What Became of Magic by Paige Crutcher was very hard for me to read. The blurb sounded awesome, and the author is a good writer and highly descriptive. I really enjoyed the first quarter of the book, but the last 3/4 took me over a month to read….I’m not huge into fantasy and just couldn’t get into all the overlapping plot lines and confusing characters. Aline was lovely, but everyone else was really underdeveloped. It was just a case of too much happening at once. For me personally it was a 2.5 but I’m rounding up since Crutcher really did have a cool idea and nice writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley and Griffin for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I love a witchy novel but really had a hard time with this one. Some of the riddles were just odd. It just wasn't for me.

I really like the premisces of the book, the way the character found magic to help her alleviate her life. She has such a hard life with an absent family and no friends apart of her ghost, Dragon.

I really loved Dragon and her love for Anne of the Green Gables.
But I have a hard time following the story. It was confusing on many levels. It took a long times to really understand what it was going on.

It honestly felt like a child wrote this. It jumped from idea to idea. It really just needed another draft I think because it had potential.

Dnf around 100 pages in. The cover is stunning and the synopsis sounded so good I just couldn't get into this book unfortunately.

Thank you netgalley and St Martin's Press for the earc in exchange for an honest review

If you are a fan of the writing styles of Holly Black and Maggie Stiefvater, i think you would enjoy this book. this book also reminded me of the fairytale retellings written by Robin McKinley. i loved the sense of mystery and magic in this book. i loved the setting and characters. this booked seemed like it was a real place to jump into.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfect read during this magical time of year. Another great book by Paige Crutcher.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of What Became of Magic in exchange for an honest review.

What a sweet and charming story! I loved everything about this book straight from the beginning of the story- a young girl who is desperately trying to fit in with her classmates, her selfish, oblivious parents who simply don't see her, three sisters bookstore owners who give her unconditional love and acceptance...and magic that helps lost souls find their way home- how can you not fall in love with the story?
Paige Crutcher's simple and elegant writing style draws you in and makes you care about Aline's lonely, solitary life and the comfort she finds in making a new friend called Dragon. But years pass and when our Alin is thirty, it seems once again that everyone is leaving her- her parents move abroad, the Moirai sisters go on longer and longer trips, and Dragon hasn't been seen for a long time. When a suspicious looking stranger invites Aline to visit a hidden magic town Matchstick and find out where Dragon is, Aline doesn't have to think long before embarking on this new, enchanting adventure.
If you are a fan of witchy stories with slow-burn romance and lots of riddles, here is a perfect book for you. Paige Crutcher's writing left me spellbound and I know I'll be looking forward to reading her next book.

This was a very unique book that I did enjoy but decided it wasn’t for me. It felt like a lot of riddles and wandering. I’m not exactly sure how to word it but I just felt kind of foggy reading it. It was a cozy fantasy/magical realism and lacked action which made me lose interest. The characters were interesting and mysterious and the worldbuilding was fantastic. Overall, it was an interesting story!

This book started off so well I was immediately hooked and excited about it but unfortunately about halfway through it falls apart. Based on the author’s note at the end it seems clear that the author could really relate to the main character Aline and she had a very believable depth of sadness and melancholy to her. I really enjoyed the reveal of her magic and wanted more of that. Unfortunately the author chose to go in a differently direction that was not anywhere near as well thought out. Aline needs to learn how to confront evil and save the world and will meet people who help her along the way. Unfortunately the author decided to include a They character who required a dizzying amount of pronouns and annoying word choices to accommodate which was an absolute chore to get through. The author also attempted to include a love interest which I thought was very poorly done which is especially ironic because I thought the love interest in the Author’s previous book, The Orphan Witch, was really well done and held my interest where that book lagged. I really wish this book had gone in a different direction as the first half was really well done.

I was really excited to read this book because I love witchy reads, especially in the fall time.


The main character Aline was very interesting and relatable. After all, who hasn’t been bullied by mean girls? However, in Aline’s case she was bullied because she has a magical power to talk to ghosts and help them to move along. Her parents are no help, basically ignoring her.

Aline eventually finds comfort and support in Dragon (a helpful ghost) and a job at a bookstore run by three weird sisters. However, her whole world goes tipsy turvy when, at age 30 the sisters and Dragon mysteriously vanish, leaving her alone.

Then the plots gets really interesting (and quite complicated), there is a magical book that enhances her powers, a mysterious stranger, and a magic villiage.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think the characters are great, and there are lots of interesting and original ideas. However, at times it was quite complicated, which made me quite confused. This did detract from my enjoyment somewhat.

In would recommend this book to readers who enjoy twists, turns and riddles but not to readers wanting a light witchy read.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review.

The premise was very interesting, but unfortunately the writing style didn't work for me. The story started in a very interesting manner and quickly moved on and completely changed its course, not focusing on what I had initially found appealing and at 44% I simply could not get myself to care about the plot. A rare DNF for me, sadly:

Aline Weir is different than the other girls, she tries hard to be liked but ultimately the effort is futile. She sees ghosts but doesn't realize it until at a slumber party where she meets her first one. A young girl in an old-fashioned dress, who quotes Anne of Green Gables. The other girls only see her talking to herself about books. As she leaves the next morning she glances back at the house and the ghost spells out her name, Dragon.
Her parents barely acknowledge her, and even as years go by she wonders if anyone cares at all.

It's through her connection to Dragon that she falls into the in-between and Dragon tells her she's a hedge witch that can see ghosts, travel to the in-between and talk to creatures not of this world. She can find keys that help ghosts move on. That finding will become more of a craving than a calling as time goes on.

In high school she meets Noah, and that whole thing ends in disaster. It's in the bookstore opened by Chlo, the former middle school librarian and her sisters, she finds peace.

From here we watch as Aline learns about Magic and finds that stories are not just stories. As a magical town called Matchstick will confirm.

There is suspense, laughter, tears, romance and a battle that needs to be won, once and for all.

I can't wait to read whatever Paige comes up with next!

I'm not sure what to think after reading this book. I enjoyed the storytelling and I enjoyed the FMC Aline. You could not help rooting for her. However, I felt a bit like I slid down the rabbit hole with this story. It seemed everyone spoke in riddles and vagueries. Just about the time I felt like I was getting a handle on what was going on---poof something else would happen and I would be confused again. I did get a handle on who the villain was, but knowing her origins is she really a villain? Aline would be really strong one moment and the next frail. It was like I was reading the book with a mist over it. However, I did enjoy the story, and when I got to the end I was happy I hung in there. But it was a bit of a difficult read. I give it 3.5 but roll it up to 4 stars just for the uniqueness of the story.

I definitely had mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the whimsy and mission to fix things, but some parts felt a bit like a children's fairytale meant to teach a lesson.

Aline gets swept into this magic world of witches and ghosts years after some bad childhood events. The character names were interesting for sure, between Dragon and Magic. It is a creative book, but definitely is like a kid's imagination gone wild.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

"What Became of Magic" is a beautiful, chaotic, heart-wrenching, messy story. The erratic storyline is compelling but hard to follow. Aline is sympathetic and interesting but pieces of her personality don't line up or make sense. There are vignettes in some chapters that are hard to reconcile with the action happening immediately before. There is the benefit of a designated (***) break on the page but it's still a sharp, abrupt departure.

I have no doubt "What Became of Magic" will knock it out of the park for some readers. Sadly, I'm not one of them.

What Became of Magic by Paige Crutcher was absolutely enchanting!
Okay, so this is my favorite. And not just my favorite Crutcher book.
No, this is the best type of fantasy! I don’t think I can quite put into words.
Paige Crutchers writing is captivating. She knows how to pull the reader into a magnificent and intriguing place.
The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb.
The attention to details in Crutchers writing really set the scene and tone.
The world is so vivid, it's impossible to not get swept up along with Aline as she tries to navigate her unique powers.
A truly wonderful and captivating story and I loved the characters.
The characters in this book were amazing as well as the world that Crutcher created. It kept me wanting more and kept me engrossed to see what would happen next.
I loved being in Matchstick, the complex and intricate world building and magical elements, the twists, turns, mystery, character development, and of course the ending!
I will always read her work and I hope she continues to create exciting new stories like this one.
Overall, What Became of Magic is a thrilling and well-written novel that will appeal to fans of fantasy and paranormal fiction.

If you haven’t read her two previous titles The Lost Witch and The Orphan Witch you should. They are phenomenal books.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The thing is I had no idea what was happening at any time. However, the writing was enjoyable and the vibes were good. The characters were very confusing and the plot was also very confusing. I would definitely try something else from this author but this one didn’t pull me in.

What Became of Magic comes out on September 26th, so if you are looking for a twisty-turvy magical book, then this is an excellent choice!

💜Review Time💜

Aline is a normal school outcast, if you consider her skills of seeing ghosts and helping them find their missing pieces so that they can move on to be a normal skill. 10-ish years after being relentlessly bullied throughout school, and maybe starting the apocalypse when the Fates intervene, Aline finds herself in a not-so-real town called Matchstick. Want to stop the end of the world? Well, good luck collecting all 6 different Magics before the Supreme Witch does!

This novel is full of delightfully twisty dialogue that makes Aline want to scream (and left my husband utterly confused when he read a bit over my shoulder) , along with some loveable found family.

This is my first read from Paige Crutcher, but I might just have to go pick up more from her! What Became of Magic does an excellent job of telling a story through so many different stories, and the world is painted in such vivid colors.

I highly recommend this for fantasy / witchy readers who enjoy less straightforward storylines.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC of this novel!

A witch finds herself with a book of magic and a unlikely adventure as she tries to rescue her friend, save magic, and find the love she's always wanted. Aline Weir has never belonged, she's a young witch who can talk to ghosts, but is an outcast at school and her own family would rather she disappear, her only solace is books and her ghost friend named Dragon. When she begins hanging out at a bookstore run by three kind and mysterious women, she discovers a book called Mischief, and soon her own magic is enhanced. Aline is now 30 and finds herself walking into a mysterious magical land when her friend Dragon disappears. There she discovers Matchstick, a magical world filled with powerful beings being hunted down, and she meets Magic, a man who haunts her dreams with his handsome looks and his mysterious personality, and the connection between them is undeniable. All Aline wants to do is rescue Dragon and get back the three women who she has come to love as her own family, but she learns that there is a darker path and that a prophecy awaits her, she'll have to reunite Day and Night, free the Watcher, and figure out if she can save Magic, the one person she's fallen in love with. This was like a strange fall into a Alice in Wonderland-like story, it's magical and fun to read, but its kind of hard to follow and a bit all over the place. It's definitely whimsical and I do enjoy a quest story. It's not my favorite of Paige Crutcher's witchy stories but it definitely was a unique read.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*