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.

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.

I wish I could give this book a better review, but the format of the actual book was so wonky that it key distracting me from the story itself.

I had a hard time getting captivated and staying in the storyline. I feel like at the beginning we jumped right into the characters and plot with very little introduction. Overall the whole story felt disjointed. It just needs some more editing and smoothing - there’s potential for a good story!

On Paper, What We Sacrifice For Magic is right up my alley! The Practical Magic series is one of my all time faves but this really isn’t even close to those books except they are both about a family that is witchy.

I found this book fine but DNF at 30%. It just wasn’t grabbing me and the writing felt very YA. I love a good YA book here and there but when a book isn’t YA but reads like it, I don’t usually enjoy that. I honestly felt kinda bored with the story. I think if there was more character development I would have felt more invested.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review

"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."

I really enjoyed this sweet book about finding your own way even when it goes against what others think is best for you. Overall this book held my attention and made me care about the characters and what would happen to them and their small town. I wish there had been more character development, especially around Helene and Mary. Their choices were so integral in the fate of Magda and Elisabeth I wish we learned more about them.

Although I enjoyed this book, I felt it was missing that special something that would have made it truly "magical".

This book represented a mixture of genres for me. A family of females practice witchcraft and supported themselves by doing so. There is plenty of family angst and coming of age drama. I was intrigued by life in the 1960s in this community. I enjoyed this book and getting to know these characters.

Family secrets, strong women, and magic. This story, set in rural Minnesota in 1968, will take you on Elizabeth’s journey from innocence to experience, with her discovery of the true meaning and sacrifices required to be the guardian of her family’s magic. What she believes is her destiny, is a veiled family secret that, when revealed, changes everything Elizabeth thinks she knows about her family, her future, and especially her grandmother, Magda, the family’s matriarch and guardian of the magic they possess.

Yes, yes, yes! I am a sucker for a witchy read, I love them all, but What We Sacrifice for Magic was so good! I have placed this in my top favorite witchy reads!

What We Sacrifice for Magic, set in the last 1960's, follows Elisabeth as she is expected to follow in her grandmother's footsteps. Her grandmother, Magda, expects her to learn the family's magical spells that have been handed down generation to generation. Not only that, but she is also expected to marry her high school sweetheart. It sets up for the internal conflict of wanting to follow her own path in life and making her own decisions, or choosing her family and the traditions they have followed for many generations.

This really caused a lot of tension between Elisabeth and her younger sister. She really seemed to take all of her frustrations out on her, and that was hard to get through. Any of us can understand wanting to claim our own independence after high school, and Elisabeth is no different. However, with such deep traditions and expectations, the decision is even more difficult to work through. When she discovers that there is a darker secret about their family's past, Elisabeth feels like this is a sure sign, but if she decides to run away from it all she knows that her grandmother will not stop looking for her. It makes for a magical coming of age story. Although, I wouldn't necessarily have tagged it as for fans of Practical Magic. This was much less lighthearted to me, and it did drag for me in several places. I really wanted to love it more, as witchy books are some of my favorites. I did enjoy the aspect of German folklore woven throughout the book.

I want to thank NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Andrea for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.