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A review by billies_not_so_secret_diary
What Became of Magic by Paige Crutcher
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
What Became of Magic
by Paige Crutcher
Fantasy Magical Realism Cozy
Ages 16+
NetGalley ARC
Publication Date: September 26, 2023
St. Martin's Press
After a middle school slumber party gone wrong, Aline Weir has kept her gift of being able to talk to ghosts a secret, fearing what the kids at school would say or do to her if they found out. But she does have a friend, Dragon, a ghost girl who helps Aline find lost souls' keys so they can go home, and she has a safe place, a bookstore, and the three women who own it, welcome her. And on those shelves, Aline finds a book called Mischief, and things begin to change. At the age of thirty Aline finds herself on a quest to find and save magic.
While this book is listed for adults, it's not written that way. Every character, even though they are or have been wandering for many, many years, they act and talk like fourteen-year-olds. Even the plot felt like the story was taking place in on middle school playground. There was a lot of going here and going there, but I never felt as if they went anywhere. I was bored with this story and had to make myself read it.
The romance in this story was forced, the characters were 'destined' to be together, and it was acted out like a middle school crush.
But the idea of this story was interesting; a witch who can talk to ghosts and help them move along, and save magic, great premise, but the execution was flat. Even with the riddles and searching for answers, there wasn't enough action or relatability to keep my interest or care what the characters were doing and I found myself skimming the book until something caught my attention, but those things never kept it.
1 Stars
by Paige Crutcher
Fantasy Magical Realism Cozy
Ages 16+
NetGalley ARC
Publication Date: September 26, 2023
St. Martin's Press
After a middle school slumber party gone wrong, Aline Weir has kept her gift of being able to talk to ghosts a secret, fearing what the kids at school would say or do to her if they found out. But she does have a friend, Dragon, a ghost girl who helps Aline find lost souls' keys so they can go home, and she has a safe place, a bookstore, and the three women who own it, welcome her. And on those shelves, Aline finds a book called Mischief, and things begin to change. At the age of thirty Aline finds herself on a quest to find and save magic.
While this book is listed for adults, it's not written that way. Every character, even though they are or have been wandering for many, many years, they act and talk like fourteen-year-olds. Even the plot felt like the story was taking place in on middle school playground. There was a lot of going here and going there, but I never felt as if they went anywhere. I was bored with this story and had to make myself read it.
The romance in this story was forced, the characters were 'destined' to be together, and it was acted out like a middle school crush.
But the idea of this story was interesting; a witch who can talk to ghosts and help them move along, and save magic, great premise, but the execution was flat. Even with the riddles and searching for answers, there wasn't enough action or relatability to keep my interest or care what the characters were doing and I found myself skimming the book until something caught my attention, but those things never kept it.
1 Stars