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*

WHAT BECAME OF MAGIC is a quest, not unlike THE WIZARD OF OZ; a baffled young woman sets out on a journey to rescue friends while finding her way (home or to greater understanding.). The first third of the book is great as readers meet the protagonist, an outcast in every place she goes, and someone unaware of her own power. She sets out to rescue friends and meets a whole cast of characters on her journey; at which point the story becomes murky and less engaging. There are too many side characters with detailed backstories that detract from the central quest. It was difficult to stay engaged with the book. Plus the word “magic” is overused in this book as a noun and a proper name to multiple beings. It became taxing to keep track of the varied references. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

What Became of Magic- Paige Crutcher

Star rating 2.5 (rounded to 3)

Thank you NetGalley, Paige Crutcher, St. Martin’s Press and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed The Lost Witch by this author, so when I saw that she had a new book I was really excited to read it.

The first half of the book had me captivated, reading about the MC’s early childhood life, finding out she could see and help ghosts was really exciting and interesting. As well as the plot around being othered in school and being seen as strange. I felt like this part of the book was very relatable and enjoyable to read. That being said when the book fast-forwarded 15 years, I felt like the book moved a little too fast and was really hard to keep up with. I found myself multiple times getting lost in the story and not fully knowing/understanding what was going on. I really liked the magical elements and the romantic side plot. Overall, I just feel like this book overwhelmed me with all the riddles and all the information dumping, but the ending summed everything up nicely.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book and I even enjoyed the first 30% when Aline was growing up. After the sisters left though, I felt like the book turned into a different book. I wanted to learn more about Aline in her society so when we were thrown into a new society completely, I was a little confused. I also found that Aline read and still acted a little juvenile. I had to keep reminding myself that she was a full-grown adult and not a 16-year-old. Had she been a 16-year-old, or if the book was YA, I would have enjoyed the book a little more. I just didn't fully understand or buy into the story. Another thing that might have helped would be if she went to Matchstick earlier. Also, I didn't get why we included the story about the woman who swerved off the road near Matchstick. I don't know, it was a compelling story and idea, it just did not quite hit for me.

2.25-2.5

I was so excited to get this book! It sounds absolutely epic...

The first third of the book was amazing. I was hooked on Aline and finding out about her gifts...

Then it bottomed out for me. The story got more and more ludicrous and complicated. Overly so. I am all for books with complex themes but this book was over the top in its execution. It started to get jumbled.

Too much going on for me.

I am glad I finished it though but honestly, it felt like it was trying too hard

I thought this book started off interesting. It kinda gets bogged down in the middle and I felt my attention start to wane. It got better towards the end. I’m not sure what the author’s target audience was but this felt like a Ya book to me.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

The pacing of this book was so strange and I ultimately DNF’d at 28%. The first two chapters about Aline’s middle school and high school days explain how she is bullied by girls at school and completely ignored by her parents at home. At a sleepover, she meets a girl named Dragon and discovers she can see and talk to ghosts. Dragon helps her learn that there are keys in the world that have to be found and returned to ghosts so that they can move on and that Aline is a shadow witch who can find these keys. Sounds super intriguing, right? Aline helps a couple ghosts find their keys, like a girl’s charm bracelet and a man’s watch. Then the book rushes into Aline meeting a guy, having sex with him, immediately finding out he has a girlfriend, and accidentally killing him…all of which happens at the end of chapter two. Then in chapter three, Aline meets three witches who own a bookstore and becomes insta-friends with them and then in chapter four Aline is suddenly 30 and starts this adventure in another world. Like what?

I really wish this book would have focused much more on Aline helping ghosts find their keys because that was really interesting. Instead, the plot felt really rushed and then riddles were introduced and I lost all interest.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Aline was a child she discovered she could see ghosts, and she soon became an outcast because of it. Using her powers she could help ghosts find their lost items and cross over. As she grew she found friendship with the three sisters who owned a bookstore and they helped her grow as a person and a witch. At the bookstore she finds a mysterious book named Mischief that enhances her powers. It tells of a fated love in the small town of Matchstick. Now 30 Aline runs the store when the sisters mysteriously disappear. A woman appears looking for them and invites Aline to help find them in a town called Matchstick.

I thought I would like this book alot more than I did. I loved Aline. She resonated with me as a character as the outcast. Her struggle of trying to fit in, find love and family, and control her powers was painful and relatable (other than the magic lol). However the story seemed very convoluted to me. Everyone spoke in riddles and while I know it annoyed Aline it frustrated me. I had to reread parts as I thought I had missed something in the story. The romance was fated as well and it seemed rushed since they were ‘meant to be’ but I was glad that Aline got a happy ending.

Rating 3 stars
*I received a review copy from NetGalley for my voluntary and honest review

2 stars~

This book started out SO strong, and I’m so upset that didn’t continue through the rest of the book. I loved reading about Aline in middle school and through high school. If this story had just been about Aline helping ghosts find their way home I would’ve enjoyed it so much. Instead the plot just completely lost me.

The romance that happened in this was so insta-love it put me off so badly. And I felt like we never really got to know any of the side characters. I felt like I was also told a lot about how people felt about certain things or people but it was never shown.

If you don’t mind confusing plot lines you may like this book more than I did. I did like the ideas about leylines and a hidden magic village, and a witch that can see and talk to ghosts- and I wish the plot had just stuck to that.

Thank you to NeGalley and the publisher for the arc!