Coushatta LaRue

My first thoughts: Robot wars and tea? Not quite…

I started this book because my family decided to start a little book club. “Why not!” I thought. We chose short novels to make things manageable, and the first pick was A Psalm for the Wild-Built. I’d seen the cover before but never really looked into it. Honestly, I didn’t even read the summary before I hit play on the audiobook.
My first assumption? This was a post-apocalyptic story about robots and humans clashing in a violent, world-ending struggle. I was definitely, very wrong, and that’s more than okay.

The novel starts with a prologue that felt a bit out of place, maybe even unneeded. It actually confused me; I didn’t really know what was going on until I was a chapter or two in. I don’t know if that was my fault, maybe I wasn’t truly taking it all in as I listened, or if the writing just didn’t settle with me at first.

But once I found my footing, I fell in love with the world. It’s beautiful and peaceful. It’s a world I would want to live in, just drinking tea to wash all my woes and sorrows away. I love the idea of a young monk who travels simply to listen to people’s pain. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that the main character, Dex, is struggling with deep layers of depression and self-doubt.
Throughout the whole novel, I found myself thinking, “Go to therapy! Oh my gosh, you need therapy.”

I will admit, Dex got on my nerves occasionally. Every so often, they felt a bit entitled. But maybe I’m being too hard on them. They were obviously hurting. Every now and then, I felt a spark of irritation during their complaining, mostly because it reminded me of myself. It reminded me of how I can let my own depression drown out the good things around me that could bring me peace. It only bothered me because it resonated so deeply.

Maybe that sounds harsh? Or maybe it’s just reality. Dex was clearly unsatisfied with their life, carrying a weight of despair and just needing someone to truly talk to. Of course, Speckled Mosscap turned out to be the perfect companion for Dex, even if it took Dex a long time to realize it.

The way the world and the scenery are written is just… lovely. It pulls you in and makes you feel as if you’re there, experiencing the warmth and the aroma of the tea all at once. The story is simple; nothing extraordinary or violent happens, yet it captures you. It pulls you to the edge of your seat, wanting to know what happens in this quirky, quiet adventure.

There are moments of sadness and frustration, but also a deep sense of contentment. You feel a constant sense of acceptance and wonder. Dex is non-binary, and while I initially thought the “they/them” pronouns were just a stylistic choice by the author, I quickly realized that is who Dex is. It was an excellent choice. Some people think using “they” in a book is difficult, but that’s just silliness. If you understand basic language, it’s easy. Having a non-binary lead is beautiful; it provides recognition for so many people who don’t feel seen in this world.

When the robot was first introduced, I was still waiting for the “evil” turn. I kept expecting other robots to jump out and attack. But no, you get a robot that is friendly, curious, and quirky. I kept imagining him looking like a human-sized version of the Iron Giant. For some reason, that made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

If there were “cons,” it’s only that I’m used to novels that explode with violence and chaos. This was a complete change of pace. If I could describe this book in a few words, it’s like sitting down on a beautiful morning when the birds are chirping and the sun is welcoming the sky, and you’re just sipping a pleasant cup of tea. It’s a warm-hearted walk in the park.

The ending felt a bit rushed and came out of nowhere. Because it’s a short novel, it left me wanting more. I didn’t feel like every question was answered. At first, I actually had to re-listen to the ending to make sure Dex was going to be okay. It initially seemed like they were just accepting that they would never be happy.

But when I re-listened with my mind truly focused, I realized the message: they were accepting that sometimes life is hard and feelings are heavy, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t beauty to be found. Even if that beauty is simple or “lackluster,” it is still there.

This is a short, sweet novel. I would definitely listen to it again, and I’ll likely buy the paperback. If you’re looking for something heartwarming, a cute, silly adventure with characters trying to find their souls, I highly recommend it. Even though “nothing” was happening, I felt like everything was happening. It just makes me want to have a warm cup of tea and watch the sunset.

Find my book Souille here!

“Souille is a riveting novella that artfully blends elements of horror and science fiction to craft a high-stakes adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. When Natalie’s life is thrown into chaos after a terrible hurricane leaves her hometown in ruins, she’s thrust into a deadly face-off against strange and malicious entities in her desperate struggle for survival.”