L. M. Sagas' debut, “Cascade Failure”, is a highly commercial, sci-fi adventure blending J. S. Dewes' “Divide” series with the commercial fan appeal of “The Expanse” and the cozy sf of Becky Chambers. It features a fierce, messy, chaotic space fam, vibrant worlds, and an exploration of the many ways to be, and not to be, human.
Only three real powers in the Spiral: Corporate power of the Trust versus the Union's labor's leverage, and between them the Guild tries to keep everyone's hands above the table. It ain't easy.
Branded a Guild deserter, Jal "accidentally" lands a ride on Guild ship. Helmed by an AI, with a ship's engineer/medic who doesn't see much of a difference between the two jobs, and a "don't make me shoot you" XO, the Guild crew of the Ambit is a little... different.
They're also in over their heads. Responding to a distress call from an abandoned planet, they find a mass grave, and a live programmer who knows how it happened. The Trust has plans. This isn't the first dead planet, and it's not going to be the last.
"Rapid-fire adventures spiked with army jargon and balanced with touching resolutions of personal conflicts keep the pages turning. Add in a charming found family"
and even a space-faring cat
"Cascade Failure is an emotional and fun ride that you won't want to end. I loved this book!"
Mur Lafferty, author and Hugo Award-winning podcaster of Escape Pod
"An epic quest . . .with sacrifice, revenge and the consequences thereof, what really constitutes 'doing the right thing,' and friendships forged, broken, and reforged"
