A review by dheemaria
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy has achieved the difficult feat of being a sequel that is better than the original. This is not to disparage Psalm for the Wild-Built in any way -- Wild-Built is a fantastic and cozy steampunk/sci-fi story on its own. For both books, the writing is consistently excellent and the characters relentlessly lovable; but what elevates this entry from its predecessor in the Tea Monk series is the world-building and, in turn, the questions it is able to pose. Unlike Wild-Built, Crown-Shy's rumination extends beyond the Individual. When it talks about needs and fulfillment, it gives careful thoughts towards the Collective -- relationships, family units, and society.

I don't want to get into spoiler territory, as Crown-Shy's discussions are the meat of the story, so I'll leave it at this. I strongly recommend this book for a short, thoughtful read, and I can't wait for what the author has in store for future installments.