What We Sacrifice for Magic: A Novel

By Andrea Jo DeWerd

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1639108750
• ISBN13: 9781639108756
• Release Date: September 2024
• Publisher: Alcove Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

4 stars

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 ⭐️ Pub Date: September 24, 2024 **ARC courtesy of Netgalley & AlcovePress.