Cascade Failure is an entertaining romp into ensemble cast, sci-fi and spaceship fiction with humor and witty banter

“I’m only 8% into Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas, but I’m already so invested in these characters 🥺”

That’s what I posted online when I started this book, and I’m so happy say my enjoyment lasted all the way through! I loved this!

Truly, these characters captured me and pulled on my heartstrings right from the start. Especially Jal, who was clearly struggling and tired in a bone-deep way and alone and had to practice the few words he was going to say just to try and get a ride. But also Saint, who was sorta hard to like at first because of reasons but whom I still couldn’t help but feel for because he’d clearly been hurt too and just hid it behind his gruff demeanor. And Nash, who was much easier to like because she had no qualms putting Saint in his place, not to mention she was brave and skilled and there was this moment when she thought about how she wasn’t a “sunshine” person, and yes, I could relate. And Eoan, the ship’s AI who loved to learn and figure things out and was still continually figuring out what it meant to be human. And Anke, the person they rescued who was awkward and rambly and smart and didn’t feel very badass, though I think she was.

Altogether, this crew made for a cute found family who all cared for each other deeply. It was touching.

Furthermore, I am WEAK for angsty, fraught relationships between people who have history, who were close but then something went wrong but they obviously still love or feel something for each other. And the relationship between Jal and Saint was 100% this. I don’t know exactly what it was between them in the past (romantic, platonic), but it was clearly deep and meaningful and love. They were partners, whatever that meant to them. Until they weren’t. *Gives one of them the side eye* I loved them and their relationship though. I very much wanted them to sort their problems out and be happy together.

There’s also just a casual queerness to the story. Whatever was/is between Jal and Saint may or may not be romantic, but it feels like it’s not bound by any norms. Nash was clearly crushing on Anke. Eoan is an AI, yes, but still, they use they/them pronouns.

The plot was rather serious and tense, which may not be exactly what people expect from the cover and all the talk of found family and space adventures and whatnot. But the characters brought some fun to the story, so don’t worry. The author did a great job of balancing the serious and the fun. Also balancing the sad and distressing with the sweet and hopeful.

The audiobook narration by Torian Brackett was wonderful as well! Every character sounded sufficiently different, and the voices and ways of speaking seemed to suit them. Jal with his slow drawl. Saint with his gruffness. Nash with her matter-of-factness. Anke with her excited rambling. Eoan with their pleasant customer service tone. And it always sounded natural, suited the scene and the moment and the words. I very much recommend the audiobook.

This was a wonderful book with characters who immediately had me invested in them, found family, a relationship full of emotional history, and dangerous space adventures, and I’m very much looking forward to more!

The second I read the Firefly comp I knew I had to snag Cascade Failure immediately! (Sidenote - I will never get over that 📺 series being canceled!) This was such a fun read filled with a rag tag team of lovable misfits, adventure, nail biting close calls, found family, head scratching mystery, hoot & a half humor and heart wrenching moments.

🪐 Space Adventure
🫶 Found Family
🌎 World Building
💥 Chaos
🔍 Mystery
😹 Hoot & a Half
❤️‍🩹 Emotional Damage

I absolutely loved Cascade Failure and am so excited to see what L.M. Sagas has in store for us in book 2!

Method Read: 🎧
Torian Brackett did a fantastic job bringing the story to life!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy!

Cascade Failure has a ton of pathos for a space opera, hitting hard on the found family notes. That doesn't keep it from being entertaining and a great premise, but it does sometimes go a little hard there, and some things about life are a bit too similar for a futuristic society full of extraplanetary ecosystems and sophisticated programs that can start and end elaborate life support systems.
The conflict between the Guild and other areas is not really explained to the point of rooting for a side, or even caring about one vs the other. but the augemented and natural capabilities of the crew and the AI captain are entertaining and there are plenty of crosses and double crosses from rogue hackers to balance out the middling stakes.

I have to start by saying, I love sassy space pirates. Okay, so they aren't really pirates, but the crew runs around getting into just about as much mischief as they can. The characters are fun and the action and pacing are exciting. If you're a fan of Firefly, this may be a good read for you. I swear, when I see a book from Tor which has MacMillan audio, I jump at the change for an ARC and I am rarely disappointed, They truly seem to know what their audience wants and provide quality narration and stories. With that being said, I do want to thank NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and Tor Books for an advanced reader copy of this novel. I can certainly see why it is being reviewed so highly.

We've got Jal (a fugitive) and Saint (a sort of mercenary/bounty hunter) who have beef right off the bat. Though we don't know what it is right away, we know it's got to be pretty good. Then comes Anke who is incredibly quirky but sometimes a bit more cringe than necessary. However, Nash the ship mechanic/ doctor, seems to fall kind of hard for this cute little weirdo.

This book won't be any new revelation in space romps and quests to put right certain wrongs. But it will be fun with some chaos and injuries, betrayal and family, along the way.

This was a fun read. Lot of fun characters and banter between them was funny. If you like futuristic adventure and found family, I think you will like this book. I got to listen to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job.

I've been on a mission lately to read more "happy" books - more books that make me feel good while reading them. Finding happy books is already hard, but finding happy books that are science fiction or fantasy seems even more difficult. Luckily, L.M. Sagas is here to save the day with her new book, Cascade Failure, the first entry in her Ambit's Run sci-fi adventure series. It's full of space missions, banter, and characters you won't forget.

Review:

Cascade Failure centers on the Ambit, a spaceship crewed by an AI captain named Eoan, an ex-soldier named Saint, and a snarky engineer named Nash. When an altered human named Jal stows away on the Ambit, their crew begins to grow. Jal's arrival is even more tricky since Jal is a deserter on the run and because he and Saint have a more-than-complicated history. After a distress call leads the crew to a disturbing scene and a programmer with mysteries of her own, the Ambit must deal with a potential conspiracy that might impact all the known worlds. 

If you've ever thought the movie "Alien" would be cool even if it didn't have the face-sucking monsters, then you need to read this book. Cascade Failure, with its imperfect characters, witty dialogue, and messy relationships, hits all the right notes. I adored this book for its chaotic space missions and band-of-misfits vibes. Add in space corporatization and a mysterious programmer, and this has all the markings of being a perfect read.

Final Thoughts:

Cascade Failure is hopepunk science fiction at its best. It's one heck of a debut novel. I'm thrilled there are going to be more books in this series. I'm not sure I could handle this series ending like it does in this book! There's no cliffhanger, but I want more from these characters. 

I read this story alternating between the audiobook and ebook, and both are great options. The narrator on the audiobook (Torian Brackett) did an excellent job distinguishing and giving character to each voice. I do wish a woman narrator had been used for Nash and Anke.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having been likened to Becky Chambers, I was highly anticipating this book. Its synopsis and marketing had everything I wanted: cozy sci-fi, a rollicking space adventure akin to Firefly, found family, and a bit of queerness.
While it technically had all of those elements, for me, this was unfortunately a very forgettable story. I did not connect with the characters much at all, and I hardly even remember their names as I type this review. It felt like the story moved slowly even though there was near constant action. Maybe I was not in the right mood for this book, but I normally adore sci-fi and found family, so I am disappointed by this. Nevertheless, I think it certainly has its audience out there.

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts and my love for space operas, this book could not keep my attention. The narration is boring and the voice just blends going towards monotone storytelling. I feel like I would have a better time with a physical copy of the book. DNF @25%

Thanks for Net Galley for the early preview of this audiobook.

I tried really hard to like this book, but I guess “cozy sci-fi” is not really my thing. I often don’t really care for the rag-tag-bunch-of-characters scattered in space on some scrappy ships, etc. However, I really liked the TV show Firefly, so I am not sure why I don’t like books in this same genre.

Trying to think without bias, I know people will like this book because the characters are well developed, it’s a fun story, and it’s not a long book. It was not for me, and I had to stop about 30% in. if it’s any consolation, I don’t really enjoy Becky Chambers' books either (well, not the wayfarers series, but her other series/books are ok).

Audiobook narrator Torian Brackett rating: 4 stars
The narrator is actually really good and made the story enjoyable. Again, the Net Galley audiobook app needs some work. It is very difficult to work with and sometimes forgets my place in the book as it will start over. This is super frustrating.

*4 stars*

A ragtag team sets out to save the universe, what could go wrong? This was a nice mashup of found family and space adventure that will definitely hit the spot for fans of the Divide or Becky Chambers.

This was a good debut. I really enjoyed the character interactions and found family aspects. The pacing was a little slow in places but didn’t ruin the overall flow of the story. I will definitely be reading the next book when in comes out.

The audio was good, pretty distinctive voices for each characters. One character did get an accent change after a chapter and that was a little jarring.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

If found family is your trope, this book will be your jam!! There is not much better in this world than a group of quirky and chaotic characters that learn to lean on each other despite their differences. I found this book was heavy on the Firefly vibes (yes, please!) and had no shortage of laugh out loud moments. The balance between world building & character development and plot was spot on and made this thick book super digestible. Can't wait for next book in the Ambit's Run series!

The narrator did a great job at voicing the many characters in this book. He was giving Daniel Henning (In the Lives of Puppets) vibes which I totally adored.

What a terrific book!

This science fiction story has action and adventure, and medium peril, and fun and excitement, for sure-- but what it has in spades is character building and relationships and I'm here for it!

The plotting and pacing are good, and the story moves forward at a good pace. The mysteries of the past are revealed slowly and at the appropriate times for maximum emotional effect.

The fact that this story builds so strongly on the base of characters and relationships is what makes it so good. This author reminds me of Becky Chambers in that way, and now I am adding L.M. Sagas to my list of authors that I MUST READ EVERYTHING BY!

ETA: I received a copy of the audiobook and listened to this for my second read-through (my first read was with my eyes). The narrator is excellent and the story flows beautifully in audio. I also learned that I was mispronouncing half of the character names!

5 of the shiniest-ever stars!

Audiobook very well read by the narrator.

WHAT. A. RIDE!!

This is definitely one of my new favourite books ever. I really wasn’t sure that the author had pulled off a Firefly/Becky Chambers vibe, as advertised…. But they absolutely did (with a bit of Murderbot thrown in for good measure)!! Honestly, I hadn’t heard all the hype about this book before requesting it (simply going off the cover art and description).

I absolutely LOVED these scruffy characters, the world-building, the plotline, everything. Normally, I have at least a grievance or two. Not with this one. I knew after the first 30 minutes that I never wanted this book to end. Fast-paced space action, but with serious character growth arcs keeping pace.

It would also make an incredible graphic novel - hint, hint to the publisher!

I was even super scared that I had dug myself in way too deep and was going to have to wait an absolute millennia for the next book. Miraculously though, the second book comes out right on the heels of this one (in only a few months). Smart move in the current climate!

Anyway, I need to finish this review, so that I can go right back to the beginning and press play, again ♥️

Huge gratitude to NetGalley, and the publisher, MacMillan Audio, for an AudioARC of this book, in exchange for my honest (and very enthusiastic) review!

I really enjoyed this story. It took some time to really get into the meat of this story, but once all of the characters assembled and the crew was complete the story really took off. The characters were so well-realized, and I was so emotionally invested in them as they tried to pull of a heist slash rescue mission to save the Galaxy from ✧∘* capitalism ✧･ﾟ. If you're looking for an inventive character-driven half heist-half rescue mission set in space, then look no further! I also listened to the audiobook of this story on my two-hour commute ((╥_╥)) and I really, really loved it. I definitely think listening to the story made it come alive in ways that it wouldn't have if I had only read it physically.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Jal is an ex solider on the lam. He ends up on the space ship Ambit with an AI captain, his former senior officer and a mechanic. Definitely some Firefly vibes of space adventures with a found family. I liked the characters and looking forward for more in the series.


Excellent narration by Torian Brackett.

I would like to thank NetGalley for sending me an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super fast-paced book that grabbed my attention from page one and kept me interested until the very end. The crew of the Ambit were all unique, each having their own back stories, issues, and moments of growth, and I loved them all. Jal was such a sweetie, and his story made me cry! But what I loved about it was how much we got from him not through clunky exposition but from his interactions with the other characters.

The ensemble cast and rotating POVs made this book so much better in that we didn't just get Jal's POV but everyones as they go on this adventure together. They might not all trust each other in the beginning, but the way they come together was perfect. There were a lot of moments I laughed, some where I cried, and others where I was like HOLD UP WHAT JUST HAPPENED and then audibly gasped as I read. I have to say, all in all, this was a fantastic book and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

The audiobook itself was great, the narrator did a great job with establishing voices for each character so I never had a hard time telling them apart. And I can honestly say I was never bored while listening.

Actual Rating: 4.5☆

THIS! IS! IT!

This book has EVERYTHING. Found family. A lovable AI-captain. A gruff and tough career soldier. A snarky medic/mechanic/jack of all trades. A smart, ball-of-sunshine cyborg-man who just misses his family. A pink-haired, babbling hacker/coder who definitely has ADHD. And... A SPACESHIP CAT?

I requested this book right off the bat for it's cover - the colors are gorgeous, the design is so fun, and it didn't hurt that the synopsis also sounded good. A ragtag crew pulled together to run a semi-heist/rescue mission to essentially save the galaxy from corporations who don't care about people or the planets they destroy? Sign me up!

What I wasn't expecting was to cry over characters I've barely known for an entire book, and to feel so many emotions that I didn't know what to do with: heartbreak, betrayal, grief, horror, angst, anxiety, joy, and anything else you can think of.

Also, I highly recommend listening to this one on audiobook. Torian Brackett does an AMAZING job of bringing every character to life and giving them all such unique personalities simply by changing the tone of his voice. I think that if you're a fan of TJ Klune's novels for his characters and Becky Chambers's sci-fi narrative storytelling and heart, then you're going to ADORE this book. I can't wait for the next one to come out - I need it NOW!

DNF@40%

I wanted to love this, but I couldn't connect with the story or characters.
Not for me.

***Thank you to NetGalley, L.M. Sagas, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Goodness, I adored this book. Space stories have always been important to me. I love them in TV, movies, and especially in books. This jumped right up into my list of favorites. It is so funny. There are also emotional moments that absolutely kicked me in the guts. I cried multiple times. LM Sagas has a real talent for creating captivating characters and a found family that will have a permanent place in my heart. I will be counting the days until I can read the next installment of this series. I have been telling everyone I know about this book.

Highly recommend the audiobook. Torian Brackett did an amazing job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.