Tress of the Emerald Sea

By Brandon Sanderson,

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

5 authors picked Tress of the Emerald Sea as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I loved the storytelling of this book so much. The quiet backwater girl thinking she is nothing special, changing into the best version of herself in a plausible and wonderful way was incredible.

The novel fits beautifully into the Cosmere but is an incredible standalone if you know nothing of it. I loved each character and the trials each person had to face. The foreshadowing and picturesque world was nothing short of a masterpiece.

This is probably one of my favorite books of all time. I love the subplot of a pirate on an unknown world doing pirate things but…

This book is everything I love in a fantasy novel! It had the fascinating magic system, the heart-pounding action scenes, and the sheer joy of living in another world for all-too-short a time.

But it also had a main character I cried for and a romance that gripped my heart with its simple beauty. Plus a charming narrator that was just pure fun to experience.

This is not just my favorite read of the year—it’s my favorite read in a long, long time.

Who else can create unique worlds that sing with life other than Brandon Sanderson?

His new standalone, Tress of the Emerald Sea, is a wonderful swashbuckling tale of adventure, mystery, and a whole lot of spores. Tress is such a wonderful main character, starting as someone completely ordinary, and growing into someone still ordinary, just with a little more adventure under her belt.

There was so much humor, twists I didn’t see coming, and plenty of fascinating world-building that I couldn’t put it down! Sanderson is a master of crafting an entire world around a single thought, element, or feeling,…

Subjugation: Zanchier

By SG Boudreaux,

Book cover of Subjugation: Zanchier

SG Boudreaux

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Harper Brinley is running for her life.

After escaping from a government holding facility where she, along with other scientists, was being forced to build a deadly weapon. She headed for the most remote place she could think of, the wild Xantifal Mountains.

The one place where no one would think to search for her. There, she found a massive hollowed tree in which to survive the harsh mountain winter. If she can survive the four-legged, fire-breathing firebirds and the equally large wildcats of the mountain ridge, then maybe she can find her way back to her children. She was…

Subjugation: Zanchier

By SG Boudreaux,

What is this book about?

Harper Brinley is running for her life. After escaping from a government holding facility, where she along with other scientists were being forced to build a deadly weapon, she headed for the most remote place she could think of, the wild Xantifal Mountains. The one place where no one would think to search for her. There she found a massive hollowed tree in which to survive the harsh mountain winter. If she can survive the four-legged, fire-breathing firebirds, and the equally large wildcats of the mountain ridge, then maybe she can find her way back to her children. She was…


Set in a breathtaking world, Tress is the fairy tale with a science fiction backbone that I always wanted to read.

With a heroine caught between following her heart on a terrifying journey, doing what is right, and doing what is practical, and rich and complex characters that aren’t just background filler, I remembered why I love reading. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy a good pirate adventure?

The master is at it again. Tress (the character) is lovable and feisty, and Tress (the book) is sardonic, suspenseful, and surprising at every turn.

The secret to reading Tress is to never take it too seriously while simultaneously realizing that it’s the most serious and touching story you’ll read all year.

I listened to the audio version, which I highly recommend: The narrator, Michael Kramer, absolutely brings this book to life with his many voices and accents, and he reads at a pace that’s just languorous enough to make you believe he’s sitting alongside the Emerald Sea’s pirates, kicking…

Want books like Tress of the Emerald Sea?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 84 books like Tress of the Emerald Sea.

Browse books like Tress of the Emerald Sea

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Pirates, magic-supernatural, and piracy?

Pirates 87 books
Magic-Supernatural 626 books
Piracy 138 books