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Moss'd in Space #1
Moss'd In Space
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26This is a fabulously cozy adventure from Rebecca Thorne featuring shenanigans in space and how it feels to find friendship and family.
The journey is more important than the destination -
which is great, because they’re definitely lost.
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.
If you love Firefly's adventures in space, the loveable alien cast of Mass Effect, and the coziness of Legends & Lattes, this is for you.
The cosy fantasy Tomes & Tea Quartet by Rebecca
- Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea
- A Pirate’s Life for Tea
- Tea You at the Altar
- Alchemy and a Cup of Tea
Can't Spell Treason without Tea was a Sunday Times HB fiction bestseller w/c 06/05/2024
The journey is more important than the destination -
which is great, because they’re definitely lost.
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.
If you love Firefly's adventures in space, the loveable alien cast of Mass Effect, and the coziness of Legends & Lattes, this is for you.
The cosy fantasy Tomes & Tea Quartet by Rebecca
- Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea
- A Pirate’s Life for Tea
- Tea You at the Altar
- Alchemy and a Cup of Tea
Can't Spell Treason without Tea was a Sunday Times HB fiction bestseller w/c 06/05/2024
Audible Audio
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Rebecca Thorne
13 books2,223 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 wife, 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 wife, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
May 8, 2026
I’m a sucker for talking, sentient plants. Probably because I know that the only way a plant will ever stay alive in my house is if it can keep itself alive. Moss is more than capable of keeping himself alive, which is a good thing since his previous owner ABANDONED him.
Luckily, Torian comes along and is more than willing to be his new best friend.
I love Rebecca Thorne’s work so much. She writes such amazing, heartfelt characters that are so realistic in their feelings and attitudes. I am always here for a snappy comeback whether it’s from an orc, a human, or a plant. And I’ll be here impatiently waiting for the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!! It was absolute delight to read!
Luckily, Torian comes along and is more than willing to be his new best friend.
I love Rebecca Thorne’s work so much. She writes such amazing, heartfelt characters that are so realistic in their feelings and attitudes. I am always here for a snappy comeback whether it’s from an orc, a human, or a plant. And I’ll be here impatiently waiting for the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!! It was absolute delight to read!
unreleased
October 28, 2025murderbot and becky chambers vibes?? from one of my autobuy authors?? say less 💳💳💳
May 19, 2026
This was delightful but also a lot more emotional than I had expected. The characters were great and their dynamics were incredible. It was a lot of fun to accompany Torian and Moss on their travels but also I bawled my eyes out at one point. Also love me some disaster lesbians in space. The narration is also fantastic and both narrators do an amazing job of bringing the characters to life. Definitely my favourite Rebecca Thorne book so far!
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Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
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Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!
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.
April 6, 2026
*3.75*
I just wanted to say a quick thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy of this book to review- all thoughts are honest and my own.
this book is what I would call the definition of cosy fantasy/sci-fi. we have diverse characters who would do anything for those they care about, travelling through rich space worlds and planets, exploring new and undiscovered elements of science and also stumbling upon to old items once forgotten. a range of personalities that shouldn’t work together but do, because they all in their own weird way gel together like they were always destined to be with one another.
I really enjoyed the found family elements of this. I enjoyed seeing a mix of species / elements grow and evolve to becoming the best versions of themself through friendships and care. I think having moss as a main character was a really fun and quirky way to help the story develop and it was an interesting choice to have the focal point of the story hinge from literally moss?? I think it was cringey and camp but in such a cute and fun way
I think my reason for this not getting four stars is I do think that the plot suffered in order for the characters to develop and grow close, which is fine because its a cosy sci-fi but it did leave me wanting more. I wanted to know more about the world, its history, the missing species and where they went, how humans ended up on these stations with different creatures and species. the world at times felt more like a back drop than an actual flushed outer world- it didnt ruin the story for me because like I said I love the characters, but it did leave me wanting more.
I just wanted to say a quick thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy of this book to review- all thoughts are honest and my own.
this book is what I would call the definition of cosy fantasy/sci-fi. we have diverse characters who would do anything for those they care about, travelling through rich space worlds and planets, exploring new and undiscovered elements of science and also stumbling upon to old items once forgotten. a range of personalities that shouldn’t work together but do, because they all in their own weird way gel together like they were always destined to be with one another.
I really enjoyed the found family elements of this. I enjoyed seeing a mix of species / elements grow and evolve to becoming the best versions of themself through friendships and care. I think having moss as a main character was a really fun and quirky way to help the story develop and it was an interesting choice to have the focal point of the story hinge from literally moss?? I think it was cringey and camp but in such a cute and fun way
I think my reason for this not getting four stars is I do think that the plot suffered in order for the characters to develop and grow close, which is fine because its a cosy sci-fi but it did leave me wanting more. I wanted to know more about the world, its history, the missing species and where they went, how humans ended up on these stations with different creatures and species. the world at times felt more like a back drop than an actual flushed outer world- it didnt ruin the story for me because like I said I love the characters, but it did leave me wanting more.
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.
May 15, 2026
*Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC*
I absolutely adore Rebecca Thorne's writing, every single book I've read (literally ALL of them) draws me in instantly and Moss'd in Space is no different. I love the main character, Torian- she is just a lost lady looking for anyway possible to save her sister. She's so relatable and I loved her journey of self-discovery. I'm so excited to see what's going to happen with Torian and Amelia's relationship in the second one.
Now for my favorite character, MOSS- this is a moss with an intelligence system and it's funny. The talk of sass and sarcasm is my absolute favorite. I am digging how lots of fantasy worlds are queer-normative, Moss's in Space is another one to add to that list. It's always refreshing to see when not every book with queer characters has to explain itself. Also, loved the autism representation with Lyric and they're relationship with MOSS.
Rebecca writes and fantastic story and I will forever read anything she writes, please write all the lesbian fantasy books you can, they give me life!!
I absolutely adore Rebecca Thorne's writing, every single book I've read (literally ALL of them) draws me in instantly and Moss'd in Space is no different. I love the main character, Torian- she is just a lost lady looking for anyway possible to save her sister. She's so relatable and I loved her journey of self-discovery. I'm so excited to see what's going to happen with Torian and Amelia's relationship in the second one.
Now for my favorite character, MOSS- this is a moss with an intelligence system and it's funny. The talk of sass and sarcasm is my absolute favorite. I am digging how lots of fantasy worlds are queer-normative, Moss's in Space is another one to add to that list. It's always refreshing to see when not every book with queer characters has to explain itself. Also, loved the autism representation with Lyric and they're relationship with MOSS.
Rebecca writes and fantastic story and I will forever read anything she writes, please write all the lesbian fantasy books you can, they give me life!!
April 29, 2026
4.5 stars
This was such a cute and cozy read. I’m not always a big fan of cozy books but this book caught my eye. I am beyond thrilled to have been accepted to listen to this audiobook early. I loved this book. It was exactly what I needed. The characters are well-written. The plot of the story was interesting. The star of the book has to be Moss the sentient moss. It is hilarious. But what made me like Moss was that the cast of characters was also great. I’m excited to see where Book 2 is going to go.
The audiobook was excellent. Natalie Naudus and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick did a great job with the audiobook. The cast of characters all felt distinct and overall made it an enjoyable listen. I would highly recommend the audiobook! It’s perfect to put on while doing chores or a hobby.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Thorne, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a cute and cozy read. I’m not always a big fan of cozy books but this book caught my eye. I am beyond thrilled to have been accepted to listen to this audiobook early. I loved this book. It was exactly what I needed. The characters are well-written. The plot of the story was interesting. The star of the book has to be Moss the sentient moss. It is hilarious. But what made me like Moss was that the cast of characters was also great. I’m excited to see where Book 2 is going to go.
The audiobook was excellent. Natalie Naudus and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick did a great job with the audiobook. The cast of characters all felt distinct and overall made it an enjoyable listen. I would highly recommend the audiobook! It’s perfect to put on while doing chores or a hobby.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Thorne, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
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
ARC provided by Tor Publishing Group via Netgalley for an honest review.
I think this might be the first cozy science fiction I have read, at least since the cozy genre became a thing. I really enjoyed it mostly because of Moss, the sentient organic computer that was certainly the star of the book. I also enjoyed the other aliens that Torian encounters in her adventures and I loved the found family aspect of the story. I still had issues with the pacing though, it was pretty slow throughout most of the book.
Torian is an interesting and well thought out character. But to be honest, I never really liked or connected to her, or for that matter, any of the humans in this story. I could relate to her wanting to save her sister, but whenever the two of them interacted, they were like oil and vinegar. They didn’t seem to even like or trust each other that much. I had the same issue with the romance between Torian and Amelia. They also didn’t seem to get along, nor did they seem particularly compatible. Torian seemed more comfortable with the aliens she encounters than she did the humans.
Moss (Mechanical Operations and Support Systems) was the character that kept me invested in this story. I just loved them. They were snarky and had a lot of issues, but they were also kind and considerate of Torian and eventually the other characters. I loved how protective they were of Torian almost from the start. Moss was just a really interesting AI, and I really enjoyed them. I will probably continue the series just because I want to see what they do next.
The other aliens that Torian encounters were also a lot of fun. Dutch, the alien that created Moss, and Zen, a very scary looking alien, were great. I loved their relationship and also how willing they were to help Torian when she got into trouble. I loved Dutch and Moss’s relationship as well and how hard Dutch tried to make up for his abandonment of Moss. I am glad that they will be sticking around for the next adventure.
Like many books in the cozy genre, the pacing was really slow. I’m not sure why cozy means slow, but there you are. The story could have used a bit more action as well. Even though there were a couple of times when lives were at stake, I never felt the urgency of them being in danger. The big danger that they encountered near the end of the book was resolved simply by talking to the creatures that were attacking them, a bit of a let down to be honest. The ending however was a huge cliffhanger that I am excited to see resolved in the next book.
Fans of the author will probably love this one, even if science fiction isn’t their thing. Fans of cozy books will also enjoy it. But if you are looking for a fast paced action filled science fiction story, this isn’t the one. However, if you love interesting aliens and an AI with a great personality you should give this one a try.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
I think this might be the first cozy science fiction I have read, at least since the cozy genre became a thing. I really enjoyed it mostly because of Moss, the sentient organic computer that was certainly the star of the book. I also enjoyed the other aliens that Torian encounters in her adventures and I loved the found family aspect of the story. I still had issues with the pacing though, it was pretty slow throughout most of the book.
Torian is an interesting and well thought out character. But to be honest, I never really liked or connected to her, or for that matter, any of the humans in this story. I could relate to her wanting to save her sister, but whenever the two of them interacted, they were like oil and vinegar. They didn’t seem to even like or trust each other that much. I had the same issue with the romance between Torian and Amelia. They also didn’t seem to get along, nor did they seem particularly compatible. Torian seemed more comfortable with the aliens she encounters than she did the humans.
Moss (Mechanical Operations and Support Systems) was the character that kept me invested in this story. I just loved them. They were snarky and had a lot of issues, but they were also kind and considerate of Torian and eventually the other characters. I loved how protective they were of Torian almost from the start. Moss was just a really interesting AI, and I really enjoyed them. I will probably continue the series just because I want to see what they do next.
The other aliens that Torian encounters were also a lot of fun. Dutch, the alien that created Moss, and Zen, a very scary looking alien, were great. I loved their relationship and also how willing they were to help Torian when she got into trouble. I loved Dutch and Moss’s relationship as well and how hard Dutch tried to make up for his abandonment of Moss. I am glad that they will be sticking around for the next adventure.
Like many books in the cozy genre, the pacing was really slow. I’m not sure why cozy means slow, but there you are. The story could have used a bit more action as well. Even though there were a couple of times when lives were at stake, I never felt the urgency of them being in danger. The big danger that they encountered near the end of the book was resolved simply by talking to the creatures that were attacking them, a bit of a let down to be honest. The ending however was a huge cliffhanger that I am excited to see resolved in the next book.
Fans of the author will probably love this one, even if science fiction isn’t their thing. Fans of cozy books will also enjoy it. But if you are looking for a fast paced action filled science fiction story, this isn’t the one. However, if you love interesting aliens and an AI with a great personality you should give this one a try.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*** Thank you to the publisher and the author for providing me with this ARC through Netgalley ***
As soon as I heard "boobily," I knew this was gonna be a whole new level of Rebecca Thorne, and I was not disappointed! "Moss'd in Space" is a delight that delivers on exactly what it promises: a cozy sci-fi sapphic romance about family, friendship, and making the best of situations.
The Destitute is such a comforting ship, with wood, moss, and warm lighting all over, and the best coffee equivalent to sip while gazing out at the stars and discovering new potential places to live.
The story touches on themes like classism, corruption, and prejudice without getting heavy. The romance is lighter, with more emphasis on space exploration and building relationships between the diverse cast of characters, and that balance makes sense for how the story plays out. All of the characters are distinct and lovable, and I especially enjoyed meeting the alien species and learning about their cultures.
If you love humanized robots, like The Iron Giant, BT-7274 from Titanfall 2, or Edi and Legion from Mass Effect, you'll love Moss. Technically, Moss is an organic computer moss colony inhabiting and controlling a spaceship and not the actual spaceship, but the effect is the same. Or if you've ever wondered what it'd be like to talk to your house plants, you'll get an itch scratched here. Moss' personality is reminiscent of the robots from the Portal series, so expect conversations that make you chuckle. Their interactions might also make you cry (I did) because they have a whole character arc, and their bond with Torian is so sweet.
Torian is an endearingly awkward protagonist who doesn't really fit in and, because she's spent her life focused on the goal of getting her sister somewhere with air that won't kill her, doesn't have her own place or purpose. After she meets Moss and they find a place to settle and meet people who can help make the space station habitable, she blossoms into a leader of sorts and starts imagining the life she wants that's now within reach. Among the merry band of misfits she unites, she finds a home.
I really enjoy Natalie Naudus' narration. She narrates Torian's perspective and has such a nice voice. You can always tell who's speaking by her pitch and intonation. Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick does a great job narrating Moss' perspective. He strikes a balance between robotic and snarky for Moss, and I particularly liked how he voiced Dutch.
If you're a cozy fiction lover, you can't go wrong picking up "Moss'd in Space." Or if you like your sci-fi with a strong dose of character relationships and getting to know alien species (I'm looking at you fellow Mass Effect fans), this is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am eagerly awaiting the sequel!
As soon as I heard "boobily," I knew this was gonna be a whole new level of Rebecca Thorne, and I was not disappointed! "Moss'd in Space" is a delight that delivers on exactly what it promises: a cozy sci-fi sapphic romance about family, friendship, and making the best of situations.
The Destitute is such a comforting ship, with wood, moss, and warm lighting all over, and the best coffee equivalent to sip while gazing out at the stars and discovering new potential places to live.
The story touches on themes like classism, corruption, and prejudice without getting heavy. The romance is lighter, with more emphasis on space exploration and building relationships between the diverse cast of characters, and that balance makes sense for how the story plays out. All of the characters are distinct and lovable, and I especially enjoyed meeting the alien species and learning about their cultures.
If you love humanized robots, like The Iron Giant, BT-7274 from Titanfall 2, or Edi and Legion from Mass Effect, you'll love Moss. Technically, Moss is an organic computer moss colony inhabiting and controlling a spaceship and not the actual spaceship, but the effect is the same. Or if you've ever wondered what it'd be like to talk to your house plants, you'll get an itch scratched here. Moss' personality is reminiscent of the robots from the Portal series, so expect conversations that make you chuckle. Their interactions might also make you cry (I did) because they have a whole character arc, and their bond with Torian is so sweet.
Torian is an endearingly awkward protagonist who doesn't really fit in and, because she's spent her life focused on the goal of getting her sister somewhere with air that won't kill her, doesn't have her own place or purpose. After she meets Moss and they find a place to settle and meet people who can help make the space station habitable, she blossoms into a leader of sorts and starts imagining the life she wants that's now within reach. Among the merry band of misfits she unites, she finds a home.
I really enjoy Natalie Naudus' narration. She narrates Torian's perspective and has such a nice voice. You can always tell who's speaking by her pitch and intonation. Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick does a great job narrating Moss' perspective. He strikes a balance between robotic and snarky for Moss, and I particularly liked how he voiced Dutch.
If you're a cozy fiction lover, you can't go wrong picking up "Moss'd in Space." Or if you like your sci-fi with a strong dose of character relationships and getting to know alien species (I'm looking at you fellow Mass Effect fans), this is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am eagerly awaiting the sequel!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.
Although I wasn't sure about this book in the first few chapters, it absolutely won its way into being a 5 star book for me by the end. I absolutely loved all of the characters, especially Torian and Moss. The dynamics between all of the characters were so well done and I found myself having so much fun reading this. The dialogue his hilarious at times and heart-wrenching at others and I loved all of it.
Torian and Amelia had a complicated relationship; they clearly love each other but Amelia has a lot of past trauma to work through, and Torian recognises that she hardly knows Amelia as a person at all. I really liked that once they met up again they didn't immediately get back together. Both of their characters need time to work through their own stuff and to get to know each other as friends first. Dutch and Zen's relationship was such a delight. I'm a sucker for an interspecies relationship and they were so fun together. I really liked how they worked together and saw each other as equals despite coming from vastly different cultures. Their dynamic was so sweet and silly at times and I loved them.
Torian is an instantly likeable character. She is stubborn and dedicated and will look out for her friends at the cost of her own self-preservation. Her optimism and steadfastness about finding better living conditions for her sister was so admirable, and I love that she never gave up despite facing set-backs. Dutch was a really interesting character. At first, I disliked him because he left Moss behind and Moss was undersatandably deeply angry and hurt about it. But Dutch was truly remorseful about leaving Moss behind and an incredibly complex character. And finding out that he also knows what it feels like to be left behind demonstrates that he wasn't being malicious. Nastra was great, I loved the detail of her always being in a hive mind with others of her species, and the sheer curiousity and love for learning that she has.
I didn't realise that this was the first book of a series when I applied for an ARC but I'm so grateful that it is! I felt there were a few questions left unanswered, especially around Dutch and where his people went, and I also just love the characters and I'm incredibly excited for them to return in the next book.
This is definitely one of Rebecca Thorne's strongest books.
The queernormative world and diversity was so lovely to read. It felt so effortless and was seemlessly woven into the narrative, but it meant a lot.
Although I wasn't sure about this book in the first few chapters, it absolutely won its way into being a 5 star book for me by the end. I absolutely loved all of the characters, especially Torian and Moss. The dynamics between all of the characters were so well done and I found myself having so much fun reading this. The dialogue his hilarious at times and heart-wrenching at others and I loved all of it.
Torian and Amelia had a complicated relationship; they clearly love each other but Amelia has a lot of past trauma to work through, and Torian recognises that she hardly knows Amelia as a person at all. I really liked that once they met up again they didn't immediately get back together. Both of their characters need time to work through their own stuff and to get to know each other as friends first. Dutch and Zen's relationship was such a delight. I'm a sucker for an interspecies relationship and they were so fun together. I really liked how they worked together and saw each other as equals despite coming from vastly different cultures. Their dynamic was so sweet and silly at times and I loved them.
Torian is an instantly likeable character. She is stubborn and dedicated and will look out for her friends at the cost of her own self-preservation. Her optimism and steadfastness about finding better living conditions for her sister was so admirable, and I love that she never gave up despite facing set-backs. Dutch was a really interesting character. At first, I disliked him because he left Moss behind and Moss was undersatandably deeply angry and hurt about it. But Dutch was truly remorseful about leaving Moss behind and an incredibly complex character. And finding out that he also knows what it feels like to be left behind demonstrates that he wasn't being malicious. Nastra was great, I loved the detail of her always being in a hive mind with others of her species, and the sheer curiousity and love for learning that she has.
I didn't realise that this was the first book of a series when I applied for an ARC but I'm so grateful that it is! I felt there were a few questions left unanswered, especially around Dutch and where his people went, and I also just love the characters and I'm incredibly excited for them to return in the next book.
This is definitely one of Rebecca Thorne's strongest books.
The queernormative world and diversity was so lovely to read. It felt so effortless and was seemlessly woven into the narrative, but it meant a lot.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm pretty sure this book was written specifically for me. I mean, here I am, an avid fan of both science fiction space operas and cozy fantasy, plus an actual botanist in real life. And here Rebecca Thorne is, mashing all of those together into a cozy sci fi with sentient moss as an organic computer, then setting the whole thing in a queernormative world and while leaning heavily on found family vibes. Could it be any more perfect?
Torian is exactly the sweet, loveable MC I like in a cozy story. Her main goal is to save her sister, who is suffering from a terminal illness caused by poor air quality on their colony station. Their sibling relationship was entirely believable - loving, but also still willing to sass and I-told-you-so each other. I loved it.
There were a lot of other great characters, too. Amelia is so far into denial and showing she cares in all the right wrong ways (not a typo), Dutch was a riot, Zen is so solidly tolerant of Dutch it's endearing, AUTONAV had me laughing literally out loud, and Lyric is the most precious thing and I just want to wrap them up in warm blankets and feed them cookies. Moss - the character - was definitely my favorite, though. Moss has Opinions, and isn't afraid to air them. It's brutally honest, frequently exasperated, and deeply traumatized by being abandoned for over 100 years. Who knew sentient plants with attachment issues were what I needed in life?
There is a building romance between Torian and Amelia, but it's sloooow burn. So slow in fact that there's only one kiss so far, and it happened off screen before the book even started. I personally don't mind a slow burn, and their chemistry is perfect. But someone needs to smack them both so they can get over their nonesense and finally kiss again! I'm rooting for it!
The plot definitely had cozy vibes, but still made satisfactory process at each step of the way. Torian has been planning how to save her sister for so long, and when things go wrong she figures out how to pivot and make it work anyway (with help, of course) - only even better than her original plans. There's cool alien history, wormhole travel, solarpunk vibes, and frustrating human politics. And space whales! Did I mention there's space whales?
Anyway, if you can't tell from all the gushing I've been doing, I absolutely adored this book. I'd give it six stars if I could, and I need book 2 like yesterday. I'm going to go admire some real moss now and think about this book some more, but you should totally go read it for yourself.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC copy of this book to review.
Torian is exactly the sweet, loveable MC I like in a cozy story. Her main goal is to save her sister, who is suffering from a terminal illness caused by poor air quality on their colony station. Their sibling relationship was entirely believable - loving, but also still willing to sass and I-told-you-so each other. I loved it.
There were a lot of other great characters, too. Amelia is so far into denial and showing she cares in all the right wrong ways (not a typo), Dutch was a riot, Zen is so solidly tolerant of Dutch it's endearing, AUTONAV had me laughing literally out loud, and Lyric is the most precious thing and I just want to wrap them up in warm blankets and feed them cookies. Moss - the character - was definitely my favorite, though. Moss has Opinions, and isn't afraid to air them. It's brutally honest, frequently exasperated, and deeply traumatized by being abandoned for over 100 years. Who knew sentient plants with attachment issues were what I needed in life?
There is a building romance between Torian and Amelia, but it's sloooow burn. So slow in fact that there's only one kiss so far, and it happened off screen before the book even started. I personally don't mind a slow burn, and their chemistry is perfect. But someone needs to smack them both so they can get over their nonesense and finally kiss again! I'm rooting for it!
The plot definitely had cozy vibes, but still made satisfactory process at each step of the way. Torian has been planning how to save her sister for so long, and when things go wrong she figures out how to pivot and make it work anyway (with help, of course) - only even better than her original plans. There's cool alien history, wormhole travel, solarpunk vibes, and frustrating human politics. And space whales! Did I mention there's space whales?
Anyway, if you can't tell from all the gushing I've been doing, I absolutely adored this book. I'd give it six stars if I could, and I need book 2 like yesterday. I'm going to go admire some real moss now and think about this book some more, but you should totally go read it for yourself.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC copy of this book to review.
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 NetGalley
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is a cozy type of book that wears its heart on its sleave and is sweet enough to induce cavities. And yet, somehow it felt rather aimless and flat: a non-threatening female lead who is dumb as a doorknob but blessed by the universe, a bunch of side characters that should be quirky but instead can be annoying and oddly over-the-top, and a plot that goes no where fast. Of note, I listened to the audio narration and while the female narrator was fine, I found the male narrator to be annoying and distracting.Story: Torian's sister is dying on the backwater colony they are stranded on. Without fresh air, her sister will cough herself to death. Torian works security on a fleet ship until she gets enough to buy her own little vehicle, one she will use to fly to a planet in which she hopes to get citizenship and bring her sister to clean air. Unfortunately for her, the ship she buys is inhabited by an alien moss organism with abandonment issues. Can she get the moss to help her save her sister?
So no, I'm not a fan of bumbling nitwits who are improbably blessed by the universe. Fans of Apprentice to the Villain, A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet, etc. will likely enjoy this harmless little fluff of a book. For me, I kept wishing the intelligent moss was more of a sarcastic Murderbot rather than a bland and endlessly monologuing sad sack. All the characters overidealized and as unrealistic as you can get. Everything works out perfectly in the end and you just ignore how improbable and illogical this story was in favor of the niceness.
So yes, it was a bit too simple and one-dimensional for me. Definitely not my cup of tea. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you love the relationship between an FMC and her sentient plant in Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop series, but fancy a sci-fi setting rather than fantasy, Moss'd In Space is definitely worth picking up!
It's the first book in a new cozy sci-fi adventure trilogy with a very slow burn sapphic romance subplot, but so far the greatest relationship in book 1 is between our FMC Torian and the sentient Moss that now controls Torian's recently-acquired spaceship. Torian is a very self-sacrificing and loyal person, so she's well matched with Moss, who has abandonment issues and snark for days. The banter between Torian and Moss is fun, particularly when Moss starts to gang up on Torian with a variety of other characters about her lack of self-preservation.
This first book does a really good job of setting up the next two books in the series for success. It doesn't try to accelerate through the plot or relationships, and instead takes it nice and slow, which works great for a cozy sci-fi series. The romantic relationship between Torian and smuggler Amelia is only in its very early stages here in book 1, which shows great promise for a gradual progression in their relationship. When a relationship goes from 0 to 100 in book 1, I often find that book 2 doesn't leave much space for the relationship to develop further. That's not the case here. Moss'd In Space shows the chemistry between Torian and Amelia but doesn't push them together too quickly. Book 1 also does a good job of establishing a heartwarming found family that will continue to develop in the next two books.
Overall, Moss'd in Space is a great start to this cozy sci-fi trilogy, and with the world and characters established now, I'm really hopeful that the next books will have even more of an emotional impact and dive deeper into some of the relationships.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
It's the first book in a new cozy sci-fi adventure trilogy with a very slow burn sapphic romance subplot, but so far the greatest relationship in book 1 is between our FMC Torian and the sentient Moss that now controls Torian's recently-acquired spaceship. Torian is a very self-sacrificing and loyal person, so she's well matched with Moss, who has abandonment issues and snark for days. The banter between Torian and Moss is fun, particularly when Moss starts to gang up on Torian with a variety of other characters about her lack of self-preservation.
This first book does a really good job of setting up the next two books in the series for success. It doesn't try to accelerate through the plot or relationships, and instead takes it nice and slow, which works great for a cozy sci-fi series. The romantic relationship between Torian and smuggler Amelia is only in its very early stages here in book 1, which shows great promise for a gradual progression in their relationship. When a relationship goes from 0 to 100 in book 1, I often find that book 2 doesn't leave much space for the relationship to develop further. That's not the case here. Moss'd In Space shows the chemistry between Torian and Amelia but doesn't push them together too quickly. Book 1 also does a good job of establishing a heartwarming found family that will continue to develop in the next two books.
Overall, Moss'd in Space is a great start to this cozy sci-fi trilogy, and with the world and characters established now, I'm really hopeful that the next books will have even more of an emotional impact and dive deeper into some of the relationships.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
May 27, 2026
Moss’d in Space is an absolutely delightful and fun cozy sci-fi book from the always amazing Rebecca Thorne! It features Torian, who bought a starship to try to find a better place to live for her sick sister. What she doesn’t realize is that the spaceship has a sentient moss, named Moss, as the ship’s life support. And Moss is very snarky and has abandonment issues.
I absolutely loved Moss in this. I loved that half the story is from its point of view as it’s such a snarky character. Moss has a lot of depth to its characterization too, having been previously abandoned for over 100 by its creator. The journey of dealing with that as well as learning about its new human companion is just great!
I also loved Torian throughout the story! She’s a ray of sunshine and optimistic for a better world. I loved her journey as well throughout the story, trying to find her place in the galaxy.
Moss and Torian’s friendship is great! I loved the level of sass between them but also the support and the deep friendship they have. Definitely not what you expect when one of the characters is sentient moss but it’s so well done.
The rest of the side characters are good as well. I loved what they brought to the story and seeing more of them in this world in future books.
The world building and plot was great too. Seeing the different parts of the galaxy and seeing hints into how it works and the politics. But there’s still so much more to delve into in the future and I can’t wait!
For the audiobook the narration was amazing! Both narrators did such a great job with bringing the characters and the world to life! I absolutely loved the narrator for Moss especially.
Another great book by Rebecca Thorne that I can’t recommend highly enough. Definitely a favourite of mine so far this year!
Thank you to the NetGalley and Macmillan Media for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Moss in this. I loved that half the story is from its point of view as it’s such a snarky character. Moss has a lot of depth to its characterization too, having been previously abandoned for over 100 by its creator. The journey of dealing with that as well as learning about its new human companion is just great!
I also loved Torian throughout the story! She’s a ray of sunshine and optimistic for a better world. I loved her journey as well throughout the story, trying to find her place in the galaxy.
Moss and Torian’s friendship is great! I loved the level of sass between them but also the support and the deep friendship they have. Definitely not what you expect when one of the characters is sentient moss but it’s so well done.
The rest of the side characters are good as well. I loved what they brought to the story and seeing more of them in this world in future books.
The world building and plot was great too. Seeing the different parts of the galaxy and seeing hints into how it works and the politics. But there’s still so much more to delve into in the future and I can’t wait!
For the audiobook the narration was amazing! Both narrators did such a great job with bringing the characters and the world to life! I absolutely loved the narrator for Moss especially.
Another great book by Rebecca Thorne that I can’t recommend highly enough. Definitely a favourite of mine so far this year!
Thank you to the NetGalley and Macmillan Media for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review.
After many years of saving, Torian Razner has bought a starship. Sure, it was the only one available at her price point, and it's covered in moss inside and out, but it flies! She soon learns that the moss itself is actually Moss, an organic computer who was abandoned by its immortal alien maker over a century ago. And that alien is currently searching for his lost starship.
This audiobook was EXACTLY what I needed right now. Every time I tuned in, I was whisked away to a galaxy far away with interesting aliens, starships, and a hilarious cast of characters. Moss had me laughing out loud so many times, and I was really touched by the found family dynamic that the crew was able to build. The different alien species were fascinating, and I had such a great time learning about each one that was introduced. Torian's stubbornness made for funny moments as well as endearing moments. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and what new adventures lay ahead for this ragtag group of friends.
Narration Review: Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick his Moss was PERFECT. His voices for other characters were also amazing and distinct, just the way I like my audiobooks! If I ever see another book narrated by him, I'll be sure to grab it!
I've listened to several of Natalie Naudus' audiobooks, and she never disappoints! Her characters are distinct, and her voice is clear. I'm so happy she was one of the narrators for Moss'd in Space!
The narrators definitely increased my enjoyment of this book! If you're interested in reading, I highly recommend picking up the audiobook!
After many years of saving, Torian Razner has bought a starship. Sure, it was the only one available at her price point, and it's covered in moss inside and out, but it flies! She soon learns that the moss itself is actually Moss, an organic computer who was abandoned by its immortal alien maker over a century ago. And that alien is currently searching for his lost starship.
This audiobook was EXACTLY what I needed right now. Every time I tuned in, I was whisked away to a galaxy far away with interesting aliens, starships, and a hilarious cast of characters. Moss had me laughing out loud so many times, and I was really touched by the found family dynamic that the crew was able to build. The different alien species were fascinating, and I had such a great time learning about each one that was introduced. Torian's stubbornness made for funny moments as well as endearing moments. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and what new adventures lay ahead for this ragtag group of friends.
Narration Review: Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick his Moss was PERFECT. His voices for other characters were also amazing and distinct, just the way I like my audiobooks! If I ever see another book narrated by him, I'll be sure to grab it!
I've listened to several of Natalie Naudus' audiobooks, and she never disappoints! Her characters are distinct, and her voice is clear. I'm so happy she was one of the narrators for Moss'd in Space!
The narrators definitely increased my enjoyment of this book! If you're interested in reading, I highly recommend picking up the audiobook!
May 27, 2026
3.5 rounded up
This was an enjoyable read that gives me murderbot vibes. I highly recommend picking up the audiobook to get the full effect of Moss’s personality.
Torian Razner has one thing on her mind, save her sister who is dying from the recycled air in the colony where they live. Her first step is to buy a starship, it doesn’t matter that her captain and former love interest thinks it’s a stupid idea or that she doesn’t know how to pilot a ship. She soon discovers that moss covering the ship is sentient and holding a grudge against its last owner.
Moss is intelligent and snarky in a way that is reminiscent of the Murderbot series. This really is what brings the story together. Especially, when we finally get to meet the former owner of the starship. There’s good variety to the characters without having to spend a lot of time world building different alien races. I liked how the different characters built up attachments that motivated them to help each other.
I think there could have been more depth to Torian and Amelia’s storyline but as is this one falls firmly in the cozy fantasy genre rather than romantasy focusing more on the plot and space travel. The ending was believable as a solution but it also didn’t feel unpredictable. The suspense throughout is relatively minor and I never felt like it wouldn’t work out.
Overall, this is definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of Rebecca Thorne’s other books or like the snarky partial outside observer style of the Murderbot series (Martha Wells) or Remarkably Bright Creatures (Shelby Van Pelt).
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
This was an enjoyable read that gives me murderbot vibes. I highly recommend picking up the audiobook to get the full effect of Moss’s personality.
Torian Razner has one thing on her mind, save her sister who is dying from the recycled air in the colony where they live. Her first step is to buy a starship, it doesn’t matter that her captain and former love interest thinks it’s a stupid idea or that she doesn’t know how to pilot a ship. She soon discovers that moss covering the ship is sentient and holding a grudge against its last owner.
Moss is intelligent and snarky in a way that is reminiscent of the Murderbot series. This really is what brings the story together. Especially, when we finally get to meet the former owner of the starship. There’s good variety to the characters without having to spend a lot of time world building different alien races. I liked how the different characters built up attachments that motivated them to help each other.
I think there could have been more depth to Torian and Amelia’s storyline but as is this one falls firmly in the cozy fantasy genre rather than romantasy focusing more on the plot and space travel. The ending was believable as a solution but it also didn’t feel unpredictable. The suspense throughout is relatively minor and I never felt like it wouldn’t work out.
Overall, this is definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of Rebecca Thorne’s other books or like the snarky partial outside observer style of the Murderbot series (Martha Wells) or Remarkably Bright Creatures (Shelby Van Pelt).
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“I have heard good things about ‘dreams’, although it is strange you hallucinate vividly each night and claim it is healthy.”
Moss’d in Space is a wonderful cozy SciFi story that includes some of my favorite things: space travel, great humour and - best of all - a lovable, snarky and hilarious sentient plant named Moss (and a FMC that is equally quick-witted!).
The author stated that she was inspired by Murderbot, which I can totally see but I love the direction she took Moss from there! I do see some of Murderbot’s characteristics in Moss but also, it feels a bit like a mix of a golden retriever and a cat - it is ready and waiting for praise, loves you, but judges you nonetheless. :D
The book focuses on Torian Razner, our FMC, who has just bought her very first starship. What she didn’t expect when buying said starship in order to leave the space station was acquiring a sentient life support system that has abandonment issues along with it. Now she’s traveling through space with a new buddy and even though all’s not well, at least she’s not alone in her quest.
Overall I found all of the characters to be very likeable, the story had a very nice flow and I nearly read it in one sitting because I didn’t want to put it down. The humour was very well done, the story cozy but included several emotional or tense sections as well. I already can’t wait to reunite with these characters in the sequel and I’m so happy that R. Thorne decided to write a cozy story in space!
Thank you Netgalley and Pan MacMillan/TOR for providing me with this advanced readers copy!
Moss’d in Space is a wonderful cozy SciFi story that includes some of my favorite things: space travel, great humour and - best of all - a lovable, snarky and hilarious sentient plant named Moss (and a FMC that is equally quick-witted!).
The author stated that she was inspired by Murderbot, which I can totally see but I love the direction she took Moss from there! I do see some of Murderbot’s characteristics in Moss but also, it feels a bit like a mix of a golden retriever and a cat - it is ready and waiting for praise, loves you, but judges you nonetheless. :D
The book focuses on Torian Razner, our FMC, who has just bought her very first starship. What she didn’t expect when buying said starship in order to leave the space station was acquiring a sentient life support system that has abandonment issues along with it. Now she’s traveling through space with a new buddy and even though all’s not well, at least she’s not alone in her quest.
Overall I found all of the characters to be very likeable, the story had a very nice flow and I nearly read it in one sitting because I didn’t want to put it down. The humour was very well done, the story cozy but included several emotional or tense sections as well. I already can’t wait to reunite with these characters in the sequel and I’m so happy that R. Thorne decided to write a cozy story in space!
Thank you Netgalley and Pan MacMillan/TOR for providing me with this advanced readers copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Determined to escape her colony in search of "better air" for her sister, Torian spends her savings buying an abandoned alien starship containing Moss, the ship's snarky life support / sentient plant AI. Together they embark on a cozy space adventure where they meet old and new friends to create a found family, but can they actually build a new safer society?
I enjoyed this, maybe even more than the Tomes & Tea series. The world (universe actually) is interesting enough even with the limited information we currently have, though don't go digging into the science or plot holes. The characters are likeable and diverse, and even in this first book you'll start to care and cheer for their success (both in terms of relationships and loftier goals). Moss is no Art from Murderbot, but his attitude adds a touch of humour to the heartfelt elements. The narrators voices (yes two narrators for this duel pov story) added a familiar coziness and overall I enjoyed this quick, accessible read.
If you like the authors' Tomes & Tea series, or if you're a fan of Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series then you'll probably like this. As the first in a series (trilogy?), this ends in a satisfying way and could stand alone if you skip the epilogue - be warned that the epilogue directly sets up the action for the next book (employing the same writing style of a sudden cliffhanger that the author used throughout Tomes & Tea).
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this, maybe even more than the Tomes & Tea series. The world (universe actually) is interesting enough even with the limited information we currently have, though don't go digging into the science or plot holes. The characters are likeable and diverse, and even in this first book you'll start to care and cheer for their success (both in terms of relationships and loftier goals). Moss is no Art from Murderbot, but his attitude adds a touch of humour to the heartfelt elements. The narrators voices (yes two narrators for this duel pov story) added a familiar coziness and overall I enjoyed this quick, accessible read.
If you like the authors' Tomes & Tea series, or if you're a fan of Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series then you'll probably like this. As the first in a series (trilogy?), this ends in a satisfying way and could stand alone if you skip the epilogue - be warned that the epilogue directly sets up the action for the next book (employing the same writing style of a sudden cliffhanger that the author used throughout Tomes & Tea).
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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
3.75 rounded up
The premise of this book is the perfect setting for a cozy sci fi; sentient space ship, family in need, putting aside difference for said family. It has all the ingredients it just needed a little pizazz.
As most cozy stories are, this was a little more character forward than plot forward which is generally ok but I felt like I needed another character; like someone was missing? The central plot is solved pretty quickly in the second half the of the book, but the first half seemed to be Torian and Moss conversing a lot and not a lot of plot advancement. I thought the romance was really well done and not at all the focus of the book (in a good way). I only read one other of Thorne’s books and the style was pretty similar so if you like the Tomes and Tea series you’ll almost definitely like this.
The audiobook is dual style and I really liked the female narrator. However the male narrator decided to only use male voices for all the characters and it made it more difficult to tell who was speaking sometimes. Great job with the moss voice but it sounded almost the same as the FMC.
The story ends and then a new scene ends on a “cliffhanger” to try and soft launch this as a series. This can be read as a contained story and I don’t think I’m attached enough to these characters to read another book about them.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for an early copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book is the perfect setting for a cozy sci fi; sentient space ship, family in need, putting aside difference for said family. It has all the ingredients it just needed a little pizazz.
As most cozy stories are, this was a little more character forward than plot forward which is generally ok but I felt like I needed another character; like someone was missing? The central plot is solved pretty quickly in the second half the of the book, but the first half seemed to be Torian and Moss conversing a lot and not a lot of plot advancement. I thought the romance was really well done and not at all the focus of the book (in a good way). I only read one other of Thorne’s books and the style was pretty similar so if you like the Tomes and Tea series you’ll almost definitely like this.
The audiobook is dual style and I really liked the female narrator. However the male narrator decided to only use male voices for all the characters and it made it more difficult to tell who was speaking sometimes. Great job with the moss voice but it sounded almost the same as the FMC.
The story ends and then a new scene ends on a “cliffhanger” to try and soft launch this as a series. This can be read as a contained story and I don’t think I’m attached enough to these characters to read another book about them.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for an early copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A sentient moss with abandonment issues has no business being this charming, and yet here we are. Moss’d in Space is cozy, cute, and packed with just enough chaos to keep this bizarre, overgrown spaceship feeling unpredictable. The stakes are real, but they never crush the tone. Rebecca Thorne keeps the story grounded in the characters, their relationships, and a few carefully chosen locations instead of trying to tour every corner of the galaxy.
That choice works beautifully for a standalone sci-fi. The world feels full without being overstuffed, and the heart of the story stays exactly where it should: friendship. Old friendships, new friendships, fractured friendships, the terrifying vulnerability of wanting to be chosen, and the very relatable urge of a lonely sentience to acquire a new best friend. Moss has wit, attitude, and enough charm that I finished the book fully prepared to adopt emotionally needy vegetation.
🎧 The audiobook is excellent. The narrators absolutely nail the personalities, especially the contrast between the flora and fauna energy. It would have been ridiculous fun as a duet, but even as-is, the performances make the humor and emotional beats land beautifully. Honestly, this book feels like getting emotionally manipulated by a houseplant, and I mean that as the highest compliment possible.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Natalie Naudus, and Rebecca Thorne for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
That choice works beautifully for a standalone sci-fi. The world feels full without being overstuffed, and the heart of the story stays exactly where it should: friendship. Old friendships, new friendships, fractured friendships, the terrifying vulnerability of wanting to be chosen, and the very relatable urge of a lonely sentience to acquire a new best friend. Moss has wit, attitude, and enough charm that I finished the book fully prepared to adopt emotionally needy vegetation.
🎧 The audiobook is excellent. The narrators absolutely nail the personalities, especially the contrast between the flora and fauna energy. It would have been ridiculous fun as a duet, but even as-is, the performances make the humor and emotional beats land beautifully. Honestly, this book feels like getting emotionally manipulated by a houseplant, and I mean that as the highest compliment possible.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Natalie Naudus, and Rebecca Thorne for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars Moss’d in Space is the exciting beginning to a new series by Rebecca Thorne. While her other series, Tomes and Tea, gave us a great cozy fantasy series, Moss’d in Space felt like a cozy space opera, and I am here for it! We meet Torian who lives on the space station and is desperately trying to find a way to save her sister, Amelia, who is suffering from a chronic illness that is caused by the space station air. Torian buys the only space ship she can afford in the impound lot, and the adventure begins.
I feel the keys to a wonderful space opera story are a fun adventure and great characters, and this book has both. My favorite was Moss, the sentient moss that Torian discovers is the key to her unique space ship. His quips, insight, and exceedingly high self-confidence were so much fun. I also loved the characters we meet along the way, as Torian brings together her found family. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
I enjoyed listening to this book on audio and highly recommend you give that a try, the narration by Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick and Natalie Naudus really brought the story to life. This book will be great for fans of Thorne’s Tomes and Tea series, but also fellow sci-fi lovers.
I would like to say a sincere thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio, author Rebecca Thorne, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I feel the keys to a wonderful space opera story are a fun adventure and great characters, and this book has both. My favorite was Moss, the sentient moss that Torian discovers is the key to her unique space ship. His quips, insight, and exceedingly high self-confidence were so much fun. I also loved the characters we meet along the way, as Torian brings together her found family. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
I enjoyed listening to this book on audio and highly recommend you give that a try, the narration by Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick and Natalie Naudus really brought the story to life. This book will be great for fans of Thorne’s Tomes and Tea series, but also fellow sci-fi lovers.
I would like to say a sincere thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio, author Rebecca Thorne, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy
Torian Razner is looking to escape her troubled colony and her ex with her sister. After spending all her funds purchasing an old starship, she is surprised to learn it also comes with a new friend.
I really LOVED Moss, my favourite character in the book for obvious reasons. I mean, it's a plant with abandonment issues! I really like the arc with Moss' old captain. It was funny and heartfelt; all the Moss backstory worked for me. I honestly would have enjoyed an entire Torian and Moss hangout in space book. I loved Moss making more connections with people/ship programs through the book, realising that it won't be left alone again. Loved all that. There are quite a few secondary characters I also really enjoyed; there's a lot of potential there with future books.
I will say I wasn't that invested in Torian's romantic subplot; perhaps Amelia will get more fleshed out in future books. I actually didn't really "get" her character until the last chapter or so. Given that she was her boss and she demoted Torian, I was kind of mad at her for a lot of the book!
This is a super cosy, funny, heartfelt book. I do recommend it, and I hope future instalments build out the other characters introduced :)
Torian Razner is looking to escape her troubled colony and her ex with her sister. After spending all her funds purchasing an old starship, she is surprised to learn it also comes with a new friend.
I really LOVED Moss, my favourite character in the book for obvious reasons. I mean, it's a plant with abandonment issues! I really like the arc with Moss' old captain. It was funny and heartfelt; all the Moss backstory worked for me. I honestly would have enjoyed an entire Torian and Moss hangout in space book. I loved Moss making more connections with people/ship programs through the book, realising that it won't be left alone again. Loved all that. There are quite a few secondary characters I also really enjoyed; there's a lot of potential there with future books.
I will say I wasn't that invested in Torian's romantic subplot; perhaps Amelia will get more fleshed out in future books. I actually didn't really "get" her character until the last chapter or so. Given that she was her boss and she demoted Torian, I was kind of mad at her for a lot of the book!
This is a super cosy, funny, heartfelt book. I do recommend it, and I hope future instalments build out the other characters introduced :)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for generously providing me with an ALC of this book. All opinions are my own.
If you are familiar with Rebecca Thorne’s work (Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, This Gilded Abyss, etc), you can expect the usual found family and cozy-adjacent vibes while raising the bar overall in what I believe to be her best work yet.
Delving into the scifi and humor space in books, the atmosphere, pacing and writing here is perfect for fans of The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport, Muderbot, and Redshirts. Are you an old-school fan of Farscape? Friend, have I got the book for you. A diverse cast of humans, aliens, and machine and plant intelligences will simultaneously grab you by the heart strings and the funny bone and not let go. I had a marvelous time from start to finish.
In particular, the narrators for the audiobook were perfectly chosen. Natalie Naudus is always an exceptional narrator and performer, and perfectly captures the sarcastic, irreverent and warm nature of the protagonist, Torian. Likewise, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick as the voice of the ship had me absolutely rolling on multiple occasions as the deadpan, yet fussy and dramatic Moss. I highly recommend experiencing this as an audiobook or as an immersive read if you are able.
If you are familiar with Rebecca Thorne’s work (Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, This Gilded Abyss, etc), you can expect the usual found family and cozy-adjacent vibes while raising the bar overall in what I believe to be her best work yet.
Delving into the scifi and humor space in books, the atmosphere, pacing and writing here is perfect for fans of The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport, Muderbot, and Redshirts. Are you an old-school fan of Farscape? Friend, have I got the book for you. A diverse cast of humans, aliens, and machine and plant intelligences will simultaneously grab you by the heart strings and the funny bone and not let go. I had a marvelous time from start to finish.
In particular, the narrators for the audiobook were perfectly chosen. Natalie Naudus is always an exceptional narrator and performer, and perfectly captures the sarcastic, irreverent and warm nature of the protagonist, Torian. Likewise, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick as the voice of the ship had me absolutely rolling on multiple occasions as the deadpan, yet fussy and dramatic Moss. I highly recommend experiencing this as an audiobook or as an immersive read if you are able.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Moss is the heart of this book. Yes, THAT moss - the stemless, rootless plant that reproduces via spores. Moss is also a sentient main character of this book, having integrated with the AI powering an alien spaceship's life support technology.
Moss' voice is dry, precise, and helpful in the most utterly irreverent way possible. Think Data from Star Trek: earnest, literal, and way funnier for it. The author said in the acknowledgments that Moss came to life in her brain after reading Murderbot, and it shows. Fans of Murderbot will feel right at home. At one point, Moss describes a new acquaintance as having, "like other humans", "a bipedal shape, a number of limbs, and features". Ha!
The author also said this was the book she was "dying to read: something cozy, comforting, fun, and humorous". She delivered it here with a fresh sci-fi flourish. Spaceships, botany, romance, aliens - this book has it all, set in a world so immersive and filled with characters so lovable that finishing this was bittersweet. Fortunately, a sequel is on the way, and if this book is any indication, the best may be yet to come.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my early copy.
Moss' voice is dry, precise, and helpful in the most utterly irreverent way possible. Think Data from Star Trek: earnest, literal, and way funnier for it. The author said in the acknowledgments that Moss came to life in her brain after reading Murderbot, and it shows. Fans of Murderbot will feel right at home. At one point, Moss describes a new acquaintance as having, "like other humans", "a bipedal shape, a number of limbs, and features". Ha!
The author also said this was the book she was "dying to read: something cozy, comforting, fun, and humorous". She delivered it here with a fresh sci-fi flourish. Spaceships, botany, romance, aliens - this book has it all, set in a world so immersive and filled with characters so lovable that finishing this was bittersweet. Fortunately, a sequel is on the way, and if this book is any indication, the best may be yet to come.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my early copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Moss'd in Space's highlight feature is the character of Moss and its personality. From the perspective of an audio listener, the narrator for Moss was excellent and really brought it to life. Torian, in comparison, was not as interesting from the start, however she grew on me as the story went on. I especially enjoyed her relationship with Moss. There were other side characters introduced early on, however, they become far more compelling as we gradually meet them and get to know them.
The wider world building is built up nicely, especially when it comes to delving further for the rest of the books. There are lots of unanswered questions that will hopefully be covered in books 2 and 3.
I read the blurb of it being a mashup between "Murderbot" and "The Spellshop" which fits, however, I think the vibes are a little closer to "Psalm for the Wild Built" by Becky Chambers.
The narrators did a phenomenal job bringing everything to life and keeping the pace going which is something I struggle with when it comes to cozy books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the audiobook.
The wider world building is built up nicely, especially when it comes to delving further for the rest of the books. There are lots of unanswered questions that will hopefully be covered in books 2 and 3.
I read the blurb of it being a mashup between "Murderbot" and "The Spellshop" which fits, however, I think the vibes are a little closer to "Psalm for the Wild Built" by Becky Chambers.
The narrators did a phenomenal job bringing everything to life and keeping the pace going which is something I struggle with when it comes to cozy books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the audiobook.
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