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Tress of the Emerald Sea

Tress of the Emerald Sea

A Cosmere Novel
Epic FantasyFantasy
Pages
486
Published
2023
Language
English

Synopsis

Tress lives on a small island in the Emerald Sea — a sea of emerald-colored spores rather than water, where a single drop of rain causes the spores to sprout deadly vines in seconds. Her life is a simple one of washing windows and collecting cups brought home by sailors, until the duke takes his son Charlie — the boy she loves — away on a voyage to find him a suitable bride. When disaster strikes and Charlie falls into the hands of the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea, Tress does what no one from her island has ever done: she stows away on a passing ship and goes to sea, and finds herself among the pirate crew of the Crow's Song. Narrated with warmth and wit by Hoid — the wandering enigma known across the Cosmere — Tress of the Emerald Sea is a swashbuckling adventure described by its author as his love letter to readers who cherished The Princess Bride. Originally written as a gift for Sanderson's wife Emily and released through the 2022 Kickstarter that raised $41.7 million (the largest Kickstarter of its time), it was published in 2023 as Secret Project 1.

Prose complexity
4/10

Vibe

WhimsicalAdventurousHopefulRomanticLighthearted
QuestFish Out of WaterFound Family

Genres

Epic Fantasy Fantasy Adventure Fairy Tales

About the author

B
Brandon Sanderson

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1975, Brandon Sanderson spent his early twenties working graveyard shifts at a hotel — writing novels at the front desk between guest check-ins. By the time his debut, Elantris, was published by Tor Books in 2005, he had completed thirteen novels in the drawer. His subsequent Mistborn trilogy and the ongoing Stormlight Archive series established him as the primary architect of the Cosmere, an interconnected fictional universe in which most of his fantasy series share...

Characters

TressProtagonist

A resourceful island girl who braves the deadly spore seas to rescue the boy she loves.

Captain Crow (Lumar)Antagonist

The ruthless captain of the pirate ship Crow's Song, who rules her crew through fear and has an agenda of her own.

The Sorceress (Lumar)Antagonist

The feared ruler of the Midnight Sea, who governs by curses, illusion and manipulation, and whom Tress must confront.

HoidSupporting

The witty wanderer who narrates the tale.

Charlie (Lumar)Supporting

The duke's son, who works the grounds in disguise and is Tress's love interest; his father takes him away on a voyage to keep him from marrying a commoner.

All characters in Tress of the Emerald Sea

Frequently asked questions

  • Why did Sanderson write 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.

  • What was the 2022 Kickstarter and how successful was it?

    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.

  • Who is the narrator and why does it matter?

    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.

  • Is Tress of the Emerald Sea part of the Cosmere?

    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.

  • Do I need to have read other Cosmere books first?

    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.

  • What makes the magic system unique?

    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.

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