Crystal Flame by Jayne Ann Krentz [Review]

Crystal Flame (Lost Colony #2) by Jayne Ann Krentz
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 21, 2024

Lost Colony
1. Sweet Starfire
2. Crystal Flame - Paperback | Kindle
3. Shield's Lady

Jayne Ann Krentz
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Kalena is focused on a single task…the assassination of the man who destroyed her family. Once he is gone, she will live her life as a free woman. She just has to extract herself from an arranged Trade Marriage first. She has a plan for that.

Her husband, Ridge, works for Quintel, the man Kalena has been sent to kill. Ridge is the Fire Whip, Quintel’s enforcer, and not exactly the type to become involved in a Trade Marriage with an innocent country girl. But he looks forward to instructing Kalena in her wifely duties.

Kalena and Ridge have no plans for a lasting relationship, but the success of their mission depends on learning to trust each other and the passion that flares between them.

Thoughts on Crystal Flame: This is a new-to-me read of an older JAK series and Ridge did a few things that were maybe a bit problematic when it came to his attitude toward Kalena. To be fair, the divide between the male and female roles on the colony ARE one of the main issues between Kalena and Ridge, so his attitudes were addressed. It's just, you know, there was sometimes a little eww going on.

BUT...Ridge did address them. Sure, two people can't change an entire culture alone, so the larger gender disparities are still around, but Ridge and Kalena found something that worked and I'm good with that.

So. A colony world with high families, blood vendettas, legends that have more than a little truth to them, shadowy cults, and two people who have dreams for themselves that don't look like they quite align. Except they do. It just takes time for both Kalena and Ridge to realize that the things they want aren't worth anything if they don't have the other by their side.

Throw in a road trip of sorts, an all-female enclave that wouldn't mind folding Kalena in with them, and an epic battle between light and dark and there's a lot going on. Enjoyable overall despite my issues with the assigned gender roles.