Alien Olympus

Starship’s Mage #19

by Glynn Stewart

They need allies
They need intel
They need time

Despite sacrifices and even victories, the Protectorate of the Mage-Queen of Mars is losing the war against the Reezh Kazh, the fascist theocracy that rules the only aliens they’ve ever met.

Ambassador Connor O’Hannagain has been sent to find allies among the reezh home worlds, the old and mighty systems that defied the Kazh once—but a centuries-long cold war has left the enemies of his enemy paranoid and violent.

Mike Kelzin, husband, pilot and spy, is the Protectorate’s eyes and ears, seeking every scrap of intelligence that can be found on the Kazh. But access to the enemy worlds is nigh impossible, leaving his best chances in the occupied Chimera System—where even the Resistance is entirely cut off from Mars.

Mage-Admiral Jane Alexander, Crown Princess and fleet commander, knows that they need time more than anything else. Time their enemy is unlikely to give them.

To turn the tide, Mars must buy allies, intelligence, and time—and only the oldest currency can pay for all three.

Blood.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook

392 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2026

About the author

Glynn 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.

Reviews

[Leon Andrews]

So good to catch up with everyone again, as Glynn Stewart brings us up to speed with what has and is happening. There is growing optimism within 2nd fleet, plans are evolving and assets are moving into position, its almost like playing chess blindfolded, real time information just isn’t available or scarce about activity around Chimera. Can Roslyn Chambers be alive, what is happening with the Diplomatic mission to garner support.

A bold high risk plan is tabled involving penetration of the enemy fleets on station, stage another evacuation of another group of people left behind and to make physical contact with their force hiding under ground and with whom any contact to-date has been limited but somehow, the attempt has to be made.

What follows, is a complex undertaking ,our Author navigates his way through the complexities of this perilous game of cat and mouse with the enemies fleets, getting in to their destinations safely is one thing but getting out again is something else entirely. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, thank you Glynn, some late nights and exciting moments, am anxiously awaiting for the next chapter.

[Maureen]

The ending … wow.

In this book, we are trying once again to get into the Chimera system where many people are still underground. We’re extending diplomatic overtures to a reezh culture, and we’re sitting quietly while Roslyn Chambers wonders why she’s alive and if her magic is gone.

At the end of a sometimes uplifting, always exhilarating, but ugly action sequence, we may lose one of the Mage-Queen’s closest, and I tell you, my heart dropped. First time I’ve ever, in all 19 books, said to myself “oh no, he didn’t” meaning the author. I’ve come to expect care from him for his characters. I don’t know if it shatters a compact I thought might be in place, but it sure sets up this new trilogy (if that’s what this turns out to be) within the larger story.

Well done, sir. Well done.

[Mandy]

I’ve read every book in this series, most of them in under 24 hours.

This one just felt too discombobulated. We jump around and so much is convoluted war strategy that I actually doublechecked whether I’d missed a book in the series more than once.

It made it less interesting than previous books and made me wonder if the series was worth pursuing. Part of what made the early books great was following Damien and his plans, and then moving to Roslyn. The people and the magic is what kept me invested.

I thought here that we would be moving to Mike. But then we jumped from Conners, to Mike, to Roslyn, to Jane over and over without a good cohesion. Lots of random war strategy and alliances with changing terminology and failing cohesion.

Still three stars because of my love for the series, but I probably wouldn’t have read 19 books if the first ones were in this style.

[Graham]

The books switches prospectives constantly between some of the main characters. Basically the ones that aren't behind a desk at this point. This keeps it fresh and helps you keep reading.

For some reason the author decided to start calling the Reezah ships classes by the Reezah names. This gets confusing for someone like me who struggles to remember names. Especially when they have been called one thing for a couple of books now.

The plans and strategies in this book are a little ridiculous. I get these people are over dramatized but some of the things they do in this book just make you question why.

Overall very readable and enjoyable due to the shifting perspectives but the author has a clear way he wants this to go and he is getting there very slowly.

[John Sapienza]

A New Story Arc

The Starship Mage series has gone through several story arcs to develop how humans got mages that enable interstellar flight. Here the fight against the ultimate enemy takes a turning point. A new reader can start at the beginning of any of the arcs, but you get the richness of this universe be starting with the first novel.

[Chance]

the clam before the storm

Everyone is getting a feel before the big battle has the war takes a back seat to politics and information gathering but will they’s moves the mind be able to oppose the vast quantities of ships the enemies has waiting between there core worlds.

Wait till the next installment of super Martian mages. Hahaha

[Flint]

I loved this series at the beginning - especially the mages as people and the magic. I've read every sequel up to this 19th! But increasingly the books are about miliary strategy / war planning and less about magic and people. I thought this was the last in the series but no... looks like thousands of pages more to go.

[Pedro López]

Fantastic return!!!

I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives in this book and i think Glynn pulled it off fantastically.

It really helped to give depth to the conflict and keep the wheels moving, and I enjoyed being able to know what all the different familiar characters were doing.

As always I only miss more screen time for Damien!! Unleash him on the Rezh Glynn!!

[Josh]

Obviously, if I am 19 books into the series, I like it and recommend it. In this case, I recommend it for readers who want magic and technology blended and readers into space opera/battles.

But go find book one and read it! See for yourself.

(It's a 4 star only because the plot leaves us largely hanging, waiting for book 20, Project Acropolis.)

[Hugh Honts]

Shoot! Need the next one!

Great story multiple plot lines going on. I don’t know really where to start relieved in some areas like it’s a bit of a cliffhanger.

It does look like Editing needs to be touched up. There’s a few places that just didn’t really make sense and I just didn’t annotate them this time.

[Aaron]

Another Great Read

The capture of Rosalyn was shocking how did she not have back up??
Will she end up making friends with her captors hopefully...
I didn't understand why the recent battle of Garuda wasn't better planned??
I am glad Jane is still alive and I wait for the next book🤩

[Mr David A Randell]

Somewhat disappointing in that I bought the book understanding it was the last one in the series, then reading waiting for the final conclusion and then it ended at what felt like half way. Not a hell of a lot happened in the book - some progress on a couple of fronts, a space battle, and that was about it.

[Jennifer Baratta]

Thank You Glynn Stewart for the Advanced Readers copy! This book has a lot of ups downs sideways and turns you are not sure which way it will end and when it does you are left shocked. Now to wait for book 20. Come on Chambers Montgomery and Alexanders.

[Kathy]

WOW!
This books covers multiple fronts:
Roslyn - her status?
Ambassador Connor O’Hannagain - finding allies or creating enemies?
MISS mission - well, secret service says it all
Chimera /fleet survivors - still underground or

Book 20 can't come out fast enough!

[Yuosiph]

Amazing

I always find myself rereading the last couple of chapters being upset it has ended again and thinking why can he not write faster. I love this series. I cannot wait to see where the story goes next.

[Gary]

I enjoyed the book. It moved at a good pace and kept developing an interesting plot. We also see Roslyn’s situation and find out that the Protectorate now knows she may still be alive. There were a lot of moving parts in this book and it kept my interest.

[Benedict Beale]

Irritatingly good

Had me hooked all the way through, finished the same day I started. Irritated that I read it all so fast and now need to wait a year for the next book

[Ted Bun]

This episode of Glynn Stewart's epic space opera suffers a little from the drag of 18 previous books, The detailed references to 'historical' events taking away from the forward pace, that said an enjoyable read.

[Fred La Plante III]

Great Read but the story is getting long

I have enjoyed the books, but the story is getting long. Please don't let it go too much longer, please.

[Jo]

long

Told from four different characters nothing is resolved. Some things are set up. Leavening everything in a big mess. Next book comes in 2027

[Joseph]

?

To me, like so many series this has gone on to long. It was very good for quite a few books, just not engaging and good anymore.

[John Bennet]

good

Exiting, hard to stop reading. A bit of a downer, but leaving me exited for the next book/s asap.
I reside in anticipation.

[melvin]

excellent story telling

Looking forward to the next chapter of this history of the next step in human possible evolution
Great writing and reading

[Steven]

Another great chapter in the Mage universe . Only thing as usual over to fast and ends on a bit of a cliff hanger as usual. Great series

[Klaus Yde]

Not his best. A lot of of repetions from earlier books. I was disapointed and of causeri a Cliff hænger in the end 🙈

[Rajiv]

Book is getting stretched....this author's quality is better overall...however 20 books and no end in sight is becoming boring

[Jake Barrett]

Slow but not bad

The payoffs at the end were great. And every section with Rosalyn had me clamoring for more. Great story telling.

[Don Miller]

another great book

I always look forward to this series. They are entertaining and exciting in equal measure. The next book in the series will not disappoint I’m sure, can’t wait!

[Dale (Aus)]

Plenty of action and lots of different points of view. Great story.

[Adena Lee]

Roslyn is again a prisoner of war. After her experience in Legatan custody, she seems to be managing while in Kazh hands. I wonder if she will do the same to them as she did with the Protector (see Book 9). I can hardly wait to see .....

I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.