A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the second book in the Monk & Robot series. The first book, A Psalm for the Wild-Built follows Dex, a restless monk living in an inner-city monastery in Panga’s only city, who ultimately leaves their life to travel to a remote mountain range in search of cloud crickets and an abandoned hermitage.

On their journey, Dex meets a robot called Mosscap. Robots and humans have not had contact since the Parting Promise hundreds of years earlier, whereby robots gained consciousness and moved into the wild part of Panga, and humans vowed not to intrude on their space. Mosscap is on a mission from the robot population to ascertain the well-being of the human population since the robots’ departure. Mosscap and Dex end up traveling together and discussing their lives and beliefs. Mosscap helps Dex several times, although Dex is uncomfortable accepting Mosscap’s help because they feel that this contradicts the terms of the Parting Promise.

Dex and Mosscap finally reach the hermitage, but Dex feels unsure what to do next. Mosscap suggests that no greater purpose is needed in life; that it is enough to exist in the world and appreciate its beauty. They drink tea and listen to the crickets in companionable silence.