God and Monsters by R.M. Gayler begins when Patient #173, a man with unique immunity to diseases, escapes from a cruel facility and embarks on a journey to the Moon, a desolate wasteland where failed experiments are discarded. Along the way, he encounters Ariel, a girl who reluctantly helps him, and he joins a group of survivors, using his immunity to heal a sick child. He is, as it turns out, the Archangel Michael. Meanwhile, Samuel Arkoff, a ruthless Lucifer in human form who controls advanced technology, seeks to dominate others, including his daughter Cyd, who is struggling to break free from his influence. As Michael confronts Samuel's power, Cyd's attempts at independence clash with her father's manipulation, leading to a confrontation between Michael and Samuel. The overarching plot follows Michael’s quest to lead the Moonies and defend against Samuel’s growing control, and Samuel’s ambitions to rule both Earth and Heaven.

I've found over the last few years that original Christian fantasy/science fiction is incredibly difficult to find, but thankfully we now have God and Monsters by R.M. Gayler, with its excellent mix of spirituality in a tech-driven marvel. What sets it apart is Gayler’s refreshing take on the classic battle between good and evil, which he shifts into an arc where divine characters are not invincible, but flawed, coming to terms with their purpose in a corrupt world. There are a lot of moving parts and some scenes that are dark and hard to swallow, but Gayler’s writing is sharp and his unapologetic depictions drive home the extremities of spiritual warfare and human survival on all fronts. I liked Cyd the most, a teenager who is hoverboarding through life where she thinks her dad is overprotective in a way that all teens feel about their parents, but with so much more to it than that. She comes across as the most grounded in reality. Overall, God and Monsters isn’t just a battle of powers—it’s an entertaining read. Very highly recommended.

God and Monsters by R.M. Gayler is a riveting fusion of dystopia and religious fiction. The story is set on earth, plagued by ozone layer depletion, cancer, and other maladies. Against this backdrop, the world’s richest man, Samuel Arkoff, is the reincarnated Lucifer and dominates the world through technology. At the same time, Patient No. 173 survived for fifteen years in a human test laboratory and escaped, armed with all the viruses he had been infected with and the antidotes he developed. Soon after his escape, it is revealed to him that he is the reincarnated Archangel Michael, and his purpose is to save those who can be saved. On learning about Archangel Michael’s arrival, Samuel Arkoff plans the final battle with God. Will Archangel Michael save the world?

R.M. Gayler’s God and Monsters is the first novel I have read that offers a blend of religious fiction with AI dystopia. I liked the central theme of this novel which presented technology as evil, juxtaposing it with the world’s poorest and ailing, whom Archangel Michael sought to rescue. I appreciated the highly topical issues of drug and game addiction, nuclear threat, and the dominance of technology over humans. But most of all, I liked the sibling bond played out vividly after Michael’s reunion with his sister. As a fan of thought-provoking fantasy, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this fascinating story and highly recommend it to adult dystopian fans. Violence, death, and drug abuse make this novel unpalatable for sensitive readers.