A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

Title: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk & Robot #2)

Author: Becky Chambers

Publisher: Tordotcom 2022

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 152

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer TBR

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?

A lovely continuation of the explorations of Sibling Dex and Mosscap. This time we get to see Mosscap interact with a variety of humans and learn about different settlements. I loved seeing Mosscap get a bit of distance from the forest and move into more settled areas. My favorite section was actually the small chapter set on the coast. We get to learn more about the current state of the world as Dex explains how humans on the coastlines live. I was fascinated. And though it all, they discuss life and identity. I can’t wait until the next volume of their journey to the city.

Monk and Robot

• #1 A Psalm for the Wild-Built

• #2 A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Title: A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot #1)

Author: Becky Chambers

Publisher: Tordotcom 2021

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy; Seasonal TBR

It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend.
One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered.
But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how.
They're going to need to ask it a lot.
Becky Chambers's new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

A philosophy text masquerading as a science fiction novella. Right away we are dumped into a world that doesn’t quite look like our own. We meet Sibling Dex and follow them as they explore the country and life. I loved the world building and descriptions. I really felt connected to the world of a tea monk and learning more about these settlements. And then we meet a robot. Oh how I loved Mosscap! From that point on, we get into the philosophy section of the book. We explore the meaning the life and identity through the eyes of two very different creatures. I am so in love with this book. I definitely need to reread this at some point. I feel like it will be one of the books that I get different lessons from each time I read it.

Next up on the TBR pile: