Tress of the Emerald Sea: A Cosmere Novel (Dramatized Adaptation): Secret Projects, Book 1
4.9 | 12 ratings
Price: 18.14
Last update: 02-02-2026
Product details
- Listening Length : 10 hours and 19 minutes
- Author : Brandon Sanderson
- Narrator : David Cui Cui, see all
- Publication date : September 12, 2024
- Language : English
- Publisher : Graphic Audio LLC
- ASIN : B0D9PHGVV7
- Version : Original recording
- Program Type : Audiobook
- Best Sellers Rank:#633 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
- Fantasy Dramatizations
- Dramatizations
- Folklore (Books)
- Customer Reviews:4.94.9 out of 5 stars(12)
Top reviews from the United States
- TysonVery enjoyable bookI recently purchased Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson on Amazon, and it’s a delightful standalone fantasy that’s perfect for fans of his work, like myself with my love for The Wheel of Time. Set in the Cosmere universe, this 384-page novel follows Tress, a window washer with a knack for collecting cups, who embarks on a whimsical yet heartfelt quest across a sea of emerald spores to rescue her love, Charlie. Sanderson’s witty, first-person narration (via Hoid) and fairy-tale-like tone make it a cozy, accessible read, blending humor with surprisingly deep themes of self-discovery. The vibrant worldbuilding—think pirate ships navigating deadly spore oceans—and quirky characters like a talking rat kept me hooked over a weekend. My only gripe is that the pacing slows slightly in the middle, with some side adventures feeling a tad indulgent, but the climactic twists made up for it. This book’s charm and Sanderson’s signature magic system make it a must-read for fantasy lovers, offering a fresh yet familiar escape.
- DressiIt won me over for more Sanderson and more Graphic AudioThis was my first among the Graphic Audio productions. I've usually disliked a lot of dramatizations with full casts in the past since my first exposure to them set too high a bar - Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker, that is. Everything else has seemed to have a state of difference from the book that I just didn't like. I felt less like I was experiencing an audiobook and more listening to a play, which I didn't want.
The graphic audio was very good and truly felt unabridged, more like an audio book reading that came with different voices for the characters rather than a radio drama. The music helped set good tones and separate sections of the narrative that were tangents. The sound effects were numerous but mild enough that I didn't feel overwhelmed by them. There were a few that I believe might have even given a bit more clarity over the text, such as a door opening sound when it wasn't written. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation and will be checking out more of them.
As far as the secret project Tress, it was wonderful. I really enjoyed the Cosmere lore tossed in and about, the narrator's participation and first/second points of view. I also appreciated how little the story explained or outright didn't explain things such as kandra, tablets and tech while leaving the voicing more in line with the knowledge of the planet. It truly felt like a cosmere novel while feeling standalone, standout and very, very well-written. If this is what Sanderson can do when he's got all the time in the world to write and no restrictions or expectations, I want that to be the standard.
Note, I did get this at my local library instead of purchasing. But I did buy the book outright because of it. My reading difficulties always give me problems, so audio books are usually the way I consume literature. It's good to know the pronunciation of things and to have a voice in my head.
Now I just have to get that voice out of my head while writing everything else for the next several days, lol