**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn is a young adult mythology book unlike any other mythology story I have read in the young adult world. It read more like a traditional Greek tale. A fictionalized play of a Greek tragedy, and there was just something about that the academic and history nerd inside of me ate right up. I loved that this story was set in ancient Greece and that it had all the sorrowful tragic elements of traditional Greek myths. Of course, that meant for a more violent and slower pace of story telling, which to me equates to a more mature target audience. I think adults will love this story perhaps more than young adults.

The Shadow Behind the Stars is told from the point of view of the Fates. I have not read too many books from the three fate sisters point of view, so that was really interesting to me. It was a kinder and gentler fate than I was used to from tales. They knew they had to carry out their job, but they could just not help but get swept up in poor Aglaia's story and destiny. I really liked the dichotomy of voices in the this story. The book is told from the point of view of one of the Fates, but on the other hand, it is also very much Aglaia's tale. The interplay between narrator voice and main character played out really nicely. I am very impressed with Rebecca Hahn's writing.

The Shadow Behind the Stars is not one of those books that you can gobble up in a quick afternoon. It has a slower pace and is meant to be savored. I don't often get to read books like this because of my limited reading time, I am drawn more towards instant gratification stories, but there is something really satisfying about digging into a book that forces you to slow down and really digest each page. If you are a fan of traditional greek mythology, you should really check out The Shadow Behind the Stars. It is a beautiful (and yes a little sad) tale. I will tell you one thing, I can't wait to read another book by Rebecca Hahn.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs