A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

First introduced in A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Sibling Dex continues to grow as a character over the course of A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. The honorific “Sibling“ identifies Dex as a monk of a religious order, in this case, an order devoted to Allalae, the God of Small Comforts. Dex is nonbinary, using the pronouns they/them. Likewise, the honorific “Sibling” serves as a nongendered title for a monk, in much the same way that “Sister” or “Brother” are gendered terms for nuns or monks in the Christian tradition.

Dex began their work in the only city on Panga, a small moon. Originally, they tended gardens throughout the city, living in an urban monastery. At the beginning of the previous book, they chose to change vocation to become a tea service monk, traveling around Panga in a cart. A tea service monk offers tea to people needing comfort. Dex’s decision speaks to their need to find purpose in life, and their longing to fill a void they feel within. In particular, Dex wants to travel through unpopulated areas and separate themselves, at least temporarily, from human constructs.

The previous book marks Dex’s outward journey into the wilds, while A Prayer for the Crown-Shy brings Dex back to civilization with new perspectives.