Review Detail

DRAW DOWN THE MOON is a consuming YA fantasy. Wren has always known that magick exists; her parents were Moonstruck, and thus, they had magic. However, she was not born under a moon sign, and thus, she is Mundane - or so she thought. On the night of her eighteenth birthday, while creating mischief with her BFF (and crush) Lee, something happens - and it turns out that Wren may have magick afterall.

All Moonstruck must attend a school for magick when they are 18. This Academia de la Luna is the place where they learn to hone their power. Wren must unexpectedly now attend alongside Lee and her other BFF, Sam. Once they arrive at the secretive isle guarded by elemental spirits, Wren has questions about her newfound powers that no one seems able or willing to answer. When the school becomes more and more dangerous, the questions Wren is asking could have enormous consequences, not just for her but for their community as well.

What I loved: This was such a consuming and fun fantasy with a boarding school, loads of intrigue, secret old books, suspicious deaths, and plenty of magick. Fans of these elements will be delighted to step into Wren and Lee's story. The book is told from both of their alternating perspectives, and while they often work together, their experiences, owing to different family circumstances, are disparate and show more of the community, its leadership, and the ever-present danger.

Wren and Lee were both really compelling characters. Wren has a lot to prove to herself, and she is struggling to understand this world and how she fits in it - a sentiment that many teens will find resonates. Her strong friendships and critical eye delve deeper into the mythology and broader elements of this intriguing world. Lee comes from a well-known magickal family, although he was not the chosen child. That was his sister, who died a couple years early at this Academia de la Luna. He is bearing the weight of parental expectations and disappointments as well as his grief over the loss of his sister. Together, they have strong friends-to-lovers vibes that grow and change as they do.

Themes around power and politics, fate and choice, fighting the status quo, grief and loss, betrayal, and friendship were all really strong and will speak to a YA audience. As a warning, there is a main character death. While nothing is terribly gruesome/described in detail, there are deaths in the story that may make this more appropriate for somewhat older YA audiences. The writing style and strong world-building will lend itself to broader YA readers, including younger ones though the main characters are all 18.

Final verdict: DRAW DOWN THE MOON is a consuming and engaging YA fantasy that I highly recommend for readers who love magic, boarding schools, and a touch of romance.