Bingo: I am counting this book for the “Green” square.
Tress is a simple window washer who lives on a rock in the middle of an ocean of deadly spores. She is content baking culinary masterpieces, adding to her cup collection and spending time with her best friend Charlie. When Charlie is captured by the Sorceress across the Midnight Sea. In order to rescue the man she loves, Tress must leave her quiet life behind for one of adventure and peril. As she journeys across the spore seas, Tress encounters pirates, spore cannons, a talking rat of unknown origin, and a dragon. She also discovers that she is capable of more than she ever imagined.
I went into this book having been told it was a stand-alone novel, and that was kind of true. It isn’t part of any of Sanderson’s other series, though it does take place in the Cosmere, his extended universe of fantasy novels. However, there were more references to Cosmere characters and concepts than I expected. The book is narrated by Hoid, a supernatural entity who cameos in almost every Cosmere book, and he plays a pivotal role in the ending of the book, but the book never really explains who he is or why readers should care about him. I’ve read enough other Cosmere books that I understood, but I think it would be confusing for anyone new to Sanderson’s work.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. The writing is witty and clever. The worldbuilding is detailed and fascinating (it’s Brandon Sanderson, after all). Tress is a fun, relatable protagonist, and there is a delightful collection of eccentric side characters. I recommend Tress to anyone looking for a lighthearted adventure full of magic and just a touch of romance.