This definitely gave me the witch vibe feels. It was written beautifully in describing the main character history but also had more of spirited haunt vibe to it with magical elements. Would recommend to anyone looking for a spiritual coming of age books

This is such a captivating read I read it from cover to cover. Thank you to the publisher , to Net Galley and to the author for the opportunity for review. My review opinion is my own. This is one of my favorite Net Galley authors. All of her books are exceptional.

This is a fascinating well crafted story of Aline. She is a witch with magical powers that as a child she does not yet understand. After being humilated at a school gathering for talking to a ghost she journeys to another world and finds herself and her meaning in life. She leaves her beliefs behind in the normal world and applies herself to do as much good as she can for herself and those in her new magical world.

This has rich charcters that dance on the page, a exceptional told magical story that captivates the reader from page one. I loved how Aline found herself in a new world and embraced her powers. She is a lovable charcter. The author created such a fascinating read that entices the reader to read to conclusion. Very well done to the author. This would be a great movie.

2.5 stars
Hold a special reading space for magical realism in my TBR, so I was exited to read this. I was disappointed. The lyrical language didn't line up with the speed of the plot. Things happen either too fast or too slow, there was no space to catch your breath and really get to know the characters outside of Aline and Magic.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved the premise of this book and the magic element. I had a hard time following it and found myself rereading many paragraphs.

I made it 50% through and just couldn’t finish.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing to me. I did feel for Aline's character, especially in the beginning when she was bullied by her peers for talking to someone they couldn't see. I also did enjoy her abilities, I thought it was very different from other things I've read. I just feel like there was something missing from the story overall for me.

Loved all of the fantasy and emotion in this book! It's well written and a great read for anyone who loves magic

Maybe I’m in a reading slump, because I just couldn’t find it in myself to enjoy this story, despite a love of all thinks witchy.

Alien’s character made me sad, but not in a relatable way for me, more in a depressing way. The story itself just seemed to move very slowly. There was such a pretty premise to the book and the ideas are intriguing, but it was just executed in a way that was hard to root for.

This story is not one that I could explain to someone else. It had magic, it had a sort of found family, and it had soulmates. Other than that, I was lost through a good portion of this story.

I wish there was more world building, so we could understand the rules and what's happening. Instead, it was more of an anything goes plot. You have to sit there and accept what's happening or you'll dislike it.

I'm sure there are people out there who enjoy riddles and zany magical plots, and those people will adore this story. I just need more details laid out, so I can grasp what's happening better.

"What Became of Magic" by Paige Crutcher is a novel that left me torn between an intense desire to adore it and a lingering sense of frustration. While the book undoubtedly possesses an enchanting magic system and a destined love story, it occasionally becomes enigmatic to the point where comprehension requires careful navigation through riddles. I really wanted to love this book more than I did — even though I still liked it a lot in the end... I think it's because it felt like everything was spoken in riddles towards the middle where things were being revealed. While this approach may add an element of mystery and intrigue, it occasionally hampers the reader's ability to fully grasp the unfolding events. I found myself re-reading a lot of scenes to fully understand what was going on. Despite this, the magic system and destined love story was a captivating journey and the story remains an engaging read with moments of brilliance. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable; their connection interwoven with destiny and an unbreakable bond. Crutcher's portrayal of their relationship evokes a range of emotions, from heart-fluttering romance to intense yearning, keeping me invested all the way through.

Interesting plot line, albeit a bit confusing at times. Vivid characterization. A steady read. A fun book for those in search of an afternoon or evening diversion.

Thank you so much to Crutcher and St. Martin's press for access to What Became of Magic!

What Became of Magic was a cozy Magic filled story that socks you right in. I loved being introduced to all the unique and magical characters.

The biggest critique I can offer is I want more of this book!! It was far too short for the beautiful story telling. I believe What Became of Magic would of been a wonderful series and time for the author to slow down and let the story build.

I found this book hard to follow. The characters and the world building is good. Florence ended up being quite a surprise.

First and foremost....thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and give my honest review of this book.


What Became of Magic by Paige Crutcher

This was a fun little in-between read to curl up with for an afternoon or three. I'd consider this a cozy fantasy book. I really wanted to like this more than I did. I really wish there would have been more world-building than foreshadowing. If that were the case, I think the riddles would have blended in better creating a far more delightful story.

That said, I did stick with it to the end and enjoyed it despite the odds. I loved Aline and Dragon. I also loved the magical elements and fun character names. I'm happy that I kept reading past the extended childhood flashback. The last part is where the story really picks up and gets good. Although, I do feel like there are things that readers need to know about Aline's childhood.

Overall, this book reminds me of a cozy game filled with riddles and quests. :)

Aline has always felt awkward , ever a part of what was going on. Then she meets a spirit called Dragon who tells her she is responsible for lost souls. A magical story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC

The premise was a good one but didn't translate into a coherent plot. Also, the first half of the book is very different from the second. I found the transition jarring.

What Became of Magic is more of a modern fairy tale or myth than the traditional witchy novel. I think readers will either love it or not because of that. The story starts in a somewhat traditional manner which perhaps makes the transition into the more fantastical seem almost Wizard of Oz-ish. Considering the fantastical or allegoric characters, the story is easy to follow. And considering there is a lot of death, it isn't depressing or heavy.

Synopsis: Young Aline finds herself an outsider among her peers and even her parents. The fact that she can see and talk to ghosts increases both her isolation and her connection to magic. When she stumbles upon a portal of sorts in her local bookstore, she finds not only purpose but the biggest challenge of her life. She alone can save magic - or rather she and magic together can save everything.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I want to extend my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for releasing this book for review.

A well-written storyline wias accompanied with what I found to be, overreaching detail. More time could have been devoted to character development. Burdensome to stay focused, I made it through just over 50% of the novel.

I had to quit this book at 60% of the way finished. I value my time.

I really enjoyed the story until she went through the hedgerow, then everything became riddles.

It was so confusing to find out Magic was magic and there was another magic. Witches didn't speak coherently and the story just stopped flowing.

Several times I had to reread paragraphs and entire pages because I had NO CLUE What was going on.

The story is there, just needs a better author to tease it out.

First and foremost, Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! These are all my thoughts and personal opinions!

The story is a cozy and fun fantasy read - a perfect book for taking breaks between more intensive epic reads. It’s a journey of growing up, and finding your real friends, family, and purpose.

This book is definitely a deviation from my normal reading. The premise is interesting and is what drew me to trying out the book. So, with understanding this ended up being a 3 star book for me. Since it’s a deviation from my normal reads, it was a bit rough to get through - but that’s just me!

Pros: The author created a detailed world with clear effort into laying out exactly how Magic works in her world. Everything from start to finished, is explained in immaculate details that being drawn into the story and visualizing her world is rather easy. Her writing is on a master artist level when it comes to details and descriptions and bringing everyone and everything to life.

She has characters with wide ranges of personality, from quirky witches to mysterious visitors - all portrayed incredibly well and never deviating from their assigned role or acting out of character. The author is incredibly skilled with introducing and building up these characters and weaving them into the realm of the book.

The premises is so intriguing and the set up is strong. There’s questions that need answering and the author teases you with them so well that you find yourself excited to uncover the answers alongside the FMC.

Cons:
The voice the author chooses to use to narrate the story is rather interesting. I can see it being a bonus for some and a con for others. It was a bit of a con for me, but only due to this book being a deviation from my normal reads. She’ll also swap POVs randomly which always throws me for a loop.

If you like riddles and puns, this book is for you! If you’re like me and riddles just leave you more confused… then yea, the riddles will be enough to pull you out of the story. It was for me. Just when I’d finally get back into the story, more riddles which just yanked me right back out.

While the premise of the story is incredibly intriguing and the desire to uncover the secrets and mysteries of the world alongside the FMC is strong, the story does have a tendency to drag at times, especially in the middle. The beginning is strong and the ending is good and satisfying, but the middle is a bit of a rollercoaster.

All in all. This was a fun 3 star read for me! The journey is fun. Watching the FMC grow up and grow into herself and accepting who she is makes this a wholesome and cozy read on self-discovery.

This was a good story but not what I expected. It was a little hard to follow but it could have just been me. Slow paced but also action packed.