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House Adamant #2
The Old Guard
At the heart of humanity
At the beginning of everything
Hope can be born… or destroyed
For months, Princess Lorraine Adamant has fled from star system to star system in a desperate attempt to evade the minions of her uncle, the man who murdered her entire family to seize power in the Star Kingdom of Adamant.
Thanks to the crew of her ship and her loyal bodyguard, Vigo Jarret, Lorraine has finally reached her goal: the homeworld, Earth. There, she plans to lay her case before the United Worlds, the oldest and greatest of humanity’s nations.
But to an ancient democracy, the trials of an obscure kingdom are hardly relevant. Lorraine must turn her mind from war to diplomacy, to convince the homeworld to honor its oaths and save her Kingdom.
One way… or another.
At the beginning of everything
Hope can be born… or destroyed
For months, Princess Lorraine Adamant has fled from star system to star system in a desperate attempt to evade the minions of her uncle, the man who murdered her entire family to seize power in the Star Kingdom of Adamant.
Thanks to the crew of her ship and her loyal bodyguard, Vigo Jarret, Lorraine has finally reached her goal: the homeworld, Earth. There, she plans to lay her case before the United Worlds, the oldest and greatest of humanity’s nations.
But to an ancient democracy, the trials of an obscure kingdom are hardly relevant. Lorraine must turn her mind from war to diplomacy, to convince the homeworld to honor its oaths and save her Kingdom.
One way… or another.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2024
569 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Glynn Stewart
114 books1,749 followersGlynn Stewart is the author of over 60 books, including Starship’s Mage, a bestselling science fiction and fantasy series where faster-than-light travel is possible–but only because of magic.
Writing managed to liberate Glynn from a bleak future as an accountant. With his personality and hope for a high-tech future intact, he lives in Southern Ontario with his partner, their cats, and an unstoppable writing habit.
Writing managed to liberate Glynn from a bleak future as an accountant. With his personality and hope for a high-tech future intact, he lives in Southern Ontario with his partner, their cats, and an unstoppable writing habit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 11, 2024
Poisoned Pawn
The author has delivered another politically complex grand strategic sci-fi epic. The elective monarchy of Adamant has fallen to an internal coup, and protagonist Lorraine flees to the local superpower and tries to gather support to retake her kingdom. Historic analogies include Charles II’s successful Restoration and James II’s exile to France a generation later. Those tales required the chaos of complex political dynamics such as differing governance structures, religious schisms, and interconnected royal bloodlines. The Old Guard strives to match with the United Worlds and its blend of colonialism, corporatism and bureaucratic inertia. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too neat. The worldbuilding is excellent, but exile stories build atop hundreds of years of tradition and dealmaking. For all the author’s best efforts, his universe isn’t wacky enough.
There’s also a lack of thematic coherence. The primary antagonist taught Lorraine through chess analogies. Her burgeoning strategic mind abstracts complex situations and represents them on the game board. The Old Guard all but ignores this concept, using it once in the Third Act to explain deception instead of showcasing her foresight. There’s also the repeated motto: “Our Realm. Our House. Our Will. Adamant”. With such a statement, the author should challenge the protagonist to live up to the implied heroic stubbornness. Again, there’s only one such event, and because it’s from Lorraine’s viewpoint, the reader is unconvinced by her resolve. The author should integrate these concepts throughout the novel, offering the protagonist numerous chances to demonstrate her clever strategic planning and unwavering determination. Set the stage for heroes to be heroic!
These issues are a side-effect of the overall narrative structure. One can cleanly divide the story into two parts, but unfortunately, there’s insufficient foreshadowing of the latter arc. There’s not even a temporary antagonist for our protagonists to overcome. The result is an aimless first half that only becomes understandable in retrospect. I sympathize. The author wanted to surprise readers. But the author knows the story’s end and has to write for a reader who doesn’t know his plans. As a result, The Old Guard feels like it’s merely going through the motions, waiting to unveil its Third Act twist. Once there, everything clicks into place. All the decisions are understandable. Yet the whole journey should be enjoyable, and while one should categorize my commentary as nitpicks, it’s the details that separate good writing from legendary. What’s frustrating is that we’re so nearly there.
Recommended.
The author has delivered another politically complex grand strategic sci-fi epic. The elective monarchy of Adamant has fallen to an internal coup, and protagonist Lorraine flees to the local superpower and tries to gather support to retake her kingdom. Historic analogies include Charles II’s successful Restoration and James II’s exile to France a generation later. Those tales required the chaos of complex political dynamics such as differing governance structures, religious schisms, and interconnected royal bloodlines. The Old Guard strives to match with the United Worlds and its blend of colonialism, corporatism and bureaucratic inertia. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too neat. The worldbuilding is excellent, but exile stories build atop hundreds of years of tradition and dealmaking. For all the author’s best efforts, his universe isn’t wacky enough.
There’s also a lack of thematic coherence. The primary antagonist taught Lorraine through chess analogies. Her burgeoning strategic mind abstracts complex situations and represents them on the game board. The Old Guard all but ignores this concept, using it once in the Third Act to explain deception instead of showcasing her foresight. There’s also the repeated motto: “Our Realm. Our House. Our Will. Adamant”. With such a statement, the author should challenge the protagonist to live up to the implied heroic stubbornness. Again, there’s only one such event, and because it’s from Lorraine’s viewpoint, the reader is unconvinced by her resolve. The author should integrate these concepts throughout the novel, offering the protagonist numerous chances to demonstrate her clever strategic planning and unwavering determination. Set the stage for heroes to be heroic!
These issues are a side-effect of the overall narrative structure. One can cleanly divide the story into two parts, but unfortunately, there’s insufficient foreshadowing of the latter arc. There’s not even a temporary antagonist for our protagonists to overcome. The result is an aimless first half that only becomes understandable in retrospect. I sympathize. The author wanted to surprise readers. But the author knows the story’s end and has to write for a reader who doesn’t know his plans. As a result, The Old Guard feels like it’s merely going through the motions, waiting to unveil its Third Act twist. Once there, everything clicks into place. All the decisions are understandable. Yet the whole journey should be enjoyable, and while one should categorize my commentary as nitpicks, it’s the details that separate good writing from legendary. What’s frustrating is that we’re so nearly there.
Recommended.
December 16, 2025
The Old Guard is the second book in this series, and this one primarily focuses on the ships themselves. Ships that supposedly are insane, only they aren't. The earth has turned down the request for assistance to reclaim her homeworld, and the only option left is to obtain assistance for themselves. It's well known that the old guard ships were failed experiments in ai, and the ships themselves are insane, thus their being kept perpetually asleep, so they cannot cause any harm. Only that's not the real story, and when the main character has her mental implant invaded by the ship they're trying to liberate, she finds out the story is so much more than anyone has suspected.
Great scifi bordering on reality in this one. This is the kind of scifi I like to read, and I'm definitely planning on reading more in this series, after I get caught up on some other series I'm severely behind on as well as this one.
Ahh, so little time, and so many books.
If you're a scifi fan, you should probably add this series to your to read list, especially if you like galaxy spanning stories about civilizations trying to keep themselves intact.
Great scifi bordering on reality in this one. This is the kind of scifi I like to read, and I'm definitely planning on reading more in this series, after I get caught up on some other series I'm severely behind on as well as this one.
Ahh, so little time, and so many books.
If you're a scifi fan, you should probably add this series to your to read list, especially if you like galaxy spanning stories about civilizations trying to keep themselves intact.
September 11, 2024
I love Stewart's books for many reasons, but one is that his main characters almost always stand by their core moral values or believes - even if following those values makes things difficult for them. In many (probably all) of Stewart's books the plot revolves around these moral choices.
In this book too, Lorrian Adamant must decide if she will follow a couple of her core values. No spoilers, but the particular moral challenges raised in this book are ethical issues we're currently wrestling with today as a society, especially in the USA, and so I especially enjoyed the examination of those issues.
I think this book asks as well - If we followed our current path, what might the future look like? The future developed in this book seem quite likely to me.
I also think Stewart likes to examine how governments could work - with this series we get an interesting take on what might happen if you merged monarchy and democracy together - you can vote to select the next monarch, but only from one of these 5 members of the royal family (that's explained in the first book, so hopefully not a spoiler at this point). It is quite unique!
In this book too, Lorrian Adamant must decide if she will follow a couple of her core values. No spoilers, but the particular moral challenges raised in this book are ethical issues we're currently wrestling with today as a society, especially in the USA, and so I especially enjoyed the examination of those issues.
I think this book asks as well - If we followed our current path, what might the future look like? The future developed in this book seem quite likely to me.
I also think Stewart likes to examine how governments could work - with this series we get an interesting take on what might happen if you merged monarchy and democracy together - you can vote to select the next monarch, but only from one of these 5 members of the royal family (that's explained in the first book, so hopefully not a spoiler at this point). It is quite unique!
September 21, 2024
Excellent sequel to The Exodus gambit - asking the dominant human power, the United Worlds based on Earth for help restoring the legitimate government of Adamant, Lorraine and her team acquire new friends and new enemies, find out more about her uncle's coup, and its enablers from the powerful interstellars that didn't like the anticolonial policy of Lorraine's mother and finally she has to make a fundamental decision about how to proceed.
Also lots of backstory about Lorraine's family and some insight into why her uncle turned so decisively against it (didn't help that Lorraine's mother used some underhanded methods that denigrated her brother Benjamin before the monarchical election - methods she later regretted).
A lot of descriptions of Earth's civilization, many sfnal allusions (of course we had the planet Tolkien in the first volume, now we have the Mesa Alignment which promotes genetical modification of the human genome beyond the currently accepted protocols) and much more about the self-aware AI's - called synthetic intelligences which have full personhood and rights under the Asimov protocols etc
Another good ending at a perfect tbc point and the only thing I don't like, namely that we have to wait until March 2025 for the next installment...
Highly recommended and continuing to fulfill the promise of the first volume.
Also lots of backstory about Lorraine's family and some insight into why her uncle turned so decisively against it (didn't help that Lorraine's mother used some underhanded methods that denigrated her brother Benjamin before the monarchical election - methods she later regretted).
A lot of descriptions of Earth's civilization, many sfnal allusions (of course we had the planet Tolkien in the first volume, now we have the Mesa Alignment which promotes genetical modification of the human genome beyond the currently accepted protocols) and much more about the self-aware AI's - called synthetic intelligences which have full personhood and rights under the Asimov protocols etc
Another good ending at a perfect tbc point and the only thing I don't like, namely that we have to wait until March 2025 for the next installment...
Highly recommended and continuing to fulfill the promise of the first volume.
May 27, 2025
Book 1 was great, this one is better.
I can’t believe how fast that book was finished. When I turn a page to discover with surprise that I’m being politely pointed to the next book, I recognize how deeply entrenched I was. Becoming that absorbed is one of the the hallmarks of a great book.
I can’t tell you much about the book without giving away parts of the story that would be better left to new readers to discover.
The plotting was aces, the new characters are going to be verrrry interesting and there will be hell to pay for so many things. Watching justice be meted out will be so satisfactory.
If I was enthusiastic about Book 1 of Adamant House, Book 2 has me even more anxious for that 4th book to come out soon, so I can see how this ends. For now, I’m ready for Book 3.
I can’t believe how fast that book was finished. When I turn a page to discover with surprise that I’m being politely pointed to the next book, I recognize how deeply entrenched I was. Becoming that absorbed is one of the the hallmarks of a great book.
I can’t tell you much about the book without giving away parts of the story that would be better left to new readers to discover.
The plotting was aces, the new characters are going to be verrrry interesting and there will be hell to pay for so many things. Watching justice be meted out will be so satisfactory.
If I was enthusiastic about Book 1 of Adamant House, Book 2 has me even more anxious for that 4th book to come out soon, so I can see how this ends. For now, I’m ready for Book 3.
September 11, 2024
Loved the story line, as Lorraine, her ebbattled ship and crew, complete their perilous journey to Earth to seek help, to rescue their homeworld from the heinous activities of her Uncle.
Despite timely assistance from sources within, the plea for help is denied but, a bold plan is set in motion. Not one to admit defeat, our author takes us step by step through a do or die attempt to steal the means to return home and deal with the Coup that is ravaging the the worlds of Adamant.
Well done Sir Glynn, you breathe life into the efforts of your players, their hopes, their pain and their collective effort to go beyond, to achieve victory. Well worth the wait, I'm so looking forward to #3
Despite timely assistance from sources within, the plea for help is denied but, a bold plan is set in motion. Not one to admit defeat, our author takes us step by step through a do or die attempt to steal the means to return home and deal with the Coup that is ravaging the the worlds of Adamant.
Well done Sir Glynn, you breathe life into the efforts of your players, their hopes, their pain and their collective effort to go beyond, to achieve victory. Well worth the wait, I'm so looking forward to #3
January 13, 2025
AI forever?
Pentarch Lorrain knew her uncle was the one to kill most of her family, and he tried to kill her. She thought that if she dug up enough dirt on her uncle, she could go to the board of Regents and get him kicked out of Regency, so a proper election could be held. Turns out that he was quicker than she and was able to gain the support of a majority of the Regents. Her final choice was to go to Earth and get them to support her. After months to get there and another month to be heard, she was again refused; they just didn't care about the civil war of a system that was so far away. Then she found that the Earth's Navy had a mothball fleet of very capable cruisers, not very far away. And what surprises she found then!
Pentarch Lorrain knew her uncle was the one to kill most of her family, and he tried to kill her. She thought that if she dug up enough dirt on her uncle, she could go to the board of Regents and get him kicked out of Regency, so a proper election could be held. Turns out that he was quicker than she and was able to gain the support of a majority of the Regents. Her final choice was to go to Earth and get them to support her. After months to get there and another month to be heard, she was again refused; they just didn't care about the civil war of a system that was so far away. Then she found that the Earth's Navy had a mothball fleet of very capable cruisers, not very far away. And what surprises she found then!
January 27, 2025
Terrific book. Lorraine and her team try to convince Earth to live up to their stated ideals. This is a tough sell. Securing Navy ships to assist her in turning back the overthrow of the Kingdom of Adamant by her uncle proves exceedingly difficult. Lorraine's creativity and dedication, combined with the loyalty of her crew in the face of death, leads her and her team through this impossible, and dangerous, quest for the ships needed to turn back the overthrow of her government by her uncle, the Black Regent.
Action comes in many forms in the story, but the exciting later parts are the reward for the setting of the stage in the first half or more of the book.
Definitely looking forward to book 3!
Action comes in many forms in the story, but the exciting later parts are the reward for the setting of the stage in the first half or more of the book.
Definitely looking forward to book 3!
September 10, 2024
Lorraine Adamant was one of the many heirs to the Adamant throne and a commander in the Navy. Then her uncle decided to kill off the other heirs and seize control. Her only hope is to survive the tracks on her and her ship to get her to Earth using The Exodus Gambit (paper) that her mother set up. Unfortunately The Old Guard (paper from Faolan's Pen Publishing Inc. by Glynn Stewart ) that runs the future equivalent of the UN is unwilling to get involved. This forces her into a desperate move to get illegal allies, The final part of the series will return her to Adamant to face her uncle. Lots of fun.
September 19, 2024
The political battle to get support for Adamantine was interesting for a while, but there wasn’t really that much manoeuvring or intrigue, actually the author seemed more concerned with the flirting between Devine and Lorraine.
The story progresses with a series of failures and disapointments, interspersed with several ‘mini’ chapters hinting at where the story might be going, eventually Lorraine starts her plan to defeat her Uncle, then the book ends.
Overall it wasn’t a bad story, but I felt there should have been something more.
The story progresses with a series of failures and disapointments, interspersed with several ‘mini’ chapters hinting at where the story might be going, eventually Lorraine starts her plan to defeat her Uncle, then the book ends.
Overall it wasn’t a bad story, but I felt there should have been something more.
August 30, 2024
Wow. This was like reading a collaboration between Jason Anspach and David Weber, specifically of the Order of the Centurian series and of the Dahak series. And this is the build-up! I am already on tetherhooks, waiting for the next book in this epic space opera!
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 11, 2024
Good sequel!
Continuing from Exodus Gambit the Pentarch Lorraine Adamant and the crew of the Goldenrod
search for aid against her Uncle and his coup.
This is set in a more political environment but doesn't lack in action.
New characters are added and melded into the plot.
Good, evolving character development.
Looking forward to the next one!
Continuing from Exodus Gambit the Pentarch Lorraine Adamant and the crew of the Goldenrod
search for aid against her Uncle and his coup.
This is set in a more political environment but doesn't lack in action.
New characters are added and melded into the plot.
Good, evolving character development.
Looking forward to the next one!
September 14, 2024
Through Politics And Beyond
We find Lorraine much as I had expected in this book--determined still, but grappling with the costs and the work. We get some juicy bits of humanizing backstory all around and get to enjoy fiercely professional security services.
From politics through to what happens when politics fails, a great read.
We find Lorraine much as I had expected in this book--determined still, but grappling with the costs and the work. We get some juicy bits of humanizing backstory all around and get to enjoy fiercely professional security services.
From politics through to what happens when politics fails, a great read.
September 20, 2024
Phenomenal story
This book is so awesome! Yes talking to politicians is boring and the vote by the politicians predictable. what happens afterward s is far from predictions as you can get. Just who has the regent of Adamant asked to kill his niece is anyone he can buy. Looking forward to book 3.
This book is so awesome! Yes talking to politicians is boring and the vote by the politicians predictable. what happens afterward s is far from predictions as you can get. Just who has the regent of Adamant asked to kill his niece is anyone he can buy. Looking forward to book 3.
September 22, 2024
great round 2
Politics, intrigue, and more adventures as Loraine Adamant seeks allies on earth, the seat of the oldest and most powerful star nation. If she fails there, there is a plan B, but that is nearly suicidal. Love the story, and very typical for Glynn Stewart., strong characters and interesting relationships. Can’t wait to see what happens.
Politics, intrigue, and more adventures as Loraine Adamant seeks allies on earth, the seat of the oldest and most powerful star nation. If she fails there, there is a plan B, but that is nearly suicidal. Love the story, and very typical for Glynn Stewart., strong characters and interesting relationships. Can’t wait to see what happens.
December 12, 2024
Superb space opera with great strong characters. Lorraine is on Earth seeking their help in stopping uncle's coup. This part of the story is full of political manoeuvring and intrigue. The second half involves an intriguing mission and a shocking discovery. Narration is excellent, easy to listen too. Highly recommend this series.
June 24, 2025
Better then book 1
Enjoyable, if a little predictable. I consider Glynn books to be comfort reading, I don't love all of them but I can normally tell pretty quickly if I will like it. Read in one sitting, won't start book 3 for a couple days because once I start it I will have to finish it.
Enjoyable, if a little predictable. I consider Glynn books to be comfort reading, I don't love all of them but I can normally tell pretty quickly if I will like it. Read in one sitting, won't start book 3 for a couple days because once I start it I will have to finish it.
November 15, 2025
The 2nd book descends into unbelievable and foolish decisions. I can't really write about what's wrong with this book except in generalities because of spoilers. Let's just say Lorraine makes some decisions in this book which rationally would have very, very bad results in the long term, but probably won't because of plot armor.
September 10, 2024
I received and ARC for this book.
This is a great continuation of the series. Less action and more politics, but as always the characterization is great and the worldbuilding is excellent. Looking forward to book 3.
This is a great continuation of the series. Less action and more politics, but as always the characterization is great and the worldbuilding is excellent. Looking forward to book 3.
September 12, 2024
Excellent
And darn! I have to wait until March of 25 to see how she ends up getting rid of her vicious uncle... And solves the problem with the UVN. But I pre-ordered because this author is a genius! And he's at the top of my "favorite author" list... 🙂
And darn! I have to wait until March of 25 to see how she ends up getting rid of her vicious uncle... And solves the problem with the UVN. But I pre-ordered because this author is a genius! And he's at the top of my "favorite author" list... 🙂
September 14, 2024
After two books this is Glynn's best series next to "Starship Mage". This one has a lot of roots in the "Honor Herrington" style so if you like that you will like this as well. I've pre-order volume 3 and will be looking for many more.
September 19, 2024
Honestly a little dull until the last 25% of the book. Nothing much exciting happened through the Earth section and everything seemed like the predictable outcome. However the ending keeps me looking forward to the next installment of this series.
September 22, 2024
Another great read from Glynn Stewart
I always enjoy the way Glynn Stewart keeps a story moving forward. Here we take another journey through the future of House Adamant. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
I always enjoy the way Glynn Stewart keeps a story moving forward. Here we take another journey through the future of House Adamant. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
October 20, 2024
A good second book
This was a good second book in the series. The plot line continues from the first book. The main character continues to develop and more depth is seen. Looking forward to the third book.
This was a good second book in the series. The plot line continues from the first book. The main character continues to develop and more depth is seen. Looking forward to the third book.
November 28, 2024
I do tend to enjoy all of Glynn's books this series is no exception. The character development and world building are really well done. The story line is interesting with a few twists but all in all a good book and I am looking forward to the next one.
September 10, 2024
Great sequel to a great first book in the series. I like the characters and the world building.
September 12, 2024
excellent
I am really engaged in this story and the characters. There is so much action going on but also a level of emotional engagement that makes the story so readable.
I am really engaged in this story and the characters. There is so much action going on but also a level of emotional engagement that makes the story so readable.
September 13, 2024
Good read
Well written tale of loyalty and deceit. More personal relationships are develop here. Add several self aware warships on the run to spice things up.
Well written tale of loyalty and deceit. More personal relationships are develop here. Add several self aware warships on the run to spice things up.
September 26, 2024
great fun - love this author
great fun - love this author
This universe has a lot of potential and the idea that tech shifts within the light years from earth is interesting
great fun - love this author
This universe has a lot of potential and the idea that tech shifts within the light years from earth is interesting
December 18, 2024
Not Stewart's best work. Boring, overloaded and padded with unnecessary details as if a certain number of pages had to be reached in order to publish. Very disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews