“Enjoy memories, yes, but don’t be a slave to who you wish you once had been.”
Trees of the Emerald Sea is a bestselling fantasy book from 2023. Nominated for Best Fantasy in the Goodreads Choice Awards, author Brandon Sanderson whisks readers into the heart of the Cosmere universe through the story of Tress. Growing up on her island home surrounded by an emerald-green ocean, Tress’ life is simple, and her biggest pleasures are collecting cups brought in by sailors and listening to the tales told by her friend, Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage, tragedy strikes, leaving Tress with no option other than stowing away and finding the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. However, with spores of pirates and certain death promised from just a single touch of water, the stakes couldn’t be higher. If you loved Sanderson’s whimsical high fantasy story, join us at What We Reading for the best fairy tale-esque books like Trees of the Emerald Sea!
Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) – Travis Baldree
Kicking off our list of books like Trees of the Emerald Sea is Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes. After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the final time. The battle-weary orc is hoping to start fresh by opening the first coffee shop the city of Thune has ever seen. But, aside from the fact that no one in the city even knows what coffee actually is, old and new rivals stand in the way of Viv making her new life a success.
If Viv truly wants to put the ways of the blade behind her, she won’t be able to do on her own. Often, the true rewards of the uncharted path are the fellow travellers you encounter along the way. And whether they’re brought together by ancient magic or a freshly-poured cup of joe, Viv may just find someone who could become a partner, family or perhaps even something deeper than that.
The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
For another book like Trees of the Emerald Sea brimming with magic and romance, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus is a great follow-up. The story opens with the black-and-white striped canvas tents of the Le Cirque des Reves rolling into town with no warning, and offering an array of breathtaking amazements once the sun goes down. Behind the scenes, a fierce competition between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, is underway.
Both have been trained by the mentors since childhood, but neither of them know that their game of cat and mouse is one where only one of them can be left standing and that the circus is set to be the stage for an epic duel of wit and imagination. And, as the two tumble headfirst into a deep love, it is a duel that demands to be played out, pulling everyone from the circus’ performers to its patrons into their orbit.
Paladin’s Grace (The Saint Of Steel #1) – T. Kingfisher
Stephen is a broken paladin, living only for the opportunity to be of some use to someone before he dies. But all of that changes when he meets a fugitive called Grace and witnesses an assassination attempt gone awry. The pair are soon forced to navigate a web of intrigue, treachery and betrayal, as spies and poisoners hone in on them from every angle. Meanwhile, a cryptic killer stalks them from one step behind.
Paladin’s Grace is the epic fantasy novel by Hugo and Nebula-award-winning author T. Kingfisher; like Trees of the Emerald Sea, it offers the perfect blend of cutesy romance and humour that fans of Brandon Sanderson’s stories are sure to love.
The Princess Bride – William Goldman
One of the most famous fantasy novels of all time and one that Brandon Sanderson has claimed helped inspire Trees of the Emerald Sea, The Princess Bride asks what happens when the most handsome prince of all time turns out to be anything but the man of a princess’ dreams.
As a boy, William Goldman claims he loved to hear his father reading S. Morgenstern’s The Princess Bride. But, as a grown-up, he learned that his dear old dad had left out the ‘boring parts’, and only focused on the ‘good bits’. In Goldman’s version, he has reconstructed a ‘Good Parts Version’ designed to delight wise kids and wide-eyed adults with fencing, fighting, true love, giants, monsters, revenge, betrayal and, naturally, true love.
Stardust – Neil Gaiman
Young Tristan Thorn will do anything to win the heart of the cold-hearted Victoria – even catch her the star they both watch fall from the night sky. But, to do so, he must venture out to the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name.
Beyond that old stone wall, Tristan discovers the realm of Faerie. In Faerie, nothing, not even a fallen star from the heavens, is what he could have ever imagined. A Locus Award Nominee, Neil Gaiman’s Stardust is the perfect follow-up to Trees of the Emerald Sea for anyone who loves a fairy/folk tale vibe.
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Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle #1) – Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie has the grave misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably if she ever leaves home to seek her fate. But, when she inadvertently catches the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie is put under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking this curse lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl’s abode.
In another one of the best fairytale stories like Trees of the Emerald Sea, to untangle the enchantment, Sophie is forced to handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon and face off against the Witch of the Waster herself. Along her adventure, she will learn that there is far more to Howl – and herself – than what meets the eye.
The Wee Free Men (Discworld #30) – Terry Pratchett
Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, a young witch-to-be named Tiffany Aching is the only thing standing between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to find her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the local Nac Mac Feegle – aka. The Wee Free Men – a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-swinging, six-inch-tall blue men who are as fierce as they are funny.
Together Tiffany and The Wee Free Man battle shifting landscapes, brutal flying fairies and black dogs with eyes of fire and razor teeth before finally confronting the Queen of the Elves, the all-mighty ruler of this land where reality intertwines with nightmare. Infused with fantastical elements and plenty of whimsical humour, Terry Pratchett’s classic tale The Wee Free Men needs to be on your TBR list if you loved Trees of the Emerald Sea.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
