The announcement that Ward Larsen would take over the Ryanverse for Rules of Engagement came as a surprise. Most readers expected Andrews & Wilson to complete a four-book run, but scheduling shifts brought Larsen into the fold. Unlike the usual Ryanverse tradition of elevating rising authors, Larsen arrives as a veteran with two decades of experience. This transition was particularly interesting because it was a one-book commitment, bringing with it the opportunity to do something bold and decisive, and have Larsen’s experience offer leadership to the series.

The series hasn’t an author contribute only one book since Peter Telep’s work on Against All Enemies. And even then, another book was planned before Search and Destroy was cancelled.

Larsen’s background in the Air Force immediately shifts the series’ focus. While the Ryanverse often leans into naval dominance, Larsen tips the scales toward aviation. The technical sequences involving GPS spoofing and hypersonic drone swarms are highlights. These moments feel authentic and urgent, particularly the flight of F/A-18s during the novel’s climax, even if the jets were Navy assets.

The introduction of MAADN, an AI intelligence analyst, adds a sharp technical edge. However, it raises a significant question for the future of the series: will this tool become a permanent easy button that solves every intelligence hurdle? If the good guys have an omniscient AI, the tension in future installments will simply evaporate.

This tech focus brings us to Kyle Ryan. In Executive Power, Kyle was a standout because of his unique worldview. His autistic traits provided a fresh lens through which to view complex problems, making him and his methods feel distinct and human. In Rules of Engagement, we see him still working for DIA, specifically Cyber Cell 6, which runs MAADN. Kyle has been working with AI since his time at ONI, as mentioned in Act of Defiance. There, he was noted as working with an immensely powerful AI to manage and crunch terabytes of data. It’s not clear if MAADN is the same or a different AI to that one. In my review of Executive Power I was clear about how great and how human the character of Kyle Ryan was. Yet in Rules of Engagement he feels sidelined. Larsen misses the opportunity to explore Kyle’s specific way of seeing the world, which was one of the most refreshing developments in recent Ryanverse history. Without that deeply human, neurodivergent, perspective, he feels like just another analyst or tech guy. I want to see more of the real Kyle.

The biggest feature of the book was Task Force 99, an elite unit led by John Clark, as they hop around the Mediterranean dealing with bad guys. It’s also the most significant logic gap in the book, albeit one that started under Andrews & Wilson. The decision to have John Clark and Ding Chavez lead this elite unit while they are simultaneously supposed to be instrumental at the Campus creates a continuity fracture. Larsen doubles down on this, stating the team gelled in less than a year, a claim that’s impossible to believe given their commitments elsewhere.

The Ryanverse desperately needs a single point of leadership to keep the Jack Ryan Sr. and Jr. series in lockstep.

Then there’s the problem of John Clark’s portrayal. Larsen has stated this is a Clark-focused book, yet the execution falters on two fronts.

First, the issue of age. John Clark cannot continue to be THE guy. He’s in his seventies. At this stage, intentionally putting him at the tip of the spear destroys all credibility. It’s perhaps reasonable to have Clark in a strategic leadership position, imparting his vast knowledge and experience, which very much seemed to be where M.P. Woodward was positioning him at the Campus. But tip of the spear? No. Larsen did make a point of acknowledging Clark’s aging status but it came off very much like late forties, perhaps early fifties. Not seventies. I have nothing against Clark. The opposite, in fact. His past exploits are legend. The series would be lost without him. But we must be honest about moving into a new era. That’s not to say Clark can’t inadvertently get caught up in some action. But expecting the reader to believe a man in his seventies, however legend, can still be a tier one operator feels like a con.

Second, in this book Clark feels like a diluted imitation. Larsen said in interview, at The Poisoned Pen, he hadn’t read all of the books in the Ryanverse. Perhaps because of this he’s not fully grasped the evolution of Clark over the years. This challenge of Clark’s portrayal isn’t unique to Larsen. Andrews & Wilson also struggled, often writing Clark as an angry, shouty, character, when in fact his hard edge has weathered over time, at least for those who aren’t his enemies. M.P. Woodward captured Clark best, particularly with the mentorship of Master Chief Kendrick Moore. I pray Woodward and Jack Stewart will continue this version of Clark. The version of Clark that honors who he was as well as who he has become, without trying to fool anyone. Moreso than any character, other than perhaps Jack Ryan Sr., Clark deserves the dignity of credibility as he ages, and a transition into a new role that becomes legend in its own right. Readers will love and respect that.

Rules of Engagement is a functional technothriller that fans will likely finish, but it struggles to maintain the character depth and continuity that the Ryanverse requires to remain believable.

Rules of Engagement is available to pre-order now and is published on May 19, 2026.