Flower of Hatred

by Paul Bendor-Samuel

Wands, werewolves, and witches might be nothing more than myths, but people who can change their face, lift an object with a thought, or travel a hundred miles in an instant walk among us—they’re known as Radiant. Kira was born Radiant, and like every Radiant child, she dreamed of the day when her blood would awaken one of the seven Radiant paths. She watched in awe as her older brothers awakened the Path of Telekinesis. Then, years later, she watched in excitement as her friends and classmates began awakening paths, knowing she would be next. That was years ago. Excitement turned to envy, then to dread, as even the latest of the late bloomers have manifested a path—everyone except Kira.

No one who has ever manifested a path did so after eighteen, and with only a few months until Kira’s eighteenth birthday, she’s desperate to awaken a path, whatever the price. But as tensions between the Radiant and Mundane populations boil over in the world around her, a chance encounter and a brush with death pull Kira into the elite world of the Radiant underground, where nothing is as it seems, and anything is possible for price—if you can survive it.

445 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2025

Reviews

[Cat Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book but I didn’t love it. It felt as if the book could have benefited from a “before” chapter, something to explain how the Paths came to be and what each Path was capable of doing. The first few chapters were a bit slow to introduce characters, etc. It definitely picked up after that though and I really enjoyed the majority of the storyline. It felt a bit choppy in places, almost like something had been edited out or I had skipped a chapter.

I also found a few inconsistencies in some of the details (ie: a guy is introduced by one name and then referenced later by a different name) and there were a few typos but all in all this book is totally worth the read!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I found this book an engaging read, which held my interest to the end . The beginning of the book takes its time setting up the story line , introducing the characters and an interesting world where some humans , known as Radiants, have unique and differing special abilities, but then it takes off with a vengeance after a horrific incident and the pace of the story just keeps going with speed from there! Woven through the storyline are mysteries to be solved with some unexpected turns in store.

very enjoyable story would recommend it.
Thank you, Paul, for giving me an ARC copy.

[Sarah Giberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read your book as an ARC. It was so AWESOME! I hope you’re writing a sequel…the ending certainly lends itself to the idea!

This had all the elements of what I love in a book. A touch of Dark Academia, a cool magical system, found family, and overall intrigue. I hate when characters you want to love die, but I feel like it’s part of the recipe for a great fantasy story. The twists were a delight!

I hope to see more books from the author in the future. Highly recommend!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This was an excellent story. I enjoyed the character and their development, and have some questions for when the story continues! This is a story that makes you think and has you questioning everything. This one is up in my favorite book list.

Only taking off a star for some very MINOR errors. At one point Kira says Isaac is her little brother, and incorrect placement of some punctuation.

[Paul Bendor-Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The early reviews are in! The story is captivating and unpredictable, the characters feel nuanced and real, and the world-building and magic system feel fresh and novel. So stop reading its reviews and start reading the novel. You're not going to want to put it down!

[Orinta Kilaitė · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect from the book but I was so pleased. It's difficult to put down, the story weaves so smoothly. There were some unexpected turns, which only helped to make it more captivating. The ending leaves you wanting more without being.