Krystal Blue

The Blue Moon #1

by Destiny Hawkins

As far as Crystal Knew, she was just a normal girl. Sure, there were some instances where she wondered if she were something more, but what more could she be other than a foster kid from Nevada? There's no such things as vampires and witches...right?

After abruptly leaving home to study Zoology in California, Crystal runs into Alveya Tera, a beautiful, and, yet, dangerous member of the mysterious Josbryn family. After recovering from an almost fatal car accident she soon learns that there are definitely more than just animals and humans in the world. She also learns that the beast her mother died protecting her from wasn't just a part of her imagination.

Neither was her unusual appetite for meat.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Lesbian, LGBT, Young Adult, Werewolves

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2016

About the author

Destiny Hawkins is a multi-genre author with a love for inner discovery.

She enjoys exploring the freedom of life, writing, listening to music, reading, and of course watching some anime! Her favorite genres to read and work in are Christian Fantasy, Dystopian, Sci-fi, and Young Adult.

Destiny loves creating stories and building worlds that both teach and entertain! When writing, she sticks to her slogan: Where light can be discovered within!

Get ready for The Undefeated, Book Four of The Descendants Series!

Reviews

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good book! In keeping with my latest obsession with werewolves, I found this novel on amazon. I had never heard of this author but I am oh so glad I gave her a read. I couldn't put this book down; I read page after page trying to figure out what kind of shifter each character was. I didn't get very far with that but everything is explained at the end. If you like a shape shifter drama, definitely read this one. Now, when's that sequel coming out...

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

Crystal is discovering she isn’t as normal as she thought, but after leaving home to study in California, Crystal meeting Alveya. She quickly comes to realise something isn’t right when recovering from an accident, not only with herself, but with Alveya and the mystery intrigues her. All that Crystal learns from her time in California and time with Alveya, provides her the much needed insight to confirm she didn’t imagine the trauma she endured in the past.

It was great to read the first instalment of this series after having started with the second, The Dark Bloods. Krystal Blue provided a lot of the background to that plot and explained how Crystal an Alveya came to be as we found them in the sequel. It was most interesting to learn a lot more about Crystal and get a better idea of the events that led up to her being in California and in Alveya’s presence.

I love how dark this series is for paranormal, but also that it is simple and easy to follow. Again, Krystal Blue is mostly told from Crystal’s perspective, but there are insights from Alveya that add to the story’s depth, and understanding of the plot. Linking the puzzle pieces together was great and having read the sequel first it really was good to get all the details about Crystal’s past in this first book.

I am excited for more from this series as I think there is still a lot to come, and many questions.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was provided for free by the author and Love Bytes in exchange for an honest review.

This review was first posted to Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews. It has been slightly edited here for content.

(Closer to 2 and 1/2 stars)

I haven’t read a longer urban fantasy story in a while, so I was excited to dig into this one. Though I got invested in Crystal as a main character and was rooting for her until the end, I don’t think there’s much that is special or noteworthy about this story that we haven’t already read in hundreds of other books. The length ends up hurting it—it’s a fairly long book, but so much of it could have been edited out or paced better.

Crystal Blue is a good character to start a story with because she’s so fiercely independent. She basically has to start life from scratch after aging out of foster care and going to community college while homeless. It’s easy to sympathize with her, and it’s heartbreaking to see all she has to do just to stay afloat and stay safe while all of these new things are happening around her.

While the parts based in reality are compelling, the supernatural elements are less so. All of the people Crystal meets in California—Alveya, Theo, Fred, the Josbryn family—are very one-dimensional and don’t serve to make me want to learn more about the Blue Moon mythology. They seem like stereotypical brooding villains who just keep secrets and skulk around town. If I were Crystal, I would’ve high-tailed it out of there a long time ago. She was way too quick to accept and trust these awful people, despite her being such a strong and perceptive character.

The writing style and choices feel very dated. This book recalls the mid-2000’s craze of paranormal/urban fantasy romances that always include sexy, naïve women thrown into wild situations that include a brooding, evasive love interest. It doesn’t feel fresh just because it is an LGBT romance—it still feels like a retread of books like Twilight. It feels stale. There’s also an undercurrent of distrust between Crystal and the rest of the female characters that comes from sort of an old-school mindset. Readers today don’t really respond well to the whole “I’m not like other girls” thing anymore.

Despite this being an F/F romance, the most admirable romantic tension is between Crystal and Fred, a handsome jock-type who is more sensitive, attentive, and kind towards Crystal than Alveya ever manages to be. In fact, Alveya only grew on me in the last 10% or so of the book. If she was a male character, she’d definitely be considered emotionally and physically abusive. She’s constantly jealous and possessive of Crystal, then turns around and acts like she can hardly stand her. And she’s always physically hurting her—pulling her around, slamming her into walls, etc. Only when Crystal comes into her true strength and power do we see them on equal footing, but it doesn’t feel like enough. These two aren’t good for each other, and despite some good moments of sexual tension, I just couldn’t get invested in their romance.

I don’t think I’ll continue with this series. Besides Crystal, I’m not interested in any other the other characters, and the mythology is way too convoluted. Destiny Hawkins can write good action sequences and good romantic tension, but this series just isn’t doing it for me.

[XR · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a toss up between two stars or three for this book.

Where do I start? I just simply didn't understand the logic in the story, or at least, I wondered where it was. Crystal is a likeable character but man... what a pushover. Then there's Alveya with her whole set of emotions towards Crystal. All the supporting characters were arseholes too. Here's a kid who's on her own, and is clearly different from everyone around her, just as they themselves are different; but instead of helping the kid so she better understands herself these people justtry to break all of her bones, poison her, hit her with a van and/or maim her but they do it in the dark, so she doesn't even know what's happened to her. Until it gets near the end when SOMEONE finally gives the kid a clue about what's to come.

I was excited after reading the blurb/description when I came across this book 'cause I thought I came across another promising paranormal/urban fantasy book. And the thing I love about shifter books is that packs have morals within their pack, they follow an honour code and... the good ones help those who have no clue about what they are to protect themselves and the unknowing humans all around them. This book was lacking all of that and so much more.

This is the longest bloody review I've ever written and I'm meant to keep it simple, but I just can't express my disappointment with only a few words.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: KRYSTAL BLUE by Destiny Hawkins

You think you got problems? Think you're different--nobody understands you? Try being Crystal, a good-hearted adoptee who loves her younger foster brother and adopted mother, just wants to go to college and live a decent, fulfilling life. Why not? Because Crystal turns out to be something more than a straight-B student from Nevada. Crystal has qualities that render her both more--and different--in a society that can never understand that the Paranormal really does exist.

[Lulu [at] Reckless Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I was honestly pretty meh on the book. Just a typical shifter romance with cookie cutter protagonists, yeah? But then, I did a quick search and realized Krystal Blue by Destiny Hawkins wasn’t such a typical shifter romance. Featuring a WLW romance, I immediately knew I needed to read this.

We open up to a pretty jarring set of scenes. Protagonist and story namesake Krystal is forced to run away from her foster home while love interest Alveya is being punished. This was a very weird set-up for me. It starts with alternating point of views but then completely drops it. I had imagined we would swap between both yet we stay with Krystal for the majority of the novel, only breaking away back to Alveya once more. The initial scene with Alveya doesn’t do anything spectacular to set up the story. What we learn as we go along is exactly what we learn from that opening scene. If it had been cut, the expectations would have made for a smoother ride.

Apart from the WLW romance, the story itself was fairly cookie cutter and unoriginal, though still enjoyable! Character doesn’t know her heritage. Is confused by things getting weird. Becomes new girl at school. Wow who are all these hot people??? Oh nooo, I’m a monster! Resolution. It was enjoyable, like I said, but were it not for the WLW angle, I doubt I would have given Krystal Blue much thought. Side characters were interesting and the hint of a deeper backstory gives just enough intrigue to make me want to pick up the follow-up in the series.

For anyone that is really looking for WLW paranormal YA stories that feel familiar, pick up Krystal Blue by Destiny Hawkins. For anyone in search of something new and refreshing, you might want to steer clear.

A complimentary copy of this book was voluntarily reviewed originally on The Book Rookery

[Geo (rain) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I folded my arms to make a point. “No, I’m not getting in until you tell me what that was about.”
Alveya stared at me for a moment, then nodded, “Okay.” She walked around to the driver side of the car, got in, and drove off.
“Well,” I sighed. “That didn’t work.”

I loooove books with supernatural creatures. This one is of course an Urban Fantasy, in which the main character is... well, she doesn't know, but she starts to suspect people around her aren't just humans. As readers, we already know there are supernatural creatures, in the blurb there's even a mention of vampires, of which... there are none! That disappointed me, haha.. So most of the book is about 18-year-old Crystal wanting/trying to find out just what's going on, what's behind her mother's brutal murder, and what's the deal with this odd and intriguing classmate called Alveya, who for some reason seems to despise Crystal.

Some of what happened made me roll my eyes, to be honest, and Crystal kind of annoyed me in the beginning with her "I'm blond, have crystal-blue eyes, a good body, and I'm considered one of the prettiest girls in the school, I'm used to girls getting jealous of me... oh, but I think I'm average looking" attitude. And it kind of got in my nerves that even 80% into the book no one was telling her anything about anything, her questions always ignored! So there was a lot of "what am I? What are you? What's happening?".

However, I loved the dynamic between Crystal and Alveya. They had this kind of hate-love-hate relationship that extended throughout most of the story, and I really enjoyed it. And predictability about the plot aside, it was overall very entertaining. I liked it enough to want to read the sequel when/if it comes out. It's open-ended, but thankfully it doesn't end with a cliffhanger!

(Oh, and for those who care about this, it does need a bit of editing, examples: the narrative is in the first person, past tense [mostly from Crystal's perspective], but a few times it changed to present, such as "The first thing that I’m going to buy when I get a job (...)", "When I get myself together, I’ll see if I could get him (...)". And I'm not a native English speaker, and I only took the mandatory basic classes in school/college, but even to me "walked passed" seems wrong. But overall I think the writing was okay.)

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the read. You are kept in the dark for a large portion of the book which is frustrating in a good way making the book a page turner.

Looking forward to the second book.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it, but it took a bit to long to find out what was going on with Krystal, for me that is. Great characters and I will definitely read the next one.

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crystal Blue thought she was just a normal girl who was a faster kid from Nevada. She abruptly left her foster home to go to college and study Zoology in California where she met lots of strange people including Alveya Tera - a girl in her class. Alveya is beautiful and a Josbryn family (who seem to be powerful in the area). After a car accident that totals Crystals car she ends up staying with the Josbryns and she starts to realise that maybe things like vampires and witches are actually real after all - who knew? Some of her past now makes sense to her as she always thought the beast her mother died protecting her from wasn't real but something from her imagination and no she knows it must have been real after all. Now she has a new mystery - where does her liking of raw meat come from?

I loved the concept of this story and the way it was built up into something quite dramatic towards the end of the book. The main focus of this book was Crystal and how she started a journey of self discovery as well as discovering all the people around her and what they were. In many ways that mirrors real life as you start a journey like this when you leave home to go to college - it's just that her took on a whole new level. It was great that the characters were all very three dimensional and we could understand their thoughts, emotions and motivations. As this is the first book in the series it had to cover a lot of the background and that meant that it might have felt a bit slow at times, but the dramatic ending more than made up for that. Well written, I enjoyed this book and as this is a new author to me I will certainly read another of her books soon.

[Mari Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

My interest for the book started when I read the synopsis, was intriguing and sounded very enthralling, I wasn’t wrong and was hooked from the prologue which lead us to the introduction of the characters, Crystal a “human” with super strength and other interesting …talents and the very mysterious Alveya Tera. Crystal from the moment she witnessed her mother’s killing knew there was something more in this world than just humans but was too afraid to dig further about what happened back then or what really happened when she ran away from home, painfully leaving behind her little foster brother. She’s in a new town ready to start a new life, in a new school and face new challenges, the most remarkable one her classmate Alveya.

It’s a slow paced story that keeps the suspense all the way in a captivating journey, the dynamics and growing relationship between Crystal and Alveya it is very enthralling, a fascinating discovery trip to know who Crystal is and most important what she is, as well as to discover the enigmatic Alveya and her very cryptic family, a near death experience to change it all, a lot of action and shifters.

Undoubtedly a story nobody would want to miss and a book hard to put down once you start. Great job by Destiny Hawkins, she delivered a grand introduction to The Blue Moon Series. Can’t wait for the next one.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This book was recommended in a group I'm in when someone was looking for recommendations for FF books. I've been looking for a good FF book. When they recommended the book, they had said it was a slow burn book, but I never thought that it would be that slow. The author spent a lot of time establishing that Crystal was different, faster with supernatural senses. A lot of time. The first half of the book is spent with the two females leads basically hating each other. Crystal refuses to accept what she knows deep down, and repeatedly asks questions that she doesn't get answers to. She refuses to listen to her gut, which keeps her in danger. I feel like there are too many loose ends. Like Allison, what's up with that chick. Where did fred go? Was he really trying to help or hurt her? We don't get the more obvious answers until like 9o percent thru the book. I'm terribly disappointed that I read that whole book and the minute that it's finally gearing up for a love scene, the book ends. So, we read the whole book, all the animosity and angst, only for it to end. I wanted to read the love scene, dang it. The reviews I read for the second book imply that they end up apart, so I won't be purchasing the second. The story was good, even tho it took ages to get answers. If you're looking for a very slow burn book, with lots of angst, and no love scenes, this is for you. Otherwise I would not recommend this book.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

❇️❇️ONE TUMULTUOUS ADVENTURE❇️❇️
Double dipping daisy! Destiny serves up one incredibly turbulent, sinfully beguiling, wonderfully compelling, tantalizingly thrilling, boot-stomping, rock-our-world smackdown, delivering one action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, jaw dropping, block busting dynamo, catapulting this gem to staggering heights. Chicanery and havoc run rampant, releasing all the spills, thrills and swirling feels, bursting those churning emotions into play front and center, while intensifying the riveting drama, gripping intrigue, underlying threats, escalating danger, spiraling suspense and unnerving situations ensue, observing the gut-wretching struggles and formidable triumphs merge, cognizant of the perilous twists and wicked turns unfolding, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity with enough spice to add an extra kick to the mix. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels as though you're part of the story instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Fabulous job Destiny, thanks for sharing this awesome little gem with us.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story sounds so good and interesting and it really captured me once I started reading. I love the dynamic between Crystal and Alveya.

All the supernatural characters were overall interesting and described good though I whish that there would be some more "everyday" life in there. Why does Alveya always smell like blood? (yeah ... like the blurb tells "Vampires" but there were no questions about living as such ... besides eating raw meat - and in my opinion they're actually more shifters than vampires.)

The story itself is kind of slow paced with some great situations full with tension and it is good written though it needs a bit more of editing (for example: Crystal has a vision and her companion calls her "Alveya" ... it was confusing. Some other things might need a bit of a retouch but all in all these minor parts did not affect my enjoyment of the story. And I really enjoyed it.

It was fun, captivating, a mystery through all the pages and I am really looking forward to read more of Crystal and Alveya.

[Nyki Mancera · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, this was good…

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My only complaint was that it took so long to finally find out what Crystal was and why they wanted/needed her. I also got tired of the back and forth between her and Alveya. It took just a bit too long and that made the reading slow. I’m a fast reader and that slowed me down because I began to wonder if I wanted to continue reading. I’m glad that I did because it was great. A different take in the preternaturals.

I did not like the Josbryns. It is hard to sit and watch good people do nothing when good people are being hurt. When I heard the story behind it, it angered me. It seems so silly.

I couldn’t understand how anyone could beat someone on a regular basis and why someone would stay seeking acceptance and approval. It was never explained and it needs an explanation.

Adrianne, Thelodus, Alison, and Theo needs what’s coming to them. All of them. Leave no life spared. The biggest mistake was made when the job was left partly done.

I hope the second book explains the loose ends.

[Robert W. Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Destiny Hawkins’ excellent writing style shines in this novel. There is a build up of tension as the main character, Crystal Blue, struggles to make her way in a town with no support. Meeting strange strangers who mysteriously seem to resent her, she is drawn into a tension-bound world of drama that resolves around her own unknown heritage.

The tension of the novel involves danger, a romance with a kind man, and inescapable sapphic attraction, all of which build and interplay through the development of the plot.

The tension builds until about 4/5s of the way through the book when all hell breaks loose (figuratively speaking).  The ending sets up a second novel nicely with plenty of answers, but new mysteries, new allies, and new foes to face.

Definitely looking forward to book 2.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, but there were many times I did not think well of Crystal. She’s rather vain and somewhat dense at times. I had to remind myself that we’re all like that at times. I much preferred Alveya who was more mysterious and interesting. Once I got past Crystal’s flaws I was able to go along for the ride. Destiny Hawkins did a nice job of building suspense and peeling back the layers of the mystery. A note for grammar cops like me: there are errors; some additional proofreading is definitely needed. However, I think you’ll be able to enjoy the story anyway. I know I am looking forward to the next book.

[Tamara Dell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holding out to actually tell the reader what the secrets of the main character are is brilliant! My imagination got it wrong, but not completely, so I was surprised when I got it all figured out finally. I don't think I have had to use my imagination so much in any book I've ever read.

The next book in this series should be a good one, especially if it answers more of the questions that this book makes me ask!

Love and hate are so close that sometimes they can get mixed up. I was surprised at how well this is portrayed in this book. Destiny Hawkins allows the reader to feel both, for multiple characters in this book.

Good book!

[Becca Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fantasy and super natural books. The genre this book falls in was definitely perfect. The story line is easy to follow, the characters are intriguing and leave you questioning and wanting more. Crystal, although a little annoying, but what 18 year old isn’t, was a very like able character and I really felt her emotions with what she was going through and trying to figure out what was happening to her and around her. If you love werewolves , shifter books, vampires then please pick this book up and find an amazing series. I have found a new author and can’t wait for the next book.

[Sherry Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like books that have you wondering in suspense what is really going on? Then Krystal Blue is the series for you. I felt I was living the struggle for the truth as Crystal Blue was learning who or what she was in reality.

I actually found myself feeling the very emotion Crystal was struggling to hold in. The frustration, the lust, the anger and the love of her foster brother.

Definitely ready to see where this suspensefilled shifter series goes from here.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my usual genre of books but the description caught my attention. I loved how the author kept you in the dark about what exactly was going on with her main character, Crystal, and that you got to discover it as she did. There was plenty of suspense, drama, and action throughout the story and I am looking forward to the next in the series. I was given a copy of this book via the author.

[Bridgett Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krystal and Alveya aww I love them both! Krystal has had a rough life. Given away at birth, then her adopted mother is killed. Krystal is tossed around foster homes until she’s dropped into one where she’s not happy but deals with it. Until one day she does something that makes he run.
Finally free of the adoptive family, she goes to college for Zoology. While there she meets Alveya, who will change her life.

[Caroline Doig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destiny Hawkins is a fairly new author to me and this is a good story. Krystal was a foster kid her adopted mother died saving her life from a beast, Krystal always thought that she was different something extra but it’s not until later that she finds out about the other paranormal’s. At first I didn’t like Krystal I’ve met too many girls with an ego like hers in high school, I enjoyed this story but Krystal exhausted me.

[Isabella Le Roux · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the first book I have ever read from Destiny Hawkins and it was a very nice surprise. Krystal being an extinct species and Alveya being a breed of her own crept into my heart and I just could not put the book down. Destiny has the ability to keep you guessing at what is next and keeps you glued to the pages, trying to find out what Krystal is and what the story behind the story is. I just loved this book. Can't wait to get my hands on The Blue Moon #2.

[Allan A. Des Vignes Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I have been a person who just love to read. And it's really good to find a book that holds your attention until the end and wanting more!!
I love a good story with strong characters and a lot of feelings.

I would be very happy to recommend this book and author to all of my family and friends!!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good shifter story!

I found this story interesting in the fact it didn't give away the types of animals the characters were right away. The main characters have a slow burn romance & it's interesting to read how it grows. If you enjoy werewolves, witches, & magic you will love this story!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this book down, I loved the world, plot and dynamic between the characters, in particular Crystal and Alveya. Some elements were a little confusing like Crystal appearing to know her supernatural side, then appearing oblivious. also her dark side was also not fully explained. Looking forward to the next book. I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

[Janeandjerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krystal Blue

This was one great book that I was able to read before the next book in this series comes out and not was I glad that I did. I thought all the characters worked well together even though they were on opposite sides most of the time. I hope that the next book is just as good as this one is once it comes out.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me say I have read some of Destiny's books that I just loved. Krystal Blue was a good book with characters that were well developed and you got to know. The story moved along without lags and was not disjointed. I enjoyed the book but there were certain elements that made me uncomfortable.

[lyssa wesner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theres no other book out there like this one

It was a great read!! I ended up finishing in about a 2 day period (I had work) but I was glued to it!! The story is so good and keeps ur full attention on it!!! That romance was just as a great and showed not every relationship is as perfect as they show in movies and most books!!! 10\10