Gravity Lost

Ambit's Run #2

by L.M. Sagas

L. M. Sagas' follows her fast-paced sci-fi adventure Cascade Failure with an equally explosive sequel, Gravity Lost. Everyone's favorite fierce, messy, chaotic space fam is back with more vibrant worlds, and the wildest crew since Guardians of the Galaxy .

After thwarting a space station disaster and planetary destruction, the Ambit crew thought turning Isaiah Drestyn over to the Union would be the end of their troubles. Turns out, it’s only the start.

Drestyn is a walking encyclopedia of dirty secrets, and everyone wants a piece of him―the Trust, the Union, even the Guild. Someone wants him bad enough to kill, and with the life of one of their own on the line, the Ambit crew must jail-break the very man they helped capture and expose some of the secrets he’s been keeping before it’s too late.

In the Spiral, everything has a price. In their fight to protect what they love, Eoan, Nash, Saint, and Jal will confront some ugly truths about their enemies, and even uglier truths about their friends. But nothing will come close to the truths they’ll learn about themselves.

You can’t always fix what’s broken … and sometimes, it’s better that way.



Ambit's Run
Cascade Failure

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Found Family, Space, Adventure, Space Opera

387 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2024

Reviews

[Cindy (leavemetomybooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

500 stars and please PLEASE PLEEEEEEEEEEASE let there be another book about these characters in the works. I love this series so much, and it cannot be over.

While this is 100% a must-read for fans of Firefly and anyone who loves found family + action + conspiracy & intrigue, you don’t need to be a sci-fi fan to love this book. Yes, there’s a spaceship with an AI captain and it’s set on other planets in different solar systems, but that’s just the setting - the heart of the book is the characters and their relationships, and these are some of the best characters I’ve ever read.

#teamambit 4-evah 💕

* thanks so much to Tor for the NetGalley review copy. This perfect book publishes July 23.

[Jules Arbeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stand by what I said in my review of book one .

But this? This is how sequels should be done. Gravity Lost takes everything I loved about book one and dials it up to eleven. I love these characters so much I'd watch them butter toast for eight hundred pages, but instead I was treated to an incredibly intense, emotional journey. I would like to stuff every one of these characters in my pocket (yes, even [REDACTED]) and keep them forever.

If you love top-notch banter, staying up late because you can't stop reading, found families who will burn the world and face unimaginable peril for each other, and deft, taut writing, read this duology and then come scream with me about it.

Disclaimer: I begged the author for an early review copy like an absolute gremlin, and I feel no shame.

[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ *]

dnf @ 10%

might come back later but the beginning was really slow and it felt like an exact repeat of the first book. i’m just trying to have fun this month and don’t want to read anything i’m not really feeling

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will write an actual review once the tears stop 😭❤️

Words cannot describe how much I love Team Ambit and sincerely hope that we get more books in this series (Tor, I’m begging you!!!!).

This book was an amazing sequel in my opinion and I thoroughly enjoyed another adventure with Team Ambit.

To start, it has my favorite aspect of sequels which is characters struggling with the trauma they gained in Book 1. There’s some great character growth in this one and I can see more growth potential for this crew if we’re given the opportunity to see more of them.

That being said… this crew has my heart. They are so human and flawed and are struggling, but in typical found family fashion they’re leaning on each other and trying their very best. Their dynamics were again some of my favorite parts. Those quieter one-on-one moments are spread throughout and add so much to these characters. We also got some new characters introduced/playing a bigger role in this one and I just hope, again, that we have the opportunity to see more. I think there’s a lot of potential there.

The plot was action-packed like the first one with arguably higher stakes. I found it hard to put this book down more often than not. If I’d had my way this book would’ve been finished in a couple of days (dang responsibilities keeping me away from it). It’s a great combination of action with quieter moments to let the characters breathe. It was also a good combination of humor that had me laughing out loud and smiling to myself and gut-wrenching scenes that had me crying and contemplating why I allow myself to get so attached to fictional characters (wouldn’t change a thing though).

I was ugly sobbing reading the last 20%ish of the book, I’ll admit it. Partially because of what was happening (IYKYK) and partially because I didn’t want this adventure to end.

So yeah… Tor I’m going to need more Ambit’s Run books ASAP please and thank you. I’m not ready to let go of my newest found family yet.

[anna b · Rating 5 out of 5]

October 2024 reread - anna-tated edition:

Okay, apparently I'm not done being insufferable about these books. God, I love this crew. I love you, Nash. I love you, Jal. I love you, SAINT! I love you, Bitsie. (I love you Eoan but you are so so so boring).

I was able to keep all the names straight this time and actually follow all the plot things that were going on, and unfortunately it did not increase my enjoyment of this book. We're in it for the characters and their banter and their fondness for each other wrapped up in silly little action scenes.

I do think that the versions of Jal and Saint I've been rotating in my head for several months in a row without end are more compelling than their actual canonical counterparts. My bad. But also :)

July 2024:
I cannot tell you how little I care about the overarching ramifications of the politics of this world. The plot and the Trust and the Guild and the bunch of guy's names that I'm supposed to remember, nope. BUT

anyhow, as action-packed and fast-paced as the first book, with our same beloved cast of characters plus new faces!! The same aching tenderness and depth of yearning between Jal and Saint and I Am Unwell Thinking About Them.

I liked reading Cascade Failure and I loved reading Gravity Lost!! Feels like these books are just for me, and I hope hope hope to see more in this series!

[Amanda Sola · Rating 4 out of 5]

LM Sagas gave us another solid installment. While the plot was pretty predictable and again, not really new for the world of sci fi, her character work is where she shines. I love these characters, and how open and honest they can be with their found family. Adding in more Reds really expanded some of the characters for me and I really enjoyed these interactions. Saint's character arc was beautiful as he explored his own PTSD and his own frustrations with the life he thought he was living and finding what and who is worth it. HOWEVER, I feel mildly cheated that we didn't get confirmation of the romance I think we all wanted. The tension was incredible - the little moments, and the bigger ones. But I just wanted there to be a full on acknowledgement from the characters so I could know that they were willing to drop whatever it was that was holding each of them back so they could move forward with this type of happiness. And since this is only planned to be a duology, I'm sad that I won't get to see it. But in my head cannon, they lived happily ever after in love.

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first book, and if I'm being honest, this one just wasn't as strong for me. It felt like it was less focused on the characters and relationships, and more focused on mystery solving and action and plot, and the character development/growth that was there felt a little forced sometimes. I still wanted to review this though because it was still a good book with space adventure and found family and lovable characters, and I definitely plan to keep reading (or listening to) the series, and, well, I don't like skipping series books in my reviews 😅

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Torian Brackett, was once again wonderful! Different voices, always natural and fitting the scene/emotion. I recommend it.

Overall, I just don't have much to say about this one, but I'm looking forward to more because I love these characters and am very interested to see how their relationships grow.

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2024 // Format: Audiobook*

Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in L.M. Sagas's Ambit's Run series. Anyone who likes flawed characters who pull at your heartstrings, angsty but caring relationships between characters with history, found family, AI learning to be human, casual queerness, and tense space adventures.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gravity Lost is not as good as the first book, Cascade Failure. The best way I can describe it is that I felt like I was reading the novelization of a TV series that assumed I was very familiar with the series and the characters. Like reading a Star Trek or Firefly novel, only I’d never watched a single episode. I missed Anke from the first book, and the tension between the crew members that was set up in book 1. At one point one of the characters was ready to give up, and I didn’t feel the author had earned their belief that the reader would automatically understand why. (I still don't understand why.)

The ending was very good (although the “bad guy” was easy to guess long before the Big Reveal), and there’s a cat. I will still probably give a third book a chance. I really want to like this story and for it to have a long run.

I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

[Elisabeth]

I really want to like this book, but I'm DNFing at around 35%. I'm just a bit bored with it. The plot and characters are great, but the writing is somewhat heavy-handed - too much description and repetition and explanations of things that don't need to be explained. I think both this book and the first one could be really great if they were just tightened up a bit. I'll probably skim the rest of it, because I do want to see how everything turns out.

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I start this literally 5 minutes after I finished listening to Cascade Failure? Yes. Did I jump right back in with both feet and not want to leave the crew to this messy ship family? Yes, yes I did. Do I regret it? Not a single iota.

The stakes are higher, the adventure is wilder, and well… Bitsy is a whole new element to this ragtag crew trying to do what’s best for them, and the worlds around them. I adore every single character in this series, and this book filled a hole in my heart I didn’t know I had and desperately needed to fill. I damn near sobbed in full view in my living room at the end. I did not care if my family saw me fall apart at this pivotal moment because I was WITH them on the Ambit.

Hats off once again to a truly talented narrator, Torian Brackett. The range this narrator has is incredible, and my socks are officially knocked off. The tones and gentleness brought to Bitsy as a preteen girl astounded me. And I guffawed at the way Percy was brought to life, with a unique dialect that still has me giggling when I hear it in my head. Truly, Torian Brackett made listening to the Ambit’s Run series a delight.

Pick this one up, and I tell you, if you’re not misty-eyed by the end your heart might just be missing entirely.

[Cassidy | fictionalcass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will post a review when I’ve recovered from the amount of tears and snot that have vacated my body

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

It has been a long, long time since a book hit me in the feelings as deeply as this book did. LM Sagas has created a stunning work here, and I could not be more grateful to be living in the same time that this book exists, and I never want to get over this story and these absolutely amazing characters.

At the center of this story is a found family that you simply cannot help but root for. Picking up with Saint, Jal, Nash, and Eoan following the events of Cascade Failure feels a little bit like slipping on your favorite sweater on the first cool day of fall. There’s really nothing better than when an author brings you back to a cast you love, and then really sends it home and makes you love them even more. The character development was truly next level, and all of this crew are so well defined that they could step off the page and I feel like I would know them instantly.

Along with the returning cast, we get to know some other characters so well in this installment. Across the board, these characters are such a highlight. I adored this entire crew, and it’s really hard to sum up how much they have come to mean to me, but especially Saint. I’m not sure what it is specifically, and really it’s everything. In the sea of everything happening in this book, for me, Saint was the emotional center. His connections to Jal, Nash, and Eoan got explored so deeply in this book, and peeling back the layers of these connections was like sticking needles into my heart. When I say that I love Florence Toussaint, I mean that I LOVE him with everything within me.

I think what’s really most beautiful about this book, and even more so when combined with Cascade Failure, is the way LM Sagas captures what it means to be human. It’s so incredibly well done, especially when you consider that one of the characters who best showcases this is Eoan, the AI Captain of the Ambit. Not on their own of course, but in their relationships with the rest of the crew and the other characters, we get such a dazzling showcase of human emotions; what they mean and represent, to want and desire, to hope and to love, and how to pick up the pieces after the unimaginable, choosing to stay and choosing to fight even when it feels like there aren’t any real choices left.

Jal, Saint, and Nash help to bring all of these themes to the forefront, and it was truly an emotional rollercoaster to accompany each of them on their respective journeys throughout Gravity Lost. The ways that they’re all working through what they’ve done and what’s been done to them was so beautifully explored, and it really broke me and then put me back together. What each character in this book represents to me is that we are so, so much more than our worst moments.

This is a love story in so many different ways. The way that these characters love each other is incredibly powerful, and that love absolutely streams off the pages. There are so many shining nuggets of love in this book, and that love takes different forms for each of the different characters. There were multiple moments that I was reduced to absolute tears, and it’s just such a gorgeous example of what the shape of love can look like.

All things considered, I think it’s safe to say I’ve found my best book of the year. This very special crew has found a permanent home in my hollow little heart, and I look forward to many rereads of Cascade Failure and Gravity Lost in the future. I cannot speak highly enough of this work, and I will certainly be overjoyed to read any future work from LM Sagas as well. Five stars is simply not enough to convey my love of this book.

“It felt like welcome home.”

[sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s one of my favorite things in tha WORLD to read and annotate a book that a beloved friend has given me, and i would do it again in a HEARTBEAT - especially because the juicy bits in this book are sooo juicy and good. but also, as you can see, this took me a month to finish, because the book itself was not very good. The plot is stupid, the worldbuilding is boring, characters with names ending in -En or -Yn were insufferable to read about, and there was NO EMOTIONAL CATHARSIS AT THE END, WHY GOD. i really think there should be a third book or perhaps even a prequel to pull out the stuff that Really Matters, like the crazy history between S+J, or more about my favorite lesbian Nash, but the author is sooo concerned with beefing up the plot, which was the thing i cared least about. Alas.

Anna i love you dearly, thank you for sharing these little guys with me!! i’m sorry that i’m such a hater but also, you agree, you just have a giant brain and can see past it to all the good stuff, and also, you’re right about everything. xoxo

[Julie Leong · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of everything I loved from Cascade Failure, delivered straight to the bloodstream! Gravity Lost was a nonstop ROMP with my favorite beat-up space cowboys. It made me laugh, it made me gasp, it made me wipe a single dignified tear from my eye (jk, I ugly-sobbed). It's like Firefly without any filler episodes, and a constant push/pull between adrenaline-fueled heists/getaways and my heartstrings being pulled on. Even more tightly paced than Cascade Failure (somehow!) and pure fun.

[Hannah Frye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Jal is the bestest of the best ♥︎ PLEASE let this series continue!!!!

[Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the first one in the series so it is no surprise I enjoyed this one too. Although I find the action scenes a little hard to follow, I found the relationships between the characters to be the focal point of the story. Despite there being little to no romance, the interactions between each character was beautiful to watch, and had more chemistry than some of the romance books I've read.

A pretty standard space action sci-fi novel, and great character development. Glad I read the second book!

[Lydia Wales · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Cascade Failure so much that I went out and got Gravity Lost as soon as I finished it, and honestly this book felt like a letdown as a follow up. I wanted to see more development from Nash, which was touched on, but it felt like an afterthought thrown in at the end of the book. Also, craved a good ending to the slow burn feelings between Jal and Saint, which really didn't get mentioned at all except a couple glancing sentences from Eoan's perspective. I did like Saint's pov that developed his PTSD storyline more and fleshed out his character from a stoic military ranger. But darn it, I wanted the romance. I wanted Jal and Saint fighting through their own self doubt and finding solace in each other. Maybe it was too much to ask for.

[Kristin B. Bodreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second installment really found its own stride and voice. The first book felt very much like a grainy photo-copy of potential Firefly episodes. While this still follows the same found family, space vigilante, witty banter playbook as Firefly, there was more of a well-rounded individuality to the characters and plot. I am really hoping we seem more in this series and from this author.

[Hanner]

Far as “bad guys” go I still don’t know who was who or why I should care lol but you know what, this is a gushy found fam series and that’s all I want and need it to be. Would love a trilogy🤞🏼💕

[KMart Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Gravity Lost" is a wonderful sequel (though I did absolutely feel the loss of a certain character from the first one) to the messy, chaotic, and heartwrenching first book. Picking up where Cascade Failure left off, this sequel dives straight back into the action with everyone's favorite space family - right in the thick of trouble again.

L.M. Sagas continues to impress me with her ability to weave raw emotions into her stories. There's an almost poetic quality to her writing them that makes you feel like the characters' struggles are your own. Maybe it's just MY soul that she's tapped into, but she does it with ease. It's rare to find an author who can so effectively make you feel like their characters are YOURS (as the reader), but Sagas pulls it off with ease. Every emotion feels authentic and vivid, and it pulls you deeper into the story she's created.

The standout for me is how attached I am to these characters. The crew of the Ambit—Eoan, Nash, Saint, and Jal (and even his fam) —feels like my own found family. There's a sense of camaraderie that reminds me a lot of the beloved Firefly crew, only here, the reader truly feels like one of them, sharing in their laughter, tears, and even their questionable decisions. The dynamics are messy and human (and human-ish in Eoan's chase), but they’re real, and that’s what makes them so incredibly compelling.

And let's talk about Eoan specifically for a second. As an AI character, he could have easily been a one-note presence, but instead, he's an absolute revelation. His growth and the exploration of his capacity for humanity are some of the most touching parts of the story. Seeing him evolve beyond his programming, grappling with complex emotions, and forming bonds that are so genuine is incredibly satisfying.

Then there’s Drestyn—what a surprise! I never thought I could feel anything but disdain for this character, yet somehow, Sagas managed to shift my perspective. He doesn’t get a free pass for his past, but he becomes far more sympathetic, revealing hidden depths and unexpected motivations. It’s a testament to Sagas’ skill that she can make me feel for someone I previously despised.

While I think Cascade Failure might still edge this one out as my favorite in the series, Gravity Lost is an outstanding follow-up and an absolute five-star read for me. It’s full of vibrant world-building, witty dialogue, and characters that feel alive. I’m excited to see where the crew of the Ambit goes next—there’s so much left to explore and so many more challenges ahead.

If you loved Firefly and character-driven scifi and you’re not already reading this series, what are you waiting for?

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Books for the opportunity to read and review. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary. All opinions are my own.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I really hope there’s more of this series in the future . Even though some of the plot points were predictable, what L.M. Sagas does the best is her character work. I know this series was her writing debut, and the characters have already improved in one book. I have no doubt that they will continue to grow as she writes. Please continue to send this crew on adventures.

[Derek Plourde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more than just 2 books in this series

[Nicole W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: if you like the first book, this was a mild improvement on it. It still struggles a bit with over explaining, but the characters make a marked improvement in terms of consistency, and the plot was engaging and fun.

I guess I do love the crew of the Ambit. This felt slightly better paced, and the addition of Jal's family and other nuanced characters to the adventure made it a bit more rounded.

I still got a little frustrated with the overindulgent descriptions of characters' internal thoughts. If the end goal was explaining every single thing that crossed their path, I think the story should have been in rotating first person narration, with maybe two characters (Saint and Nash?) to tell the tale. I *think* Sagas is a talented enough writer that this could have been pulled off with a distinct enough voice for each character, and I wonder if it might enhance the story. I'd be interested to read a first person narrated story from the author!

I thought Jal was better developed and I got a bit more into his stride, and I love Saint and Nash. I still don't get Eoan that well, and want more from them (which is funny because I see other reviews that state Eoan is their favorite!). Additionally, I have seen this tagged as LGBTQ+ which rad, but while the first book had a mild sprinkling of it, please note that there's very little romance in the series, and really none in this book (and the tag might come from Eoan's they/them pronouns? not sure but just a note, not a complaint).

I really did enjoy the story and its nuance, and I'm glad I stuck out the second book :) not sure if I'll continue the series from here on if the series continues, but I really enjoyed this.

[Kyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to like this one as much as the first one! While the found family was well executed and adorable, I actually had no idea what was happening plot wise?? I think the world building was never super clear to me and I struggled to differentiate the guild, the union, and the trust the whole time, as well as some of the secondary villainy people. Or how this directly connected to the plot of the first book. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to read. BUT a strong cast of characters nevertheless. 3 stars for the 3 ambit baddies (im excluding Eoan)(sorry)

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun story but I am mad about a certain ship that didn't happen.

[juno · Rating 2 out of 5]

I FINALLY FINISHED IT. This book. pissed me off. I love the characters so much and the plot is a delight, and the style is one I would find acceptably charming for fanfic, but for some reason when it's applied within original works it makes my skin CRAWL. Every single thought and action had an average of two descriptive phrases added to it, and that's simply tooooo many descriptive phrases!!!! The first book had this problem as well, but when you're establishing a world it's less egregious, and I was able to push through it, without stopping for several months and nearly dnfing. But once you hit book two and the narration is still like that, it starts to feel insulting? Like damn ok I guess I can't be trusted to analyze their thoughts and actions myself? Genuinely leaves no space between the lines for you to read. It also does HORRIBLE things to the pacing, which is not good for a high stakes sci fi heist book!!!

[Shrike58 · Rating 3 out of 5]

File under: I'm the problem not the book.

First up, I must compliment Ms. Sagas on pulling up her game a few notches, particularly in regards to her descriptive depth. However, and here's where some personal truth-telling is necessary, I'm not a big fan of the "found-family" trope which is a foundation of so much adventure fiction these days. I also have to admit that I found the plot machinery a little too contrived, though admittedly all novels are contrivances to one degree or another. That said, if you thought "Firefly" was the best thing ever, this book was written for you. Going forward, I hope Ms. Sagas continues to rise above her influences.

Actual rating: 3.5.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. I really like this setting. If you liked the scrappy spacer crew Firefly setting this book will absolutely be right up your alley. I was only about 5 pages into the book before I was checking the author’s Goodreads page to see if there was a book 3 listed. Sadly no, not at this point but I’m following the author because whatever they write next I want to read it!.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book is a ton of fun. Still great found family vibes, lots of action.

My only complaint is that the plot hinges around something happening to Jal and him being forced to open up to the Ambit's crew - just like the first book.

Still, a mild complaint. I'm excited to see where Sagas takes the Ambit's Run series from here.

[Anne Paulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine my delight when, not long after reading Cascade Failure, I received access to the ebook for Gravity Lost! Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley.
This is excellent balance of action, intrigue, emotion, and at times coziness! Definitely will recommend to sci-fi fans of the space opera type! I love spending time with the Ambit crew!

[Steffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

the rare sequel better than the original - loved every second