Kiersten White’s last novel, Hide, is a great story with poor execution. White’s follow-up, Mister Magic, is another novel that has a great premise but even poorer execution. The story starts with a tragedy that stopped a popular children’s show, Mister Magic. Thirty years later, the final kids on the show reunite as adults to be interviewed for a podcast. There is a great deal of mystery behind the end of the show, and Val, who was kidnapped by her father, holds the key. 

Like Hide, Mister Magic is written with paper thin characters which mostly rely on cliches. Most of the focus is on Val, the one who was leader on the show, and the one who has forgotten absolutely everything about her life on Mister Magic. It is hard to believe that Val has so much trauma amnesia surrounding an event that she did not see. By the time the traumatic event happened that ended the show, she was already gone. So why does she have so many memories that are blocked out? It does not make sense, and it is frustrating for Val to be the main narrator when most of the first half of the novel is her saying she does not remember any of it. Val is one of the most bland and uninteresting main characters I have read in a long time. She is so boring that I do not care what happens to her or anyone else in this book. The truth is that all of these characters are so vanilla, so boring, that the only thing that could possibly save them is a great story. 

But the story turns out to be very safe. There is no threat of danger, no real fear except for them confronting their past. I did not get a sense at any point that these people were in any sort of severe peril. Even when they venture into the small town of Bliss, they are not welcomed, but this is done in a pleasant way. I do not feel like anyone in charge of the bad things that are happening is willing to take any steps to put these character in physical harm. 

I get the point of Mister Magic. I get that this is about changing kids that the cultish society finds undesirable by using conversion therapy. I get that Mister Magic is about getting kids to behave the way that the adults want them to behave. I just do not like the story or the execution or the boring characters that are brought back to face this childhood trauma. Kiersten White has pulled me in twice with great story ideas and frustrated me twice with how horrible the book turns out to be. I cannot be fooled again.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mister Magic is the story of child actors who were apart in a tv show that kids remember but the details are foggy and no one can find any documentation that exists. A tragic accident ends the show and the Val, one of the main characters, is taken by her father and hidden for 30 years. Upon Val's father's death, her past comes back and she doesn't remember the events that led to her disappearing. Reuniting with the rest of the cast, Val starts to explore what really happened, but things get murkier. The story itself is an interesting one, it blurs the lines of reality and imagination. And our memories may not be as reliable as they seem. The story was confusing at parts and I don't know if the reader's questions were answered but I think that may be the point.

I know it's only August but this is my favorite book of the year so far and is not likely to be topped. Terrifying, gorgeous, and deeply personal, this book houses everything I loved about Stephen King's IT, as well as everything I wished Stephen King's IT could have been. (It's also perfect for fans of Candle Cove and other "lost media" creepypasta, but only if you're willing to sob about it.) I finished the audiobook about ten minutes ago and have already recommended it to six people. I do not usually gush like this on NetGalley. I do not have another way to behave right now. I am floored, staggered, beside myself, and still crying a little bit. What a magnificent book!

This is one of those books I read and can't stop feeling like I'm missing something obvious to everyone else. It wasn't until I read the acknowledgments that the lightbulb went off and I understood it. And by lightbulb, I mean White spelled it out for me and gave me a map. I appreciate the unique concept, but unfortunately, the allegory was lost on me.

3.5 Thanks so much to the publisher and netgalley for this book.

First, I love the cover. It's gorgeous. The title of the book is great. The premise had SO MUCH going for it, too. And I do think it delivered on some aspects. Overall, though, the story itself felt kind of disjointed. I was confused about what was going on more often than not - and not in a way where I didn't understand the subtext and what White's overall theme was. I mean in a literal way, because I just could not form imagery in my mind for a lot that was happening due to how it was written/presented. This had all the makings of a 5-star, but because of that, it's more like a 3.5 for me. I appreciated the very blunt author's note at the end as well, because it DID save me a quick Google search! I had a feeling, haha.

Overall, this book was good and very readable but there were some elements to it that I can't quite reconcile with. I enjoyed the cultish avenue this story took but at times it felt very disjointed. It felt like characters were just doing things without a solid reason or motivation. Val would say she didn't remember her time on the show but the subject would get changed and she wouldn't push it. What stops me from rating this higher is the disappointment of unrealized potential. The premise is really good but the execution faltered for me.

I really love Kiersten White's books and always buy them right away. Her writing keeps improving, which is awesome. When I got an early copy of "Mister Magic," I was super excited. I read the whole thing almost in one go because it was so good.

I don't want to spoil too much in my review. I think it's best to know as little as possible about the book before reading it. Basically, the story is about a group of grown-ups who used to be on a famous TV show when they were kids. But strangely, there's no proof that the show ever existed – no videos, scripts, or even anything online. People only talk about it on message boards and remember it.

The best part of the book is the mystery. It kept me guessing until the end. I really didn't know what was happening, and that worked well for the story. I felt like I was right there with the main character, Val, as she tried to figure out what was real and what wasn't. Val had this uneasy feeling because everyone around her seemed to know more than they were saying. Even though I didn't fully understand why Val stuck around even when she had few answers, I still wanted to find out what was going on.

But what really hit me was Kiersten White's note at the end of the book. It felt very personal, and I could tell that this book meant a lot to her. After reading her note and thinking about the book, I felt a deeper connection. On the surface, the book is a fun scary story where things don't make sense, but underneath, it's about how religious experiences in the past can affect our lives as adults. Some people have said the characters seem kind of immature for their age, and I get that. Sometimes I had to remind myself that these are grown-ups in their late 30s. But knowing their tough childhoods makes it easier to understand why they haven't really grown emotionally. They didn't have the chance to figure themselves out until they were put back into this strange situation.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It definitely had a similar feel to her last thriller, 'Hide', but I liked this one better. This was more eerie without being outright scary. It was very imaginative and I enjoyed how White portrayed adult characters that had lived through some sort of trauma as children. She touched on some dark themes and I did like that she addressed them in the author's note. Open endings are not usually my type of thing, but I do believe that this was the perfect ending for this book. I won't get into spoilers, but the ending was necessary for the growth of not just the main character, but of all the children involved in Mister Magic. While this is labeled and marketed as a horror, I would probably label it fantasy horror, or something similar because it does require quite the stretch of the imagination. While Mister Magic doesn't come close to Pennywise the Dancing Clown, I did think it was a rather terrifying and mysterious villain.

I first came across this book in a marketing email from Goodreads with a message from the author. White's description of the children's show premise and how this book came to her instantly made me want to read it. And I am so glad that I did. This book is mysterious and creepy in all the best ways, while also illustrating some really important points about self worth. In fact, I wish I had read this book years ago; it may have gotten me out of a miserable job much sooner. Highly recommended.

Nostalgia but make it creepy! Better than hide, characters were well developed on top of the creep, which made it feel all the kids real!

Let's journey back to our childhood memories. Do you recall that one show that captured your heart and brought you comfort? For me, it was Barney, the friendly purple dinosaur, who had me glued to the screen. From VHS tapes to public broadcasting, the show was a cultural juggernaut in children's programming. Even after three decades, the fond memories of Barney still linger. In Kiersten White's latest novel Mister Magic, the notion of a beloved children's show takes a chilling turn, creating a thought-provoking allegory that is certain to captivate readers.

Decades after a tragic incident halted production of the popular children's show Mister Magic, the surviving members of the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have strived to move forward. Try as they might, they can't put those memories behind them. They join the devoted fans who hold onto the show's teachings. They long for the happiness, camaraderie, and comforting protection of the mysterious Mister Magic. With no surviving footage, production details, or information about the host's true identity, their memories are their only tether to the past.

Val doesn't even have the memories anymore. She's lived on a ranch with her father for several years and has no recollection of her time spent as part of the final cast of Mister Magic. In a twist of fate, she is reunited with the remaining five surviving cast members. As the only keepers of the circle's secrets, the truth behind the mysterious figure in the boundless black cape, and the events leading to the fatal final day, the Circle of Friends embarks on a journey to reclaim their shared history. Yet, with each revelation, they question whether they are drawn by choice or a more nefarious force. What is the true purpose of their reunion?

I was a latecomer to the buzz surrounding Kiersten White, finally delving into her novel Hide just a few weeks ago. While I was drawn to the setting and concept of that book, I felt that its narrative threads didn't fully weave together. Still, I eagerly embraced the opportunity to explore more of the author's work when her publisher offered me a copy of Mister Magic. White immediately presents an intriguing puzzle about the show's reality, leaving even its participants uncertain of its intricacies. By rendering the protagonist equally unaware of the mystery, we experience the joy of uncovering each revelation alongside her. White skillfully steers the narrative into increasingly shadowy depths, prompting us to question the veracity of the unfolding events. As the true secrets emerge, we realize that this isn't merely an exhilarating read, but also a thought-provoking reflection on childhood, authority, and indoctrination. A brief author's note at the book's conclusion unveils White's personal inspiration, further enriching the already intricate tale. I found myself utterly captivated by this novel and eagerly anticipate whatever creative marvel White conjures next.

Mister Magic is only my second novel by Kiersten White but I have loved both books and I’m thinking I need to read all the others. White is amazing at writing so that you are sucked in from the very first chapter and instantly get that creepy, uneasy feeling. I love diving into her books and feeling that fight or flight instinct kick in while sitting safe in my reading chair. The fact that Val couldn’t remember anything from before arriving on the ranch automatically had my senses tingling! I liked the chapters being broken up with message board chats, blogs and other multimedia. I also loved the way this book really played with The Mandela Effect for everyone involved. Kiersten White did a fantastic job making sure everyone could relate in some way to this extremely personal book.

Kiersten White has once again written a supernatural horror where pieces of information become unlocked as the book goes and everything is revealed in the end. Combine the fast paced writing with nostalgia and horror and you wind up with a great story.

Fans of Hide should rejoice, because this has a similar format, just a different story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine/ Del Ray books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine as well as the author for this ARC.
#NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #MisterMagic #KierstenWhite

Title: Mister Magic
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine
Publication Date: August 8, 2023
Themes: Family, friendship, loyalty,child abandonment,child and parent estrangement,family dynamics, power of suggestion, television programming, existential horror, creepypasta, religion, cult
Trigger Warnings: Child abandonment,child and parent estrangement,family dynamics, found family dynamics

This book is very similar to a creepypasta that many are very familiar to those of us who are fans. Those who don’t make a habit of reading creepypastas may recognize the story in question from the first season of the Syfy show, Channel Zero. The creepypasta is called Candle Cove and it tells the story of a children’s show that only children can see. Mister Magic isn’t quite the same as Candle Cove but I felt myself thinking of the creepypasta often. Mister Magic is an enigmatic character on a popular children’s tv show. Some say he was a puppet, some say he was a man but no one can verify this because there is no footage anywhere or information about this show. Everyone remembers the tv show that meant so much to them except Val. Val has spent most of her life working as a riding instructor and horse wrangler alongside her father. When her father dies, some people show up at the funeral that claim to know her. They tell her that she was on the well-known television show with them and that she was the main member of their circle. They want her to come with them to a reunion and help to record a podcast about the show. Val has no memory of any of it but feels an inexplicable draw to these people. She decides to leave the ranch with them to seek out the childhood that waits behind the door of her memory.
This book was a long ride and, sometimes, a convoluted journey. I quickly became entangled in Val’s story. The reader is as confused as Val as he/she looks through her eyes. Along with Val, we meet more and more people who have been affected in both positive and not so positive ways. There is a lot of metaphor in this book that is left up to the individual’s imagination. The cult feel is a constant and creepy companion. The author places her own religious experience as an allegory throughout the novel. Each character seems to represent a different part of these past experiences. Jenny represents the traditional woman’s role which is sexism. Marcus is a black and gay man, representing prejudice. Val has forgotten everything but isn’t very proactive. She lets things play out as they will. This is faith, however misplaced. Maybe I’m overthinking but that’s what I took from it. This was a prime example of existential horror. I highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end of the book as wil help clear up any confusion.
While I felt the characters and the themes were compelling, I did feel that this book was too long and a little too mired in allegory. I have no trouble with a book leaving things up to a reader’s imagination, but not at the expense of the basic story. The ending was a little too fanciful and allegorical for my test. The characters’ choices came across as vague rather than profound as was intended.
Overall, this was a good book. There’s plenty here to keep the reader interested. It may be nice to fill out the story with a few more tangible details.

Once again, a book by Kiersten White had a very promising plot but veered into a story based on the author's personal opinions on religion, social issues, and politics. I loved the idea of this story...mystery surrounding an old children's program...but it definitely didn't live up to my expectations.

I understand that the author experienced trauma in her church but I don't think it's fair to pigeonhole every person of faith into her personal experience. I am officially done with this author's books. Disappointing, because she thinks of interesting plots.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book by the publisher. While I love Kiersten White's other books, this one was hard for me to get into. My biggest complaint is that it jumped right into action immediately before I even got to know the main character. The rest was very weird, albeit a bit creepy. I like the premise and the whole arc of what the author was trying to accomplish, but it just felt a little flat for me. I will preface that I was traveling so maybe just missed some things in transit.

I really enjoyed this one! White is a talented writer and her stories always have deep meanings. I really liked the format of the book with the Reddit posts throughout that gave it such a real feeling. I was hooked on trying to figure out the mystery or what was going on and if Mister Magic was real entity or not. I love the supernatural elements that added some creepiness! Sadly it is about religious trauma which is unfortunately something a lot of people deal with. I would def reccomend this book!

A fun twisty book that will have you questioning reality!

This isn't a thriller in the way I was expecting, more of a weird paranormal scifi examination of people's belief systems. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started it but really enjoyed it by the end

This one just wasn't for me. The nostalgic concept I think is great; I just wasn't prepared for how spooky this was. Much more of a horror novel than a thriller. It lost me after a little and just came across as too much horror for me.

"Your favorite childhood television program feels like a fever dream."

Thus begins Mister Magic. Mr. Magic is a children's television show that ran from the invent of television to the early 1990's. Many children remember it from their childhoods, but the details are foggy. Who was Mr. Magic and the circle of 6 friends? Why did the show always appear to be on when the viewer most needed it? Why did it disappear from the airwaves? The public hopes to find answers during a reunion podcast with 5 of the last 6 friends. One friend remembers nothing of her time on the show, the other four have murky memories. Once they come together, they realize that maybe Mister Magic didn't really have their wellbeing in mind.

This book is not a straight forward where are they now. I think we can all relate to the beginning quote. Sometimes when I'm outside in a quiet spot I feel how David the Gnome made me feel as a child. I'm sure I can find David the Gnome on YouTube, but I have no desire to do so. My vague childhood memories will suffice. We get to know Val the most of all the friends, but there is plenty of character development for everyone. I really liked the ending.