DNFed at 65%

Despite the characters being eighteen, Draw Down the Moon reads more like it was written for a younger audience. The setup is actually pretty cool; a magical island school, powers tied to the moon, and a hidden world that blends astrology with fantasy. The magic system is simple and easy to grasp, which makes it a great intro fantasy for younger readers. There’s definitely a whimsical, almost fairytale-like vibe that I think some readers will enjoy. I just went in expecting something a little more mature or layered, and this didn’t quite get there for me.

The biggest struggle for me was the writing style. It felt more middle grade than YA, with lots of parentheses, ellipses, and quirky humor that didn’t always land. The characters are supposed to have just finished high school, but the way they talk, and joke feels much younger. There was a lack of depth and emotional maturity that made it hard for me to stay connected to the story. The pacing also felt uneven, jumping between slow worldbuilding and sudden bursts of action. I made it to around page 209 before deciding to set it down, and by then, not a lot had actually happened plot-wise.

That said, I don’t think this is a bad book, it just wasn’t for me. I can see younger readers or those new to fantasy enjoying it more. If this had been marketed as middle grade, I probably would’ve gone in with a different mindset. The cover is absolutely stunning, and the overall concept had potential. It just ended up feeling a bit too light and surface-level for what I was hoping for. I’d recommend it to readers who are just starting to explore fantasy or YA.

Thannk you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest eview.

I loved the academic setting of the novel. The writing is fast-paced and the story line is interesting. This is a great book for young readers who would enjoy the fantasy genre.

A YA fantasy with predictable plot and underdeveloped characters. Pro: Engaging magical school setting with a fresh moon-based magic system.

This book was so underrated! I really enjoyed it and the tone/vibe of the novel was good. A new take on academia, and it ent by really fast. Wish this book had gotten more buzz

Cute and easy read. I enjoyed this book. I’ve been a fan of authors for sometime and will continue! Thanks for the chance to review this lovely read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one.

As I do with many books, I both listened to the audiobook and read the ebook in parts. It’s so hard to find time to do one or the other these days 😂

I liked the dual narration but felt that it was a little unnecessary. I think the story could have been stronger if just from Wren’s POV but I still like hearing from Lee.

Anyway, on to my thoughts. I thought the magic system was so interesting here. I loved the idea of zodiac signs and the moon as the driving force behind the magic and was excited to find that there was a lot more to it than initially described. The reveals were really interesting and I’m definitely eager to read the sequel.

The romance is very very slow burn but also sweet. A little of the miscommunication trope frustrated me at times but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I feel like it was one of those “yell at the TV screen” kind of moments where I wanted the characters to do something about their feelings but they just weren’t doing it. However, that felt right for their personalities. Lee and Wren are shy teenagers and their romance was very appropriate.

I also loved the side characters and hope to see more of them in the sequel.

Lastly, I think this is age appropriate for younger YA readers which is nice to see. The themes of the story are about finding yourself, trusting yourself, and fighting for what’s right which are all things that YA audiences can appreciate.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I havent been having the best luck with this author lately. I used to love them but not so much anymore.

This was the first book of the author's I read and I thought this was such an original plot and I really enjoyed it. Plenty of twists and turns and I really liked the characters. It's a very easy book to devour.

“Wishing for something you can never have is a waste of time.”

A magickal academy and a set of dangerous trials. I went into this duology with high hopes, as I loved the House of Night series. I found the aspect interesting as it's based on astrology and powers based on the moon. Give me mystery, give me fantasy, give me magic, I was drawn from the getgo. I fell in love with the cover alone. However, I felt like it leaned more toward middle grade, and read like they weren't the equivalent of seniors in high school.

Tropes:
♉️ Magical Academy
🔮 Astrology driven
♉️ Trials
🔮 LGBTQ+ Rep
♉️ Contemporary Fantasy
🔮 Friends to Lovers

A huge thank you to Wednesday Books, P.C. Cast and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Draw Down The Moon! All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

I have heard of this author but never read anything by her. I think I will have to check out her older books because I really like her writing style. It has the feel of a popular YA novel but it flows like an adult novel. Great choice to add to the collection.

I can be incredibly picky when it comes to fantasy, but no matter how old I get I am always a sucker for a magic academy. I guess we can thank Harry Potter for that. Then you design an absolutely gorgeous cover, and I am for sure going to read it.

I am old. Maybe that is why I didn't enjoy this one. I still enjoy reading YA, but sometimes it becomes VERY clear that I am not the target audience. The writing for this one tended to skew younger, in my opinion. In addition to that, it was hard to determine exactly what this book was trying to accomplish. It was like the author duo were trying to merge multiple book inspirations into one but unsuccessfully. To be honest, while there have been fantasy books that I haven't necessarily enjoyed, they at least hold my interest. It breaks my heart to say that this book was BORING. Nothing happened for the first 90% of the book and then the cliffhanger ending was rushed.

I had zero interest in the characters. I could not connect with a single one. This book is also supposed to be a Romantasy, but the love interests had no chemistry and no relationship development. Overall, I was really disappointed and it's safe to say that I won't be picking up the sequel.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Wren Nightingale isn’t supposed to glow. Born of magickal parents but not under a moon sign, she was fated to live her life on the outside of the world she secretly longed for—until, on her eighteenth birthday, the impossible happened. In the blink of a heartbeat, her entire world changes. Suddenly, Wren is whisked away to the hidden Academia de la Luna, a magickal school tucked behind a veil off the Seattle coast. There, the stars aren't just pretty—they’re powerful, and the story she thought she knew begins to fracture.

Lee Young has always known where he belongs. With the family name to uphold and a future crafted in legacy, he's trained his whole life to count among the best. But no amount of preparation could ready him for the arrival of the girl he's been silently in love with for years—Wren. As trials begin and shadows deepen, Wren and Lee are forced to question everything: their destinies, loyalty, and the safety of the Academia itself.

As far as New York Times bestsellers go, the Moonstruck series has a premise that should be magnetic. It promises secret schools, zodiac magick, murder, romance, and celestial prophecy—all wrapped in the moody sheen of fantasy. And to give credit where it’s due: the content is here. Kristin Cast and P.C. Cast know how to draw a compelling concept. The use of moon magick tied to astrological signs adds a grandeur I adored. The dual POV works. The setup glows.

But the reading experience? Not quite.

I read and listened simultaneously—hoping the audiobook would lend a little extra sparkle—but the tone felt surprisingly middle grade, despite its adult themes. The prose was clean. The pacing? Not. It dragged too long for a book meant to dazzle. Everything I wanted—a magnetic pull, danger that leaves your spine tingling, romance that aches—only arrived in the final 25–50 pages. By that time, I was already halfway out the window.


There’s a lot to love: the world built around the Academia de la Luna, the prophecy, the trials, the blood-drenched secrets hidden beneath starlight. But this story left me on the outside looking in. I kept hoping for a moment to draw me under, one that would return the investment of time and curiosity I gave it.

Instead, I’m left with a review that feels like this: Draw Down the Moon could’ve been brilliant—but too often, it was just a flicker, not a flame.

Draw Down the Moon - P.C.Cast

Wren Nightingale doesn’t think she has powers even though both her parents were magikal. Her two best friends do and, as they are approaching their eighteenth birthday, she is preparing for them to go to the Academia, a special magical prep school, while she stays behind to live her life as a mundane.

And then she is struck by the moon’s magic and starts glowing on her eighteen birthday and is set on a trajectory so different from what she had dreamed.

Off to the Academia, on a secluded, magical island, she goes alongside Lee Young, destined for greatness among the magical community. over the summer they will not only discover and hone their magic but complete gruelling and dangerous trials. While they’re there, they will have to deal with ghosts - both personal and real - and uncover the truth about what the school really is.

There is magic, love, darkness, politics, power struggle, murder, prophecies, secrets and friendship.

I really enjoyed the magikal system. I thought it was creative in it’s execution and variety.

The characters could have been any 18 year old. Truthfully, they could have been cast as 16 year olds and it would have been better suited to the level of relationship and maturity shown. It IS a YA novel and they are teens but there was a lot about it that felt young.

This is book one of a eulogy and I look forward to seeing how the themes of destiny, friendship, love and sacrifice carry through to the next book…and yes, I need to know how the cliffhanger ending takes us into the rest of the story because it was big.

Overall, it was a young coming of age novel full of magic and secrets that I think would work great for introducing a YA reader to the world of fantasy..even romantasy.

This was a cute book one. I enjoyed the characters a lot. I did feel like there was a lot of just telling us what was going on, but it was a quick and easy read. The concept felt original and I was sucked into the plot. Looking forward to reading book 2.

I’m starting to think I’m just not a super fan of their writing I had to dnf this one but I will keep trying because I know a ton of people love them

DNF@ 25%

I'm so upset that I didn't like this at all. The characters were annoying and had no real personality. The writing was terrible. And this felt more like a middle grade rather than YA.

Eh, this wasn’t for me. It seemed to be for a younger audience than just YA. I was bored through most of it.

I really enjoyed this book !

This miscommunication trope isn't one of my favorites, but it felt so real that it was frustrating.

I liked that each chapter alternates between Lee's and Wren's POV. It helped having a full picture of what was going on in their heads.

However, even if the characters are 18 years old, it often felt like they were younger (13-14). That's the only negative point I have.

The cliffhanger is cliffhanging, so I'm really curious to how the story will end in the next book!

Many thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Unfortunately this wasn’t my favorite. It felt unoriginal and bland, with one dimensional characters and a half-baked plot. Everything was predictable. My expectations weren’t even that high. The best thing is the cover.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a YA fantasy set in a magical school with a key focus on astrology and zodiac signs for the magic system. I thought the story as a whole was an interesting concept but I didn’t think it needed to be duel POV.

This is very YA which isn’t a problem but it is good to know going into it. If I was younger I would have enjoyed this as an intro to fantasy and magic. I would have loved a little more depth to it.