msrichardsreads89's Reviews (2.64k)

Once again, Becky Chambers has written a lovely, hopeful sci-fi that restores my faith in humanity. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is philosophical and feels like a hug in book form. I love the exploration of human wants and needs, consent, and mental health. Des and Mosscap's relationship is lovely. I am sad that this is a duology because I would love more books with these two! 

Dex and Mosscap are cinnamon rolls, and I love them so much! They are a great contrast to each other, and I loved watching their relationship grow. The banter between the two of them is lovely. As usual, Becky Chambers has beautiful, lyrical prose with a message of hope. I love how inclusive this world is, including Dex, who is nonbinary and tea monks, who are referred to as sibling instead of a gendered term. I look forward to rereading this when I want something cozy and thought provoking. 

This was just so much fun!

I absolutely loved following Seska and then getting Doka as another POV in this one! I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved learning more about the history of this society and how it evolves and affects its members. I loved the exploration of relationships and family. I wish the ending had been drawn out a bit more, but I had such a great time with this book! 

I didn't quite know what to expect going into this one. I wanted to read it solely because of the title. I am not normally a fan of dystopian/dystopian adjacent novels, but this one was so much fun. Beauman's writing is clever and entertaining with a sharp wit. I found myself laughing out loud at so many moments while reading. This was such a fresh take on human destruction, and the characters were fantastic. The world building was wonderful. Even if you do not enjoy reading about bureaucratic/capitalist events, I think this novel would still appeal to you because it is very approachable and hilarious. This was such a fun time, and I am so glad I read it. 

The audiobook narrator is fantastic and does a great job of adding to the humor with their narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

This was such a gripping, intense debut! The story starts off with a YA feel, but quickly moves into adult territory. I did not expect the book to go so dark and gruesome during the trials. The author didn't hold back on the intensity, and it had me on the edge of my seat because I was so invested in the characters. Ikenna is a hot-tempered, strong protagonist with a magical gift that she has to hide from her enemies. I enjoyed learning more about her gift and how it could potentially effect others around her. I was fuming at some of the characters because of their blatant racism and misogyny (which is condemned). The twists and turns were fantastic, and the characters were fleshed out very well. I wish I knew a bit more about the world and it's class system, but I think that will be addressed more in the next installment. I cannot wait for book 2! 

This is one of the best debut novels I have ever read! El-Arifi has blown me away with how masterfully she crafted this world. The world building is layered and vivid. There is blue sand! How cool is that? The characters are so well developed, flawed, and have fantastic arcs. The plot was so intriguing, with a slow-burn romance, a (kind of) love triangle that I actually did not mind, and lots of action. I really appreciated the depiction of drug addiction and how it affects not only the user but those around them. I thought it was very realistic. The blood magic (and colors) was very interesting, and I loved how it tied into the class system in the world. El-Arifi used this to explore the themes of power and politics very well. I loved how the author tied in mythological aspects and themes and used them to expand her world and the characters. 

I cannot recommend this enough, and I need book two immediately because that ending was EPIC. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.