Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - A Psalm for the Wild-Built

This book does exactly what it sets out to do: provide a cozy, low-stakes, and life-affirming story of personal discovery. It's about sitting with a lack of direction and all the anxieties of being alive, wanting to have a sense of purpose and not knowing what that even is or how to achieve it. It's also about the simple pleasures and beauties of life.

This book has achieved a niche no other really has, and it's a landmark for representation in literature, with its polytheistic, monastic, nonbinary protagonist. It develops a reverence for the nonhuman, blurring the lines between the natural and constructed world we typically think of in binary.

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librarymouse's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I don't know that I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the wayfarer's series. Dex is a likable character in the human world, but they become a little bit insufferable insufferable once introduced to Moss Cap and they have to face their feelings of inadequacy. They are very human, and their insecurity manifesting as shame and stress is incredibly understandable, but it makes them a bit frustrating as a protagonist. That being said, their character arc is made all the more satisfying because of their initial petulance. Moss Cap is a sweetheart. The novel had a great message about the search for meaning.

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rqdreads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I had no idea I needed this book as much as I did. I honestly just want to highlight the entire thing. I can't explain much about this novella except if you are struggling with purpose, this might be a good book for you to read. It’s a very interesting take on sustainability as well. I've read so many Becky Chambers books and they might be the only books that ever give me peace and comfort when I'm having a hard time.

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the_reading_wren's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A Psalm for the Wild-built made me happy cry within a few pages because the representation hit so hard! I loved this quick, cosy read that was full of emotion, gorgeous world-building and poignant humour (that brings to mind Terry Pratchett).

Chambers has created a world where the biggest problems facing us today are solved, but the everyday things, and human nature, are reassuringly familiar in all their complexity. There were several times when I stopped reading to absorb a meaningful part of the text or follow a train of thought; this book prompts a lot of pondering! The ending leaves you to pull the various threads together to delve deeper into the overall message:

I think it is that our fear of not having a purpose is a remnant

. The dedication on the first page says ‘For anybody who could use a break’, and I think that’s perfect!

Definitely one I’ll reread a few times, and I’m looking forward to the sequel!

Content Warnings

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review

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adventurous lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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fiveredhens's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i loved this book so much and it was everything i needed at this place and time

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haylzno's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I would give this 5 million stars if I could.
This will probably be my favorite book of all time for the next forever.

I. Loved. This. Book

I personally relate a lot to Dex and I just want to hug Mosscap every time I read this.
Their relationship was so fun to watch bloom especially getting to witness the almost symbiosis they experience from one another's company. This was the first novel I have read by Becky Chambers but it absolutely won't be my last

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enchantressreads's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Find the strength to do both.”

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