Your guide to Tress of the Emerald Sea (Secret Project #1)

[@robguestusername]

I think that when Hoid said he *WAS* part of a secret plot to kill god, he meant in the past. Like before the shattering.

[@Bookborn]

Ahh fine that makes sense. I got over excited 🤣 that also works with what he said later with the sixteen people

[@jmariemi]

That’s how I understood it as well. I thought it was mentioned in the stormlight archives as well.

[@DocHogan]

I had a similar read, but I took it as being part of the plot to "kill" Odium

[@DocHogan]

With the possibility that the 17 are an oathpact to 'babysit' the Shards

[@markhelfrich7238]

I’m with Rob on this one. To me it referred to Adonalsium.

[@CunnininnuC]

Okay there’s this part where ulaam says “touché” and tress doesn’t understand him and I think that’s a fun lil inside joke about how lots of the names on Scadriel sound super French and I really appreciated the layers that were in that single joke

[@bobbobberton2416]

So many of Hoid’s references through the first 3/4 of this book had me tripping-racing tires, athletic socks, office buildings, socks w/sandals… I was like, um, is the future of the Cosmere just Earth? Man the next 20 years is going to be fun.

[@Bookborn]

Yeah I couldn't tell if it would be earth adjacent or just Sanderson's way of using more common words in his writing...

[@joshbullock6377]

One little thing i loved was that the marsh reference came in the chapter titled 'the survivor' AKA Kelsier

[@Bookborn]

Uhmmm EXCELLENT observation! That’s on me for never reading a chapter title in my life 🤣

[@joshbullock6377]

@@Bookborn i also noted at one point Fate was mentioned with a capital letter, is this a God that we haven't met yet, because we know all the shards names and this isn't one?

[@Bookborn]

@@joshbullock6377 Someone else pointed this out! I totally missed it - I read it kind of how we use "Lady Luck". But I think it's possible its an unnamed shard prior to this point...seems like the sneaky way Brandon would drop a hint

[@henryward5457]

@@joshbullock6377 It could be unrelated, a shard, or simply a reference to Fortune.

[@user-nb2rg7fx2o]

SPOILER: Something I really thought worked with this book was the foreshadow that Tress was changing and wouldn’t be compatible with an unchanged Charlie. I really loved the initial scenes of Charlie and Tress, I loved how sweet and pure their relationship was, but as the story went on I began getting nervous that she would rescue Charlie and realize she didn’t want to be with him anymore. Technically, this *did* happen, when she left with the light weaving Charlie. I was so bummed at first, and immediately so excited when she marched back in and realized it wasn’t Charlie. I thought it was very effective; allowed growth for both characters while maintaining their very sweet relationship! This was a huge success for me, I loved it so kuch

[@Bookborn]

Yeah it's funny I'm not like a huge romance person and so I didn't feel invested but for the brief moment I thought that they wouldn't be together (and that my theory on rat-Charlie must be wrong) I was bummed lol. I'm glad they ended up together.

[@user-nb2rg7fx2o]

I think it works so well because Sanderson establishes a really sweet rapport between them. Even if they’d just been best friends, it would have been equally compelling! I think their ending is lovely and adds to the book in a nice way, it’s a sweet romance that doesn’t overpower the book

[@נעם-קליין]

@@Bookborn What I find interesting in that is that the part you thought maybe you were wrong was the same part I was convinced Huck was Charlie - I believe someone said something similar in Brandon's book club, too. I mean, the entire scene with the fake Charlie seemed out of character - if not for Charlie, then for the Sorceress. Plus what the Sorceress told Huck at this point, and a myriad of other points. It literally didn't fit in the book, at least the way I saw it, unless Huck was Charlie - but somehow, for you it was a moment of "maybe not". Overanalyzing it will probably just lead to the conclusion that when you're busy expecting a certain twist, you get dissapointed when it seems (even for a moment) the twist isn't going to happen. I've read the book with a reading group of my own, where one of my fellow readers guessed that Huck was Charlie by chapter 30. I disagreed with her. You can see where that went.

[@cenedra20]

I felt the same way. She couldn't be with the old Charlie after she changed so much, I was worried for them because I did ship them in the beginning of the book... so it was perfect for me!

[@tadious9415]

The thing that fascinates me most about Death / Marsh is that if he has been traveling that would mean he'd have to tell people "I am Death". That or someone else is spreading stories about him. I almost like the idea of Kelsier telling ghostbloods to tell the story of Death with the spikes through the eyes throughout the Cosmere just to troll his big brother! XD

[@robmack519]

Lol, I love that so much. The idea that Marsh had nothing to do with spreading it, or even tries to discourage it spreading, but Kelsier does it just to bug him

[@wingracer1614]

It doesn't have to have anything to do with Marsh or Kelsier. We know a lot of Scadrians have been worldhopping, heck this whole world could be populated by runaway Scadrians for all we know and Death is a part of their culture, they all know and talk about him. A planet like this, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a temple to the survivor on it somewhere even if Kelsier and the Ghostbloods have never been there themselves.

[@tadious9415]

@@wingracer1614 it's possible but I would think anyone cosmere aware enough to world hop wouldn't be super religious worshiping marsh.

[@wingracer1614]

@@tadious9415 Why? Demoux is both. And you don't have to be religious to fear Death.

[@tadious9415]

@@wingracer1614 demoux was religious at one point. We don't know if he is at the time he's working with the 17th shard. There's also a difference between fearing that individual and preaching to a new world about this religious figure.

[@Wordhopper1990]

I thought this books was great! Cosmere things I wanted to point out: - Ulaam was mentioned by MeLaan in The Lost Metal! - Xisis is obviously also a worldhopper. In the RoW Ars Arcanum, Khriss mentions a character named Foil, who lives under the sea and studies aethers, so there’s a chance Xisis and Foil are two names for the same dragon. - Dragonsteel mention! - Hoid also refers to Kelsier in his narration, in addition to his Sazed and Tress’s Marsh allusions. The Marsh thing was also mentioned by Khriss in the TLM Ars Arcanum. - Hoid mentions the Lilting Abyss on Threnody - I reckon his “secret plot to kill God” and “I’ve said those words” comments refer to the Shattering of Adonalsium - The Iriali having left 300 years ago puts this in the far future as well, since they’re on Roshar during Stormlight and refer to Roshar as the fourth land (out of the seven of the Iriali Long Trail). Since they might be popping up on Scadrial next, Lumar could have been their sixth planet.

[@Bookborn]

Yes I had marked Xisis and then just didn't end up talking about it! I also saw the Dragonsteel mention - Idk if you've ever watched Family Guy but I felt like that skit when everyone gets excited because the movie title is said in the movie 😂 I try not to mention things that I don't feel like I have anything to discuss - like the Threnody mention - but maybe I should jsut for fun. Oh and nice on the timeline! I didn't even put that together!

[@tgibridays]

I missed the Marsh thing in the TLM Ars Arcanum. Does she mention that Marsh is a worldhopper or that his personification of death has carried on?

[@Wordhopper1990]

@@tgibridays It’s along the lines of noting that Marsh’s legend as Death has spread throughout the Cosmere.

[@Wordhopper1990]

@@Bookborn I haven’t seen that episode, but I also felt like it was a huge name dropping moment! I agree the Threnody mention isn’t major - but I get excited whenever Brandon expands on his worldbuilding, even in minor ways.

[@Haxerous]

All th e Dragons originate on Yolen anyway, so Xisis will be a worldhopper by default.

[@tgibridays]

I loved Brandon's fashion critiques via Hoid in this book. 😂

[@Bookborn]

It was literally so funny because a few things he mentioned are in style now but def weren’t at all even a few years ago. So that part just made me laugh every time

[@karenschultz953]

@@Bookborn lol right? Socks and slides are in style now Brandy!

[@CesarTheKingVA]

I think by how sazed "released" the kandra, he meant "released into the cosmere". In the sense of "sent out into". Not necessarily that they no longer have a connection to him, but that they are free agents able to go and do what they want.

[@haku8135]

We see hints of this in Lost Metal, Sazed is LITERALLY starting to send Kandra out into the Cosmere. The real question is, what is Ulaam DOING here? He's clearly a Kandra that's testing something.... A bit MORE. Normally Kandra will digest someone, take their bones, and replicate their form perfectly. Ulaam, has a zombie thing going on. He's not just using the bones, he's using EVERYTHING. He seems to be attempting to BUILD himself almost a super body. Experimenting with what does and doesn't work as he just sticks things onto himself. You've gotta wonder, is he doing that because Sazed has a plan that needs it? Or is it just a hobby and he has other things he needs to do here?

[@josiahpeterson1694]

This was such a fantastic book. It feels so fresh, whimsical, and charming. And I think this world is potentially Sanderson's most unique world simply because of the spores and fluidization. I also did not expect this book to be as Cosmere-aware as it was. This book was just a phenomenal start to the Year of Sanderson.

[@Bookborn]

YES, I was going to say I think it's perhaps one of my favorite worlds. I felt the same way as when I read Silence. Maybe it's just because we've spent so long on some of the other Cosmere worlds, but it feels so fresh and exciting.

[@wingracer1614]

Just finished reading it and I think the one thing you missed is how absolutely gorgeous this book is. The illustrations are fantastic and I love the little touches like green or red print to start a chapter.

[@Bookborn]

Haha I said that in my insta review! I was so in love with them!

[@MegaBollard]

I only noticed the colour shift on the chapter headings as it transitioned from red to black, was a nice touch.

[@alexlatella8220]

Late to the party but great video. A few things you missed: 1) Hoid says something along the longs of “For every Push there is a Pull. Something an old adversary of mine always says”. This is referring to Kelsier which is FASCINATING, but that means Kelsier is alive and well during mistborn era 4 and has had more clashes with Hoid. 2) We get to see a dragon in true form for the first time in the cosmere, and dragonsteel is now canonized. 3) We can tell from the way he talks about saying “I’m doing it to protect you” as an excuse for the murder of Adonalsium that he regrets what he did. In my opinion this moment is massively overlooked, as we know have a much better idea of Hoid’s motivations. Also what happened with Hoid becoming an Elantrian is that for some reason now to be an elantrian you have to be accepted by their “organization” / invited by another member. So Hoid made a deal with Riin that if he could undo her curse she would have to make him an elantrian. That is why he willingly took a curse from her and why he gains aonic spells after undoing the curse.

[@7Seraphem7]

The Elantrian thing isn't really a change, it's just prior to this they had set up a kind of automatic recruitment system in the AonDor comprising Elantris itself, one that Hoid likely tried tricking into accepting him as a candidate and failed, so plan B was find an Elentrian powerful enough to give him the in he wants (Who knows if the post novel Elantrian's understand how to do that) and that he could trick into giving him one.

[@rolandbuysse9374]

I didn't really know what to expect from the secret project books, but bought them simply because I trusted Brandon to deliver. After one book I'm really happy I did! I thought it was a great book and I'm with you on that I love these little sidestep-stories into corners of the cosmere, away from the main story lines.

[@Bookborn]

Yes! And super interesting that I think only 2 are cosmere, if I remember correctly? So it'll also be fun to get completely separate, probably experimental, stories as well.

[@CHUCKLZLORD]

While this is the first book to explain the mechanics of the Luhel Bond, it did get a cameo in TLM with TwinSoul and his Aether.

[@danielbroome5690]

I think something is gonna happen when/if Harmony becomes Discord and I think ultimately that the Khandra might become some sort of mind-controlled superweapons and once/if they get Sazed under control again in era 3 he might release them as too big a threat to have him be responsible for them. (I'm pretty convinced at this point that the prophecy about discord being loved will be true, because I think that discord is just another version of balance, but not acting against itself. Harmony was suppressing both sides of his shards by having them mutually annihilate each other, Discord could easily happen by having Ruin and Preservation attend to different functions with a single goal of protecting Scadriel. Preservation could shield the world in safety while Sazed strikes out at other Shards with Ruin to expend his power and keep Ruin from taking over preservation. Essentially Sazed has the equivalent of a sword AND a shield that he is refusing to use because he doesn't understand how to yet. A sword and a shield have discordant uses, but fight for a single goal. Discord is true Harmony.)

[@Bookborn]

Ok LOVING this theory. I also like the idea that maybe Sazed was worried about the misuse of Kandra - although I wonder if MeLaan will be involved somehow...now that she's worldhopping, maybe she will start seeing the benefit of not being tied to Harmony? Who knows.

[@dawesome_sauce]

This was a fantastic novel to read and it hints to a lot of fun world cross-overs in the late era Cosmere.

[@Bookborn]

"fun" is just the right word for it. Fun from beginning to end, and I loved that.

[@henryward5457]

With regard to the so-called "bone spores," given its rarity and the fact that it can be either black or white, I assumed it was imported Taldain sand. The tablet doesn't necessarily involve Taldain tech. The sun there is invested, but this sun is not. It is probably just regular solar-powered.

[@lobstrosity7163]

Wonderful novel. You can really tell Brando had a lot of fun writing it.

[@Bookborn]

Totally. I had a lot of fun reading it lol it just gave me the warm fuzzies from beginning to end.

[@ToddsBookTube91]

Dear BookBorn: I recenctly discovered your channel. I am glad I did. The Fantasy Nuttwork mentioned your channel in one of his videos. Let's make 2023 great!

[@Bookborn]

So glad you're joining us!

[@danielbroome5690]

I think Hoid said he WAS a part of a plot to kill God. That he was one of the 16 people who decided they knew better than Adonalsium and killed him. THAT part is new information as to their motive.

[@Bookborn]

Lol yeah I interpreted the was as current - don’t ask me why- but this is the interpretation everyone else has and is clearly the correct opinion 😂

[@jimave]

I’m glad you posted this today because I finished the audiobook last night. I enjoyed it. I liked Hoid as the narrator because of his weirdness. Glad that you covered the timeline because I wasn’t sure when this took place. I assumed that it was later because of the laptop refer. I didn’t think the rat was Charlie. I also don’t know many of the cosmere connections because I don’t have the time or mental bandwidth to figure them out. I leave this to you and others.

[@Bookborn]

That's why I'm here! To do the research 🤣 glad you enjoyed it!

[@salomonvainstein8353]

Amazing book! I picked up on the Huck reveal very early on, especially when stress refers to him as a “loquacious rat.” So for the whole Hoid/Elantrian thing, it seems like in order to become one you just need to be invited to be one? Not sure if this is how the Shaod always works or is some new new method of becoming an Elantrian. But it seems like Hoid made a bet with Riina saying that she could curse him, and if he made it back into her tower, he would win and be granted Elantrian powers, which are super powerful so looks like his collection of powers is growing! I’m also curious if Riina used a mixture of awakening and Aons to build some of her defenses, like the Mechanical soldiers.

[@mikem1585]

Really enjoyed this book! No matter how many times I read and re-read the cosmere novels, I am always mystified reading the comments on various forums to discover how many things I either missed or never heard of in the first place, lol.

[@Bookborn]

I feel like at this point you need a degree to be a sanderson super fan LOL. That's why I rely on our good friends over at the coppermind/17th shard.

[@solarsapphire7528]

My favourite little detail in this book is that Hoid, however many years in the future this is, is *still salty about Kaladin losing his flute*.

[@nts3rd]

I'm so happy to find other Sanderson fans that were taken off guard by how much they loved this book. Maybe it was the way it was released? I just wasn't expecting Hoid to sneak up on me like this...

[@grafffuller3265]

Thanks for this. It is so much fun to connect the dots within the Cosmere.

[@Bookborn]

It's getting more and more fun as time goes on!

[@theinvisiblegentleman1142]

I was listening to the audiobook and the part about death with nails in his eyes hit me like a sledgehammer. It's like a sleeper agent activation phrase.

[@Bookborn]

LOL. Everything is a jump scare in the cosmere at this point

[@dmuse3813]

I agree, this was a fun read with more connections (and questions) than I expected; however, I think it could still be fully enjoyed without having read his other works.

[@Bookborn]

I agree. Hoid's asides don't make up enough of the story, and it's about Tress, so I feel like anyone could enjoy it.

[@charleysmith5849]

I just wanted to say that this is the first video I've come accross of yours, and i absoltely adore your energy and the format of your videos! Not to mention the amount of effort you took to list these all (some of them were so glaringly obvious and I still missed them because I have the sieve memory). Thank you! I subscribed, and I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos! :)

[@charleysmith5849]

In addition, I just wanted to say that either a. your memory is amazing or b. your notes are amazing (probably a bit of both!), and i'd be super interested in how you make notes in your books (if you do), or on paper during and after. I don't know if you've already done a video like that, but I'd love to watch one if not!

[@Bookborn]

Thank you 🥰 For Cosmere books like this, I usually am forced to read ebook because it gets to me sooner (My lost metal didn't come until the evening of release day, while obviously ebook comes at 9pm my time the night before because I'm PST! And with Tress, the physicals were delayed...) So with ebook, I just highlight anything that seems suspicious/ I recognize. Once I'm done with the book, I can see everything I highlighted and then I just research and write my script as I research! For videos where I use a physical book - like with Way of Kings Prime - I usually just sticky note the pages with things I want to talk about and come back to them while I'm writing my script.

[@charleysmith5849]

@@Bookborn that is so interesting! Thank you so much for taking the time to share! I really appreciate it!

[@andrewf7732]

Man, I missed so many of these. I really need to read Oathbringer and Rhythm of War. I loved Tress. It was charming and delightful, though I hope this isn't indicative of the tone of all the secret project novels. I actually knew Huck was Charlie the second he appeared on page. Just seemed like a twist any author would do. Not that I minded since knowing that didn't detract from the story.

[@Bookborn]

FINE YOU BEAT ME, I knew there would be someone lol. I got side tracked because I thought Huck might be a Cosmere thing lol. I personally don't think all the secret projects will sound like this - I expect them all to be experimental in their own way, hopefully!

[@edwardguest1404]

Yer This one is the only fairytale feel one

[@wingracer1614]

I will avoid spoilers except to say that from the readings Brandon did, at least one of them (the 4th) is a much darker tone.

[@tamick86]

Hoid gives us approximately where in the timeline this book occurred when he says that Harmony sent out his minions “several decades ago” when he was talking about the weirdness of the doc (it’s late. Can’t remember names). So a few decades after Mistborn Era 2. During the last book in Era 2, it’s discussed that one of the problems with how Harmony set up the world was that they didn’t have to work hard for resources and were technologically behind other worlds. So most likely, other worlds are already exploring in spacecraft. Not quite Era 4 yet. This probably puts us early Era 3. The thing I’m trying to think of is whether this is before, after, or in between what will be the 5th and 6th books of Stormlight.

[@Bookborn]

Yeah I think the biggest issue is we don't know the time jump between Era 2 and Era 3 yet, do we? Although, there is a point to be said that "several decades ago" is said, and not over 100 years, so you're right that it's probably early Era 3 just by that statement alone.

[@randomguy970]

I was a little surprised we didn’t get any more hints at who Hoid was telling the story too - I think the possible Sixth of Dusk connection is really interesting!

[@Bookborn]

I've also heard maybe Scadrial because of the use of the name Sazed instead of Harmony...I find that a fascinating thought too...

[@Ruminations09]

It's far from confirmed, but the general consensus among the fan base is that it's being told to someone on First of the Sun. There are several pieces of evidence for this - on top of the mention of Linji as being a hero that the audience would be familiar with, there are other things. The mention of Aviar, the general assumption that the audience is familiar with seafaring ways, and most directly is the explicit mention of "people who come from the stars, like what has happened on your planet."

[@Ruminations09]

@@Bookborn Hoid calls Odium "Rayse", Honor "Tanavast, Preservation "Leras", and Ruin "Ati". Even when talking to people who have no clue who Rasye, Tanavast, Leras and Ati are. I would honestly be more surprised if Hoid DIDN'T refer to him as Sazed. From a more meta perspective though, I'm pretty sure Brandon also chose to do that so that he wouldn't have to call him "Harmony" or "Discord" since the Harmony/Discord thing is currently set up to be a major part of Era 3

[@rainhunter5546]

I don't think that the Nalthian Translation Tablet is a Taldain tech (at least not for the listed reason) because the sun giving investiture is a property of the Taldain Dayside star, not the sand itself. My guess is that they just use solar charging for worlds that don't have electricity

[@wingracer1614]

Exactly. It's a tablet PC with solar charging.

[@Bookborn]

Ok I was thinking too hard, it's fine 🤣

[@ElijahStormblessed]

8:41 I'm entirely convinced this was a reference to the Shattering of Adonalsium

[@Bookborn]

Yeah I thought that part was but not the first part somehow...but clearly they are related. I was reading the "was" as current...idkkkk

[@aharris206]

I called it too. I figured it when Huck cheered her up by talking

[@aliciasorenson3807]

liking for the algorithm and leaving! I'll be back soon!

[@Bookborn]

YAY!

[@aliciasorenson3807]

@Bookborn ok I finally decided to just go ahead and read it before the physical copy came and just finished it.😍 Wow. I absolutely adored it! The whimsical, the Hoid everything, the world, the characters and story! I have to say, though, that I almost immediately thought the rest could be Charlie! When he hesitated over his name I thought something was up, and then right after that one on the Crow's Song he starts chatting a lot and I really thought he was Charlie. Until he talked about his rat colony. But even then, after that, I kept thinking, "I wonder if he could be Charlie?" There was even him mentioning something about his father or parents not liking him or caring very much or something like that. But then something would be said to throw me off. Though I should say I was a complete moron about Ulaam. I thought, hhmmm, is he some vampire like creature from a world Brandon hasn't shown us yet?🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ And I was so confused why Sazed would be relevant there. lol!! Thanks for clueing me in!😅 Caught all the other references though. Anyway, such a fun read with a perfect ending.

[@RyanHawley76]

I just finished this book last night, it was such a fun adventure and the way it all came together in the end was so Sanderson!

[@slidenaway]

Taking a break 2 minutes in to say I also realized who Huck was about halfway through - just double checked the bookmark and it was 54% in. So probably the same scene that made you realize it 😃 I tried not to worry about it too much, and all it really did was make me wonder about the details of his curse and how things would work out. And like you I enjoyed those details once I learned them!

[@Bookborn]

haha YES it probably was the exact same scene! Go us

[@slidenaway]

@@Bookborn well that just goes to show it was good foreshadowing -- I'll bet Sanderson thinks really carefully about stuff like this. Like "lemme drop the hint strongly here, and if they figure it out, it gives them something new to think about, but I'll make sure it doesn't ruin the experience, and if they do NOT figure it out, then they'll be totally surprised!" and like I said we both were cool knowing that for the last half of the book so I'd say he did it pretty well :)

[@jonathanwood4367]

One thing that wasn't mentioned - and I wasn't able to get through all the comments - was that the tower turned out to be an actual rocket ship at the end! This was made explicit in an illustration, so look for that

[@Bookborn]

I talked about that at the end! That’s how we know it’s era 3/4 we are in!

[@JennHernes]

I haven't yet seen anyone theorizing that the microbes from Taldain are how the board charges in the sun. I love it! That would be so interetsing, especially since Taldain was supposed to be locked down

[@orrinscott-stewart3641]

Hoid said he was part of a plot not currently part of a plot he was referring to shattering Adonalsium. He also referred to it later as well as doing it for his own good. He was inferring that he and the 16 others shattered Adonalsium for his own good

[@GJMEGA1]

You made no mention of Midnight Essence, the monsters Dalinar fought in his vision that are spawned by the Midnight Mother being the same as the, well, Midnight Essence of the Midnight Sea.

[@Bookborn]

Nice catch! Totally didn't see that one.

[@Astor4o]

Me'laan said she's being sent out with Ulaam off planet in TLM I believe. It was one of the hits on Wayne in the start of the book. Also - lots of influence of Scadrial on this planet - they mentioned that death has Iron Eyes. (EDIT Oh you mentioned it) And the parts where Hoid lets slip he killed a god with the original shard-bearers OH BOI! Despite all of this - the awesome part is that the story, even if you don't know ANY of the Cosmere was still so much fun. PS Tess/Trell...hmm....

[@Bookborn]

Yeah I totally missed that it was Ulaam in that book, I guess I just thought every Kandra wants body parts obsessively 😂

[@safinan8008]

Hello 👋 happy new year to you and ur family!! Thank you for the review! 🥳🎉

[@Bookborn]

Happy New Year!

[@mikmarbar]

I loved this book! I feel like Brandon was working on this with The Lost Metal because it feels like there are so many mistborn references in this book. I feel like Ulaam is really VenDell since he is offering to buy body parts just like VenDell always was, and he is talking in a fairly VenDell-like way (Wayne kept making fun of him for it) That combined with the fact that Hoid said he has only gotten worse since Harmony released them makes me feel like they potentially chose new names? Or that is his off world alais. I am really curious about the medicine that he used. It sounded like it was imbued with health, were they able to figure out a way to make a medicine that could be unkeyed health? He talked about modern medicine, so I wonder if this is something we will see come to light in era 3 or 4. I also got a huge mistborn vibe with the 12 or mythical 13 types of spore. Really makes me think of kelsier and his 11th metal before we found out there were 16. 16 is just that perfect number in the cosmere, I feel like there will actually be 16 spores, and maybe even a god spore. It will be very cool to see if this world is further developed since there were so many Cosmere interactions, but it was a fun read!

[@Bookborn]

I think you're probably right - I thought all Kandra might just ask for body parts but it looks like the fandom is agreeing that it's probably just a very specific Kandra that's like that 🤣

[@gavinrbeckett]

Loved this video, and loved Tress too… kinda spoiled myself a bit for Cosmere lore by watching this but as I still have years of Sanderson reading ahead of me I couldn’t wait to watch it 😁

[@Bookborn]

Eh don't worry, it's likely you'll forget most of it by the time you get there and it'll feel new 😂

[@justinkirkland140]

I think the "deal" that Hoid made with Riina was that she would make him an Elantrian if he made it back to the island. He stayed at one point you have to be "invited". I could be wrong though.

[@DocHogan]

He also said he was cursed as part of a bet, which supports this theory

[@Bookborn]

Yeah the bet/curse has to have something to do with it.

[@jonathanbost8427]

@@Bookborn It says at the very end that the bet he made with Riina was that she could curse him in exchange for him becoming Elantrian if he broke the curse.

[@Haxerous]

I think it is possible that he is telling the story on First of the Sun, it felt like whoever he was telling the story to were on a water world or some seafaring people. Also it seemed like the audience of the story is a place where people are arriving from space.

[@Bookborn]

Yeah that's why my friend thought it was them, although I've since heard theories for other planets as well (my other friend saying that Hoid says "Sazed" instead of "Harmony" which feels purposeful). So WHO KNOWS

[@henryward5457]

@@Bookborn Narrator Hoid also references the lost flute, which hints at some Rosharan audience.

[@tonykuriger573]

Interesting mention of "dragonsteel" in the book too, and the comment about the sorceress being surprised to find a dragon on the planet.

[@parkermm]

I would be shocked if the 13th “bone spores” weren’t the Fain. I won’t spoil what that is since it’s mostly Word of Brandon stuff, but it has been mentioned a few times in the other books. It’s related to the four armed humanoid at the end of the Lost Metal and other 6 limbed creatures that might have been featured in this book.

[@Bookborn]

Ohhh just looked it up. How have I not heard of this one before? I feel like I look at WoB a lot (there's just too much lol). Fascinating...I agree with you.

[@michaelsokenis]

I took it to mean that the bones spores are the white sand from white sand. With it changing from white to black when it comes in contact with water it definitely feels related.

[@paddyrockell407]

@@michaelsokenis This is what I was thinking.

[@Ruminations09]

I also think White Sand is more likely - especially with the comment about it being "either black, or white, or both - nobody knows for sure". The spores are granular, so they could quite easily be mistaken for sand, and White Sand specifically interacts with water like the spores do. That said, we know so little about fainlife, and what little we do know does directly involve bones and things that appear bone-white, so you could also be correct.

[@nathancooper22]

I have never read anything by Sanderson and have no real intent to for a while yet but watched any way out of curiosity and it was a wild ride 😂 didn’t understand a single thing haha but it has certainly peaked my interest more to give this world a go. It sounds full on and very immersive

[@Bookborn]

LOL my mom watches all my videos and I don't think she's ever read a fantasy book in her life. She tells me my videos sound like they are in a different language sometimes haha

[@Aldric524]

Loved the video! I also guessed who the rat was, though I think it might have been more like 2/3rds instead of your halfway point. I'm pretty sure the surgeon on the ship who was a kandraa was mentioned in Era 2, though as a minor character there. Tress's character growth was quite fun. The Cosmere stuff was great!

[@Bookborn]

Yes good catch, didn't realize until after this video that he appears in at least The Lost Metal. I just thought a lot of Kandra ask for body parts 🤣

[@jaredpoulter6762]

I made that guess when Huck was explaining Hoid's curse to Tress.

[@destro6971]

Was this the first dragon we’ve actually run in to so far beyond just a passing reference?

[@danlupo4665]

No, we’ve definitely met one before and have a letter from a second - those would both be Stormlight spoilers though so I figured I’d double check if you wanted to hear those before just posting

[@Bookborn]

To the person's point below...I still think you're right, though. We've "heard" from dragons, but I don't think we've ever seen them actually on page in dragon form.

[@danlupo4665]

@@Bookborn ooohh ya that’s a good point - it was only sorta insinuated later that they are a dragon - he is definitely the first we’ve seen in dragon form!

[@simpleshot3982]

Cultivation is a dragon. Also frost is a dragon (he is from a short story called the traveler and from a few letters) This is the first dragon we have seen in dragon form though

[@josephsweijd3168]

My current theory is that bone spores are the fane from the unreleased story lair of partinel

[@Bookborn]

That's one of two prevalent theories I've seen - the other being that they are just sand from White Sand.

[@alexherrera3020]

ROW SPOILER: Might be reading too deeply into this, but at the beginning of Chapter 42 Hoid ponders on the nature of memories and mentions “for a small price I’ll let you share my memories, which I solemnly promise are real, or will be as long as you agree not to cut them too deeply”. And “…those memories aren’t alive, you are”. In my opinion, this is referencing ROW’s epilogue and how Hoid, somehow, gave away “fake” memories to Odium as a ploy,

[@Bookborn]

I love this theory mostly because I'm hoping beyond hope that Odium didn't steal real memories from Hoid because that makes me nervous lol

[@henryward5457]

@@Bookborn WoB confirmed that Odiun stole real memories.

[@chrispearce374]

@@Bookborn wouldn't worry too much as this book is beyond SA5 and Hoid seemed fine when his curse was lifted :-)

[@crimsonraen]

Thanks for the video! Tress was such a fantastic book! :D

[@Haxerous]

I think leaving the translator out in the sun might just mean that it has a solar powered battery, it doesn't need to be white sand tech. We know that energy, mass and investiture are convertible afterall.

[@Bookborn]

Yeah most people agree with you, I was overthinking it LOL

[@navybrandt]

I think there are some non-Cosmere Easter Eggs in there too. I caught a couple references to non-Cosmere works that were probably dropped in there just for fun. Such as a reference to Alcatraz (Chapter 11 with the Librarian's love life) and one to the Skyward Series (Chapter 47 with the "My, my." and the weird smile).

[@Bookborn]

Ok so I totally caught the librarian one but I couldn't tell if I was making it up! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that was a reference.

[@chrisprosser5055]

I'm itching to get my hands on this book. Will resist the video for now...

[@Bookborn]

Waiting for the physical to arrive? I hope to read the others physical but since this was delayed until Feb I couldn’t stand it 🤣

[@chrisprosser5055]

@@Bookborn I'm waiting for the release on the 10th as I didn't back the Kickstarter as I was just discussing Sanderson at the time 🤦‍♂️, but have read just about all of his books since then.

[@ElijahStormblessed]

8:16 I think it's also relevant to note that Sand Mastery requires a lot of water. So I'm curious to see if Brandon would consider there to be a Luhan Bond (or whatever it was called lol) at play with Sand Mastery anywhere (forming a bunch of Luhan Bonds with a bunch of microbes? Very interesting if that's the case!)

[@Bookborn]

Ohhh hmmm interesting you're probably right. People have also said that I was thinking too hard and it's just solar powered stuff haha

[@ElijahStormblessed]

@@Bookborn Yeah, the actual Sunlight is Interested on Dayside iirc, so I'm not sure you're theory there makes much sense, unless I'm misremembering things lol. Solar powered tech makes sense tho! It's easy to forget that magic worlds can use nonmagic technology, too 😂😂

[@Bookborn]

@@ElijahStormblessed Full disclosure I read the novel White Sand like...ten years ago and then...never made it through the graphic novel version 😬 So I need to brush up on that investiture lol

[@ElijahStormblessed]

@@Bookborn lol same. I'm slowly working my way through the new omnibus version rn tho!

[@hashgar4762]

I think they were talking about Sand Mastery when discussing Bone Spores.

[@terryschmitt8050]

The Hoid back story was interesting. We knew that he turned down the chance at a shard, but I always assumed that meant he stood against the other 16. Here we hear him say he was part of the plot and he said "it's for your own good." Maybe rejecting a shard was his way of convincing himself that he wasn't doing it for personal gain. I also wonder if that religion told by the shoe maker comes into effect.

[@Bookborn]

Ohhh interesting, I interpreted "its for your own good" as in that was what he told the other 16 while he was convincing them to kill god. Hmmm interesting interesting...it'll probably be a while before we know for sure lol

[@mattkean1128]

I missed so much!

[@Bookborn]

THATS WHAT IM HERE FOR

[@jacobgorman3260]

I read Tess referring to death with spikes in his eyes as a figure of speech Hoid was using that his audience would understand i.e. he is telling the story to someone on Scadrial. Thinking about it more that would also make sense why he referred to Sazed as Sazed and not Harmony. If he’s telling the story to a Scadrian they likely have read the words of founding.

[@Bookborn]

That's def an interesting theory and something I thought about - at least the Sazed part, why was he called Sazed and not harmony? Has something happened in the cosmere or is it to people who that would be meaningful to? However, at the end of the Lost Metal (or was it in the Arcanum part?) they talk about spreading Marsh's infamy... either option is just as likely, I think.

[@Florfilm]

Thanks for this great video. I noticed most of it except the Kandra thing and the Sorceress appearance in Secret History. I the the plot to kill a god references Adonalsium and the shattering.

[@Bookborn]

Yeah I thought the "was" referred to present tense but I think it is actually past tense

[@tannerreavis8262]

I called out huck being Charliegh while he and Tress were still locked in the ship, because his personality was the same. But I was back and forth a ton on the realization

[@Bookborn]

That's SO early to guess, I'm impressed

[@buffasa1]

Also... The dragon xisis or whatever is actually foil from dragonsteel. It also appears foil managed to reach the 10th heightening of awakening after what he does with the curtains without making a vocal command.

[@Bookborn]

I totally missed that Xisis was the same as Foil. NICE CATCH

[@Aldric524]

It's for sure that it could be 10th level awakening. It could also be Microkinesis that's supposed to be a magic from the Dragonsteel planet, not that we know any real detail about that.

[@danielbroome5690]

@@Aldric524 It could be, but I still suspect it's awakening just because of the precedent Sanderson has set in his writing so far. Awakening cloth to wrap a target is heavily focused on in warbreaker itself and is also what Vasher does to Kaladin in stormlight archive. It's just a repeated motif that at least tips the scales in that direction imo.

[@novelideea]

Just saying I was here. I am waiting for the physical book, so I'll be back!

[@Bookborn]

Ahhh good choice, I feel like it's going to be so beautiful in physical. I would've waited if they weren't so delayed lol.

[@adamborst]

With regard to Hoid saying something about a plot to kill God, I'll need to go and search my ebook copy, but I thought he said it in past tense, like "I was part of a plot", so even if this is far in the future, I think it's still pointing to the Shattering. Great summary of cosmere things in the book!

[@MarianaCrawford4u]

** spoiler alert ** *Spoilers* My thoughts on Tress of the Emerald Sea I loved it. I just finished it and immediately went on Goodreads to see what others thought about it. I saw one huge post on it from a reviewer. Although I am not that prolific I will do my best to talk about what I liked most about this book. I apologize in advance for any typos. My husband is in the middle of reading this book for a second time and asked me what I thought. The comparison to the princes bride feel is real. This book is whimsical, magical and unique. ~The magic system- he imagined this world with the emerald sea, crimson sea, and midnight sea. The moons of different colors with spores coming down. I thought the world he made was so unique and well done. ~The love story. Tress being the heroine of the story is a great take on this kind of love story. The beginning of the book shows a very basic girl falling for a duke son impersonating a grounds keepers son. He gets taken away by his father the duke and sells him to a sorceress and brings back a cousin as his heir. Tress sets off to save him. She becomes a pirate, befriended the crew and learned how to do magic with spores. After a long journey she finally gets to her love. When she sees him for the first time she feels meh. Thinks that she has grown so much in her journey and he has not. That is a like real life relationship issues. But Tress was just picking up on the fact that the Charlie the witch was showing her wasn’t the real Charlie. The reveals in this book were so good. ~The reveals - The rat, the traitor, but not the traitor. I don’t want to say more about this. I don’t want to ruin it. The reveals are a few and make the story great. ~The dragon - When I realized that there was going to be a dragon in this book, I looked in the table of contents to see when I was going to read about it. I was greatly anticipating that part to see what the author was going to do with it. I was not disappointed. His depiction of the dragon was so well written I could see him in my head. Crow (the mean ship captain) and Tress end up battling each other for the dragons favor. Crow ended up inadvertently boosting about Tress and her accomplishments and ended up losing the battle. Crow ended up reaping her bad karma and ended up scrubbing floors just like Tress started out doing in the beginning of her pirate journey. I liked how Tress asked for three things from the Dragon to help her friends. ~The witch - the witch that was more technical than a traditional witch. Good twist to the proverbial witchy storyline. ~Hoit - A KZbinr, Michael Knip, created a video gushing about this book and I showed it to my husband and he let out a very unlike him exclamation when Michael mentioned Hoid. Apparently, he has been mentioned in other Brandon Sanderson books and my husband just realized it. His aha moment was so funny to me. I can’t wait to read Brandon Sanderson’s backlist. The only other Brandon Sanderson book I read was WarBreaker. “ Hoid was a comical character and also the narrator. “Hoid, why does Tress have this strange idea that you can be savin’ her?” “Probably,” I shouted over the rush of wind and spore, “because I just realized I should take up painting! And the Sorceress will be scared of my talent!” “You are so aggravating!” Ann said. Brandon Sanderson is so witty in this book. I laughed out loud many times. ~The illustrations. I bought the digital ebook and audiobook. The digital copy had beautiful depictions of the book. I tried adding a picture here but it didn’t work. ~The audio experience - I read and listened to the book. The audio was amazing. The voices made the book more alive than me just reading it on my own. Worth listening to the book. I highly recommend it. This book is now near and dear to my heart. I will be re-reading this many times. It is now on the level of my magical Harry Potter books that I re-read when I need a pick me up.

[@Bookborn]

I love all your detailed explanations about why you love it! I agree that it's super magical and I absolutely cannot wait to have the physical edition in my hands. The illustrations are going to be even more beautiful in person.

[@LEOrgill]

I was a bit disappointed that I figured out that Charlie was Huck so early on. I liked being surprised by Sanderson.

[@Bookborn]

I usually get excited if I guess a Sanderson thing because I almost never do 🤣

[@EonNShadow]

Rye-eye-na, and Eye-ree The rule of thumb with Aonic names is that the Aon vowels are always long sounds Ray-oh-den Shay-ohd Etc

[@Mightyjordy]

I’m about halfway through the book the book, coming back soon

[@Bookborn]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@YuGiOhDuelChannel]

I think it's weird to read a book so far past Stormlight, we are like dead in the middle of a cosmere catastrophe right now and it all gets a little trivial seeing as the problem is hundreds of years in the past and hoid is over it and visiting other worlds...

[@tgibridays]

I just checked to make sure, but Hoid says he WAS a part of a plot to kill God not that he is. I read that as just referencing the fact that he was present at he shattering. He references it again when he says, "Oh yes. I’ve said those words. I said them with sixteen other people, in fact." Edit. Should have waited a second longer in the video to comment since you referenced that quote. He's mentioned he was present at the shattering before, I believe in Stormlight.

[@Bookborn]

Yeah so I interpreted the "was" as like "current" like because he was telling a story? IDK it made sense at the time but people have pointed out that those two quotes probably relate and I think you guys are absolutely right haha.

[@tgibridays]

@@Bookborn totally understandable. I think I had just listened to a 17th Shard discussion about ROW or something and had recently been reminded that Hoid was present at the shattering.

[@meganschwarze6887]

Okay, this is something that I noticed that may or may not be an easter egg, but I haven't found any answers or posts about this. Anyway, when Tress first starts controlling the midnight spores, they eventually rebell against her as she's reading the captain's book. The spores/Tress say that they are "fighting against the one who wanted words, and the not of the will of being against the words." Does this sound to anyone else like Spook's eastern street slang?? 🤔

[@overanimated626]

The sixteen were indeed referencing the sixteen shards of Adonalsium, which was the God (singular) that they killed!

[@nenerson1195]

***Spoilers for Stormlight 3/4*** I was wondering if the laptop technology wasn't just Awakened, but maybe it held a seon. It reminded me of the communication cube given to Shallan. But setting the book far in the future makes more sense, I think.

[@Bookborn]

I think we will def be seeing combined magic so I don't think it's far fetched to think it held a Seon. Especially since the character with the most advanced stuff is from Elantris.

[@redshadow310]

@@Bookborn At Dragonsteel, when discussing the newly confirmed Cyberpunk era of Mistborn, Brandon mentioned that AIs will essentially be Spren. Seons themselves are a type of Spren, so that's probably not far off.

[@AnEruditeAdventure]

Great breakdown! Finished TOTES earlier today, and been trying to piece things together (with my VERY limited understanding of the Cosmere), but it’s easier to come to people who actually know these things. 😅 -T

[@Bookborn]

I can’t believe I didn’t realize the acronym was “totes”. That’s so funny 🤣

[@AnEruditeAdventure]

@@Bookborn I saw someone mention it on one of the Discord servers, and it’s just too good not to use. 😂

[@Arezoo298195]

Can someone please talk about the fact that Hoid has met a race of sentient pancake like creatures?! So we have sentient pancakes in the cosmere? 😂

[@mohanamukhopadhyay3895]

Just wondering why did the Iriali leave Lumar and how? Because Lumar is described as pretty pre-industrialized and technologically undeveloped still, but it says the iriali people left about 300 years ago, or disappeared. Just want to know more about the Iriali!

[@Haxerous]

Honestlyi wonder how advanced Nalthis has become given their tech like the translator.

[@Bookborn]

I'm super interested in going back there even though that sequel won't be for ages

[@mpschmidtlein]

I thought Sazed releasing them, was more a releasing them from Scadrial to explore the cosmere. Though that could be a misdirect.

[@Bookborn]

Very hard to tell right now! But I'm eager for that plot point going forward for sure. We simply don't know enough.

[@HorcruxGuy]

I just finished the book, and usually all the hints and references get past me so I might be dreaming, but I’m pretty sure that the fake Charlie was made up of lightweaving implying the sorceress was capable of using storm light too?

[@HorcruxGuy]

Kay I just googled it and it may just be Elantrian lightweaving 👍

[@lindsaym7265]

The comments that this book was similar to Princess Bride totally got me to guess who Huck was as soon as he was introduced and I spent the whole story waiting for the reveal 😅 I’ll know next time to avoid any and all comments (even on release day) so I don’t spoil myself again

[@Bookborn]

That's so funny that that is what got you to guess! I didn't listen to any of his stuff about the book so I didn't read the Princess Bride thing until after I read it, although I'm not sure it would've made me guess it sooner!

[@amywebb1455]

Thanks for this xx

[@Bookborn]

My pleasure 😊

[@luiszomarriba8700]

Spoilers…….. . . ZMy biggest question: Where is Design? We know she is in SP3? Why is she not with Hoid anymore? Also she is not with him in Lost metal?

[@Bookborn]

Yeah I was talking to my friend about this. Did she bounce? Is there a specific reason she was hiding?

[@nothappening5510]

@@Bookborn i think since hoid is a former dawn shard bearer he can be incredibly distant from hoid and she might have just found this funny and sat on the side lines its not like she could fight an elantrian and hoid can't use her as a weapon anyway

[@DocHogan]

Theory: the tablets and laptops (suspiciousl named) are simply good old mundane Earth-normal transistor-based electronics, designed in California and Taiwan and China. Nothing at all special(to us) about them whatsoever. Except, of course, for their Connection-based networking. The Secret Histories, Part 3(?), when talking to Kris and Naj (sp? Only have audiobook, so...) Kris explains that the humans on the dozens of Shard systems were created, by the Shards, but created based on the humans of the ancient *original* human planet, which she has never been able to find (Earth, a la Battlestar Galactica??)

[@Bookborn]

Ooohhh so this will be like...future future FUTURE earth

[@DocHogan]

@@Bookborn I think this is all happening now-ish, more or less parallel. Gris' knowledge is limited to earth as ancient, perhaps pre-Meso. Who knows... maybe Marduk was a Worldhopper

[@dpt85]

You haven't mention about dragon from Yolen, first time we see a dragon in his true form, and I assume, the reptilian impostor at the end, was Sho Del with their ilusions.

[@akiotatsuki2621]

I havent read the book yet but a bit confused by the Spotify description, wherein it uses him and her, his and she when talking about Tress, is this a mistake or does that play in the book?

[@Bookborn]

Ah! So the book has a narrator (him) but follows a main character (she).

[@allgirlreview433]

Listened to this book earlier this week and I loved it! However I only kind of liked my first BranSan book Warbreaker (too much romance). Where can I find my place in his works?

[@Bookborn]

Tbh not many of Sanderson books have romance. There will always be elements, but Warbreaker is the most romance heavy other than Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. So, Mistborn or Stormlight would probably work for you!

[@allgirlreview433]

@@Bookborn thank you

[@natannagar9943]

What if hoid is secretly adonalsium, he seems to be connected to each investure, like the will/architect from keys to the kingdom

[@danielbroome5690]

The only thing is that it wasn't the solar power itself that powered the white sands, IIRC it was particularly THAT star of the Taldain system because it radiated investiture onto the dayside of the planet and onto the sand. The sun of this planet Tress is on should not power the white sand, although some other form of investiture could.

[@Bookborn]

Yeah everyone has pointed this out...I got a little overexcited 🤣 Seems like it's just regular ol' solar powered tech lol

[@stevencooney3347]

Didn’t the Kandra get released into the cosmere in TLM?

[@johntybagend]

Really enjoyed the book, I think the bone spores are white sand right? Same but different? I just really want to know more about what The Elantrians are up to, but more importantly how their society became space faring. I always imagined them as passive players, but it seems the Ire are up to something.

[@Bookborn]

Somebody else theorized the bone spores are something that has been mentioned in Words of Brandon and might be important in Dragonsteel later...but I also like the idea of it being the sand from White Sand.

[@DocHogan]

Did anyone else have issues getting the title to work in Speechify? I still can't get it to show up. Ended up listening via Spotify

[@haku8135]

The plot to kill god is clearly Adonalsium. Adonalsium is consistently THE god. If someone ELSE was talking about a plot to kill god, there may need to be more context, because of the Shards, but HOID talking about a plot to kill GOD, is always going to be Adonalsium. I'm pretty sure he doesn't even really consider the Shards to be proper gods. Also Iriali, not Irali. Missed an I there, go talk to Ulaam, he's got several spares. Oh and just one thing you didn't really touch on WE FINALLY MET AN ACTUAL DRAGON! And he was SO powerful. He awakened some fabric without saying a word, so that's insane. He could locate one specific person on the entire planet down to the exact city he was in, and presumably all he had to go off was "Can you find my friend's dad?" So...... Wow. THEN he diagnosis from miles away a specific person's eye defects and makes glasses to correct it. Then most impressively he just immediately recreates an advanced Nalthian device, and a BETTER one than Fort originally had even! Another connection, the Witch, the Elantrian who used AonDor to create curses, we've actually seen her before. A LONG, long time ago. In Mistborn era ONE actually. From Kelsier's perspective. He was in Shadesmar and had to break into an Elantrian fortress and SHE was there! So this lady is OLLLLLLLLD. It's also noted, understandably, she's just a REALLY good survivor. In this instance, she survived by settling down on a primitive planet that basically can't do anything to her. As soon as a threat, Hoid, showed up, she first tried to nerf him, which worked until it didn't, then she just LEFT. Someone stronger than her shows up, she just straight up leaves the planet. Xisis didn't count cause he doesn't really get around. I feel like Kelsier would admire her resourcefulness. Right up until he killed her himself.

[@ThePhantomphan11]

I thought Hoid meant the original time he "killed God" when they split Adolansiam

[@kyrroti]

I think Fort’s iPad is just solar powered, not using sun investiture.

[@Bookborn]

You and everyone else thinks that so clearly I just got overexcited and made a mountain out of a molehill 🤣

[@jd_warren]

Give book links please and not just world links. For some reason I don’t remember the world’s names well but I got the books down

[@Justadude1997]

I placed the book at post Era 3, mostly based on his constant referencing to Florencent lighting, Emergency Rooms and vending machines I'd say equivalent to right before widespread space age. The sorceress clear just has the combination of all of them that she's ahead of the curve

[@Bookborn]

Possibly! I think it's really hard to tell with the limited information we have!