Brandon Sanderson's 'Tress of the Emerald Sea' Lands Among Best Fantasy Books of the 2020s

Fantasy literature has had quite the decade so far, and one name keeps rising to the top of every best-of conversation: Brandon Sanderson. His surprise release Tress of the Emerald Sea has officially been recognized as one of the six best fantasy books published since 2020, according to Collider — and honestly, it's hard to argue with that assessment.

A Secret Project Worth the Wait

When Sanderson revealed in 2022 that he had quietly written four complete novels during the COVID-19 pandemic, the literary world collectively lost its mind — in the best possible way. Rather than sit on them, he launched a public funding campaign and began releasing what he called his Secret Projects. Tress of the Emerald Sea was the first out of the gate, and it introduced readers to the opening chapter of the Hoid's Travails series. The story centers on an ordinary young woman who stows away aboard a ship to rescue her friend from a dangerous sorceress — think classic high-seas adventure with a distinctly Sanderson twist.

If you've been following just how expansive Sanderson's creative universe has become, none of this is terribly surprising. His Cosmere shared universe is already bigger than most people realize, and Tress slots right into that sprawling, interconnected world with remarkable ease.

A Love Letter to Swashbuckling Fantasy

What makes Tress stand out — even within Sanderson's own impressively stacked bibliography — is how deliberately different it feels from his other work. Inspired by William Goldman's The Princess Bride, the novel leans into a cozier, more fairy-tale-adjacent energy that longtime Sanderson fans might not have expected. The magic system is as inventive and satisfying as ever, and narrator Hoid delivers his signature wit with layers of unexpected depth beneath the humor.

While the book sometimes gets shelved in the Young Adult section, it's genuinely enjoyable for fantasy readers of any age. It's subversive without being cynical, adventurous without being exhausting, and emotionally resonant in ways that sneak up on you.

Sanderson has spoken openly about how different genres and storytelling cycles influence his work — something he explored in his now-famous 20-Year Nostalgia Cycle theory, which sheds light on why certain styles of fantasy surge back into popularity at specific cultural moments. Tress feels like a conscious, affectionate nod to the swashbuckling tales that shaped a generation of readers.

The Bigger Picture for Sanderson

Beyond Tress, Sanderson's creative momentum shows no signs of slowing. Adaptations of his work are in various stages of development, with fans keeping a close eye on updates surrounding the Mistborn adaptation and the much-anticipated Skyward screen project. It's a remarkable moment for an author who has spent more than two decades reshaping what epic fantasy can look like.

Company Worth Keeping

Of course, Tress doesn't sit alone at the top of this particular list. It shares the spotlight with celebrated titles like Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, Fonda Lee's Jade Legacy, and R.F. Kuang's Babel — a lineup that reflects just how rich and diverse fantasy storytelling has become in the 2020s. From cozy adventures to grimdark epics, from standalone gems to sprawling series conclusions, the genre is firing on all cylinders.

For anyone who hasn't yet made time for Tress of the Emerald Sea, consider this your sign. It's warm, clever, and utterly transportive — exactly the kind of book that reminds you why fantasy captured your imagination in the first place.