Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Cosmere #28

Tress of the Emerald Sea

Rate this book
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Fantasy (2023)
The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

483 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2023

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Brandon Sanderson

402 books228k followers
I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.

Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, comes out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that will see the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and Secret Project Four (with its official title reveal coming October 2023). These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.

November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. The third era of Mistborn is slated to be written after the first arc of the Stormlight Archive wraps up.

In November 2020 we saw the release of Rhythm of War—the fourth massive book in the New York Times #1 bestselling Stormlight Archive series that began with The Way of Kings—and Dawnshard (book 3.5), a novella set in the same world that bridges the gaps between the main releases. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. The fifth volume, Wind and Truth, is set for release in fall 2024.

Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, and various novellas available on Amazon, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.

I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, come out in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.

Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the Legion series, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. There’s a lot of material to go around!

Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart,The Emperor’s Soul, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.

I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.

Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
65,543 (56%)
4 stars
38,449 (32%)
3 stars
10,642 (9%)
2 stars
1,701 (1%)
1 star
430 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 18,026 reviews
Profile Image for Petrik.
729 reviews51.6k followers
May 4, 2023
4.5/5 stars

Tress of the Emerald Sea was simply whimsical and wonderful. Starting the year 2023 with the first secret novel from The Year of Sanderson is the correct action for me.


“Even small actions have consequences. And while we can often choose our actions, we rarely get to choose our consequences.”


The time is here. The first of the four awaited secret project novels, Tress of the Emerald Sea, by Brandon Sanderson is here. If you're active in the fantasy community, or even if you're not, it is no longer news that Sanderson has shocked the world with the immense success of his four secret novels Kickstarter campaign. I mean, number one most pledged Kickstarter campaign of all time; it doesn’t get more successful than that. And it shouldn’t also come as a shock that I, as a longtime fan of his Cosmere novels, end up enjoying Tress of the Emerald Sea. I wanted to start my year with a great book, and choosing this book as the first novel of 2023 (as I said) was the right pick. Sanderson plus a full-length Cosmere novel is a formula that never ceases to impress me. What I did not expect, however, was just how visually beautiful Tress of the Emerald Sea would be. I am pleasantly surprised. I am glad the past Petrik decided to buy four premium hardcover editions of the secret novels, and I am eternally thankful to my co-blogger, TS, for covering the expense of the shipping fee. Without TS, I do not think I would cave into buying the premium hardcover editions, and I would regret it so much. I will go into more details on this later, but at $40 per secret novel (not counting the shipping fee) and for everything we get, this special edition can be considered, relatively, a bargain. This is on top of it being such a fun and cozy book to read.

“Leaving didn’t feel exciting. It felt heavy. Every child looked forward to the day when they could choose a different path from the one their parents were on. Tress sincerely hoped she hadn’t decided on one that led straight off a cliff.”


All her life on an island named The Rock in the emerald-green ocean, Tress lived a simple life with the simple pleasures of collecting cups received from sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend, Charlie. But when Charlie’s father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must leave her simple life to stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Although I expected to love this book, I was initially worried after reading the first few chapters. Note the word ship in the official premise. Sailing and seafaring dominated the majority of Tress of the Emerald Sea. Personally, I tend to have mixed feelings about fantasy books with a heavy focus on seafaring unless they're The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb and The Tide Child trilogy by R.J. Barker. And there were indeed some sections here where I felt a bit of a lull because of this. However, my overall experience was fun. Most of the time, it was difficult for me to stay away from the book. Sanderson's prose and the relatively short length of the novel, plus its short chapters, made it easy for me to steal-read one or two chapters whenever I had some free time. This was a delightful book about human beings, contradictions, leadership, found family, stories, love, bravery, and empathy.

“It might seem that the person who can feel for others is doomed in life. Isn’t one person’s pain enough? Why must a person like Tress feel for two, or more? Yet I’ve found that the people who are the happiest are the ones who learn best how to feel. It takes practice, you know. Effort. And those who (late in life) have been feeling for two, three, or a thousand different people… well, turns out they’ve had a leg up on everyone else all along. Empathy is an emotional loss leader. It pays for itself eventually.”



Before reading Tress of the Emerald Sea, I did not read any of the secret novel preview chapters. However, based on the known artists and the title or premise of the four novels, Tress of the Emerald ranked third out of four. I am interested in all four, but I am most excited about the third and fourth secret novels. Based on these, the first two secret novels felt like they would be the most tonally different from Sanderson's other Cosmere books. Having read all published Cosmere stories, including this one, I can convey that Tress of the Emerald Sea has proved it. Sanderson has mentioned that The Princess Bride is one of the main inspirations behind this book. Another good comparison for what kind of tone you're getting here is Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. So it is time to admit something. I haven't read or watched The Princess Bride yet, but I have watched Good Omens. And I think Sanderson nailed the comparison he's going for. The storytelling is whimsical and light-hearted in tone but also imbued with clever philosophical nuggets and serious themes occasionally. I loved the novel for it. I don't think I would've liked it this much if it was just all fun and joy all the way through. Sanderson's comedy, especially when the narrative involves young adult characters, doesn't land well with me often. But his hard-hitting and thought-provoking passages? That's another story. Sanderson may not have flowery prose, but the words he put on the pages of his novel frequently hit and became passages I think about daily. A few examples from this book are:

“While a healthy measure of foolhardiness drove our ancestors toward discovery, fear kept them alive. If bravery is the wind that makes us soar like kites, fear is the string that keeps us from going too far. We need it, but the thing is, our heritage taught us to fear some of the wrong things.”


And also these two long passages about memories.

“Beyond that, memories have a way of changing on us. Souring or sweetening over time— like a brew we drink, then recreate later by taste, only getting the ingredients mostly right. You can’t taste a memory without tainting it with who you have become. That inspires me. We each make our own lore, our own legends, every day. Our memories are our ballads, and if we tweak them a little with every performance… well, that’s all in the name of good drama.”


“Memory is often our only connection to who we used to be. Memories are fossils, the bones left by dead versions of ourselves. More potently, our minds are a hungry audience, craving only the peaks and valleys of experience. The bland erodes, leaving behind the distinctive bits to be remembered again and again. Painful or passionate, surreal or sublime, we cherish those little rocks of peak experience, polishing them with the ever-smoothing touch of recycled proxy living. In so doing— like pagans praying to a sculpted mud figure— we make of our memories the gods which judge our current lives. I love this. Memory may not be the heart of what makes us human, but it’s at least a vital organ. Nevertheless, we must take care not to let the bliss of the present fade when compared to supposedly better days. We’re happy, sure, but were we more happy then? If we let it, memory can make shadows of the now, as nothing can match the buttressed legends of our past… Do not let memory chase you. Take the advice of one who has dissected the beast, then rebuilt it with a more fearsome face— which I then used to charm a few extra coins out of an inebriated audience. Enjoy memories, yes, but don’t be a slave to who you wish you once had been. Those memories aren’t alive. You are.”


Although possible, it wouldn't feel organic to have these kinds of passages appearing throughout the book if the novel is told through the first-person or third-person perspective of Tress. These were effective because the entire story in Tress of the Emerald Sea is narrated through Hoid's perspective. Hoid is an integral character in Sanderson's Cosmere universe. And we, Cosmere fans, are all waiting for Hoid's origin story. Sanderson mentioned he wanted to practice and be more fluent at writing Hoid's perspective before that backstory novel happened, and this is the book where it came to fruition. This won't, however, be how the story is told eventually in Hoid's backstory novel. It will definitely be less whimsical. But to give you an idea of the kind of voice Sanderson is giving Hoid in this book, if you've read The Stormlight Archive series, this is more in tune with the unforgettable "Wandersail" and "The Dog and the Dragon" stories Hoid told in the series. A full-length version of that kind of in-world story. I absolutely loved "Wandersail" and "The Dog and the Dragon," and obviously, I ended up loving Tress of the Emerald Sea as well.

“Worldbringers like myself spend decades combing through folk tales, legends, myths, histories, and drunken bar songs looking for the most unique stories. We hunt for bravery, cleverness, heroism. And we find no shortage of such virtues. Legends are silly with them. But the person who is willing to reconsider their assumptions? The hero who can sit down and reevaluate their life? Well, now that is a gemstone that truly glitters, friend.”


So yes, we get to learn more about Hoid and the Cosmere (more on this in the next paragraph) inside this book. But at the end of the day, even though this is told through Hoid's perspective, Tress of the Emerald Sea is still a standalone story about Tress and her adventures. I mentioned The Stormlight Archive earlier, and I am no stranger to voicing how much I love the Bridge Four group in the series. The found family trope is one of the many things Sanderson executed extremely well in The Stormlight Archive and the first Mistborn trilogy. And he managed to craft another cherishable found family in this book. Tress, Huck, Fort, Salay, and all the characters are well-written and likable characters. The Deaf character representation was written with the help of a special sensitivity reader to do it justice, too. And hey, for the first time in the Cosmere, we finally get to see a real dragon. As Tress and the crew of the ship she's in face danger constantly, the bonds between them grow deeper and deeper. My investment in them, too. And upon reaching the last page, I can't help but hope we will get more stories or appearances from these characters eventually. Knowing how connected with each other the Cosmere is now, I'm confident we will.

“She… didn’t need to do this all on her own. That shouldn’t have been such a revelation for her. But after spending ages walking around with everyone piling bricks in your arms, it can throw you off balance when someone removes a brick to carry for you.”


Speaking of Cosmere connections, and because people will ask me this question, should you read other Cosmere books first? Tress of the Emerald Sea is a standalone story in the world of Lumar. This marks the first time we get a book taking place in this world in the Cosmere. Like always, it is not necessary to read the other Cosmere books first to enjoy the main story here. But will you benefit from reading them? Yes, you will. I talk about this already in my review of The Lost Metal. But moving forward, Sanderson's future publications in the Cosmere universe, especially the ones taking place after book 5 of The Stormlight Archive, will most likely have heavy Cosmere crossovers. If you intend to read all of Sanderson's Cosmere books, it is a good idea to start catching up reading them if you want to reap all the connections. As for this book, reading the entirety of The Mistborn Saga so far will be beneficial. Additionally, there were a few small nods to the magic or technology portrayed in Warbreaker, Elantris, and The Stormlight Archive. I will leave it to you to decide whether you want to read them first or not. There is no spoiler for these three series. Also, although not the primary planet of the magic and there is no main novel for it yet, aethers and its explosive potential are explored here.

“Now, most people would agree that humans are not telepathic. We can’t directly send our thoughts or emotions into the minds of others. Nevertheless, you can hear my story and imagine the things I describe—the same as I picture them in my own mind. What is that, if not a form of telepathy?”


One more thing before I end this review. I will update this once I have the physical copy, but right now, even the ebook of the premium edition alone is exquisitely made. Unless the paper quality of the physical copy sucks, which is so doubtful, I can vouch that the $40 I spent on getting this book is well spent. Maybe too well spent. It is almost ridiculous. You won’t get a premium/special edition like this with only $40 anywhere else. If Subterranean Press or Grim Oak Press publishes a book like this, I guarantee it will cost at least $200 (not counting the shipping fee and customs fee yet). The stunning design and the more than ten interior artworks (four fully colored art and the rest in green-toned black and white) by Howard Lyon enhanced the quality of the aesthetic and the tale. They are magnificent. And I am brimming with excitement waiting for the physical copy to arrive at my place. And if the first secret novel already reaches this level of production value, I want to read and find out what the other three will look like. Rest assured, in this review, I leave out some surprises in the clever design and artwork inside this book for you to find out for yourself.

“One of the great tragedies of life is knowing how many people in the world are made to soar, paint, sing, or steer— except they never get the chance to find out.”


Whether aesthetically or narrative-wise, Tress of the Emerald Sea provided a whimsical and wonderful reading experience. It is a refreshing addition to the Cosmere universe. And it is essentially (at least, it read like one) a Cosmere version of an adult fairy tale. With the success of the secret projects, some readers might think Sanderson favors quantity instead of quality in his books recently. It is up to you to think that way, but I can't voice the same sentiment. Personally speaking, Tress of the Emerald Sea doesn't show any drop in storytelling quality. Every book in the Cosmere, including this that he wrote in secret, works amazingly well for me. Similarly to the first Mistborn trilogy, even though this is undoubtedly a different kind of book, I think Tress of the Emerald Sea is a standalone story that can be enjoyed by both YA or adult fantasy readers. Making this even more appealing to a bigger audience. This is a superb first book of 2023 for me, and I hope this signals the positive trajectory of my reading year. I look forward to receiving the physical copy and reading the next secret novel.

“The first is that heroes can be trained. Not by a government or a military, but by the people themselves. Heroes are the ones who have thought about what they’re going to do, and who have trained to do it. Heroism is often the seemingly spontaneous result of a lifetime of preparation… In the frenzied anarchy of destruction, loyalty to causes and kingdoms alike tends to fall to the chaos. But the bond between people, well, that’s stronger than steel. If you want to create heroes, don’t give them something to fight for. Give them someone to fight for.”


You can pre-order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!

My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Barbara, Brad, Casey, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Michael, Miracle, Neeraja, Nicholas, Radiah, Reno, Romeo, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
Profile Image for Melanie.
1,220 reviews101k followers
October 22, 2023
“Our words, like our hearts, are weapons still hot from the forging, beating themselves into new shapes each time we swing them.”

The first of brandon sanderson’s secret cosmere projects was everything for me. This story is truly unlike any other that brandon has created before, for so many reasons, but mostly because it reads like a fairytale! This is inspired by The Princess Bride, which I actually have never read before, but it didn't hinder my reading experience whatsoever! And just seeing some long time favorites from the cosmere world, and some cameos and name drops that I was not prepared for, felt like coming home - even if this setting is one that I would have never anticipated! But… dare I say, because I know this is a keyword everyone is looking for these days… this was cozy fantasy perfection!

You do not need to read any other book in the cosmere to read this story, but you will miss out on so many easter eggs throughout and i am not sure if not having that appreciation will hinder your reading experience - so here is a little warning, in case!

To put this very briefly, this is a story about a girl who leaves the only home she has ever known to brave a very strange ocean, in a very different cosmere world, with a very sweet pirate crew (for the most part), for love. Because at the end of all my favorite types of stories, it’s always for love and it’s always worth it.

But I so quickly fell in love with Tress and her teacups and her story. Also, if you’ve been following my reviews for a while, you will know how much I adore a questing storyline and this book delivered that and more so! I also feel like every cosmere series has such a perfect and different found family, yet you always feel like you are a part of that family as well, and it’s so beautiful each time, but this one was extra close to my heart.

I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the second secret project, because the bar has just been set so very high for me. (plus howard lyon is one of my favorite magic the gathering artist so it was extra perfect for me!) I also have a very soft spot for the character who narrates this story… and to keep being secretive… I loved the whimsy of this story extra, too! muhahahahah!

I predict this will probably make my best of 2023 list, because my heart overflows more and more each time i think about this story. It just felt so warm and cozy and was filled with so much light and hope - and that’s exactly what I want to be reading in my life right now.

trigger + content warnings: mentions of war, poison/drugging, vomit, captivity, murder, talk of cancer/tumors very briefly, brief weight loss comment, mention of slavery, and… lots of mentions of spores (i only say this because i think a lot of people are watching last of us right now and it might make you think about things lol)

blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England ★★
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter ★★★★★
The Sunlit Man ★★★★
Profile Image for Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews.
316 reviews5,846 followers
January 5, 2023
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing reading fantasy books.

Going into this book, I was quite confident that it wasn't going to be for me. In general, I haven't really like the Brandon Sanderson one-off books in the past, and knowing that this book is more YA (a category I don't normally enjoy), this had "DNF" written all over it.

And while reading the first 20% of this book my predictions were correct, I didn't like the characters, didn't love the setting, and thought the writing style was trying to be far too humorous, which I don't think Brandon Sanderson excels at.

To my incredible surprise, the plot quickly picks up the pace and turns into an incredibly fun adventure full of amazing characters with great personal growth, an enchanting world, an inventive and fun magic system, great plot twists that I truly didn't see coming (but should have - the hallmark of a great twist), and a wonderful ending.

By the end of this book I was full of smiles while reading, and was regretting getting to the end of this book. I can't wait for my kids to get older so I can read them to them and see the wonder in their eyes as they experience this fantastic adventure story.
Profile Image for Ira Perkins.
35 reviews199 followers
November 23, 2023
A light-hearted, whimsical and refreshing take on the fairy tale genre- that for me evoked all the spirit and nostalgia of "The Princess Bride"(a film that I adore).

Final Rating: 4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

"Simply delightful!" That's a good starting point. They perfectly encapsulate my experience with this book. It's an even better phrase for me to be left with, because I initially approached this read with a large sense of trepidation. You should know that I'm not typically a fan of stand-alone fantasy novels. Also young adult fiction is more likely to sink my boat rather than float it. Furthermore, reading this book later in the year, I was aware that this book saw Brandon Sanderson venturing into his "comedy zone". Normally, as a huge fan of comedic fantasy and science fiction books in general (a.k.a Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Nicholas Eames), this would be excellent news. However, with all due respect to Brando Sando, his attempts at comedy in the past have left me cringing rather than laughing. So imagine my surprise when all of my trepidations turned out to be unfounded. What an excellent book this was. Indeed, I can't do better than where I started. Simply delightful.

Plot Summary
"Tress of the Emerald Sea" is set in a magical realm that blends elements of both traditional and contemporary fairy tales. It centers on Tress, a seemingly ordinary girl whose life on an island surrounded by a vast, emerald-green sea is filled with simple pleasures like family, stories, and her beloved cup collection. Her peaceful existence takes a turn when she falls for Charlie, the duke's son. Displeased with their growing bond, the duke takes measures that result in Charlie being captured by the mysterious sorceress of the Midnight Sea. Determined to rescue him, Tress embarks on a daring voyage across the Emerald Sea. This marks the beginning of her true adventure, one filled with challenges and discoveries that transform her journey into an extraordinary tale of courage and resilience.

World Building: 5/5
Brandon Sanderson's novels always seem to nail world-building, right? It's almost a given to slap a 5/5 on this section. I'm constantly amazed at how he keeps pulling out these awesome and unique fantasy worlds. It's seriously impressive. You'd think he'd run out of cool ideas, but nope, here he is again, surprising us. This time, he's got oceans made of different spores instead of water, which I imagined as things that sit somewhere between a marble and a grain of sand. When air is bubbled through them from vents underneath, they act like water. Anyway, each type of spore is not only coloured differently (emerald is the first one we come across), it also does its own thing when it hits water, giving Sanderson loads of neat hooks to hang his story on.


Running into some negative effects of the emerald spores

As someone who's mostly into fantasy, stumbling upon this kind of fresh world-building is a real treat. A big chunk of the story has Tress and her crew sailing these spore seas, figuring out smart ways to face whatever each new spore throws at them. I just love how the plot grows right out of the world he's created. It's like Sanderson comes up with a cool concept and then runs wild thinking up all the challenges and fun stuff he can do with it.

Story Telling: 4.5/5
In the plot department, the novel kicks off as a love story but swiftly morphs into an adventure tale. It's a classic hero's journey, but with a twist – instead of a farm boy, we have a window-washing girl stepping out of her comfort zone. As she sets off, she forms bonds with a diverse crew on her ship, each member grappling with their own personal battles. I won't dive too deep into the storyline, but let's just say there are some brilliant plot twists that caught me off guard, yet in hindsight, they're the kind of twists you realize you should've seen coming – the best kind, really.

“One of the great tragedies of life is knowing how many people in the world are made to soar, paint, sing, or steer—except they never get the chance to find out.”

And, of course, it wouldn't be a Sanderson book without a solid ending. He really knows how to wrap things up satisfyingly. For the Cosmere fans, there are plenty of easter eggs scattered throughout – nothing too alienating for newcomers, but definitely delightful nuggets for the initiated.

My only complaint when it comes to the plot is that in some places it feels a little too fairy tale like - think happily ever after. Which of course is exactly the slant that Sanderson is going for, but isn't 100% my cup of tea.

Characters: 5/5
The characterization in "Tress of the Emerald Sea" is a standout feature, with each character vividly portrayed and undergoing their own unique challenges. The story intricately weaves Tress's journey with a colorful and diverse cast. This includes a cursed Hoid, an intriguing character from the wider Cosmere; Huck, a talking rat; Fort, a merchant trader turned cook; Salay, an unintuitive helmswoman; and a humorous ensemble of characters collectively named Doug for simplicity. This exceptional group is not only well-crafted and likable but also pivotal to the novel's engaging narrative. In an exciting first for the Cosmere, we even get to meet a real dragon.



One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the development of Tress herself. As the story progresses, we witness a remarkable evolution in her character. The Tress at the end of the novel is markedly different from the one we meet at the beginning, showcasing a dynamic and thoughtful character arc. However, there's a bittersweet element to this, as the novel stands alone, meaning we won't see these characters evolve further in subsequent volumes. This fact has made their stories, confined to this single book, all the more precious and memorable, leaving a lasting impression on me.

“Do you know how many grand romances would have avoided tragedy if the hero had thought, "You know, maybe I should ask her if she likes me first"?”

Writing Style: 3.5/5
The voice that Sanderson chose to write this book in is, I suspect, where it might lose some people. The story isn't told from Tress’s point of view, but rather through Hoid - a cabin boy/wizard who is a character from elsewhere in the Cosmere. Sanderson himself notes his intention to master writing from Hoid's perspective for a future novel, making this book a sort of test run.

For me, Hoid's narrative voice reminds me of the whimsy found in "The Princess Bride" or some of Terry Pratchett's children's works. In many parts of the book I found it's quirky and light-hearted tone to be freaking excellent, with several parts being laugh-out-loud funny (Sanderson is getting better at humour it would appear) and utterly brilliant. However, there were times, especially during tense moments in the plot or when a joke didn't quite land, that this style took me out of the story as I tried to understand what nonsense he was talking about.

“You might think this an unfair moral problem to force upon a simple window washer, but there’s a certain arrogance in that kind of reasoning. A window washer can think, same as anyone else, and their lives are no less complex. And as I’ve warned you, “simple” labor often leaves plenty of time for thought."

Overall, I'd say for me it hit about 70% of the time, and missed the rest. Because of that I suspect that for some this narrative approach might not click as much. Indeed if it really misses I'm sure there will be people who will DNF it, however for most they will find Hoid's quirkyness utterly charming and it will add to the enjoyment.

What I really DID appreciate were the philosophical insights woven into the story. These, courtesy of Hoid, added depth to the whimsical narrative, leaving me with things to reflect on well after I finished the book. I guess that's a trait of all good fairy tales no? Here is one that I particularly liked:

“We want to imagine that people are consistent, steady, stable. We define who they are, create descriptions to lock them on a page, divide them up by their likes, talents, beliefs. Then we pretend some—perhaps most—are better than we are, because they stick to their definitions, while we never quite fit ours. Truth is, people are as fluid as time is. We adapt to our situation like water in a strangely shaped jug, though it might take us a little while to ooze into all the little nooks. Because we adapt, we sometimes don’t recognize how twisted, uncomfortable, or downright wrong the container is that we’ve been told to inhabit.”

Enjoyment: 4.5/5
I started this book feeling a bit unsure, but by the end, I had a huge grin plastered on my face. Honestly, just writing this review makes me want to jump back in and read it all over again. It's weird, but this book totally clicked with me, even though it's not my usual cup of tea. It's now my top favorite among Sanderson's stand-alone works. I'm really looking forward to reading it to my kids when they're a bit older – I bet they're gonna love it just as much!

Final Rating: 4.5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

My favourite books of 2023 in preferential order
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕:
1. The Shadow of the Gods - (My Review)
2. The Grace of Kings - (My Review)
3. The Lies of Locke Lamora
4. The Forgetting Moon - (My Review)
5. The Justice of Kings - (My Review)
6. Kings of the Wyld - (My Review)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗:
7. Morning Star - (My Review)
8. The Blade Itself - (My Review)
9. Tress of the Emerald Sea - (My Review)
10. Red Seas Under Red Skies - (My Review)
11. The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World
12. Empire of the Vampire - (My Review)
13. Assassin's Apprentice - (My Review)
14. Malice - (My Review)
15. Golden Son
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑:
16. Leviathan Wakes - (My Review)
17. The Winter King - (My Review)
18. Of Blood and Fire - (My Review)
19. Gardens of the Moon - (My Review)
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑:
20. Deadhouse Gates - (My Review)
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑:
21. The Song of Achilles - (My Review)
22. Red Sister - (My Review)
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑:
23. Babel: An Arcane History - (My Review)
Profile Image for Jonathan O'Neill.
198 reviews490 followers
Read
January 4, 2023
DNF @ 35%

Don’t give me that look, I’m as shocked as you!
I was always told that if I had nothing Positive to say, then I’d best say nothing at all…
But I hate being told what to do so let’s get Negative!


Ha! Jks (kind of), I’m not looking to rain on anyone’s parade and I’m willing to shoulder a percentage of the blame for this DNF (only my 3rd ever, I believe) as I had no right picking this up. Modern Fantasy hasn’t been “trending” on my tbr for over a year now but, nevertheless, I couldn’t resist buying into Sando’s Secret Projects and when I saw this in my email, I fell into my friend Nataliya’s reading philosophy and thought, “Ooh, shiny!”.


Plot: Teenage Girl loves boy—boy gets kidnapped by Sorceress—girl decides to cross treacherous ocean composed of deadly spores in order to save boy—alarmingly negligent parents not only approve but assist in girl’s efforts to stow away on a ship full of men of unknown repute in order to achieve said goal… You know how it is.


I said I’d shoulder a percentage, but not all of the blame for this DNF. It really boils down to one reason I just COULD NOT continue with this. Well, two but they really fall into the same category: dialogue and inner monologue. They are written so incredibly poorly I could hardly believe what I was reading. Through the narrator’s (Hoid’s) voice, Sanderson has gone with a kind of “jovial-look-how-(wit)ty-I-am-let’s-make-an-observational-joke-about-absolutely-everything” tone and it’s so SO CRINGE! I was rolling my eyes so much while reading this that it turned into a sort of motor tic and started affecting my personal life!


”Why are they always fair maidens?” she said. “Are there maidens that are unfair? Perhaps they mean ‘fare’, as in food. I could be that kind of maiden. I’m good with food.”
tina-fey-ultimate-eye-roll-x750_0


Sando thought this one was so clever, he used it twice in the space of 7 pages:
"It might be said [Charlie] had a way with words. In that his words often got away."

"It might be said that Tress had a way with words. In that her words tended to get in her way."

tina fey opposite


It just goes ON and ON, my friend:
”It wasn’t quite like water; it was too thick, and the tips of the waves broke apart into puffs of green spores. In fact, the sea was wrong in the way that solely something almost right can be. Familiar, yet alien. As if it were liquid’s disrespectful cousin who told inappropriate jokes at Grandma’s funeral”.
W..what are you even talking about?! Put your hand up if you think that makes ANY sense!
tina biggest


In the introduction, Sando says they hired a “sensitivity reader” for the project. I’m walking away from reading this with a perpetual eye roll and a newfound propensity for telling shit jokes! Who’s looking out for my comedic sensitivities?! ‘Team Dragonsteel’ had 53 employees as of 2022 (likely more now), I don’t think it would blow the budget to hire one more for comedic quality control.

Shit, I didn’t say anything positive did I?... Umm, there's probably an epic Sandalanche?! 😅
Profile Image for Anna [Bran. San. Stan].
325 reviews195 followers
February 2, 2023
This was just as wonderful, delightful, and enchanting as I’d hoped; especially the humourous, whimsical tone and Hoid’s narrative voice were a joy. And the worldbuilding is just as amazing as ever: Picture a world with twelve moons, each releasing sand-like spores unto the land, creating twelve vast seas not of water but of alien dust - each a different color (the eponymous emerald being one of them). Each type of these spores explosively grows aethers (e.g. vines or crystals) when touched with water - the results of which range from “uncomfortable” to “deadly” considering “the number of wet things that leak from human bodies even if they’re healthy.” Only salt and silver render the spores inert. And they are not just a cool visual; they naturally serve to further the story.

As for the plot, the novel starts as a love story but then quickly becomes an adventure - farm boy (or rather window washing girl) leaving home to go on a hero’s journey. With our heroine, Sanderson again creates a magical character you can only love; she is proactive, competent, both brave and pragmatic, and above all relatable.

”The girl had been given the unfortunate name of Glorf upon her birth (don’t judge; it was a family name), but her wild hair earned her the name everyone knew her by: Tress.”


Tress is very much in love with the Duke’s son, Charlie, who is not very dukely at all. Charlie actually sounds a bit like Sanderson himself with his passion for story telling and words.

”[The Iriali] supposedly had golden hair. Like yours, the color of sunlight.”
“My hair is not the color of sunlight, Charlie.”
“Your hair is the color of sunlight, if sunlight were brown,” Charlie said. It might be said he had a way with words. In that his words often got away.


Charlie, however, is absent from the narrative, and Tress’s adventure lies in trying to save him from an evil sorceress. (She is, in a way, Buttercup who had gone searching for Westley.) Her journey is interwoven with a variety of characters, among them a cursed Hoid, a talking rat, a Cosmere creature, a horrible cook and also several insignificant people all referred to as Doug for simplicity’s sake.

With this “grown-up fairy tale”, Sanderson has once again created something extraordinary, something magical and enchanting and something very much unlike anything he has ever written before. And yes, Hoid’s story did feel like a “full-length version of something like 'Wandersail' or ‘The Dog and the Dragon’” - just as he intended. And even if I saw a twist at the end coming, I loved every bit of it, from the very first page.


In terms of Cosmere implications, what can you expect? (Skip if you’d rather not know. Essentially, no previous knowledge is required for you to enjoy the story; however, you will appreciate it even more if you do know your Cosmere.)

**********************





🔹Hoid as both a storyteller and character, though his role within the narrative is initially hilariously complicated because of a curse (some knowledge of either Warbreaker, Elantris, both Mistborn eras, White Sand and especially Stormlight is helpful)
🔹Aethers, though a different type than shown in The Lost Metal and the non-canon Aether of Night (no previous knowledge required)
🔹Kandra (Mistborn knowledge is helpful)
🔹the Nalthian magic of awakening (no previous knowledge necessary)
🔹having read Secret History is a bonus







——————————-

March 5, 2022: The first five chapters of this (no-longer) secret project #1 are just enchanting. I loved that Hoid is telling this "slightly more fairy-tale-ish" story in his customary cheeky tone. I can just picture him telling Tress‘s story to others in the Cosmere. Did I mention I can’t wait to read this?

“She felt less a human being and more like a human who was just being.“

I’ve been beyond excited these past couple of days about Sanderson‘s announcement and these four new books! So happy to be a part of his Kickstarter campaign! (And spending waaaay too much money on it.) So much to look forward to, this year and the next...

PA: You can listen to Sanderson reading the first chapters here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBUVX...
Profile Image for Sofia.
237 reviews7,932 followers
April 12, 2023
Tress of the Emerald Sea is a whimsical, earnest, and surprisingly crustacean-free surprise novel from Sanderson’s record-breaking Kickstarter. It is also one of the best YA fantasy books I’ve read. Every aspect of the book feels balanced and rewarding. Tress is perfectly paced and compulsively readable, full of plot twists that make sense but are still thrilling. I wasn’t sure if Hoid’s narration would be effective, but it definitely is. His commentary strikes the perfect balance between silliness and genuine insight. The familiar adventure structure of the story runs the risk of becoming predictable, but Sanderson doesn’t fall in that trap here. His skill as a storyteller shines in this novel; it is further proof that he doesn’t need thousands of pages to tell a compelling, meaningful story that is also fun and wholesome and heartfelt. I can already tell that this will be a book I look back on with fondness and warm, nostalgic feelings. Tress of the Emerald Sea is one of those gently affecting books that make the world seem a bit less scary.

5 stars


“It’s really not a problem that someone needs to be saved. Everyone needs help. It’s hard to be the person who makes trouble, but the thing is, everyone makes trouble. How would we help anyone if nobody ever needed help?”
Profile Image for John Mauro.
Author 5 books697 followers
November 9, 2023
My complete review is published at Before We Go Blog.

“One of the great tragedies of life is knowing how many people in the world are made to soar, paint, sing, or steer—except they never get the chance to find out.”

Originally conceived as a personal gift for his wife, Brandon Sanderson has now gifted Tress of the Emerald Sea to the world for all of us to enjoy. Tress of the Emerald Sea is like a warm hug from Sanderson, a whimsical coming-of-age tale that finds the author at the peak of his storytelling powers.

Tress is a seemingly ordinary girl who lives on an island surrounded by a vast emerald-green sea. Tress enjoys the simple things in life: spending time with her family, listening to stories, and admiring her collection of cups. But when her good friend Charlie disappears during a voyage at sea, Tress knows that she must take action if she ever wishes to see him again.

In true Brandon Sanderson fashion, Tress of the Emerald Sea puts journey before destination. Although her goal is to rescue Charlie, the real focus of the novel is on Tress’s growth throughout her journey, which includes plenty of self-discovery as Tress assumes the roles of ship inspector, pirate, and scientist.

With her unbridled curiosity and ingenuity, Tress reminds me of a young Navani from Rhythm of War, the fourth book of Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series. Just as Navani explores the science of stormlight, inventing new ways to harness its power, Tress experiments with the mysterious and dangerous spores that shower down on her world.

Another highlight of the book is Hoid’s narration. Sanderson fans know Hoid as the key unifying figure of his interconnected universe, the Cosmere. Always full of wit, Hoid is an absolute delight as narrator, giving Tress of the Emerald Sea a charm and whimsy that recalls William Goldman’s classic, The Princess Bride:

“It’s really not a problem that someone needs to be saved. Everyone needs help. It’s hard to be the person who makes trouble, but the thing is, everyone makes trouble. How would we help anyone if nobody ever needed help?”

The book is full of insightful and quotable passages that touched my heart. One of the major ideas explored in Tress of the Emerald Sea is that of memory, reminding me of Mark Lawrence’s The Book That Wouldn’t Burn:

“Memory is often our only connection to who we used to be. Memories are fossils, the bones left by dead versions of ourselves.”

For all its coziness, Tress of the Emerald Sea also has some surprisingly dark moments, including mild elements of body horror. Fortunately, these darker scenes work well to build tension during Tress’s quest, aiding in her character development.

Tress of the Emerald Sea is a delight in every respect. Brandon Sanderson’s words are accepted as some of the best from his incredibly prolific career. This gem of a novel is both the perfect introduction to Sanderson’s universe and a delightful treat for well-traveled worldhoppers of the Cosmere.
Profile Image for Holly.
1,466 reviews1,350 followers
January 23, 2023
3.5 stars

This book is unexpectedly really funny at times! Unfortunately it also seems a bit more YA-ish than I would like, though Sanderson bills this as a grown-up fairy tale in the postscript. On the other hand, this is a book narrated by Hoid which I absolutely enjoyed. The world building is pretty unique and interesting, while still fitting into the greater Cosmere. So all in all, rounding this up to 4 stars and looking forward to the next “secret project” from Sanderson’s Kickstarter.
Profile Image for Gillian.
188 reviews273 followers
May 28, 2023
3.5 stars!

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I really liked the premise of the book, but on the other hand the pacing was inconsistent and the plot dragged at times. The pacing was slow for most of the book until the end. The world building was great, the idea of an ocean of spores was very interesting, although it was confusing at first. I really liked Tress, she is brave, kind, loyal, persistent, and strong. At first I had a hard time connecting with Tress, but once I got to know her, I really liked her and felt a connection to her. I also really liked Huck, (talking rat) he is sweet, funny, brave, and intelligent. I liked the side characters as well, but I wished that their back stories were explored a bit more. The narration was unique and interesting, but it was hard to get used to at first. It has first person narration but the narrator is not the main character. The ending was so good and exciting! I’m glad that it ended on a happy note. Overall, it was a decent book, but it didn’t wow me and I struggled with the slow pacing.
Profile Image for Charlie Holmberg.
Author 40 books7,533 followers
January 11, 2023
Wherein Brandon makes a fun world and decides to amuse himself whilst exploring it ;)
Profile Image for Overhaul.
382 reviews1,041 followers
February 1, 2023
En su isla natal sobre un océano verde esmeralda, la única vida que Trenza conoce es sencilla, marcada por el placer de coleccionar las tazas que traen los marineros de tierras lejanas y escuchar las historias que le cuenta su amigo Charlie.

Pero cuando el padre de Charlie se lo lleva en barco para buscarle esposa y sucede una catástrofe, Trenza deberá colarse como polizona en un barco y partir en busca de la hechicera que habita en el mortífero mar de Medianoche.

Sobre unos océanos de esporas repletos de piratas, ¿podrá Trenza abandonar su tranquila vida y crearse un lugar en un océano donde una sola gota puede significar la muerte instantánea?

Hago esta reseña desde un punto de vista que igual a algunos os interesa ya que coincidimos y es que estoy quemado con y de Sanderson, me leí casi todo y ya los últimos del archivo me han decepcionado. 1500 páginas que muy cuesta arriba se me fueron haciendo, cada libro más. Bueno, pues aquí vuelve el autor que a mi me gustó en "Elantris", "El Aliento de los Dioses" o "Nacidos de la Bruma".

Sólo con un, no sé si llamarlo defecto, no lo es y es que a diferencia de esos, es un historia algo más juvenil, otro tono. Pero no le quita que sea disfrutable para "todos".

Entretenido, muy original, con buenos personajes en unas 500 páginas. NO 1500...

Sanderson muestra ya su dominio típico de la narración, la brillante capacidad de grandes construcciones de mundos y el trabajo que tienen detrás los personajes.

Seguimos a Trenza, una chica que emprende una aventura épica para rescatar al chico que quiere de las garras de la Hechicera. Se vuelve un libro pirata que me ha gustado mucho por ese aspecto.

Barcos, piratas, mar del color esmeralda, magia marca Sanderson, y ¡Autoconclusivo!. Chapó.

La historia es contada por un personaje que muchos conoceréis, de hecho, es uno de lo varios guiños al Cosmere. Cuya narrativa hace que el tono de la historia tenga su personalidad y sus toques humorísticos.

El mundo de Lumar está muy bien construido. Se sentía tan único e inmersivo, es el aspecto que más me ha gustado. Dentro de la sencillez de la propia historia de chica salva a chico, está el mundo y la magia, no diré complejas pero si de lo más fascinante.

El concepto de doce mares diferentes y un montón de lunas diferentes que brillan sobre ellos. Cada mar tiene un tipo diferente de esporas, peligrosas y tóxicas para los humanos, pero todos pueden ser utilizados por expertos para hacer todo tipo de cosas diferentes, lo que me pareció un sistema mágico único y muy bien pensado. Es Sanderson, lo que no se le ocurra a este señor.

Los personajes que acompañan a esta obra son muy buenos, honestamente este libro me trae agradables recuerdos de "Elantris", tiene esa magia que logra este autor sin llegar a las 1500 páginas. Es ese Sanderson que me gusta.

Es muy ameno, sencillo, un cuento de grandes e interesantes ideas. No es el mejor Sanderson, por supuesto, pero si hacía algún tiempo que no disfrutaba con uno suyo, más que nada por la longitud de sus novelas.

No puedo decir más, solo que aquí os espera una gran aventura, tintes piratas sobre un mar de colores en un mundo de ideas fascinantes al igual que su magia.

Disfrutable, ameno y entretenido..✍️🎩
Profile Image for Smitty1423.
27 reviews2,525 followers
March 6, 2024
This was such a fun ride. Brandon Sanderson somehow made what seemed like a fairy tale into a great adventure that I couldn’t put down. Loved Tress character development and how the book ended was really amazing.

Even tho this book didn’t have many battle/fight scenes that I’m used to with a Sanderson book I still enjoyed this standalone and all the nuggets of the Cosmere in there (freaking Hoid)

4.25/5
Profile Image for Mimi.
169 reviews85 followers
October 13, 2023
I have a complicated relationship with Brandon Sanderson. For one, he doesn't know I exist, which would put a strain on any relationship. Then there's the fact that I tend to really like some aspects of his books, while really disliking others.
I usually love the world-building but have issues with his characters.

This book is no exception.
I mean the spore seas? So freaking cool. Tress on the other hand? Not so much.

Right at the beginning there's a paragraph about how all the other girls don't want to be like all the other girls, except for Tress, she wants to be normal (which inadvertently makes her the only other girl). An overly wordy way to say: "Tress was not like the other girls."
Thanks, I hate it.

The narrator, a character Tress meets along her journey, keeps talking about her like she shits roses—which I guess would be fine were he a real person, describing another real person. But the fact that Brandon Sanderson wrote a whole book gushing about how amazing his own creation is, irritated the not at all rose-scented crap out of me.

Anyway.
Cute story, 3.5/5
Profile Image for Andi.
1,354 reviews
January 4, 2023
I didn't want to rate this 2 stars, but I gotta. Out of everything I read of Brandon's this is perhaps my least liked book of his. Many authors have books that are so-so, and even still, I continue to buy their books. This book was written for his wife and there is a sentimental reason behind it.

This book was written as a bit of a nod to The Princess Bride. That instead of Wesley saving Buttercup, instead it's Tress saving Charlie. I have no problems with that what-so-ever. I think that we need more stories with females saving their male 'true-love'.

But, this book sadly is not what I hoped it would be. Did I expect a romance? No. I don't see Brandon writing one like that. However, I expected a story told from Hoid's perspective of a girl finding herself.

One will argue with me that she found herself, that I am rating this book rather poorly. For me, I can't really say what went wrong and why this book (the first of the bunch) turned out to be a dud, but I'll go into it:



I don't know how the other books are written except for the beta team but I expected something with more meat on the bones. Instead, I got a boring, rather drawn out short story about a dull girl who goes to rescue a dull 'man of her heart' from a lame villain who doesn't do anything to make shit difficult for her. But again: this was written as a story for his wife, and if she enjoyed it that's what should matter. Props to him for being an amazing husband and writing a novel for her enjoyment. I hope more writers do that for their wives.

I hope book two is better :/
Profile Image for Zoranne.
226 reviews244 followers
April 11, 2023
i’d give this book 6 stars if i could

more coherent thoughts to come
Profile Image for Gabriel.
526 reviews922 followers
February 3, 2023
Una historia de aventura por el mar con piratas, hechiceros, un dragón y referencias al cosmere con un halo a cuentos de hadas. Pero sobre todo divertida e ingeniosa.

«La mayoría de la gente nunca vive de verdad, Trenza, porque teme perder los años que le quedan, años que también pasará no viviendo. Es la ironía de una existencia cautelosa.»

Trenza vive en su pequeña isla, es cobarde, no resalta, no tiene un objetivo por cumplir más allá de ser una limpiaventanas y recolectar tazas de distintas formas y diseños. Sin embargo, al igual que en tantos otros cuentos de hadas el amor la mueve a hacer algo por recuperar un ser querido. Y en este caso, ella (la chica) es quien debe rescatar al chico y quien se zambulle en una historia mágica y fantástica donde las lunas "vomitan" esporas tóxicas y peligrosas sobre los mares que rodean diferentes islas y lugares, las cuales solo pueden ser detenidas con sal y plata.

Vine a esta historia porque sí, la portada me sonaba a un cuento de hadas y efectivamente hay muchos guiños, referencias y arquetipos de personajes típicos dentro del libro. Y me ha dado en parte eso, así que quedé más que encantado. Además, leer el libro es disfrutar del narrador (que seguro ya muchos conocen) quien con su sentido del humor y el de los demás convierte esta historia en una lectura rápida por sus capítulos cortos y por el tono humorístico y desenfadado.

«Aunque una medida sana de atrevimiento llevó a nuestros antepasados al descubrimiento, fue el miedo lo que los mantuvo con vida. Si la valentía es el viento que nos hace volar como cometas, el miedo es el cordel que nos impide ir demasiado lejos.»

La aventura comienza más pronto que tarde a través de un barco con piratas excéntricos, germinadores, una capitana mala malota (de las rudas), una rata parlante, un médico "zombie" y surcar más mares de distintos colores y explotar y conocer más esporas mortíferas, hasta llegar a un dragón fuera de lo común y una hechicera protegida por monstruos marinos y soldados. Además de conocer otros términos como comeesporas, germinadores y alguna que otra maldición por los distintos paisaje y la ambientación marítima que es fantástica y mágica sin duda alguna.

«Una verdad aburrida siempre tendrá dificultades para competir con una mentira emocionante.»

En general, lo mejor que tiene para mí es el humor y las dinámicas entre los personajes, a nivel narrativo es bastante predecible, regulero y conveniente, pero se lo perdono por lo bien que la pasé. Y tambien innova un poquito en las figuras típicas y representativas de estos personajes en los clásicos cuentos, ya que rompe el molde y no los deja encasillados en tópicos, estereotipos o arquetipos planos.

Y si eres adicto a las referencias dentro del cosmere a lo mejor y te encuentras bastantes huevos de pascua de sus otros libros (yo solo encontré referencias a Elantris y Mistborn pero a lo mejor hay más).
Profile Image for Angela.
419 reviews1,040 followers
April 10, 2023
Actual Rating: 4.5/5

This was delightful! I love adult fairy tale fantasy books and books with a narrator, this has both so I knew I was in for a fun time from Chapter 1 and that's exactly what this is. Tress's adventure and the friends she makes along the way is such a whimsical cozy time, even while having to problem solve her way out of VERY dangerous situations. I know the inspiration is more Princess Bride but it reminded me so much of Stardust, which is a huge compliment cause I am always looking for things that make me feel as happy as Stardust does. I think a few things that prevented this from being a new favorite of all time (although it is still absolutely amazing for my tastes) is that because of the narrative voice I was not quite as close to Tress as I wanted to be. But that's a small complaint. Everything was so vibrant, the tone was on point and I loved the pacing and pay off. Maybe on re-read one day it will become and all time favorite, it is incredibly close.
Profile Image for Lamaleluna.
316 reviews1,200 followers
February 7, 2023
Un año esperando leerlo y por fin se dió la oportunidad ✨

Trenza del mar esmeralda es el proyecto secreto 1 de Brandon Sanderson. Una novela independiente que forma parte del Cosmere, escrita por el autor durante la pandemia y publicada dos años después de forma sorpresa.

Nuestra protagonista Trenza tiene una vida súper rutinaria en la Roca y ella asegura no destacar en nada. Un día el chico del cuál está enamorada decide marchar, y Trenza al enterarse que él está en peligro un tiempo después, decide emprender una aventura por el mar para ir a rescatarlo de las garras de La hechicera. A lo largo del viaje Trenza irá conociendo el mundo exterior y aprendiendo un montón de cosas sobre los demás y sobre ella misma. ✨

Una de las cosas más interesantes que tiene este libro es la narración, toda la historia de Trenza está contada por Hoid, saltamundos y cuentacuentos famoso dentro del Cosmere. Es la primera historia larga que lo escuchamos narrar y la verdad es que hizo una diferencia.

Me gustaron mucho los personajes también y la ambientación. Te encariñás mucho con Trenza y siento que con tan solo este libro llegas a conocerla muy bien, sin duda uno de los personajes más valientes creados por el autor. El sistema mágico y el ambiente fueron muy originales y me gustó explorarlos. Claramente entendemos por qué Sanderson destaca en esto. 😎

El libro tiene referencias, menciones y spoilers a otras novelas del Cosmere. Considero que para leerlo y disfrutarlo bien tienen que haber leído los otros libros. Si únicamente te llega la atención Trenza del mar esmeralda, podés leerlo de forma independiente (te vas a perder unas cuantas cosas). Pero si tu plan es leer todo el Cosmere, déjate Trenza para el final, lo vas a disfrutar muchísimo más.

La razón por la que no le doy 5 estrellas es que hubieron un par de escenas que se me hicieron un poco aburridas. No creo que sea algo del libro sino más bien algo mío, en general no disfruto los libros dónde están viajando todo el tiempo o las historias que transcurren todas en el mar. Esta parte de la crítica viene de algo completamente personal, hay mucha gente que disfruta de este tipo de historias.

La vibra de cuento de hadas fue preciosa de leer, la verdad es que está muy recomedado de mi parte. Ahora a esperar al próximo proyecto secreto, viaje antes que destino ✨

Yo leyendo Trenza del mar esmeralda: 😌🤭🥰🥺☺️
Profile Image for myo ⋆。˚ ❀ *.
1,007 reviews7,609 followers
August 31, 2023
how do i keep getting tricked into reading cozy fantasy 😭 like i promise i know i don’t like that subgenre so i genuinely try to stay away but i never know until i’m reading them! this book was so fun and interesting in the beginning but once she set sea i lost all interest
Profile Image for Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}.
809 reviews1,504 followers
March 6, 2024
4.5 Stars.

One simple sentence: I loved this book so much!!

---------------------------------------
It's been too long since I read a Brandon Sanderson book, and I've been finding myself craving to read a book from the world of Cosmere for a while. Thus, since 'Tress of the Emerald Sea' was the first book of the secret projects I want to pick up this book very soon.

I'm so excited to return to the Cosmere.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 18,026 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.