We live in unprecedented times. I wish we didn’t, but life lately has been rough. Between Covid, War, Dictators, and environmental catastrophes, sometimes you need a story that is a warm hug or a mug of hot cocoa. This is what the A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is about. It is a book that replenishes a world-weary soul.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the second book in the Monk & Robot series. We find our intrepid duo on the road and picks up right where the last one left off. Mosscap, the robot, and Dex the tea-monk are going from village to village, meeting with people and experiencing life in many ways. You would think that all this traveling would be for Mosscap’s benefit, but it isn’t. Instead, you have Dex reexamining ideas and things they hold dear as they watch Mosscap experience things for the first time.

There isn’t a plot. Instead, think of the travels of the duo as vignettes. They are moments in time that impart a bit of wisdom. All that said, this isn’t a preachy novel, far from it. Chambers walks the line between memorable and heartfelt with preachy and shmaltzy well. One of the main takeaways from this story is a conversation about mental health and how it is a journey rather than a destination.

Dex has struggled with their mental health in the past. They have to internalize that it is ok not to be ok. It is ok to be one of the folks that rely on others and doesn’t bring anything to the table. This echoes moments in the first book where Dex sets off into the forest to be alone.

Again, Chambers has written a beautiful story about hope and the many ways we find it in the world. And that it is ok to rest for a bit on other people. Echoing my first sentiments, the world is brutal right now. We are staring at these unprecedented moments in shock. This book soothes the soul; the tales of Monk & Robot stick to your heart and are ready to go on an adventure with you wherever that leads.

Becky Chambers has my heart and soul with the Monk & Robot series. This installation gave some great follow-up to my favorite conversations and passages from A Psalm for the Wild-Built while making me legitimately laugh out loud several times. This series is a warm hug for your mind & soul.

One of my favorite audiobooks of the year. This was so completely delightful. I'd read and loved the first book in the series in print, but now that I've listened to this one I'm going to get the audio of the first and reread because this narrator does a spectacular job. Totally nails the vibe of the books but also brings so much extra life to the characters. I just absolutely loved this.

Definitely read this series in order. And definitely read this series, period. It's wonderful and perfect for when you need comfort. The sort of book that transports and soothes. Quiet and contemplative but never boring. Also great for a book slump because both books are quick reads. Highly recommend the audio because it's a real treat to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Becky Chambers for the Advance Reader Copy of this book.

If the first book in this series can be described as a warm hug, I'd say this book is the safe feeling you get when someone you love kisses your forehead. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy picks up right where A Psalm for the Wild-Built left off, finding Dex and Mosscap on a journey to answer the existential and practical question of "what do people need?"

I am delighted with how Becky Chambers can simultaneously tackle heavy philosophical questions like autonomy and our concepts of life, while still keeping the story light hearted and cozy. The way Chambers handles heavy topics with a light hand is surprising and masterful.

Once again, the audiobook performance by Em Grosland is perfect, especially the way she voices Mosscap. This is definitely one of those books where the audiobook elevates the story to the next level.

A Prayer For The Crown Shy by Becky Chambers

This is a book that left me with a great big smile on my face after finishing - hugging the book and wanting go back to the beginning to start again. It is soft, comforting, and full of brilliant philosophical ideas. A reminder to take joy in the quiet, calm little moments.
It is a continuation of the Monk and Robot story started in last year’s A Psalm For The Wild Built and it is speculative fiction and sci-fi in one. The premise is a world after the point in time where robots have achieved consciousness and humans have recognized they can no longer just “use” these sentient beings. After years of no contact between robots and people the two main characters are the first two to reestablish contact. In this second installment Dex the monk introduces the robot to the way humans live together in different settings - family compounds to more urban settings or seaside villages. On a deeper level mental health and need to have a purpose are explored. A beautiful book - a fast read and it is only novella length at under 200 pages !

I listened to the audio and enjoyed the narration but I am also buying the hardcover for this beautiful book as soon as I visit the next bookstore. My two older teens (now 19 and 18) loved the first one last year and are looking forward to reading the second !

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the audiobook.
I love the Monk and Robot novellas with all my heart. Despite their short length, they create this cozy (but so vivid!) world where robots once became sentient and humanity had to reckon with how it had used machines to overtake the planet.
Everyone in the book, especially our leads, approaches others with such softness, with a desire for understanding rather than an agenda. In this book, Mosscap (the robot) is on a mission to finally meet humanity and learn what they need. It is accompanied by Sibling Dex, a monk who, despite going through all motions, always struggles with whether or not they are doing what they should with their life and how they’d feel if not. It is such a relatable feeling, despite their life of biking the countryside alongside a robot being about as far from average as it gets. My preorder of the hardcover comes in tomorrow, and I know I’ll be reading this (and A Psalm for the Wild-Built) again in print.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, by Hugo Award-winning author Becky Chambers, is a solid sequel. Like the previous Monk and Robot novella, it is thought-provoking and philosophical, and the characters are engaging. In A Psalm of the Wild-Built we met Sibling Dex, a tea monk who strays from the carefully manicured world they know to enter the wilderness. Ostensibly, Dex is in search of crickets, but really they are in search of purpose, of a life that leaves them satisfied at the end of the day.

Instead, Dex finds Splendid Speckled Mosscap, a robot on a mission to learn what humanity needs. It’s been 200 years since robots achieved sentience and parted ways with humans, and Mosscap and its fellows are curious to see how humanity has fared in that time. Together Dex and Mosscap return to the villages to meet people and seek answers.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy picks up not long after the events of the first book, exploring more of the beautiful scenery of Sibling Dex’s world. It continues to take minor jabs at the failure’s of today’s society while showing the corrections that can be made to fix the errors of our ways. Both books are hopeful and poetic.

Along this journey, Mosscap discovers that its presence leaves a mark on those it meets, and that it has become a spokesperson for all robots. It also has to face its own mortality, and make decisions about future repairs. It knows it will be experientially different from other robots by its travels among the humans, but it doesn’t want to become physically different, as well.

The audiobook is skillfully narrated by Emmett Grosland, who brings Sibling Dex and Splendid Speckled Mosscap to life. They do an amazing job capturing the robot’s enthusiasm and Dex’s weariness. Their voice is soothing, and, along with the music, gives the audiobook an overall feeling of peace and comfort. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a book I could listen to over and over again. I highly recommend both Monk and Robot books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to get offered this audiobook to listen to. The audiobook was great as was the story. Becky Chambers really knocked it out the park with this one.

I had such high hopes for this second installment of the series after falling deeply in love with the quiet, kind, thoughtful story in the first book. I am sad to say that it missed the mark for me.

In reflecting on what didn't resonate with me in this book over the last was the way the setting influenced the story told. In the first book, we had Sibling Dex setting out in search for themselves and taking on a frontier and boundary that was verboten. In doing this, they met Mosscap, and had the first robot and human contact in ages as the two groups had an agreement to split and not be in contact. Their contact and exploration of the world together held wonder (and annoyance at times) for both and that was joyous to read.

In this installment, they returned to the villages that Sibling Dex knows as a Tea Monk and the setup led to scenes where they explained the ways of human interactions and customs to Mosscap. For me, all the excitement fizzled as it often became a lecture on utopian visions- ex, there was a section that was like "this is how we trade but don't call it money". I am not opposed to the vision, but the execution felt heavy-handed, and I was left disappointed that they didn't just continue their journeys out into the wild.

I would like to thank the publisher for access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy" is the second Monk and Robot book from Becky Chambers. I started it yesterday and just listened while my dog occasionally distracted me.

If you need undiluted goodness in your life read these books. Stuff is on fire here, literally and figuratively, and we all could use some healing.

Narrated by Em Grosland, thank you. I couldn't read these out loud without having to take huge breaks to recover from emotional damage.

These are quick reads so I don't want to say too much about the content, but read it and think about what you want and how you see things. How Mosscap sees nature is amazing, I have a MSc in Animal Science and I know the challenges to get people to LOOK at nature. But they just do and I needed to read that this weekend.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC. Damn I needed that.

Honestly there's nothing I love more than Becky Chambers, and even though I read this book a few months ago, when I had the chance to listen to the audio, I dove right in. It is a balm against the harshness of the world, and brings me so much joy.

While I was not the biggest fan of the first book in this series, the second surprised me. Maybe because I went in with no expectations, but this felt like more of what Becky Chambers does well: telling human stories through non-human characters.
Mosscap really comes into its own in this story, and the questions presented here are fascinating. We talk about capitalism, environmentalism, identity, purpose. It like millennial ennui, but in a eutopian sci-fi future. I could see it being a bit heavy-handed (and sickly sweet) for some people, but it was perfect for me. This book is pure escapism, a world where racism and transphobia don't exist and everyone is gay. What more could you ask for?
My only complaint about this is the pacing. You are dropped right at the end of the first book and given no recap. Each part feels like an episode. I sounds good in theory, but it prevents the story from feeling cohesive, especially when combined with the ending, which is not an ending at all and left wide open for the sequel.
I'd definitely recommend the audiobook for this. The narrator does a fantastic robot voice, and the charm of the story shines. Though, there are an unusually high number of edits (I counted 6) for a book of this length, and it took me out of the story every time.

This story was delightful! I really enjoyed the journey and philosophical question that were explored. My one complaint is that I wish there had been a little more to the ending, it just felt a little abrupt.

even better than the first novella in the series, this one was heartwarming and delightful. mosscap’s curiosity and ingenuity is like a child—perhaps more human than even the humans themselves.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an Audio ARC of this book.

Becky Chambers does it again! The second installment of the Monk and Robot series was everything I expected and more.

In this story we get to see the relationship between Sibling Dex and Mosscap become something truly beautiful. They fit like puzzle pieces and within their differences, they’re still so good for each other. Mosscap, as a character, has the talent of switching our perspective of the world (for Dex and the reader, that’s why I say “our”). Seeing humans and society through Mosscap’s eyes has me believing in myself once again. I loved that Mosscap also has some things it’s questioning and some anxieties it deals with.

This second book features more philosophical conversations between Dex and Mosscap, similar to the ones at the end of the previous book. All of the pondering is very digestible and relatable; the parallels between our world and Panga are clear. Talking about world-building, it is done masterfully. Chamber’s expands on what we previously learned about Panga and more than ever I want to live in this world. My favorite part was probably the explanation of the economic system.

Dex continues to be one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever encountered. They are still questioning so much, and I can’t wait to follow their path of self exploration.

This book was immersive and heartwarming, and I am in awe at how the author can say so much in such few words.

5 full stars.

I am SO INCREDIBLY SAD that I have finished this audiobook!! I want more, but have no idea if there is any intention for this series to continue on. 😭😭😭

What a follow-up to the first Tea Monk & Robot book!
Where in the first one, Mosscap (the robot) shows Sibling Dex (the tea monk) around the wilds and helps them on their quest to a particular place, in this segment of their journey Dex guides Mosscap around the various human populations.

I absolutely adore their friendship. I love that the main characters of this story are a gender-neutral monk and a robot. I love how various aspects of society are explained by Sibling Dex to Mosscap, making the reader think about where we are in our own society.

I’m also in love with how the story digs deep into the existential question of what we (as conscious beings) *need* in order to live a fulfilled life, after all physical needs have been met. Becky Chambers builds a beautiful world where humans have recovered from individualism, violence, greed, and overwhelming the planet with unsustainable garbage. It is an inclusive one too (as her worlds so often are). But to answer the question about what we actually *need* is such a big one.

And while Mosscap endeavours to answer this incredibly large question for the human population as a whole, our two friends do get up to all kinds of wonderful adventures. So many communities far and wide want to celebrate the first robot to make contact since they disappeared into the wilds 100+ years ago. And yet, Dex and Mosscap come up against some questions they need to answer for themselves, as well.

All that I can say is, if you loved the first book in this series, then this second is just as wonderful, powerful and delightful as that one was. I just hope that there is MORE Mosscap and Dex on the horizon!!

The audiobook is as very well read by the narrator, as the first was.

So much gratitude to Becky Chambers, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced audiobook copy of this amazing story.

Thanks to Netgalley for the audio-arc

I have really enjoyed everything Becky Chambers has written including this, I adore Mosscap and love the way the story flows/what it's trying to say

What an absolute delight!

I've been looking forward to this since I finished book 1, and it was every bit as charming as I'd hoped! Once again, I listened to it on audiobook and the narrator (same as the first) did a wonderful job. Like the first, there were a couple of quite noticeable file splices, where the sound pitch was different enough to be a bit jarring, but it happened far less than in the previous book.

Some more lovely world-building and characters, and while this one felt somewhat less... focused that the first book--there was less of a linear progression/sense of a clear goal--that didn't at all detract from my enjoyment. As always, there are some really moving and poignant conversations and sort of philosophical musings, all done in a way that feels quite organic to the story. There were a number of points I was almost moved to tears, and this whole thing is just so utterly heart-warming, it left me with the biggest smile on my face. It felt like a very satisfying conclusion, though I selfishly hope there will be more in the series!

Thank you NetGally for the ARC and opertunity to review this beautiful story.
I fell in love with A Psalm for the Wild Built last year when I happened upon Dex, a tea monk, and Mosscap, a robot on a quest to understand what humanity truly needs. It was exactly what my pandemic tired dystopian society battered soul needed. I sobbed in my car reading it in a parking lot during my kid's piano lesson. The fact that I will remember that parking lot surrounded by people who I'll never know while I had such a cathartic experience is why I was so nervous to read this second installment in the Monk and Robot book series. But I shouldn't have worried at all because Becky Chambers wields the kind of magic that allows lighting to strike the same spot repeatedly.
This book was like a warm hug and a healing balm. I found myself right back in the familiar cozy world of Panga and it was like I had never left. We get to continue the journey with Dex and Moss wandering through deep thoughts shared in simple languages, while seeing ourselves in the glass reflections of the story. I don't think this book could have been born into a time that needed it more then mid 2022. I was reminded of the necessity of fragility and the power of healing while I sobbed again on a random weekday afternoon I'll now never forget.
If you're looking for the perfect warm cup of literature that will heal your heart and mind from the pains of trying to navigate humanity in the wild these days, I highly recommend introducing yourself to Dex and Mosscap. I promise you'll come out of the story better off for your time in Panga.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook: I adored every minute!

‘A Prayer for the Crown-Shy’ returns us to the moon of Panga as Dex and Mosscap leave the wilds and begin the process of introducing our precious and precocious robot to human society—always seeking the answer to one question: ‘What do you need?’ Except, this is not a simple question with a simple answer…as Dex predicted and Mosscap soon learns.

And this is a great part of what I love about Becky Chambers’ books: the ever evolving discussion and exploration of life and connection and meaning and purpose. I will honestly say that I struggled a little with the first book in this series of novellas; I found it slow and almost overwhelmed by the amount of world-building involved. But I felt this sequel benefited incredibly from the foundation already laid—allowing me to fully immerse myself in the journey Dex and Mosscap found themselves on and their interactions with each other and the many varied characters and communities they encountered along the way. I cannot truly say whether there was more action driving this instalment? But flow felt far smoother and more organic (in my opinion).

I should also note that the narrator voiced these characters beautifully! Creating clearly distinct voices for both Dex and Mosscap, infusing humour, contemplation, frustration and tenderness alike at just the right moments. I genuinely felt like I was present, fully immersed in the story as I listened.

Ultimately I absolutely wholeheartedly recommend: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟