What do you think?
Rate this book
What We Sacrifice for Magic
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 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.
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.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2024
60 people are currently reading
16103 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Jo DeWerd
1 book136 followersAndrea Jo DeWerd is a writer, a speaker, and the founder of the future of agency LLC, a book marketing and publishing consulting agency. Andrea received her MS in publishing from New York University and BA in English from George Washington University. Born and raised in Minnesota, Andrea now lives and writes in Brooklyn, NY. What We Sacrifice for Magic is her first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
September 18, 2024
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.
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.
November 3, 2024
I love when a character dies and everyone kind of goes “yeah to be honest she kinda sucked” that’s my fav plot device and I was so here for it
dnf
September 10, 2024DNF
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 an adult book I expect an adult voice).
On paper this is the perfect book for me but in execution it’s lacking. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC in Exchange for my 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 an adult book I expect an adult voice).
On paper this is the perfect book for me but in execution it’s lacking. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC in Exchange for my honest review!
January 15, 2025
If you told me that this book is the result of a very talented 8th grader winning a writing contest in which the prize is having their work published, I would say, "Wow! That makes sense! They are very talented for an 8th grader. I hope they keep writing, I would like to see what they are like as an adult."
Was there an editor? Who is the editor? It doesn't seem like it, as it took ~150 pages for anything to happen, and those ~150 pages were not valuable. While the reader has access to the protagonist's thoughts, they are not valuable thoughts. There are few lessons learned (if any ?), very little character growth, or even character-building, for that matter. The entire book was a mess, as far as something straightforward and shallow can be a mess, so I will choose 2 things that I think are exemplary of problems that make up the entirety of this book:
1. The protagonist's mother is described as a "distant, quiet, broken, empty". Seemingly every single time she is mentioned, the protagonist also wistfully thinks, "but she wasn't always this way....." But here's the thing: the mother behaves fairly normally. She is quiet and reserved, but out of the like, 7 characters introduced, she talks to, like, 7 of them. She cooks, smiles, talks, and does her little chores. Just writing "distant, quiet, broken, empty" over and over doesn't really make a character, who otherwise behaves pretty normally, those things. Like what are you talking about? The protagonist's mother walking by without saying anything results in a full page of thoughts like, 'Why doesn't my Mother love me? Is it because I am a better witch than her? I wish my mother loved me. She is so distant and empty. I wonder why she is that way? Has she always been that way? Perhaps there is more to this family than I thought...' It's heavy-handed and lazy writing.
2. "'Good huh?" Mary said, though a mouthful of noodles and chicken. 'Mr. Berg brought it straight from home, still hot.'
I nodded but couldn't manage words through the salty, creamy, crunchy noodles in my mouth." (130)
Every single page was written like this, by the way.
Was there an editor? Who is the editor? It doesn't seem like it, as it took ~150 pages for anything to happen, and those ~150 pages were not valuable. While the reader has access to the protagonist's thoughts, they are not valuable thoughts. There are few lessons learned (if any ?), very little character growth, or even character-building, for that matter. The entire book was a mess, as far as something straightforward and shallow can be a mess, so I will choose 2 things that I think are exemplary of problems that make up the entirety of this book:
1. The protagonist's mother is described as a "distant, quiet, broken, empty". Seemingly every single time she is mentioned, the protagonist also wistfully thinks, "but she wasn't always this way....." But here's the thing: the mother behaves fairly normally. She is quiet and reserved, but out of the like, 7 characters introduced, she talks to, like, 7 of them. She cooks, smiles, talks, and does her little chores. Just writing "distant, quiet, broken, empty" over and over doesn't really make a character, who otherwise behaves pretty normally, those things. Like what are you talking about? The protagonist's mother walking by without saying anything results in a full page of thoughts like, 'Why doesn't my Mother love me? Is it because I am a better witch than her? I wish my mother loved me. She is so distant and empty. I wonder why she is that way? Has she always been that way? Perhaps there is more to this family than I thought...' It's heavy-handed and lazy writing.
2. "'Good huh?" Mary said, though a mouthful of noodles and chicken. 'Mr. Berg brought it straight from home, still hot.'
I nodded but couldn't manage words through the salty, creamy, crunchy noodles in my mouth." (130)
Every single page was written like this, by the way.
October 5, 2024
Elisabeth and her sister Mary Watry-Ridder come from a long line of witches. Their family has lived in the small town of Friendrich, Minnesota for years, and their charms and spells have been highly sought after by the local farmers and their families. Though people are thankful for the help the women's magic has granted them, people are also afraid of the family.
Elisabeth has just graduated high school, and is feeling the weight of her domineering grandmother Madga's expectations that she take over the magic business and that she also marry her high school sweetheart John so she can start her adult life in Friedrich. Elisabeth is not certain that she wants to marry John, despite everyone expecting it, and though she has been helping Magda dispense magical aid for years, she yearns to understand why she must be the one to assume the mantle. And is there more to life than just Friedrich?
Also, Elisabeth longs for a connection and answers from her quiet and remote mother. Meanwhile Mary seems to be aware of more than Elisabeth is as far as the family secrets are concerned, and has the constant warmth and support of their mother. Unfortunately, Elisabeth is reluctant to confide her fears and concerns to Mary, as Elisabeth has been raised as the Chosen One to carry on the family magic, and also feels some petty jealousy for Mary's close relationship with their mother.
Elisabeth begins poking around Magda's things, and learns, to her horror, that there is a hefty price to be paid for assuming her full power. In fear and anger, Elisabeth decides she no longer trusts Magda, and wants to chart a different course to her life.
Of course, not everything goes as planned, and in fact, things get rather explosive, with Elisabeth boarding a bus to the city in secret and trying to find some way forward with her life.
I was engrossed from the outset of this story. Elisabeth is sympathetic, even when she is being obdurate, petty, and needlessly unwilling to rely on her sister, who is an intelligent and reliable person. Elisabeth makes several mistakes over the course of the novel because of her very reluctance to reach out for help. Magda raised Elisabeth to feel superior to Mary and her mother, as their magic was of a different nature than the Magda's and Elisabeth's.
I liked the messiness of the family, and the way jealousy and small-mindedness in earlier generations of the women in the family led to fear and poor choices. This eventually resulted in Elisabeth's frustrated wrestling with her own and her family's expectations.
Though slow to reach out, Elisabeth and Mary form a powerful team, and the author shows how hoarding of power and information, rather than sharing it, leads to poorer outcomes.
The narrator of the audiobook, Sara Van Beckum, did a good job inhabiting all the characters. Van Beckum clearly conveyed the character's emotions, and I felt pulled into this novel from the beginning right to its satisfying end.
Thank you to Netgalley and to HighBridge Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Elisabeth has just graduated high school, and is feeling the weight of her domineering grandmother Madga's expectations that she take over the magic business and that she also marry her high school sweetheart John so she can start her adult life in Friedrich. Elisabeth is not certain that she wants to marry John, despite everyone expecting it, and though she has been helping Magda dispense magical aid for years, she yearns to understand why she must be the one to assume the mantle. And is there more to life than just Friedrich?
Also, Elisabeth longs for a connection and answers from her quiet and remote mother. Meanwhile Mary seems to be aware of more than Elisabeth is as far as the family secrets are concerned, and has the constant warmth and support of their mother. Unfortunately, Elisabeth is reluctant to confide her fears and concerns to Mary, as Elisabeth has been raised as the Chosen One to carry on the family magic, and also feels some petty jealousy for Mary's close relationship with their mother.
Elisabeth begins poking around Magda's things, and learns, to her horror, that there is a hefty price to be paid for assuming her full power. In fear and anger, Elisabeth decides she no longer trusts Magda, and wants to chart a different course to her life.
Of course, not everything goes as planned, and in fact, things get rather explosive, with Elisabeth boarding a bus to the city in secret and trying to find some way forward with her life.
I was engrossed from the outset of this story. Elisabeth is sympathetic, even when she is being obdurate, petty, and needlessly unwilling to rely on her sister, who is an intelligent and reliable person. Elisabeth makes several mistakes over the course of the novel because of her very reluctance to reach out for help. Magda raised Elisabeth to feel superior to Mary and her mother, as their magic was of a different nature than the Magda's and Elisabeth's.
I liked the messiness of the family, and the way jealousy and small-mindedness in earlier generations of the women in the family led to fear and poor choices. This eventually resulted in Elisabeth's frustrated wrestling with her own and her family's expectations.
Though slow to reach out, Elisabeth and Mary form a powerful team, and the author shows how hoarding of power and information, rather than sharing it, leads to poorer outcomes.
The narrator of the audiobook, Sara Van Beckum, did a good job inhabiting all the characters. Van Beckum clearly conveyed the character's emotions, and I felt pulled into this novel from the beginning right to its satisfying end.
Thank you to Netgalley and to HighBridge Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.
January 2, 2025
I really enjoy the trope of a woman whose agency has been kept from her finding a power and getting drunk on using it and getting out of control as she relishes in the freedom to affect change for the first time,
but there was only a little of that and mostly the protagonist was just super passive.
I also found the narration to be a little dull and emotionless for me. I didn’t really feel anything described so much as I was told how the protagonist felt.
Maybe I’m missing something, but the final reveal of the main mystery wasn’t gratifying or justifying at all—it was just kind of disappointing and still frustrating to learn. I just don’t see how things are any better for Elizabeth now than where she was at the beginning of the book. And the same problems they were worried about solving midway through the book just solved themselves because…love? I don’t know, it didn’t seem like solutions were actually found, but everything got solved conveniently anyway. I honestly did not hate the grandma any more than I had before the reveal, and I ended up really hating the mom and think she was actually voluntarily abusive in the form of intense neglect.
And then the ending seemed a little more creepy than sweet to me…and Elizabeth 100% believes that being in a relationship means she’ll be happy.
but there was only a little of that and mostly the protagonist was just super passive.
I also found the narration to be a little dull and emotionless for me. I didn’t really feel anything described so much as I was told how the protagonist felt.
Maybe I’m missing something, but the final reveal of the main mystery wasn’t gratifying or justifying at all—it was just kind of disappointing and still frustrating to learn. I just don’t see how things are any better for Elizabeth now than where she was at the beginning of the book. And the same problems they were worried about solving midway through the book just solved themselves because…love? I don’t know, it didn’t seem like solutions were actually found, but everything got solved conveniently anyway. I honestly did not hate the grandma any more than I had before the reveal, and I ended up really hating the mom and think she was actually voluntarily abusive in the form of intense neglect.
And then the ending seemed a little more creepy than sweet to me…and Elizabeth 100% believes that being in a relationship means she’ll be happy.
June 30, 2024
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.
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.
Read
September 24, 2024Unfortunately this was a DNF for me… I tried to restart the book over and over and it just wasn’t sticking… I even tried the audiobook and still, I could not get into it.
October 4, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Highbridge Audio for a copy of this Audiobook.
First of all, the voice acting was fantastic. I think I found a new favorite narrator!
I had to slow down my listening speed because I didn't want it to end.
This is basically a story of a young woman who lost her choice to pick her own path. It was taken from her at a young age and she fought to get it back. In her journey she finds love in many forms. She heals relationships and finds herself.
This is just what I needed right now!
First of all, the voice acting was fantastic. I think I found a new favorite narrator!
I had to slow down my listening speed because I didn't want it to end.
This is basically a story of a young woman who lost her choice to pick her own path. It was taken from her at a young age and she fought to get it back. In her journey she finds love in many forms. She heals relationships and finds herself.
This is just what I needed right now!
September 30, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review
This book couldn’t end fast enough. I really wanted to like it but there are so many reasons why I didn’t. I like the idea and concept, but I feel like it might not have been well thought out. It seems like the author might have had a few ideas for what they wanted to do and tried to do it all but did it halfway.
Things I liked:
1. The sister bond, sort of.
2. The magic system. Water magic. Family magic
3. The way the actual love interest treated her. (Not the one you meet in the beginning)
Things I didn’t like:
1. The magic “words”. I didn’t think saying the words were as necessary each time. It could have been alluded to after being said once. It was distracting.
2. The fact that she was made to seem so old but she was so young. It took me a bit to realize what time period we were in (I didn’t read that ahead of time)
3. It was all over the place but also not involved enough. If that makes sense. The FMC wanted to do so much and then tried to do it but was so conflicted the whole time. I didn’t feel like there was real growth until the final chapters.
4. She wanted her sister to be part of all of it. Then when it was time to have her be part of it, she didn’t want it. Like seriously!? Pick! You want the life or you don’t.
5. It all just felt anticlimactic. Like it was half built up but didn’t deliver fully. Things just happened and you’re like , “ok sure”.
I love witchy books and thought I’d love this, but it wasn’t for me. Could be great for someone else, just not me.
Seeing as this was a debut novel, I would pick up another work, if they come out with one. But you can kind of tell it’s a debut.
This book couldn’t end fast enough. I really wanted to like it but there are so many reasons why I didn’t. I like the idea and concept, but I feel like it might not have been well thought out. It seems like the author might have had a few ideas for what they wanted to do and tried to do it all but did it halfway.
Things I liked:
1. The sister bond, sort of.
2. The magic system. Water magic. Family magic
3. The way the actual love interest treated her. (Not the one you meet in the beginning)
Things I didn’t like:
1. The magic “words”. I didn’t think saying the words were as necessary each time. It could have been alluded to after being said once. It was distracting.
2. The fact that she was made to seem so old but she was so young. It took me a bit to realize what time period we were in (I didn’t read that ahead of time)
3. It was all over the place but also not involved enough. If that makes sense. The FMC wanted to do so much and then tried to do it but was so conflicted the whole time. I didn’t feel like there was real growth until the final chapters.
4. She wanted her sister to be part of all of it. Then when it was time to have her be part of it, she didn’t want it. Like seriously!? Pick! You want the life or you don’t.
5. It all just felt anticlimactic. Like it was half built up but didn’t deliver fully. Things just happened and you’re like , “ok sure”.
I love witchy books and thought I’d love this, but it wasn’t for me. Could be great for someone else, just not me.
Seeing as this was a debut novel, I would pick up another work, if they come out with one. But you can kind of tell it’s a debut.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2024
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book!*
I loved the premise of this book but found the execution a bit lacklustre. 60s family of witches and our protagonist struggles with her life already been decided by the matriarch of the family while exploring her sexuality. I found most men in this novel ridiculous and the majority of the family members wooden, I would have loved to enjoy this more. More popcultural references please, more world building and magic system please. More character development. But parts were fun!
3 stars
I loved the premise of this book but found the execution a bit lacklustre. 60s family of witches and our protagonist struggles with her life already been decided by the matriarch of the family while exploring her sexuality. I found most men in this novel ridiculous and the majority of the family members wooden, I would have loved to enjoy this more. More popcultural references please, more world building and magic system please. More character development. But parts were fun!
3 stars
September 21, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me an arc of this book for an honest review. This was a fine coming of age story, including sisterhood, the bonds of family, and coming to terms with your responsibilities. The characters and the magic system were interesting. The love interest threw some developmental work for the main character and wasn't just thrown in randomly. A good Fall read.
August 28, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ The magic of sisterhood prevails in this coming of age book. The magic system is unique and the romance is budding.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-read advanced copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-read advanced copy.
September 10, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of this book, and this is definitely a debut I’m glad to have gotten my hands on! One of the blurbs described this as a book for lovers of Practical Magic, an I would agree with this assessment. Dewerd’s descriptive language hooked me into the story from the very first chapter. Elisabeth is torn between self and duty, family and freedom. Her matriarchal family gift of magic is both her lifeline, and her anchor into a life she isn’t sure she wants. As the story weaves, I found the tale to be a little slow at times. The writing style made up for areas that felt slow, and I loved the way the story wrapped up. I think this is a great spooky season read, especially for those looking for magic without horror, gore, or spicy content (this does have some fade to black scenes).
October 16, 2024
This was a very slow and steady witchy/magical book about a woman who believes her choice was taken away from her so she wants to see what else is out there.
There’s family secrets, love between sisters and finding what matters in your life.
It does not have a big “oh it’s getting good” plot. It’s just a very slow and steady book. It wasn’t one of the magical books I usually read but it was okay. I’d definitely recommend for anyone who would like a YA coming of age book- more of a cozy read.
There’s family secrets, love between sisters and finding what matters in your life.
It does not have a big “oh it’s getting good” plot. It’s just a very slow and steady book. It wasn’t one of the magical books I usually read but it was okay. I’d definitely recommend for anyone who would like a YA coming of age book- more of a cozy read.
March 29, 2024
I found the title of this book so apt for the story. This is very reminiscent of the age old story of familial obligations one’s tethered to and the desire to pave one’s own path instead. This book demonstrates the push and pull of declared duties vs finding your own way really well, with a fun magical twist.
I really enjoyed this story, with a slower moving pace that I felt worked well to really to capture the desperation in which our protagonist fights against her chosen one title. She knows what her life will look like. She knows who she will marry, what her duties will be to her family and their magic. But, she wants her own journey… Upon learning secrets never revealed to her previously, she rebels in an explosive fashion, knowing that her grandmother will be looking for her.
The messy family dynamic in this book and the interactions between each of them was so powerful. I found this book to be an unexpected treat.
I really enjoyed this story, with a slower moving pace that I felt worked well to really to capture the desperation in which our protagonist fights against her chosen one title. She knows what her life will look like. She knows who she will marry, what her duties will be to her family and their magic. But, she wants her own journey… Upon learning secrets never revealed to her previously, she rebels in an explosive fashion, knowing that her grandmother will be looking for her.
The messy family dynamic in this book and the interactions between each of them was so powerful. I found this book to be an unexpected treat.
May 20, 2024
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
While I'm not one to read books that are set in older time periods (historical fiction is my least favorite genre), this book was a lot more fun and interesting than I expected it to be. There was magic, sisterhood, and a young girl coming of age and trying to find herself in a world already set for her.
My only complaint is that there were times when it was hard to root for Elizabeth. She wanted to be superior and special, but she also didn't want all her choices made for her. Unfortunately, she took a lot of the way she felt out on her younger sister, who didn't have any more choice in how things were going than she did. It made Elizabeth unlikable at certain parts of the story. I actually was rooting for the younger sister more than Elizabeth.
Nick was a great addition to the story, though, and I'm really happy with how that entire situation went.
While I'm not one to read books that are set in older time periods (historical fiction is my least favorite genre), this book was a lot more fun and interesting than I expected it to be. There was magic, sisterhood, and a young girl coming of age and trying to find herself in a world already set for her.
My only complaint is that there were times when it was hard to root for Elizabeth. She wanted to be superior and special, but she also didn't want all her choices made for her. Unfortunately, she took a lot of the way she felt out on her younger sister, who didn't have any more choice in how things were going than she did. It made Elizabeth unlikable at certain parts of the story. I actually was rooting for the younger sister more than Elizabeth.
Nick was a great addition to the story, though, and I'm really happy with how that entire situation went.
October 12, 2024
I respect what she tried to do here, but unfortunately, the execution wasn't good. This might have been one of the most boring and anticlimactic books I have ever read. We witness events and situations where you, and most importantly the characters, should feel extreme emotions such as anger, love, passion; and what we get is a flat line. Her parents weren't acting as parents, they let her crazy grandma do whatever she wanted, her dad? What a wimp, lol!
And she couldn't feel anything for any of the men she was with. Like this book was emotionless. I have never read anything devoid of emotions before.
And she couldn't feel anything for any of the men she was with. Like this book was emotionless. I have never read anything devoid of emotions before.
September 26, 2024
I'm so sorry but I cannot read any more of this book. I am 76% through and nothing of interest has happened and I do not see this improving. I had hoped for more with the magic and family genre's but no, it's just not working for me. The plot is all over the place and it seems to be going nowhere. Unfortunately this story is just not for me. My apologies to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for not finishing. Thank you anyway. 2 stars.
October 25, 2024
mmm this was fine. I think the comp to Practical Magic is probably pretty accurate because I also didn't love Practical Magic even though it really seems like I should?
September 28, 2024
This review will be about What We Sacrifice For Magic by Andrea Jo DeWerd. It was published on September 24, 2024. It’s listed as an Adult Historical Fantasy.
About the book:
The Watry-Ridder family’s charms and spells have been passed down through the generation of witches, serving the small town of Friedrich, Minnesota in 1968. They are feared but also respected, farmers need water charms, teenagers need love spells, or a quick harmless curse.
Just graduating high school, eldest daughter Elisabeth has high expectations set on her shoulders as she is expected to master her magical abilities and take over the family business for her grandmother, the infamous Magda. Along with the expectations of mastering her magic, she’s also supposed to marry her high school boyfriend and then live the rest of her life in the small town of Friedrich. All Elisabeth can think about though is, why her? Why is the path ahead of her set in stone and what else could possibly be out there for her to discover?
Elisabeth discovers though, that magic isn’t the only thing that her family has inherited. The magic they have comes with a great price and a huge family secret. The more she digs for answers, the more questions she has, but she can’t trust her grandmother anymore who is keeping these secrets. Elisabeth must figure out who she is without her family, and decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for her family, for the secrets, and their magic. Or will she risk it all and pave her own path.
Review:
I received this ARC through Goodreads Giveaway, all ARC’s that I receive I give my full honest review.
I was a little nervous about reading this book, the synopsis sounded super good but I’m always fearful of reading books that are based in an older era because the writing for those just doesn’t catch my attention.
Saying all that, I am pleasantly surprised that I fell in love with this book. In all honesty, it does not read like a 1960’s era, it feels more modern besides there being elements in it to make it seem older. The writing style is fantastic, I was able to follow along flawlessly and delve deeper into this fantasy world. The writing style definitely made it feel more modern which is why I didn’t mind the era.
In this book there are subjects that are sometimes hard to talk about; Family obligations, bad and good family members, choices that have consequences, and abuse. But with the hard things, good is sprinkled in there too; magic, finding oneself, reconnecting with family, and finding true love.
Main Characters:
The MC in this book is Elisabeth, at first I had a hard time connecting with her but once the story progressed and I learned more about her and her family, I started to really like her and sympathize with the character. She’s easily likable with her sarcastic and witty inner monologue, that is until she finally gains the courage to say it outloud. She’s strong, resilient, quirky, and quick to come up with solutions which is why I liked her so much. There are some things I didn’t like about her, example: She complained about not having a choice and retaliates against her family, being unreasonably rude to her sister, who also doesn’t have a choice in things as well.
There is a chapter or two where the POV’s are in Magda’s perspective and I really enjoyed those because you got to see her perspective on what’s going on and how she feels about what she’s done.
Overall, I really enjoyed this coming of age book about magic, witches, and family obligations. I highly recommend this book, especially since it has some fall vibes so it’s a perfect read right now.
About the book:
The Watry-Ridder family’s charms and spells have been passed down through the generation of witches, serving the small town of Friedrich, Minnesota in 1968. They are feared but also respected, farmers need water charms, teenagers need love spells, or a quick harmless curse.
Just graduating high school, eldest daughter Elisabeth has high expectations set on her shoulders as she is expected to master her magical abilities and take over the family business for her grandmother, the infamous Magda. Along with the expectations of mastering her magic, she’s also supposed to marry her high school boyfriend and then live the rest of her life in the small town of Friedrich. All Elisabeth can think about though is, why her? Why is the path ahead of her set in stone and what else could possibly be out there for her to discover?
Elisabeth discovers though, that magic isn’t the only thing that her family has inherited. The magic they have comes with a great price and a huge family secret. The more she digs for answers, the more questions she has, but she can’t trust her grandmother anymore who is keeping these secrets. Elisabeth must figure out who she is without her family, and decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for her family, for the secrets, and their magic. Or will she risk it all and pave her own path.
Review:
I received this ARC through Goodreads Giveaway, all ARC’s that I receive I give my full honest review.
I was a little nervous about reading this book, the synopsis sounded super good but I’m always fearful of reading books that are based in an older era because the writing for those just doesn’t catch my attention.
Saying all that, I am pleasantly surprised that I fell in love with this book. In all honesty, it does not read like a 1960’s era, it feels more modern besides there being elements in it to make it seem older. The writing style is fantastic, I was able to follow along flawlessly and delve deeper into this fantasy world. The writing style definitely made it feel more modern which is why I didn’t mind the era.
In this book there are subjects that are sometimes hard to talk about; Family obligations, bad and good family members, choices that have consequences, and abuse. But with the hard things, good is sprinkled in there too; magic, finding oneself, reconnecting with family, and finding true love.
Main Characters:
The MC in this book is Elisabeth, at first I had a hard time connecting with her but once the story progressed and I learned more about her and her family, I started to really like her and sympathize with the character. She’s easily likable with her sarcastic and witty inner monologue, that is until she finally gains the courage to say it outloud. She’s strong, resilient, quirky, and quick to come up with solutions which is why I liked her so much. There are some things I didn’t like about her, example: She complained about not having a choice and retaliates against her family, being unreasonably rude to her sister, who also doesn’t have a choice in things as well.
There is a chapter or two where the POV’s are in Magda’s perspective and I really enjoyed those because you got to see her perspective on what’s going on and how she feels about what she’s done.
Overall, I really enjoyed this coming of age book about magic, witches, and family obligations. I highly recommend this book, especially since it has some fall vibes so it’s a perfect read right now.
September 21, 2025
I think that before I even write about my thoughts concerning this book, it is important to acknowledge that I am very likely not the target demographic that the author was seeking out when she wrote this particular story. However, that doesn’t change the way that I felt concerning a myriad of aspects. For a narrative that focuses so much on family relationships and how generations of tradition can force children into strictly rigid paths in life, the characters of the Watry-Ridder family are often inconsistent in their characterization which undermines the main themes of the novel. Elisabeth, as the main character, manages to avoid this by being forcibly planted between yearning for independence outside of her small Minnesotan town and quiet obedience to the demands of her grandmother. Outside of this, the other characters switch from being a stern but occasionally mischevious grandmother figure to an entirely cruel and severe matriarch (Magda), or a whimsical sister living in a different world to a literally described platonic soul mate (Mary). While the setting of rural Minnesota is a fascinating backdrop for a German-magic based tale, this particular jaunt left me unfulfilled upon finishing it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
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!
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!
October 16, 2024
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!
Thank you to Alcove Press for the advanced digital copy via NetGalley!
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!
Thank you to Alcove Press for the advanced digital copy via NetGalley!
July 11, 2024
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.
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.
November 2, 2024
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.
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.
January 12, 2025
not the strongest writing, but the premise kept me reading and that counts for a lot! I LOVE a book with a strong sense of place and this novel has that in spades. the middle got pretty sloggy for me - it felt like the author knew she needed some kind of crisis and, well, this is what she came up with. I straight up skimmed some of the stuff in the middle just making sure I wasn’t missing any plot (and I wasn’t). but then it came back together and I really enjoyed the end. just teared up telling my husband about the emotional climax of the story and elisabeth’s ultimate choice. what can I say, the only thing I love more than a strong sense of place is stories about sisters.
October 19, 2024
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.
July 13, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!! It was a great standalone to have as a pallet cleanser through the many fantasy series I’m always starting 😂 themes of family, surrender of pride, generational trauma (with healing and finding sustainable solutions!). Deeply enjoyed the sisterhood of the women in this book. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys witch/magick related stories :)
Read
September 8, 2024I’ve started and read 32% of this book but felt the storyline was very plain. Nothing really happened during these first 100pages to keep me interested in continue reading. I could not see the narrative going anywhere.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews