The Destroyer of Worlds: 'An Answer to Every Question' by Steven Seril is a mythology-based work of Christian fantasy that melds some new concepts with familiar deities in a cauldron of war and clashes of immense power. The world Seril's book encompasses is comprised of many in a vast universe that blurs realms with character crossover involving ancient gods and demi-gods, dragons and hybrid dinosaurs, humanoids, aliens, angels, archangels, demons, and Satan, among others. Multiple battles lead to wars and unlikely alliances are formed. Scripture and visions of biblical prophecies are the bedrock of the plot where the followers of God the Father fight evil in a twist to the traditional end-times presage. The scene then returns to the crucifixion as Jesus calls up to the sky in Hebrew, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

As far as Christian fantasy goes, The Destroyer of Worlds unquestionably stands out as innovative. Steven Seril is ambitious in crafting such a highly conceptual and character-rich spin for a single volume of a novel. The writing is functional with more substance than style but the dialogue is witty. Loki's antics are as expected and the dino-gal Neela had me chuckling outright when she responds to a plea to “say something again” by literally saying “something again”. Neela is the most likable and the health struggles she endures pierce the heart. The sexy parts of the book tease but don't cross the line and the feminine-masculine portrayals are unpretentious. I like a classic foundation and Seril sticks to it. Overall, a good book for the right audience.

In a myriad of universes including all human mythologies, undeniably powerful dragon armies serve the embodiment of death. Entire pantheons fail to offer significant resistance. But in one special universe ruled by evolved dinosaur-like beings, an idealistic young woman, Neela, discovers and cares for Azure, a helpless blue tyrannosaur with a fractured memory. Together they struggle through life under an oppressive regime. Backed by world-destroying weaponry, this fascist government may be the only force strong enough to resist the encroaching dragon. When powerful forces clash, civilians suffer. Against this backdrop, can hope and love thrive? Will Azure remember who, and what, he truly is? And when gods clash for the fate of all universes, will anyone, anywhere, survive?

In The Destroyer of Worlds, Steven Seril ambitiously crafts a story to encompass all stories, all time, all beliefs. Against all odds, he succeeded. This epic tale spans untold eons, spinning diverse world mythologies into a unique origin story for all existence. It would be easy to lose perspective in this broad scope, but the author deftly weaves personal, human experiences and emotions into this setting. Neela and Azure’s tale is relatable and authentic. The challenges they face are those of everyday life and are eminently recognizable. Slowly, their personal struggles merge into global and universal conflicts without losing their emotional core. Seril’s straightforward prose and honest dialogue keep the reader attached to the characters and make cosmos-level battles easy to follow. The overall tone of the writing conveys a mythological feel, well suited to this impressive work of literature. A wonderful mix of characters, many familiar from popular mythologies but given original characterization, keeps this massive tale grounded. Surprisingly, a book that on the surface is about dragons vs. dinosaurs, set light-years away and millennia ago, is in fact a deeply human story.

The Destroyer of Worlds by Steven Seril starts at the very beginning – Heaven, the first universe. The Rebellion of Angels vs. Demons has concluded with the God of all gods banishing the Demons and in the process creating a daughter universe. This release of energy, however, gave birth to something else: a wandering and destructive entity – Death. New universes are birthed from Death’s rampage; one universe’s destruction births a new universe and the cycle continues with each new universe housing its own deities. Unbeknownst to Death, her destructive tendencies would lead to a third great power on a par with her own and even the God of all gods. The Destroyer of Worlds pits gods against gods as Death invades the multiverse on her quest for ultimate power in a tale of omniversal proportions.

Steven Seril’s The Destroyer of Worlds is an absolute masterpiece. I was enthralled with every page turned as more and more mythologies and religions enter the fray – Greek, Norse, Japanese, Christian, and many more. Each god is a faithful retelling of their mythological versions including Loki, Athena, Susanoo, and Yeshua (Jesus). Each universe/mythology is vividly expanded upon and described in wonderful detail, filled to the brim with mythological creatures. Battles take place on a cosmic scale with magic, weapons, and all sorts of destructive technology keeping the action fast-paced, gory and never-ending. It isn’t all action and bloodshed as The Destroyer of Worlds tells a compelling story of love, loss, discovery, scheming, and hope – hope to do better. I cannot recommend The Destroyer of Worlds enough to any fan of mythology, fantasy, and adventure. Marvel and DC cannot compare. It is an absolute epic. Bravo, Steven Seril, bravo!