Cover art by Jeff Langevin
Death’s First Kiss
After surviving the deadly crash that took the lives of his parents and having a front-row seat to his aunt’s heartbreaking journey with life-ending cancer, Evan Morgan was more familiar with death than any seventeen-year-old should be.
When the enigmatic Hana Blackmore transfers into his high school, her arrival–and mere existence–brings more excitement, mystery, and peril than he could have imagined.
Evan would never have believed that the ancient Greek gods were real, yet when he finds himself caught in the middle of a grudge between two gods, it erupts in a flurry of magic and monsters, and he nearly pays the ultimate price. When he finds himself face to face with Thanatos, the Greek God of Death, who has stolen so much from him, he has an impossible decision: can he follow his heart, or are the risks just too high?
The debut novel by William Butler, Death’s First Kiss, is a modern tale of love, trials, and the challenges of high-school life. It asks the question of how might a young adult react to the first major crush he’s had in his teenage life being an actual god from Olympus? And when her family and friends are likewise beings of unimaginable strength and power, what could a normal young boy offer?
Yet from Hana’s perspective, while gifted with staggering power and magic, her deific role comes with destined eternal isolation and alienation. Though when she transfers into Riverview High School, her life is turned upside down by this boy with surprising depths of compassion and acceptance, welcomes her to the mortal world in a way she never dared to dream. Was it even possible not to fall for the awkward charms of the young man who effortlessly brings light into her otherwise dim existence?
Book 1 of My High School Odyssey, Death’s First Kiss begins the exciting and curious journey of a young couple who traverse the challenging path of dating in the modern era, along with a little extra difficulty of interference from those of Olympus, and their proclivity for troublemaking.
The Heroes, Villains, and accomplices
Character Art by Sarah Diaz
Evan Morgan
A junior at Riverview High with a newfound dream of attending college upon his graduation, Evan lives a peaceful, anonymous life with a small group of friends and a busy schedule juggling school, a part-time job, and taking care of his little sister.
After the loss of his parents a decade earlier, he and his little sister, Ellie, were adopted by his maternal Aunt Maddie and her partner, Elaine. Several years ago tragedy struck again when Elaine succumbed to a long bout with cancer, leaving the three of them to find a new normal, yet again.
Yet, that new normal is about to be turned inside-out when Hana and family arrive, changing everything in Evan’s life, though it remains to be seen if it is for the better…
Hana Blackmore
A new transfer to Riverview, Hana has moved from across the sea from Greece along with her twin sister, Mara, and mother. Despite a cold welcome from the majority of the student body, she finds herself quickly embraced by Katie and Evan.
Now, for the first time, Hana finds herself surrounded by a group of friends who welcome her company and include her in normal teenage hijinks, while her heart is drawn to the boyishly charming Evan Morgan.
And while it seems as though her new life is a dream come true, she worries that her happiness will be short-lived. If any of her new friends were to discover her closely guarded secret, it would undoubtedly destroy her newfound happiness.
Katie Pascal
Evan’s longest friend and the first person to befriend him when he moved to Riverview following his parent’s tragic accident, Katie is a studious and attentive student who still makes time to hang out with Evan and Oliver, despite their childishness, or perhaps because of it.
When Hana arrives, Katie is the first person to welcome her and helps her to find a place in Riverview.
Oliver Branch
Evan’s closest friend who many consider to be an unreliable goofball, Oliver attends Riverview with a carefree, unrestrained attitude that there is little point to working hard, as you never know what life will throw at you.
The middle child between a pair of older, twin sisters and younger sister, Oliver remains haunted by the repercussions of a difficult divorce between his mother and father in his freshman year. Despite his demons, Oliver is a loyal and faithful friend who can always be counted on when it really matters.
Sarah Jones
Katie’s closest friend, despite only meeting in their freshman year, Sarah is an overachiever with a passion for academics and a strong competitive streak. A fringe member of the Evan’s inner circle, she distances herself even further when Hana arrives until Katie makes a concerted effort to bring them together dragging Evan along for support.
Mara Blackmore
Hana’s mysterious twin sister, and recent transplant to Riverview, Mara is a bit of a shut-in, choosing to remain at home and away from others.
Mischievous and outspoken, Mara can be a force to be reckoned with when she wants to be, and Evan’s never quite sure what to expect when she’s around and awake.
Ellie Brooks
Evan’s ten-year-old little sister, Ellie is the foundational rock which grounds him from his more childish impulses. Mature for her age, but with the same needs and wants as any girl her age, Ellie delights in her close familial bonds they’ve formed in their tiny, two-bedroom apartment.
With a close relationship to Katie, who she sees as a surrogate big sister, Ellie is unknowingly the focus of many of Evan’s thoughts and actions. Especially as he discovers Hana’s dark secret, he worries about the potential impact to Ellie and his family.