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Moss'd in Space #1
Moss'd in Space
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26USA Today Bestselling author Rebecca Thorne delights in a brand new cozy science-fiction romance series...for fans of Martha Wells! Features original inside art!
Torian Razner finally bought a starship, and contrary to Amelia’s assessment, it was not “a meteoric sign of stupidity.” Sure, the alien starship may have been abandoned for a century, and it may be covered in moss now… but it’s Torian’s ticket to freedom, regardless of what her ex… ah, captain… said.
Except Torian’s first flight reveals a surprise the moss is actually an organic computer with a snarky attitude and serious abandonment issues. The target of its loathing? The immortal alien who built it (and then parked the starship, with Moss inside, and forgot about it). The same alien who just found Torian and accused her of “stealing” the ship.
It’s entirely possible that Amelia was right about this meteoric stupidity.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Torian Razner finally bought a starship, and contrary to Amelia’s assessment, it was not “a meteoric sign of stupidity.” Sure, the alien starship may have been abandoned for a century, and it may be covered in moss now… but it’s Torian’s ticket to freedom, regardless of what her ex… ah, captain… said.
Except Torian’s first flight reveals a surprise the moss is actually an organic computer with a snarky attitude and serious abandonment issues. The target of its loathing? The immortal alien who built it (and then parked the starship, with Moss inside, and forgot about it). The same alien who just found Torian and accused her of “stealing” the ship.
It’s entirely possible that Amelia was right about this meteoric stupidity.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 7, 2026
12 people are currently reading
8295 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Thorne
16 books2,138 followersRebecca Thorne is a USA Today, Indie, and Sunday Times Bestselling author, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi with romantic subplots.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely fiancée, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely fiancée, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
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October 28, 2025murderbot and becky chambers vibes?? from one of my autobuy authors?? say less 💳💳💳
March 16, 2026
Cozy sci-fi with heart and a grumpy twist. Torian Razner finally buys a long-abandoned alien starship to escape her dying colony, only to discover the moss coating the ship is actually Moss, a snarky, lonely organic computer with serious abandonment issues. What follows is a warm, funny adventure about unlikely partnership, healing old wounds, and building found family in deep space. Light on dense science but rich in charm, the story is perfect for readers who like character-driven sci-fi with humor, heart, and a cranky plant.
March 13, 2026
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR THE ARC, I AM OVER THE MOON. THIS IS A 100% HONEST REVIEW.
I adored every inch of this masterpiece. I love Rebecca writing, I always will, and I just felt so warm and fuzzy while reading this cosy adventure and it gave me such a heart warming feeling and its everything I could have wanted in a cosy sci-fi book. I adore these characters, I adore the puns and the jokes and the setting and everything about this.
Rebecca is one of auto-buy authors, I find that she writes such lovely but complex and beautiful characters. They’re so weird but in a good way, they’re not afraid to be them and I find when I read her books I find a safe space to let myself be me. I will treasure these characters and hold them in my heart 🥰💖 Rebecca’s stories mean so much to be personally and I recommend everyone who loves cosy books to give this one a try.
I adored every inch of this masterpiece. I love Rebecca writing, I always will, and I just felt so warm and fuzzy while reading this cosy adventure and it gave me such a heart warming feeling and its everything I could have wanted in a cosy sci-fi book. I adore these characters, I adore the puns and the jokes and the setting and everything about this.
Rebecca is one of auto-buy authors, I find that she writes such lovely but complex and beautiful characters. They’re so weird but in a good way, they’re not afraid to be them and I find when I read her books I find a safe space to let myself be me. I will treasure these characters and hold them in my heart 🥰💖 Rebecca’s stories mean so much to be personally and I recommend everyone who loves cosy books to give this one a try.
March 20, 2026
This was so cute, such an enjoyable cozy sci-fi read! As a huge Wall-e fan, I got a lot of those similar vibes mixed in with, of course, everything we love about the Times & Tea series.
I loved the sense of humor in this that had me chuckling multiple times, and the adventure was a great time. It was well-paced without feeling like we were “stuck” in any one spot for too long.
If anything, I wish the romance was just slightly *more,* but I’m excited to see how it develops in the next book!
I loved the sense of humor in this that had me chuckling multiple times, and the adventure was a great time. It was well-paced without feeling like we were “stuck” in any one spot for too long.
If anything, I wish the romance was just slightly *more,* but I’m excited to see how it develops in the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Bramble for sending an ARC to Hearthside Books. I am so ridiculously excited to read this right now.
As always, Rebecca Thorne writes something and I will read it. I still need to catch up on This Gilded Abyss and that'll be my next read when I finish my LOTR read with my friend from work.
Since this isn't out until July, my short & sweet review is this: This book is the start of a new Cozy Science Fiction series. I thought the characters were adorable and Moss is a great POV. This is a soft read with a lovely found family vibe with the new characters we meet along the way. I can't wait to see how things play out next!
As always, Rebecca Thorne writes something and I will read it. I still need to catch up on This Gilded Abyss and that'll be my next read when I finish my LOTR read with my friend from work.
Since this isn't out until July, my short & sweet review is this: This book is the start of a new Cozy Science Fiction series. I thought the characters were adorable and Moss is a great POV. This is a soft read with a lovely found family vibe with the new characters we meet along the way. I can't wait to see how things play out next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF @ 38%
This wants to be The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, but to me it really fell short. With TLWtaSAP, Becky Chambers built a world where there's no real villains and the science part of the sci-fi might as well be magic for all that it doesn't try to offer explanations, and Thorne is doing the same here. But while I didn't mind Chambers's handwaving away algae propelling a starship, I seem to have less patience for Thorne talking about a nebula that is within a solar system rather than being thousands of times larger than one. Partly this is because Chambers is much better at the actual handwaving: she gives a minimum of detail, so I'm not caught out by things that are obviously incongruous to me, and can instead vaguely fill in the blanks or just ignore it; Thorne makes the mistake of trying to provide explanations that don't make sense.
Mostly, however, this book fails to be TLWtaSAP because the characters fail to feel like proper adults. Instead, they all just read as quirky Tumblr creations, full of impulse and bravado and anxiety and not in fact much sense. I can tolerate that for a young, twenty-something main character, but I can't really tolerate it for an almost thousand year old alien plant intelligence or their alien creator. Ashby and Sissix and Doctor Chef and the rest from TLWtaSAP read as adults to me; they're quirky and fun, but react to blockers and inconveniences in a way that suggests that they have a wealth of experience behind them and have a life story that is more than just a few tropes thrown at the wall.
I love cozy fiction, but there's a real sweet spot that needs to be hit to make the mood sit right without being saccharine. This doesn't hit it for me.
This wants to be The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, but to me it really fell short. With TLWtaSAP, Becky Chambers built a world where there's no real villains and the science part of the sci-fi might as well be magic for all that it doesn't try to offer explanations, and Thorne is doing the same here. But while I didn't mind Chambers's handwaving away algae propelling a starship, I seem to have less patience for Thorne talking about a nebula that is within a solar system rather than being thousands of times larger than one. Partly this is because Chambers is much better at the actual handwaving: she gives a minimum of detail, so I'm not caught out by things that are obviously incongruous to me, and can instead vaguely fill in the blanks or just ignore it; Thorne makes the mistake of trying to provide explanations that don't make sense.
Mostly, however, this book fails to be TLWtaSAP because the characters fail to feel like proper adults. Instead, they all just read as quirky Tumblr creations, full of impulse and bravado and anxiety and not in fact much sense. I can tolerate that for a young, twenty-something main character, but I can't really tolerate it for an almost thousand year old alien plant intelligence or their alien creator. Ashby and Sissix and Doctor Chef and the rest from TLWtaSAP read as adults to me; they're quirky and fun, but react to blockers and inconveniences in a way that suggests that they have a wealth of experience behind them and have a life story that is more than just a few tropes thrown at the wall.
I love cozy fiction, but there's a real sweet spot that needs to be hit to make the mood sit right without being saccharine. This doesn't hit it for me.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne
Torian Razner has saved enough to buy a starship. Unfortunately, she can only afford the cheapest one available, an alien craft which has been sitting abandoned for well over a century. And whose interior is covered in moss. But Torian is desperate to save the life of her sister who needs to move to a planet with better air than is found on their space station.
Then she discovers that the moss is Moss, ‘the only organic computer in existence’, and it controls the life-support system. And much else besides. She is in for a steep learning curve.
Torian’s skillsets are ‘suboptimal’ in Moss’s opinion, but she is open-minded, has a good heart, and is passionately loyal to close friends. Which turn out to be the right qualities for making friends with aliens as well as organic computers with abandonment issues. As one character observes, ‘You haven’t let the world change you. You’re still hopeful and determined and you see the best in everyone.’
Will these prove enough to save the life of a sister who as a devoted medical doctor is reluctant to leave her patients, however?
This is entertaining science fiction, marked by a lively pace, an amusing interplay between interesting characters (including the AI enhanced computer systems that run the starship), and a refreshingly balanced view of aliens that recalls the novels of Gordon Dickson.
Strongly recommended.
Torian Razner has saved enough to buy a starship. Unfortunately, she can only afford the cheapest one available, an alien craft which has been sitting abandoned for well over a century. And whose interior is covered in moss. But Torian is desperate to save the life of her sister who needs to move to a planet with better air than is found on their space station.
Then she discovers that the moss is Moss, ‘the only organic computer in existence’, and it controls the life-support system. And much else besides. She is in for a steep learning curve.
Torian’s skillsets are ‘suboptimal’ in Moss’s opinion, but she is open-minded, has a good heart, and is passionately loyal to close friends. Which turn out to be the right qualities for making friends with aliens as well as organic computers with abandonment issues. As one character observes, ‘You haven’t let the world change you. You’re still hopeful and determined and you see the best in everyone.’
Will these prove enough to save the life of a sister who as a devoted medical doctor is reluctant to leave her patients, however?
This is entertaining science fiction, marked by a lively pace, an amusing interplay between interesting characters (including the AI enhanced computer systems that run the starship), and a refreshingly balanced view of aliens that recalls the novels of Gordon Dickson.
Strongly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a treat! A sentient plant-tech hybrid with a snarky voice delivers deadpans-- fans of All Systems Red will want to preorder this now (or place those library holds post-haste)!
This is cozy and managed to not be as silly as Can't Spell Treason Without Tea(/series). The space setting is general-- readers don't need to have a strong sci-fi background, anyone who has seen a few sci-fi movies will muddle along just fine. I didn't love that it ends on a literal cliff-hanger: be advised, if this would annoy you, to perhaps wait until the series is complete.
eARC from NetGalley.
This is cozy and managed to not be as silly as Can't Spell Treason Without Tea(/series). The space setting is general-- readers don't need to have a strong sci-fi background, anyone who has seen a few sci-fi movies will muddle along just fine. I didn't love that it ends on a literal cliff-hanger: be advised, if this would annoy you, to perhaps wait until the series is complete.
eARC from NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
If Murderbot met John Scalzi, you'd have something like Moss'd in Space! Torian has been saving up for years to afford a spaceship to get her and her sister off their space colony with it's recycled air that's slowly killing Torian's sister and she was finally able to do it. But all she could afford is a small alien ship that's been left abandoned for over 100 years. And it's covered in moss. But it turns out, that's actually Moss, a sentient life support system that has fused with the ship. Surely nothing will go wrong. This sweet cozy science fiction story is full of found family and all the feels. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Tor for the e-ARC via NetGalley!
Wow. Murderbot is my favorite series of all time and reading Moss felt like reading a mash up and Murderbot and ART, who are my two favorite snarky pals of all time. That said, Moss was just different enough that I can tell it is its own character! And what a wonderful character.
I also adored Torian. Her desire to protect and save her sister, really all of her friends, is admirable. I didn't think I'd like cozy sci-fi much, but this had just enough stakes to make it exciting and not too cozy. (Before you say MB is cozy...I respectfully disagree)
I highly HIGHLY recommend this one and cannot wait for my shelf trophy!
Wow. Murderbot is my favorite series of all time and reading Moss felt like reading a mash up and Murderbot and ART, who are my two favorite snarky pals of all time. That said, Moss was just different enough that I can tell it is its own character! And what a wonderful character.
I also adored Torian. Her desire to protect and save her sister, really all of her friends, is admirable. I didn't think I'd like cozy sci-fi much, but this had just enough stakes to make it exciting and not too cozy. (Before you say MB is cozy...I respectfully disagree)
I highly HIGHLY recommend this one and cannot wait for my shelf trophy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available for my review.
Wonderful title (Danger Moss Robinson!) for a charming book. The intelligent moss colony is grumpy, disdainful, narcissistic, and most definitely lonely. But then a young female human purchases the apparently decrepit spaceship that contains Moss, they both end up on a journey of discovery, finding new friends, confronting past slights and discovering healing in forgiveness. A sweet story, but the cliffhanger ending does leave us wanting for more.
Wonderful title (Danger Moss Robinson!) for a charming book. The intelligent moss colony is grumpy, disdainful, narcissistic, and most definitely lonely. But then a young female human purchases the apparently decrepit spaceship that contains Moss, they both end up on a journey of discovery, finding new friends, confronting past slights and discovering healing in forgiveness. A sweet story, but the cliffhanger ending does leave us wanting for more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A truly cozy fantasy adventure. I LOVE Rebecca Thorne’s work and I was so excited to receive an ARC of this one.
The world is well built, without devolving into long explanations of the technology. The characters are real, believable, and relatable. My only minor issue was I initially felt as though Torian was “all in” for Moss too quickly, but by the end I completely understood just how kindred these two spirits were.
Thorne’s other work has always created great female main characters and main couples. Moss’d feels like a true ensemble cast in the best way.
The world is well built, without devolving into long explanations of the technology. The characters are real, believable, and relatable. My only minor issue was I initially felt as though Torian was “all in” for Moss too quickly, but by the end I completely understood just how kindred these two spirits were.
Thorne’s other work has always created great female main characters and main couples. Moss’d feels like a true ensemble cast in the best way.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Sweet tale of found family in space. Not hard scifi at all if that was a concern - it's like Guardians of the Galaxy, you just have to accept there is sentient alien moss.
(I went into this thinking the moss was the love interest, but it's a second-chance romance between the MC and her former Captain/ally. Someday I will find a decent shop AI romance that the tv show Andromeda left me pining for)
Don't read the epilogue to avoid an annoying cliffhanger!
Sweet tale of found family in space. Not hard scifi at all if that was a concern - it's like Guardians of the Galaxy, you just have to accept there is sentient alien moss.
(I went into this thinking the moss was the love interest, but it's a second-chance romance between the MC and her former Captain/ally. Someday I will find a decent shop AI romance that the tv show Andromeda left me pining for)
Don't read the epilogue to avoid an annoying cliffhanger!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Cozy scifi is amazing!!
I honestly wasn't sure if I'd vibe with the genre since I don't enjoy cozy fantasy too much but this was just what I needed. The story was such a comfort from beginning to end. I loved all the characters and the fact that the romance wasn't rushed. Everything about this felt natural from the world building to plot progression. Highly recommend!
And I can't end this without mentioning Moss!! What a perfect character! Loved its pov chapters so much. I want more.
I honestly wasn't sure if I'd vibe with the genre since I don't enjoy cozy fantasy too much but this was just what I needed. The story was such a comfort from beginning to end. I loved all the characters and the fact that the romance wasn't rushed. Everything about this felt natural from the world building to plot progression. Highly recommend!
And I can't end this without mentioning Moss!! What a perfect character! Loved its pov chapters so much. I want more.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have never read a Rebecca Thorne book, but this concept and reputation for cozy spec fic pulled me in. I can say I was not disappointed. This was a love letter to space, exploration, and dry humor which is my favorite. Torian is an amazing character with drive, wonder, and acceptance. Moss is compelling, humorous, and relatable despite being a computer. I laughed, I cheered, and I need book 2 now!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved every rhizoid of this cozy sci-fi space opera. The Stardust Grail meets The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet via Murderbot. The characters are endearing and diverse, and there’s just the right amount of extra terrestrial beings (so you’re not trying to remember which character has wings and scales and which one has gills?)
Can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens next!!
Can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens next!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have a huge soft spot for intelligent computer systems with sarcastic personalities and in this novel we have Moss, not exactly a computer system, more an ecosystem hooked up to a computer and constantly harassed by several computer systems that act like codependent children.
A fun tale, but my brain is mostly focused on how much fun I had getting to know Moss.
A fun tale, but my brain is mostly focused on how much fun I had getting to know Moss.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Absolutely one of my new favorites. So cozy, so delightful, so lovely. I need a sentient plant best friend.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
RTC
March 31, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for this Arc!
Moss'd in Space hit it right on the nose for me. Following Torian Razner, a mid twenties grunt for the local smuggling ring, who has finally saved up enough credits to buy her own ship. Torian's never been that lucky and the one ship she's able to afford has a bit more personality then she could have expected. Abandoned by its previous owned, this ship has a life support system that's being controlled by an sentient moss colony.
Thorne has written a very fun buddy comedy between these two characters.
Moss'd in Space hit it right on the nose for me. Following Torian Razner, a mid twenties grunt for the local smuggling ring, who has finally saved up enough credits to buy her own ship. Torian's never been that lucky and the one ship she's able to afford has a bit more personality then she could have expected. Abandoned by its previous owned, this ship has a life support system that's being controlled by an sentient moss colony.
Thorne has written a very fun buddy comedy between these two characters.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews