First and foremost I absolutely adore the Casts and everything they write. And to have to the opportunity to read this book at all, especially as an ARC, is awe inspiring. I love the cover and that’s usually how I pick my books and the synopsis for sure gave me those giddy feelings of the their previous series, House of of Night.
I for sure like a fish to water with this book. It feels so familiar in a way I can’t really describe and that rarely happens.
This book for sure gave me House of Night vibes which I absolutely love. Following Wren & Lee on their journey of magic and love for sure was a sweet yet rocky journey.
The main issue that I had while reading this book is that for sure could have been more detailed on this world they brought us into. And a lot of the side characters felt really underdeveloped and the ride was kind of one noted. And the big reveal of the (i guess) big bad was for sure rushed and for sure kind of reminiscent of HON but not in a good way.
Overall this books for sure was kind of a disappointment. For sure felt like it was a House of Night rough draft. I might continue this series with it being a 2 part series but if it was longer, I wouldn’t.
3 stars

Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for the opportunity of reading a ARC of this book. My review is honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would give it a solid 3. The metaphors and descriptors were artfully created and pulled me into the scenes. For example, “I’m having a great dream…I keep my eyes closed and try to recapture the images, but they are melting as fast as ice in the hot…summer.”
I also really like the realness the author brings to the characters. So many books fall in the trap of several awkward, less than believable passages that make you think that would never happen if the characters were real. That being said, I don’t think the characters were well developed. Wren starts off being reckless and carefree and that wasn’t carried through past the first few chapters. Lee’s character also seemed a bit naïve and immature. The romance seemed lower young adult.
The author keeps the pace moving, but I feel that the action scenes go a little too fast. They lack development to the point that I couldn’t create a good image of what was happening in my mind. Those scenes felt rushed, especially near the end of the book.
The switch with the two main characters point of view is well done with some overlap so you can understand the different perspectives of the same scene, which I enjoyed. It is always interesting to think about how people can have such different impressions from the same information.
I almost exclusively read young adult fantasy and in a crowded space of storylines, I thought this plot was creatively developed. There are a lot of books about attending a school during the teen years for magical training, but this book managed a unique plot.

I enjoyed this once I got into it. Definitely wizard school standard but enough different to be fun (Harry Potter vibes). Good characters, but I hate books that that don't really have an ending but open for a second book. I don't mind some things left unfinished but this was really no closure until another book. Lost a star for that irritation at the end.

Despite the main characters being eighteen, this reads for a younger audience.

I enjoyed the setting, a magical school, where powers are based on the moon. It is a fun and easy magic system to grasp, which makes it a suitable starter fantasy for young teens. It has a whimsical element to it, set on a magical island hidden from mundanes.

I really struggled with the writing style. It reads like a middle-grade or even chapter book with a "quirky" sense of humor. The overuse of parentheses, ellipses, and exclamations point made it hard for me to think of this as YA. The sense of humor was also really bad. Our two characters have graduated high school, yet they talk and joke like my friends and I did at twelve years old. There was a lack of maturity and depth that I was expecting.

The plot line added nothing new to the YA genre. A seemingly normal girl who ends up being a "chosen one" has been around for ages. Thankfully, the characters avoided being Mary Sue, but just barely.

I read and enjoy both middle grade and YA, so it was easy for me to note that, if this book had been marketed for a younger audience, I would have gone in with a different mindset. Alas, I was expecting something with a little more depth and uniqueness. This isn't a bad book; it's great for those trying out fantasy, or YA novels. I would recommend this to younger readers. If you are already a firm lover of either genre, I'd skip this one. You won't find anything new or stand out here.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Wednesday Books for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Drawn Down The Moon was a magical read, containing angst, an interesting magical system and school, and dark and mysterious events.

Drawn Down The Moon was a well written YA Romantasy, and I was entertained while reading. The story is told through dual perspectives and first person. The characters were well rounded, and there was an inclusive cast of characters. The magic system was on the softer side and interesting. I wanted more magic scenes. The romance and overall story ARC were equally important. The story read quickly. There were some dark and mysterious events. The ending was unexpected and a cliffhanger.

Overall, Draw Down The Moon was well written, and I would recommend it to YA Reader who enjoy fantasy novels with a soft magic system and teen angst.

Tropes: Unrequited Love. Not great communication between 'love interests'. Magic School. Chosen one.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for giving me early access to this book! All opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of P.C. Cast’s writing. Her world building, her characters, everything is always fantastic. That being said, I do typically find that when she writes with her daughter Kristin, there are a lot more…juvenile aspects to the writing, particularly with dialogue. I love the idea of a school for moon chosen students learning to use their magic, and the plot was really unique and great. It’s just the dialogue between the characters that feels out of place, even for a YA novel. That being said, I would still easily recommend this book to anyone who loves P.C. Cast/Kristin Cast’s books, or who enjoys YA books involving moon magic or academic settings.

3ish stars. Draw Down the Moon was unfortunately not for me, but I've given it 3 stars, in part, because I'm not the target demographic. Because of that, it feels unfair to rate it lower. Let me start by saying that I'm personally not a young adult, I'm in my 30s. With that said, I do enjoy reading YA, but I like it to feel older, and not have characters act like they are pre-teens or teens. That is my personal preference. Given that the characters are 18 and going to some magical college-type academy, I figured this would read either NA or in the very least, as older YA. It did not. The relationships and behavior of the characters was just so tediously juvenile for my preference, and honestly, felt too juvenile for an 18 year old character in general. Why did I pick this, knowing it could potentially be too YA for my preference? Because I'm a HUGE junkie for magical academy books. That, combined with the gorgeous cover, and this was an easy request. Character development aside, the plot and magical world that the authors created felt very derivative and cliche. It's nothing I haven't read before, but because I didn't care for the characters, it made it harder for me to enjoy. The writing itself wasn't bad, but it also wasn't great. It often felt repetitive and there was a lot of telling rather than showing. The book was also told in 2 POVs and to be honest, I really didn't jive with Lee's character at all- so reading his POV was a struggle. I didn't necessarily like Wren as a character either, but I didn't actively dislike her, so her POV was more palatable. Like I said, I really feel like I'm not the target audience for this. I think someone that enjoys younger YA, or maybe hasn't read a lot of magical/ academy books, could end up enjoying this. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't for me. I do want to say thank you to the authors, publisher, and netgalley for the chance to read this early in exchange for my honest review.

Those born under a moon sign have magickal abilities and can attend a special school to harness those abilities. Some, like Wren, do not have magickal abilities since she was not born under a moon sign, but know about the world of magick. Wren was living a normal life, with her best friends Sam and Lee, until one day her world is turned upside-down. Now with an ability she does not understand, she attends the school, but learns nothing is as it appears and there are secrets everyone, among the students, teachers, and the council. Lee has much on his plate after his sister's death, to live up to the family's expectations, and become a member of the Moon Council, Lee's ambitions blind him, but Wren knows secrets are being kept, and she cannot expose his to Lee until she knows more. I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover of “Draw Down the Moon.” The story starts off in the middle of a midnight prank between best friends. Lee, who has always had magick, and Wren, whose magick just appeared, set off to a mysterious school off the coast of Portland. The characters are relatable and the atmosphere is enchanting. I didn’t particularly connect with the writing style of this novel. That may be because this book fits well with a younger YA audience.

For those who enjoy:
🌙 Friends-to-Lovers
🌙 Found Family friendships
🌙 Astrology Magic
🌙 Contemporary Fantasy
🌙 Magic School setting
🌙 Lower YA

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I’m a little conflicted about this book. On one hand I would say it’s a quick and enjoyable read. I liked the moon magic, the school/academia setting, and I enjoyed the characters. I thought Wren’s magic was interesting and the elementals were cool, but some of the plot points were a bit rushed and I think it could have been more fleshed out and had more depth to the story. But without that depth it makes the book feel a little younger. It is YA but it feels on the younger side of that which is a little weird since the characters are all 18.

With all of that taken into consideration I think I would have given it 4/5 stars, but the ending made me really annoyed so it got downgraded to 3.5 stars (but you can’t do half stars on Netgalley). I really liked Lee in the beginning but his character just got worse throughout and then at the end I really wasn’t impressed with him. I do think this is something that could be redeemed in later books and I would give this series another chance to see if that happens.

Thank you for the arc netgalley, the publishers, and the authors.

The story revolves around Wren, a seemingly ordinary girl without magical abilities, and her best friend Lee, a skilled magic user with a bright future under the Aquarius moon sign. Their lives take an unexpected turn when, on her eighteenth birthday, Wren discovers her own latent moon magic, leading to her enrollment in the same magic school as Lee. However, as the two friends embark on this magical journey, they soon find themselves entangled in a series of enigmatic deaths at the school, causing Wren to question the true nature of her place in the magical world.

“Draw Down the Moon” by P. C. Cast and Kristen Cast was absolutely amazing. I loved the element aspect and was very engaged early on in the plot. It’s a good book for those who love Harry Potter, it gave me the same vibe. I related to Wren’s insecurities and vulnerabilities throughout the book. The ending was amazing. This book is an absolute gem and a must-read for fans of magical adventures. I would wholeheartedly rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Arghhh, I used to really be obsessed with these authors, but here lately the books just haven’t been my jam. I’d still buy for a friend though!

Draw Down the Moon is the first book in a new duology about Academia de la Luna, a magickal school located on a secret Moon Isle. The novel unfolds with the alternating perspectives of teenagers Wren Nightingale and Lee Young. Although they are both born to magickal families, Wren grew up believing she was a Mundane, a person without magick, while Lee grew up as one of the Moonstruck, a person born under a full moon in possession of magickal powers. When Wren suddenly feels magick course through her veins on her 18th birthday, the two friends’ lives are reunited as they travel to Academia de la Luna together to begin their magickal education.

Academia de la Luna is a feast for the senses. The Magick School is a Gothic, dangerous, enticing place where Lee must prove his name and uphold his family’s powerful reputation. Students at the school are divided into halls and dormitories based on their elemental signs of Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. Known as Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio, and Taurus Moons, the students receive instructions for honing their powers and face trials for proving their worth. There is engaging description of the students, classrooms, dining halls, and professors, and the book provides a subtle romantic plot to keep readers interested. There are magickal twists and turns for fans of young adult dark academia.

Although I thought the two protagonists’ voices could have been better distinguished to justify the shape of the narrative, I did enjoy Draw Down the Moon. The fast paced plot sets a sequel into motion, and the duology will be perfect for readers thirsty for stories of moon magic and enchanted education.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

Fast paced book… if you like divergent then you’ll like this. Lee is being made to look stupid though and parts were quite sad. I like the set up for the next book….. very action filled with smiles and fun

Meet Wren, an 18-year-old who discovers her magic at the Academia de la Luna. Along with friends Lee and Sam, they navigate a school with magic linked to zodiac signs. Lee faces challenges between family duties and his feelings for Wren. The story offers glimpses of the school’s mysteries. The romance is perfect for YA fans. While I wished for more details about the school, the ending has me waiting for the next book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the preview.

Draw Down the Moon has a bit of everything- magic, mystery, and light romance. It was a really fast and easy read and is the perfect book for younger YA fantasy readers. It gave me major Harry Potter vibes, but with a really cool magic system based on moon signs. Death and grief and loss are talked about, and you really feel all the emotions the characters are experiencing. This book is inclusive and diverse, and the ending leaves you wanting more! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Everything was there. Great characters, storyline, plot, mystery. I just needed it to happen sooner. You easily knew where the story was going but it dragged on for far too long. Perfect story for young adult readers. I look forward to book 2 with the hope it speeds it up a bit.

I absolutely loved this book. The setting and storyline is very cute and whimsical. The characters are easy to connect with. The astronomical aspect of the plot was super unique and interesting, I wish there would have been more detail on that part. This is such a great fantasy YA novel and will be a hit with teens and lovers of YA fantasy! P.C. Cast is one of my favorite authors and this book is another hit for me!

It is quite rare for a book to make me this excited about recommending it to others, or to grab my undivided attention from the very first page, but as I sit here in my comfortable pants dying to get my hands on the sequel, I am only going to say one more thing; I loved loved this book!

If you like fantasy & academia, definitely consider Draw Down the Moon.

It’s got a great magic system, it’s clear but still has enough mystery to give us a chosen one trope for the FMC. The school structure makes sense for the summer, I’d love to know what it looks like after that but I assume we’re going to find out. There is a budding romance (friends to lovers trope) that draws you in. I thought the trials plus the mysteries surrounding Wren gave a good amount of tension.

I think the only thing I felt left something to be desired is that the ending fell a little flat to me. I was very invested leading up. As much as I can’t stand a cliffhanger, I think it would’ve been great here. Otherwise, this story has a great mix of characters, awesome scenes. Definitely what I expect from P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.