Member Reviews

I just reviewed Mister Magic by Kiersten White. #MisterMagic #NetGalley
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This scared me so much! I loved this book!

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Thanks to Netgalley and RHPG Ballantine Del Rey for gifting me an early copy. Below you'll find my honest review.

I absolutely loved Hide, so when I got news of Mister Magic, I was so excited! This one is a little less horror and a lot more paranormal mystery, with sides of trust issues, childhood trauma, and blocked memories.

I really loved the characters in this one - you could feel their bonds (and the wounds to those bonds) through the pages. You knew that you both could and couldn't trust any of them, which made for a really fun read.

Honestly, one of the things I loved about it is the allegory that it is to the author finding her way out of a very controlling and strict religion, and how it was subtle in the story and then made obvious in her acknowledgements.

Highly recommended, and I'll read any more of her adult books the instant I can lay my hands on them. I also want to catch up on her YA catalogue.

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This book was absolutely everything I wanted it to be. It was mysterious, tense, nostalgic at times, and also a touch heartwarming. The ending was slightly predictable, but I didn't mind. It felt like a full circle moment, an inevitable truth.
My *only* major complaint is that Val seems to know some things that I would attribute my own knowledge of to TV, or my parents.

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Although unique & dazing like a fever dream, the story did not have great flow. Scary and atmospheric at times, but characters lacked depth needed to make them dimensional/realistic. Chapters and pace were jarring, coming at you like a bull one second-then a diatribe on how religion makes for a bad childhood.

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This book is trippy. Mister Magic was a long running kids’ show, starting on the radio in the 1940s, and finally ending under mysterious circumstances in the 1990s. There is something peculiar about this show. Although people everywhere remember watching it, there are no episodes online and any mention of it mysteriously disappears. Now in their 30s, the last cast of the show – Jenny, Marcus, Javi, Isaac, and Val – reunite at the show’s Utah studio for a reunion podcast. Val, the former leader of the group, remembers nothing of her time on the show, but knows that something happened. And what of Kitty, their sixth member? What happened to her?

I loved this premise. There are some children’s shows from my own childhood that I fantasized about being a part of, and also some that were a bit creepy. Mister Magic has both of those vibes. Like her other novel, Hide, it is clear that there is something going on with this reunion that is deeper and more ominous than simple nostalgia, but it is subversive and hard to define. The creepiness of the story is conveyed through Mister Magic fan message boards, blogs, the incomplete and unreliable memories of the now adult former child stars, and the desolate desert location. It works. Rather than one thick thread that screams “creepy story”, we get tendrils that insinuate themselves into our psyche. Does that sound vague and weird and leave you feeling like you don’t really know what you will get when you pick up this book? Yep. That’s how this book is. If you want a story about a kids’ show with a cultlike following, a mysterious premise, a tragic ending, an enigmatic host, a disappearance, and an almost Stepford Wives caliber Utah town, pick this one up and let yourself be carried away.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for the advance copy of this book.

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I received a copy of Mister Magic via NetGalley to read and review.

Mister Magic was a children’s TV show in the 90s that was canceled after an accident on set. What’s weird is no one can find old episodes or any information on it. It almost seemed like anyone who remembered bits of it were all collectively hallucinating the show.

When Val’s dad passes away and their neighbor posts about his passing online Val’s friends from Mister Magic are able to find her and bring her in for a 30th reunion podcast. One huge issue is that Val remembers nothing of her life from before her dad took her to the ranch right after Mister Magic.

There’s a lot of uncertainty about what the show was or what happened. When the mayor was taking to Val at the gala I was able to put a lot of pieces together about what Mister Magic really was. The author’s note confirmed my beliefs. There are a lot of eerie elements that almost make this feel like a horror novel and the ending left me both happy and sad.

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This book reads a lot like a copypasta (Candle Cove in particular) in the way that it is built around this eerie and mysterious children's TV show that seems to have had a lasting impact on the kids that watched and the ones that were on it -- even though it's hard for any of them to recall all the specific details about how the show worked or why it ended. The description of the book and that aspect had me really interested in this book and had me instantly intrigued. I really loved the way that the Reddit posts, emails, and podcast segments were worked into the story to add to the mystery and would sprinkle in just enough details and answers to keep me wondering what was going on.

Unfortunately, I felt like the book fell a little flat for me. While White's writing is engaging and she built up a really unique and interesting mystery with five likeable characters, the book just didn't do it for me for a few reasons.

The description leans heavily into the mysteries of the Mister Magic show and the mysteries that shut down filming, but a lot of the book delves into other semi-related mysteries as well and overall, I felt like the book was more of a mystery about the life of one specific cast member and her family, which could certainly be an interesting story, but it just wasn't very well-executed, (view spoiler). The characters were interesting enough to drive the story, but I didn't really feel like any of them had enough depth to make me care about them and the depth that they did have seemed to be shoved in out of nowhere.

All in all, the book had a lot of promise and while it was interesting enough to keep me reading, it just wasn't what I had hoped for and the execution for what it was didn't thrill me.

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It is horror. (Not gore-y)
Set in Utah. (Nearby where I live)
The idea came from the author’s ancestor-someone who was either gaining popularity or disagreed with Brigham Young, a prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka Mormons) and was then sent by the Lord to go set up a town in southern Utah. But then it takes a supernatural turn but definitely still has mormony cult vibes.

I went into this book just anticipating being frightened, maybe?
Um. Yes.
But also I didn’t realize it was set where I live and is a take on the authors religious upheaval. The same religious trauma I have! I definitely did not expect to feel so seen in a horror novel.
I really enjoy the way the book was written.
The series vibes were on point and constant.

The main setting was a lone house in the desert outside of Cedar City. I have thought so many times driving down that way that one of those houses would be a perfect setting for a horror. Just there in the middle of nowhere.
It was the perfect setting. 😂

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I LOVED the majority of this book. I'd say 75% of it. I was into the characters, it was creepy and mysterious, and I was super curious as to how everything fit together (and what happened to Kitty!?).

But the last quarter of the book undid so much of it for me. It was like there was too much happening at once (Mister Magic as Jenny's dad but also the darkness; the dessert cult sacrificing children to the darkness; "seeing" Issacs's sacrifice, but then Val making it).

Overall, I thought it was a powerful message learning that Mister Magic tried to shape children to be "perfect" and not themselves. But so much of the last parts of the book were ambiguous for me - I felt like I was missing something.

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Release Date: August 1, 2023
Genre: Supernatural Mystery / Thriller
Themes: Forgotten media, childhood trauma, 90s PBS nostalgia

We've all watched a show like "Mister Magic" - all about a cast of kids building world with their imagination and learning life lessons. It's the kind of show that lingers on the edges of your memory, only teased out now by a nostalgia-fueled YouTube compilation or an off-handed mention from a friend. But what happens when the nostalgia comes back to haunt you?

The five surviving cast members from the "Mister Magic" television show are all grown up now. Brought together for the 30th anniversary of the show's ending and wracked by the trauma they experienced as children, they must learn who they are, how their lives are intertwined, and who they can trust as adults in a world that seems determined to drag them back into the otherworldliness of the show.

It's a fascinating concept, perfect for this era of the recovered child star, the unnecessary reboot, the tell-all book/podcast/documentary. Kiersten White's imagination goes off the rails in a good way painting a picture of the titular fictional kids' show, the nostalgic populace who watched it, and the elements conspiring against our protagonists. The question of the tragic accident that resulted in the show's ending is a compelling, entertaining mystery that make it easy to pick up and finish in just a few settings.

On that, a note about genre... While I wouldn't necessarily agree that "Mister Magic" is a horror novel, I think it works well as a supernatural mystery-thriller. Don't go in expecting gore or exorcisms or demon animatronics - instead, keep an open mind for some interesting abstract anxiety about self and identity and a unique metaphor for the author's exit from Mormonism.

That said, this story isn't without its challenges. The book's pacing, and specifically the drip of relevant information that typically drives a mystery-thriller, was somewhat inconsistent. We spent a lot of time towards the middle rehashing what certain characters don't know and what no one would care to admit and a lot of time at the end getting a waterhose of information straight to the face. Despite one theme of the book being about imperfections and character development, the characters more often than not defaulted to their stereotypes, which seemed like a missed opportunity.

For fans of: At face value, this book is going to his a very specific subset of people directly in their feelings: If you grew up watching "The Big Comfy Couch," "Zoom" or even "Out of the Box" on TV and are now the kind of adult that falls asleep watching YouTube videos about lost media, this is the book you didn't know you needed. Seriously, perfect intersection of nostalgia and current interests.

On the literary side, fans of Edgar Cantero's "Meddling Kids" will appreciate the similar your-childhood-all-grown-up approach, while fans of books like Elizabeth Little's "Pretty as a Picture" will appreciate the mystery, if they're open to a supernatural twist. Overall though, this book will appeal to those looking for an interesting, not-too-dense mystery that digs into the recesses of your brain for all the things you've lived long enough to forget about.

The verdict: "Mister Magic" is a fun read that leverages the eerie nostalgia of early childhood afternoons watching PBS to build up to an interesting mystery with a surprising solution. While it's not necessarily as intense as a true horror book, it'll scratch the itch for someone who wants a little creepiness to their thrillers and please those looking to for a unique take to the thriller genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for an ARC in exchange for a truthful review!

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That’s the thing about childhood memories. You can’t trust them. Mister Magic is a thriller by Kiersten White. Once there was a children’s television show that featured a group of six friends. But something happened, the show ended, and people forgot. This was a great book that kept me guessing the whole time about what was actually going on. And what was actually going on will not be anything you can guess.

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The bastard child of IT and Mr. Rogers, MISTER MAGIC is a tense tour through the trauma of childhood as viewed by the damaged adults. Highly recommend for a fun, supernatural thriller. @kierstenwhite follows up HIDE with another hit.

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I have recently discovered Kiersten White and will enjoy going through her backlog now. This book was creepy!! If you like horror I would recommend checking this out.

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Mister Magic was everything I wanted from a horror novel. Following a group of adults who were once stars of the children’s show, Mister Magic, they reunite and begin to figure out what exactly happened years prior when a tragedy on set ended the show. I love weird, trippy horror and this did not disappoint. It’s one of those stories that get weirder and creepier as they unravel, and you are just along for the ride. Kiersten White’s growth as an author is extremely evident compared to her last novel, Hide. she excels in her writing as we don’t always know what’s happening, but in a way that enhances the uneasy feeling the book is trying to convey. I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down. I recommend going into it knowing as little as possible and just letting it take you, even if you are not always sure where it’s going.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

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I enjoyed this book and it kept me entertained/turning the pages. The premise was unique and it had a lot to say about childhood and the idea of just letting kids be who they are. When I read the authors note at the end, I felt I got a much more nuanced understanding of why she wrote the book and where she was coming from, so I definitely would recommend that readers check that out. The supernatural element made it very different from your average thriller and lent a little edge of horror. Overall I enjoyed it!

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Tapping into evocative nostalgia and childhood innocence, White has woven a tale that is both thoughtful and chilling. You may never think of your favorite television show in the same way again!

Mister Magic was a universally loved show, everybody agrees! The problem though, beyond peoples memories, there's exactly zero concrete proof that the show ever even existed! Thirty years after the rumored and tragic final episode we follow the casts as they meets to record a reunion podcast.

Mister Magic is a twisty tale that achieves in building a looming and nefarious sense of dread for it's readers. You know for a fact that every single person in this book is an unreliable narrator. It's a take that keeps readers engaged and on their toes questioning literally everything! If I had one gripe it would be that the Author did such a phenomenal job spinning rumors around who Mister Magic was and then gave readers room to let imagination grow wild. For me this made a scenario where the big reveal was never going to be satisfying because my imagination took it too some insane places! That being said, I thought the final chapter was perfection and I commend White for not giving us the perfect ending.

I dont think this book will land with everyone but if your a reader that loves a premise that's up for interpretation and craving something that boarders on existential, this might just be for you.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.

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This one is tough for me to review. I had thoughts about it - and really liked it a lot! - but the afterwards shaped and changed my impressions and feelings and I can’t really even think to what they were anymore unfortunately as that totally overtook anything before. I will say I didn’t get the authors purpose meaning until I read it for what that’s worth.

So… then I am going to have to say as a critique on certain religions - it’s a blistering and unflinching look at how our parents and communities can force us into roles and beliefs that may not be very healthy or beneficial for us and our happiness. but overall the book is about magic and friendship and the power of memory - and I really had no clue about the authors purpose with regards to religion.

Overall I liked it but still something about the afterwards just affected it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the review copy!

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When I got my hands on this arc I was SO excited, being a big fan of Miss White’s work. It reminded me of a creepypasta and I lived for those back in the day! Excellent!

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The cover of this book intrigued me, and then I read the synopsis which drew me in more. The book is about a group of people who were on a beloved children’s show that ended badly. The main character doesn’t even remember being on the show and has been on a ranch for years with her father, who dies at the beginning of the book. Shortly after, she’s reunited with her co-stars who are participating in a reunion podcast about the show.

From there, things gets really weird. I guess most of the book is really a metaphor about religion and how it can corrupt you. I was just really confused by the last part of the book.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

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I haven't had the greatest of luck with Kiersten White's previous works (especially Hide), but the ideas for them are so interesting they keep sucking me back in. I love the idea of lost media, urban legend-type creepypasta, spotty memories, etc. but the execution of this was...not great. The part that is advertised in the synopsis (the show, Mister Magic, etc.) was not a large enough part of the story. It is barely featured and when it is, it isn't in a way that is meaningful to the plot at all. Instead of centering around all the creepy things and cool ideas, we follow a pretty uninspired cast of characters with a story full of "secrets" (read: obvious secrets that are sort of clunkily shoving the story forward).
I can appreciate the author's note, and I really do appreciate more of what the story was after reading it, but it didn't change much about how I *felt* about the actual meat of the story.

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