A Prayer for the Crown Shy, by Becky Chambers

A sequel to A Psalm for the Wild-Built, this monk and robot book sees Sibling Dex and Mosscap leave the wilderness and start their journey to the city. There are many stops along the way, including a visit to Dex’s family, so the robot can interact with people and ask its prime question – what do humans need? The answers are sometimes confounding for the robot and cause it to question itself and its purpose. Meanwhile Dex also finds themself with questions about their purpose and their future, which may derail the odd pair’s journey. Becky Chambers celebrates the wonders of nature and the best aspects of the human spirit in these gently philosophical stories. Poetic, beautiful and essentially optimistic, they offer a spark of light and hope in a world that currently feels very dark and disappointing.