Author: Therisa Peimer
Genre: Science Fiction - Romance
Publisher: FriesenPress - Copyright 2022
Publication Date: July 15, 2022
ISBN: 9781039125629
Read: January 25-27, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis from Publisher: Flaminius's days of bouncing between beds are snatched away the instant he sets eyes on his perfect genetic match, Aurelia. Suddenly, the tedious task of claiming his rightful place on the Arkhnuetian throne doesn't seem as daunting with his whip-smart wife by his side. But it's not like Aurelia had a choice; Flaminius is the only soul she can reproduce with, and she's not about to play a role in her people's extinction.
After a swift wedding and passionate honeymoon, an assassination attempt plummets the lovers back into the reality of ruling. Fueled by their indomitable matched hormones and fierce loyalty to each other, together they must evade his mother's Machiavellian schemes, hunt down the mysterious cause of death plaguing the match making Keys, and protect their people from a violent supremacist cult, the Oradagra. But it turns out the greatest threat to their existence is something neither of them could have seen coming, and it's a race against time to save the entire Arkhnuetian planet.
Review: I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. Science fiction is a genre I've loved since childhood, and while romance can often overpower a lot of scifi, Taming Flame had a decent balance between the two. However, the book is split into two parts with the first part of the book being the more intriguing portion. The second half just fell short, and I can't even really explain why except to say it felt as though one book should've been two. Perhaps if the author had divide the story into more than a single book, I would've like it more.
The relationship between Flame and Aurelia is interesting. On the planet Arkhnuet, people are genetically matched with their perfect mate. When Flame and Aurelia are matched, a whole lot of political ramifications come into play. Flame is the heir to the throne, even though he's not keen on the idea of taking over as ruler, and Aurelia is "low born," meaning she's not from any of the aristocratic families Flame's mother had hoped (planned) for her future successor's origins. Even though the chemistry between Flame and Aurelia is undeniable, they have issues. Oh, man, do they have Issues. But, that's par for the course with any romance: the push and pull of attraction versus forces that seek to tear them apart.
Then there is the political and religious matters. Arkhnuetians use Keys, women with the power to ascertain who is genetically compatible through the use of psychic abilities, and when they start mysteriously dying, all of Arkhnuetian society is in jeopardy. Throw in a zealous supremacist cult and Flame's mother's scheming then you get a broadly arcing narrative that at times detracts from the central point: The deaths of the Keys. Or is it Flame and Aurelia's relationship? Or is it really the cult's resurgence? Maybe the mother's desire to remain in power? Honestly, I'm no longer certain what the central plot was anymore.
The book is well-written and the world building is great. If only the author hadn't tried to pack quite so much into a single book, then, as I said, I might have liked this a lot more.
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