Mister Magic by Kiersten White

Mister Magic is a children’s television program that was once a radio program in the 1940’s. However, nothing exists to prove it ever existed. No photos, videography or even internet proof. If there was it was long erased years ago. There are a few of the last set of child actors that do remember. Now a podcast brings them together to reminisce and share memories. But it starts to feel as though maybe they were not brought back together on their own accord. Maybe something brought them together one last time. One of the child actors was killed in an accident after finally taken off the air but no one truly know what happened to each of them.

This is definitely very creepy and contains matter that some may find a trigger but overall the writing was very well done and the blurb had me so excited that I could not wait to finish. The characters are well developed, flawed and somewhat naive. But overall found the author to be an amazing storyteller that has an uncanny ability to grip the reader and not let go until the end which is very explosive.


5 out of 5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

I was so excited to get approved for this ARC after reading Hide. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t for me. I would like to say this was a “slow burn”, but it never really got there for me.

I definitely feel like I’m the minority vote in this one because of all the amazing 5 star reviews, so this one just wasn’t for me. I’m still excited to read other books by this author because Hide was phenomenal for me!

Whoa! That's what I said after finishing this extremely creepy novel. The narrative pulls you in one direction, which is creepy enough as it is, but the second half of this book punts your ideas of what's going on to the curb and leaves you breathless.

The story of child actors from an older TV show meeting up and trying to recall certain things that happened on set has all the makings of a mysterious creepy horror story but where it's actually going to take you is nowhere near where you'd think.

This is an awesome, well written, fully engaging novel that has scares, psychological torment, and a fantastic ending. I definitely recommend it!

In the wake of her father’s passing, Val can’t help but wonder about the dark secrets of her past that he always tried so hard to keep buried. Especially when strangers show up to her father’s funeral, all claiming she starred on a children’s show with them that Val has no memory of. TV was forbidden like many other things for her. How could what they’re saying possibly be true? And how could she be invited to a reunion show for a program she’s not even sure ever existed?

But if that’s not enough to entice her into believing, the news of her mother still being alive is. Learning that she lives close to where the reunion will be held is all Val needs to join them. With the need to uncover the truth burning inside her, Val agrees to go to the reunion. She needs to know once and for all why her father lied to her. And what horrible thing she could have done to get a whole TV show cancelled?
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This was amazing! It’s like a mix of Channel Zero: Candle Cove, Candyman, and Stepford Wives with a bit of Stephen King’s It sprinkled in (in terms of the friendship dynamic). Or a really messed-up Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The best parts were the Mister Magic lore, nefarious hints at Val’s past, rhymes and rules, the “house”, the circle of friends dynamic, the interviews, VHS tapes, and man the final episode!! Just absolutely creepy and malicious, a total ethical perversion of a kid’s show. I loved this from start to finish and think it’d be a great read for horror lovers!

Rated up. My rating 4.5/5
Some books are worth losing sleep over. This is one of them. I could not put it down.

This is my introduction to Kiersten White’s works and if any of her other books are like this, then count me in.

Mister Magic is a kids television show that everyone remembers, but no one has any proof of it. There are no production credits, photographs, or videos that this show ever actually existed. It only exists now in the memory of the last set of kid actors who were on it. Thirty years after a tragic accident on set, the remaining actors reunite to share their memories and experiences on a podcast dedicated to the television program. Coming back to the remote location brings back haunting memories and feelings for each of the cast members, but they start to wonder, did they come back on their own accord, or did something lure them back to finish what was started all those years ago?

This book is compelling, thrilling and filled with a sense of dread, like there is someone watching you from the shadows. I loved it. I don’t fear things in the shadows, anymore, but I read this at night in the dark and I kept getting that feeling of a looming presence around me. That’s how I would describe this book, its atmospheric. The pacing is pretty steady. I was getting a bit frustrated at how the tension would build up repeatedly, but before it could reach the top it would deflate. The real action is all in the last quarter.

Mister Magic has heavy commentary on the religious cults and the ideals that come with it:

- Racism
- Homophobia
- Sexism
- The Family Unit
- Child Rearing Practices
- I did like how it hits on the controversy of parents using the TV set as a babysitter. Content on letting a fictional character on a screen raise their children and expecting them to be perfect and functioning members of society.

I loved all of the Circle of Friends. They are not intensely developed as I would have liked since they each have a specific trait and it’s basically the only thing that defines them. Although I’m not fond of it, it works if you want to think of it in the lines of even though they are no longer on the show, they are still playing the game. That they are stuck in the roles they played on Mister Magic. The only real issue I had as far as characters go was with Val. She was isolated for so long which made her paranoid but was longing for connection. You could argue that this has made her naïve, but who in their right mind gets in a car with men she just met and travels miles away from the only person she knows? Plus, there are all these signs that something is wrong and only one time was she truly like “peace out” and by then it was way too late anyway. C’mon Val!

This is one I will definitely recommend to all my horror loving comrades and can’t wait to have the physical copy on my shelf. Speaking of that, I have to say something about that cover art, because it is marvelous. That cover is going to be the main reason people pick this up to look at in the stores.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kiersten White, and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC for review. This is my honest opinion and a voluntary submission.

My head is still spinning from this incredibly creepy-good novel! I used to love going to the Magic Castle in L.A. with my ex-father-in-law, but this book was so eerie and sinister that it exceeded all my expectations! Val's father dies and that, along with an invitation to a new podcast prompts her to return to her childhood "home" where she and five other children were part of a "circle of friends" on the show Mister Magic. Oh, and what a show it was! Seemingly innocent, the show was more than it appeared to be on the surface, as Mister Magic was able to twirl his black cape and make things (and people) disappear! But of course there's more to the story than just a show for children as Val remembers virtually nothing of those days or her fellow cast-mates. Go in blind (you don't have a choice) and be prepared to be amazed and dazzled!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Mister Magic was a strange and sometimes confusing story, and chances are that a lot of people will have a hard time enjoying it. But I did. I would even go so far as to say that I loved it. Because it was way better written than Hide, because the plot and meaning behind it was great, because my curiosity and fascination for Mister Magic did not falter once while reading.
Sure, I was not expecting the direction Kiersten White chose to take here but I am not disappointed. It actually is quite clear that it is her way of writing horror(-ish) and I now trust her process.
Overall, it was such a great book. I devoured it. So, needless to say that I'll be getting a copy of Mister Magic when it is published in August, and will read her next book when the time comes!

I was SO excited to see the author of Hide had another horror coming out this year and it did not disappoint! I can't really pinpoint what about these types of horror books makes them so up my alley -- whimsically creepy? Mysterious over grisly? Whatever, it works for me, those are always my favorite kind of stories. That trope when there's something blurred, off, wrong, just off the screen, right under the surface...

This book's like reckoning wirh what happens after that creepy last twist in a Goosebumps or message board theories about dark underpinnings of beloved children's shows come to life. It was a lot of fun to read and the perfect way to spend my birthday weekend!

Out this August from Del Rey! Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy. 5 stars from me, as was last year's Hide.

Kirsten White admits in her author’s notes that she wrote Mister Magic as a way to come to terms with her childhood lived within the Mormon church. White is not kind about religious bigotry (or sexism or racism) in the book, as well she shouldn’t be, but sometimes her attempt at painting them accurately results in her villains coming off as big cartoony caricatures. The book is a surreal journey through the imagination and tries to leave the reader with hope amid its authentically creepy sense of dread and surveillance. That sense of fever-dream nightmarishness is what makes the book a unique and interesting read.

Mister Magic lingers in the memory of hundreds of children who grew up watching it over the years, yet there’s no physical evidence it ever existed, even though its history spans back to the 1940s when it was a radio show. There are vague memories, quickly removed from the internet, expressed by those who watched it. They remember the chant the children starring in the show used to summon the titular magician to them, and where the six main protagonists would use his help to find succor and help. There are whispers that the show finally left the airwaves after a dire accident killed one of the young actors. But no one knows for sure what’s happened to all of them. It’s the kind of mystery that has spawned an online community that’s constantly chasing its own tail.

Val was the youngest kid on the set, but also the boldest and most demanding. She started working on the show when she was six years old, ended it when she was eight, and cannot remember much of the time between. Her amnesia is so severe that she’s been living on her father’s ranch, taking care of him and doing little else. Soon after he dies, she’s emailed by a co-star who invites her to a reunion and podcast taping for the final Mister Magic cast.

Val’s four co-stars – Javi, Marcus, Isaac and Jenny - are all now middle-aged, with families and trauma of their own. The sixth ‘friend’, Kitty, Val’s sister, is the one who disappeared while they were shooting an episode and hasn’t been seen since. Val cannot remember what happened to Kitty, but comes to believe that everyone involved with the podcast – and even in the town where they’re recording the podcast – blames her for what happened to her. Val and the rest of her childhood companions team up to try to figure out the mystery of their missing years.

There are two keys to Mister Magic’s success: Val’s fierceness and the incredible sense of dread inherent within its prose. The way each chapter breaks away into internet chatter to help build the show’s legend both grounds it and makes it super believable. There are hints of It in the prose, and the narrative is dotted with Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood gone-wrong vibes.

I really liked each of our five leads. The problem here is the villains. Flat and undistinguished, it’s the acolytes of the big bad who are more interesting here, versus the big bad itself. White also indulges in stridency towards the end of the novel, her metaphors wearing a little thin.

And nonetheless, Mister Magic is hideously compelling in its quest to make you care about the abuses done to these kids. Its bizarre worldbuilding becomes a part of your brain and the story will keep you enthralled in spite of its flaws.

I couldn't put this book down. In fact, I read nearly the whole thing in one day.
This book is categorized as paranormal horror, but it's not *scary*, just eerie. Eerie like there is something not right just off the page, in the dark, where you can't see. You desperately want to know what is is...but also, you don't. The vibes I got from Mister Magic reminded me very much of Courtney Gould books (which I also love).

Mister Magic is about a kid's show from the 90's. A show that everyone remembers, and no one remembers. The chapters are interspersed with blog posts, and forum chats about the show.

The mystery of what was this show, and what happened to take it off air, kept me turning the pages. Val, Jenny, Javi, Marcus, and Isaac kept me invested in the outcome.
To talk more about the plot would be to spoil the story.
Be sure to read the author note at the end to better understand her inspiration for this story.

This book releases August 8, and I definitely recommend it if eerie books are your jam.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for an early copy for review.

I was grabbed by this one from the beginning. Beautiful cover, and the synopsis sounded so creepy and intriguing. While reading, I found that I was so interested in the story that there would be moments I’d lose time because I was invested. I felt a growing sense of dread throughout, and the tension of wondering who was trustworthy and who wasn’t. The pacing felt even for me, and the ending was slightly predictable but still interesting. Also there is an authors note at the end that helps understanding the story deeper and is appreciated. I do think this will have a divided audience but for me it was a huge 5 stars.

SO GOOD. Not only is this a great spooky thriller, but it engages with themes like childhood trauma and high-demand religion (don't worry, it's not preachy or overet).

I really enjoyed the characters being in their thirties, I feel like that's not a super common age for characters in a lot of books.

I knocked one star off because I predicted the plot twist and found Val leaving her life to run off with three strange men to be unrealistic. I wish she struggled with that decision more. Still, a really enjoyable and enlightening read. I highly recommend!

This book has ruined my sleep schedule. It has the same vibes as Channel zero" candle Cove. Extremely unsettling and creepy and mysterious. I highly recommend this.

Really did not know what to expect from this one and think going in blind is probably for the best. I thought it was a good idea for a book and I was entertained but it didn't come together enough in the end for me. I would recommend this book and I like the authors writing but just not rated as high as I thought I would. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was initially so excited to read another book from Kiersten White-I loved Hide and devoured it in one sitting when I read it. This book... unfortunately not so much. I kept hoping things would come together a bit more, but ultimately, this one felt confusing and fell flat for me.

It seems like there are many positive reviews for this book though, so I'm thinking that maybe this one just wasn't for me. I still look forward to any of White's future projects and will be sure to check those out too.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't really enjoy this. The worldbuilding didn't work for me and I wasn't that grabbed by the characters. Found it a little confusing.

Kiersten White write engaging societal horror that makes you think long after you turn the last page. I love how her writing is succinct and you can read her work in one sitting. Can't wait to see what she writes next.

Kiersten White is an interesting writer. I really want to love her novels, but they tend to fall flat for me. This book had the same problem for me as her did her previous novel, "Hide". The plot always sounds more intriguing than the finished product. There's a lack of cohesion within her stories. They never feel complete or satisfying. This is not a bad book, it's just not memorable. Also, there's too many characters just like in "Hide". Less is more. It's a mixed bag for me.

Mister Magic is is an engaging horror/mystery novel built around a now-cancelled children's program, "Mister Magic," that ended abruptly, with a disaster of some sort that no one now talks about. The program had a huge following, many people remember growing up feeling comforted by the presence of the six friends featured on the program. But... no one can find any hard evidence that this program ever existed. No YouTube videos, no news clippings—despite its being remembered by millions.

Now, a podcast featuring the cast is about to air, with rumors that the show will be revived if the podcast draws a large enough audience. Four of the children who starred on the show remember it wistfully as the happiest time of their lives. A fifth former member of the cast remembers nothing at all about the program. The sixth is nowhere to be found—the disaster that ended the show was her disappearance. The novel simmers steadily, creating an ongoing sense of dis-ease that never lets up, but also doesn't peak much.

Mister Magic is a horror/mystery novel, but more than that it's an examination of memory, childhood, and child-rearing. If you only want to be terrified, Mister Magic may disappoint, but if you like horror that leaves you with complicated ideas to ponder, this is a title you'll want to keep an eye out for. I read this title in a single day, which I suspect will be true of many other readers. It creates an atmosphere of menace that pulls one along—a menace that makes one one want to journey through it. The best word for this experience, I suppose, is *compelling.* Start reading and you won't want to stop, even if the roller-coaster narrative doesn't have all that many sudden drops and turns.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Kiersten White, and Netgalley for the chance to review this title in exchange for a copy.

Mister Magic is a masterfully written work of fiction that ties real-world problems into a supernatural situation that will leave readers desperately turning pages. The themes of the book are intricately woven into each level of the plot, and the characters are likeable so that it creates an emotional reaction at the thought of possible harm coming their way. The prose is approachable, creating an immersive reading experience that does not leave the reader feeling fatigued after a session of reading.

To offer a very brief glimpse into the plot without spoiling anything, the reader follows Val, who has lost her memories of her childhood. She embarks on an adventure to not only reclaim these memories, but to reclaim her agency in a life that she did not create. This book is emotional and intense, but the spikes of tension are rationed to keep the reader from falling into a state of disillusionment or emotional burnout.

Mister Magic is set to release August 8, 2023 and it is my hope that my fellow bookstagrammers will pick it up--I highly recommend giving it a shot.