Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I’m usually not a fantasy fan, but this one is actually set in the real world, which is much easier for me to read. Typical YA with a love interest, the “chosen one” trope, and sassy best friend, this book isn’t exactly unique, but I still enjoyed it.

Wren’s parents are Moonstruck, meaning they are magickal. Wren isn’t, until her 18th birthday, when she feels the moon’s pull. With her best friends, Lee and Sam, they head off to the Moon Academy to learn about their powers.

This book really isn’t about their education, but more about discovering who they are, uncovering big secrets, and dodging danger from unexpected places. I liked this enough to want to read the sequel but not enough to say it’s outstanding. But it’s a solid, fun read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Magical Coming-of-Age Tale

Draw Down the Moon is a captivating young adult fantasy that introduces readers to a hidden world of magic and mystery. The authors skillfully blend elements of supernatural powers, teenage drama, and coming-of-age themes.

The premise of a young woman discovering her hidden magical abilities is intriguing, and the setting of a secret academy adds to the allure. However, the characters, particularly Wren, often come across as younger than their stated age of 18. Their behavior and thought processes sometimes feel more appropriate for a younger age group, which can disrupt the flow of the story.

Despite this minor issue, the book offers a fun and exciting read. The world-building is imaginative, and the romantic tension between Wren and her fellow students adds a delightful spark to the narrative.

The audiobook narration is satisfactory, with the dual narrators providing distinct voices for the different perspectives. However, the male narrator's performance can sometimes feel one-dimensional, focusing primarily on expressing romantic interest rather than showcasing a complex character.

Overall, Draw Down the Moon is a promising start to a series, with the potential for further exploration of the magical world and its inhabitants.

3 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #drawdownthemoon

This was a good read but it was hard for me to get into it for longer than it would typically take. I have really loved other books, but this wasn’t a hit for me.

Draw down the moon is the first novel in a new series by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast. Fans of their previous series, the house of night, will definitely enjoy this one. So will fans of fantasy stories with magic.

This story is told from both main characters, Lee and Wren’s, points of view while they face this new world and trials. Plenty of action fills the pages of this story and makes it hard to put down once you start.

Draw down the night is both enjoyable as a read or listen. Both draw you in and keep your attention.

I had a lot of high hopes for this wholesome YA fantasy based on the premise and celestial magic system! However, It did not live up to the hype for me! I feel like it read more like a middle grade book, which would have been fine if it was marketed that way. I also didn't really connect with any of the chacters or understand the purpose behind the magic in this world.

Such a unique magic system, and loved the school setting. The students uncovering the mystery bit by bit was satisfying, with lots of characters that could go to either side at this point. We don't know who we can trust!

I love these authors. Their books are so hard to put down. The characters just right. Never fails. The storyline is awesome. Going changes in different ways in the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Even though eighteen-year-old Wren Nightingale was born to magical parents, she has never shown signs of magic powers. However, on the night of her eighteenth birthday she starts glowing and is whisked away to Academia de la Luna with her best friend, Lee Young. Lee has always known he was going to the academy and he has big ambitions to join the Moon Council. He’s reminded of the death of his sister years before at the academy while he’s there. He wants to restore his family’s reputation since he’s the only child left. However, the school is more dangerous than it ever has been before. Wren and Lee must learn how to control their magic while also fighting to survive the summer.

This is such a thrilling magical story! Though Wren had magical parents, she thought she was a Mundane without powers, like her uncle who has raised her since her parents died. There was a lot about the magical world that she learned through the story, since she didn’t think she needed to learn it before she gained powers. There were some intense scenes involving tragic deaths, which I wasn’t expecting. I enjoyed the twists that were unpredictable!

Draw Down the Moon is a great YA fantasy!

Thank you Wednesday Books for sending me a copy of this book!

I was very excited for a new Cast duo story, and I think I would have enjoyed this better if House of Night wasn’t so ingrained in my youth. I was comparing this constantly to House of Night.

It was okay for me, I haven’t decided if I will pick up the second one yet

I just couldn't get into this book at all. The characters feel way too young, more like middle grade than YA. I didn't like all the melodrama, or Wren's over-reliance on Lee to constantly take care of her.

DNF

These two authors NEVER disappoint. What a wonderfully crafted novel. I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to netgalley and Wednesday books for an earc in exchange of an honest review.

Wren Nightingale isn't supposed to have any powers. Born of magickal parents but not under a moon sign, she was destined for life as a Mundane—right up until she starts glowing on her eighteenth birthday. In a heartbeat, Wren's life is turned upside down, and she's suddenly leaving her home for the mystical Academia de la Luna—a secret magickal school on a hidden island off the Seattle coast.

Lee Young has always known about his future at the Academia. He has one goal: pass the trials, impress the Moon Council, and uphold his family's reputation. But he wasn't expecting to be attending alongside the girl he's been secretly in love with for as long as he can remember.

As Wren and Lee are thrown into the Academie's gruelling trials, they quickly learn there's something different--and dangerous--about the school this year. Wren will have to navigate a web of secrets, prophecies--and murder. And Lee will have to decide who to protect--his family's legacy, or the girl he loves.

This wasn't the story for me. I was bored by the second third or fourth chapter. I tried to keep reading to give it a chance but eventually gave up and skim-read through it. I felt no connection with any of the characters, they felt flat, with little animation, basically cardboard cut outs with no character arc. The fmc was incredibly immature. Maybe this might resonate with a younger YA audience but I found they all grated on my nerves. And the end conflict/fight within the story didn't make sense. I couldn't follow what was happening. And it felt like it was put there just for the sake of a cliffhanger for book 2.

The world and concept of Draw Down the Moon are enticing, but the storytelling lacked tension, so it wasn't the most enthralling read. Still, it was a quick, easy, enjoyable read.

This was a fun story. I love anything with magic and then toss in some moon magic and zodiac traits? I'm hooked. While the story was gun, it was extremely predictable and then with the miscommunication trope? Definitely got old quick. The book wasn't too long and moved a long well. Felt similar to their other books together.

Draw Down the Moon by P.C. & Kristin Cast
3/5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️

A bit too YA for my tastes but a quick read with a fun magic system!

Read this book if you like:
- YA fantasy
- Moon magic
- Dual POV
- Pining MMC

Draw Down the Moon by P C Cast and Kristin Cast
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Wren and Lee have been best friends for years despite their differences. They are both from magickal families but only Lee has moon magic. The night before Lee is to leave for Academia de la Luna, Wren is struck by moon magic. But when she arrives at the Academia, it isn’t what she expected. It’s full of secrets, and lies, and even murder.
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What I liked:
-This was a fun listen. I loved Wren and her friend Sam and their enthusiasm for learning new things together.
-The trials were interesting and also tense. They really held my attention!
-That ending really brought out a lot of feelings and I am frustrated that I cannot seem to find an ETA for the second half of this duology because I would totes just start the next one right now to know how things turn out.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am immensely frustrated with Lee’s character. That would be my only mild complaint about the story. He was just so naive and hero-worshipped all the leaders of the academy that it blinded him to really listening to his friends when they expressed concerns. I wanted to shake him till his bones rattled. So if that was the author’s intent when they wrote his character, I applaud them, WELL DONE.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

I enjoyed the world-building in this book and quite enjoyed the main characters. Fun read and will read the sequel!

Draw Down The Moon centers around Wren Nightingale, who is struck with moon magic on her 18th birthday after she thought she was normal her whole life. Upending her plans, she now has to go to a school to figure out how her new powers work. But when things at the school are more dangerous this year than any other, Wren begins to wonder if her strange new magic has anything to do with it.

I absolutely loved P.C and Kristin Cast's House of Night series when I was younger, so I was excited to jump into a new duology series by them! The premise sounded really fun and magical, and I loved the idea of moon magic and the academy setting. Unfortunately, this story fell really flat for me.

My main gripe is that the writing felt extremely juvenile, as did the characters. I maybe would have thought a bit differently if this had been marketed more as middle-grade, with the characters being 14 or 15 instead of 18. The dialogue was extremely cringey, and I felt like every single little thought process was laid out in dialogue, like the authors were afraid we wouldn't understand what was going on otherwise. I really dislike when it feels like the author doesn't trust the reader. Again, if this were marketed more toward younger readers, that would be different, but this is marketed as NA; the characters are 18, they are supposed to be going away to college. The conversations just didn't seem to happen in an organic way and almost sounded scripted (if that makes sense?). It really took me out of the story, and I never felt immersed.

The worldbuilding was just not enough either. I understood the mechanics of the magic, but we didn't get any intricacies or details about how the magic worked or if there were any drawbacks or counterbalances to having this untapped power. I would have liked just a bit more expansion on the magic and the Lunar Council and the Elementals. Everything was so surface level, and I just wanted more.

I unfortunately also felt zero chemistry between Lee and Wren. I couldn't make myself believe that they actually liked each other. I felt no emotional tension or angst when they weren't getting along, and when they finally kissed, I felt nothing. There were no butterflies, there was no kicking of my feet. This had the backdrop to be the perfect miscommunication trope leading into romance, and then when they finally came together it should have been electric! Their date should have been magical and then I should have felt so gutted when it ended badly, but I just felt nothing... Again, I think this mostly had to do with the dialogue. Nothing felt natural, and they both just communicated so badly.

This ended on a huge cliffhanger, and while normally that kills me and I always have to read the next book to find out what happens, I really don't think I'll be able to pick up the next book in this duology.

*I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*