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

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson comes a rollicking, riveting tale set in the Cosmere universe—a standalone adventure perfect for fans of The Princess Bride.

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson

The Cosmere
The Stormlight Archive
● The Way of Kings
● Words of Radiance
● Edgedancer (novella)
● Oathbringer
● Dawnshard (novella)
● Rhythm of War

The Mistborn Saga
The Original Trilogy
● Mistborn
● The Well of Ascension
● The Hero of Ages

Wax and Wayne
● The Alloy of Law
● Shadows of Self
● The Bands of Mourning
● The Lost Metal

Other Cosmere novels
● Elantris
● Warbreaker
● Tress of the Emerald Sea
● Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
● The Sunlit Man

Collection
● Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection

The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series
● Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
● The Scrivener's Bones
● The Knights of Crystallia
● The Shattered Lens
● The Dark Talent
● Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (with Janci Patterson)

Other novels
● The Rithmatist
● Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds
● The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England

Other books by Brandon Sanderson

The Reckoners
● Steelheart
● Firefight
● Calamity

Skyward
● Skyward
● Starsight
● Cytonic
● Skyward Flight (with Janci Patterson)
● Defiant

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Published Apr 4, 2023

384 pages

Average rating: 7.86

918 RATINGS

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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Tress of the Emerald Sea* delivers a heartwarming, whimsical adventure with strong world-building and endearing characters like Tress and...

BMC

Jul 15, 2025

8/10 stars

I normally don't mind short chapters but these ones felt choppy to me and it took a while to get into the story. Once I did? A fantastical and (mostly) wholesome time was had.

CeLynasings

Jul 30, 2024

9/10 stars

Great book with a great hero!!! Tress is an amazing character. I wish parts 5 and 6 didn’t read as the author just wanted to finish the book, but I still loved this book.

noellecheong

Feb 25, 2026

10/10 stars

utterly delightful! very obviously a love letter, passion project, whimsical adventure

krzyk8ee

Feb 20, 2026

7/10 stars

Tress of the Emerald Sea was a delightful, clever fantasy that fit like a glove. Whimsical without being fluffy, adventurous without being overwhelming, it felt both fresh and familiar in the best way. One of the things I enjoyed most was the storytelling voice. The third-person narrator adds charm, humor, and a quiet wisdom that made the story feel like it was being told to you, not just at you. There’s an ease to the way the tale unfolds, even when the stakes are real, and that balance kept me happily turning pages. The book is also packed with sharp, thoughtful quotes, the kind that make you pause, smile, or rethink something small but important. Lines like, “While we often choose our actions, we rarely get to choose our consequences,” ring true, even as the story gently challenges that idea, sometimes we know the consequences and choose the action anyway. That tension feels very human. I also loved the honesty in, “I’ve discovered that it’s all right to need help so long as you’ve lived your life as the kind of person who deserves to be rescued.” It’s a lovely reminder that independence and interdependence can coexist. And of course, Sanderson’s humor shines with gems like, “You are living proof that someone doesn’t need to be at least bit funny to be an utter clown,” and “If that sounds like hypocrisy to you, well, we prefer to call it politics.” Overall, this was a fun, warm, and quietly thoughtful fantasy - full of heart, humor, and storytelling magic. A great reminder that bravery doesn’t always look loud, and that sometimes the most unlikely heroes are the ones who simply keep going.

LondonLevyn

Feb 01, 2026

7/10 stars

For someone who rarely reads fiction, I actually really enjoyed this book. For some reason, spending time reading a make believe story has always felt like wasting time. Which is kind of a crippling thought, because it means missing out on good storytelling and on an important skill: imagination and creativity. And truthfully, even though this was fiction, I learned a lot from it. About friendship. Leadership. And what it looks like to possess good character. Tress is really that girl. Not in a loud, sexy, modern way but in a quiet, gentle, dignified way. Not only do I want a friend like her, I want to be a friend like her. Her character never wavered. She was ten toes down, through and through, which I found incredibly admirable especially in today’s society where it feels like every man for himself. I also loved how wholesome it was. No sex scenes. Nothing even remotely close. Just a good story. Honestly, it was refreshing. I appreciated the character development too. She unlocks an entirely unexplored part of herself, and it had me thinking about how many of us miss out on unrealized talents and passions simply because we never take a risk. Overall, great book. The spores definitely threw me for a loop at first, but you get used to them. I’d definitely recommend it.