Synopsis:

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

Review:

This was one of my favourite reads from 2023, so I think it’s time it gets a review! I love books with a bit of whimsy, and Tress has that in spades.

Tress has lived all her life on a little island called The Rock. The sea that surrounds the island is, as you’d expect, emerald green and… well, it’s not actually water. It’s very dangerous to sail on the sea, and soon enough Tress finds herself doing just that as she ventures out on a ship, leaving behind her family and beloved cup collection to rescue the duke’s son, Charlie.

I’m truly amazed at how many different worlds Sanderson has been able to conjure up. The world in Tress was unlike anything I have ever read before and it was a lot of fun to uncover its uniqueness as we went along with Tress on her journey. I also really loved how Sanderson turned the would-be hero farm-boy trope upside down with Tress, who starts off a lowly window washer before she goes off to valiantly rescue the boy she likes.

Tress is a fabulous character and it was such a pleasure to read her arc over the course of the book. The cast travelling alongside her is just as vibrantly portrayed, and we have the fun of meeting the narrator of the story onboard the ship too. Some may find the style of narration offputting, but I personally loved it. As I said, I enjoy some whimsy, and this book is told in that style, with many lighthearted moments that made me audibly chuckle. However it isn’t all airy and light, there are some deeper moments within the tale which keep the plot grounded nicely.

I will say if you haven’t yet read this one, as well as being aware of its whimsical nature, it’s helpful to know that it does lean much more ya than most of Sanderson’s other works. While I don’t mind that, I know some were put off by it.

A special note also to this beauty of a leatherbound edition. It was such a treat to read!