I liked the premise of this book a great deal - young girl coming of age with magic in her veins, fighting against a path already laid for her by family obligations.
The plot moved on a little slowly and was frustrating at times - you were given hints about the importance of other characters very obviously.
I did enjoy it and would read more by the author.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC copy of this book.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC. I loved this story, it was extremely well written. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This was a DNF for me. I made it about 30% in and realized that I didn't like the writing style. It was choppy and bounced around. The characters weren't holding my attention and I just wasn't enjoying it. It's not terrible, I may pick it back up someday, but for now, it's not for me. Two and a half stars.

Although this book had promise of a new interpretation of modern witches, the plot fell flat. A majority of the book was just Elisabeth moping after nearly destroying everything. Aside from that, not much else happens. I also felt like it was hard to comprehend the chest and the giving or taking of a heart. Even after finishing the book I don’t think I fully understood.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book -- 1960s midwest in a small town. The plot was interesting enough and the magical realism elements were quite fun. I really enjoyed the read and will be checking out what the author does next.

Magic as a family tradition always creates a great door to walk through. This book focuses on three generations of witches, and their big family secret. Elisabeth’s storyline is a very telling fictional scenario of the many heavy expectations that are placed on the eldest daughters everywhere.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and Alcove Press, thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel!

I felt like What We Sacrifice for Magic had subtle notions of practical magic, mixed with a bit of Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes. The characters were fun, and following along with the family practices and drama was exciting. It was well written and both the story line and characters developed beautifully.

This was more of a fiction or cozy witchy read than I typically go for. There isn’t any spice at all, and it has a very mild romantic undertone if really any at all. There are coming to age aspects to it, along with teenage rebellion.

It was a fast paced read that left me wanting more though. I highly recommend if you need a sweet palette cleanser!

As a big Alice Hoffman fan I was immediately drawn in with the story. A family of witches/magical women that help a small town out with their powers. Generational curses. A young woman trying to figure out what she wants in life. What more could you ask for in a story?

Some of the story/writing felt slightly disjointed for me. But not enough that I disliked it.

Overall I did enjoy it and would read more from the author. Thank you to NetGalley, Andrea Jo DeWerd, and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read What We Sacrifice for Magic. I have written this review voluntarily.

I loved Practical Magic, so I was super excited to pick up this book! However, I felt like the beginning was a struggle to get through, and I'm not quite sure why. It could just be that the writing style wasn't one that I could really get into, as I felt like the characters were kind of dry and hard to follow for some reason. The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous though! Definitely think that this book will appeal to many, it was still an interesting story about a young girl's journey to discovering herself, something that I think many people can relate to.

Wow. It's been a while since I've come across a novel that is the perfect blend of unique, meaningful, and gripping. Initially I thought that the hints of so many genres would be a bit busy and unappealing, but the bits of romance, mystery, and thrill that combine with the main themes of urban fantasy and coming-of-age work together to create a page-turner unlike any other that I've read. While it didn't get my pulse racing like a true thriller, I still couldn't put it down. Lisbett's path is so relatable in all the ways that matter, and all the thoughts and actions of her and her family are masterfully written. I also really appreciated how the historical time period was written in a way that didn't come across too primitive/old Western-esque, but was still very clearly not a modern setting.
Incredibly grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I enjoyed the storyline, but found it a bit too slow paced for me. The whole witch side was magickal though, and I enjoyed how they worked as witches.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Andrea Jo DeWerd's What We Sacrifice for Magic beautifully explores the intricate dance between the traditions we inherit and the journeys we forge. This captivating book blends charm and depth, presenting a powerful tale of growth and self-discovery that will deeply touch its audience. I was drawn in from the beginning and could not put this one down.

This book read a lot like a YA rather than an adult read. Not content wise, but just with the inner voice of the main character. I wanted more of Practical Magic vibes like advertised, but it wasn't necessarily the same type of cozy feeling in this one.

Relase date: September 24, 2024
Genre: historical fiction
Topics & themes: magical realism, family obligations, sisterhood, love

This is definitely a vibe book with a lot of elements that make perfect autumn read. I like our main character. She was unique and flawed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of the book for an honest review.

"What We Sacrifice for Magic" is a story about family, generational issues, selfhood, and, of course, love. It took me a bit to get into this book, but the story ended up hooking me because the author wrote characters so well. The magic system and how it worked tied to the family was unique and interesting. If you like witchy books, character-driven stories, and family sagas, definitely give this book a try.

I had high hopes for this book based on its premise, but unfortunately, I had to DNF it. I'm a big fan of witch-related stories, and I absolutely loved Practical Magic, but this book didn't live up to my expectations. The pacing was off, and it didn't offer anything of value to keep me engaged.

Andrea Jo DeWerd's book What We Sacrifice for Magic is a witchy novel that takes place in rural Minnesota in 1968 and explores the lives of a family with a legacy of witchcraft. The book has all the elements that I look for in a book, but it was a hard one to get through. I'm not sure if it was that the main character Elizabeth was unsympathetic or if the pacing was off - but I wanted to stop a few times. I'm glad I finished it, but I think I would enjoy a different story with a focus on Magda, the grandmother in the novel.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for honest feedback; all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

This book was not for me. I tried a few times to read this but could only get past the first few chapters. I really wanted to like it but not for me.

I got about halfway through this book. Well maybe less than halfway. I think if I actually sat down to finish this book, it’d be a 3 star read. But that makes it even harder to finish knowing it’s a 3 star read ya know? 3 stars isn’t a bad rating. It’s definitely middle of the road for me, okay reads, I wouldn’t want to keep a physical copy but I’d still recommend it to certain people who like specific things. It's a really simple story about a group of witches who help the town they live in with various things. Definitely palette cleanser for sure but wasn't for me.