After dying on a distant moon, a spaceship captain investigates the mysterious circumstances of her own death and the divine pact her beloved grandmother may have made. Blending science fiction with themes of family, faith, and longing, the story explores grief and legacy through the captain’s ghostly quest to honor a promise.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a science fiction universe, this short story follows the captain of the Sopinha de Feijão, who, after her own death, seeks to uncover the nature of the god responsible for her demise and the mysterious pact her grandmother made. The narrative is structured around the captain's posthumous investigation, interwoven with flashbacks that highlight her relationship with her grandmother and her original goal of building a street market on a distant moon. The story explores themes of hunger, faith, family, and love, and is published without DRM, with a scheduled release date of August 27, 2025. The book is categorized as adult science fiction and short stories, and is authored by Renan Bernardo. Reader engagement includes 22 ratings and 6 full reviews, with an average rating of 3.86 out of 5. Readers responded positively to the emotional depth of the story, particularly the portrayal of the protagonist's relationship with her grandmother, which several reviewers described as moving and evocative. The writing style and storytelling were praised, with one reader specifically mentioning the 'fabulous writing and storytelling.' The depiction of the universe and the sense of place were also noted as strengths, and the story's exploration of themes such as hunger, faith, and familial bonds resonated with readers, with one mentioning that it made them miss their own grandmother. Some readers expressed less enthusiasm, as reflected in a lower rating of 2.75 stars from one reviewer. While specific criticisms were not detailed in the available reviews, the presence of a sub-3-star rating suggests that certain aspects of the story may not have met all readers' expectations, possibly in terms of pacing, plot resolution, or other narrative elements. The book is available to read for free on Reactor Magazine's website, as referenced by multiple reviewers who provided the link. The story is positioned as a Tor short story and is part of a broader trend of DRM-free releases. The marketing description emphasizes the protagonist's quest and the connection to her grandmother, aligning with the themes highlighted by readers.