Ontarian Chronicles 2: Operation Hydra

Krysta was created for scientific research, but Trey dar Aune is determined to take her out of the lab and show her a new future.

Krysta and her twin, Belle, have always been unwilling case studies of Dr Hydran. His scientific study, Operation Hydra, conducts carefully controlled observations of its two hundred female captives, separating mothers, daughters and sisters according to their abilities. Krysta is the best healer in the facility, but it is only one of her many gifts. Belle and Krista can communicate telepathically and are kept apart from other inhabitants to keep this to a minimum. Krista does not know the full extent of her capabilities and has been told by Dr Hydra that she is a genetic mutant. The women live at the mercy of Doctor Hydra’s whims; he often uses any known weakness to force them to use their specialties for his own end.

Krysta is introduced to Mr Darrin as the facility’s most capable healer. Dr Hydra has offered her to the man in exchange for funding. Mr Darrin is in fact Trey dar Aune, an Ontarian official who has been alerted that Operation Hydra may have some Ontarians held on the base against their will. Dr Hydra intends to gain finance from Mr Darrin and to use him unwittingly to breed with his healer. Trey is shocked by Krysta’s treatment at the hands of Dr Hydra. He recognizes her as a fellow Ontarian but is outraged when she reveals that all of the women have swirling eyes like hers. Trey had no idea that Operation Hydra was so immense and is determined to find out who is sponsoring these cruel studies and for what purpose. He is attracted to the strong-minded healer, but as a military man, Trey must give the first priority to his mission. Pity that Krysta is so distracting…

The scenario created by Cyndi Friberg is complex and although explanations are necessary I did find the some of the situations and many different people somewhat confusing. Descriptions of the Ontarian race are kept brief in this story, so I would suggest that readers read the first in this series Ontarian Chronicles – Taken by the Storm before the second. The romance is enjoyable and quite believable. As I have come to expect from this author, the eroticism is compellingly hot, and sexual tension is built to an intense level before it is released. Krysta and Trey dar Aune are shown to have similar backgrounds, yet are complimentary opposites. Their attraction is clear from the outset but circumstances contrive to keep them apart. Readers are kept involved in the story as Krysta’s empathetic pain for the other women still trapped raises concerns and as the mission escalates to a high level of personal danger. Krysta’s drive for revenge and sense of loss is understandable. Trey must find a way to relax his control and make use of Krysta even when his protective nature is urging him to hide her away for himself. Many of Cyndi Friberg’s secondary characters are also intriguing and interesting. I hope that the author plans to release more books in the Ontarian Chronicles series because I would love to revisit the Ontarian world.

Reviewed by: Naomi