Book Review: “A Prayer for the Crown-Shy” by Becky Chambers

Becky Chambers’s A Prayer for the Crown-Shy was my fifth read of the year.

The first Monk and Robot book—A Psalm for the Wild-Built—was excellent. But A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is perfect. The post–semi-apocalypse and post–robot uprising story follows two loveable characters. Sibling Dex, a tea monk, and Mosscap, a robot who wishes to know what people need, go on a road trip.

This book has it all. A hilarious moment between two post-coital humans and a curious but innocent robot. A heartwrenching funeral for a fish from a robot that avoids violence. A magical moment where the robot first meets a human child, and said human child first meets a robot.

Reading this book felt like a cuddle from my wife for the mind.

Read ‘The Lonely Earth’: Another meditative short story

…and we’re almost there! It’s been fun and furious! This next one was written for the contest Worth the Wait. I chose the prompt, “Write a story about a person waiting for an answer to a question.” It feels like a spiritual sequel, of sorts, to my other short stories Sea the Moon and snoitseuQ and srewsnA. The title of my story is The Lonely Earth, and — as always — you can read it here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile!


She stepped barefoot onto the grass, feeling the dampness of the night against her skin.

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I’m really enjoying these dreamy, floaty pieces — I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to come!