Some books are just collections of words and some books draw you in so you want to know more and more. This is definitely the latter. DeWert takes the everyday life of a not-so-everyday family and makes you want to know that “more and more.” What will happen to this eldest daughter who stands to inherit the family magic business and isn't sure she wants it?

I usually reserve the phrase “couldn’t put it down” for action-packed mysteries or thrillers. But it truly applies here—I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what would happen to teenage Elisabeth from the magical family.

The more I thought about this novel, the more I thought that it is less about magic than it is about what it means to be defiant, to want so desperately not to do what everybody thinks you should do. When I looked at that way, the title parses differently. The “accent”, if you will, becomes more on “What we Sacrifice” and less on “for Magic.” I see a little of myself in Elizabeth. A worthy read.

Andrea Jo DeWerd is a new author for me. I picked this book up because "Magic" is in the title and when I read the description, I had to read it.

Description:
It’s 1968, and the Watry-Ridder family is feared and respected in equal measure. 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. Who is Elisabeth without her family? She must ultimately decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for her family, for their secrets and their magic, or risk it all to pave her own way.

Navigating the bittersweet tension between self-discovery and living up to familial expectations, What We Sacrifice for Magic is a touching look at coming into one’s own.

My Thoughts:
This book is full of magic and I was totally engrossed. I felt so bad for Elisabeth though - she is in a difficult situation. Although she is close to her grandmother, she is having difficulty accepting the task the grandmother says she must shoulder. Elisabeth's relationship with her mother sounds terrible and I can't imagine growing up like that. There are dark roots at the origins of the family's magic and secrets are revealed. I recommend this to anyone who likes to read about witches and magic.

Thanks to Alcove Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

What We Sacrifice for Magic is an enchanting coming-of-age story set in Minnesota in the 1960’s. The magical elements were interesting and the story of family obligations and the pressures following in the footsteps of the witches in previous generations was done really well. However, I found the writing a bit slow or ‘choppy’ at times, especially in the beginning - but then again I loved the ending! The story itself kept me hooked and I just had to keep on turning the pages to see what happened next.

All in all, this is a very impressive debut novel – thank you so much Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press and Andrea Jo DeWerd for the ARC! 3.5 stars which I rounded up to four.

This was a plodding pace, a witchy coming-of-age story. Okay, so I liked this story but did not like the writing. I had to push myself through it cause I was interested in the story

"Perfect for fans of Practical Magic and The Lager Queen of Minnesota a coming-of-age novel following three generations of witches in the 1960s, this enchanting and heartwarming debut explores the importance of family and the delight and heartbreak of discovering who you truly are.

It's 1968, and the Watry-Ridder family is feared and respected in equal measure. 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 Magda. 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. Who is Elisabeth without her family? She must ultimately decide what she's willing to sacrifice for her family, for their secrets and their magic, or risk it all to pave her own way.

Navigating the bittersweet tension between self-discovery and living up to familial expectations, What We Sacrifice for Magic is a touching look at coming into one's own."

And also, who constitutes our chosen family...

The story was very unique and concept of the book was very good. Although the writing was very lackluster and very choppy.

Slow paced coming of age story about family and magic. Would be very well suited for YA audience. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

Unfortunately I have to DNF this book as what I’ve read just doesn’t seem like I’m going to enjoy this. Hoping to give this another chance once it’s been fully published as the parts of this story I did read felt really choppy and disconnected. I found the parts I did read really confusing and hard to follow and I don’t know if that’s because it’s not been edited yet or not. Will definitely try this again once it’s been fully published and edited.

The first part of the book drags...it really should be edited down because the elements to set the second half in motion didn't need the build up. Which is where the story suffers, unfortunately. I could see where the Practical Magic influences are but there should be way less telling, more showing and far far less eye rolling. It's a cosy, witchy story for sure but not very compelling.

WHAT WE SACRIFICE FOR MAGIC by Andrea Jo DeWerd

This coming of age story explores the need for independence and individuality conflicting with the responsibilities of upholding familial obligations.

I loved the magical realism/world building. The magic and spells were not over done or too “woo woo”. I especially enjoyed the setting of 1968 Minnesota and the German/Dutch folklore (chants and spells) included throughout the story.

I also liked how *most* of the townspeople were open to the Watry family’s magical services and mutually benefited from it. It’s a nice change of pace from other novels where everyone hates the “scary” witches.

While pacing was a bit slow, overall this is a wonderful debut novel of love, sisterhood and family, free will, and individuality. I look forward to reading more from Andrea Jo DeWard in the future.


Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

Really sweet, cozy witch story. I would say it is more YA than anything. I enjoyed it and found its descriptive nature to be just perfect for autumn.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

10 pages in but I can already tell it’s not going to be for me. It’s very telling over showing and the writing feels choppy, disconnected. We get a paragraph about Elizabeth making out with her bf and then the next one is info dumping about her family and their magic business?! Weird choice….

Based on other reviews, it seems to stay slow paced for the most part with pacing issues and continues with telling over showing. Also the narration style feels very YA when this is an adult book (I love YA but if I’m reading and adult book I expect an adult voice).

On paper this is the perfect book for me but in execution it’s severely lacking. If majority of the reviews mention things I know I don’t like I’m not going to force myself to continue especially if even the readers who pushed through say it’s meh or average, not worth the reading slump for me. Hopefully others will enjoy it more!

I'm sad to say this book really wasn't for me.

The first problem I had with this book from the start was that it repetitively decided to tell me 1968 instead of showing me. And from there I think it was downhill for me. I went in thinking this would be cool historical fantasy book with witches and magic, and I really had high hopes for the magic part. I did dnf this about 23 % in so I cannot be sure about the later pages, but what I read the magic was just really basic and there wasn't anything magical in it.

The book is basically for what I can tell a coming of age story, where a 18-year old Elizabeth is supposed to be her family's next matriarch and her grandmother (this really strict lady who is basically "the man" of the house) is teaching her everything she needs to know to achieve this role later. Elizabeth is supposed to marry her highschool boyfriend, start a family and be in the leading position in their family (magic)business. But she is jealous of her little sister who doesn't have to do all that and basically can do what she wants.

The second huge problem for me in this book was that it reads very young and ya. Based on the genres I was hoping for more mature narration and I think this kinda threw me off as well. The book was also in my opinion very boring and nothing major that would start the story properly happens in the first 23% I managed to read.

I'm super sad I didn't enjoy this book because based on the premise I thought I would really love it.

An interesting concept for a book--a family of witches helps a rural farming community, becoming revered but still seen as suspicious. The focus of the book is on the eldest daughter, Elisabeth, as she turns 18 and is poised to take over the reins from her grandmother, but it's the late 1960s and she decides to rebel against the course set for her life since childhood. I found Elisabeth rather tiresome and not very likeable, and honestly, only a couple of the characters were likeable. There was also a lot of repetition on what Elisabeth thought that got old. Overall, it was an interesting story, but one I know will not stick with me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What We Sacrifice For Magic couldn't be a more perfect name for this magical coming of age novel. A commentary on familial obligation and self-discovery. It's time for Elisabeth to step up and take over as the lead witch in the family, but she fears she will have to give up her chances of ever being in love if she does. She believes that being the matriarch will bind her heart to her magic and leave no room for romance. Does she stay with her family and choose magic, or does she flee and choose herself over everything else? With a family show down of epic proportions Elisabeth worries that she has ruined her family's reputation and set into motion the unravelling of everything they have worked so hard for.

A great read for fans of Practical Magic and the soon to be released Strange Folk.

Remember that this is set in the 1960s and that Elisabeth is only 18. This is a coming of age story that might resonate more with the YA/NA crowd (or, admittedly with those who remember life in a small town in the 1960s). The witchy element is gentle- these aren't scary witches, they are helpful ones, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Not a lot happens but it's a good read for a lazy day.

4/5!

What can i say …. I love me a witchy cozy read that also had a bit of action in it??

I loved how at first, it’s a “low-stakes-y” vibe where we are just following a family of witches who takes care of their small town Minnesota by suppling water charms for the drought and love charms for the high school girls. But, slowly, things don’t make sense to our MC, Elisabeth and uncovers the truth about her family and flees!

There were some moments where Elisabeth makes questionable decisions, making her unlikeable at times, but at the same time it’s what made her character seem so real!

Thank you to NetGalley & Alcove Press for allowing me to read this arc!

A witchy coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s? Sign. Me. Up. This debut by Andrea Jo DeWerd is charming, heartwarming and magical. The Watry-Ridder family are infamous in the small town of Friedrich, Minnesota. Farmers seek their water charms and teenagers plump for love spells, and the Watry-Ridder’s charms and spells have long served Friedrich. Eldest daughter Elisabeth is on the cusp of graduating high school and her grandmother Magda expects her to marry her ‘high school sweetheart’ and take over the family ‘business’. Soon, Elisabeth discovers that magic isn’t all she’s inherited: the more she digs, the less she understands.

I really enjoyed dipping into the world of Elisabeth Watry-Ridder this autumn. What We Sacrifice for Magic is the perfect pre-fall read! Elisabeth is a likeable heroine and I appreciated a warm, witty and realistic representation of an eldest daughter. Living up to familial expectations is a big theme in this novel, and it made a fantasy story feel real and human. Of course there’s plenty of self-discovery here and a splash of romance along the way: I’d say the romance is a bonus not a key theme, which I personally do prefer. Magda, the matriarchal grandmother, is beautifully realised and wonderfully unlikeable. I found this to be a balanced, fun and warming little fantasy that I’d easily recommend for a cosy and autumnal, spooky season read.

This book is exactly as promised, a charming witchy book with romance elements.

Things I loved:
The sisters! Their relationship felt very genuine and deep, with each eventually coming to an understanding.
The time period! It very much felt like I was in the 1960s with the language and the challenges the characters had to face.

I didn't really understand the romance. It felt very fleeting and unlikely to survive long term.

Overall, this is a very charming book and I highly recommend it for any lovers of cosy fantasy, historical fiction or readers in general.

This book is perfect for those who love a witchy vibe but with the lazy heat of summer instead of the crispness of spooky fall. At its heart What We Sacrifice For Magic is a tale of finding yourself and the bonds between generations of women and sisterhood. Plus the small Minnesotan town is as much a character and the Wattry-Ridder girls themselves, as it is infused in the feel and pacing of the novel.