My Experience with Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson’s exploration into shorter stories has led him to create some very interesting novelettes and novellas over the past few years, and Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell is no exception. A tale swiftly told, Sanderson drew me into Silence’s world with admirable efficiency. I like Sanderson in long-form better, but this story hits most of his strengths in a shorter work.

Silence is a hardened middle-aged woman who runs a small inn in the Forests of Hell. She’s dangerous and protective of her children—a character I haven’t seen from the author until now, but she fits right into the kind of story I’d expect from him.

Though a part of the Cosmere universe, this story is darker than what I’m used to. I would describe this story as fantasy horror or supernatural horror. This alone makes the story a fun departure from the tone of what I’ve read within the Cosmere to date.

A quick read if you want a very small taste of Sanderson's style. You probably won't put it down until it's done.