The writing style and story wasn't working for me at all. Lots of telling, not much showing.

DNF

*Thanks to Alcove Press for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*

This was a really slow paced book.

Elisabeth has just finished high school and her grandmother, the matriarch of the family, is keen for her to take on the role as head witch of the small town with her magical abilities.

But when Elisabeth discovers a family secret, she realises that her future isn't set in stone and she sets out to investigate who she really is.

Eighteen year old Elisabeth dreams of more than just staying in her hometown and learning the magic her family has. As she digs into her family's past though, she uncovers secrets that make her question her life.

I thought this one was going to be more magic and less coming of age story, so I was a little disappointed. It was also written to be an adult novel, but I think it actually would have been more successful if written in a YA style (I love YA, so this isn't a knock on it!). The overflow also was a little choppy, especially early on.

The summary sounded great, the book itself, not as much. I found the writing style very choppy and disconnected, the characters were well rounded, I'll give it that but it was kind of painful to get through because of it.

A great coming of age novel that blends family drama with magic quite well. I’d agree that the comps to Practical Magic and Alice Hoffman’s works are fairly spot on. I was thrilled to be able to include this one in my Instagram Spooky Guide for 2024. Will be on the lookout for future books by this author!

Elizabeth just graduated from high school and her grandma Magna is putting pressure on her to marry and take over the family business.

I picked up this book hoping for a charming autumn book about witches. The book didn’t appeal to me because it is a slow paced story and I couldn’t relate to the characters. Unfortunately this one wasn’t a good fit for me.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Andrea Jo DeWerd’s "What We Sacrifice for Magic" offers a captivating exploration of legacy, identity, and the price of power. DeWerd beautifully captures the tension between familial duty and personal freedom, weaving in themes of self-discovery. The novel’s atmospheric setting and richly developed magical lore create an immersive experience. The emotional depth and compelling exploration of inherited burdens make it a thoughtful and engaging read.

As I read this book I was reminded a little of Alice Hoffman's books on the power of family and of magic. I love those books and I loved this one as well. The setting is the late 1960s, and Elisabeth (Lisbet) is newly graduated from high school. She is bound to her family traditions and to taking her rightful place in the family as the next family heir-apparent. She is expected to marry her high-school sweetheart but she finds herself chomping at the bit and wanting adventure before settling down.

Elizabeth doesn't fully understand her reluctance. she only knows her reaction is real. In a tragic turn of events, Elizabeth breaks free and a twist of fate brings her to Nick and his companionship. It is the story of family ties, traditions, and lore which as we look upon them in our own time and place seem outdated, old-fashioned and often unreasonable. Elizabeth's actions don't come without consequences, and it takes the help of her mother, her sister and her cousin to bring the world back to rights.

What We Sacrifice for Magic is a beautifully-told story about family dynamics, inherited power, difficult choices, and healing. I found the Watry-Ridder family to be complex, and the source of their power mysterious. Questions of choice and fate, freedom and duty, family and self abound in this slow burn of magical realism.

Not a bad idea. Loved the magic but I should've known that it wasn't quite up my alley when it said for fans of practical magic. While this is blasphemous, I thought ooh I loved the movie...but i wasn't a fan of the book. But for those who do love the likes of the practical magic books, you'll enjoy this one

I am so disappointed that it isn't what I expected. I found myself hardly feeling the story, I couldn't get myself immersed and felt nothing for the characters. They felt flat and barely things happened for the half of the book. I couldn't enjoy the book as much as I wanted to. Nevertheless, I can see future potential with the writing.

I really enjoyed this book and was surprised by reviews that said it was hard to get into. I can see the criticisms that it feels a bit more of a YA voice but i wish we gave more leniency and flexibility between genres instead of demanding a strict categorization. I suppose the plot could seem slow if you need fast paced action and don’t enjoy the interiority of characters, but I felt this was compelling throughout and the family dynamics were portrayed very realistically for being about magic. As usual, I wonder if the prologue was added because the publisher wanted a HEA.

In this captivating debut novel, DeWerd weaves a spellbinding tale that transforms the familiar coming-of-age narrative into something far more potent by adding equal parts magic and generational weight. Set against the backdrop of 1968 Minnesota, the story explores how tradition can be both a fortress and a prison, especially in the hands of powerful women.
The Watry-Ridder family stands at the intersection of fear and necessity in their small town of Friedrich, where their Old World magic serves everything from farming to matters of the heart. But it's through eighteen-year-old Elisabeth's eyes that we see the true cost of inherited power. DeWerd expertly uses the supernatural elements not as mere window dressing, but as a lens through which to examine the bonds and boundaries of family obligation.
The author's greatest achievement lies in her nuanced portrayal of intergenerational conflict. Elisabeth's relationship with her grandmother Magda is particularly well-rendered, moving beyond simple rebellion into a complex exploration of legacy, duty, and identity. The 1968 setting proves perfect for this tale of feminine power and restriction, as the wider world grapples with changing roles and expectations.
While the novel's pace occasionally slows when dwelling on small-town minutiae, the central mystery surrounding the family's magical inheritance maintains tension throughout. DeWerd excels at showing how family secrets, like magic, can shape and distort reality across generations.
"What We Sacrifice for Magic" ultimately asks profound questions about the price of belonging and the courage required to chart one's own course. It reminds us that sometimes the most powerful magic lies not in what we inherit, but in what we choose to become.

What We Sacrifice for Magic is marketed as being perfect for fans of Practical Magic, so obviously I jumped on the opportunity to read this one.

I enjoyed the book, however I found that the execution of the ideas within the story didn't quite hit the mark. I think the character development was good, and the magic system was fantastic. Overall it is an enjoyable coming of age story.

What We Sacrifice for Magic by Andrea Jo DeWerd is a wonderful coming-of-age story with a unique, magical twist. I absolutely loved this book!

Elisabeth Watry-Ridder is a third-generation witch that is expected to take over for her grandmother and serve her small town with her magical abilities. Then, she discovers a family secret that reveals why her path is so set in stone and sets out to figure out who she is on her own - without magic and without her family. But, at the end of the day, Elisabeth realizes that the answers to her questions can only be revealed with her family by her side.

What an amazing debut novel! The story was fantastic and so unlike anything I've ever read before. The themes are what you would find in a typical coming-of-age story: a young teenager trying to discover herself, messy family dynamics, personalities trying to come together. I connected greatly with Elisabeth and what she went through as a young adult wanting to be her own independent person. Then, the added layer of the family's witchcraft history and magic being their livelihood was such a different interpretation. I thought it all worked brilliantly and can't wait to read more from this author!

Hello Fellow Readers

What We Sacrifice for Magic was an interesting read. The Premise was intriguing and more enjoyable than I thought. The family dynamics were interesting and it made Elisabeth's journey of self-discovery and coming of age all the more important. It was a bumpy ride at first as it just started slow and it took a while for the story to pick up. My main issues were the characters, most felt stilted and awkward, and Elisabeth herself was hard to like. I do understand that she is flawed and quite young and in some ways very strong as well, but there were certain instances where I found her extremely unlikable. Magda was also a bit of a disappointment, and I didn't like the direction DeWerd took her.

Overall, an interesting coming-of-age story.

This is a book when a family of witches keep the community safe and happy until the matriarch dies. The local farmers seek out their water charms and the teenagers, their love spells. The family’s charms and spells, passed down through generations of witches descending from the Black Forest, have long served the small town of Friedrich, Minnesota.Eldest daughter Elisabeth has just graduated high school—she is expected to hone her supernatural abilities to take over for her grandmother, the indomitable Madga. She’s also expected to marry her high school sweetheart and live the rest of her life in Friedrich. But all she can ask is why her? Why is her path set in stone, and what else might be out there for her?She soon discovers that magic isn’t the only thing inherited in her family. That magic also comes with a great price—and a big family secret. The more she digs, the more questions she has, and the less she trusts the grandmother she thought she knew.

Atmospheric and witchy but was ultimately not a book I was interested in at all. I wanted it to be a bigger mystery, with more tension and emotion so investment but it felt like just telling the story of the FMC in a straight linear way. The big reveal wasn’t a big reveal and I felt like wasn’t enough drama where the author tried to pretend there was.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

DNF at 2%.

I was very excited by the premise of this book but at only 2% in I can already tell you I will not be able to finish this. The writing style is just not for me. It seems to me that the author has an issue with run-on sentences. It seemed like every other sentence should actually have been a series of sentences. It also seemed to be a bit all over the place with descriptions of school and her boyfriend fading into mentions of the family business and right back to the boyfriend.

I’m glad others have enjoyed this read but I just cannot get into it.

A magical family with secrets, and the effect they have on their small town - this book was right up my alley. Will Elisabeth accept her role in the family’s legacy or will she follow her own path? And what happens if she turns her back on her destiny? Loved it!