Prayer for the Crown-Shy

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

In our second Monk & Robot book, Mosscap begins it's mission in earnest to figure out what humans need by traveling around with Sibling Dex to ask people in villages all over Panga. Unsurprisingly, the answer is not simple, and the reader ambles along with our two protagonists as they travel the land together as near celebrities meeting people, having conversation, observing the world around them, finding new experiences and seeking meaning together. Mosscap has many new experiences as part of human society which are truly delightful and had me smiling and laughing as I read, but I will not elaborate here so as not to spoil them. Chambers also has a way of simply, and gently incorporating seemingly big themes into her work in small ways, and I found myself gently guided to think about what my own answer to Mosscap's question would be.

All that to say, this book is just as wonderful as the first one. I'm not sure what it says about me that two books essentially about going off-grid and skipping out on one's responsibilities when they get overwhelming have been so incredibly soothing, but my burnout is not the point of this book. . . or maybe it sort of is? Like the first, this book felt like a place to rest my mind for a bit. And while it is restful, Dex & Mosscap's conversations also present plenty of gently thought-provoking moments, and in addition to rest, the reader finds a place to observe, consider and just maybe find the permission to choose something new.

In addition to recommending this for anyone who just feels generally weary, I'd also suggest it for those who find wonder in observing the world around them, and for fans of philosophical science fiction and discussions on artificial intelligence.

"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."  

"Before this moment, there had been no mention between them of what tomorrow might bring."

"How do you know if a citrus tree is happy?"

"Mosscap's head whirred loudly as it stumbled along. "Sibling Dex, are we famous?' it said in hushed wonder."

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, this is an unbiased review.