If you liked
Books like Tress of the Emerald Sea
by Brandon Sanderson
Tress of the Emerald Sea is Brandon Sanderson's charming standalone: a practical young woman sails a world of spore-seas to rescue the boy she loves, narrated with a fairy-tale wink. It is the coziest door into his Cosmere. If you want more inventive, warm-hearted fantasy, read on.
The shortlist
What to read next
Mistborn: The Final Empireby Brandon Sanderson
“Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson 2006 review. A street urchin named Vin discovers she can use magic by ingesting and burning metals, and a crew of thieves recruits her for the impossible: kill the immortal Lord Ruler.”
The Way of Kingsby Brandon Sanderson
“The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson 2010 review. On the storm-blasted continent of Roshar, an enslaved bridgeman, a disgraced scholar, and a young prince converge as the world races toward a forgotten war. The most ambitious epic fantasy debut since A Game of Thrones.”
The Priory of the Orange Treeby Samantha Shannon
“The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon 2019 review. A standalone epic fantasy across four kingdoms preparing for the return of a banished ancient dragon. Canonical contemporary literary epic fantasy.”
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueby V. E. Schwab
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab 2020 review. A young Frenchwoman in 1714 trades her future for immortality and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. V. E. Schwab's standalone literary fantasy.”
The Night Circusby Erin Morgenstern
“The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 2011 review. A black-and-white circus open only from sunset to sunrise hosts a years-long competition between two young magicians. Canonical contemporary American literary fantasy.”
The Atlas Sixby Olivie Blake
“The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake 2022 review. Six powerful magicians are recruited for the Alexandrian Society. Only five will be initiated. The first Atlas trilogy book and the canonical BookTok-era dark academia romantasy.”
FAQ
Common questions about Tress of the Emerald Sea read-alikes
- I want more Brandon Sanderson.
- Mistborn: The Final Empire is the tighter place to start, a heist crew and a rules-based magic system in the same connected Cosmere universe. The Way of Kings launches his enormous Stormlight Archive. Both show off the plotting Tress hints at.
- I want epic fantasy in one volume.
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon delivers sprawling political fantasy with dragons and a queer romance in a single standalone. Bigger and more serious than Tress, but self-contained.
- I want the whimsical, romantic, slightly magical mood.
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Night Circus both wrap romance and wonder in lush, dreamlike atmosphere. If Tress's fairy-tale charm was the draw more than the magic system, start there.
- I want clever magic and morally grey characters.
- The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake locks six magicians in a secret library and lets them scheme. Darker than Tress, but it shares the pleasure of a tightly engineered magical premise.
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