DNF at 44%. This story just did not click for me. It felt like a lot of plot points lined up with no real magic or emotion connecting them. The characters fell flat for me. By nearly the half-way point, I should have been hooked by a mystery or a conflict, even the relationships. But it's almost half-way and I'm not drawn in by anything.

Maybe it's because the book reads VERY young, almost middle grade. The characters are all 18-year-olds at the equivalent of magic college. Maybe I expected them to be a little more mature, more developed, more substantive. Maybe this is an issue with YA Fantasy as a genre; it encompasses too much.

I just can't. The cover really brought me in. but within two minutes we get name drops of Facetime, Insta, and Tiktok. and the FMC feels very young for 18.

I really really REALLY wanted to love this :/ the cover is beyond stunning, and the blurb sounded so amazing and intriguing! Unfortunately, I just didn't like it. It felt awkward and like the author didn't fully know where they were going with the plot.

*3.5 rounded up*

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy of this eARC. P.C. Cast and the Marked series was a milestone for me as a reader and I followed those characters up until I went to college. I am still convinced I will go back and revist the House of Night to finish Zoey's story soon.

That being said, when I saw she was coming out with a new YA series I was intrigued. Its been almost 15 years since I first read a book from this author and I was so curious to see how her story telling has grown and if her world captured me as much as it did when I was a teen.

By 20% through I couldn't help but see the similarities between this book and the Marked series and it reminded me how great P.C. Cast is at crafting these magical academies and the students that belong in them. It felt like getting to reread one of my favorite series again for the first time, even though this world of magic is far different.

At time the world building did felt clunky or a bit too obvious with where some of the plot points were going, but it did not stop me from enjoying the book. It is for sure a YA book through and through, and I would've been curious to see how the story would've faired with an aged up cast. At the moment it felt like a "Zodiac Academy" but make it for teens with some of the bullying aspects and the mystery's going on around the school.

I'm excited to see where the story goes from here, but hope we get a little more character development from Zee, as his POV chapters often left me wanting. I think the book could have faired a bit better by being all in Wren's POV. And to be completely honest, Zee made me so angry at the end with him working to save Celeste. Communication is a big no for me trope wise and I couldn't help but think how much could've been solved if we had less secrecy between the main cast.

I would easily recommend this book to any teen walking into my store looking for a bit of dark academia fantasy, but wouldn't necessarily be my go-to suggestion for an adult audience.

Draw Down the Moon is very reminiscent of Harry Potter with the Chosen One living without magic until a certain birthday, at which point they are whisked off to a magical school. Though this story has a magic system based off of the moon, which was intriguing.

I think this book would have hit better if it was marketed for lower YA or even middle grade, it didn’t come across as upper YA. The characters are 18 going to a magical college but read more like 14-15 year olds starting high school.

If any younger teen readers are looking for a Harry Potter or Children of the Red King style read this book is a good choice.

Books with beautiful covers and on my most anticipated list for 2024 keep letting me down and it's killing me! I reallly liked PC Cast when I was younger and this book that revolves around astrological Academia seemed brilliant! At first...

I don't know if this is just a trend in current publishing (by God, I hope it is just a trend) but, I don't understand why YA authors all of the sudden decided that their audiences are stupid and have to have everything written in the most simplistic and obvious way or else we won't understand anything. It would be offensive to middle graders to say that this was much more middle grade than YA. I find it disheartening that YA authors nowadays refuse to write anything more complex and emotive. I really try to refuse to indulge in the nostalgia of the YA books of my young teen life (the 2010's) but it is very obvious seeing the quality and the way that authors would "talk" to their audiences in books that I adore(d) like The Raven Cycle, the Diviners, or the Graceling series versus this. The pacing was terrible, the characters were flat and I cannot even comment on the plot because I had to DNF due to the books unreadability. I cannot wait to get to the point where YA authors stop writing books just for a hopeful attempt at virality due to their "forbidden romance" and actually start caring about the content and the way they direct their younger audiences. If I was 13 right now, and this was the YA I was getting, I would assume authors thought that my demographic was full of idiots.

Wren Nightingale is used to being normal.
Even though she was born into a magickal family, and her two best friends are magikal, she is, and always has been, normal.
Until her 18th birthday, when suddenly and inexplicably, she is not.
Wren finds herself thrust into a dangerous world, as the academy that should be the safest place for these teens to discover and hone their powers suddenly turns on them, and Wren finds herself unearthing secrets, those in charge will kill to keep hidden.

I love a good Dark Academia, and this book did not disappoint.
This world, and the different houses, and abilities was so imaginative, and I am an absolute sucker for the "chosen one, prophesy" trope

I am so excited to see how this story ends!
I came for this absolutely STUNNING cover and stayed for the story!

I DNF’d this book at 18%

I don’t think this book was for me! Unfortunately I didn’t connect with it!
There was a lot of information dumping in the first chapters for me to appreciate the world building/magic system.

The female main character felt like was trying to hard to be cool, and the male character seemed to lack a back bone.

I enjoyed the writing style, but the story fell short for me.

From what I read, I didn’t have much interest to continue reading!

While the book is a captivating read, it occasionally leans heavily on familiar fantasy tropes. Some readers might find certain plot twists predictable. However, the strength of the characters and the richness of the world-building compensate for these minor shortcomings.

Years ago I was a huge fan of this author duo - and I keep wanting to rediscover that magic. Unfortunately, I think I might have aged out of the demographic, or my reading tastes have just changed significantly. Either way - I think it's time to admit that this author duo is no longer for me.

This was a DNF at 20%.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review! Unfortunately, this just isn't my cuppa.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

The author and the cover were first on my radar. Unfortunately it wasn’t what I was hoping for. The YA aspect seemed too juvenile for a YA classification.

Firstly, that cover is gorgeous!
However, something marketed as YA has a very broad spectrum I am learning; this story was for a younger audience than I was expecting. I found it difficult to connect or care about worldbuilding. It is friends to lovers trope. Honestly, I forgot the story as soon as I finished it. I won’t be continuing to book 2.
This book would be a good recommendation for someone at a middle school level.
It is nothing new for older readers.
Thank you to the publisher and the author and Netgalley for a eARC of this book.

I liked this story for the most part, it was engaging and unique enough to keep me guessing. I was not 100% behind the friends to lover romance, I could have done without that, but I am sure others will root for it. I enjoyed the female MC and her navigation of this new dangerous and secret-filled world, even while I wished she had been less clingy to the male MC. Her female bestie and their friendship is total friendship goals and I loved their interactions. I was a little angry by the male MC and his martyrdom towards his family, I wanted to shake some sense into him most of the book.
This book is perfect for those who like magical boarding schools, secrets and huge betrayals, a whole heaping of angst, romance that may not be, and the world's biggest heartbreaking cliffhanger ending. I will 100% be back for the next book and however this mess will play out.

P. C. Cast; Kristin Cast's The House of Night Series was one of my favourites when I was younger so I was so excited to read another book of theirs!!

Draw Down the Moon is an enchanting journey into a world where magic intertwines with destiny and love, this novel is set in the mystical Academia de la Luna. It introduces us to Wren Nightingale and Lee Young, two young adults whose lives are irrevocably changed by the powers of the moon and the secrets of their past.

The magical school setting was whimsical and captivating.

This book was truly magical. The characters were perfect, the plot was captivating and adventurous, and it has definitely become one of my new favorites.

I’ve always loved books by P.C. Cast in the past, but this one really did nothing for me. It did not spur any type of emotion and just sort of fell flat for me. Definitely a young YA book, with Wren acting like a typical unexperienced 15 year old, sporting strawberry lipgloss and all. She approaches relationships very naively and with a lot of insecurities about life in general.

I do look forward to the next book though, as I need to know what happens to this moonstruck young girl and see if she matures any.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this arc in return for my honest opinion.

3.5/5 Stars

Wren Nightingale and Lee Young are bestfriends. Lee has magical abilities, where Wren has no powers. However, on her 18th birthday, Wren suddenly gains magic, marking her as moonstruck, and is able to attend Academia de la Luna with Lee. This school hosts trials to determine who will join the Moon Council. Lee is determined to earn a spot on the council, but he also wants to protect Wren, the girl he's secretly loved since childhood from the secrets that seem to be uncovered daily.

I loved The House of Night Series when I read it, and they were the books that truly got me into reading so I was excited to pick up this new book from these authors. I wouldn't say this was anything new or groundbreaking, and it is quite similar to the premise of House of Night, but it was entertaining while I read it. It is definitely geared toward a younger YA audience, and the characters felt on that younger side as well. I liked that we got both Lee and Wren's POVs, as I think it helped understanding both characters on a deeper level. I really liked the magic system in this new world, and thought the school setting was a lot of fun.

I'm definitely intrigued to see where the story goes in the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for this ARC!

"Draw Down the Moon" by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and supernatural intrigue. Set in a world where witches and vampires coexist, the story follows Selene Warren, a powerful witch who must navigate a dangerous alliance with a vampire prince, Nikolai Dragomir.

The Casts' writing is immersive and filled with rich detail, creating a vivid world where magic and politics intertwine. The characters are dynamic and well-developed, with Selene and Nikolai's forbidden attraction adding layers of tension to the plot. The narrative is fast-paced, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and guessing.

Themes of power, loyalty, and destiny are explored through the protagonists' journey, as they confront enemies and uncover secrets that threaten their world. The authors seamlessly blend romance and adventure, making "Draw Down the Moon" a compelling read for fans of paranormal romance and epic fantasy.

Overall, "Draw Down the Moon" is an exciting start to a new series, promising a spellbinding tale of love, magic, and danger that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Draw Down the Moon was a very typical YA novel. The plotline moves much like a YA novel, slow-fast-slow, and the characters feel 18. It's a decent read, but I think to be an older reader reading this you're going to be slightly disappointed.

Starting off interesting, this story, while still good, became convenient. Her best friend was already going to the magick school, as was another one of her friends, and I could not help but compare this with the H.P. Books. The school is a castle, the kids are 'sorted' by their moon sign, there are 'ghosts', trials, etc.

I use the term kids because even though the characters are eighteen, they come across as much younger; fourteen through sixteen.

As to the magick system, it's creative, though not explained in depth. I get that Wren is the MC and it's her magick that's center, but to get the impact of her magick the others need to be explained better.

And on that note, the ending was rushed. I liked what happened but the execution was so lazy that I hated it, thus taking away a star. A hundred more words would've made it concrete, understandable, and believable.

Thankfully, while there is romance, it's not borderline unlike another of the authors' YA books, so it's suitable for readers 14+.

Experience the captivating journey of Wren Nightingale and Lee Young as they venture into a world brimming with enchantment and peril in the enthralling novel, "Draw Down the Moon." This spellbinding tale, filled with magic and mystery, offers a refreshing and alluring take on the beloved young adult fantasy genre. After being whisked away into this extraordinary realm, readers will be left eagerly anticipating the next installment in this enthralling series.