I think the weakness of the Crystal Dragon is the whole concept of "recrystalization" of the universe. I still don't have a good mental visual of that. Cantra is also the least sympathetic (or at least self-identifiable IMO) main character in the series, I think, so that can be a problem.
But what I did like about it, since I read it after the Agent of Change story arc, was how all the little back stories were filled in - old tech, the founders of Clan Erob (Rule Tiazen and that red-headed gambler?), the basis of the High Houses, the origins of the Xtrang, etc.. And for me, just getting the beginning story of the the Tree is enough of a reason to read the duology.
