I enjoyed my read of The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers many moons ago, and A Psalm For the Wild-Built was always in the back of my mind, a book by association that one day I should pick up. Then it popped up as a book rec by one of my most trusted bookstagram accounts and I knew I needed to add it to my library requests pronto. I am so thankful I did because this cosy sci-fi read is good vibes all round with a handful of introspective, heartfelt reflections I adore.

Centuries before, robots of Panga gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, wandered, en masse into the wilderness, never to be seen again. They faded into myth and urban legend. Now the life of the tea monk who tells this story is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honour the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of “what do people need?” is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They will need to ask it a lot. Chambers’ series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

From non-binary Sibling Dex who is yet to find themselves and their path, to Mosscap who walked out of the wilderness seeking answers, these main characters are so unique yet relatable. Seeing how they navigate life, people, responsibilities, and their inner turmoils both independently and together makes for entertaining and enlightening reading. You can find bits of yourselves in both of them, and their interactions are full of that well-known Becky Chambers’ wit, magic, and exploratory intent. Just like in The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet, the self is dissected with great care but with gusto, cutting down to the depths of human concerns and questions, resulting in a wonderful read.

The setting of A Psalm For The Wild-Built is the perfect cross between cosy fantasy and cosy sci-fi, with clusters of towns nestled in the outer rims of a city providing the cobblestone paths and markets for our protagonist to travel between as they treat patrons to tea, a listening ear, and advice when needed. But it is not without its tech and sci fi touches, providing things like electric bikes, high-tech caravans, and sentient robots who want to know what humans are up to and what they want. It is such a vibe and honestly so relaxing as a space, feeling cosy and almost Ghibli-esque. I was hooked from the beginning and had no regrets.

The contrasts between the monk and the robot (and that is a great name for the series, imo) make for such deep explorations into the nature and purpose of individuals, which is also mildly terrifying but Mosscap does wonders grounding the conversation and providing real slaps of clarity. Yes, I love how the robots name themselves after the first things they see when they open their eyes, and it is so sweet and funny to be reading a serious conversation and see the name ‘Mosscap’ come up. I cannot wait to see what else comes of these two, their interactions, and the shenanigans they get up to.

A Psalm for The Wild-Built is a short and sweet read, giving good vibes and Ghibli feels alongside profound and insightful conversations between two strangers. I will be continuing this series with much excitement, and will inform you all in time of the next instalment, A Prayer For The Crown-Shy. These might be an easy two books to add to my shelf as well – we will just have to wait and see!