[Review] The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn

ABOUT

Title: The Shadow Behind the Stars

Author: Rebecca Hahn

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Release Date: Sept 1 2015 

Goodreads Page
Synopsis:

A girl’s dark destiny could cause the unraveling of the world in this spellbinding novel from the author of A Creature of Moonlight, which Kirkus Reviews called “cumulatively stunning” in a starred review.

Heed this warning, mortal: stay far away from the three sister Fates. For if they come to love you, they might bring about the end of the world…

Chloe is the youngest. Hers are the fingers that choose the wool, that shape the thread, that begin it. The sun smiles upon her. Men love her without knowing who she is. She has lived forever and will live forever more. She and her sisters have been on their isolated Greek island for centuries, longer than any mortal can remember. They spin, measure, and slice the countless golden threads of human life. They are the three Fates, and they have stayed separate for good reason: it is dangerous for them to become involved with the humans whose lives they shape.

So when a beautiful girl named Aglaia shows up on their doorstep, Chloe tries to make sure her sisters don’t become attached. But in seeking to protect them, Chloe discovers the dark power of Aglaia’s destiny. As her path unwinds, the three Fates find themselves pulled inextricably along—toward mortal pain, and mortal love, and a fate that could unravel the world.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher via edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion whatsoever nor was I compensated in any shape or form in exchange for this review.

The Shadow Behind the Stars is about the Fates, like those in Greek mythology. Chloe is the youngest of the Fates and she is the point of view we read from. She is the one who spins the thread for lives to be born. The middle sister, Serena, marks where the thread is to end and the eldest, Xinot, cuts the thread. The three sisters live isolated on their island to spin their thread, as it's dangerous for them to become involved with humans. However, one day, a beautiful girl named Aglaia visits their home to discover her own fate. Aglaia has a dark destiny ahead of her and this girl leads the Fates towards their own destiny that could cause the end of the world.

Rebecca Hahn does a great job in writing from the point of view of an immortal entity and giving life and personality to the Fates. They are immortal and will never change or grow. The three are stuck in different parts of life, with Chloe being the youngest and most child like of the three. Serena is the mother and a woman in the prime of her life. Xinot is the crone, closest to death and the closest to the darkness.

The plot is good though there were a lot of times where I didn't really know where it was heading. I felt like I never really knew where the book was headed since there is no concrete sort of "quest" within the story. However, I did find the plot and the writing captivating enough that it kept me reading.  This book is written so beautifully and it's so gorgeous in the way it describes some of the scenery and also just the things in how they talk about their view of life. The entire book has a mysterious and sort of fantastical air to it with the whole Fates thing. It also does have a little bit of a Greek myth vibe to it as well.

Overall, The Shadow Behind the Stars is a beautifully written novel with a Greek myth vibe. Those who enjoy Greek mythology will like this novel!

Happy Reading!