Apr 28, 2023 by Cathryn deVries, in Book Reviews

What if Buttercup hadn’t given up Westley for dead in The Princess Bride? What if she had gone after him? This was Brandon Sanderson’s inspiration for writing Tress’s story. He also wanted to write an entire book in Hoid’s voice—so he’s our narrator. Others have commented that the style of Tress of the Emerald Sea is very different from Brandon’s usual, and this is the primary reason—it’s narrator heavy, with Hoid going off on little amusing, and often insightful, tangents. The narrative is also liberally sprinkled with Hoid’s sense of humour, which regularly includes jokes involving human anatomy and bodily functions. I prefer more refined humour, but apart from this, I found Hoid a charming narrator.

But what about Tress? I liked her. She is not fiery, or witty, or accomplished—but she is thoughtful, in the sense that she thinks, and also thinks about others. Brandon grows and uses this single strength to shape her a rather extraordinary arc. From crafting an audacious plan to leave her island with the help of her parents, to inventing extrordinary ways to use the deadly spores of the different seas to her advantage to help her adoptive crew, Tress shines as a model of what quiet people who don't like to make trouble for anyone can do.

I’m glad I read Tress of the Emerald Sea. Whilst it was not a gut-wrenching read like the Stormlight Archives, there was depth in its lightness, loveable characters, and those crazy twists we have come to expect in a Sanderson novel. And as a bonus for me, it also turned out to be a good comparison for OUR trilogy—star-crossed lovers, adventure, a heroine who discovers that all she needs is inside her. I was getting a bit worried I’d never find one so it was a welcome surprise!

What to Expect:

Action: Plenty of shipboard action, hints of gruesomeness but nothing too graphically described.
Romance: Clean, wholesome, sweet romance with a star-crossed lovers trope. 
Worldbuilding: Incredibly unique world, though we mostly only see the seas (which are pretty mind-blowing) 
Language: No foul language, but there is a little crudity from time to time
Thought Provocation: Hoid manages to surprise with some deep insights wrapped in humour
 

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