Title: Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Collection: Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 50 of 831
Published: 2016, Tor Books (originally published 2013)
My Grade: 4 out of 5
Review Summary: Brandon Sanderson does not only write fantasy, he also writes fantasy horror.

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

When the familiar and seemingly safe turns lethal, therein danger lies. Amid a forest where the shades of the dead linger all around, every homesteader knows to follow the Simple Rules: “Don’t kindle flame, don’t shed the blood of another, don’t run at night. These things draw shades.”

Silence Montane has broken all three rules on more than one occasion. And to protect her family from a murderous gang with high bounties on their heads, Silence will break every rule again, at the risk of becoming a shade herself.

MY REVIEW

Sanderson is actually capable of writing a short story, who would have thought. This was originally written for another collection of novellas with female lead characters so he was dictated by something else. Which was refreshing.

This short story is about a mother, the owner of an inn close to the dangerous forests lurking with death in the forms of aggresive Shades. Secret “superhero” identity which she does everything in her power to remain a secret.

Of course, the most notorious villain comes into her inn and she must of course kill him to claim a massive bounty and pay off her debt.

As it is such a short story with pretty much just one main story arc, it is very intense. And not only because of its length, but because the planet itself, Threnody, still is so mysterious. Why isn’t this planet explained more elsewhere? How did it come to be this dark place with easily-angered Shades?

The plot twist at the end was very satisfying and the feeling this story provoked was more of a horror story than fantasy. Very dark and so different from anything else he has written.

It gets a 4 out of 5 because I didn’t quite feel that I got the full picture of the setting. A little bit longer wouldn’t have hurt to understand the setting better.