I have really loved the other books I've read by this author so I was very excited to see this one. I was not disappointed at all. It was so creepy and weird. I loved the story of the magical kids show that seems haunted. I love how weird and strange this was. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in an exchange for an honest review!

If you have read this author's last book, Hide, and enjoyed it, then I think you will enjoy this one too! You need to dive into this book knowing nothing because I believe that is the best way to handle this book. What I will say about it is that I enjoyed how dark and suspenseful it was the entire time. I loved the references to pop culture things that are vey nostalgic to me and I loved how many theories I was developing throughout the book.

This will be a very fast read that will keep you intrigued the entire time. Have fun!

Definitely creepy, eerie, and will keep you wondering what happens next!

I can honestly say I've never read a book like this before, and although I wouldn't say it was my favorite read, I appreciated the work that went into building the story itself. Some parts required me going back and looking over the text again to make sure I read something right, but I wouldn't say that was a deal breaker for me.

I'm a huge horror fan and this one didn't disappoint!

Thank you Random House Ballantine imprint for the amazing Mister Magic. Kiersten White has out done herself, and the thriller/suspense/horror genre, with this book. I just want to encourage readers to go in to this ready to take on a literary, immersive and complex, but so well written, story about so many important themes. This book is an ode to childhood magic and TV, brings in nods to the Mandela Effect (everyone has slightly different but shared collective memories of a show ...), themes on family and friendship, but also moves into the darkness of cult mentality and fanaticism and how this impacts children and others. Read the author's note!

This is the kind of book I did stay up late reading just to understand how it was coming together, to think about the messages in the story, and to appreciate the author's open exploration of themes both personal but also in a way... universal.

This was reviewed as “It meets The Stepford Wives” and that rings pretty true! What a weird yet enthralling story. White creates a very haunting atmosphere and I really enjoyed the mystery behind Mr. Magic. Ultimately, I didn’t love any of the characters which took this down a bit for me. However, White has some fabulous metaphorical messages that are very relevant to current culture. This made me feel super nostalgic and made me miss being a kid, although I am glad I wasn’t a part of Mister Magic.

If you can’t trust your own memories, who can you trust?

Would forgetting certain memories be a tragedy or a blessing?

This book goes well into the psyche of a handful of friends that were part of a tv show that seems to not be exactly what you think it is…do you even want to know what happened? Perhaps the forgetting was your brains way of shutting out the pain.

This was such a fun book to read. There are a handful of characters, but you get to meet and learn about each of them, their motivations and interests, and what they believe in. I liked getting slices of different backstories to help put all of the pieces together. You really start to root for people. You became their friend.

This was such a sinister setting too. A house and situation and show that you would most definitely prefer to read or watch in a movie rather than be an actual experience in your life. There were a lot of lead ups to slowly ramp up your nervousness and paranoia.

Thank you so much to the author, Kiersten White, Random House Publishing - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC of Mister Magic!

Val has always had an inkling that there is something at the edges of her life, a shadow she can't shake, a darkness that doesn't quite move like it should. When she's suddenly thrust into a rediscovery of memories she thought she buried - she must decide if she's keeping the doors locked, or throwing them all open.

Let me be clear: If Kiersten White writes it, I'm reading it.

I loved Hide, White's first foray into adult thriller, because it tackled so many important layers of self under the guise of a very twisty amusement park. Mister Magic shows just how WEIRD White can manage to make a plot, and still make me utterly dissolve into tears by the end of it.

I can't talk about much of this book without spoiling it. It's an experience I feel like is unique to each reader. What I can say is - I loved each and every one of these characters like they were my own friends. I loved the movement of them and the slow unfurling of what I thought would happen - then the shock of what actually did. I just loved it.

If you enjoyed the fuckery that was Jordan Peele's Nope entire tv show side plot and a look into the dark side of Hollywood, you'll ADORE this book. Actually, if you enjoy anything that takes a long, hard look at childhood and the things we experience impacting us for life - you'll love this. White does her job incredibly well with writing a gutting story. (Side note, Jordan Peele? Could you please start working with Kiersten White and adapting her work? I love you both and I think it would go SO WELL. You're definitely not reading this review, but a woman can dream.)

I'll be reading whatever Kiersten White does until the day I embrace the darkness too. Mister Magic was everything I hoped it would be, everything I didn't expect, and everything I didn't know I needed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, Ballantine, and Del Rey for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review. I want to be clear that I bought my own physical copy because I loved this book so much! (And Kiersten, so much love for Kiersten)

Content warnings: Death of parent, Confinement, Abandonment, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Child death, Addiction, Emotional abuse

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the Advanced Reader Copy!

I loved this cover and some of the story’s elements: Mandela Effect, cult, nostalgia.

I can’t say I completely disliked this book but the execution was just flat. I didn’t like any of the characters. The last 30% (ish) kind of ruined the build up and tension. The author’s note about religious trauma made the story make a little more sense though.

This is one of my favorite books I've read so far this year and I would pace it in my top 5 honestly. This book has a great amount of creep to it and was genuinely unnerving at times. Kiersten White does a wonderful job of creating an atmospheric horror novel that is unique and well-written. I will definitely be bumping her other books on my TBR list. 10/10 highly recommend! Special Thank You to Kiersten White, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a wild blend of mystery, horror, and thriller. Quick plot summary while keeping spoilers to a minimum. This is one of those stories you want to experience as it unfolds. Something happened years ago when Val was just a child. Something traumatic that changed her life, something she can’t remember…being on a classic TV show which people can remember/have impressions of but for which there appears to be no physical recordings. She’s been living on a ranch ever since that traumatic event, living a protected life. Now things are rapidly changing. People from her past (other cast members) show up and while she can’t remember them she goes off with them for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the hope of finding out the truth of what happened all those years ago. And what a journey it is. I loved the characters, Val especially, and the way White teases out the story kept me reading late into the night. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Mister Magic.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mister-magic-kiersten-white/1142639624?ean=9780593359273&bvnotificationId=798e99a2-3631-11ee-9dbf-0a962c6adc3d&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/254944010

#MisterMagic:⁣
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Thank you @prhaudio @delreybooks (PRH partner) for my gifted copies.⁣
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“The show is filled with worlds built by children so it seems absurd to adults, but that’s because they’ve stopped being able to see the absurdity of the world they’ve built for themselves.”⁣
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This is basically a Barney (yes, the purple dinosaur) X IT mashup. Well, if I’m being honest, it was more The Electric Company (Hey you guysssssss) but I don’t know if many people watched it as I did, so Barney shall do. One of my favorite parts was the childhood show myths. (Steve from Blues Clues is still a national treasure and did not die from an overdose) The fact someone said “spooky spaghetti” instead of creepy pasta had me cackling out loud. ⁣
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The audio was amazing. Rebecca Lowman gave me the hope and desperation I felt effortlessly. I was creeped out a few times, and Lowman amplified that creep factor. There is a bit of mixed media (forums, wiki sites, email, etc) and they all landed well on audio. ⁣
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I loved the acknowledgements in this story. Kiersten really gave me a different perspective on this story, and I appreciate this. Also, I know believe Silversun Pickups to be the soundtrack of this book. (“And this 'real' It's impossible if possible”) I felt like I enjoyed the book, but the acknowledgements put it over the top for me. ⁣
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Overall, this was the perfect amount of supernatural horror that I love in a book. Creepy, yet, satisfying. Mister Magic is out August 8th, which is just in time for you to start spooky season.

Sadly, this could just not keep my attention. Not sure if it was the writing style but this I could just not finish. I may give it a second chance, if I do and my opinion changes I will come back and edit. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Happy pub day to Mister Magic! 4.5 stars rounded up.

I read Hide by Kiersten White last year and enjoyed it quite a bit. I think if you liked Hide you'll also like Mister Magic as there were some similarities between both books. It almost felt like they could have been set in the same world.

Mister Magic opens with Val, a 30-something woman whose father has just passed away. She lives a quiet life and doesn't have many memories of her childhood. A group of three men from her past arrive at her father's funeral and help her start to put the pieces together from her missing past. It turns out Val was one of the stars of Mister Magic, a popular long-running children's show that abruptly ended with her departure. Only nobody talks about the show anymore. And there are no video clips available online. It's almost as if Mister Magic didn't really exist at all...or they don't want you to remember it for some reason.

The premise for this book was really great - I immediately thought of Barney, but make it sinister. I really loved all of the mixed media sprinkled throughout the book. The forum posts and articles were a fun inclusion and they really made it seem like Mister Magic was a real show. The author did a great job of making you feel uneasy throughout. Between the creepy songs the kids sang, the isolated setting, and the seemingly alive house it felt like a bit of a fever dream. At times I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't really there. The main characters were all unique and fleshed out, though I didn't really care for the romances. They just didn't feel believable and that took away from the story for me. There were also some pacing moments that prevented this from being a full 5 stars, but other than that I really did enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for a review copy. Also, just a last minute moment of appreciation for that beautiful cover! I've already purchased a hard copy for my shelves.

DNF @ 45%.

I can't do it. This story feels like it is going nowhere. It's also really strange. We have a children's show from the 90's that was canceled and all traces of it have been erased. People have memories of the show, but you can't pull up old episodes and you can't find anything about it on the internet. That aspect caught my attention, but after that it was all downhill.

This is a really bizarre book and it's one where you are lost and confused the entire time you are reading it, and I just don't have the patience to get to the end to see if it is worth it or not. The journey thus far hasn't been too enjoyable for me, so I'd rather stop at the halfway mark.

I have had plans to read this author's book, Hide, and I've heard great things about it. I'm still wanting to give it a chance, and hopefully, that one will work out better for me.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

Mister Magic is Kiersten White’s second foray into horror, and man does she deliver.

I’ve read the first in her And I Darken trilogy. It was a well written fantasy, but didn’t spark my interest. Last year she debuted her first horror novel, Hide (check out the review here) which I thought was a great idea with a heavy handed delivery.

Mister Magic has a similarly fun premise. Who didn’t think that Blue’s Clue’s Steve would have made a fantastic cult leader? Who hasn’t thought that there was something a little off about all of Barney’s friends? In this novel, the Circle of Friends are trying to solve the mystery surrounding their time on a children’s show that felt magical. But maybe that magic was just a little too real. Other than a very brief mention of Joseph Smith- founder of Mormonism- and the fact that the novel took place in Utah, I could have missed the hints at what was to come. I didn’t…but I could have. An author note in the back explains White’s history with the Mormon church and her inspiration for writing the book.

The characters were likeable enough. I almost wish that we had known a little more about their history between leaving the show and joining the reunion. One character clearly had a significant part to play in organizing the podcast. Her motivation was never explained in depth. This was one of the rare books that I would have accepted an extra hundred pages just to explain the leadup to the podcast, especially if it had come towards the end with the big reveal.

These complaints are small fry though. I was pretty captivated by this book- hence the five stars. I can’t wait for another book by this author. All my gripes with Hide felt resolved by this book. Whether that’s because of subject matter or just time for the author to find her feet in this genre, I’m not sure. I’m itching for another book though. And wishing there was an episode of Mister Magic on TV right now.

A children’s television show that is remembered by many, but with no recordings or photos to prove it ever actually existed. A woman with no recollection of ever being on the show, told she was one of its child stars. A group of friends, the other child stars of the show, who have gathered for a reunion in hopes of recapturing the happiness they remember. A mysterious someone recording them.

This barely even scratches the service of what this book is about, but I can’t say much more without giving anything away. It’s best to let this scary, mysterious, suspenseful, heartwarming, heartbreaking book take you on its own ride-one you should definitely take.

<b>What really happened on your favorite TV show?</b>

I loved Hide, so this book was an instant yes for me. I was so excited when I was able to snag a review copy as well, it was hard to read my library books first!

This book hit a lot of personal notes for me. The description of Val as a child, "Nobody can make Val do what Val doesn't want to do" fits my own youngest child to a T, and is something I struggle with every day. Also this book touches on what it means to be a woman, especially in certain cultures, (I'll touch on that in a moment) and traditional gender roles in general, as well as toxic messaging and ideals. Things I've fought against my whole life. It really made this book hit home for me.

There were also some things that stood or for me because my husband is an exmormon, and I'm active in the exmormon community, at least on social media. Some of the phrasing was definitely reminiscent of things said in that particular religion, and sure enough, there are mentions of Brigham Young as well. So those moments definitely got my attention, and I could really get what she was talking about.

The story itself is captivating, and although I guessed some of what was going to happen and some of the characters' motivations, there were other parts that definitely kept me guessing. The ending, while not giving me what I personally wanted, was still very satisfying and well done. Overall, just a fantastic book, and definitely going on my best of 2023 so far list.

Also, don't skip the acknowledgments. The author gives a lot of insight into herself, and the book, as well as some words of inspiration for anyone in certain cultures. One last thing, shout-out to other Bunnicula fans out there! I never see it talked about, so that little mention made my day.

Happy pub day to Kiersten White! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

I liked Hide, so I was excited to give this one a go and the synopsis spoke to my late Gen X heart. This definitely hit some nostalgia notes, but with a dark and creepy twists. I feel like I can't go much into the plot because it will give too much away. Mister Magic is definitely a stronger book than Hide, and a page turner perfect for summer reading.

Mister Magic did not do it for me. If I were to read the author's note in the back of the book first, I would have liked the storyline better. It definitely would have made more sense because the whole time you're reading, you're confused about what is going on, and even once you get a moment's clarity, it still didn't entirely add up for me.

I felt no connection to any of the characters. They were bland, and none made me want to read the story. I wanted more horror throughout the whole book than what you get. I did enjoy some areas, like the random articles from people discussing the show and remembering watching it as kids, but other than that, the whole book felt very "meh," which was a bummer because the premise sounds outstanding. Maybe cult followings are not for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, for providing an eARC of Mister Magic. This review is being left voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Kiersten, Del Rey, and Netgalley for an advance copy of Mister Magic.

Mister Magic was that kids show. The one that everyone loved, that everyone wishes they could find again and reclaim their innocence and wonder that time has stolen from them. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, there is no trace of it anywhere. In fact, when people begin to talk about it too much or speculate on what happened or why…the posts are removed. Mister Magic lives only in fragmented memories. Until five friends…the last five who were the child actors on Mister Magic…come face to face again to do a reunion conversation for a podcast. Like the fans of the show, the Circle also have very hazy distorted memories of what happened on the show. They cannot recall a director, nor can they remember exactly why the show came to an end - just that one of their Circle is no longer alive.

As they return to the place of filming for the reunion, things aren’t adding up and they start to wonder if they were brought back together under false pretenses. And if so, who of them isn’t being a faithful and honest friend?

— there will be some mild spoilers as to the overall theme, however nothing specific about the plot of the story will be discussed —

I continue to be impressed with Kiersten’s adult novels, as well as her particular style of horror writing. It is definitely not for everyone. She is what the genre has come to refer to as “elevated horror” - all of the elements of horror are there, but there’s a deeper meaning, an allegory to what we’re presented. In this case Mister Magic referred to religion as a whole, but specifically her mormon upbringing. Readers could connect with it in a variety of ways, however. Religion, harsh parenting, even society as a whole and the restrictions that we are put under, the lengths at which a person in control will go to get us in line and conforming. Personally, I found a lot of connection in looking at parenting, and myself as a mother. I found myself looking at ways that we truly restrict our children from being who they are, the innocence and freedom of childhood - but also the chains that come with being a child.

With five different characters (there is a greater focus on one, but the rest are also explored due to third person narrative), you really get to see the different ways that people handle past trauma. We got to know everyone well enough that I was invested in seeing each of them through to the end and worried about whether they would all make it or not.

Fans of horror as a whole will definitely enjoy this one. It’s that creeping and uncomfortable horror that gets into your bones and leaves you unsettled. If you’re strictly a slasher fan, it probably isn’t for you - it’s not quick, it’s not gory, and there is no big time third act payoff. Mister Magic is a very personal thinkpiece and you can see Kiersten working through her demons as we move through the story, but it does resonate beyond the LDS.

(Also, highly recommend checking out the afterword!)

I can’t wait to see what she gives us next.