I have always been a pretty die hard fan of the Cast duo. This book ha been no exception. I loved the characters, the world, and i always love a good academy setting. Wren was a fantastic fmc. She was relatable, charismatic, caring, and hopeful. I can relate to wanting to spend my life in a bookstore. Lee was an admirable mmc. He was witty, caring, empathetic, and a genuinely good guy. When Wren becomes moonstruck, he sticks by her side and wants to make sure she excels and finds her place in the moonstruck community. Thus begins their stint and Moon Isle, the academy for those who the moon chose to imbue with her power. At first, all seems normal within the school, but as Wren begins to realize her power isn't quite like the other moonchosen, she starts to see that not everything is as it seems. The dean is a little too eager to see what her powers are. The council leader is mysteriously absent for most of their stay. The elementals are whispering strage things to her. It seems that only Wren, with some help from her lovely sidekick Sam, can figure out what is really going on. It ends on a cliffhanger that has me ravenous to find out what will happen next. The Casts have done it again with another fantastic story that I can recommend over and over with no shame!

A Spellbinding and Immersive Fantasy

Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast is a captivating blend of magic, mythology, and strong character dynamics. The mother-daughter writing duo creates a richly imagined world filled with intrigue, romance, and powerful themes of destiny and self-discovery.

The novel’s worldbuilding is one of its strongest aspects, weaving together lore and magical elements that feel both fresh and immersive. The characters are well-developed, with compelling arcs that keep you engaged. While some plot twists are a bit predictable, the journey remains exciting, and the emotional depth adds a layer of authenticity to the storytelling.

The pacing is steady, with moments of action balanced by introspective, character-driven scenes. The writing is fluid and engaging, though at times, the dialogue feels a little modern for the setting. Despite minor flaws, Draw Down the Moon is an enchanting read that fantasy lovers will thoroughly enjoy.

A solid 4-star book—magical, emotional, and full of heart!

*Draw Down the Moon* by P.C. and Kristin Cast is an engaging addition to the *House of Night* series, blending paranormal intrigue with teen drama. The plot follows the protagonist, Zoey Redbird, as she navigates new challenges with her powers and relationships. The book delves into themes of loyalty, love, and self-discovery, all while maintaining the series' signature mix of romance and supernatural action. Though the writing can feel repetitive at times, the engaging characters and captivating world-building keep readers hooked. Fans of the series will appreciate the developments, while newcomers may find it a bit difficult to follow.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Magical Coming-of-Age Tale

Draw Down the Moon is a captivating young adult fantasy that introduces readers to a hidden world of magic and mystery. The authors skillfully blend elements of supernatural powers, teenage drama, and coming-of-age themes.

The premise of a young woman discovering her hidden magical abilities is intriguing, and the setting of a secret academy adds to the allure. However, the characters, particularly Wren, often come across as younger than their stated age of 18. Their behavior and thought processes sometimes feel more appropriate for a younger age group, which can disrupt the flow of the story.

Despite this minor issue, the book offers a fun and exciting read. The world-building is imaginative, and the romantic tension between Wren and her fellow students adds a delightful spark to the narrative.

The audiobook narration is satisfactory, with the dual narrators providing distinct voices for the different perspectives. However, the male narrator's performance can sometimes feel one-dimensional, focusing primarily on expressing romantic interest rather than showcasing a complex character.

Overall, Draw Down the Moon is a promising start to a series, with the potential for further exploration of the magical world and its inhabitants.

3 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #drawdownthemoon

Draw down the moon is the first novel in a new series by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast. Fans of their previous series, the house of night, will definitely enjoy this one. So will fans of fantasy stories with magic.

This story is told from both main characters, Lee and Wren’s, points of view while they face this new world and trials. Plenty of action fills the pages of this story and makes it hard to put down once you start.

Draw down the night is both enjoyable as a read or listen. Both draw you in and keep your attention.

This book was shocking in so many ways! I have not read a book that felt new in awhile! This was a great twist on a coming of age magical story that always keeps you wondering what will happen next. If you think you are good at guessing what happens next I dare you to give this book a read to try out your skills. I guarantee you’ll get it wrong at least twice! This is a book I would recommend to anyone needing to get out of a reading slump!

I absolutely adored this book and the romantic, magical fantasy! PC and Kristin Cast are an excellent writing team and I'm glad I gave this book a listen!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Having serious issues getting into this book. I really was hoping I was going to enjoy it but I really couldn’t get into it. The narrators did a great job I just couldn’t finish the book.

It was a good book,.......................... ... .............................................

I would recommend this title for younger teens, but it was a little young feeling for myself or my teenagers, who are 17 and 19.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This felt too childish for me. They wrote fantastic YA and I think they should just stick to it. This felt more like midgrade even with the characters being 18.

I enjoyed this one! The dark academia vibes were spot on and I love a good school setting. This was a great start to a new series - the magic system and world building is great. I found the astrological factions really creative! I do have a few questions but I'm guessing they'll be answered in book 2 👀. Can't wait to read it!

I went between the audiobook and ebook but ended up liking the narrators a lot so I finished it off by audio!

A huge thanks to St-Martin's Press, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC. All opinions are my own.

It wasn't for me, but I did still enjoy it. I can see why a lot of people felt the teenagers seemed young, but I could write that off as people are raised differently. I've met 18 year old who act like this many times - that didn't bother me. I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this - and I will certainly be reading more of PC Cast in the future. This book just didn't do it for me.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Draw Down the Moon by Kristin Cast and P.C. Cast. I really enjoyed the beautifully magical world. The mixture of zodiacs and the elements created a unique magic system. The sort of magic that can be done is a little vague and could have used some more definition but otherwise it was really good. The characters were a little on the shallow and somewhat annoying side but they definitely grew on me by the end. I also liked that the romance didn't overshadow the plot. The plot had a few holes and easy to see coming twists but it was fun, fast paced, and engaging. And the cliffhanger of an ending left me ready for more. The narrators did an amazing jobs bringing these characters to life too.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you net galley for this e arc. Unfortunately I had to DNF at 10% the book was very juvenile. The voice actor sounded grainy and the story lacked any depth.

I really liked this book. I listened to it in one day iirc. It is set in modern times with teenagers. As you can imagine, there's a lot of pop culture reference. Other reviewers think its unbearable and that the characters are acting more like 13-14 year olds, but I disagree. I have coworkers that are 18-19 and they act the same way as these characters. So, moving on, the magic isn't necessarily unique but how they get the magic and the relationship it has with elementals and the main plot is unique. I loved the twists, and was not entirely surprised at the MMC's actions following the twist, but still disappointed and shocked that he did it... *sigh* I will be reading the next book and am excited for it!

YA with slight romance but not the main focus. Good twists and enjoyable side characters (content warnings: death).

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners for the ALC! ♥

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 NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.75/5 stars

This is classified as YA, however it leans on the younger side so it seems more middle grade/middle school to me. The pacing could have been better, the ending felt rushed. There definitely could have been more to the plot. The audio was a little hard to follow at times, and I found myself switching between listening and reading on my kindle. Overall, the magic system and world is fairly unique, and I love a good academic/magic school setting.

Synopsis:
New York Times bestsellers P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast return with a new duology set in a dark and magickal world filled with incredible danger and irresistible romance. Wren Nightingale isn't supposed to have any powers. Born of magickal parents but not under a moon sign, she was destined for life as a Mundane-right up until she starts glowing on her eighteenth birthday. In a heartbeat, Wren's life is turned upside down, and she's suddenly leaving her home for the mystical Academia de la Luna-a secret magickal school on a hidden island off the Seattle coast. Lee Young has always known about his future at the Academia. He has one goal: pass the trials, impress the Moon Council, and uphold his family's reputation. But he wasn't expecting to be attending alongside the girl he's been secretly in love with for as long as he can remember. As Wren and Lee are thrown into the Academie's gruelling trials, they quickly learn there's something different--and dangerous--about the school this year. Wren will have to navigate a web of secrets, prophecies--and murder.
And Lee will have to decide who to protect--his family's legacy, or the girl he loves.

Draw Down the Moon is a story about a magical school for people who are moonstruck with magic. This is the story of two best friends and the challenges they face at the school. The narrators did a good job.
Thanks NetGalley