Moonspell Magic Is Heading Into the World of Books With New Moonspell School for Witches Series

When Mattel first introduced Moonspell Magic earlier this year, there were plenty of questions surrounding just how the newest addition to the Monster High universe would establish itself beyond the toy aisle.

After all, storytelling has long played an important role in the success of Monster High, dating back to the brand’s original launch in 2010. From its early animated webisodes and television specials to its extensive collection of books, the franchise created a world that existed far beyond the dolls themselves. Something that would eventually carry over into Ever After High, another Mattel property that combined its fashion doll collection with an expanding world of characters and stories.

And while the entertainment landscape has certainly changed since those early days, it looks like Mattel may be returning to a rather familiar approach with Moonspell Magic.

Mattel Press has officially announced Moonspell School for Witches, an all-new middle-grade fantasy book series written by New York Times bestselling author Jen Calonita, whose previous work includes Disney’s popular Twisted Tales novels.

The first book, scheduled for release on July 6, 2027, will introduce readers to the legendary Moonspell School for Witches, where every summer solstice a select group of young witches receives an invitation to participate in the Witch Trials. These magical challenges will determine which hopeful students have what it takes to earn a permanent place at the school.

And among those hoping to prove themselves are five young witches, each with her own special magical abilities.

Claire can glimpse into the future, Rae draws her powers from the sun, Willow has a connection with nature, Layla uses crystals to channel her magic and Carina has a rather impressive talent for brewing potions.

But when the girls find themselves placed together in the same trial circle, they’ll have to discover how to work together if they hope to overcome the challenges awaiting them. From mysterious rivals and talking maps to moon charms and unexpected potion explosions, their journey will be about more than simply proving their magical abilities. It will also be about discovering the importance of friendship, trust and finding a place where they truly belong.

The upcoming novel will feature 272 pages and is intended for readers ages 10 through 14, with a second installment already planned for fall 2028.

And this announcement brings us back to something we previously discussed regarding the future of Moonspell Magic.

Since the brand’s introduction, Mattel has been using YouTube to help establish its newest group of witches, releasing character-focused music videos and interactive quiz content that gives audiences an opportunity to become familiar with the characters and their personalities.

However, much of that early content has remained relatively short, leaving questions about whether the brand would eventually move toward more developed storytelling or continue relying primarily on bite-sized digital entertainment.

Now, with a full-length middle-grade novel and a second book already in development, it appears that publishing may be taking on a much larger role in establishing the world of Moonspell Magic than those initial YouTube releases suggested.

And in some ways, that feels like a return to the earlier days of Monster High.

While animation helped introduce audiences to the original ghouls, books also gave readers opportunities to explore the franchise through a different storytelling format. The same was true for Ever After High, which developed an extensive literary collection alongside its animated content and doll releases.

What makes Moonspell School for Witches particularly interesting is that Mattel is not simply introducing another collection of character stories. Instead, the upcoming series is establishing a central narrative around the girls’ arrival at Moonspell, their magical abilities and the challenges that will ultimately bring them together.

It also provides something that the current short-form YouTube content has had limited room to explore: a more developed look into the school’s world, its rules and the relationships between its characters.

Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean Mattel is moving away from YouTube or that a larger animated series is no longer a possibility. But it does suggest that the company is approaching Moonspell Magic with a broader storytelling strategy, one that may place its books at the center of the brand’s narrative development while digital content continues introducing the characters to audiences.

And for a franchise that has its roots in the world of Monster High, that is a rather interesting direction to see taking shape.

Moonspell School for Witches is currently available for pre-order ahead of its July 6, 2027 release, with the second book expected to follow in fall 2028.

As Moonspell Magic continues to establish its own identity, it will be interesting to see whether this return to longer-form storytelling becomes a defining part of the brand’s future, much like the books and animated adventures that helped shape the early years of Monster High and Ever After High.