Book: Tress of the Emerald Sea
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Year: 2023
Bookhad Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Beyond that, memories have a way of changing on us. Souring or sweetening over time—like a brew we drink, then recreate later by taste, only getting the ingredients mostly right. You can’t taste a memory without tainting it with who you have become.
— Brandon Sanderson. Tress of the Emerald Sea (Brandon Sanderson) (pp. 263-264). Kindle Edition.
This (in the picture) is how I’ve read the 541 page subversive fairy tale — by holding it in the palm of my hand, on my phone, chapter by chapter over 4 weeks. The co-writer on this blog had been nudging me to read Mistborn for the longest time and just like always, I’ve been delaying it because their excitement sets such a high bar, I fear the expectations surrounding it. Another friend then, sent me this book and said “Read it. You’ll love it.” I took it as a sign to pick up this massive novel.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is an inverse take on the Prince saves Princess fairy tale. In this one, Tress sets out to save the Prince. For a fantasy noob, but fairy tale enthusiast such as me, this was an interesting premise. Sanderson’s fantasy novel takes us on a journey across emerald, crimson, and midnight (black) spore seas so that Tress can save the love of her life, Charlie, from the captivity of the (beautiful) Sorceress who lives on the Midnight Sea. The tale is set in the Cosmere, a fantastical universe, created by Sanderson.
Before I started reading the book, I had come across a video on Twitter where air was being passed through a box of sand and sand had turned into a fluid; as is the property of sand. Much to my surprise, that’s exactly how the spore seas function in this novel. In the Cosmere, all the seas are beds of green / red / black spores which are moving (seething) and therefore ships can pass through. However, if you touch any of the spores, unlike sea water, they will destroy you by bursting apart and attacking you. So you see, Tress is navigating highly dangerous seas in order to save Charlie. Moreover, she’s doing this for love.
To be fair, I didn’t care much for the love story (it’s not a mainstay of the novel) but I thoroughly enjoyed this new world, the wonderful characters, the unique fantasy elements, and a whole new take on fantastical fiction. I’ve read this huge book alternating between my phone and Macbook, so there must be something to it. I also thought the writing was very clever. Very fresh, conversational, and in some places, very wise. I suppose that’s what we want fairy tales to do.
If you want a fun read that’s also not sloppy, this is a book worth reading. I’m grateful to have friends who push me towards literary beauty and therefore towards beauty in life. 🌊 👸🏽🌱
Bookhad
(13.10.2024)
bookhad 
a penny for your thoughts...