If you’ve been looking for a science fiction, group crew dynamic, read then you should pick up Cascade Failure. This SF had me tearing up listening to the audiobook which was 100% an amazing experience. Keep reading this book review of Cascade Failure for my full thoughts.
Summary
There are only three real powers in the universe: the 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 a 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.
Unless the crew of the Ambit can stop it.
Review
Cascade Failure has so many elements I’ve come to know and love in the science fiction genre. We have this world which is ripe with corruption whether it be these corporate entities or in unexpected places. We have a group crew dynamic – which is always a favorite of mine. And we see an AI who truly feels so detailed as part of this found family. Plus tons of unlikely scenarios and action! But the characters are the true heart of Cascade Failure. From the beginning, I loved the interchanges between Saint and Jal.
The history, betrayals, and love buried within each moment. Watching this relationship evolve and develop – with some twists I didn’t see coming – was one of my favorite aspects of Cascade Failure. Furthermore, I will always love an AI character and Eoan which is one of my favorite, I need to know more about their history! Give us more of that! Additionally, I liked the ways Cascade Failure explores loyalty. It can be soured, twisted, and our belief in a system, or a person, can become rooted or torn apart.
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Torian Brackett did a phenomenal job at voicing Cascade Failure. I loved that there were different voices for each character, but also different mannerisms and personas in their inflections! And at the very end, I enjoyed how Cascade Failure examines the differences between our faves and those who are definitely not. About this idea of doing bad things for good reasons, of hurting and helping, and these complex shades of justice of not knowing what – or how – the right thing is.
Find Cascade Failure on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.