Tress of the Emerald Sea

Sanderson originally wrote it as a gift for his wife Emily, who he described as someone who would have loved The Princess Bride. She encouraged him to share it publicly, and it became the first of four Secret Projects released from the 2022 Kickstarter.

Sanderson launched a Kickstarter in March 2022 to release four secret novels he had written during the pandemic. It raised $41.7 million, making it the largest Kickstarter campaign ever run at the time.

The narrator is Hoid — also known as Wit — a character who appears across all Cosmere novels in different roles. His narrative voice in Tress is more personal and emotionally direct than his usual enigmatic appearances, and his identity rewards Cosmere readers.

Yes. It takes place on the planet Lumar and connects to the Cosmere. Hoid's narration and certain details about Huck link directly to events across the larger Cosmere saga.

No — Tress is designed as a standalone entry point that works as a complete adventure on its own. Cosmere readers will find additional layers of meaning in Hoid's narration and Huck's origins.

The seas of Lumar are made of twelve types of spores rather than water. Each spore type has different properties when they become wet — some sprout, some crystallize, some explode. Tress must learn to work with these spore-seas rather than simply survive them.