Check out this book!: “A Prayer for the Crown-Shy” by Becky Chambers

Hello all,

I found out about this book from BookTok, haha, and it sounded so unusual, I decided to check it out. Actually, I started by looking for its prequel, A Psalm for the Wild-Built. This book was in a long waitlist at my library though, so I decided to just try reading the sequel first.

This book attracted me because it was described as being about a monk and a robot and I said…what? I’ve got to read that!

I confess I am not done with the book yet, so that is why this is not a ‘review’ post and just a ‘check it out’ post, instead.

So far, some things I really like about this book…

Cover art by Feifei Ryan

What I like

The characters are instantly relatable and intriguing. ‘Sibling Dex’ is the human in the equation, and they are funny, grumpy, but also compassionate towards their robot friend, Mosscap. I like how Dex is annoyed at getting woken up early, and how Mosscap wants to stop to take photos of every new tree they haven’t seen on a long journey, as a parent would be annoyed with a kid. But at the same time, they are entranced and endeared by Mosscap’s childish nature, and as a result, so are we readers.
The world! It seems to be set in a post-apocalypse, post-machines world where people are fed up with the capitalistic, money-obsessed, productivity-fueled society we live in now. Honestly it was the perfect time for this book to come out. I love reading about the villages where houses are made from recycled objects, and plastic is made of oil, etc. bio-materials and not the chemical stuff we have now. Very intriguing!
The writing. It’s simple, suspenseful, but also kindof…meandering? I find it very relaxing and refreshing. It kindof seems to fall into literary fiction, but is plot-focused too, so maybe not. It feels like it’s own category.

Author Becky Chambers

What I don’t like

Nothing, so far! I hope the ending is good. Or, that there is a third book. And I hope I like the 1st book, which is now on-hold for me at the library, ironically. I’m going to finish book 2 before going back to book 1, I decided.

The one thing that DOES strike me as weird is, this book is so small. Why? And yet, a lot of content seemed to be packed in the pages. Nothing seems filler, so far.

And…

I won’t talk about the plot, since I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, especially those who may still be on book 1. But I just want to say, I enjoy how robot Mosscap’s curiosity and lack of knowledge about the world is a great way for us readers to find out about the world. And, his fascination with the little things is thought-provoking. When was the last time you enjoyed the scent of flowers, the smell of your coffee, or the softness of a blanket, perhaps? Instead of rushing throughout the day? I know it’s been a while, for me.

I also like the deeper questions the book poses to us readers. One morning, Mosscap talks to Dex and other characters about consciousness, and how we aren’t this body. This is a very important idea, I think, propagated in scriptures throughout the world, and not talked-of enough. So I look forward to continuing to read and finding out what other questions and ideas this book makes me contemplate.