Maiden of Flowers, the first book in The Flower Saga by Makayla Love, takes off in a gripping start, where we get to know the characters operating in a war-torn land of magic and deception. At the center of the plot is Princess Orchid, an orphaned royal who, along with her brother Prince Jasper, grew up under the aegis of Beauregard, Comte of the Papilio region of Ehtenheim. As Orchid attends to her studies while entertaining suitors that Jasper has set up for her, a Demon Lord, once sealed by a hero called the Maiden of Flowers, threatens to rise and disturb the peace. A new Maiden of Flowers is needed to counter this looming threat. A mysterious man in a black frock coat tells Orchid that she must fulfill her destiny to defend against the brewing evil. But Orchid is a sheltered princess and her brother Jasper is so concerned about concealing his sister’s magic skills that they never notice treachery is already at work within their own advisory court.

There is one good reason why you should follow The Flower Saga series: Maiden of Flowers ends on a cliffhanger, as Princess Orchid is on the run. What fate awaits her and Ehtenheim is something that you can very well look forward to with breathless anticipation. The narrative style provides a reader’s perspective although the descriptions can sometimes be too generous with details, such as in the opening where Orchid is getting dressed to meet her suitors. Magic is handled with a logical system, as Orchid secretly learns it as part of her academic studies. But it is the solid conflict that moves the story forward. Orchid is trained in the ways of being a princess in a royal court. Take her out of her comfort zone, and you get a great story of trying to overcome agony and defeat.

Maiden of Flowers (The Flower Saga) by Makayla Love is a magical fantasy story. A land torn apart by war, a land where magic is meant to be hidden. A land where serious trouble is brewing. Many moons ago, The Maiden of Flowers, a fearsome warrior, locked a demonic god away, sealing it from life itself. But rumor has it the god is about to rise once more. Princess Orchid and Prince Jasper are orphaned royals, going about their lives as normally as they can. Jasper watches over Orchid, protecting her and keeping her safe as she hides her magic away from the rest of the world. Then a strange man appears and tells Orchid she has a destiny to fulfill. She is the new Maiden of Flowers and she must seal the demonic god away. Orchid is innocent of life outside her sheltered existence but only she can face the danger that awaits, not just from the demon but from someone else who wants to stop her. Can she do this? Will she lock the demon away before it's too late or is humanity destined for destruction?

Maiden of Flowers by Makayla Love is the first book in The Flower Saga, and it’s a great start to a series. The fantasy genre is fast-growing and this is a unique addition. The story moves at a steady pace, with plenty of action right from the word go. The characters are believable and real, easy to relate to and Makayla has done a fantastic job of allowing them to grow throughout the story. This is an intricate tale with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way to the end, with an ending that will leave you begging for the second book. If fantasy stories are your thing, you will love this but it's also a great book to introduce newbies to the genre.

Maiden Of Flowers is a work of fiction in the fantasy, adventure, and interpersonal drama sub-genres, and was penned by author Makayla Love. Written as the first novel of the Flower Saga, this is a work penned for adult reading audiences owing to the use of explicit language throughout and the presence of graphic sex and violent scenes. In a world of gods, demons, and magic, we meet the orphaned Princess Orchid at a time when a new savior is much needed in a war-ravaged land. Sheltered and heavily guided by her brother Prince Jasper, it is time for the princess to break free of her chains and rise up to the possible destiny that waits for her, facing a Demon Lord sealed for ancient evil doings.

Author Makayla Love has crafted a superb work of fantasy fiction that will certainly deliver everything a fan could want from such a wild and magical adventure. The story spans several genres and moods as the plot shifts, beginning with a political thriller edge as conspiracies in court force Orchid to act, and then taking on a rip-roaring coming of age story where she learns to grow beyond the timid ways of princesses, and finally into an all-out magical action finale. As a series opener, the plot and characters are well developed to have us all on the edge of our seats, rooting for Orchid and her new compatriot as we keenly await more. Overall, I would definitely recommend Maiden Of Flowers to fans of well-penned, emotionally deep, and fully realized fantasy fiction.

Maiden of Flowers by Makayla Love, book one in the fantasy fiction series The Flower Saga, follows the life of Princess Orchid and the resurrection of an evil long thought cast away. Orchid knows little of the world outside the safe confines of her gilded cage, protected by her brother, King Jasper, and those who took on a parental role in the absence of their deceased parents. Mina, Orchid's lady in waiting, confidante, friend, and greatest defender, steps in when the space that had always secured her is infiltrated by a maleficent force. The trajectory of Orchid's life changes in an instant with the breathless uttering of the words, “The palace is under attack, Your Highness, by demons.”

Court intrigue, deception, blood magic, reincarnation, coming of age, and a perilous adventure are ambitious plots in and of themselves, but wrapping them up together in a debut fantasy series puts the courage of author Makayla Love and Maiden of Flowers at the forefront. Much of the book focuses on world building and developing a multitude of characters in order to pave the way for books to come. Princess Orchid has the naiveté of a protagonist that one expects she will grow out of as she embraces her true destiny and the danger that surrounds it. I personally loved Mina and saw her as the Ruby to Orchid's Ada, a character parallel that admirers of Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain will also notice.

The book is definitely adult as there is an above-average amount of violence that kicks off with a heart-breaking loss of youth that our main protagonist has no time to grieve as she is pushed to protect herself. Another interesting observation is a fluid, time-bending world that creatively combines elements of classic fantasy such as corsets, suitors, and carriages with modern conveniences like cash registers and electric lamps. The book ends on a cliffhanger but I imagine those who are eager will find the wait for book two worth it.

Maiden of Flowers is a fantasy novel by Makayla Love. It appeals to lovers of action, magic, and historical novels. It follows Orchid, the princess of Ehtenheim and the Maiden of Flowers. She was destined to save her people when demons invaded the land, a task that she was unaware of. Little did they know that the demon was right in the palace and even close to the throne. When the demon unleashed mayhem on the palace one fateful night, Orchid and her confidante, Mina, escaped. They stumbled upon Dusk, the Izborskian prince, who was a friend to Orchid. He offered them protection and comfort, but he had an agenda. He'd been tasked to take down the Maiden of Flowers so that the demon lord can gain his freedom. Will he succeed in his mission?

Magic, action, and adventure are three words that I'd use to describe Maiden of Flowers by Makayla Love. The storyline was creative, rich, and consistent. Makayla did a great job with the plot and development, which were stellar and hypnotic. The characters evoked an assortment of emotions from me because they were so relatable. My best character was Mina because of her resilience, keen mind, loyalty, and sixth sense. On the other hand, I couldn't help wanting to smack Orchid because of her self absorption sometimes. I appreciate that the dialogues flowed effortlessly and the writing style was simple. Maiden of Flowers is book one in The Flower Saga series, and I loved it!