The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

Title: A Psalm for the Wild-Built

Series: Monk & Robot #1

Author: Becky Chambers

Genre: Adult, Sci-Fi, Cozy

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review:

It has been centuries since the robots of Panga have gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, and wandered into the wilderness and not seen since. Then one day, the life of a tea monk is changed due to the arrival of a robot who is honoring the promise of checking in. It comes with one question: what do people need?

Oh, I wanted to like this book more than I did. I just didn’t get the point. There wasn’t any action, nor a discernible conflict. I wanted more and the ending wasn’t an ending, it seemed more like I should flip the page to read the next chapter.

I will say that the problems that Dex was having pertaining to purpose, I empathized with. I did like that part, but again, there wasn’t a conclusion to this issue.

I did like Mosscap. He was a fun, insightful character. It also didn’t feel like a robot, which was interesting.

I liked the idea of this book much more than the outcome. A robot, the first robot to be seen in years, comes out of the wilderness to determine what people need? Sign me up! But by the end of the book Mosscap hasn’t met another person, besides Dex. The tea monk idea was also lovely, and I would also read that book. But the focus wasn’t really on the services tea monks provide.

I don’t have much to say about this book. I wish it was longer and more cohesive. It jumped around timewise a bit, which was a little confusing. A part of the problem is probably the fact that I don’t like cozy books that much because I find them a little boring. This book wasn’t bad per say, just not my cup of tea.

The book is a cute, cozy sci-fi. It explores some deep issues, which I enjoyed, and it had an interesting premise. Unfortunately, the book just didn’t live up to my expectations!

Quotes

“What am I supposed to do, if not this? What am I, if not this?”