Wow. This book was the absolute best way to start 2024. When I first started reading it, I didn’t know if it was going to hit me in the same way it seemed to affect others. Boy was I wrong. This story follows Sibling Dex, as he tries to figure out what the heck he’s doing with his life and what his purpose is. As he makes decisions towards this goal, he meets Mosscap, a robot who has emerged from the wild to ask humans what they need. As the two go on an adventure, they discuss what it means to be human, to have a purpose, and to simply live.

This has such a profound message that is valuable for anyone to hear who has ever felt lost in their life. Chambers’s writing is so beautiful and descriptive. This world without robots came to life on the page while still reflecting the world we know now. Sibling Dex and Splendid Speckled Mosscap were a delightful duo, and I was surprised and pleased by how their relationship began and progressed. I cannot wait to read second installment in this duology.