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Aether Spheres #2
Void Spheres
A ship unlike any other, forged to travel beyond the spheres
A journey into darkness, among spheres long since dead
A weapon that should never have lived—and once forged, cannot die…
When he heeded the call of a powerful archmage and hired the only crew desperate enough to follow him into the void, disgraced elvar captain Cat Greentrees didn’t realize that it would turn his worldview on its head. Widely reviled and viewed as criminals, his new crew of gobvar—an entire small clan led by a young shaman—quickly proved itself the equal to any crew Cat led in the navy.
Now, to evade a prophecy that could threaten all of the var, Cat and his archmage had stolen a strange ship that has allowed them to enter the ruined spheres of a long-dead empire, spheres whose lack of air, aether, or life stabs into Cat’s very soul.
The ruins around them hold the supplies and perhaps the answers they need to complete their journey, but these broken worlds are far from safe. Because once, the Blood King of the Gobvar ruled these halls. The old stones themselves share a mind... a mind still loyal to a King that should be dead.
A journey into darkness, among spheres long since dead
A weapon that should never have lived—and once forged, cannot die…
When he heeded the call of a powerful archmage and hired the only crew desperate enough to follow him into the void, disgraced elvar captain Cat Greentrees didn’t realize that it would turn his worldview on its head. Widely reviled and viewed as criminals, his new crew of gobvar—an entire small clan led by a young shaman—quickly proved itself the equal to any crew Cat led in the navy.
Now, to evade a prophecy that could threaten all of the var, Cat and his archmage had stolen a strange ship that has allowed them to enter the ruined spheres of a long-dead empire, spheres whose lack of air, aether, or life stabs into Cat’s very soul.
The ruins around them hold the supplies and perhaps the answers they need to complete their journey, but these broken worlds are far from safe. Because once, the Blood King of the Gobvar ruled these halls. The old stones themselves share a mind... a mind still loyal to a King that should be dead.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
424 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
69 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Glynn Stewart
114 books1,747 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 13, 2025
Exciting sequences surrounded by repetitive tedium
When Nine Sailed Star came out I found it a fascinating read I had difficulty putting down. It felt like a cross between Horatio Hornblower and Jules Vern, something rarely seen in fiction, and I looked anxiously forward to this sequel more than any other recent title of Stewart’s.
Which is why I was surprised and disappointed to discover myself struggling to read Void Spheres, which I found overall tedious and repetitive. There is solid story here to be sure, and the ending leaves me wishing book 3 was already released so I could binge on. But overall I found it hard to engage with because much of the content repeated the same observations, concerns and worries, not just from multiple viewpoints but repeatedly from the same characters. The story could have succeeded with half the narrative and been no worse for the brevity.
Separate and apart from the above, it also feels like Stewart adjusted both the plot and the narrative focus, either between books or early into this book. Cat is clearly the central character of book 1, and maybe that’s necessary to the action. But book 2’s focus clearly starts deviating as early as 20% in. The prophetic phrase throughout book 1 and even partway into book 2 is, “Captain and shaman; shaman and Archmage”. By the end of book two it probably should instead be “Captain and Archmage, Archmage and shaman”, and even that isn’t entirely accurate but to say more would be revealing.
And there’s nothing wrong with this turn of direction! But I can’t help but wonder if it is partly to blame for book 2’s wishy-washy narrative. Even just focusing a bit more on Fistfall and Paintrock would have done wonders to nicely flesh out the story, Fistfall’s lack of development is particularly frustrating. In the end it’s clear Stewart presented an engaging beginning and all appearances are for an entertaining ending - but the middle of the story was not as developed as it could have been.
When Nine Sailed Star came out I found it a fascinating read I had difficulty putting down. It felt like a cross between Horatio Hornblower and Jules Vern, something rarely seen in fiction, and I looked anxiously forward to this sequel more than any other recent title of Stewart’s.
Which is why I was surprised and disappointed to discover myself struggling to read Void Spheres, which I found overall tedious and repetitive. There is solid story here to be sure, and the ending leaves me wishing book 3 was already released so I could binge on. But overall I found it hard to engage with because much of the content repeated the same observations, concerns and worries, not just from multiple viewpoints but repeatedly from the same characters. The story could have succeeded with half the narrative and been no worse for the brevity.
Separate and apart from the above, it also feels like Stewart adjusted both the plot and the narrative focus, either between books or early into this book. Cat is clearly the central character of book 1, and maybe that’s necessary to the action. But book 2’s focus clearly starts deviating as early as 20% in. The prophetic phrase throughout book 1 and even partway into book 2 is, “Captain and shaman; shaman and Archmage”. By the end of book two it probably should instead be “Captain and Archmage, Archmage and shaman”, and even that isn’t entirely accurate but to say more would be revealing.
And there’s nothing wrong with this turn of direction! But I can’t help but wonder if it is partly to blame for book 2’s wishy-washy narrative. Even just focusing a bit more on Fistfall and Paintrock would have done wonders to nicely flesh out the story, Fistfall’s lack of development is particularly frustrating. In the end it’s clear Stewart presented an engaging beginning and all appearances are for an entertaining ending - but the middle of the story was not as developed as it could have been.
October 23, 2025
This was a great book, minus the cringy romance. I know it was a successful kickstarter, so the author got some money in advance that validated it as a commercial success, but I am a bit miffed at how many things happen in this book while I feel that my favorite series, Starship Mage, is limping along from book to book in by the numbers sequels. I really appreciate how the author creates hooks for worldbuildings. This one is especially creative, mixing high fantasy, Treasure Planet, pirates, steampunk and more.
October 16, 2025
The story was very good and moved at a good pace. There is a good amount of action and a lot more character development. The story brings us more into an Epic Fantasy or Swords and Sorcery plot line. It was very enjoyable as the author has a knack of excellent story development. With additional recruits at the end of the book, I look forward to see where that will take us. The author has another winner with this book.
October 19, 2025
Always Exciting
Stewart writes Visionary Fantasy/SciFi like no one else currently working. All of his books deliver story & character in entertaining & unexpected ways. The plots may, in the end, seem straightforward but there’s always a twist.
Slàinte Glynn
Stewart writes Visionary Fantasy/SciFi like no one else currently working. All of his books deliver story & character in entertaining & unexpected ways. The plots may, in the end, seem straightforward but there’s always a twist.
Slàinte Glynn
October 22, 2025
I look forward to the third volume
You should already know the Author is an excellent story teller. And he has produced a lovely and complex plot.
And that is just the first two books.
Don't read this first. The first book sets this one up.
Enjoy
You should already know the Author is an excellent story teller. And he has produced a lovely and complex plot.
And that is just the first two books.
Don't read this first. The first book sets this one up.
Enjoy
October 28, 2025
I like when an author tries to play with physics and does a pretty good job of it. Glenn Stewart did that with the Mage series and has done it again in a totally different fashion with the Void Spheres series. I am looking forward to the 3rd book.
September 12, 2025
ARC thank you Glynn Stewart.
November 19, 2025
A well woven tale!
Glynn Stewart delivers again with this epic fantasy! I eagerly await the next installment in the series. The characters and story arch are both fascinating.
Glynn Stewart delivers again with this epic fantasy! I eagerly await the next installment in the series. The characters and story arch are both fascinating.
December 14, 2025
Great, creative, interesting story begun in Nine Sailed Star. So much interesting and new 'science' in a weird and wonderful world. However there were so many times when I wished the narrative wasn't so repetitive, condescending and childish that I almost gave up. It's a good thing the underlying tale was pretty compelling.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews