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Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle
Twenty years ago, the generation ship Kap's Needle left Earth to start a new settlement on what was believed to be a life-sustaining planet. The ship reached its destination without incident, but failed in its stated mission to settle the alien world. Now two years into an emergency trip back to Earth, the crew is struggling to keep it together. The ship's biospheres are failing, its breathable oxygen supply is nearly depleted, and time is running out. Survival has become a suffocating race against the clock.
"A future vision as dark and compelling as the spaces between the stars." —Gareth L. Powell, author of FUTURE’S EDGE and EMBERS OF WAR.
"DISGRACED RETURN OF THE KAP'S NEEDLE is a space opera filled with secrets and revelations, hope and addiction, along with the grief and struggle of a mother trying to save her fractured family." —Ai Jiang, Nebula and Stoker award-winning author of Linghun
"A future vision as dark and compelling as the spaces between the stars." —Gareth L. Powell, author of FUTURE’S EDGE and EMBERS OF WAR.
"DISGRACED RETURN OF THE KAP'S NEEDLE is a space opera filled with secrets and revelations, hope and addiction, along with the grief and struggle of a mother trying to save her fractured family." —Ai Jiang, Nebula and Stoker award-winning author of Linghun
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Published April 29, 2025
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About the author
Renan Bernardo
51 books50 followersRenan Bernardo is a Nebula and Ignyte finalist author of science fiction and fantasy from Brazil. His short fiction appeared in Reactor/Tor.com, Clarkesworld, Apex Magazine, Podcastle, Escape Pod, Daily Science Fiction, and others.
He writes from secondary world fantasy to dark science fiction, and he enjoys the intersection of climate narratives with science, technology, and the human relations inherent to it.
His solarpunk/clifi short fiction collection, Different Kinds of Defiance, was published in 2024. His dark space opera novella, Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle, was released in 2025.
He writes from secondary world fantasy to dark science fiction, and he enjoys the intersection of climate narratives with science, technology, and the human relations inherent to it.
His solarpunk/clifi short fiction collection, Different Kinds of Defiance, was published in 2024. His dark space opera novella, Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle, was released in 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 28, 2025
Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle is an impressively atmospheric and haunting examination of the bleakness of space travel.
I was first drawn to the book by its intriguing title and superb cover art, which I think captures the book’s tone perfectly.
It came as a surprise to me that the main story is only 70 pages long; in reality, it is a novelette, with the full book reaching novella length at around 130 pages. The remaining 60 pages consist of two short stories set in the same kind of environment, which complement the overall experience well.
As I enjoyed what I read, I would have liked more pages dedicated to the main story, ideally fleshing it out to around double its length. The short length meant that certain plot points had to be wrapped up very quickly. Given how ambitious the story is, it could have benefitted from the added depth that a longer word count would allow.
Because of the brisk pace, I didn’t experience the emotional payoffs or plot twists as fully as I might have with more buildup or exposition. However, if you are looking for a quick and engaging read, it certainly hits the mark. It’s a testament to the Renan Bernado’s massive potential that I wanted more. Wanting a little bit more is a huge compliment in itself, because I appreciated the author’s ideas so much and was genuinely interested in knowing more about everything he’d created.
The premise of the main story is fascinating, and Bernardo really excels at creating a tense atmosphere. Our protagonist, Reva, finds herself in a desperate situation, trying to protect her son in a world where dark choices seem inevitable. This isn’t a space opera full of wonder and discovery; we are aboard a seemingly doomed ship where exercise has been banned to save oxygen, where there isn’t enough air for everyone to survive the trip home, and where thousands are already in cryo-sleep.
It’s a bleak, claustrophobic outlook, and the setting is one of the major strengths of the book. You can feel the despair, the creeping insanity, and the heavy drug use that threaten the ship’s inhabitants, who are simply existing for years, uncertain if they will ever see Earth again. It’s a situation that gives you anxiety just imagining it – and for all we know, could be a very real possibility one day. I always need an immersive setting to fully enjoy a book, and this one felt authentic throughout.
The story opens with a brief glimpse of the failed expedition the ship was originally sent on, but most of the book is spent aboard the vessel itself. I definitely think there was potential to expand this into a full novel and add even more backstory, but the shorter word count has its merits too: I flew through the book without any slow moments.
The two short stories that follow explore the experiences of sentient AI and a harrowing tale of a doctor whose daughter has been afflicted by a terrible alien fungus. Both are interesting and enjoyable, and they certainly add to the overall experience.
Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle is the kind of story that leaves a quiet echo behind – a feeling of loneliness, of clinging to hope in the dark. Though I wished for more pages to deepen the story’s emotional and worldbuilding impact, what is here lingers powerfully: the slow unravelling of sanity, the suffocating erosion of hope, and the fierce love that refuses to die even when everything else seems to.
Few stories capture such a raw sense of human fragility against the vast emptiness of space. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time, and I can’t wait to see what Renan Bernardo creates next.
Thankyou kindly to the author for sending me an eARC of this book in return for an honest review. This doesn’t impact my thoughts on the book.
I was first drawn to the book by its intriguing title and superb cover art, which I think captures the book’s tone perfectly.
It came as a surprise to me that the main story is only 70 pages long; in reality, it is a novelette, with the full book reaching novella length at around 130 pages. The remaining 60 pages consist of two short stories set in the same kind of environment, which complement the overall experience well.
As I enjoyed what I read, I would have liked more pages dedicated to the main story, ideally fleshing it out to around double its length. The short length meant that certain plot points had to be wrapped up very quickly. Given how ambitious the story is, it could have benefitted from the added depth that a longer word count would allow.
Because of the brisk pace, I didn’t experience the emotional payoffs or plot twists as fully as I might have with more buildup or exposition. However, if you are looking for a quick and engaging read, it certainly hits the mark. It’s a testament to the Renan Bernado’s massive potential that I wanted more. Wanting a little bit more is a huge compliment in itself, because I appreciated the author’s ideas so much and was genuinely interested in knowing more about everything he’d created.
The premise of the main story is fascinating, and Bernardo really excels at creating a tense atmosphere. Our protagonist, Reva, finds herself in a desperate situation, trying to protect her son in a world where dark choices seem inevitable. This isn’t a space opera full of wonder and discovery; we are aboard a seemingly doomed ship where exercise has been banned to save oxygen, where there isn’t enough air for everyone to survive the trip home, and where thousands are already in cryo-sleep.
It’s a bleak, claustrophobic outlook, and the setting is one of the major strengths of the book. You can feel the despair, the creeping insanity, and the heavy drug use that threaten the ship’s inhabitants, who are simply existing for years, uncertain if they will ever see Earth again. It’s a situation that gives you anxiety just imagining it – and for all we know, could be a very real possibility one day. I always need an immersive setting to fully enjoy a book, and this one felt authentic throughout.
The story opens with a brief glimpse of the failed expedition the ship was originally sent on, but most of the book is spent aboard the vessel itself. I definitely think there was potential to expand this into a full novel and add even more backstory, but the shorter word count has its merits too: I flew through the book without any slow moments.
The two short stories that follow explore the experiences of sentient AI and a harrowing tale of a doctor whose daughter has been afflicted by a terrible alien fungus. Both are interesting and enjoyable, and they certainly add to the overall experience.
Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle is the kind of story that leaves a quiet echo behind – a feeling of loneliness, of clinging to hope in the dark. Though I wished for more pages to deepen the story’s emotional and worldbuilding impact, what is here lingers powerfully: the slow unravelling of sanity, the suffocating erosion of hope, and the fierce love that refuses to die even when everything else seems to.
Few stories capture such a raw sense of human fragility against the vast emptiness of space. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time, and I can’t wait to see what Renan Bernardo creates next.
Thankyou kindly to the author for sending me an eARC of this book in return for an honest review. This doesn’t impact my thoughts on the book.
May 21, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is a sci-fi horror novella, written by Renan Bernardo, and published by Dark Matter INK. A bleak and impactful tale of a spaceship forced to abort its colonization mission and return, and the decisions taken forced by necessity and greed, with a cast of morally grey characters pushed by the circumstances.
Life Support Manager Reva, officer of the Kap's Needle, acts as more than a tax collector, deciding who gets to breathe the limited oxygen that is needed for the return trip from a failed colonization mission; when Captain Horvarth launches an attempt to purge corruption, Reva is put between the stone and the wall: her own actions to protect her son have been questionable, and her only alternative to avoid the purge is joining forces with First Officer Torres to bring down the Captain, even if she was the responsible of the death of her daughter.
Bernardo's cast is one of the highlights of this novella: I would say that nobody is redeemable at the end, but you can still connect with Reva's struggles, especially after you discover the circumstances that brought her to this point. All of them are moved by their own interests, but in the end, they are mostly players that are trying to play the best with the cards given by the dealer in the distressing situation they are.
It deserves a special mention how space travel is portrayed in a different light than what is usually presented in the genre: Kap's Needle's destiny was decided in base of profitability, just considering the raw numbers and not the humans that were part of this travel. Bernardo puts a great amount of effort into portraying the bleakness and the dystopian nature of space travel, especially in terms of time frames and the limited space.
With this length, the pacing is really in the spot, keeping us in the hook for the entirety of the novella.
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is an excellent mix of sci-fi and horror, a novella perfect if you are looking for an impactful bite of the genre; Bernardo is a voice to keep a tab on!
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is a sci-fi horror novella, written by Renan Bernardo, and published by Dark Matter INK. A bleak and impactful tale of a spaceship forced to abort its colonization mission and return, and the decisions taken forced by necessity and greed, with a cast of morally grey characters pushed by the circumstances.
Life Support Manager Reva, officer of the Kap's Needle, acts as more than a tax collector, deciding who gets to breathe the limited oxygen that is needed for the return trip from a failed colonization mission; when Captain Horvarth launches an attempt to purge corruption, Reva is put between the stone and the wall: her own actions to protect her son have been questionable, and her only alternative to avoid the purge is joining forces with First Officer Torres to bring down the Captain, even if she was the responsible of the death of her daughter.
Bernardo's cast is one of the highlights of this novella: I would say that nobody is redeemable at the end, but you can still connect with Reva's struggles, especially after you discover the circumstances that brought her to this point. All of them are moved by their own interests, but in the end, they are mostly players that are trying to play the best with the cards given by the dealer in the distressing situation they are.
It deserves a special mention how space travel is portrayed in a different light than what is usually presented in the genre: Kap's Needle's destiny was decided in base of profitability, just considering the raw numbers and not the humans that were part of this travel. Bernardo puts a great amount of effort into portraying the bleakness and the dystopian nature of space travel, especially in terms of time frames and the limited space.
With this length, the pacing is really in the spot, keeping us in the hook for the entirety of the novella.
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is an excellent mix of sci-fi and horror, a novella perfect if you are looking for an impactful bite of the genre; Bernardo is a voice to keep a tab on!
May 12, 2025
The title story is barely a novella, it's so short, but the tale of a spaceship forced to abort its mission to colonize a new planet and return - ten years in space each way - was so richly written that it didn't feel short at all. Broken people making difficult, even impossible, decisions.
Two short stories follow, both cast in a similar mold. A sentient autodoc in a ship with only two crew members awake at a time - the others in cryosleep - becoming aware that one scientist is abusing the other; what can the AI do to help? And a doctor researching an invasive, fatal fungus euthanizes his patients because their last words are prescient, and he needs to know the future.
Science fiction holds up a mirror to society, reflecting current dreams, fears, hopes, anxieties. Golden age SF was all about strong, smart men using technology to break through barriers and discover new worlds. We had no doubt the future was going to be great. Well, we're in the future, now, and Kap's Needle holds up a mirror clouded over with corruption, fogged with authoritarianism, and cracked in too many places to fix - especially because it's not worth it to corporations to spend the money on it.
Two short stories follow, both cast in a similar mold. A sentient autodoc in a ship with only two crew members awake at a time - the others in cryosleep - becoming aware that one scientist is abusing the other; what can the AI do to help? And a doctor researching an invasive, fatal fungus euthanizes his patients because their last words are prescient, and he needs to know the future.
Science fiction holds up a mirror to society, reflecting current dreams, fears, hopes, anxieties. Golden age SF was all about strong, smart men using technology to break through barriers and discover new worlds. We had no doubt the future was going to be great. Well, we're in the future, now, and Kap's Needle holds up a mirror clouded over with corruption, fogged with authoritarianism, and cracked in too many places to fix - especially because it's not worth it to corporations to spend the money on it.
December 17, 2024
THE DISGRACED RETURN OF KAP'S NEEDLE is a tense and tightly-paced thriller of greed, resilience, and community action. Reva, a formally high-ranking officer of the Kap's Needle on the return journey from a failed terraforming attempt, will face her darkest fears; on the other side of her own power. Come for the disaster and decay, and stay for the sliver of hope that Bernado so skillfully holds out, if we only have the courage to overcome ourselves, and take responsibility for our actions.
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January 3, 2025Thank you so much to the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to blurb THE DISGRACED RETURN OF THE KAP'S NEEDLE.
Treachery and grief simmer below the surface, threatening one woman’s sanity and the future of her crew in this deeply personal space noir from rising star Renan Bernardo.
Treachery and grief simmer below the surface, threatening one woman’s sanity and the future of her crew in this deeply personal space noir from rising star Renan Bernardo.
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December 19, 2024A big thank you to the author for an ARC of the book in exchange for a blurb!
DISGRACED RETURN OF THE KAP'S NEEDLE is a space opera filled with secrets and revelations, hope and addiction, along with the grief and struggle of a mother trying to save her fractured family.
DISGRACED RETURN OF THE KAP'S NEEDLE is a space opera filled with secrets and revelations, hope and addiction, along with the grief and struggle of a mother trying to save her fractured family.
August 22, 2025
I loved this short sci-fi novella about space colonization gone wrong. The way the history of the failed colony was slowly revealed during parts of the novella helped set an excellent pace for the story overall, and I enjoyed the setting of the novel a lot. I think this novella really captured how corrupt some of those in power can be towards those 'beneath" them and very adeptly portrayed how the community would crumble in light of a failed mission of that magnitude.
I loved how this novelle ended too! I don't want to spoil it, but it was a doozy!
Overall, I enjoyed this novella a great deal! Great pacing, steadily built tension, and a great conclusion really helped this novella stand out among the pack!
I loved how this novelle ended too! I don't want to spoil it, but it was a doozy!
Overall, I enjoyed this novella a great deal! Great pacing, steadily built tension, and a great conclusion really helped this novella stand out among the pack!
August 11, 2025
I’m always down for some sci-fi horror, but when it is as good as this one, I get really excited! This novella takes how scary travelling through space is to another level, with claustrophobic scenes and dread throughout, due to the unpredictability of the characters’ situation. There are several twists and I cannot believe how wholesome this story feels, even if there are not many pages!
I was also impressed by the additional stories which confirmed this author as one of my go to for my sci-fi fix from now on!
You can’t trust anyone in space and Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle perfectly describes why! Highly recommended for sci-fi and horror fans alike and for those seeking some dread and uneasiness in their reads!
Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
I was also impressed by the additional stories which confirmed this author as one of my go to for my sci-fi fix from now on!
You can’t trust anyone in space and Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle perfectly describes why! Highly recommended for sci-fi and horror fans alike and for those seeking some dread and uneasiness in their reads!
Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
July 14, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC!
Kap’s Needle came bundled with two other short stories by the same author which, in absence of their own entires, I’ll also mention here because I liked them so much better than Kap’s Needle.
Kap’s Needle bills itself as a desperate mother’s story as she battles corruption and the slow descent into anarchy on a colony ship. It’s heavily reliant on telling the reader what was happening and I can’t remember a single noteable piece of being shown what was happening within the main narrative. Any mystery over Reva’s motivations or potential paranoria is negated by the opening chapter telling the reader what happened in the kick-off incident that leads to Reva’s daughter’s death. As a character, they’re all flat and the narrative is similarly confused.
The infection mechanic of the spores is never mentioned leading characters to become infected from seemingly nowhere at key climatic moments. Even for horror’s sake, it falls flat with not enough attention given to either the spores or the exposure murders of civilians for either to truly be horrifying.
In comparison, I enjoyed the additional short stories a lot more. The realities and horror of life aboard a space station with a randomly assigned person as well as the spores being scary were entirely developed in the short stories instead of the main novella.
Kap’s Needle came bundled with two other short stories by the same author which, in absence of their own entires, I’ll also mention here because I liked them so much better than Kap’s Needle.
Kap’s Needle bills itself as a desperate mother’s story as she battles corruption and the slow descent into anarchy on a colony ship. It’s heavily reliant on telling the reader what was happening and I can’t remember a single noteable piece of being shown what was happening within the main narrative. Any mystery over Reva’s motivations or potential paranoria is negated by the opening chapter telling the reader what happened in the kick-off incident that leads to Reva’s daughter’s death. As a character, they’re all flat and the narrative is similarly confused.
The infection mechanic of the spores is never mentioned leading characters to become infected from seemingly nowhere at key climatic moments. Even for horror’s sake, it falls flat with not enough attention given to either the spores or the exposure murders of civilians for either to truly be horrifying.
In comparison, I enjoyed the additional short stories a lot more. The realities and horror of life aboard a space station with a randomly assigned person as well as the spores being scary were entirely developed in the short stories instead of the main novella.
August 14, 2025
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle
by Renan Bernardo 🩸🔪
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭….
In 2144 AD, the generation ship Kap's Needle left Earth to settle a new world. It all went wrong. Now, two years into a desperate return trip, the ship's biospheres are collapsing and oxygen is nearly depleted. Life Support Manager Reva is now little more than a tax collector, deciding who gets to breathe. When Captain Horvat launches a corruption purge to cover his own failures, Reva knows she's next. To protect her son, she must do the unthinkable: trust First Officer Torres, the woman who ruined her life, and help bring down the captain no matter how many innocent lives it costs. It also includes two more short stories: "A Lifeline of Silk" and "Callis Praedictionem” BOTH are absolutely incredible. I’m talking jaw dropping, HOLY HELL perfect sci fi horror!
If you know me you know sci-fi horror is my ULTIMATE genre so when I was offered this to read I jumped at the chance! This was gruesome and mind bending. I thought there was no way the other two short stories would be as good as Kaps Needle but OH MY they were perfection, the first is the experiences of sentient AI who is starting to realise the scientists they work for are in an abusive relationship (a lifeline of silk) and a harrowing tale of a doctor whose daughter has been afflicted by a terrible alien fungus (my favourite, Callis Praedictionem) this one in particular was deliciously gruesome and completely heart breaking 💔 🩸🔪 all short stories revolve in the same universe/timeline. This is one of my top Novellas of 2025 and I can’t recommend it enough!
by Renan Bernardo 🩸🔪
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭….
In 2144 AD, the generation ship Kap's Needle left Earth to settle a new world. It all went wrong. Now, two years into a desperate return trip, the ship's biospheres are collapsing and oxygen is nearly depleted. Life Support Manager Reva is now little more than a tax collector, deciding who gets to breathe. When Captain Horvat launches a corruption purge to cover his own failures, Reva knows she's next. To protect her son, she must do the unthinkable: trust First Officer Torres, the woman who ruined her life, and help bring down the captain no matter how many innocent lives it costs. It also includes two more short stories: "A Lifeline of Silk" and "Callis Praedictionem” BOTH are absolutely incredible. I’m talking jaw dropping, HOLY HELL perfect sci fi horror!
If you know me you know sci-fi horror is my ULTIMATE genre so when I was offered this to read I jumped at the chance! This was gruesome and mind bending. I thought there was no way the other two short stories would be as good as Kaps Needle but OH MY they were perfection, the first is the experiences of sentient AI who is starting to realise the scientists they work for are in an abusive relationship (a lifeline of silk) and a harrowing tale of a doctor whose daughter has been afflicted by a terrible alien fungus (my favourite, Callis Praedictionem) this one in particular was deliciously gruesome and completely heart breaking 💔 🩸🔪 all short stories revolve in the same universe/timeline. This is one of my top Novellas of 2025 and I can’t recommend it enough!
April 25, 2025
A story about the persistence of human's will to survive in the face of catastrophic failure. I couldn't wait to see what each morally gray character was going to do next! The setting felt vivid and dangerous, serving as a perpetual reminder the risks of space travel. The characters reacted in ways that were painfully believable. The ending is a total gut punch! Truly a top read of the year!
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October 24, 2025Just realized I never posted a note about it here! Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is my first published novella and I deeply appreciate everyone who has read it, reviewed, or rated it. If you have a moment, any rating or review is appreciated! (I promise that even though this book is full of darkness but this author has a heart! 🖤)
February 3, 2025
Twisted schemes and shifting loyalties abound in Disgraced Return of The Kap’s Needle, and as with its morally gray characters, much more lies beneath the surface. Bernardo’s timely tale is an affecting and thought-provoking science fictional allegory about the current state of humanity itself, and how dire straits lead us to extremes of both cruelty and compassion.
July 17, 2025
The Kap's Needle is a colony spacecraft sent on a 10-year mission to a planet largely covered in fungal growth. Upon finding that the fungus can infect humans and the planet is thus unsuitable for colonization, the ship along with its crew and all prospective colonists must make the long journey home. The story covers the events that happen when the strain on systems, political machinations and corruption boil over on this return journey.
The Good: I liked the atmosphere, I liked the exploration of deeply flawed characters. I love the overall premise of a colony ship having to turn around having failed its mission, all the excitement and hope turning to frustration and despair.
The Bad: What this novella suffers most from is that it feels rushed and unfocused. I wish it had been at least twice as long so that it could take the necessary time to develop its themes, characters and plot elements. There were too many moments where something that should have been a major reveal or shocking moment didn't land because the stage wasn't set for it, and some plot points seemed to come out of nowhere (For example, the theft of the refrimine stores that we never really learned any motivation for, or the infections of characters at the end). This combined with the cut-and-dry writing style made it difficult to become very invested in the story.
My copy of this novella also came bundled with two short stories, A Lifeline of Silk and Callis Praedictionem. Both of these were excellent and I could easily recommend the overall work based on the strength of those stories alone.
Finally, thanks to Renan Bernardo and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC of this book.
The Good: I liked the atmosphere, I liked the exploration of deeply flawed characters. I love the overall premise of a colony ship having to turn around having failed its mission, all the excitement and hope turning to frustration and despair.
The Bad: What this novella suffers most from is that it feels rushed and unfocused. I wish it had been at least twice as long so that it could take the necessary time to develop its themes, characters and plot elements. There were too many moments where something that should have been a major reveal or shocking moment didn't land because the stage wasn't set for it, and some plot points seemed to come out of nowhere (For example, the theft of the refrimine stores that we never really learned any motivation for, or the infections of characters at the end). This combined with the cut-and-dry writing style made it difficult to become very invested in the story.
My copy of this novella also came bundled with two short stories, A Lifeline of Silk and Callis Praedictionem. Both of these were excellent and I could easily recommend the overall work based on the strength of those stories alone.
Finally, thanks to Renan Bernardo and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC of this book.
June 1, 2025
A bleak, tightly wound descent into the fragility of humanity in the face of survival in space. Renan Bernardo's Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle plunges us into the failing corridors of a generation ship where resources are running out and survival demands impossible choices. The atmosphere is claustrophobic and tense, steeped in desperation and decay, it's intense from the first page to the last.
Driving the story is Reva, a life support manager and mother forced to make desperate decisions. Complex and morally grey, her struggle isn't portrayed as heroic or villainous - it’s survival at its most raw and heartbreaking. The story doesn’t offer easy answers, and that’s what makes it so compelling. It's about what we do when all the rules break down and who we become when no good option remains.
Despite its short length, more of a novelette, it's compact without feeling slight. The pacing is swift and deliberate, driving the urgency higher with every page. The ending was a little abrupt however the brevity is what really drives the horror, taking the breath out of you. The book also includes two additional thematically aligned short stories which are far from filler and are engaging reads in their own rights.
Dark, thought provoking and emotionally resonant, Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle is scifi at its most intimate and unforgiving. I'd eagerly read more by Bernardo, set in this universe or any other.
My thanks to the author and Dark Matter INK for the review copy.
Driving the story is Reva, a life support manager and mother forced to make desperate decisions. Complex and morally grey, her struggle isn't portrayed as heroic or villainous - it’s survival at its most raw and heartbreaking. The story doesn’t offer easy answers, and that’s what makes it so compelling. It's about what we do when all the rules break down and who we become when no good option remains.
Despite its short length, more of a novelette, it's compact without feeling slight. The pacing is swift and deliberate, driving the urgency higher with every page. The ending was a little abrupt however the brevity is what really drives the horror, taking the breath out of you. The book also includes two additional thematically aligned short stories which are far from filler and are engaging reads in their own rights.
Dark, thought provoking and emotionally resonant, Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle is scifi at its most intimate and unforgiving. I'd eagerly read more by Bernardo, set in this universe or any other.
My thanks to the author and Dark Matter INK for the review copy.
December 20, 2025
Good, but way too short. This would have been so much better as a fully-fleshed out novel. I love science fiction stories set on malfunctioning generation ships and this is a bleak one. After their failure to colonize a new world, the crew and passengers of the Kap's Needle are limping their way back to Earth, short of oxygen required for all to survive. For some reason, the material used to put people in cryo-sleep is in short supply, so there are still thousands competing for the limited air. The ship's life support manager is keeping track of oxygen debts and sentencing those in arrears to a living death on a lower deck, O1. At the same time, she's scrubbing the records to make sure her own son survives. Other officers are also involved in their own corrupt doings, which may or may not have led to the operation's overall failure. People are high on drugs, everything is broken, the biodomes are failing. This is a pretty bleak story and it's only one of three in this slim volume. Another short story deals with an auto-doc robot developing some true emotions beyond its programming and trying to save a man from his abusive lover. And then the final story follows a human doctor dealing with the outbreak of a deadly alien fungus which has infested his own daughter. He's keeping her in cryo-sleep while he desperate searches for a cure. But maybe the time has come to recognize there's no cure coming. All-in-all, some pretty impressive sketches of a bleak future. Hopefully, Bernardo gets the chance to wow us with a full novel one of these days.
July 15, 2025
📌 Finalmente ataquei sci-fi!! ❤️ Mas devagarinho, a começar com um conto de @renanbernardo02 que se mostrou curto e emocionante!
📌 Do que se trata? Bem, aparentemente a humanidade descobriu um planeta aparentemente habitável! Emocionante não é?? Mas foco no "aparentemente"......
📌 O planeta embora muito parecido com o nosso, é meio roxo porque há ali uns esporos que aparentemente não são muito recomendados para a saúde do ser humano. 😬😬😬
📌 Tudo isto seria fácil de evitar não fossem os interesses de uma entidade que está demasiado interessada nestes esporos.
📌 A história, embora curta, é bastante bem descrita e aprofundada. As personagens têm caráter, são humanas e com os seus defeitos e características muito realistas. O plot em si é excelente, dá vontade de saber o que aconteceu depois, aprofundar os porquês e esclarecer todas as dúvidas que ficaram! E claro... Se Reva e Rômulo Castro voltarão a ver o Brasil!
📌 Gostei bastante e se estão em busca de uma história curta do género sci-fi com thriller à mistura, esta é definitivamente uma ótima opção!
📌 E-book fornecido através da BookSirens, em troca de uma opinião! 📌
📌 Do que se trata? Bem, aparentemente a humanidade descobriu um planeta aparentemente habitável! Emocionante não é?? Mas foco no "aparentemente"......
📌 O planeta embora muito parecido com o nosso, é meio roxo porque há ali uns esporos que aparentemente não são muito recomendados para a saúde do ser humano. 😬😬😬
📌 Tudo isto seria fácil de evitar não fossem os interesses de uma entidade que está demasiado interessada nestes esporos.
📌 A história, embora curta, é bastante bem descrita e aprofundada. As personagens têm caráter, são humanas e com os seus defeitos e características muito realistas. O plot em si é excelente, dá vontade de saber o que aconteceu depois, aprofundar os porquês e esclarecer todas as dúvidas que ficaram! E claro... Se Reva e Rômulo Castro voltarão a ver o Brasil!
📌 Gostei bastante e se estão em busca de uma história curta do género sci-fi com thriller à mistura, esta é definitivamente uma ótima opção!
📌 E-book fornecido através da BookSirens, em troca de uma opinião! 📌
May 20, 2025
Life Support Officer Reva Castro finds herself in a desperate situation on a dying generation ship returning from a failed mission: in order to protect her son, she must cooperate with the person responsible for her daughter's death.
Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle is a fast-paced dystopian novella, showing the bleak outcome of capitalism and human greed. The characters are morally grey, practically irredeemable, and their whole mission is a massive screw-up from the very beginning. This is just the type of story that I enjoy - bleak, cynical, and filled with doomed choices.
I hate saying this as a fellow novella writer - but I do wish the characters had more space to breathe, because I feel there is a larger story to unpack here. However, I'd rather have the pace too fast than too slow. Bernardo has still managed to build a plausible world and relatable characters in a very condensed story.
Disgraced Return of the Kap’s Needle is a fast-paced dystopian novella, showing the bleak outcome of capitalism and human greed. The characters are morally grey, practically irredeemable, and their whole mission is a massive screw-up from the very beginning. This is just the type of story that I enjoy - bleak, cynical, and filled with doomed choices.
I hate saying this as a fellow novella writer - but I do wish the characters had more space to breathe, because I feel there is a larger story to unpack here. However, I'd rather have the pace too fast than too slow. Bernardo has still managed to build a plausible world and relatable characters in a very condensed story.
May 23, 2025
The setting and description were really well done and interesting. I felt like I could watch it play out like a good episode of a beloved sci fi show. I had several short falls with this book, but the setting and the vibes were so fun that they really outshined my issues.
However the characters were just fine and nothing that notable. Which is unfortunate because the guilt and warring emotions of the main character in regards to her son, what she did to protect him, whether he wanted or deserved protection, and how he might’ve felt about the lengths she went to to protect him, all of that could’ve been really compelling if we’d just explored it more. We explored it some, but not enough and not in a way that felt meaningful or poignant.
The closing of the major conflict also felt a little lack luster. The villains motivations were asinine and poorly done, and I could’ve done without the monologue. It was very “tell because I don’t have the skill to show”.
However the characters were just fine and nothing that notable. Which is unfortunate because the guilt and warring emotions of the main character in regards to her son, what she did to protect him, whether he wanted or deserved protection, and how he might’ve felt about the lengths she went to to protect him, all of that could’ve been really compelling if we’d just explored it more. We explored it some, but not enough and not in a way that felt meaningful or poignant.
The closing of the major conflict also felt a little lack luster. The villains motivations were asinine and poorly done, and I could’ve done without the monologue. It was very “tell because I don’t have the skill to show”.
June 2, 2025
A Gripping Tale of Loss, Defeat, and Survival
The Kap’s Needle embarks on a historic mission to begin human colonization on a distant planet. What follows is a gripping journey through the unfortunate events that ultimately lead to its disgraced return.
The story felt like the midpoint of a larger saga, keeping me racing through the pages to uncover the truth behind the fate of The Kap’s Needle. It masterfully conveys the perilous nature of space travel and the immense challenges of human colonization—where danger and death lurk at every turn.
While the book delivers a compelling narrative, I found the final confrontation between the main characters slightly underwhelming compared to the strength of the overall story. That said, it remains a powerful read—thought-provoking, immersive, and highly recommended for all.
The Kap’s Needle embarks on a historic mission to begin human colonization on a distant planet. What follows is a gripping journey through the unfortunate events that ultimately lead to its disgraced return.
The story felt like the midpoint of a larger saga, keeping me racing through the pages to uncover the truth behind the fate of The Kap’s Needle. It masterfully conveys the perilous nature of space travel and the immense challenges of human colonization—where danger and death lurk at every turn.
While the book delivers a compelling narrative, I found the final confrontation between the main characters slightly underwhelming compared to the strength of the overall story. That said, it remains a powerful read—thought-provoking, immersive, and highly recommended for all.
May 26, 2025
3.5
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book did a lot of things I hate very well, like; start in the pov of the antagonist.
Reva's story after that carries the narrative at full tilt. From one messed up decision to the next. I was gripped by the characters so much it surprised me to see the end hit so soon. The ending after the ending was a little 50/50, but for the sort of story where a bunch of powerful people that hate each other are stuck on a dying ship, it wasn't unbelievable enough to ruin the enjoyment, and once the other two short stories kick in it makes sense for the overall theme the author was going for.
Overall it was a good mesh of genres; Sci-fi/thriller/Horror. A full meal in such small package.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book did a lot of things I hate very well, like; start in the pov of the antagonist.
Reva's story after that carries the narrative at full tilt. From one messed up decision to the next. I was gripped by the characters so much it surprised me to see the end hit so soon. The ending after the ending was a little 50/50, but for the sort of story where a bunch of powerful people that hate each other are stuck on a dying ship, it wasn't unbelievable enough to ruin the enjoyment, and once the other two short stories kick in it makes sense for the overall theme the author was going for.
Overall it was a good mesh of genres; Sci-fi/thriller/Horror. A full meal in such small package.
October 17, 2025
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle
Sci-fi
Renan Bernardo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• ᴛᴇɴꜱᴇ • ᴄʟᴀᴜꜱᴛʀᴏᴘʜᴏʙɪᴄ • ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ •
I really liked the writing style of this author. It was so easy to read and I became immersed in the plot immediately.
The pacing was fast but it liked it. It really created a sense of urgency and desperation as the oxygen started to run out.
I liked how Reva had to make difficult and sometimes cruel decisions in order to keep her son alive.
I wish this book was longer. I wanted to get to know the characters in more detail and I wanted to know what else had happened to the people living on Kap's Needle.
I liked the ending. I felt for Reva as she was betrayed but I did see it coming.
The bonus short stories were interesting, too
Sci-fi
Renan Bernardo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
• ᴛᴇɴꜱᴇ • ᴄʟᴀᴜꜱᴛʀᴏᴘʜᴏʙɪᴄ • ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ •
I really liked the writing style of this author. It was so easy to read and I became immersed in the plot immediately.
The pacing was fast but it liked it. It really created a sense of urgency and desperation as the oxygen started to run out.
I liked how Reva had to make difficult and sometimes cruel decisions in order to keep her son alive.
I wish this book was longer. I wanted to get to know the characters in more detail and I wanted to know what else had happened to the people living on Kap's Needle.
I liked the ending. I felt for Reva as she was betrayed but I did see it coming.
The bonus short stories were interesting, too
May 10, 2025
Bleak and tense, but oh so short
Intriguing short novella, along with a couple of short stories.
The main story has a great premise, with people dealing with a shortage of oxygen reserves on a space ship in various self-serving ways. The unexpected ending was terrific. I do think, without giving spoilers, the motivation for some actions was a tad vague, and feel that the story could have been expanded significantly to fill in the gaps and allow more space for the plot to breathe, so to speak.
I found the two additional stories a bit hit and miss - I did like 'Callis Praedictionem' but wasn't so keen on the 'A Lifeline of Silk.'
Intriguing short novella, along with a couple of short stories.
The main story has a great premise, with people dealing with a shortage of oxygen reserves on a space ship in various self-serving ways. The unexpected ending was terrific. I do think, without giving spoilers, the motivation for some actions was a tad vague, and feel that the story could have been expanded significantly to fill in the gaps and allow more space for the plot to breathe, so to speak.
I found the two additional stories a bit hit and miss - I did like 'Callis Praedictionem' but wasn't so keen on the 'A Lifeline of Silk.'
July 1, 2025
Excellent! This one really had the right tone to creepy me out. Space is scary, the unknown of otherworldly fungus is scary- combine that and you’ve got a great sci-fi horror.
While this novella was short, it felt so full. The first story being longer had more impact to let us see into this world. The latter two stories were not quite as strong but they did have an impact towards the end. These stories dealt with a lot of human nature, ethics and curiosity at all costs.
Overall a great, short read. I hope to read more of this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Book Sirens for this ARC.
While this novella was short, it felt so full. The first story being longer had more impact to let us see into this world. The latter two stories were not quite as strong but they did have an impact towards the end. These stories dealt with a lot of human nature, ethics and curiosity at all costs.
Overall a great, short read. I hope to read more of this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Book Sirens for this ARC.
February 4, 2026
First half:
Oooh, a morally gray interstellar and interplanetary story with corruption, murder, and betrayal??? Desperate times make antiheroes of us all, and I feel like that’s where we’re heading.
Second half:
What a fast-paced science fiction/horror story! I was on the edge of my walking pad for the entire second half. Sean was such a wonderful character. He had so much empathy for Reva.
Spoilers below:
And the coverup about the Refrimine! Ughhh that made me so mad because it felt close to what happens all the time in the real word. There was no reason for so many people to die or suffer, except for one person’s greed for power and control.
Oooh, a morally gray interstellar and interplanetary story with corruption, murder, and betrayal??? Desperate times make antiheroes of us all, and I feel like that’s where we’re heading.
Second half:
What a fast-paced science fiction/horror story! I was on the edge of my walking pad for the entire second half. Sean was such a wonderful character. He had so much empathy for Reva.
Spoilers below:
And the coverup about the Refrimine! Ughhh that made me so mad because it felt close to what happens all the time in the real word. There was no reason for so many people to die or suffer, except for one person’s greed for power and control.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2025
I bought this on a recommendation by another author I really like and it did not disappoint. The main story was a painful and depressing look at a doomed colony ship. The ending hit really hard. The second story I loved even more than the first. A medbot troubled by an abusive relationship among his crew and the lengths it went to help. It was perfection. As soon as I finished I ordered a copy of Different kinds of defiance. I'm really glad I've found this author. I'd recommend this to people who like their scifi character driven and a little darker.
January 13, 2026
This doesn’t say anywhere on it that it’s actually a novella/novelette and two short stories! But that’s what it is. 😛 They are all space horror, with one short story definitely coming from the same world as the novella. The last story might, too, but I’m not sure.
They’re bleak and sad. There are space horror elements like limited resources and unknown biological infections. But at the heart is human failing and weakness in dire situations.
The prose is nothing special, but the stories are intense and emotional. Good stuff!
They’re bleak and sad. There are space horror elements like limited resources and unknown biological infections. But at the heart is human failing and weakness in dire situations.
The prose is nothing special, but the stories are intense and emotional. Good stuff!
February 14, 2026
This short novella offers an interesting and unique take on the premise of a long space voyage to a distant planet. Rather than focus on the destination or even the journey there, Bernardo focuses on the return trip back to Earth after a failed and disastrous attempt to colonize an alien planet. The result is a tale of shrinking resources and harsh inequality that resonates with many of the challenges we face on present-day Earth. The book includes two additional stories that take place in the same universe, which is a wonderful bonus.
December 20, 2025
What a great premise! Generational starships are a fascinating concept. Such an endeavor presents countless challenges for humanity, and the failure of the mission—followed by a disgraced return home—would certainly be one of the most haunting outcomes of a space colonization effort. Bernardo delivers a solid narrative, with compelling characters, settings, and atmosphere. While the story could benefit from further development, I would definitely recommend checking it out.
May 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I rounded up to 4 but it's really more of a 3.5 star because it was so short. I really liked the story and was invested in that world, but because it was too short, I didn't get to enjoy it. It was easy to read and follow, I thought it was going to err on the side of too sci-fi, but it didn't which I appreciate. I would love to read a full length novel of this story. (I didn't read the two short fic on the back).
I rounded up to 4 but it's really more of a 3.5 star because it was so short. I really liked the story and was invested in that world, but because it was too short, I didn't get to enjoy it. It was easy to read and follow, I thought it was going to err on the side of too sci-fi, but it didn't which I appreciate. I would love to read a full length novel of this story. (I didn't read the two short fic on the back).
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