5⭐️

Val doesn't remember anything from before she was eight years old and her father brought her to Gloria's farm. She doesn't know where the burn scars come from on her hands, she doesn't know what happened to her mother (her father simply said she was 'gone'), she doesn't know who they are running from and she definitely doesn't know why they have to hide. But when her father dies, information about his funeral services is shared on Facebook and all of the past that Val's father was trying to hider her from.

Val had been a child star on a show called Mister Magic. The show featured six young children, known as the Circle of Friends, that sing fun songs about life lessons while learning said lessons themself. The show had been on for decades until Val left the show and it folded in on itself. The show feels like a fever dream to most; it's entire existence has been mostly scrubbed from the internet. But a podcast has setout to start a series on the show and each of the remaining Circle of Friends has agreed to participate. And Val begins to remember what exactly happened 30 years ago.

I loved this! Think Barney but it's a demonic cult, not just the normal childhood cult that it was. I loved each of the characters and how well they fit the archetype you expect from a child show; the leader, the bad boy, the artist, the caregiver, the youngest and the jealous. I feel like this also covered the issues that child actors see when their big show ends and they have to transition to a teen or adult actor, or return to normal life. Even Val, who didn't remember being on the show for most of the book, struggled in her 'normal life' because of the way her father treated her. I could also feel the desperation each character had for Val to do what they needed.

I also love how creepy the show came across. The fact that tons of people swear they saw the episode where a young girl was killed even though the show wasn't broadcasted live would be enough to draw me in. The fact that the show was so secretive and that every mention of it wiped from the internet shortly after it's posted would be enough for me to make finding out about the show be my whole personality. This was the perfect match of creepy and mysterious for me and I loved every second of it.

Thanks Netgalley and Del Rey for providing this ARC to me!

I think not only is this my favorite Kiersten White book, but possibly my favorite Horror/Supernatural Thriller novel of the year.

Somehow perfectly creepy, & yet comfortably nostalgic at the same time; I didn't want the book to end.

I highly suggest this book for any horror/thriller fan who also loves pop culture, conspiracy theories, or the Mandela Effect.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing group for this ARC in exchange for an honest non biased review. This book was an intriguing, creepy, nostalgic, and a thrilling read! I really enjoyed this book! The writing was so good, I didn’t want to put this one down. Amazing job, Kiersten! A must add to your TBR!!

authorkierstenwhite 👏🤯💚

My rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary:
Mister Magic was a long running TV show with a very strong fan base, cultish you could say. The show is mysteriously cancelled after an accident. No information or footage of of the show can be found, It’s like it never existed.
It has been thirty years since the show and five of the original cast members come together to conduct interviews for a podcast. What Secrets will they discover about the show?

#thrillerbook #thriller #read #avidreader #netgalleyarc #netgalley #readmore #bookworms #booknow #bookstagram #horror #horrorbooks #mistermagic #kierstenwhite

If you weren’t a fan of Hide, I highly recommend still trying this one!! It was spooky and so fun. I loved the 90s vibe!!! This one will be huge, for sure. And the cover fits the book so well.

Thanks to Del Rey for the free eARC.
When I finished this book, I audibly said wow. I'm going to start this review with saying do NOT skip the author's note. I was left really enjoying the story before reading and it knocked it up even higher after reading the note. I am so impressed with White's handling of this story. Let me start with I was drawn into this mysterious story and couldn't stop reading because I had to know what exactly was going on with the reunion of the Mister Magic show. Five cast members reunite to figure out what exactly happened when the show ended. White did such a great job of slowly revealing the different layers of this story and kept them each sufficiently creepy enough. I liked the one POV because of how it kept intrigue throughout. This is a bingeable book, and I recommend it to those that like some suspense and don't mind some sci-fi elements into a horror type of story. After Hide and this one, I will definitely be reading whatever this author come out with next.

This book was creepy, extramental, and weird in the best way possible. It gave me the same vibes as some of my fav books and authors like Mona Awad and Mexican Gothic. Val, the main character, is extremely smart in her decisions, which I appreciated in a horror setting that had some very tension-filled and creepy moments. All the characters were highly fleshed out and had their own pasts, personalities, and though-processes that made me attached to them all by the end of the book. I especially loved how the book dived into how childhood trauma impacted the lives of all the main characters, especially Jenny as a mother and Marcus with his sexuality. The TV show Mister Magic seems like a cult, and the characters slowly learning that the childhood they looked back on through rose-colored glasses was manipulative was so powerful and I will admit I teared up at a couple of parts. Mister Magic acting as a Mandela Effect on the public was fun to read about, especially in all the mixed media throughout the book. The writing was amazing, and I found myself highlighting lines on practically every other page. Explanations sometimes were hard to understand, but I didn’t mind it at all, things not making complete sense is almost part of the appeal of a supernatural book. I did think the book was a bit long in some parts, but I thought every scene had its own purpose in the plot. Overall, this was a gem of a book to pick up and I think I will be thinking about the circle for a while, 4.5

I'm rounding up to four from three and a half stars.

I first encountered this author with her previous book, "Hide," which I found somewhat lacking. But when I saw this cover and read the premise on Netgalley, I knew I had to give this book a shot.

After reading the book, I found that "Mister Magic" had the same failings as "Hide" - great premise, but an execution that left me wanting. Don't get me wrong - it's not that the writing isn't good, it's just not for me.

Let's get into it.

"Mister Magic" follows Val, who has spent the last thirty years living in isolation on a ranch with her father, who won't even let her watch television. She remembers nothing before they moved to the ranch when she was eight. After her father dies, she discovers that she was once on a children's television show with four other kids - Isaac, Jenny, Marcus, and Javi. The television show centered on a mysterious, indescribable figure named Mister Magic.

Though everyone remembers the show, no one seems to remember much about it. Some think the title was "Mister Magic," others "Magic Time" or "Magic Hour." There are no known recordings of it. As Val discovers more and more about her childhood, she finds out that not everything was as it seemed.

I did like the premise of the book. It reminds me of (and was obviously heavily influenced by) a certain sub-genre of creepypasta having to do with children's programming, the most well-known of which is Candle Cove.

However, the story left a lot to be desired. Not much happens throughout the book until the last twentyish percent, and then it becomes almost surreal - though I didn't mind that so much even though it's usually not my thing. We don't even encounter the titular character until... well, ever. There's reasons for that, but it is kind of a let down. Instead we get encounters from menacing religious townsfolk. Don't get me wrong, that's scary in its own right, but not really what I look for in a "horror" story. In fact, I don't think I would categorize this as horror at all. I wouldn't categorize the other Kiersten White book I've read, "Hide," as horror, either.

Both "Mister Magic" and "Hide" read more YA to me, though they're marketed as adult horror. It's kind of okay for "Hide," because the protagonists in that are all young, but Val and her friends are pushing forty.

Speaking of "Hide," there were a lot of similar themes between the two books. In both, slimy, self-righteous people living in small towns take advantage of young people. This makes more sense after reading the author's note at the end of the book explaining that she used to be in the LDS church.

I feel like I'm only talking about the negative here, but that's because this book really isn't for me. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it, either. If you like a genre-bending work of magical realism tinged with horror, this might be for you.

I did enjoy the ending, which was more feel-good than I often get when reading the horror genre.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an ARC so I can share my honest thoughts.

I went into Mister Magic with only the knowledge that it seemed like a Candle Cove-esque horror story, which was more than enough to catch my attention. This novel definitely stands on it's own though and I was really wrapped up in Val and the other characters stories. All of the main characters were fleshed out very well and were complex enough that, by the end, I understood their actions and felt for them. I don't want to spoil anything, but ultimately, this story feels like it's about breaking cycles and yes, I did tear up a little at the ending. Highly recommended for any horror fans!

After loving Kiersten White's Hide last year, I was so excited to read her next, Mister Magic, about a mysterious long-running children's show with a cult following. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed by a book that lacked the action, character development, and thrill of Hide.

I found the first half of the book slow and somewhat confusing, with flat characters, slow pacing, and little action. Everything about the show and the character of Mister Magic, the only interesting aspect of the story, was left annoyingly vague until the very end. After reading the author's note at the end, it became clear this book was more of a commentary on the author's religious upbringing than any kind of horror/thriller. If I had known that beforehand, I would not have requested.

I was thoroughly confused this entire book. Not that it took away from my intrigue, and I had a fun time reading it, there were just some things that weren't that clear to me. Overall it was an easy, fast read. I appreciate NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me this arc!

Mister Magic is a tight, fast paced thriller based around an old children’s tv show that, although loved by many, is completely erased from society. The main character was one of the children on the show, but she has no memory of this time in her life. She is pulled in to a strange town and a reunion of the other children that were on the show. But things are not as they seem. I loved how we, as the reader, are in the same place as Val, not knowing anything about this show. The lack of information kept me on edge and uncomfortable. I loved this book!

I was really excited about this novel in the beginning. There was a lot of mystery surrounding an old children's show and the accident which shut it down and left our protagonist Val in hiding with no memories before age 8. Unfortunately, I felt like the lack of strong characters and odd pacing kept me from loving this story. The mystery had lost much of it's appeal for me by the time the answers started coming, and I was craving more horror and action in the climax than I felt was delivered. This story was pretty obviously meant to be symbolic, and the author's note shed some light on what she was trying to represent, making me appreciate it more. I did really enjoy this novel at times but ultimately came away feeling slightly disappointed because I wanted more from it.

This book really dragged me in from the beginning. It's the story of a group of children who were on a TV show that suddenly ended, potentially with a fire. However, there doesn't seem to be any proof that this show ever existed, outside the memories of those both starring in it and watching from home.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but I will say it didn't end the way I hoped it would. There is an element of fantasy in the story, and I was hoping for something more realistic. There's also not a lot of character development- most characters read as rather one-dimensional. I also could have used a bit more description in order to better imagine the scenery- I'm not generally one for details, but there wasn't enough at times to give me a clear picture in my head.

That said, the plot is what kept me turning the pages. There's also a poignant author's note at the end that really ties the piece together.

“Mister Magic never forgets the taste of your friendship.”

I am not a huge cinema fan…but if this book makes it to the screen I will definitely add it to my watch list!

The cover of this book grabbed my attention immediately. I have heard of the author but this was my first read by her and I can’t wait to read another!

This book focuses on Val, a 38 year old woman that after living on a ranch for 30 years with her father is reunited with her past when her ex-costars show up at a funeral she is attending. Val does not have any memory of her childhood but soon learns that she was a part of a childrens television show called Mister Magic. The show is no longer broadcasted and there are no traces of it ANYWHERE, no footage, scripts, nothing as if it didn’t exist. The cast has been contacted and invited to be a part of a podcast reunion of the last circle of friends from the tv show. Will the memories return to Val? What exactly caused the show to end and why can no one find any footage of it?

I loved this book and it read like a movie or a tv show. I wasn’t fond of the ending but that was only because it didn’t end how I wanted it to end but that is only my biased opinion.

Thank you for providing this ARC in return for my honest opinion!

This book was honestly so creepy it was deliciously creepy. As background, I was a kid who was obsessed with Barney the purple dinosaur. The shows, the movies, the toys, like you name it I was there. So the concept of a mysterious long-running kids show that everyone saw and yet no one can quite remember involving a circle of "friends," little kids and their grown up pal Mister Magic was very appealing to me.

The story starts with Val, a thirty-eight year old woman who lives with her father on a ranch. She rarely leaves the ranch, and she doesn't remember life before the ranch, which she arrived at when she was eight years old. But her father dies suddenly, and three men show up to the funeral and insist that they know her from their childhood when all of them were cast in the circle of friends on Mister Magic. Val realizes her mother is alive, and in the same area where the old circle of friends is gathering to conduct interviews for a podcast on the Mister Magic show. Val doesn't remember anything, but in trying to discover what happened in her childhood and why her father took her and hid her away for all those years, Val starts to unlock things that were kept behind closed doors in her mind. If the circle of friends was always six little kids, why are there only five adults gathering for the podcast? Why did the show end? Why are people insisting they saw a little girl die on TV but no recordings have ever been found?

This does have everything: a main character with amnesia, TV sets that act of their own accord, a creepy abandoned house in the middle of the desert, a town called Bliss filled with people who want to bring back Mister Magic, cameras always watching, something hiding in the darkness, creepy songs from a childhood show telling kids how they should behave, and an ending that doesn't quite resolve the horror and is the type of ending that fits for a horror novel.

Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for this ARC.

Mister Magic by Kiersten White...a book, in part, about the "Mandela Effect". That's what we've always wanted... remember?

Val grew up isolated on a ranch with her father, serving as a camp counselor for rich kids. She knows she's unhappy, but doesn't know why. Three men turn up claiming they've finally found her. She knows they're connected, but doesn't know how.

It seems that nearly everyone remembers the 90's children's show Mister Magic, but no one can remember exactly what it was about, and thirty years later, there is literally no proof that it ever existed. It was about a group of friends creating magic and singing jingles that taught life lessons. Eight-year-old Val was allegedly part of the last cast, but has no memory of being a child star.

Internet forums, blogs, and podcasts string together "evidence" and conspiracies about the "longest running children's show of all time", but even those disappear eventually. Val soon figures out there is way more going on, and even though she doesn't know who to trust, she's determined to unlock her childhood, uncover the truth, and reveal the "man behind the cape" once and for all.

***
This premise is absolute perfection, but it started out way stronger than it finished. It alluded to the overall mystery way too soon but never fleshed it out completely, and the last third-ish of the book was muddled and vague.

Val isn't super likeable. She's described as a fearless leader who goes against the status quo, but nothing about her suggests as much until the last five pages and the epilogue. I get that she's a victim of repressed trauma, and I know that that's basically the entire premise of the book, but her trauma isn't examined thoroughly enough to make you feel bad for the broken adult she is supposed to be, and her arc isn't believable enough for you to really care whether or not she overcomes her demons and finds her former self. Also, I know they were bonded as children, but her "relationship" with Isaac is less believable than a magical fold in the universe that feeds on children.

Ugh. I didn't exactly hate this book and I know it sounds like I missed the point. It's about breaking expectations of conformity and dismantling toxic institutions, religious or otherwise, and I love that about it. As a not-religious person, I have some strong feelings about the generational molding of children that I won't get into here, so I support this message, but as a reader, I need stories to pick a lane. This book wasn't character-driven well enough to deliver the message to those who weren't looking for it, and the plot dropped off halfway through when it could have easily carried the book the rest of the way. Again, I hate to hate, but I didn't love it.

I've read a lot of Kirsten White and never knew or realized her religious upbringing. I think it's played into this narrative quite a lot.

Mistakes were made. I thought this was YA horror, but I was wrong. I was 30 percent through the book when I realized the characters were in their thirties. Mister Magic was a surprising and weird read for me.

The story begins with Val working on a ranch to help girls learn responsibility. We quickly find that Val has been very sheltered by her father, so much so that Val has never been very far from the Ranch. Quickly things begin to change after the loss of her dad. After the funeral, people come to the Ranch to show their respects to Val’s father. While doing so, three men approach Val and are elated that they have found her. They explain to Val that they were her old cast mates from a show (like Barney, lamb chop type of show.) But Val is noticeably confused. The story takes off from there.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. However, I kept thinking it was going to go darker. But it was not as dark as I would have liked it. Between chapters, there were also different types of media, for example, posts from the tv shows' fan base, blog posts, and letters. At times, I felt that the inserted media were jarring because of how it was inserted into the book. This could be fixed in the finished copy. It may just be a formatting thing. I found the story slow, and I know this book will not work for some people, but I enjoyed White’s storytelling. The ending was strange, but I enjoyed it.

I have to sit on my rating for a while because I have no idea how to rate this book. Mister Magic was so different from anything else that I have ever read. If you like weird, strange, and unexplained things that make you stretch your imagination ( No Pun intended ) then Mister Magic is for you.
Thanks, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I will post my review on Youtube, Goodreads, and Tik Tok on (8/1/2023) @allthisnerdyness

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

The quick things about this:
- I found it to be more horror than thriller.
- I read the author’s note first (it’s in the back of the book) which I will admit helped me understand the story. Was it a little spoilery? Maybe, but I liked having to figure out how it was all tied in. Also, It didn’t go where I thought it would so that was a nice surprise.
- For a short book (304 pages), it felt really dense. I know 304 pages isn’t a lot, but it honestly felt like close to 400 at some parts.
- There are epistolary elements such as emails, Reddit threads, a Wikipedia article, and others. I really enjoyed that form of storytelling in this book because it showed that people outside of the circle of friends have the same questions they do.
- I think a lot of the magic gets bogged down in describing the indescribable. It would be really cool to see this as a movie.

My reading experience for MISTER MAGIC was gnarly. It felt like a memory that was blurred around the edges. The characters are shaped by trauma that happened when they were kids which makes them question what happened AND there’s no proof it existed other than others saying it did. With this in mind, there are a lot of moments where I was in the dark about what’s the truth and what’s a lie which would have annoyed me if it weren’t for how the story is written. I think we’re supposed to question what we’re reading because even the circle doesn’t fully comprehend what happened to them. Their trauma is apparent in every action and reaction it’s hard not to feel bad that they’re still being pulled in different directions.

The ending: there were two ways this could have gone down and I wished it led to a happy ending. They all needed it.

Book 23 of 2023 - ✅! Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, an imprint of Random House & Kiersten White for an ARC copy of Mister Magic in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out on 8/8/23, and would love to hear from others who read it!

From the moment I requested this book on Net Galley, I was looking forward to reading it. I work in TV Production, so anything surrounding the business (whether it’s fiction or non-fiction) generally piques my interest. I felt the book started off very strong - with elements of the Mandela Effect, lore surrounding a TV show, general weirdness and mystery, I strapped myself in for what was a quick read, but ultimately found myself a little confused by the end of the book, until I read the acknowledgments at the end.

[SPOILERS BELOW]

I really enjoyed the strong protagonist that Val was - her strength while she was on Mister Magic signified her strength in breaking free from the cult, as the cult was the force behind Mister Magic and I really enjoyed the element of the Mandela Effect - seeing message board posts of viewers, who, in this world, are millennials and all trying to remember this show they all watched and loved.

Kiersten’s writing is very good; extremely compelling. However, I found there to be just a little too much going on throughout the book that made it confusing. It had some elements of It (children being stuck in a place with an evil character/demon/thing) “Stranger Things,” (2 worlds and there’s a veil between them) along with cult-following and, maybe a bit of a stretch, but I made the connection in my mind: The Truman Show. Reading the acknowledgements solidified what I was thinking throughout reading the book, which was, this might to be some sort of commentary on religious trauma since it takes place in Utah. I was invested throughout the book as I wanted to try and put all the pieces together, but in my opinion, it would have benefited from picking one “lane” and staying there.

[END SPOILERS]

3/5 🌟 overall - I look forward to reading more of Kiersten’s books. 📺 🪄 🎩

#MisterMagic #NetGalley