If You Need A Break From Brandon Sanderson’s Darker Stories, Read His Most Whimsical Book From 2 Years Ago
Mistborn author Brandon Sanderson’s darker stories can take an emotional toll on their readers, so this 2022 standalone fantasy book of his is a perfect option for a breather. The Mistborn book series contains some large volumes, and The Stormlight Archive novels are even grander, with some of the longest in the genre. Not only are the books in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe typically enormous, but they’re also dense with dark material, from character deaths, emotional turmoil, and more.
That said, the best thing about the Cosmere is that there’s something for everyone. If you’re into epic fantasy, there’s The Stormlight Archive; if it’s a dark mystery fantasy, there’s Mistborn; if it’s action and science fiction, there’s The Sunlit Man. Brandon Sanderson is a master at building compelling worlds and characters, and he’s worked toward crafting an oeuvre with an assortment of tones and fantasy styles to choose from.
Tress Of The Emerald Sea Is Totally Unlike Any Other Book Brandon Sanderson Has Written
Brandon Sanderson’s Whimsical Fantasy Romance Adventure Is Among His Best Work
Tress of the Emerald Sea was the first of Brandon Sanderson’s Secret Project books, stemming from his record-breaking Kickstarter. It’s one of his shortest fantasy novels to date, and it’s noted for its whimsical tone. Hoid, a character who’s famously appeared throughout most of Sanderson’s Cosmere stories, narrates the tale, bringing his typical wit to the light-hearted fairytale/love story. The book follows a young girl who sets out on a pirate ship to rescue her lost love from an evil sorceress across the world.
It’s one of his shortest fantasy novels to date, and it’s noted for its whimsical tone.
This book is part of Sanderson’s grander fantasy universe, but it doesn’t require knowledge of other titles to read. In fact, Sanderson has cited the book as an excellent starting point for reading his novels. There are still references to the worlds of Mistborn and other Cosmere novels to appease long-term readers, even though the tone will be unlike what most are familiar with. While it’s still an emotionally mature story, it’s much less dark and heavy than Mistborn or The Stormlight Archive.
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Tress Can Be Enjoyed Without Any Brandon Sanderson Reading Experience
Original cover art for The Way of Kings by Michael Whelan
Even if you’re not a Brandon Sanderson fan, Tress of the Emerald Sea is quintessential light-hearted fantasy. It’s one of the rare books that returns the genre to its core elements, embracing fairytale wonder and the infinite possibilities of speculative fiction. Mistborn is a beautiful and immersive story, but it requires a degree of effort to understand the world-building and magic system. Tress, on the other hand, is pure fun and escapism, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for something with a light, whimsical tone within the fantasy genre.
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Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Marsh, Elend Venture, Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian, Wayne, Steris Harms
Summary
The Mistborn series, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy, Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, including Era 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.
