Becky Chambers

“Tender and healing... I’m prescribing a preorder to anyone who has ever felt lost. Stunning, kind, necessary.” —Sarah Gailey on book 1: A Psalm for the Wild-Built A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a story of kindness and love from one of the foremost practitioners of hopeful SF. After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home. They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe. Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter? At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

“Tender and healing... I’m prescribing a preorder to anyone who has ever felt lost. Stunning, kind, necessary.” —Sarah Gailey on book 1: A Psalm for the Wild-Built After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home. They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe. Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?

Katy Watkins

The thing about fucking off to the woods is that unless you are a very particular, very rare sort of person, it does not take long to understand why people left said woods in the first place. Houses were invented for excellent reasons, as were shoes, plumbing, pillows, heaters, washing machines, paint, lamps, soap, refrigeration, and all the other countless trappings humans struggle to imagine life without.

Naomi J.

“And don’t think of yourself as a problem,” Dex said, a protective edge entering their voice. “If they have an issue with you, that’s on them. And it’s not even about you, personally. They just … don’t understand what you are. Or maybe they can’t fit you into their beliefs, and that scares them. The unknown makes us stupid sometimes.”

Finding the ocean was as simple a matter as letting a river lead you in the direction it wanted to go most.

The robot thought quietly. “You’re saying your bodily components do not affect the essence of who you are.” 

“Of course they do,” Dex said. “Why else would we decorate our bodies or change them altogether?” 

Mosscap was perplexed. “So, which is it? Are you your body, or are you not your body?” 

“Nobody should be barred from necessities or comforts just because they don’t have the right number next to their name.”

The thing about fucking off to the woods is that unless you are a very particular, very rare sort of person, it does not take long to understand why people left said woods in the first place.

Elizabeth

It’s always a strange thing, coming home. Coming home meant that you had, at one point, left it and, in doing so, irreversibly changed. How odd, then, to be able to return to a place that would always be anchored in your notion of the past. 

Minnie Mazuera

"And don't think of yourself as a problem," Dex said. a protective edge entering their voice. "If they have an issue with you, that's on them. And it's not even about you, personally. They just ... don't understand what you are. or maybe they can't fit you into their beliefs, and that scares them. The unknown makes us stupid sometimes. “

Mosscap considered this seriously. “Like elk," it said. "Sorry?" Dex said.

 "Elk don't understand robots, either. We confuse them, and that makes them afraid, and then they can get... well, disagreeable."

Mosscap was instantly distracted, turning its head straight toward the sound. "Is that a dog?" it asked, ex- citement entering its voice. "A domesticated dog?" "Yeah," Dex said. They kept their attention on Ms. Waverly. "Thanks so much for the welcome, we-“ The dog continued to bark. “Is it all right?" Mosscap asked. "It's just a little scared of you," Dex said. "It doesn't understand what you are." The dog kept barking, and its accompanying people tried and failed to make it quiet down. "Gods around, I told you we shouldn't bring him, one said. "Biscuit, hush," said the other. Biscuit did not hush. Biscuit did not like this. 

Denaiir

a lovely adventure, these characters are so heart-warming

Such a quiet ly impactful story, beautiful.

Stark Koenig

kept pausing & coming back because i didn’t want the book to end. cried at the last chapter. the world chambers creates is the world i want to live in 

mira lee

I'm so sad this series is over. So, so sad. Both are so wonderfully written and beautifully explore humanity, life, and existence, in general. Love that it explores queer/poly/gender relationships/identities in a normal way. I have to read Becky's other books now! IMO, this one probably would've been up for a Hugo this year if this was a normal year for the Hugos.

(Bre)anne✨

TW to be added later

I'm so sad this series is over. So, so sad. Both are so wonderfully written and beautifully explore humanity, life, and existence, in general. Love that it explores queer/poly/gender relationships/identities in a normal way. I have to read Becky's other books now! IMO, this one probably would've been up for a Hugo this year if this was a normal year for the Hugos.

I love this monk and robot pair. Their adventures through their solarpunk world feels lovely and hopeful without being overly saccharine. If only I could visit them, get some tea, and explore alongside them. 

Krys C

Joy Bush

Perfect. I wish there were a hundred more of these beautiful little books that are as heartwarming as Mosscap and as comforting as Allelae.

Boothby

Sweet meanderings, but not much more. Then again, that's probably enough :)

The vibes? Immaculate. I want to immediately read both books over again. The world is so vivid and wonderful, and the characters are beautiful and complex. I absolutely love this duology. I will forever be hoping for more books in this series. 

Floofyflower

jackson neher

beautiful world building and character growth. chambers ability to talk about inclusion and mutual respect is beautiful. and so cute and homey

Just like the first installment, this is another smooth read, with Mosscap (the robot) being absolutely endearing. But like its predecessor, it feels too much like a philosophical symposium, with too little story or sense of urgency. At least, to my personal liking.

Frederik De Bosschere

dija

“Good morning, Sibling Dex!” the robot said. “Congratulations on having sex last night.”
 

mosscap is very dear to me

the human experience captured in 150 pages becky i would sell my soul if you asked 

Joana

grace richards

idk what to think really i liked the first book significantly more :(

Much like in the first book, not a whole lot happens, but I didn't mind because it's so comforting. I love the relationship between Dex and Mosscap. It's so sweet. If you're looking for something tender and cozy yet still thought-provoking, I can't recommend this series enough.

Heather Harrington

A beautifully written sequel that is just as moving and compelling as the first. The world is so well-built it makes me wish I could visit. Des and Mosscap venture back into humanity to answer the question asked by all robots: “What do you need?” The ways Becky Chambers goes about answering it is varied and incomplete, a perfect snapshot of human nature. I was moved almost to tears several times and even though I read it in a sitting, it seems hard to believe she packed so much in just 149 pages. I think cozy sci-fi might be my vibe forever. 

Katie Allard

this is such an incredibly comforting book, mrs becky chambers has done it again. there is just something so peaceful about reading what is essentially slice-of-life sci-fi.

Cindy Lieberman

Sibling Dex (the Tea Monk) and Mosscap (the robot Dex met in the forest) now journey to towns and villages. Mosscap learns about the humans’ barter system, what it means to own something (a map, for example), and has a very interesting conversation with a local blacksmith-equivalent about the materials that could be used to fabricate a broken robot part — and how ethically each option (plastic, casein, vegetable fiber, etc.) can be sourced. 
This short novella is best for those who have read and enjoyed the previous adventures.

Another beautiful, medatative, heartwarming book in the Monk & Robot series. Mosscap and Dex do a tour of the human society of Panga and continue to ask questions and discover things about themselves and humanity. I found traveling and discovering the society and Mosscap's reactions to it interesting and enjoyable. The conversations go some places I did not expect, but really liked.

Cheryl Hedlund

Christine Bruce

A great example of nothing happening, but so much changing. A perfect sequel to the first book in the series, and I can only hope there will be another book. 
This series is perfect as something to help you look inward, to try to better understand what connects us to each other, what connects us to the world around us, and what connects us to those who are different to us. 
A. beautiful exploration of friendship and humanity. To investigate where our materials come from, and the cost of them on the planet. 
I love this series so much, and I hope there are many more adventures of Mosscap and Sibling Dex to come. I love their world, their society, and their entire way of life.

Stephanie Ridiculous

Gosh I love this world. I love Mosscap, I love Dex, I love the cozy vibes, I love the questions posed, I love the joy found, I love love love this duology. 

If you need good vibes, cozy reading, a feel good story, and loveable moments within - I highly highly recommend the Monk & Robot books. This is a fantastic follow up to A Psalm for the Wild Built.

Mundy Otto Reimer

TL;DR - Solarpunk & comfort

Very similar to the 1st book. Read if you need a break and desire something comforting and short.

Lia Yuliana

Update 19/03/2022

Find my reviews on :  An Ode to Fiction|Booktube Channel
Official Release Date : July 12th 2022
Buy the book :
Amazon|Book Depository

5/5 ⭐️

ARC provided by the publisher Tordotcom through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


  
    Mosscap had come out of the wilderness to ask questions. There was no better place for that purpose than this.
  


A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the reflective and comforting sci-fi novella that will leave you feeling cozy and teary from all the warmth this book emanates.

Inhale and exhale the spring air people because I am excited for the upcoming release of Becky Chambers’ sequel to their famously heart warming Monk & Robot series A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. Finishing this novella yesterday has had me teary and reeling from the assault of warm emotions that has spread within me after reading an ARC of this book as part of my ‘mARCh Madness’ challenge. It was an easy decision to pick this book up because when I finished reading A Psalm for the Wild-Built last year I could not stop thinking about the sequel. It is just a treat to be blessed by the ARC gods that I get to read the sequel in advance. Before I dive into this review I want to shout out the artist Feifei Ruan and design by Christine Foltzer for yet again creating such a beautiful cover. I like that the cover gives readers a teaser about the premise of this sequel and looking at it now with knowledge of what happened in the sequel the warm colours and the city scape in the background encapsulates the book really well.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is Becky Chambers second book to the Monk & Robot series following up the tremendous success of the first book A Psalm for the Wild Built. Becky Chambers is widely known for their ability to write comforting sci-fi books with critically renown series such as The Wayfarers. In this second book Chambers continues Mosscap and Sibling Dex’s journey as they venture into civilization to start their tour around the villages to finally reach the city. Mosscap tasked with the questions from the robots to find out what humans need and Sibling Dex now chaperone both find themselves being the center of attention. Throughout their journey they will find new friends, discover and learn new concepts, all the while slowly reflecting on the future.


  
    “But whatever it is we’re doing, it’s the first thing in a long time I’ve been sure about.” They swallowed. “Most days, you’re the only thing that makes sense.”
  


Becky Chambers writing style emanates a certain feeling that can only be described as healing, gentle, and nourishing. There is a neutral tone that Chambers adopted to convey ideas and concepts through their characters that facilitates a safe space for minds to wander. There is love and understanding contained within the pages of this book that will make you reflect on life and the pleasures to see it from a slightly different perspective. The themes that are rooted deeply in the characters gives readers a medium to project themselves into the characters to be offered a chance to reflect. This book is a science fiction novella but the values and thinking within it can be applicable to every day life. In the first book A Psalm for the Wild-Built I picked up on the importance of resting and to forgive oneself for taking the necessary step to rethink their life. Continuing on this notion Chambers takes it up a notch and makes their characters to not just reflect but to face the unknown possibilities of the future and to find it within themselves to face it without fear.

The world building in this novella is lush, brilliant, and an explosion of nature that thrived overcoming the disaster it had experienced during the factory age. Chambers takes readers on a journey pass beautiful sceneries, lush forests, and vibrant villages with their own charms of welcoming the duo into the space. These villages also have their own lifestyle choices that is distinct and unique for readers to explore. Mosscap and Sibling Dex will find new and old friends to connect with on their journey. While in the previous book the focus was mostly on Mosscap and Sibling Dex, I like that in this sequel we get to see the two characters interact with other characters that prompts discussion between them to find answers on their route to discovery. Their amicable character development in this second book has exceeded my expectations. Their charms and flaws come to light in the most heart warming way as I found pieces of me within each character as they develop throughout their journey. They offer each other a hand during their harshest times as they also check on each other to face the difficulties in life but also offering the safe space to confront it. Mosscap and Sibling Dex’s relationship have truly blossomed into a wonderful friendship and I am honoured to have been able to witness it.


  
    Robots didn’t hold hands with each other, Dex knew, but humans did, and by the way Mosscap squeezed its metal fingers in response, it was clear it understood the gesture.
  


Final thoughts, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the sci-fi comfort blanket that will heal, destress, and distract your mind from the world to offer a healing hand for the soul without the pressure. It is the book that has brought me immense joy this month. Becky Chambers has become one of my most favorite writers in SFF as I will likely read every book in their repertoire. I highly recommend for all readers to read A Psalm for the Wild-Built if you haven’t and then continue on by reader A Prayer for the Crown-Shy after it releases as it is a novella that is versatile and can be perfect for readers that only want easy to consume sci-fi that isn’t too long and too hard to understand. It is also a good book to recommend to friends and other readers alike that have never read sci-fi that want to start reading it.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

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