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Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell
Brandon Sanderson

Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell

Quick Answer

"Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell" is an optional companion work. It can be read at any time, though it is usually best enjoyed after reading the first few core novels of the Cosmere Short Fiction.

Quick Verdict

🟡 Optional side story — not required for main plot

âť“ Can I skip this book?
✅ Yes — Optional

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Verdict Insight: While this novella provides deeper world-building, it is a standalone story and can be read at any stage.

Is this helpful?
201572 ppNovellaOptional Side Story
About the Author Brandon Sanderson is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Steelheart and Firefight, the first two books in the Reckoners series, and of the internationally bestselling books in the Stormlight Archive and the Mistborn series, and he was chosen to complete Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series. His books have been published in more than twenty-five languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Calamity is the third book in the Reckoners series. Brandon lives and writes in Utah.Kate Reading has been a freelance narrator for over twenty years. She received an Audie Award for Bellwether by Connie Willis and for Breasts by Florence Williams; an Audie nomination for The Gathering Stormby Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, recorded with her husband, Michael Kramer; and an Audie nomination for Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell. She has also received numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, which has named her Narrator of the Year and, for two years running, Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy for her narration of Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. As Jennifer Mendenhall, she has worked as a stage actor in the Washington, D.C., area and has been a member of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company since 1987. Her work onstage has been recognized by the Helen Hayes Awards Society, the Washington Theatre Lobby Awards, and the Carbonell Awards in Florida. She and her husband live in Hyattsville, Maryland, with their two children. Product 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.
Next Recommended Book

Secret History

Book #4 of 4 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Cosmere Short Fiction conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell?

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Can I read Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell before Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection?

Yes. Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell required reading for the Cosmere Short Fiction?

No, it is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not essential to the central storyline.

What comes after Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Shadows For Silence In The Forests Of Hell is Secret History (Book #4).