Tress of the Emerald Sea: A Cosmere Novel (Secret Projects)

Having heard so much about Brandon Sanderson’s previous works and being a huge fantasy nerd myself, I was really excited to read Tress of the Emerald Sea. While honestly not the worst fantasy novel I’ve ever read, I certainly wasn’t blown away either.

Set in Sanderson’s Cosmere universe, we follow Tress, a young woman who very much enjoys her life the way it is and imagines it will continue on in much the same manner forever, as she is thrust into adventure when her best friend and romantic interest becomes a captive of the Sorceress of the Midnight Sea. Filled with pirates, magic, and a surprisingly reasonable dragon, the world Tress must venture out into to save her friend is solidly fascinating and lusciously treacherous.

I would definitely recommend this book for middle-grade readers, but as an adult who occasionally enjoys YA novels, the slightly twee and rather self-indulgent writing style grated on my nerves. There is so much unnecessary italicization and little asides in parentheses that force the reader into flat dad jokes that continue on well past the point of annoyance that it was difficult to make it through to the end without my eyeballs permanently rolled into my skull.