Book Review: "Tress of the Emerald Sea" by Brandon Sanderson

4.5/5 stars

*Spoiler alert!*

After reading Tress of the Emerald Sea, one of the latest novels set in the Cosmere universe, I think that Dr. Ulaam might want to posthumously add Brandon Sanderson’s brain to his collection! I am floored that Sanderson saw an opportunity for a break between his major ongoing series, like “Mistborn” and “The Stormlight Archives” and used his down time to write more books. As always, he writes an engrossing original fantasy, and I didn’t mind that this time it was a standalone novel.

In an improved version of The Princess Bride, we see a practical homebody go on a seafaring adventure to save a loved one. Glorf, more popularly known as “Tress” for her hair, lives on the Emerald Sea on a backwater island known as Diggen’s Point and has never thought to leave. That is until her best friend, Charlie, is sent away and taken captive by the fearsome Sorceress.

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

On her world, the oceans are made up of spores that come from the 12 moons that orbit her planet. Water is deadly on these seas, ironically enough, for the spores seek the water in living bodies to grow. (This is going to sound dumb, but at first, I couldn’t help but think that Tress and her society was living in the Cognitive Realm, based on the descriptions of the oceans and the moons.) People are forbidden from leaving Diggen’s Point by royal edict, but Tress has help from her friends and family on getting smuggled out. When her first ship meets a grisly end at the hands of a pirate ship, she sees no choice but to jump ship to said pirate ship, the Crow’s Song.

Thus, a rip-roaring journey across the seas begins and Tress begins to test herself and grow in ways she never thought possible. Naturally, as she befriends her new crew, she gravitates towards the job of ship “sprouter.” If handled correctly, spores of various kinds are used in weapons to immobilize other ships (or people). Tress finds an affinity with the spores that I found intriguing.

“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.” 

It got me thinking about how her world’s magic system fits in within the larger Cosmere context. (What always happens when I think I begin to understand Connection and Investiture is that Sanderson adds a new twist that seems to contradict the rules I think I understand. It’s frustrating and it’s wonderful.)

I am not going to spoil what happens when Tress and crew reach the Sorceress (you should read the book!). I will say that if you are a fan of the Cosmere, Tress of the Emerald Sea is not to be missed. I enjoyed the Easter eggs Sanderson left that referenced other series of his (at least the ones I got—I’m sure I missed others left in there). Some people may bemoan how authors are starting to turn their various series into multiverses MCU-style, but I honestly am enjoying it. I want to see what happens when residents from the Cosmere bump into each other. 

In any case, have fun reading Tress of the Emerald Sea. I know I did!

Happy reading!

--BookOwl