the ordinary Iranian citizens shown here. They want to be free to raise their families, dress and worship as they please, but the rulers of the country have other plans. The book was written during 2022, after the murder of Mahsa Amini by Iran's morality police, but it is an even more timely read now in early 2026.