Prayer for the Crown-Shy

by Becky Chambers, Emmett Grosland

4h runtime; narrated by Emmett Grosland

English language

Published July 12, 2022 by Macmillan Audio.

(133 reviews)

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.

9 editions

Antolius reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

A worthy sequel, in its own way

5 stars

This novella picks up directly where A Psalm for the Wind-Built ends, but continues in a more spaced out pace. We follow Dex and Mosscap through a series of vignettes as they tour the human side of Panga, which gives Becky Chambers the opportunity to showcase more of her exquisite world building. While in the first book we learned about the history and glimpsed at a slice of human life, in this one we meet more varied communities, each with their unique spin on the prevailing hope punk aesthetic.

Unlike the first story, which relied heavily on interactions between just Dex and Mosscap, here we see them engage with different characters on their journey. In a way this dilutes the narrative; the numerous side characters are not as deeply developed, the exchanges with them not so philosophically intricate. At first I resented this difference in treatment, but by the end …

If in the first book the monk and the robot were getting to know each other, here they develop a true friendship. The structure of the two stories lines up, and this one too culminates with a conversation between the two of them hearkening back to the end of the first story. And again, they reach no answers, just some insights. There's wisdom here again, and truthiness, and a touch more feel good vibes.

Taylor Drew reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

Somewhat underwhelmed

3 stars

I really loved A Psalm for the Wind-Built and signed out A Prayer for the Crown-Shy immediately after finishing it (a rarity for me). However, I found this follow-up to be a bit underwhelming. I didn't see the same type of development of Dex and Mosscap that I so loved in the first book—everything just kind of coasted along without tension. I realize these books are meant to be comfortable and cozy, but I just couldn't enjoy this as much as the first book. Perhaps it was the way the two of them jumped from settlement to settlement that made it hard to connect with the story in a way that it wasn't for the first book. I'm not really sure. It wasn't bad, just not a book I could really be excited about.

Kube reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

Solar foils

5 stars

Personalities tailored to the questions at hand, and somehow these characters avoid feeling artificial... APftCS is a dreamy magic trick.

nogoodnik reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

cozy!

3 stars

A nice, cozy and comfy read, just like the book before it! Nothing earth-shattering, but a good chance to stop and breathe.

el dang reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

The best hopepunk I have read to date

5 stars

Definitely the light comfort read I was looking for, and like the first in its series it has just enough moments of emotional tension and and philosophical debate to never get twee or boring. But more than its predecessor, the world this is set in is the most convincing, appealing hopepunk I have yet to read. It's clear that it had gone through some very hard times in the past, but the equilibrium that the books are set in feels plausible and inviting. I can think of many other books whose worlds I'd like to visit, but these are among the few I wish I could move to.

Wild Woila reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

So therapeutic

5 stars

To be, together, and for each other, is enough. So therapeutic. Mosscap is gorgeous, charmingly thrilled with the world: 'my very own satchel!'

Reading time 3 days, 50 pages/day

L.A. reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

A prayer for the crown shy

5 stars

Continuing the quiet meditation on humanity, like a walk through the woods with a friend

QuinoaQueen reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

Another refreshing slice of life story about Dex and Mosscap's travels

4 stars

Becky Chambers has a way of bringing the text down to the little details, reminding the reader to slow down and look at the flowers for a while. There are so many good lines in here that talk about self love and the importance of rest and community.

I adored getting to see more of the setting that Dex and Mosscap travel through. Seeing the different ways of life and philosophies surrounding survival (or in this utopian world, comfort) called me to reflect on how I live, and brought my understanding of myself into better focus.

4/5 for being another beautiful book. I truly believe that everyone will be able to get something positive out of reading this duology.

capypokoymal reviewed Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

yes and more

5 stars

i liked how the storytelling shifted and adapted with the story change that we have between the two groups. the discovery of the different human settlements and their societies is fascinating, thought-provoking and poetic all at once. i loved the ending, even if i had to read it multiple times to be sure. i will miss Dex and Mosscap. :(((

projectgus reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

Lovey short series

5 stars

Continues where the first one left off

Flauschbuch reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

The road trip continues

4 stars

I started this right after I finished the first one. It deals with Mosscap's tour of Panga to learn what humans need. It gets a lot of different answers. We get to experience the different areas of the world and the different ways people choose to live there in a sustainable fashion. No spoilers but Mosscap is presented with an ineresting philosophical question and it turns out Dex still hasn't really found what they're looking for. The ending is quite open and I'm looking forward to find out where the two are heading next.

steampunkLemur reviewed A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #2)

Beautiful book. I am amazed at Becky Chamber's magic abilities.

5 stars

Content warning General spoilers

When I finished the first book I wondered why, being the two books so short, were they not just a single book. After finishing the second book I understand.

The second part of the Monk and Robot books is a completely different story. The apparition of Mosscap changes everything, and what was a book centered on Dex and their relationship with the world in Panga transforms into an exploration of the relationship between the monk and the robot.

Cozy as the first book, but slow in a good way. Just like the travelers in it, we have no rush to finish it. There's no big buildup to anything, and that amazes me. Like the first book, the author manages to create an engaging story without resorting to common narrative tools. It makes the book someone who's just sitting on your bedside table telling you "I'm here if you want to cuddle". The feel-good transcends the story and permeates into your everyday life, your imagination, and the things you think are possible.

The theme of purpose in this book made me shed a tear, even while on antidepressants. People telling me it's okay to just be me, I don't listen to them. But if a rusty robot says that to a monk and I'm just eavesdropping, you will be certain that I will heed the robot. And believe that it is ok to just be.