Growing up a princess has left Anya with the desire to be for her court what other princesses who came before her were denied. Her grip on the harsh realities of being a woman with a title that holds great meaning but little power is as strong as her grip on the daggers she wields with such precision.
Anya is also daughter to the warmest woman who ever walked the halls of the Petrov Palace, and when she finds herself faced with a man made of the sun, Anya has to fight every fiber of her being to retain the unbending determination she’s been told a weapon must have.
But ugly truths and age-old secrets aren’t quite as easy to resist, and when Anya finds herself at a crossroads between what she’s had faith in her entire life and the rot peeking out from underneath, she must make her final choice: what kind of princess does Anya Petrova want to be?
And more importantly, what kind of sword? And whose?
J. M. Rose (they/them) is the author of the Children of Lorcan series and the wider Lorcanverse. Originally from Malta, Jess lives in Norway with their husband Kyle, their German Shepherd Groot and cats Benny and Nebula.
When Jess isn’t writing, you can probably find them sitting by the water, watching anime or playing games from the early 2000s.
It feels like I’ve been waiting like forever to read this book 😭. Flawless is the third book in a very long series that is not yet completed. That being said I highly recommend! Seriously you won’t be disappointed. Just know that if you fall in love with a character they are most likely going to be killed off 😭. I will give a little reprieve as the character that I thought was going to go didn’t. He was just so wholesome and I gotta love that and the fact that we got werewolves! Can’t have Vamps without werewolves 😊. So if you enjoy that plus fated mates you’ll enjoy Flawless. Although I do suggest you read Usurper and Imposter. While the author does give a brief recap the first two are worth the read.
Although this was sent to me to read in advance the opinion is of my own and I as always invite you to form one for yourself.
What makes us flawless? Should we be flawless in the eyes of others? In our own? And in the end, should we even strive to be flawless? What's the purpose of striving for an imaginary perfection while life slowly trickles away?
Anya was deemed flawless for most of her life. The Princess. The future Sword of Raspien. And yet, once she was no longer who others wanted her to be, once she became less than her expectations, she truly became flawless. Flawless in her own imperfection. Flawless in her love and her strength. Flawless in being perfectly imperfect.
This story is not for those faint of heart. It's not for those who aren't prepared to be shattered. This is a story to keep you awake at night, one to tear you down and build you back up: a story to experience, and a story that will stay with you.
“What’s a pound of gold in the face of friendship and happiness and love? What’s a crown in the face of family?”
Anya and all those around her showed what true family is: one bonded by love and devotion, and not necessarily by blood. One forged in happiness and pain, desire and sorrow. One that doesn't discriminate or abandon. One that loves unconditionally.
So, tonight, when I look at the stars and the constellations, I know who I will think about. And so will you, once you read Flawless.
Thank you, Jess, for gifting me an early copy of this book. It's a gift I will forever cherish.
I've loved the series, but this has to be my favourite so far. The author did a great job pulling me in, but around the 35% mark I just couldn't put the book down. In fact I think I read the last 65% in a day. The heartbreak was also the most painful and I'm still not over it. Still thinking about the book and ready for the next one. If you haven't read this series, you are missing out on some well written work!
Flawless is the third book in the Children of Lorcan series, following the third generation of Petrovs. For the first time, we have a woman main character, Anya, and follow her journey. And a journey it is.
Like the previous two instalments, Flawless is filled with hope and despair, emotions of every end of the spectrum. You already know you shouldn't get attached to anyone, yet Rose manages to make the reader care deeply about the characters nevertheless.
We get to meet new and many old characters, learn more about them - and we also travel to a new part of the world only spoken of before. Many plots are pushed into action in Flawless.
Similarly to Nikolai in Impostor, Anya deals with questions of morality and finding her place in the world, a struggle that was well written. There's no easy resolve to the question, and it was wonderfully portrayed.
Overall, I adored reading Flawless, having my heart broken once more, to have joined Anya on her journey, and I'm excited what the next generation holds in store for us.