The premise of this was intriguing, but unfortunately, I just found the pacing a little jarring and the world-building a little confusing. The POVs of the two main characters were also quite similar, so it was sometimes difficult for me to keep track of what was going on.

The concept of the moon magick was very intriguing though, and I really enjoyed the first few chapters, but unfortunately, this one wasn't for me.

2.5

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast, Marie Smith (audio narrator), and Jordan Barton (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Draw Down the Moon in exchange for an honest review.

Draw Dawn the Moon is the first book in a duology, and it is a fast-paced, magick-filled romance taking place at an academy for elemental witches. The pacing is brilliant, the conflicts are dark and intriguing, and the overall impact makes for an excellent start to a two-part series. Being a long time fan of House of Night, I was excited to explore another academy-type of novel in the real of paranormal from the mother-daughter writing duo. I am certainly not disappointed, and I think this duology will be one of their best works to date!

Wren's parents are both magickal, harboring elemental powers, but she was not born under one of the astrological moons, meaning she is fated to be a Mundane (basically a regular human being).  On her eighteenth birthday, some semblance of power makes its presence known to her, and instead of saying goodbye to her best friend, Lee, she is abruptly going with him to the Academia de la Luna, a special school for elemental witches.

With alternating first person perspectives, not only does the reader see Wren's first-hand experiences, but Lee's as well. Unlike his best friend, Lee has always known he would be attending the Academy (think of it as kind of like a college, as students attending have already graduated high school). Lee is from a more prestigious magick family and aims to pass the school's trials for a shot at upholding the family name. 

While Lee fight's the attraction he has had for his best friend since, well, forever, Wren is working on navigating just how her magick works. As the female main character, she follows the chosen-one arc in a way that keeps the reader wondering about her powers and just what makes her different, and why. With her newfound friend, Sam, she embarks on a journey to discover her magick, learning that there are darker pieces at play at the academy, and Wren might be on the verge of discovering them.

I greatly enjoyed this novel as a first in a duology. Even though I love House of Night, I do still find the writing style to be a bit immature at times, though this is a young adult novel. Technically. The characters being eighteen and just out of high school makes it lean a bit more in the new adult direction, and there is some more mature ideas being explored, though not crossing the line of the safety that generally comes with a young adult novel. Some of the dialogue is a bit off-putting, yet there are other conversations that truly make the book impossible to put down.

I truly love the characters, I love the conflicts, and I love the incredible end that makes me want to read the next one. I generally don't get too into "witch" type novels, but this one really sucked me in and blew me away! Draw Down the Moon is perfect for lovers of paranormal, magic schools, and dark events. An excellent first book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I had a hard time with this one. Not because the writing or the concept wasn’t good but it just read much younger than I was expecting of the characters. I usually like reading from both these authors but this one just wasn’t for me.

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!