I have been reading the Cast’s since middle school! I enjoyed this one so much and couldn’t put it down. Definitely make sure to pick this one up if you are interested in the genre.

The premise of this book was intriguing: those born with magick are whisked off to a magic training/boarding school after their 18th birthday to refine their skills. For one such young woman (FMC), she wasn’t born with magick but struck with it- on her 18th birthday. The magick is tied to their astrological signs- and each sign has a different strength or power. The FMC and her best friend (MMC), go to the school together and make a few friends. All seems good at first, until they start uncovering some secrets.

For me, the zodiac magic type of magick fell flat. I found it confusing and.. gimmicky? This is a YA book- which, I definitely have and do read, even though I’m (cough cough) 40 (cough). I know many reviewers said they felt this is a lower YA book due to the dialogue. I don’t entirely disagree there, however, I could picture 18 year olds speaking this way. I feel that the plot, the relationships, the magick, the pacing, feels appropriate for a lower YA crowd. Probably age 9/10 up to 16. I could see older groups enjoying it also, but it did feel juvenile overall. There’s no spice, just one kiss.

I do feel like it’s hard for me to rate this book because I don’t feel like I’m its target demographic (age). I liked the overall concept, some dialogue, and I felt like the book moved along well. World building is minimal. Side characters are not that well developed. The story ended kind of abruptly, too. I’m assuming there is another book to follow. I was kind of surprised by the sudden ending.

This book may very well be a 4 or 5 star book for a 10 year old, but definitely not for my age demographic!

Thank you to the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Wednesday Books for the advanced readers copy.

This book follows Wren, who finds out she has magical powers and is sent to a magical school with her best friend, Lee. The school has houses that follow the zodiac signs. It is a fun and easy fantasy read that I think would be best suited for younger audiences. There was a lot of language that I think tried to make this book more "woke", and just felt really out of place in the fantasy setting. The characters read younger than they are. But if you are reading this at a younger age then it wouldn't detract from the story like it did for me.

I did enjoy the friends to lovers subplot romance we got, it felt fresh and different compared to the usual enemies to lovers in a fantasy book. The Zodiac signs tie in with the school and magic powers was interesting and I wish we could learn more about why some signs were not chosen. And what happens to them. Is this school also the only one in the universe?

I think I came out of this with more questions than answers, especially with the ending.

Draw Down the Moon tells the story of Wren and Lee, two long time best friends who struggle to understand their evolving magic and their feelings for each other in this coming of age YA fantasy.

We meet these two characters a few days before they head to Academia de la Luna, a training academy for Moonstruck young adults. Lee grew up in an influential Moonstruck family, so he's always known he weilds magick and has received introductory training. He didn't feel much pressure toward ambition until his sister died during her summer at the academy. Now that he's the family's heir apparent, he is under pressure to be a top performer during their trials and to make important connections while at the academy.

Wren's parents were Moonstruck, but she was not, so while she knows that Magick exists, she does not weild it. When a strange phenomenon occurs at midnight on her 18th birthday, Wren finds out that she is Moonstruck, but her power does not manifest in a way that she's familiar with. Each passing day at the academy brings new information, secrets, and dangers to light, leaving Wren struggling to decide who she can trust. She has to figure it out quickly as deadly forces converge on the academy and her group of friends.

The premise and overall character ARCs in this book were solid for me. The authors weave tension into the story by layering mysteries, clues, and big reveals, and the book ends on an unsettling cliffhanger. I also appreciate that the cast of characters includes gender queer and other LGBTQ+ representation.

The book falls flat for me with regard to the writing style and world building. The prose is very casual, bordering on conversational or stream-of-consciousness. The authors incorporate references that indicate that this is a contemporary setting (specifically referencing TikTok, Instagram, and colloquial phrases like "boomer"), but the way the characters engage with each other makes me feel like they should be in their early teens, not 18 and on the cusp of adulthood.

Even though the characters are early college age, based on the themes and writing style I'd place the ideal audience for this book at early YA, maybe 14-15.

Initially, I was really excited about the story. It gave off huge harry potter vibes but with a more diverse and modern approach to magic. Fast paced and character driven I loved the character POVs we got for Wren and Lee. What fell short for me was the lack of depth to the characters and how fast relationships and the plot moved. I felt like I needed to understand the characters on their own more before they started becoming friends and such. Great cliff hanger and will definitely read #2.

ARC from NetGalley

There were a lot of exclamation marks.

This read pretty young. The MCs are freshly 18, and they act it. I don't take issue with that, but just so that people know, it's closer to MG than NA if you feel me. There's a point where the dean reminds them that they're legally adults, but they're treated like children. It adds to the young vibe.

There are quite a few errors in this book, but it's an ARC so I suppose that's acceptable, though I feel like these things should have been caught immediately upon review.

Anyhoodle, in this book, the term magick applies both to the magic which is cast and the person who cast it. If you are moonstruck, you're a magick. In order to bring forth abilities, some kind of Naruto finger jutsu is required. I couldn't stop thinking that, and it just made things feel kind of cheesy to me. That said, Naruto is boss. No hate for Naruto. But still.

The story was interesting enough if basic. Things were predictable and convenient. The romance had 0 chemistry. We end on an irritating cliffhanger because Lee is stupid. I might read the next one, but eh..

The book was enjoyable but not the best book I’ve red from PC cast and Kristin Cast. I really enjoyed the world building and learning of the magic of this world. I didn’t really care for any of the characters nor the character development. What the book did well it did really well but there is definitely something missing.

The writing in this is really jarring. It feels written for a middle grade audience both in tone and vocabulary. It really made the entire book fall short for me.

I'm so disappointed. When I received this arc I did a little happy dance because I absolutely love this writing duo but Draw Down the Moon definitely does not match up to their normal skills.

It reads as young ya/middle grade even though the main character is an adult. The characters are immature in both dialogue and actions, and the plot was repetitive and stale.

If you go into this expecting a middle grade book you'll have an enjoyable time.

Thank you for this ARC. Unfortunately this one was not for me at all. I didn't like the writing, and it was truly difficult to get through. I wanted to set it aside but I gave it time to improve. Sadly, it did not. I think it is too juvenile and the writing quality is not what I'm accustomed to. The internal monologues were painful. Very sorry to provide this feedback, although I hope it is helpful.

Unfortunately, this did not mesh with me. I ended up DNFing it about halfway through. Something about the storytelling techniques and the internal monolgues just wasn't working for me.

I was really drawn to the blurb so I had high hopes for the book, and I tried - I really tried - but I DNF'd this about 30% through, which was more than I should have spent on it given my backlist of books to read.

At one point I came back to it's Netgalley page to figure out who this was geared to - I felt it was veering wilding from MG to NA, so I wasn't sure who it was being written for. Parts felt really juvenile, particularly in the world building and some of the internal dialogue.

This just wasn't for me - I'm sure there is a fantasy audience out there that this is PERFECT for.

This was a WILD ride! Draw Down the Moon is a YA romantasy book that follows Wren Nightingale as she gets THROWN into the world of Moonstruck magick, even though she has friends, like Lee (her long time friend who she has a crush on (and he has a crush on her too 🥹)), she still is floundering due to the fact that she was never supposed to have Moonstruck magick! When Lee and Wren go to the Academia de la Luna, the summer school where they will learn to control their powers, mysterious things start happening and danger keeps stalking Wren... The mysterious and suspenseful aspect of Draw Down the Moon will PULL you into the book and then destroy you when you realize the book ends on a cliffhanger!😭 This is definitely an interesting NA/YA book and I'm already dying for the second book! 👀 Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for an early copy!💖

I’m familiar with Cast duo, because when I was a teen, I read their House of Night series. At the time I liked the series, but as it progressed (and I got older), I liked these books less and less. That is why I was a bit sceptical when I picked up Draw Down the Moon, but I was enticed by intriguing summary as I have a soft spot for any kind of magical schools and, of course, pretty cover. I managed to read a few chapters, but it wasn’t the best experience, so I’m dnf’ing it. The main issue is that it reads veeery young and I hoped this would lean more towards new adult, but unfortunately that’s not the case. Also, I feel like there was no real set-up and every new thing is introduced very sporadically, which felt really weird. Yeah, it’s definitely not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

This ARC was provided for free for a honest review, but unfortunately i couldn finish this book. I gave the stars for the pretty cover only! I am sorry

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for access to the e-arc

what a shame the cover is so gorgeous because the story inside is anything but (i imagine... i dnf'd after just the first chapter). the writing is uninspiring and juvenile, the main character is whiny and annoying and the plot literally escalated from 0-100 with absolutely no build-up. if you're a fan of 2012 wattpad era "original fiction" you may like this but i cannot recommend it to anyone in good faith

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.7 rounded up to 4/5.

Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast weaves a tale of magic, love, and mystery that is both intriguing and enchanting. The story revolves around Wren Nightingale, a young woman born into a magickal family but initially believed to be Mundane. However, everything changes when she starts glowing on her eighteenth birthday, leading her to the Academia de la Luna, a secret magickal school on a hidden island.

The premise is captivating, and the magic system introduced in the book adds a layer of excitement to the narrative. The authors have created a world that is both fun and easy to understand, making it accessible to a wide audience. The gorgeous cover is an inviting glimpse into the mystical world within.

While the magic system and premise shine, some aspects of the book posed challenges. The writing style, at times, felt more aligned with middle-grade fiction rather than young adult, which might affect the book's target audience. Additionally, the world could have been more detailed, and the side characters could have been more developed to enrich the overall reading experience.

The story unfolds with Wren and Lee Young navigating the Academia's trials, bringing forth a mix of secrets, prophecies, and even murder. The relationship between Wren and Lee, both navigating their own personal challenges, adds a layer of complexity to the plot. The love story is sweet and endearing, providing a heartfelt element to the overall narrative.

Readers familiar with P.C. Cast's previous work, particularly the House of Night series, may find some thematic similarities. However, Draw Down the Moon introduces a younger protagonist and a distinct storyline that sets it apart.

In conclusion, Draw Down the Moon is a light and enjoyable read, perfect for those who appreciate magical tales with a touch of romance. Despite some writing style and character development concerns, the book succeeds in delivering an enchanting story that captures the essence of young adult fantasy.

DNFed

I didn't finish this book very early into it. I did not like the MC at all. I wasn't very invested in the story either. It seemed like a very typical book with the white girl falling for the black guy... Was very interested because of the cover and the synopsis saying it had a murder mystery but sadly I wasn't able to finish it.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC though.

There’s something so comforting about a magical school — I think I’ll love this setting forever. “Draw Down the Moon” delivered on the fantasy feels I was looking for: interesting magic, a sweet romance, and total jealousy that I’m not living in a dorm room with these characters.

What didn’t work for me was that the writing and plot felt close to a middle grade read than what I was expecting. Though Wren and Lee are 18 they felt more like 14, and I think the story would’ve worked better had they been aged down. The writing tone would’ve also matched a younger duo better!

That being said, I’d definitely recommend this one to younger readers, or if you’re into some lighter fantasy. Also the cover is BEAUTIFUL!

Another YA novel from PC and Kristin Cast that drew me in. I love the world they have built and the characters are multilayered and some of their quirks really make them feel like you understand them.