Tress of the Emerald Sea

By: Brandon Sanderson

Published by: Dragonsteel Entertainment Tor Books

Publication date: 4th April 2023

I have never committed to a Brandon Sanderson novel before. His books have always been shelved in all my local bookstores but there are so many different series’ and sagas that I had no idea where to start! 

Luckily, I recently came upon Tress of the Emerald Sea. It is a standalone fantasy novel whose beginnings were founded from a massive Kickstarter campaign back in 2022. It still has ties to his much bigger ‘Cosmere’ universe but does not rely on any prior knowledge to be thoroughly enjoyed.

Summary

The book is centred around Tress, an average woman by all accounts whose adventures upon the sea open the reader up to a beautiful universe filled with eccentric characters and peculiar creatures. The plotline is simple and linear, with a fun flip on the classical hero versus damsel in distress situation. Tress is easily a character you can back in a story. She is clever and resourceful, and in my opinion, does not do anything (too) foolish to turn me off from the book. The supporting characters are just as good, with their own idiosyncrasies and weaknesses. A sneak peek of my favourites are the cannon-loving pirate, a chatty rat and the insensible cabin boy!

The Good

I am happy to report there is also a decent pace to the world-building in this story. The concept of ‘spores’ is introduced fairly early on, but in small, bite-sized chunks which can easily be absorbed into the story. This book has just the right amount of world-building detail to create a picture without working too hard on the specifics. 

The Not-So-Good

There isn’t too much I can fault on this book, although I will comment that what could have made the story that much more vibrant, in that there could have been a deeper investment to the romance plot line of the story. Although romance is not its main genre, it is important to the storyline, and an inciting influence on young Tress. I would have loved to be in love with the couple’s relationship more than I was. Perhaps a few more interactions between the devoted couple? Or flirty banter? I would have adored them that much more. 

All in all, a solid fantasy adventure with a satisfying ending. It is whimsical and light, with an occasional dash of wisdom sprinkled in. I have to say, I will most definitely be looking to get my hands on Brandon’s next three mystery novels. I may even have a crack at reading one of his many other fantasy series’ up on the shelves!

My rating: 5/5