The Regolith Temple by Roxana Arama is a captivating story that considers scientific advancements in light of how influences in business, religion, and long-held beliefs affect the acceptance of sentient technology. Yamir Varro is a neuroscientist obsessed with his work with artificial brains. His former boss funded his work as private research with plans to expand the outcome by creating sentient technology that can eventually help settle humans around the solar system. His new boss is very excited about the developments so far and plans to make a public announcement on this research. Yamir is, however, apprehensive since the public may not be ready to accept this new advancement, given the religious stance rapidly gaining traction among the nations on earth and the ethical implications around the technology. An unexpected event occurs on the day of the planned announcement, upending Yamir’s life and work. Yamir now has to fight to keep his lifelong work and his family.   

Roxana Arama expertly mingles science with religion and business, exploring the sensitive balance between religious fanaticism and groundbreaking scientific discoveries. She nuances these key themes with the ever-elusive work-life balance, where Yamir’s passion for his work keeps him away from his family, eventually putting his family in danger. Through the characters, Roxana further explores the extent one may go to fulfill what they consider obligation or passion - the clash between moral and legal authority and acting out of sheer human willpower. The pacing, initially marked by deals, negotiations, and give-and-take situations, later escalates to suspenseful and thrilling scenarios. The scenarios are plausible. This story was an excellent read. The Regolith Temple is a must-read for those who love debates about the fate of humans in light of technological advancements.

Set in the future and following a global catastrophe called the Little Ice Age, humanity seeks tenuous peace in The Regolith Temple, a fast-paced sci-fi that nails AI technology issues. Terraforming and colonizing Mars has been thwarted by an anti-progressive faction backed by religious doctrine. Scientists must now work in secret to protect their advancements. The Church of El suppresses humankind through a hypocritical dance between their strict doctrine and controlling any new technology. Yamir Varro has created the A-brain, a direct copy of himself in digital form with the ability to live as a sentient android. Roxana Arama’s novel documents the race to own this new species of sentient beings.

I loved this novel. It wasn't easy to put it down. It’s well-crafted, and flawlessly edited, and Roxana Arama ensures no one is left behind with the scientific explanations. Told from the viewpoint of three narrators, the reader enjoys a panoramic view of the storyline through the dying High Priestess and the scientist. A first-person, present-tense series of diary entries unlocks the emotional life of Y1, the A-brain. Arama threads a persistent theme of enslavement throughout the novel, which I thought was fantastic. It’s presented in its extreme form of enforced labor of an entire people group, alongside the coercion of the individual. The Temple decries enslavement while benefiting from it. Yamir is at first a captive of his obsession with the A-brains but is later a prisoner of the Temple and his laboratory becomes his jail cell. I loved how genuine the characters were, both human and artificial. The author makes it impossible not to favor the cloned brains over the humans, infusing each with the capacity to be loved. But at the heart of the plot is the issue of free will, and whether those who possess it will have the courage to use it. This is an excellent science fiction thriller with moralistic undertones. I thoroughly enjoyed the tug-of-war between science and ethics, while falling in love with the brilliant personalities that Arama has created. It’s a delightfully eloquent, thought-provoking, and compassionate portrayal of the dire future awaiting humanity.

The Regolith Temple by Roxana Arama is a sci-fi thriller that had me hooked from the start with its action-packed scenes and interesting concepts. The book is a mix of ancient mythology and a futuristic struggle, creating a world that feels both fresh and eerily familiar. The former neuroscientist Y1 is in the middle of it all to guide us through, and he has uploaded his consciousness into an android body. Now, he’s forced to watch as his original human self ruins the relationships he once held dear. Things take a sharp turn when a powerful Roman religious sect takes over his lab, planning to terraform Mars, and Y1 suddenly finds himself leading an android rebellion against human oppression. But when the sect’s high priestess kidnaps his human son, his fight becomes personal, forcing him into a desperate battle to save both his family and his people.

Roxana Arama has built a world that I found both mind-bending and moving and the mix of action, philosophy, and raw emotion kept me completely engrossed. The way she weaves ancient Roman mythology into a futuristic setting is just brilliant—it makes the world rich and layered without ever being overwhelming. I loved how the story tackles huge questions about consciousness, identity, and what it means to be human, while still delivering a fast-paced and gripping plot. The action scenes are intense and cinematic, thanks to the author's writing skill, but what got me was the emotional depth of the dialogue. Y1’s struggle when he's watching his old life unravel left me with a lump in my throat as he tried to protect what he'd worked to get. The relationships are real, and the moral dilemmas aren’t easy; there are no simple answers here, which makes everything feel even more compelling. Overall, The Regolith Temple is a must-read for anyone who loves sci-fi that challenges your mind while keeping your heart fully invested and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Set in the Lucretian Era, Roxana Arama's The Regolith Temple tells the fascinating tale of an android destined for great things. Y1 is an A-brain clone of Yamir Varro, an over-ambitious neuroscientist. Even in his android form, Y1 retains many of Yamir's memories--particularly recollections of Yamir's wife, Rhea, and son, Wodan. Unfortunately, Y1 and many other androids do not have the same privileges as humans and are gradually mistreated and abused because of their AI origins. When Yamir's laboratory comes under new management, the facility's current owner, along with a high priestess from a renowned religious corporation, have their own nefarious agendas for Y1 and his android associates. Y1 is determined to find a way to reunite with Yamir's wife and son, even though they do not share the same sentiment. Will he succeed in his mission while also protecting the lives of the other A-brains?

Roxana Arama deftly introduces readers to a world where technological advancements have accelerated beyond the 21st century. Yet some of the technological concepts of that era closely mirror many of our present-day achievements, especially in terms of robotics and advanced artificial intelligence systems. The narrative skillfully merges action, drama, and metaphysical ideologies to create a great sci-fi tale. The prevalence of A-brains and cloning technology throughout the plot brings to the forefront the underlying theme of the novel--what defines a being as human? Y1's quest to come to terms with his existence and Yamir's prior life experiences propels him on an intense but thought-provoking journey. He and the other A-brain clones aren't mere "machines." Readers will begin to understand this the more they examine Y1's quest. Each android is an AI copy of their human equivalent. Arama does an outstanding job of portraying their dilemmas as AI clones in this captivating blend of science fiction and philosophical intrigue. The Regolith Temple is a must-read for sci-fi fans everywhere.