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.

Draw down the moon by pc cast & Kristin cast is a first of a ya fantasy series, not sure how long this series will be but this was a fun first book! The one complaint I have for this novel well two is one it wasn't long enough. Two: I wish we got more of Lee's pov in this one! I have a feeling we will get more of Lee pov in book 2.
We follow two main characters Wern & Lee two best friends one who is like a wizard and the other is non magical being. Wern kind of remind me of Clary from mortal instruments because she doesn't know who her parents are and she discover her ability to have magic. This was a fun first ya novel that I just wished was a little long and I never say that with fantasy novels. Overall rating 4 out of 5 star rating, cannot wait to read book 2 and thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me an e-arc!(:

If Fourth Wing and Harry Potter had a baby, it would be this book. The book cover drew me in, but if I had known it was YA I would’ve reconsidered my request. I enjoyed the characters and flew through this book, but it just wasn’t love. I feel like the storyline had so much potential, but I didn’t love it.

Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and young adult witchcraft. The novel stands out with its immersive magical world, where elements of astrology and zodiac signs play a central role in the story. The inclusion of a magical school setting adds depth and intrigue, creating a fascinating backdrop for the characters' journeys.

The romance is classic for the genre—sweet and tender—but it doesn't overshadow the rich plot. Instead, it complements the characters' personal growth and magical adventures. While the romance is a nice touch, the book's real draw is the carefully constructed world-building and the promise of more to come.

As the first book in a duology, Draw Down the Moon sets the stage for an even more thrilling continuation. The groundwork for an engaging adventure is solid, and fans of magical worlds and young adult fantasy will certainly want to continue the journey with the second book. A must-read for those who love magic, romance, and rich, imaginative storytelling.

Draw Down the Moon was so good! This book was full of magick and friendship. It had mystery and dark undertones that I loved!

This book perfectly highlights the disparity that now exists in the young adult genre. This was so juvenile compared to other YA books and it's such a shame. PC and Kristin Cast always have really interesting and magical stories to tell, but they always emphasize the Young in Young Adult.

The characters in this book are 18, which is certainly young adult, but there are so many books with the same criteria where it doesn't feel like you're actually reading about high schoolers.

I think there needs to be some discussions about how to categorize books nowadays. This is really, in a lot of ways, more suited to middle school level even though they're 18. Some of the language and scenes could be described as more adult, but that's what makes this book feel all over the place.

Quick Synopsis
Wren has lived her life without powers until the day of her 18th birthday when she starts glowing. Suddenly she and her friend Lee are both going to a magical school and competing in the magical trials. As they keep spending time at the school they learn more secrets and must figure out what they are.

Review
I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars. It was hard for me to get into and took a long time to read despite how short it is. The writing sometimes felt very obvious when trying to tell the reader something. I think the magical aspect was cool and the mystery was good. However I did not like the characters. I just did not find them very likeable. They felt over dramatic at times. I would not recommend this book to others.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I liked it but didn't love it. It didn't quite have the same pull that their other stories have had. I was a huge fan of House of Night, so that would be hard to beat.

Draw Down The Moon by PC Cast & Kristin Cast

This ended up being just an okay read for me. The story was entertaining enough but the characters had zero chemistry. Their relationships all felt forced and surface level. There wasn't any real connection between any of them, including the best friends turned boyfriend/girlfriend couple. It was all just too bland for my taste.

There was a time I would have eaten this book up despite its flaws. So if you were already interested in this book i still recommend giving it a shot, it just wasn't for me.

I can definitely see this book having a place in my high school library, especially with my young adult fantasy readers. I was a bit bored, and it didn't feel too original, but I'll still be purchasing for my students.

I really wanted to like Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, but it just wasn’t my favorite. The premise was interesting, and I was excited to dive into the world they created, but I found myself struggling to fully connect with the story.