#1 New York Times Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us deeper into the Cosmere universe with a rollicking, riveting tale that will appeal to fans of The Princess Bride.
The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?
The series
What happens when an author lets imagination off the leash—and invites readers to do the same? The Secret Project series is Brandon Sanderson at his most unbound, a collection of five standalone novels that each open the door to an entirely different kind of world, voice, and emotional weight. These books aren’t sequels or spinoffs—they’re experiments in storytelling, atmosphere, and magic, each one a self-contained journey that challenges the boundaries of epic fantasy.
Read full series description
One tale casts its heroine onto a spore-choked sea where pirates fear the rain, and kindness is a form of quiet defiance. Another throws a memory-wiped traveler into a version of medieval England that’s actually a privatized alternate dimension. Then there’s the dreamlike connection between a spirit painter and a priestess who shapes the world through ritual and art—a story equal parts haunting and heartfelt. We’re also taken to a brutal planet where motion is survival, light is lethal, and the story pulses with both adrenaline and existential weight.
Now, with Isles of the Emberdark, the series delves even deeper. This latest entry weaves mystery, exploration, and high-stakes emotion into a world cloaked in volcanic fog and forgotten truths. It’s a story of discovery—of buried pasts, flickering hope, and what it means to rebuild something sacred in the ruins of what was.
What unites these five vastly different tales? A commitment to rich worldbuilding, emotional storytelling, and that signature sense of layered magic that rewards both first-time readers and longtime fans of the Cosmere. While connections exist for those who seek them, each book stands entirely on its own—no required reading, just a willingness to step into the unknown.
For readers hungry for inventive fantasy, atmospheric settings, and character-driven narratives that linger long after the final page, the Secret Project series offers five immersive worlds. Each one asks something different of you—and gives back something unforgettable.
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