“Enjoy memories, yes, but don't be a slave to who you wish you once had been” 

💚🌊REVIEW🌊💚

Tress of the Emerald Sea is a standalone epic fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson. The story follows a girl who leaves home on a quest across the spore seas. 

This was my first Brandon Sanderson book, and I was blown away. I know that there’s a lot of Cosmere references I missed, but the writing and story were so GOOD! I definitely see why Sanderson is so revered for his world building and character creation. I feel like all the characters, even supporting ones, are well fleshed out and detailed. I also feel like it is a feat to fit such a rich world in a relatively short book!

I loved that he drew inspiration from The Princess Bride -  this feels like a whimsical, adult fairy tale. It is also one of the most unique worlds I have come across, the concept of the spore seas is equal parts insane and enchanting. 

Tress is an absolutely incredible main character, I loved everything about her. Her transformation into a determined heroine was really compelling, and I loved that her growth was a culmination of multiple plot arcs. 

Tress brought me so much joy to read, and made me laugh out loud so many times. This book really has it all, and is one I look forward to re-reading. I could talk about this one for ages — whatever you do, make sure you read this book 💚

“We always pretend the ideals and culture of the past have aged like wine, but in truth, the ideas of the past tend to age more like biscuits. They simply get stale.”