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Tress of the Emerald Sea

Book 1 in the series:The Cosmere

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'Tress of the Emerald Sea' by Brandon Sanderson is a beautifully written fantasy novel that takes readers on an enchanting journey through a unique and magical world. The book follows the adventures of Tress and her eclectic companions as they sail through the Emerald Sea, encountering mystery, adventure, and profound insights into the human condition. The writing style in this book is described as fantastic, with prose that is not only well-crafted but also filled with delightful lines and beautiful insights that uplift the reader's mood.

The worldbuilding in 'Tress of the Emerald Sea' is exceptional, showcasing Brandon Sanderson's talent for creating vibrant and colorful worlds that capture the reader's imagination. The illustrations in the book are also praised for their gorgeousness, adding to the immersive experience of peering into the world Sanderson has crafted. The story is narrated by Hoid, lending a light and different perspective that sets it apart from traditional fantasy narratives, making it a captivating and heartwarming read.

Characters:

The characters are well-crafted, with Tress as a relatable and engaging heroine, supported by a diverse cast that adds charm and humor to the story.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is light-hearted and whimsical, characterized by humor and a fairy-tale feel, with insights woven throughout the narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot showcases a whimsical adventure with a heroine's quest centered on love and humor, set in a uniquely imaginative world.

Setting:

The setting is a fantastical and whimsical world characterized by its unique spore oceans, combining beauty with inherent dangers that enrich the adventure.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk and engaging, marked by short chapters and cliffhangers, making for a fast and enjoyable read.

Notes:

Brandon Sanderson's latest book is titled 'Tress of the Emerald Sea' and is part of his expansive Cosmere universe.
The book is inspired by 'The Princess Bride', featuring a fairy tale adventure with humor and fantasy elements.
Tress, the protagonist, embarks on a quest to rescue her love interest and navigate a world where oceans are made of spores.
The narrative is light-hearted and whimsical, with a unique narrator who adds a fun perspective to the story.
Sanderson's books are known for intricate world-building and detailed magic systems, which keep readers engaged.
The Cosmere universe is interconnected, with different series and standalone novels that contain Easter eggs and references to each other.
Tress of the Emerald Sea can be read as a standalone story, making it accessible for new readers unfamiliar with the rest of the Cosmere.
The book features relatable characters with distinct personalities, including a talking rat named Huck who aids Tress on her journey.
Readers have noted that Tress is a strong, resourceful female character, challenging traditional fairy tale tropes.
Sanderson's writing has been praised for its ability to entertain both young adults and adult readers, with depth and humor.

From The Publisher:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson expands his Cosmere universe shared by The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn with a new standalone novel for everyone who loved The Princess Bride.

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?

Note from Brandon:

I started writing this in secret, as a novel just for my wife. She urged me to share it with the world-and alongside three other secret novels, with the support of readers worldwide it grew into the biggest Kickstarter campaign of all time. I'm excited to present this first book to you at last: a different type of Brandon Sanderson story, one I wrote when there were no time constraints, no expectations, and no limits on my imagination. Come be part of the magic.

Ratings (153)

Incredible (60)
Loved It (54)
Liked It (25)
It Was OK (10)
Did Not Like (3)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (340):

Read It (157)
Currently Reading (7)
Want To Read (137)
Did Not Finish (7)
Not Interested (32)

11 comment(s)

Incredible
1 month

Beautiful book that is truly a gift from Brandon Sanderson to his readers. The journey of the main character is about finding herself and is told in a very funny and very beautiful way. Don't miss out on the illustrations which are each a work of art on their own as well and add a depth to the book that I really appreciated.

 
Incredible
2 months

Amazing world building and magic systems

 
Loved It
2 months

Storyline, characters, writing style

 
It Was OK
3 months

3 stars

It was a meh read.

Our main character Tress has never left her home island. Then the man she loves , the duke's son , Charlie is kidnapped by a dangerous sorceress. Now Tress is the only one who is determined to save the dude in distress.

Tress has to go through a dangerous journey across different seas to save Charlie, which in turn makes her friends with a variety of people or creatures. And finally the dude is saved.

This book felt like a lot of preaching to me. I mean kind of a self help book which teaches (preaches) on love, family, finding ones true self, boundaries, etc etc etc. Each and every page has atleast a sentence which refers to some or the other kind of self help. Too long for such a simple plot. And those seas , I just still can't imagine it.

Branden Sanderson can write. This one seems like his musing of COVID lockdown.

Happy Reading!!!

 
Loved It
5 months

The synopsis wasn't lying when it compared this book to

The Princess Bride.

Tress of the Emerald Sea held much of the same heart, charm, and humor that I've always felt was unique to

The Princess Bride, and it was a pleasant surprise to see it so effortlessly replicated here.

In typical Sanderson fashion, the worldbuilding of this story was remarkably unique and unlike anything I've read before. The spores, the moons they come from, the different effects they have depending on their color — All of it was fascinating and whimsical, aligned with the tone of everything else in this book.

I don't know if the general release included these or just the Dragonsteel hardcover edition, but the illustrations throughout the book enhanced my experience immeasurably and helped me envision the places and characters I was reading about. The artwork of Tress at the very start of the book gave me high hopes for the story, and I'm glad to say it lived up to my expectations. I couldn't rate it a perfect 5-stars because, while I enjoyed the story and believe it delivered upon what it said, it took me longer than expected to finish the book — partly due to my current reading slump, but also, I think, because the story itself didn't feel particularly fast-paced.

 
Incredible
5 months

Highly recommended for fans of The Princess Bride, Stardust, or light-hearted fantasy in general. I was cracking up the whole time. The world building and characters are top notch.

 
Loved It
7 months

Having previously read only one book by Brandon Sanderson, the exceptional

The Way of Kings, I had certain expectations for this book. However, my expectations were not entirely met, as this book treads the line between being a story for adults and a story for middle grade. Still, the story feature Sanderson's signature world-building and character evolution.

Sanderson's narrative style in this book seems to hover between adult and youthful storytelling. While the underlying message of the story is undeniably mature, there is a certain youthful language that may not fully align with my personal reading preferences. Initially, I struggled to immerse myself in the story, but fortunately, I overcame it after a bunch of chapters. It's unclear to me whether this difficulty stemmed from my adjusting to the style, becoming more engrossed in the plot, or if the writing style subtly evolved along with the emotional maturation of the main character, Tess, but I’m so glad it did.

The latter seems more plausible, considering Sanderson's expertise in crafting characters that naturally evolve throughout the story. Tess's emotional growth is noticeable, even acknowledged by the character herself towards the end of the book. As a reader, I appreciate the seamless progression and am not entirely surprised by it, given Sanderson’s talent. The story is so finely tuned that the reader can effortlessly trace the character's development.

While this story is connected to another series by Brandon Sanderson, I haven't delved into that series, and it doesn't appear to be a hindrance. The book stands on its own as a well-written story. Although I generally lean towards Sanderson's more adult works, there's a magical quality in this fable for adults. It artfully weaves familiar elements with more mature themes and messages, making it an enchanting read.

Ultimately, this is a really captivating story. Despite a minor clash with my general preferences, the overall craftsmanship and narrative strength make this a worthwhile addition to Sanderson's repertoire.

 
Loved It
8 months

The characters were so good and I loved how different the narration was, it was so fun to hear the story told by hoid.

 
It Was OK
8 months

Fun. Worldbuilding heavy. Indeed delivers on the promise of being like the princess bride, and Hoid-heavy. It feels YA/middle grade in that great simple storytelling way

 
Liked It
1 year

Fun & light.

 
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