Orion’s Kiss by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Orion’s Kiss is a Young Adult Fantasy novel by Claire Luana. It is based on Greek Mythology, with a modern setting.
The story centres around the characters of Orion and the Pleiades, particularly the youngest Merope. For millennia, the seven sisters and the hunter have been reincarnated only to meet the same, seemingly unavoidable fate. In the 21st Century, Meriah is determined to use her visions to save her sisters from their fate and is prepared to do anything in her power to stop Ryan from filling the role in their deaths he has occupied for so long.
The story is told from Meriah’s perspective in a first-person narrative that often feels like she is talking to the reader. I particularly liked how, at the beginning, she kept pausing relating her backstory to talk about what was happening in the immediate present. It was a great way to introduce the character as an ancient being but also a teenage girl.
There’s a strong team of supporting characters, particularly Zoe and Brandon. Brandon is very down-to-earth and keeps the story, and the characters, grounded in reality with his focus on important things like food and, er, food. Zoe’s loyalty to Mer and sense of humour make her a refreshing aspect of the story.
For me, this is a five star book. I’d recommend it particularly to young adult and teenage readers who enjoy mythology or urban fantasy, such as fans of the Percy Jackson books. It’s a standalone novel, but Luana has written a number of great fantasy books which fans of Orion’s Kiss might enjoy.

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