Tress of the Emerald Sea

How does this book turn typical fairy tales upside down? Talk about how Tress is different from your typical adventure hero.

The spore-based magic system is quite unique. What did you think about how it works? How is it different from magic in other fantasy books you've read? Was there anything about it that didn't make sense to you, or that you wanted to learn more about?

Let's discuss Tress's personal journey. Compare Tress at the beginning of the book to who she becomes by the end. What big moments changed her? How did she grow?

What makes the relationship between Tress and Charlie different from typical romantic storylines in fantasy?

The book balances humor and adventure. What moments made you laugh? How do those funny bits fit into the bigger story?

Who was your favorite side character? Why do they stand out to you?

The narrative voice adds a lot of character to the story. How did the storytelling style influence your reading experience? For Sanderson fans, what did you think of Hoid as the choice to narrate the story?

Sanderson has stated that "The Princess Bride" was an inspiration for Tress of the Emerald Sea. Did you see the influence as you were reading the novel? What similarities or influences do you see from that work?

While Tress of the Emerald Sea is a standalone novel, it's set in Sanderson's interconnected universe, the Cosmere. Have you read any other Sanderson books set in the Cosmere? If so, what easter eggs to the rest of the books and universe did you notice? If not, did you feel like the book did sufficiently stand by itself? Did this book inspire you to pick up others set in the same universe?