I loved the premise of this one. Mister Magic got under my skin. He’s the stuff of nightmares. The story includes creepypasta vibes, a haunted house, and a cult. Also, it’s an allegory for religious trauma & coming to terms with toxic religious institutions. Reading this book felt like one big wild hallucination.

The ending changed tone and felt almost too abstract, leaving me unsure of how I felt about the story. When I read the author’s note, things made more sense to me. You can tell this book was personal for White. I had to sit with my thoughts for some time before I could write a semi-coherent review.

Val’s character is a highlight for me. She is fierce, stubborn, yet willfully naive from being sheltered for years.

Mixed thoughts about his one, but I think White’s wildly creative and has strong writing chops. I’ll be looking for more of her books.

I wanted to like this book so bad because the premise sounded so grim and twisted, but I found the unreliable narrator, random explanation of events, and two-dimensional characters to be quite dull. I unfortunately did not really understand the point of this book - the writing fell a little too flat and obvious. I personally do not prefer for books to assume the reader is not capable of putting the pieces together, and that is exactly what this book did. I think the ideas behind this were promising, and I could definitely see a possible success in a book to screen interpretation, but this novel just did not work for me like I wanted it to.

Thanks to Random House & NetGalley for this arc in exchnage for my honest review.

2.5/5 stars

Clean hearts and clean minds , cleanliness at all times! "


It's no surprise that there have been some creepy or questionable kids' shows over the years... but if  Mister Magic were real, it would take the cake.

Over 30 years ago, there was a show on air where 6 children, along with a mysterious caped figure, taught other children who they should be and how they should behave. Unfortunately, a tragic accident shut down the show. However, there are no known records confirming that the show ever existed. Could it simply be explained away by the mandela effect, or is there something other worldy at play?


All these years later, the cast, also known as the circle of friends, continued to search in hopes of finding the happiness they believed to have felt while on the show. The cast are not the only ones eager to return to Mister Magic. Even 30 years later, there is still a cult following.

As chance would have it, the crew is brought together again at the desert filming compound. As they talk about their pasts, it becomes apparent that this was no ordinary kids' show.

Who is Mister Magic? Why are there no records? What really happened 30 years ago? Grab your own copy today and find out! The answers will blow your mind.


I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading Mister Magic.  It held my attention from start to finish.  If you are looking for something fast-paced with both thriller and supernatural elements, then look no further than Mister Magic.

This is  may be a potential spoiler for some, so please stop reading here if you wish to avoid it....

Prior to getting to the end of the book and reading the authors note, I had no idea that she grew up Mormon. I can definitely see the parallels between the lessons taught by Mister Magic and the lessons taught within the faith. I can appreciate how she used it for inspiration in the story as a way to continue processing her own trauma. In fact, I think she did a brilliant job.

As a mother, I could never imagine sending my own children off to be "groomed" into perfect little robots by some supernatural being. Truthfully,  most parents want what's best for their children.  The parents of the "cast" of Mister Magic were hoping to mold them into perfection. It is here that I can most clearly see where inspiration was drawn from the LDS Church. The town people/parents represent the church while the circle of friends is comprised of children with traits that the church would traditionally be against. Some examples include one of the characters is a black gay male, and we also have a female character who is rebellious, both of which would be frowned upon.

Mister Magic definitely put a spell on me. This was a unique story that was well thought out and well written. This was my first experience with White, but I can now say that I look forward to reading more from her.

As always, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED.
I didn't read her adult debut so I was really blown away with this book! She always does horror/sci fi well. Will definitely be picking up a physical copy when it's released!

This book was difficult to rate. It’s plot was really interesting, following the main character, Val, as she is found by her former cast mates from a long-ago children’s television show who take her to a reunion after the death of her father. She remembers nothing about her time on the show, and her father isolated her from the outside world, telling Val her mother was dead and she was in danger if she was ever found. Val realizes a lot of what he told her wasn’t true, so she goes in search of answers, and boy does she find some. Some very, um, concerning ones. And very confusing ones.

That’s my only hesitation with the rating: I’m still not entirely sure what all was going on in the end, there was just a lot. So, I am a bit torn.

But up until that point, I was completely sucked into the plot and was really desperate to find out what was going on. There was obviously some weird cult-like element to everything, but there weren’t a ton of clues, so I was really desperate for answers. And we did get some. So that was satisfying. I just wish things were laid out a little more clearly.

There were also some really great themes about growing up/maturity, achieving your potential, and growing past your family’s expectations. I think being in my 30s, like the characters, I really connected with those parts of the story. I thought they were done so well.

Overall, this was a great book with a killer hook. Just make sure you carefully read the ending, and ten comment here and let me know your interpretation. We can compare notes.

Wow. I really enjoyed this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. It made me laugh, it made me nervous, it made me sad. I felt ALL the emotions reading Mister Magic. Truly a 5/5 read. This was my first book by Kiersten White and I will most definitely be checking out her other stuff.

I’m not usually a big horror fan, but I loved White’s last book, Hide, and I am a sucker for any plot that combines TV, nostalgia and mystery!

In the book, five relative strangers gather in the middle of nowhere for a reunion of the children’s television show they starred in as kids. A show that people across the country remember, even though there is no remaining evidence of its existence. The more time they spend together, the clearer it becomes that something even more sinister than child stardom haunts their history.

This book is creepy, more than scary (just my speed), and wholly engrossing - once you start you will not want to put it down. And while the underlying allegory was heavy-handed at times, I still think it worked well and added depth to the storytelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mister Magic by Kiersten White

Former child stars reunite to find out what really happened during a tragedy that ended their show. Three decades after the mysterious accident, five of the cast members from the show Mister Magic, have tried their best to move on. Trying to find the happiness they felt during their filming, and the protection of Mister Magic. Left with only memories and no actual evidence of the show, they are called to interview for a podcast. The cast members attempt to discover what happened during the last episode and the who or what Mister Magic really is. Magic never forgets the taste of friendship…

Mister Magic is dark and creepy. Giving me the heebie jeebies, I couldn’t stop reading. Easily read in one sitting and a total page turner. A lot of the time I just kept thinking “what the F” because I was weirded out and creeped out. The songs are terrifying all by themselves. Just imagine unsettling children chanting in a circle with this mysterious host with no face and a cape?! NO THANK YOU. Yet children all around the world are happily watching this show that’s magically in between channels and on 24/7 because it’s comforting… I’m shivering. Mister Magic is different and unnerving but I liked it. I even ordered a physical finished copy from aardvark! Mister Magic is out 8/8/23, just look at that beautiful cover, then dive in. This would be a good book club pick to see everyone’s thoughts.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing group, Ballentine, & Del Rey for an ARC and the chance to read and review it honestly.

Happy Reading

What do you get when you cross It, The Stepford Wives, and an A24 Movie?

Mister Magic by Kiersten White.

Mister Magic is a classic children's program that came to a tragic end thirty years ago. Now, The five surviving former child stars, known as the Circle of Friends, reunite to uncover the secrets surrounding the show and its enigmatic host. Despite their attempts to move on, they long for the happiness and belonging they once felt. However, with no surviving video or records about the show's creators, their memories are all they have.

Fate brings them back together at a remote desert filming compound, where they feel a strong connection. As they explore the mystery of Mister Magic and their past, they question if they are here by choice or have fallen into a trap.

The novel explores pop culture fandom, '90s nostalgia, toxic faith, and the pursuit of recapturing childhood magic. Unlike Stephen King's nostalgic themes, Mister Magic offers a thought-provoking perspective about letting go and moving forward, freeing ourselves from the chains of nostalgia, societal expectations, and the systems that are put into place to keep us all little good boys and girls, coloring in the lines like we are “supposed to.”

Mister Magic delivers a tale of love, loss, trauma, and while delivering a quiet horror steeped in encroaching dread. It's less about the scares and is well in the realm of speculative fiction, which might frustrate some readers who want answers and concrete scares, but Mister Magic is truly a beautiful and memorable book that will leave a lasting impact on those open to it and with a little imagination.

Major thanks to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, Del Rey, and Netgalley for access to an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mister Magic was such an unusual and different sort of book that I really could not put down because I needed to know what the heck it was all about! I really enjoyed the author's recent book, Hide , but this one worked even better for me, I think because the author pulled from such personal experience, which made the book all the more heartfelt. (Even if you don't usually read author notes, this one is worth a read- it gave me an even greater appreciation for the story than I already had.)

Anyway, I really liked Val from the start. She doesn't remember a ton about her early life, just that she and her dad have been isolated and on the lam for as long as she can recall. But after his passing, some people from an old kid's show, Mister Magic, come a-knockin'. Turns out, Val was part of the last cast of the show, and so were these guys, and someone has resurrected interest the series via an upcoming podcast. Val sees this as the opportunity she's been waiting for to find out more info about her past, so even though a lot of things in her head (namely her dad's teachings, certainly) tell her this is a bad call, she heads out with them.

Here's where things get weird though: Mister Magic isn't online. It has no video clips, no news, no internet presence whatsoever. Which is strange, as even the most obscure media usually can be found somewhere. But that isn't the only weird part about the show, not by a long shot. Why was Val's cast the last? What happened to the sixth cast member? What didn't Val's dad want her to remember? Where was her mom in all this? There are so many questions, and as each question is answered, it brings up even more questions.

I absolutely loved reading this story! It was wonderfully strange, and I could not help flying through the pages to get to all the answers. And just when you think you might have some idea of what was going on... you had no idea. The ending was, for me, a little... less than I would have hoped for, but it also provided a good message and a resolution, so I can live with it. This book was such a weird, wonderful win for me!

Bottom Line: I very much enjoyed unearthing every bizarre twist and secret right alongside Val!

I was a huge fan of Kiersten White’s Hide and was super excited about the premise of this one - grown child actors are pulled back together to face the secrets of the popular Mister Magic TV show. Unfortunately this one just didn’t click for me. The characters were completely unlikable and the pacing was a bit off. Others may really enjoy this one and I do plan on reading more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

Do you remember that TV show that was on when you were a kid? The one that was like, a little eerie and sanctimonious, but you learned a lot of valuable lessons from it? It had that weird mascot and like, little rhyming songs about how you should clean your room and brush your teeth? It was kind of a fever dream? When you try to search it, you can't really find anything beyond other people describing the same show and also trying to remember what it was?

Mister Magic was that television show. Thirty years ago, six children played with a vaguely remembered avatar of friendliness named Mister Magic on a TV show of the same name. Everyone remembers it, but there are no clips, it doesn't appear in old TV Guides, and no one really remembers what channel it was even on. It ended, tragically, and no one fully remembers why. Did one of the kids die? Was there a fire?

Now adults, the five remaining kids gather at the set in the Utah desert to do a reunion podcast. The internet is abuzz with speculation about a reboot. The problem is... the kids don't really remember what happened either.

It's hard to really dive into the themes of this book without giving away the magic, so bear with me for some vagueness right now. Many of us nostalgically remember Sunday schools or youth groups or clubs that were intended to shape us into the perfect little people. None of us turned out perfect, but many of us put our kids right back into those programs hoping that they'll take the lessons that didn't work on us. It's a cycle, and it's hard to break.

It's a little bit of Mandela effect mixed with a little bit of the curse of child stardom mixed with a little bit of religious trauma.

I wasn't expecting for this book to resonate with me as much as it did, but man, it was incredible.

One of the more unique books I've read in awhile...and a few days after finishing I'm still unpacking my thoughts on all of it. I'm not usually a horror reader, but I was drawn in by the premise of this one. I loved the nostalgic elements and was drawn in by the suspense - the ending wasn't my absolute favorite, but overall this was a wild ride of a book that I really liked.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's quite a journey from start to finish and I never really knew 100% what was going on, in a good way. The reader is kept as much in the dark as the main character, Val - well actually we may be privy to a little bit more insight than Val, but we still only get answers when she does. And oh (!) those answers.

From Amazon:
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.

But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.

Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.

After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?

The novel gives It, Wayward Pines, Romper Room and Poltergeist vibes. It covers themes of innocence and loss of innocence. Friendship. Identity and self-confidence. It's way creepy and super eerie.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey publishers for the advanced copy. The novel will be released on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Pre-oreder it now!

Who is Mister Magic? Former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show—and discover the secret of its enigmatic host—in this dark supernatural thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide.

Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.

But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.

Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.

After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?

Imagine: Barney but more haunted. Maybe he's a cryptid, maybe he stems from religious guilt, maybe he's a ghost…who knows. Now, what if you had no actual proof that Barney existed? You remember the show, you grew up with it, but there's no evidence it ever aired. That's what Mister Magic is about.

We follow Val, whose childhood is a blank space, unaware that she was once one of the stars of the children's show, Mister Magic. As she uncovers her past and reunites with her former castmates, 30 years after tragedy ended the show, she begins to understand just why she may have forgotten.

I feel like this book is going to really work for some people, and that other people might not really get it. It's very symbolic, atmospheric, and I would say personal to people who have experienced certain trauma. If you have lived through this, it will probably slap you in the face like it did me, but if you didn't, you may be a little lost. All that aside, I thought the writing was great! I thought it was super bingeable, creepy, mysterious, and easy to be absorbed into. It wasn't scary. So if you're looking for a true horror novel, you might be disappointed. But I am so happy I gave this book a chance.

About the 50% mark, it hit me that this book was about religious trauma. Kiersten White does an incredible job of representing what it's like to grow up in a very conservative religious environment, and to feel both happy and comforted, and like there's something not right at the same time. If you grew up in an ultra-conservative religious environment, or are interested in what it's like, I feel like you are going to enjoy this book. I found the themes addressed so compelling, and the look into organized religion and the ways they're molding children into their idea of morality and the overall damage this can cause, so compelling and intriguing. This was such a thought-provoking book.

4.75 Stars for Mister Magic by Kiersten White

This is the second book I've read from Kiersten White and it was such a hit for me. From the very beginning this book gave you that uneasy and unsettled feeling that is my personal goal when reading horror. I never once felt like this book was either too slow or too fast, and I prolonged it as long as I could because I was enjoying it so much I didn't want it to end, but also, I couldn't wait to see how it finished. There's just the right amount of sinister undercurrents, add in a sprinkle of claustrophobia with a dash of the feeling of being watched and you have yourself the experience of reading Mister Magic.

Val is missing the first 8 years of her life. The first memory she has is her father bringing her to this isolated farm. She does know whatever happened prior to her arrival though was bad, and it was more than likely her fault. Someone will be looking for them, so they've always lived cut off from TV and socialization with others. Until her father dies, and now she has the opportunity to discover what happened before, what has always left her with that feeling of blame. But does she really want to find out?

Mister Magic was everyone's favorite TV show. It has legendary status. However, you can't watch it now. Anywhere. You can't stream it, even on YouTube, no one has any copies of it, and really when you get down to it, everyone has different recollections of who Mister Magic was. There's no references on wikipedia, there's no previous cast members talking about the show. One thing everyone can agree on, though, is that it was their favorite show as children, and they can all remember the theme song. So when a new podcast is rumored to be all about Mister Magic and will have actual interviews of previous cast, the buzz begins, does this mean a reboot could happen?!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this prior to release. It was a joy.

Thirty years after a children's TV show abruptly ended, the cast is brought back together for a reunion. However, there is much more at play here which is slowly unveiled in layers. One of the cast members has a very distorted memory of that time. If you like a story that revolves around a cult and the horror that can bring, check this book out.

Mister Magic was one of my favorite books that I read this month; I could not get enough of it. I loved the concept of a children's show that everyone swears exist but can't find info on. I remember watching a number of shows as a kid, but not really remembering any details about it. What's different about Mister Magic is that for some reason no one can find a copy of those shows.
I disliked very little. I personally wasn't a fan of the ending, but you can't please everyone, right? Personally the end didn't sit well with me. I also wish the big baddie was brought out more. He was creepy but I felt like he could have had a bigger role
I also really liked how the author used forums, emails, flashbacks, and interviews to add variety to the story. That was really fun and kept the book refreshing. The magical show itself had a creepy, mysterious feel to it that led to me developing all these hunches and all these questions. I wanted to read more and more to see how the show ended 30 years ago. And then there's the Circle of Friends, the 5 cast members who were in Mister Magic. All of them had distinct personalities, and I enjoyed seeing them interact and learning their history.

I would recommend this book to those who like:
*Friendship stories
*The supernatural
*Creepy children tv shows
*Amnesia stories

Kiersten White is one of my new favorite horror, thriller, weird af authors! I read Hide last year and knew she was someone to look for and when Mister Magic was announced I knew any book focusing on a partially remembered kids show would be not only thrilling but also be a little too relatable as a 30 something who can't remember most things without looking them up online.

The story follows a group of adults who were child actors who meet up again and realize something is a little off about the way they remember the night the host of Mister Magic died on set. It only gets weirder from there!

I loved this book so much and cannot recommend it enough! White's writing is beautiful and clear and she tells one hell of a story

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘? 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬—𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩.

I was not the biggest fan of this author’s previous book, Hide. I think it had so much potential but the ending completely underwhelmed me. Therefore, I was already hesitant going into this book, but I actually enjoyed it more than I was expecting to.

It’s best going into this one not knowing too much, other than it following a group of friends who were on a former children’s tv show called Mister Magic.

Honestly, the show creeped my the heck out. It made me question what actually goes on behind the scene. I will say though, this book did take me a bit to actually understand and care for the story. I also wasn’t expecting to root for these characters.

The ending is honestly wild and I can guarantee won’t be for everyone. There was an element I didn’t care for too much, which is why this is a three-star… but I honestly did love moments of this book.

Again, the beginning was rough but the end was when it began to pick up and become suspenseful. I don’t think this book will be for everyone, but I enjoyed it for what it was.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Del Rey for the review eARC and PRH Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!