Keepers of the Flesh: A Space Opera Novel

Saints of the Void #2

by Glynn Stewart

Captain Cirilo Webster brought his ship out of the chaos of an archaeological expedition gone wrong with his ship and the Santiago Corporation’s monopoly on faster than light travel intact.

Loyal as he is to the company that binds together the Seventy-Seven human colonies, his first loyalty is to his ship and crew. When damage to his old freighter Santa Mica risks the Company scrapping, he dives headlong into Santiago politics to find a way out.

Corporate politics may prove the least of his worries, as the sins of his Security Chief’s past and Santiago’s paranoia collide to bring him a contract he couldn’t ever have expected.

A family of clone mercenaries have found a clue as to where their progenitor is hiding and they want the Santiago Corporation—and Cirilo Webster in particular—to take them there.

But there is a reason the man went into exile… and he clearly doesn’t want to be found!

Genres: Science Fiction

470 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 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

[Liviu]

An excellent reunion with Captain Webster and the crew of Santa Mica after their unexpected adventure at an extraterrestrial dig. Now the oldest company translight freighter, Santa Mica is destined for the scrap yard - while the crew are heroes and repairs are possible, they are not particularly economical for the Santiago Corporation - unless something can be done. With the help of Nephil (the ship's sentient mind and second officer), who unexpectedly grew fond of "his" crew and doesn't want to move on a different ship with a new crew, that something is found in the ambitions of a company high executive who wants to prove that smaller size freighters can be quite useful if they can be made faster.

But for that to happen, Captain Webster has to play the compliant lover to said lady executive - he is attracted to her, but the imbalance in power, at least as long as Santa Mica is being refitted at what is to a large extent her whim which of course can change anytime, gnaws at him. Among the rest of the crew, awakened security android Six ponders his new circumstances and chooses a new "real" name, First Officer Teresa and her security chief lover Violet continue their unexpected relationship, and Lachlan, the captain's steward, bodyguard, and enforcer ponders all that happened.

Finally ready for action and with everyone involved trying to prove the refit and new experimental class Santa Mica is now designated as, are indeed worth the money for the corporation, unexpected happenings throw another potentially dangerous mission towards the ship and its valiant crew. And so it goes with a mixture of all that made the first volume such a hit.

Excellent second volume in the series and hopefully we will have more soon.

[Morgan Biscup]

I love this series, there's so much worldbuilding squeezed into this universe, it feels even more real and alive than Glynn's usual works (which is already a high bar). This is essentially a corporate owned universe, since inter-system travel is owned by the Santiago Corporation. This makes for a universe with very little war but also very little freedoms when it comes to space. Glynn's main characters are still the usual white knight sorts you can find in his other books, just with an added level of internalized propaganda from growing up in the shadow of the corporation. Not that they're blind to its faults, they often struggle with reconciling their personal ethics with their job, but it's interesting to see the impacts on their problem solving solutions, as many involve price tags and fines.

This is not a counting missiles book. There are space battles, of course there are space battles, but the characters are very much the heart of the conflicts here. My favorite character has to be Hex, the awakened combat robot, because Hex is super relatable to me these days. Hex just wants to keep Hex's humans safe, even though Hex often doesn't understand why they make the choices they do. Me, too, Hex. Me, too. In the process, Hex gets to shine in this book, and I love the character development.

Cirilo, captain of this beloved crew, also has some great moments in this book. My favorite part was honestly the handling of a rather awkward interpersonal issue I won't spoil here. Cirilo has to decide how to handle the aftermath. I'd like to see more of this in books, these sorts of situations are often hinted at in military Sci Fi but rarely explored.

Also, I rather enjoyed their clients in this book. Yes, their frustrations with their clients were understandable, certainly, but I rather enjoyed slowly learning more about the clones' intentions, and what they already knew but weren't telling. Honestly, I wouldn't tell the Santiago Corporation anything I didn't have to tell them, either. Not even Cirilo. (Also, they appreciated Hex, so they get bonus points for that. Yes, I'm biased. No, I won't apologize.)

I received an advanced copy via the author's Patreon and this book was worth every penny. Really hoping for a book three, I want to spend more time in this universe with these characters.

[Andrew]

An amazing sequel

What a great continuation of the series, pick up just where the last left off.

New issues and problems, a few head herrings I can only hope are actually hooks for in a third book.

The situations might be different but the characters continue to be interesting and human.

[Tiuri]

As mentioned in my review of the first book, and it is still true for book 2, the stand-out storyline is the awakening of Hex (formerly called Six) to full personhood. I just adore how the entire crew is supportive of Hex. The other storylines are great as well and provide opportunities and context for the further development of Hex and the other characters.
I hope there will be a book 3 soon.

[Leon Andrews]

I enjoyed this second chapter of Seekers in the Void very much as we rejoin Captain Webster and his loyal Crew, their ship, Santa Mica, is in dry dock having survived their last outing, damaged but facing potential scrapping. It's a case of who you know that sees Her not only repaired but receiving an upgrade .

An opening presents itself that will change the way She serves the Santiago Corporation going forward, if the Captain falls in line. Upgrade completed, a contract is offered that presents many challenges but a healthy profit at the conclusion if they survive. Barely out of refit, their mixed cargo of ships, soldiers and supplies stowed on board, this is their shakedown Cruise, to fulfil the first part of their contract and deliver their cargo safely and on time, the clock is ticking.

Once again, Glynn Stewart, takes us on a bumpy ride into the unknown in fine style. The narrative picks up pace and challenges escalate as Santa Mica forges forward towards the unkown. The climax was a cliff hanger, well done Sir Glynn.

[Adena Lee]

For all that this is an excellent example of the author's brand of space opera military mayhem, what struck me most about this is the two very different variations on fatherhood forming the foundation of this novel. How Cirilo Webster handled his accidental fathering of Hex compares to Horatio Jade Bennett's behaviour toward his deliberately created descendents stand in stark contradiction and gives me furiously to think. Thrilling, action-packed and thought-provoking - I definitely enjoyed this.

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

[Gary]

While there is good military space and ground action, I feel this is very much a character driven story. The Santa Mica ends up in dry dock having survived a space battle and this leads to an upgrade and a new client. The character development is accomplished in the authors usual detailed and interesting manner. The story was well written and I very much enjoyed it.

[Kathy]

After the events in Seekers of the Void, the Santa Mica needs repairs.
To get the repairs done, corporate politics come into play and result in the
ship being the only one available for a specific job.
One the crew is not thrilled with.

[Sean]

Fantastic sequel

Engaging and thrilling sequel with great science fiction story beats. Felt the ending could have done with one extra scene but overall Glynn Stewart, in all other respects, is a masterful science fiction storyteller.

[Terry]

Excellent

Credible characters, especially the Android , and a tight pace to the climax. Can't say more without spoilers but basically a every good book. Would recommend to anyone looking for space opera or military sf. Or anyone who hasn't already read Glynn Stewart

[Anne V]

Good Read

Overall a good read albeit somewhat predictable. Six/Hex is a really neat character, and I’d be happy to read more of his story (with or without the rest of the rather interchangeable crew).

[Chuck Woodbury]

Grand Adventure

Love the Saints of the Void universe, great world building, interesting characters, and a lot of adventure. For a simple freighter crew, the seem to be in the thick of it.

[Reader]

excellent

This was a fantastic story. A wonderful follow on from the first book. I’ve just finished and really hope there will be a book 3.
Great storyline, great characters, and character development. This was a real page turner.

[Clive Corner]

Good read

Lots of tech and twists.
I like how the Santiago universe is developing.

Looking forward to the next!.
Keep it up.

[Ursula Mayr]

So good!

A most satisfactory story. Well written, complex characters, and I really hope for more stories from this series. Thoroughly recommended.

[Ruan Van]

Great new series.

Great new series - keep it going! Enjoying the new layers and current relevancy. Hipe there’s more to follow. Thanks.

[Jennifer Baratta]

Thank you Glynn Stewart for the Advanced readers copy . this book was excellent.

[Christopher N Shores]

Another good read from Stewart.