This book had a lot going for it: an interesting system of moon magic, secrets and murder, and an isolated magical boarding school, along with being a story that might appeal to younger YA readers (which I know was a problem for some, but I didn’t mind). Plot is a big driver of my interest in any given story, and this book had a decent one.

However, I’ve realized that it’s not just plot, but a combination of plot and characterization that make a truly compelling story for me. Unfortunately, this book did not have a great example of the latter. While I liked Wren as one of the main characters, Lee should not have been the other (as he was written). He should have been a side character or written differently altogether (if he just had to be a main character), as I found side characters like Sam and Ruby more compelling.

Lee is so blinded by trauma, parental issues, and ambition that he wouldn’t know what critical thinking was if it punched him in the face. This would have been fine if he’d developed beyond that throughout the story, but he had no character arc to speak of. His blind trust of authority figures means he’s essentially useless as a character, both to Wren, and in general. He claims to know her well and care about her, both as a friend and more than that, but whenever Wren expresses misgivings about certain people or events, Lee always tries to excuse away happenings and character traits as much more benign things. It’s honestly appalling that he doesn’t think, even one f****** time, to dig deeper on why she feels this way, and insists that the grown-ups in charge are perfectly fine and know what they’re doing. He is eighteen, which also makes him a grown-up! He’s allowed to think for himself, and isn’t that what you’re supposed to learn how to do? But no, apparently that would be too difficult. It’s a shame no one called him out on this crap. Ultimately, he destroyed my interest in the story.

Despite what it looks like, though, I still didn’t actually hate this book. Wren, Sam, and Ruby, along with the moon magic and magical intrigue, made it not utterly terrible.

Oh man, I really wanted to enjoy this contemporary fantasy about a secret magic school, but it just didn't work. I love the idea that one's magic is used to amplify others' powers, and at first I thought I would love the main character (an underdog wanting to understand her newly found magic)... but it just never happened. It kind of all felt flat and uninspired. On the bright side, the cover art is beautiful!

Draw Down The Moon (ARC)
P.C. Cast, Kristen Cast
3.5⭐️

Pub Date: 4/2/2024

This one is very YA. It felt a bit like Harry Potter to me- teen being whisked away by a magickal man to go to a magickal school. The characters were very illogical at times (childishly so) even though they're supposed to be adults/college age. The mystery and the plot were actually very good and intruiging. However the writing style didn't compel me to devour it. There were some phrases that really bothered me a lot like "welcome to the beginning of your future" and "welcome to the rest of your life" to name a few, that were so repetitive when the main characters were just coming to the school. I thought it lowered the impact of the statements significantly. The Magick system and world building were a little lacking in explanation and weren't very clear The rush came very late in the book so expect a cliffhanger. It's an okay read for me. It's 50-50 if I'd read the next one in the series. We'll see I guess...

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin Press for a gifted e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a bit to get into the story and world, but once I did I really enjoyed the read.. It reminds me of Crave. I honestly love any book when the FMC don’t know what they are growing up and now all of a sudden they are the same but different.

Love all of pc cast books. So naturally when she releases a new one I'm in line or on the per-order list ! I’ve been reading PC Cast and her daughter Kristine Cast ever since I was in high school!

This book really took me back to when I read the house of night series for the first time, so I knew automatically that I was going to love this book!

I loved how well rounded and relatable Wren was, and Lee is a perfect friend for her, a well good duo!

And the astrology added to the book! It’s was all perfection!
I can’t wait to see how PC Cast takes this series further🖤

2.5 stars

I love a good YA fantasy, and with protagonists who are 18 years old I thought this would be another great addition to the genre. Unfortunately these characters and the story read incredibly young. It follows your typical normal girl who is the chosen one which is a staple for YA fantasy. But where we have Celeana, Aelins and Feyres, all who are 18/19 years old, Wren felt childish and better suited for a middle grade marketing rather than YA.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley.

I need to disclose that I’m not the biggest fan of books set in boarding schools and magical academies. There are exceptions when I truly adore a series. For instance, The Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik was excellent, even if I had quips about certain things that happened. Draw Down the Moon is largely set in a magickal academy. I had some hesitations about it, but the beginning of the book drew me in.

Wren is pulling a prank in the middle of the night with her best friend Lee. Just as she turns 18 years old, she is struck by the moon’s magick, making her no longer a Mundane but Moonstruck like Lee. Her world is somewhat turned upside down because she will be attending a magickal school (with her two best friends) rather than leading the normal mundane life she had finally come to terms with.

I was intrigued by this moon magick and the elementals that surrounded it, but not so much by the academy, where Wren finds some things are a little off. I think I would have eventually warmed up to the story, but I began to note how the writing seemed aimed at a younger YA audience. It’s not usually an issue…when it is expected–I enjoy reads of all ages. The problem was these were individuals out of high school, likely 17/18 year old, and some of the conversations made me inwardly cringe.

I liked the characters. Wren’s apprehension at a new school is one I completely understood. While she’s worried about trying to catch up, she is also trying to deal with her new feelings for Lee. Lee is trying to live up to his family’s reputation as well as trying to deal with his seemingly unrequited feelings for Wren. Life is generally complicated and the authors capture it here. Wren’s other best friend Sam was a character I liked, but some inconsistencies in her actions toward the end left me frustrated.

I would recommend this to this for a younger YA audience and those who like magic and the academia setting. However, I am ultimately conflicted over this one. I like the magick and want to know more about it as well as Wren’s fate. The reveals at the end were good ones. The problem is I did not connect as well with the writing.

It's been a few years since I've read any of P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast books and I was so excited to receive this ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and looking forward to the rest of the series. In a world where magic is not known to humans, there is moon magic. Either you're born with it or you're not and when you live with a family who has it and you don't, it's hard to imagine what life could of been if you were chosen to wield it. Just like Hogwarts for the HP Potter series, those lucky enough to wield moon magic gets to learn more about it at a school especially for those with these talents. Yet drama and backstory is always going to be there because greater forces are at work and others want all the power to themselves. It's a great read and pulls you into another world of tragedy, love and friendship. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast for this ARC. I look forward to the next one which I hope is soon!! Cliffhangers! Eek!

All reviews and comments are of my own accord. Thank you!

I tried to get into this book. But I truly think it’s time I part ways with these authors. The way they develop a story and the style of writing just doesn’t do it for me. I have tried a couple others and I just couldn’t melt into the story and give these authors more.

The cover is brilliant.

I loved the world building in this one but I did feel like was a slow start. It was also more YA than I thought it would be but I did enjoy it enough to see where this series will go. I also love this duo as authors and will read almost everything they write.

DNF at 20%. I've tried to get further in but I just couldn't get into the story. I tried to pick it up more than a few times and I just couldn't get through it. I'm sorry.

I really enjoyed this. It reminded me a lot of the Harry Potter world but was still very different. The story line was great and it was a quick read.

I loved this! I loved the magic system and the characters Wren and Lee. I was captivated and couldn’t put it down. I loved this so much

I think the cover of this book is gorgeous! The storyline had a great set up but unfortunately I just could not get into it. The plot line itself was just too predictable for me. However, I think the writing was really great even if the plot wasn’t my favorite.

[Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the eARC!]

2.75 rounded up.
Overall a very juvenile group of 18 year olds. They read way more 15-16 than 18.
Lee as a character was confusing and inconsistent. His actions in tje final chapter don't make sense at all.
The plot for this book was very slow. There was a ton of dialog but not much plot progression. I get that it's probably a set up for future books but you still need to hook people with the first book...
Also feels way too similar to Harry Potter, it was distracting.

I received an advanced copy of Draw Down the Moon from Netgalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Draw Down the Moon lured me in with its beautiful cover and interesting premise, but ultimately fell short. I did not get far before realizing that this was not the book for me, which is disappointing because I've had a series of duds lately and was hoping that this would pull me out of the reading slump I've fallen into. I think it threw me further down.

When I don't like a book, I always ask myself, "Is it me? Am I the problem, and I just need to come back later? Or is it truly the book that I'm having issues with?" I asked myself these questions after every chapter I read, which eventually led me to the conclusion that it was the book.

The writing was for a far younger audience, and the forced slang and pop culture references could have had their purpose but were uncomfortable to read. The characters were flat, their personalities defined by a single aspect of themselves that held no real meaning. I felt no connection to them and didn't care about their supposed problems. On top of that, a massive pet peeve of mine is when there is an established rule to something (and a reason that it's supposed to be that way), but a character breaks it nearly immediately with seemingly no care for the reason it's in place. Why make it a rule if you're going to have characters break it willy-nilly for no reason at all? It's one thing if it's justified, but this felt silly.

Draw Down the Moon had potential, but it was not the book for me.

I don't know how I feel about this book. It was neither here nor there. I liked it but it also bored me a little. I didn't feel captivated by the story.

DNF around 25%, the concept of the book from the summary sounded interesting, but the plot so far was pretty mundane and doesn't keep my attention.

⤿ 05 | 07 | 2024
2 stars ★

lately, i've been reading fantasy books that have felt like a mix of every single popular magical novel i've ever read. where is the originality? the creativity? personally, i don't mind something similar to harry potter, divergent, or the hunger games, i even like them sometimes! after all, they are the books that got me into reading in the first place <3 recycled scenes packed with tropes that have been repeated over and over again does nothing for a reader. it makes the experience dull :( we are supposed to dive into worlds that make us feel at home, and yet draw down the moon feels like it's just missing the mark. i read young adult books voraciously and yet i felt so juvenile reading this. i'm in my teens, so this feeling was extremely new, but here's a piece of advice for aspiring ya authors: please make your characters relatable. teenagers these days don't need a fictional character to use modern slang. i read to escape that kind of stuff, so i beg; write as if your readers are extremely intelligent and interactive. because chances are, they are.

thank you to the author and netgalley for providing me an e-arc of draw down the moon in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you for the e-arc of Draw Down the Moon. Unfortunately I will not be posting about it on socials, as SMP has yet to speak up about their staff member whose harmed the bi-poc community. Reading is inherently political and readers don't often forget wrongs, so this won't simply go away the longer than SMP ignores it. Rating it 3 to solely help the author, as they had no choice in who they publish with.