I really liked this book and if you are a fan of their books, you'll notice the flow from book 1 to book 2 is super similar to the flow of the house of night books. I really enjoy that aspect and continuation of the story as if there was no pause between books. I do recommend doing a reread of book 1 or the ending of 1 before starting if it's been a minute as you'll want a refresher. Solid A book once again.

I have not read the first book in this series and yet, going into this book, I never once felt lost or confused. Characters were clearly drawn, past events were incorporated into the story seamlessly, and I felt as if I knew exactly what was going on at any given time. That said, I imagine the book will be better appreciated by people who’ve read the first one, because the romance between Wren and Lee — in this book — isn’t ever a question or something to be developed. It’s established, and the emotions that go along with it are never in question.

Had I read this at a younger age I think it could have easily been one of my favorite series, as I was very, very into astrology at that age. Having star signs and elemental signs play a part in the magic and the bonding with elemental beings was a fun magic system, and I think the world building is a highlight of the book. However, this is YA and not a sprawling epic fantasy, so there isn’t as much depth in the world building as I, personally, would have wanted, but that’s fine. I can forgive it.

The writing is effortless, the pace is smooth and quick and everything wraps up tidily at the end while still leaving room for a follow up book or series. I definitely recommend this for younger YA fans of astrology, magic, and adventure. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

I some how missed the boat with pc cast... watch me go and read their entire bibliography now... how did I put these off??!!

A wonderful sequel to a wonderful book, Give Up the Night brings us back to the world of the Academia de la Luna and its Moonstruck students, now rocked by the aftermath of the first book's dramatic conclusion. This richly described world remains as alive with magic and intrigue as it was in Draw Down the Moon, and the characters are fantastically engaging to boot! A must-read for fans of the first book, and for people who are interested in a lighter take on the dark academia genre! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me access to an ARC for this book ahead of release. I thought it was pretty good, but I feel like book one was stronger.

Give Up the Night is PC & Kristin Cast back in the powerful duo we all love!

I devoured this sequel! Give Up the Night picks up immediately where Draw Down the Moon left off, right in the middle of the climactic confrontation that solidifies who the villains in this story truly are. Wren is at a crossroads but knows that she has to flee to ensure her survival, while Lee is left to manage the fallout, trying desperately to determine who he should believe. The emotional devastation of the first book sets the tone and pace for this follow-up, pulling readers into an intense whirlwind of emotions. I genuinely wasn't sure what to expect, and the twists left me breathless.

Wren embarks on a daring journey as she learns more about the Elementals that call the area surrounding the Academia home. One of the biggest strengths of PC Cast & Kristin Cast is their unparalleled ability to draw on mythology to weave stories that captivate readers. The mythology here is just as mesmerizing—interacting with the Elementals and uncovering their secrets felt like stepping into an ancient, enchanted world. It was a fast-paced adventure brimming with intrigue and wonder. While I wished the pacing allowed for deeper immersion, especially after the intense buildup of book one, the rapid progression kept me on the edge of my seat. Perhaps these two books could have been merged into one larger volume to enhance the flow, but it hardly detracts from the overall experience.

However, do not let that deter you from diving into this enthralling series. It is nothing short of excellent, and no matter what PC & Kristin Cast write, I find myself utterly captivated. From the heart-pounding love story and the dazzling powers to the rich mythology and satisfying conclusion, this dynamic writing team delivers excellence time and time again. Prepare yourself for a literary adventure you won't want to put down!

What I Liked:
-The concept of a map revealed in stages and Elemental trials.
-The bit about scent being the first thing you forget about someone after they die.
-There were some good descriptions, notably the one of the bridge in the fog.
-The stuff with the fungus and plants growing into Wren and her friends was genuinely horrifying.

What I Didn't Like:
-Ruby was misgendered constantly. I counted at least 41 individual instances of she/her pronouns being used instead of they/them. This type of error does not occur with any other characters.
-Ruby is generally poorly treated by the narrative. They get misgendered, never really get their own backstory or personal motives or character arc, they're the only one who doesn't see an actual person they've lost during the death visions, and they're the only one who doesn't have someone missing them or worrying about them during the trials.
-Ruby also still randomly speaks Japanese in otherwise English conversations, albeit less frequently than in DDtM.
-The trials felt more like terrain obstacles when they would have worked better as explorations of and challenges to characters' flaws and fears.
-Lee’s section of the story mostly involved him accidentally discovering information or stumbling into solutions. A lot of convenience and luck.
-The magic system outside of astrological abilities is never adequately explained, and the distinction between the spells we're told are complex vs simple is so inconsistent as to be nonexistent.
-Betrayals and reveals failed to elicit shock because the characters are so flat I can't bring myself to care, let alone try to unpack their motives.
-The ending is very abrupt and we're never shown the allegedly enormous change the characters have brought to the world as a whole.

I feel a little mixed about this book but I think if you’re looking for a YA magical academy with dark secrets that contains a lot of elemental and witchy vibes then you’d like this. If you prefer friends to lovers over enemies to lovers this one’s for you.

I enjoyed the journey we’re taken on through the elemental lands and the wild ones we meet. The conclusion is very wrapped up though pretty expected.

Loved reading the mesmerizing and spellbinding paranormal story. When Wren is wrongfully accused of stabbing Celeste, she has to flee and leave her one true love, Lee, who doesn’t know who or what to believe. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story.

I had eagerly awaited the conclusion of this duology. I enjoy the world created. My major frustration with the first book was the total lack of wrapping up any storyline. On the flip, you have to read book one to understand book 2. No real review of previous events and you jump back exactly where we left off. That said, I enjoyed the adventure story and it gave a good conclusion to the story.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I was lucky enough to get both this book and its prequel (Draw Down the Moon) from NetGalley, and even though I’m not a huge YA fan, these were both really great.

The sequel picks up right where DDtM ends, with Wren and Lee at odds with Celeste. However, they spend a lot of time apart as Lee follows Celeste, believing Wren stabbed her, while Wren flees the campus with her Elemental, Viento, and friends Ruby and Lily.

Wren & Co. have to battle the island’s four Elementals to restore the magic to the rightful owners. Meanwhile, Lee and Luke are with Celeste trying to figure out who was right- Celeste or Wren. I really enjoyed this sequel. The plot was fast-paced and characters were worth revisiting. Definitely recommend this duology.

This second book in this series seemed like it was written for a much younger YA crowd than the first one, maybe even middle grade. It brought together some of the elements from the first story with the same magical intrigue. I'd recommend for 11-12 year olds! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book.

This sequel to Draw Down the Moon picks up right where the first book leaves off. Wren is fleeing for her life, still reeling from the murder of her best friend. She is joined by her Elemental and two allies. Together they must face a series of trials in order to defeat the evil Celeste.
I think I enjoyed the first book just a little bit more than this sequel. This is still a very good read especially if you like your YA romantasy heavy on the adventure/thriller elements. It’s a story about how power corrupts, about friendship (and a little romance), and working together to achieve a goal. It is supposedly the conclusion of a duology, but I felt the ending leaves an opening for more. 4 stars

Give Up the Night-Moonstruck #2-I recommend reading book #1 Draw Down the Moon first.

By P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Pub Date Apr 01 2025| Read Dec 12 2024

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast for this ARC🧡! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance

Tropes: coming of age, found family, dark academia, family drama, LGBTQIA+ rep

👆🏾POV: dual, 1st person

Setting: Seattle

Summary: After Wren and Viento's escape, she goes back to school to get Maya's book in hope of completing the ritual to free magic and the elementals. Lily and Ruby join her quest while befriending hostile elementals. Lee visits Maya's room to get answers about what happened to her. His father Tyrell comes to school pushing him towards Celeste and Dean Rottingham's agenda. Wren and Lee make their own way exposing the Academia de la Luna.

Characters

Wren-main h

Lee-main H

Luke-clued to Lee's side as Rottingham's co-apprentice

Lily-Luke's twin sister, a Leo moon

Ruby-befriends the gang, a Scorpio moon

Tyrell Young-Lee's father, has a business alliance w/ the Lunar Council

Dean Rottingham-keeps Lee and Luke close using their ambition to join the Lunar Council

Celeste-wounded, healed, hunts for Wren using fire elementals

Viento-air elemental that helps Wren

My Thoughts: I got lost during Wren's quest as it got a bit stale after the second attack. Their time in the other realm dragged on too long, but I loved how Wren and Lee reunited. The ending was satisfying but I see the potential for more. Overall, I enjoyed Wren and Lee's self-discovery journeys and their found family.

Rating:4/5 ⭐

This dark, magickal world continues to captivate with its irresistible romance, shifting allegiances, and the ever-present threat of danger. The ending is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving me breathless as I close the book, eager for more. The emotional intensity of the journey, combined with the mounting tension and complex relationships, makes this conclusion an unforgettable ride.

Really enjoyed getting to read the second book in this series. I like how action packed and fast paced the story is, and plot is really the driving force here. The characters are okay but not developed enough for me to feel a real emotional attachment to. I think this might play into the fact that it is very YA. I love YA, I teach YA but sometimes the simplicity in the writing, characters and story development almost leans to childish. Even when devling into compelx emotions or topics it falls short some times. I do however think I would recommend this story to students. I love the diverse set of characters and think the more we can include diverse stories in our classrooms and bookshelves the better!

This was the perfect sequel! The action, the suspense, the hard decisions and tension, it was all so perfect! It felt like the perfect book to read in the current political climate. I couldn’t put it down!

I didn't realize this was a sequel when I initially requested, so there was a bit of a learning curve, but it wasn't too bad. I liked Wren and Lee and thought the two pov worked pretty well, although they weren't always that distinct in terms of voice. However, the plot kept moving and I became invested in what would happen, even without having read the previous book!

The second book in this magical fantasy gives us the answers to the true magic of the island and of the Elementals. This book has a lot more action as Wren faces down the four Elemental tests to find the Elder and take down Celeste. Ultimately the book is about relying on friends and treating all creatures with dignity.l

I will always devour anything and everything Kristin and PC cast write. I’ve been the biggest fan since the very first House of Night book came out and I’ll die a big fan too.

This was an amazing sequel. I loved it so much and I can’t wait to have these gorgeous books on my shelf.