I’ve been meaning to get into Sanderson for a while now. Hes is obviously one of the biggest names in fantasy right now, and honestly, I’ve felt a little guilty not having read anything by him. But every time I go to a bookstore and see an entire shelf dedicated to his work, I feel a bit overwhelmed and have no idea where to start.
Then I saw one of his Instagram reels where he recommended a few entry points for new readers, and Tress of the Emerald Sea was one of them, so I figured, why not?
Pretty quickly though, I realized this might not have been the best first Sanderson book. Even he’s said it’s not really representative of his usual style.
That said, the book itself was… fun. It gave me strong Princess Bride and A Harvest of Heart vibes, with a bit of cozy, whimsical charm. It’s wholesome, creative, and honestly feels like it would be a great read for younger audiences or anyone looking for something light and uplifting. You can absolutely tell Sanderson knows what he’s doing, his creativity and skill is undeniable.
But I think my expectations kind of worked against me here. I had just come off King Sorrow by Joe Hill, and maybe I was still riding that high. Compared to that, Tress just didn’t grab me the same way. I was expecting something more addictive, more intense, and instead got something softer and more playful.
So I ended up a little underwhelmed.
That said, I’m definitely not writing Sanderson off. If anything, this just made me more curious about his bigger, more “typical” works. I get the feeling those are going to be more my speed.
Final thoughts: Fun, charming, and creative. But not something I’d personally revisit. Probably not the best starting point if you’re looking to see what Sanderson really does at his peak.
by Caffeine_And_Regret
1 Comment
Way of Kings is probably gonna blow your mind after this – it’s like going from a cozy campfire story to watching someone architect entire universes.