Mistbornauthor Brandon Sanderson’s darker stories can take an emotional toll on their readers, sothis 2022 standalone fantasy book of his is a perfect option for a breather. TheMistbornbook seriescontains some large volumes, andThe Stormlight Archivenovels are even grander, with some of the longest in the genre. Not only are the books inBrandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universetypically 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’sThe Stormlight Archive; if it’s a dark mystery fantasy, there’sMistborn; if it’s action and science fiction, there’sThe Sunlit Man. Brandon Sanderson is a master at building compelling worlds and characters, andhe’s worked toward crafting an oeuvre with an assortment of tones and fantasy styles to choose from.

Tress watches Hoid and the Sorceress battle with AonDor magic

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 Seawas the first ofBrandon 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 bookfollows 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.

Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool next to a cover of Mistborn The Final Empire

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 ofMistbornand other Cosmere novels to appease long-term readers, even though the tone will be unlike what most are familiar with. While it’sstill an emotionally mature story, it’s much less dark and heavy thanMistbornorThe Stormlight Archive.

Brandon Sanderson Has A Point About Antiheroes & One Of His Best Cosmere Characters Proves It

Brandon Sanderson listed Deadpool, the Punisher, in a critique of modern antiheroes, and this character proves he knows what he’s talking about.

Tress Can Be Enjoyed Without Any Brandon Sanderson Reading Experience

Even if you’re not a Brandon Sanderson fan,Tress of the Emerald Seais quintessential light-hearted fantasy. It’s one of the rare books thatreturns the genre to its core elements, embracing fairytale wonder and the infinite possibilities of speculative fiction.Mistbornis 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.

Elantris, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and The Way of Kings covers