Hello,

this book ended up not being my cup of tea, and I would prefer not to review it, as I had to DNF it. I don't think I have anything to say that would have a positive impact on this.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book

While i do enjoy a good YA book this one read as a bit on the younger side of YA for me personally even though the characters were 18. The magic and the school setting was fun & interesting this was just took me a bit longer than usual to finish as it didn't hold my undivided attention. Hoping the second book in the series is a better read for me.

This book had such promise but unfortunately, ended up falling mostly flat. Starting with the good — the magic system and the plot. I really enjoyed the moon magic and different types of magic attributed to the various lunar cycles. The intrigue surrounding the elementals was also fascinating, and I’d love to learn more about them in book two. I also enjoyed the overall plot. There was enough intrigue between the determining the truth of Wren’s powers and the prophecy the elementals kept hinting at in regard to Wren.

What didn’t work for me were the characters. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough build up to the relationship between Wren and Lee. They were friends for years, but we’re dropped in to the middle of that without seeing the build up only being told it’s there. As a result, there was no real chemistry between the characters at least in my eyes. Even amongst the friends group, I struggled with the connecting to the characters aside from Wren and Sam. I did find the story interesting enough to want to read book 2

I saw another reviewer share that young adult books like DRAW DOWN THE MOON highlight the disparity within the genre, and I couldn't agree more. It's intended for ages 12-18, which is challenging due to the mental, emotional, and physical growth that occurs during those years. I try to avoid labeling books within the genre because every young adult matures at a different rate. That said, DRAW DOWN THE MOON features characters that have graduated high school, but they present much younger. Their actions, thoughts, and manner of speaking would have made a lot more sense had they been starting their first year of high school.

I struggled while reading due to inconsistencies throughout the book. I always ask myself, "would a young adult notice?", and in this case, I believe that they would. There were several times when I would have to stop reading, go back, and verify that I wasn't crazy for thinking that what I just read didn't match earlier pages. I felt that there were several blatant parallels to a popular young adult series which isn't necessarily something new, but the execution didn't work for me. Additionally, I loved Jordan Barton's performance of Lee, but I didn't really understand the need for Lee's POV throughout the novel. I didn't feel that the book provided enough of a dive into the characters' psyche to warrant chapters narrated through his gaze.

I did appreciate the magic (or in this case, magick) system, and I think that the series has the potential to be a hit with its intended audience.

Is it fair to compare this to books like DIVINE RIVALS and LEGENDBORN? To be honest, I'm not sure. I feel that my rating is appropriate given the aforementioned inconsistencies and parallels to other novels, but a young adult book isn't inherently bad simply based upon the maturity of the characters. Normally, I don't end my reviews with a question, but I am truly curious to know what you think. Please drop a comment below with your thoughts!

Many thanks to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies in exchange for an honest review!

First and foremost I am a sucker for a beautiful cover, so I would buy this book just for that reason alone. The storyline was a lot of fun, I liked the backdrop of the magic school where nothing is as it seems. I enjoyed Lee and Wren's pov even though they were a little immature but fine for a YA romance. It had a similar vibe to Harry Potter/ Fourth wing's school magic and mystery, but I felt that the story was slow going and I would have liked more of a build up to Wren's powers before she found out the truth. I love a cliffhanger, but I just felt like the ending was rushed and so we didn't get the full effect. All in all I enjoyed the book and will still recommend it, I would give it a 3.5⭐ rounded down.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The magic system and premise of the book was, at first glance, very interesting and a unique take on moon magic. However, the execution of the characters within that system was lacking for me. It was a lot more juvenile teenage behavior and angst than I was expecting and that really made it hard for me to connect with the characters. The actions and motivations of the characters seemed to constantly change and, despite reading it a couple times over, I still don't understand what in the world happened during the final "battle" and why our main characters did what they did.

Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast has the usual things such as love, destiny, and an academic esc setting. The story itself was good and the world-building and magic mechanics were also good. the only thing that took me out of the story was that although the characters were eighteen I kept feeling like they acted younger so it was off-putting, still not a bad read hopefully things change and the characters act their intended age come the second book.

A solid YA fantasy romance - while the story follows a familiar trope of young love and coming-of-age adventures, it doesn't fail to provide a captivating, enjoyable read, with the bonus of having a follow-up novel on the way.

Book Name: Draw Down the Moon
Author: P. C. Cast; Kristin Cast

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Wednesday Books for an ARC of Drawn Down the Moon by P. C. Cast; Kristin Cast.

Stars: 1 (DNF)
New Series *Moonstruck* 
Fast Paced
Dual POV
Modern Fantasy w/ Hidden World

- Thoughts.
- Younger YA
- Hogwarts Vibes
- Middle-Grade Bridge
- Confusing Characters
- Friends to ...


The marketing blurb made this appear to be an upper YA adventure with a magical college/boarding school and a unique zodiac/moon magic system. We do have the magic system (highly interesting) and the magical school but it has a much more Percy Jackson age range than the older YA "House of Night" style series I was expecting. The Friends to Lovers vibes were off-putting for an older FMC and MMC. (this is also my pet peeve trope) I made it to roughly the 25% mark before I started to skim and ultimately DNF this one. This book appears a great read for a younger audience but how it was marketed makes this a negative.

Overall this is, unfortunately, a publisher issue that is appearing more frequently. As YA now encompasses both the transition YA to Middle-Grade books, alongside books that feel like a euphoria episode complete with graphic content. I hope to see more distinguishing remarks by publishers as to what vein within YA these books are. I am happy for this book to exist within the market and think it is a good match for a younger audience. (AFTER some major editing as to language and a few scenarios) but to market in the same way, as a series like House of Night is setting readers up for disappointment and bypassing the intended audience completely. It also makes the work disjointed as it waddles hopelessly between two major age ranges doing neither with the integrity and style this author is capable of.

Overall disappointing.

I really tried hard to give this YA fantasy a chance but I just couldn't get into it. I lasted until about the 40% mark but when I wasn't connecting with any of the characters I decided to give up for now. Totally a me thing, I think I'm just not a PC Cast person even though they are super popular with many. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

I felt like this had a great start. I enjoyed the dynamics of best friends to lovers with pining as well as the lunar magic system. The cool magical school setting really drew me in, but felt like things kind of fell flat as the story went on. By the time I was at the end, I was a little bored with it. I know that modern day things would be present here, but I didn't expect the occasional pop culture references in it and I feel the moments of humor just didn't quite hit its mark for me. I love awkward main characters and dynamics, but something about the awkwardness here with the cast didn't work for me. I think the atmospheric vibes could've been better, but I do think it's still a pretty decent YA read. It just definitely falls toward lower YA in the writing style.

I would probably still give the second book a chance but it would be lower on my priority list.

Now this is more like the mother daughter duo that I loved so much growing up. I devoured this book, I loved everything about this book.

I was a little hesitant going into this as I wasn't a huge fan of their last series but this book completely changed my mind and I'm so happy that I enjoyed this so much. The magic system is incredible, Wren thinking she's a mundane and then getting powers that she has no idea how to control, the romance. I loved the characters Wren and Lee, I loved the heartbreak, I'm honestly having a hard time finding something I didn't like about this book. I'm so excited and will be impatiently waiting for the next book to come out and I have a feeling this will be one of those books that I wish there were a longer series for. This book gave me total nostalgia for the House of Night series and I absolutely loved it.

"Drawn Down the Moon," a YA Academia Fantasy, by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, promised a blend of magic, mystery, and romance set within the enchanting backdrop of a mystical magic academy. While the concept of a magic system based on astrology signs presented an intriguing premise, the execution fell short of its potential, and the writing was more juvenile than expected.

One of the book's strengths was its simple yet engaging magic system, which added depth to the world-building. The discovery of protagonist Wren's powers was unique but felt natural and fit well within the established rules of the world. Additionally, the depiction of Moon Isle was vivid and inviting, creating a sense of coziness that draws readers into the story.

However, the novel does have some significant flaws that detract from the overall experience. Despite being labeled as 18-year-olds, the characters lacked the maturity and depth expected of their age, often coming across as younger and less developed. This discrepancy undermined the believability of their actions and relationships, leading to rushed character development and clunky romantic subplots. Furthermore, the plot follows a familiar trajectory found in many young adult fantasy novels, failing to offer anything truly innovative or memorable. The pacing was uneven, with slow moments that failed to maintain my engagement and awkward scene transitions that disrupted the flow of the narrative.

Additionally, certain aspects of the world-building raised questions and inconsistencies that detract from the overall cohesiveness of the story. The inclusion of random Japanese words by one character felt forced and out of place, while certain plot points are left unexplored or unresolved.

Overall, 'Drawn Down the Moon' has the potential to be a compelling addition to the magic school genre, and will definitely appeal to much younger readers seeking a light and whimsical fantasy read. However, this was not the book for me, and I won't be continuing the series.

I was blown away by this book! The plot and the characters were both captivating. It's definitely geared towards a young adult audience, so it has broad appeal. The world-building is intriguing, the characters are fully developed, and the details are fascinating.

DNF at 42%

The scenes with the suv chasing Lee and Wren running was pretty dramatic and silly to me. As well as Queen Celestes attitude toward Wren right before her first trial.

The dialogue between Lee and Wren felt forced to me, making it difficult to believe the good rapport that the readers were supposed to see.

With the success that Zodiac Academy and Fourth Wing are receiving recently with them blending an academic setting within a fantasy world, its hard to not compare with Draw Down the Moon. I think it could have been helpful to make the magic system more clear, the pacing better with adding more story before her birthday and so we could have had more character depth.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Wren is t supposed to have any powers but when she suddenly manifests glowing power, she’s drawn into a magical world and has to attend a magical school where there are secrets she has to discover before it’s too late.

This book definitely fits the vibes of the Cast’s other series. It sets the stage for some fantastic friendships and a creative magical world that’s unique and beautiful, but it does take a while to really get into the story. There is a bit of a miscommunication trope which is fantastic for YA readers to read how things might not work out and how the characters communicate to find solutions. Overall an easy and fast read with an enticing story that I didn’t put down. My only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough to really get to the meat of the story.

Notes: side characters include a relationship between a girl and a non-binary character who are both comfortably accepted and welcomed by friends. Looking forward to more of their story in the next book.

Draw Down the Moon was a wonderful introduction into the world of the Moonstruck! I love a good magical coming-of-age story. I also enjoyed the magic system in this book! Both authors crafted a wonderfully unique world and I can’t wait to see where the sequel takes us! If you love a unique YA fantasy story, you’ll love this book!

Rating: 5/5
I received eARC for my honest opinion.

Every book that these two amazing authors write, I know right away that I am going to love it, and of course they did it again. Another amazing book and series that I cannot wait to see where it will go from here. This book is about a Wren who thought for years that she was mundane, born without magic, until her 18th birthday. When she comes into powers that she never thought she would have, and a life that she always dreamt about, or so she thought.

This book will take you on an adventure to an island where magic welders will go to school to learn more about their magic and how to use it correctly. You will also be tested on trails to see how much you have learned and the out of those trails will help you in with placing you in the right profession. However, for Wern, she does not have a set house at the Academia and that leaves her feeling lost and scared. That is until she chooses to be with her best friend Lee Young at his house and of course Lee couldn’t be happier because he has the girl of his dreams with him, sadly he doesn’t know how to tell her that he loves her and has always loved her.

This book has prophecies, murder, dangerous secrets that people will do anything to make sure are kept secret. It has romance (friends to lovers), it has betrayal, death and of course magic. The plot is well developed, and the authors know how to make sure you see the character development in their first book of a series. The pace is great because it helps you to understand the main plot and to build a connection with the characters. The world building will have you loving this spooky, a little dark book. I cannot wait for the next book to come out! I need to know what is going to happen to Wren and where Lee truly stands.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin for the opportunity to review this book.

This book brought me back to the feels I had when reading the House of Night series in the BEST way. I love Wren, and Lee, and Sam, and all their interactions. The misunderstanding trope dragged on a little longer than I like, but it worked itself out eventually. If you question authority and why things are the way they are, this is the book for you. If you love side characters, and the power of books, and envision Nature as an actual personified creature, this is the book for you.

This was a really fun and involved YA read! I loved the Magic system and the source of the Magic. The incorporation of elementals was a fun twist (although I kept picturing elementals from video games).

Wren is an amazing character and I loved the way that the authors tackled teenage emotional development throughout the story - yes emotions are big and we don't always have the easiest time processing them

I was not a Lee fan. He doesn't read "endgame" to me for Wren and while he was a sweet match as a bff turned boyfriend he was just sorta lacking. Yeah he had his own stuff he was going through, but still. I wouldn't mind less POV from him in the future.