What can I say about Sanderson that hasn’t already been said? It’s another story in a wholly unique and fantastical world that simultaneously is grounded in the most human emotions. Tress is a girl whose entire life has taken place on a small, salt rock island in the middle of the Emerald Sea. The sea though, is not water; it’s spores that leak from one of the many moons orbiting the planet. Every moon pours tons of spores on the planet constantly and they make up the different oceans of the planet. One drop of water will cause them to do various things depending on the variation and immediately makes the salt rock island detail have more relevance.

What sets this story apart from other Sanderson works is its tone. The story is told by a character from the Cosmere, Wit, who embellishes tales with his own humor while serving to teach a lesson to his audience. His perspective gives the story a lighthearted feeling that some of his other stories don’t have. The world is also not as dense with detail. That’s not to say the mechanics of it aren’t interesting or thought out, it’s just that the narrator does a good job of telling you what you need to know without getting too in detail. It’s a fine balance and makes this novel a great entrypoint into the Cosmere as a whole.

While the style of the story will stick with me, what left an impact was the character growth. Tress never really wanted to explore the world apart from her island. She only leaves to rescue the one she loves. As she progresses on her journey, she learns more about who she is as a person. The revelations she comes to would not have been possible had she never left the island. It points to how people can be comfortable in the lives they have and will completely miss out on new experiences that can serve to grow them into someone else entirely. Life has a way of shaping us into new versions of ourselves as we go along, but only if we are willing to take that plunge. Tress’ story involves a talking rat among other surprises, but still proved relatable to me. It’s essential to try new things and be willing to change to keep moving forward. Whatever the catalyst is, allow it to push you forward. The journey is the most important part as it changes you on the way to your destination, ultimately preparing you for the resolution. Tress of the Emerald Sea is a story that’s introspective and can help you realize some things about life in general and even something about yourself. I’d recommend this to anyone in a rut or in need of a short, fantasy journey.