I really enjoyed this series. I don't know if there will be more installments but I'm always up for some quality time with Sibling Dex and Mosscap.

Similar to the philosophical discourse in the first book, this one takes us on a different journey of exploring Dex's world through the curious eyes of Mosscap. Its fascination with the lives of humans made me appreciate the smaller things in my own and served as a reminder to take time to just absorb the present moments. Whether that's admiring nature, conversations with a loved one or all the resources I'm grateful to have access to.

Again, like the first book, I was left with a feeling of content wondering. And for the first time in a while, thought about how it's okay to not have a larger purpose behind my existence and simply just be.

Thank you netgalley for an advance copy of the audiobook. Audiobooks can be tricky for me to follow so it took me way longer than intended to get through the book.

This was a great second book in the monk and robot series; I love the mix of existential philosophy and characters finding their way in the world and being kind even when they feel aimless. Relationships and kindness are key to this series as are the deeper questions of purpose and spirituality. And behind it all is an example of a solarpunk world, a society that, in the days of headlines of ocean extinctions and food shortages, gives us something to strive for.

What a follow-up to the first book! Honestly, I think this is my favorite of the two so far. Everything about this story feels like a warm hug, a gentle lesson, and a reminder to be kind to each other and nature. I am excited that the series continued!

The narrator was perfect and really did a good job with each character and bringing their voice to life. Short and sweet, this book was great. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me listen!

I received an arc of this audiobook from NetGalley. Mild spoilers below.

Much like A Psalm for the Wild-Built, this sequel is a perfect book. This continues the journey of Sibling Dex, a tea monk, and Mosscap, a robot, as they venture around the populated half of Penga and try to help Mosscap learn what it is that people need. Since Mosscap is the first robot to make contact with people since robots and humans parted ways, much of this book revolves around Mosscap becoming acquainted with human society, asking questions about its own nature, and learning about the ways humans changed for the better.

The relationship between Dex and Mosscap is one of the most touching relationships I have ever read. There is a frankness, honesty, humor, and joy between them that makes every interaction lifelike and rich.

In this book we’re introduced to the ways human society still differs in a utopian society. There is a faction of people near the coast who do not believe in using any kind of technology, and it was intriguing to watch Dex and Mosscap interact with them. There is a currency system that is enviable and compassionate. The sprawling family system that Dex is a part of was also fascinating and beautiful.

And in this story, Mosscap also begins to ask the question about what it needs in conjunction with Dex’s needs. A truly unique and moving book about the relationship between all things.

Honestly, I will read anything Becky Chambers writes, hard stop. Much like her other books, this one feels like a warm hug. I loved this second book in the Monk and Robot series. Dex and Mosscap are such a fun pair, and I love seeing how Mosscap interacts with all the humans it meets on its journey. This book is incredibly inclusive, seamlessly weaving in the use of pronouns and not making it a "thing", being extremely respectful in the process. I loved learning more about Dex's family and their background. While this isn't a plot driven book, the character development is impressive. Excited to see what is in store in the next installment!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC!

One of my most highly anticipated sequels of the year, that completely lived up to my expectations - and also delivered so much more! Hopeful and warm and intuitive, the Monk & Robot books feel like being hugged, given a warm cup of tea, and patted on the head. The dedication (For anyone who doesn’t know where they’re going) really says it all for this one, in the same way it did for the first (For anybody who could use a break). If you like happiness and friendship and adventure, with a comforting side of insight on life and living, do yourself a favour and read these little novellas!

7.5 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/07/23/a-prayer-for-the-crown-shy-by-becky-chambers-review/

The second installment of Monk & Robot finds Sibling Dex and Mosscap wrapping up their tour of rural Panga, before setting their collective sights on the city. While Mosscap has been sent as an envoy from the robots, carrying a very important question to the humans, Sibling Dex is after something more. Right now, they have their wagon, their tea set, and a traveling companion, but once Mosscap has finished its mission—well, what will they be left with.

Tea?

Sibling Dex isn’t sure they want more tea just yet.

Mosscap is struggling with a problem of its own. It has carried its question to the humans—and has asked many of them what they need, and how it can help, but has begun to notice a trend. These people don’t want for much, and what they do want can generally be easily provided. So then, what should Mosscap do now?

In a world where people have what they want, what more can it offer them?

—

I generally enjoyed the first Monk & Robot—A Psalm for the Well-Built—as it seemed to deliver the questions (and occasionally even answers) lacking in a post-Wayfarers world, while not getting quite as in-depth or existential as that same world turned out to be in its first several installments (pretty much every one but four). A light, interesting read that nonetheless raised questions about sentience, worth, and humanity—confronting the tough questions while still maintaining an air of lightheartedness and humor.

While I’m glad to report that Book #2 continues this theme, it doesn’t try much anything else, leaving the series still a bit short of perfection.

The questions are still there. Within Mosscap and Sibling Dex’s own can we find ourselves. Maybe we’re unsure. Lost. Questioning. Or even just struggling to understand. Regardless of the cause, the reason, these questions find us—as they find our protagonists in the tale. It is thus that Becky Chambers confronts these questions: by raising them as part of a story, a tale with a very clear (and yet very unclear) message. What do you want?

The main problem with this story is, well, the whole “story” part. There’s not a lot going on. In terms of the overarching plot. Sibling Dex and Mosscap are just wandering on their way, tackling themselves as much as they do their rather vague quest. Such was the way in the first story (the wandering, at least), though it certainly had a discernible plot: robots haven’t been seen in centuries, now one is, and they come with a question for humanity. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy simply carries this over from the previous story, adding nothing of note on its own. While this runs its course, the plot is content to wander amiably along, letting the protagonists guide it as they may. This strategy has worked quite well for Chambers before—as she’s really very good at it—and this time is no different. Except.

Except that this format doesn’t really relate very well to a wandering adventure. I’m not sure why a novel-length story of the same type works better—it just does. Maybe it’s because there’s more space to grow, more time to ask, more room to fit everything in. This novella doesn’t have much time to spare. At 160 pages, it can’t bring up the important questions, issues, and possible solutions, while still providing a complete adventure. Instead, it just ends up feeling… incomplete.

Still, there’s more than enough here for me to recommend. For the questions she raises; the real sense of being, of living, of wondering and wandering she instills—I’d pretty much read anything Becky Chambers wants to write on the matter, be it in a full-length science fiction novel or a haiku scrawled on a restaurant napkin. And everything in-between. It’s not the perfection that I found from Closed and Common Orbit or Spaceborn Few, but neither is it of the quality as Galaxy and the Ground Within. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is something else entirely, while retaining the format that you know and love. Just don’t expect it to be something it’s not—nor to have all the answers. It’s just a scifi novel, not a sentient grimoire of power.

As before, I thought Em Grosland did an exceptional job bringing this story to life. In fact, even better than in the first installment! They nailed the intonation and tone, while still imparting a certain worth and substance into their narration. While I’m not entirely sold that they’d make any book more enjoyable, I’d listen to any Chambers book they decided to read in a heartbeat!

I ADORED Becky Chambers' first Monk and Robot book, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, so I had high expectations for the second book, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. It absolutely lived up to them.

Dex, a tea monk, and Mosscap, the robot Dex encountered in the wilderness, are travelling from town to town trying to answer the question "What do humans need?" Mosscap is beginning to realize that question isn't as simple as it seems. Dex is struggling with the fact that even though they are an excellent tea monk, they feel restless and unfulfilled by their work and life.

This series is so wholesome and heartwarming. It's like a hug. Mosscap's pure joy at having new experiences and meeting new people is nothing short of precious. And Dex's mental health struggles are so relatable. The interactions between Dex and Mosscap were the highlight of the first book and that continues to be the case in the second book in my opinion. If you want a book with loveable characters, low stakes, and a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be human, you must read the Monk and Robot books!

The first book in this series was so good I read it twice last year, and I will absolutely be doing the same with this one. The same reflective calm exists in this book as in the first. And we follow Dex and Mosscap on their adventures, learning more about the world of Panga. And that’s one of my favorite things about Becky Chambers’ stories. She is so fantastic at world and character building. The richness of the cultures throughout Panga is so fascinating. I just can’t get enough of this world or our delightful duo. The audiobook was so calming and comforting in these unsettled times. I know this is a series i will be rereading time and time again.

Honestly, I cannot rave about this book enough. I purchased the first one because I didn’t realize it was a sequel. It was so high a read for me that I thought this one would let me down. That was not the case at all. This work was just as deep, thought provoking, and insightful. I really wish there was another one. I would’ve absolutely kept going if I could.

A PRAYER FOR THE CROWN-SHY by Becky Chambers
Publication: July 12, 2022 by TORDOTCOM Books
and Macmillan Audio: Narrated by Em Grosland… 3 hrs, 52 min


A rare treasure …. A book without conflict and murder and yet, immensely satisfying, heartfelt and contemplative. This is Becky Chambers second novella in the Monk and Robot series, following the excellent, “A Psalm for the Wild-Built”. Both novellas explore the meaning of having purpose and the important role of the individual in the community, while being philosophically engaging. The setting is upon the moon of Panga, in the far future, communities have evolved without economic systems and traditional money. The journey is continued out of the wilderness of the first novella, and we follow the tea monk Sibling Dex with the robot Splendid Speckled Mosscap. Mosscap is the first robot to make contact with humans, since they long ago attained consciousness and left for the wild of Panga His goal and quest is to put forth to humanity the question: “What do humans need”. Dex guides Mosscap from village to village, along the twisty and winding roads of Panga …. allowing him to put forth his question and subsequently answering Mosscap’s many questions that arise out of these encounters. Through the interactions with the villagers, both Mosscap and Dex reflect on many heady topics of self reflection. Philosophically they find themselves discussing consciousness, nature of existence entropy, reality, and often finding existential dilemmas. As their journey extends, both Dex and Mosscap find their friendship and interdependence evolving. Their ultimate goal is to reach the City …. to allow Mosscap to experience its wonder and opportunities. There are multiple magical moments along their path…. Mosscap meeting a baby for the first time or even its first encounter with a barking and aggressive dog. Even meeting Dex’s large and extended family results in many introspective moments.
Chambers weaves a gentle and heart warming tale of love and friendship that explores the philosophical nature of people and community. Overall, this is a charming and refreshing book, that is contemplative and insightful on the nature of life. Hopefully we will continue further on Dex and Mosscap’s journey to enlightenment. I had the joy of listening to the audio version , narrated by Em Grosland. It was delightful to hear the different voices of Dex and Mosscap expound as the tale unspools, bringing to life the characters and mood in the theater of my mind. Thanks to Macmillan Audio for supplying an advance audio version of this touching tale, in exchange for an honest review.

I relistened to the first book before listening to this and I can still say I adore this story, these characters, the vibe, the quiet, the immensity in its smallness, I love everything about it. And naturally I loved A Prayer for the Crown-Shy just as much if not a tiny bit more because we got so much more Mosscap and how every little thing was just special in the robot's eyes.
The story was simple yet very deep in meaning. It was just a delight to listen and experience. I will definitely reread it in the future.

love it love it love it
this book is what everyone needs - some nice easy to digest sci-fi fun. no huge stakes but chambers does an excellent job at creating characters and a world I cared deeply about. very quickly paced, i burned through the book in three sessions on one day. every chapter had several pieces, be it world building, character development, or big concept questions that i had to pause, rewind and relisted to the sections to fully apricate how intricate chambers gets in a short section.
audiobook version is excellent, narrator is fantastic and aptly cast.
thank you to #netgalley and #tor.com for furnishing this ALC

Becky Chambers is such an incredible author. This is such a quaint and lovely duology that will not disappoint any of her fans. I think I liked To Be Taught, If Fortunate better because it seemed more sci-fi and "spacey" but this book is like a hug and warm cup of tea. As always the sci-fi is accessible and the characterization is casually but thoughtfully inclusive.

5 STARS 5 STARS 5 STARS!!!!! gosh i absolutely adored and loved this book with my whole heart- a psalm for the wild-built was amazing and also 5 stars but this was even BETTER!! completely exceeded my expectations. this book is so full is love, contemplation, nature, and genuineness. raises so many philosophical questions in a beautiful way. the descriptions and the writing was pure perfection. one of my favorites of all time- cannot recommend enough!

If you liked the first book then this is more of the same. Becky Chambers is a very talented writer who has a beautiful way with words. The only thing is you have to love character driven books as nothing really happens in this one. It's truly only about the monk and the robot. If Seinfeld was the show about nothing Becky Chambers books are the stories about nothing but she does it perfectly.

Also if you give the audiobook a try maybe put a buffer book between the first and second book. The narrator has a slight change to Mosscap's voice was a bit jarring.

While listening to this audiobook today the characters would reference things that had happened in their past. Things that sounded like it had been of some importance, and while described well enough for me to follow along, I felt it needed more in depth explanation. Turns out I was reading the second book in a series without even knowing the first one existed. 😂

A PRAYER FOR THE CROWN SHY, written by Becky Chambers, and narrated by Em Grosland, number two of A Monk and Robot Book series.

A Tea Monk, Sibling Dex, and a sentient robot, Mosscap, spends the book touring the cities and villages of Panga, the little moon they call home. Along the way they make new friends, explore new concepts, and try to discover some answers.

This is a pleasant story and I’ve since put the first book on hold with my library so I get all the backstory. This book is good enough to stand on its own though, so I don’t feel like I was lost when past events were discussed by the characters.

I liked how the main character is non-binary but it was never actually mentioned. It also describes other family dynamics apart from just a mom and dad, but it was just in passing without making it seem like it’s unusual, and I really appreciated that.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the honor of reviewing this sci-fi and fantasy novel. I really enjoyed the narrator and the cover art as well as the story itself. 5 stars!

The further adventures of Tea Monk Dex and Mosscap the Robot.

After the events in A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Sibling Dex and Robot Mosscap journey across the land of humans to ask "What do humans need?"

In a world that has mostly figured itself out, what do humans need? What does Dex need? Mosscap and Dex are now celebrities, and Dex is having a hard time adapting to the change. They went to the wilderness in the last book to figure themselves out, and this new task of introducing Mosscap to the world drags them out into the spotlight, the opposite of where they wanted to be. A lot of important people want to meet this robot, and it's Dex's responsibility to keep them both on task and on schedule. But things go awry when Mosscap can't stop taking pictures of every leaf and tree along the way.

I loved Psalm for the Wild-Built, and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is my most anticipated book of the year. It did not disappoint! I love the relationship between Dex and Mosscap. Mosscap's awe and joy of the world and everything in it. Dex's surly unease with life and people. Along the way, touching on themes of family, community, death, and identity, all in a short novella. It's philosophy for non-philosophers, and I loved it.

This book felt like a middle entry in a longer series, and I hope there's at least one more Tea Monk and Robot adventure to come!

The audio version of A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is narrated by the amazing Em Grosland. As with A Psalm for the Wild-Built, they do an amazing job portraying the vulnerability of Dex and the humanity of Mosscap.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for access to an audio review copy of this book.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the perfect cozy and comforting escape read. This book will immediately bring a smile to your face. In fact, I was smiling almost the entire way through the story.

It picks up where A Psalm for the Wild-Built left off and takes us along Dex and Mosscap's journey of self-discovery and their search for a place of peace (both physical and spiritual). It's a short and sweet novel filled to the brim with childlike outlooks on life, finding joy in the little things, and accepting who you are in the moment as exactly who you need to be.

While this particular installation in the series focused less on the tea aspect of Dex's life, it still made me want to curl up with a cuppa while I read. There's just something so satisfying and almost safe about the book. It felt like coming home.

It's also absolutely hilarious. Mosscap's adorable innocence and naivety made several of the scenes laugh-out-loud funny and I found myself having to pause the audiobook until I finished laughing.

When I finished A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, I immediately texted a friend of mine to tell them how badly I need another book. I'm going to be very impatiently waiting for whatever comes next - and until then, I'll be rereading these two just to get my fill of ultimate good vibes.

[CW: (major) cursing, (minor) sexual content)

Oh I just love this author’s universe. So accepting and inclusive and cottage core tbh. Have Dex be non binary and use they/them/ze pronouns is just amazing. I’ve not read another series that uses those. The first book left me with a philosophical question about life, and so I was cautious about having such high hopes or expectations for this one.

It follows a bit of the same story arch with a touching ending, but I was hoping for more direct interactions about Mosscap’s question “what do humans need”. It was still a journey and I just wanted to curl up with a cup of tea with our two protagonists.

I debated about a 4.5 but honestly, just the vibes can have the full five stars. It’s unclear if there is another in this series but I would be okay either way. Not to draw it out but so excited to go back.

I was worried the audio book might throw off the impact but I really enjoyed Dex and Mosscap’s voices.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader audiobook in exchange for an honest review.