Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)

On an ocean of spores, water is a dangerous reagent rather than a safe thing to splash about. Tress's practical curiosity makes the rules worth learning: watching her observe materials and reconsider a problem is part of the adventure. The playful narration keeps the experimentation buoyant. A welcoming standalone choice for readers who want constraints to generate invention without every chapter feeling like a lesson.