AlthoughTress of the Emerald Seais a great book,Brandon Sandersonreleased another novel the same year that was even better. All ofBrandon Sanderson’s booksare incredible, witheach installment ofThe Stormlight ArchiveandMistbornshowcasing Sanderson’s mastery of the fantasy genre and his world-building skills. However, his standalones are just as enjoyable and deserve just as much attention, with his 2023 pirate adventure being, in my mind, one of his best works that often only gets tangential attention.
While it does not have some ofSanderson’s best antihero charactersor his more traditional themes,Tress of the EmeraldSeais a well-done addition to Sanderson’s works. The story, characters, and whimsical beats all create a strong narrative that could only be achieved by Sanderson, despite it being somewhat outside his normal format. That said,one of his other 2023 releases captured that same level of whimsy, givingTressa run for its moneyfor many Sanderson fans who loved the book, myself included:Yumi and the Nightmare Painter.
I Love Tress Of The Emerald Sea, But Yumi And The Nightmare Painter Is Even Better
Yumi And The Nightmare Painter Was Published Seven Months After Tress Of The Emerald Sea
Yumi and the Nightmare Paintercaptures and expands on some of the same great characteristics ofTress of the Emerald Sea, making it, in my mind, an even better Sanderson book.Sanderson’sTress of the Emerald Seais a whimsical standalone that expandsSanderson’sCosmereuniverse. Through Tress' story,readers get to explore more of Sanderson’s lore while also embarking on a fun, pirate-filled,Princess Bride-type adventure as she races to get her friend, Charlie, home after he disappears from their tiny island community.
To me, the best part of this Sanderson novel is that magical and light tone.Many of Sanderson’s other works are a bit heavier and higher-stakes due to their themes and circumstances, so to have this lighter installment proves exciting, even as it maintains his elaborate approach to magic and signature writing style. Even so,Yumi and the Nightmare Painteris able to capture all of this and more, making it a great read for any Sanderson fan who wants a change of pace.
Yumi’s Tone And Themes Create New Layers In Sanderson’s Cosmere
Sanderson’sYumi and the Nightmare Painteris a must-read for both fans of his world-building and anyone looking for a moving, vibrant adventure story.Yumi and the Nightmare Painteris a story within a story told by Hoid, a recurring character inBrandon Sanderson’sCosmerebooks.Hoid, trapped on the planet Komashi, tells the story of Yumi and Nikaro, two people from separate worlds who, after being pushed together, must find a way to save their respective communities from disaster.
At the time of writing,Yumihas a 4.45 out of 5 star rating onGoodreads.
Yumiis meant to be within the Cosmere, butreaders do not need to know any of Sanderson’s previous works, making it a great introductionto his larger universe and world-building mechanics, just likeTress.Yet its focus on duality and cooperation, as well as its strong pacing, really help the story shine. Its visual contrasts give it an anime feel while also taking a slower approach to a standard fantasy narrative. That shift is a worthy experiment for Sanderson, much like his other Secret Project works, which sadly do not get as much attention as they should.
All Brandon Sanderson’s Secret Projects Deserve More Love
Each One Brings New Themes And Twists To Sanderson’s World
Each one of Sanderson’s Secret Projects brings new layers, not only to hisCosmereuniverse, but to the fantasy genre as a whole, making the lack of attention outside ofTresssaddening. Despite the fact that all ofSanderson’s Secret Project bookscame out in the same year,Tressisthe most popular among them and is often talked about on the same level as his major series.It deserves love due to its wonderful narrative, but all of Sanderson’s projects bring something new to the table.
Every one of the Secret Project books brings a new set of tropes and themes to the Cosmere.
Every one of the Secret Project books brings a new set of tropes and themes to the Cosmere,from a swashbuckling adventure to a spy thriller to an introspective and supernatural fable. By introducing these tropes, the Cosmere gets to grow outside its usual limits, experimenting with what these stories can do. As a result,Brandon Sandersonreally gets to showcase his love of storytelling as an art, highlighting how the best narratives truly are a mix of a little bit of everything.
The Cosmere
TheCosmereis a vast interconnected universe created by author Brandon Sanderson, encompassing multiple fantasy series and standalone novels. Each series is set on a different planet within the Cosmere, featuring unique magic systems and cultures, yet all are subtly linked through overarching themes and characters. This intricate world-building allows for a rich, immersive reading experience, with stories that intertwine across series boundaries.
