Backing Brandon Sanderson’s Secret Project Kickstarter is one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. Tress of the Emerald Sea is the first of those four secret novels Sanderson wrote during the pandemic when he wasn’t touring and had some “free time” on his hands. Of course what Brando Sando does on his free time is write more books, because he famously takes a break from writing to recharge by writing something else. The guy is a straight up nerd and I’m so glad about it. He loves what he does and he’s very good at it.
This one he wrote for his wife, Emily, and is a sort of Princess Bride-inspired Cosmere (his shared universe) fairytale. He and his wife both love the William Goldman film and book, but he wanted to see if he could write a story where the “Buttercup” (Tress) isn’t the most passive person in the story. And so, Tress sets off from the small island she’s lived on her entire life to rescue her Westley herself (his name is Charlie) and ends up becoming a pirate. She’s no Dread Pirate Roberts, but her adventures are just as fun.
They are also narrated by Hoid, an important character who has made an appearance in most of the Cosmere stories Sanderson has published so far. His narration is ridiculous, and Michael Kramer’s narration of it was perfection. (I had to do the audiobook because my physical copy still has not arrived, though we have been assured they will all be shipped by the end of this month.) But it’s not like it was a hardship. It was a really fun listen.
Below, please enjoy an illustration from the book (it’s illustrated, as will be all the Secret Projects) featuring Hoid wearing a terrible socks and sandals ensemble:
[4.5 stars]
