by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
ASIN/ISBN: 9781250865168
Publication: April 2, 2024
Series: Moonstruck #1

**I received a copy of the book through NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.**

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.