Scan barcode
A review by asearl
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sanderson does it again! I swear the man never misses. This one is unlike any of his other books so far.
Tone: It is funny and lighthearted while not sacrificing stakes or depth. It also knows when it needs to be serious.
Main Character: I like this character because she’s not your typical female protagonist… she seems like she could be a real person. She is meticulous, thoughtful, polite, she’s not a fighter (looking at you, Kaladin), she’s exceedingly practical and sane (looking at you, Shallan). It’s been a long time since I’ve read about a character and thought “oh, I can actually relate to her.” And she goes through a wonderful arc which I’ll let you discover for yourself.
Caution: this is a Cosmere book, which generally doesn’t affect much until the very end. It would be helpful to have at least a cursory understanding of how the universe works and be familiar with some of the other magic systems. Otherwise some things will feel like they come out of nowhere and don’t fit into this story at all (when I assure you they do). I don’t think it will affect your understanding of what the characters are going through but it will definitely help understand some of the plot beats and overt references at the end.
That’s the only prerequisite for reading this book. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Tone: It is funny and lighthearted while not sacrificing stakes or depth. It also knows when it needs to be serious.
Main Character: I like this character because she’s not your typical female protagonist… she seems like she could be a real person. She is meticulous, thoughtful, polite, she’s not a fighter (looking at you, Kaladin), she’s exceedingly practical and sane (looking at you, Shallan). It’s been a long time since I’ve read about a character and thought “oh, I can actually relate to her.” And she goes through a wonderful arc which I’ll let you discover for yourself.
Caution: this is a Cosmere book, which generally doesn’t affect much until the very end. It would be helpful to have at least a cursory understanding of how the universe works and be familiar with some of the other magic systems. Otherwise some things will feel like they come out of nowhere and don’t fit into this story at all (when I assure you they do). I don’t think it will affect your understanding of what the characters are going through but it will definitely help understand some of the plot beats and overt references at the end.
That’s the only prerequisite for reading this book. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Excrement, and Vomit