A review by billyjepma
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-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

3.75

Immaculately charming, even if its particular brand of whimsy and the overly quirky humor of the narrator didn’t always work for me. It starts off so well and gives you such a strong sense of tone, place, and character that I was instantly all in. Which is good, considering there’s a decent length of time in the middle that really doesn’t go anywhere, struggling to find the momentum in its plot. It doesn’t help that the stakes are often too loose to have much bite, especially with the “antagonists,” who are as one-note as they come.

And yet…I still had the loveliest time reading this. I might’ve been expecting something that wowed me a little more, but hey, I’m very happy to have spent the last two weeks reading this. It was like drinking a warm cup of tea in bed—in your favorite mug, obviously—while listening to someone tell you a story they’re making up as they go. It’s not exactly an exhilarating, or even all that memorable story, but it has such consistently enjoyable vibes, creative worldbuilding, and a rewarding character arc for our protagonist that I was more than content to sit back and let the book do its thing.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings