Think Barney with darkness. The magic that makes kids fall in love with the Purple dinosaur, is also what comes for them when they get older.

Different concept. I enjoyed the idea.

Thank you to the publisher for letting me read this on netgallery.

The former child stars of a popular children's series, Mister Magic, reunite as part of a podcast exploring the secrets behind the show, its abrupt end, and its enigmatic host. There's no tangible evidence the show existed and much disagreement about when and where the episodes aired. The story is told from the perspective of Val, who was part of the final cast but has no memory of her time on the show or why her father built a new life for them in a secluded location largely cut off from the outside world. Val soon discovers some things are best forgotten and left in the past.

A tv show that's more than just a show, creepy life lesson rhymes, glowing tvs that won't shut off, and a group of adults still haunted by the restrictive rules drummed into them while part of the Mister Magic cast are just a few of the bizarre elements making up this surreal, entertaining tale. At times, the story moves beyond the horror plot and has plenty to say about the current state of our society when it comes to equality and acceptance. In the author's acknowledgement, she talks about what a deeply personal book this was for her, and I think that deep meaning is effectively translated onto the page. This story certainly struck some personal notes for me that I wasn't expecting.

Overall, a book that walks a fine line by being both supernatural horror and an introspective look at our culture and the harm we sometimes do to our children in the name of love and the greater good. Mister Magic is a weird but fun horror story that should appeal to readers who enjoy a side of social commentary alongside their thrills and chills.

Thank you to both Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Del Ray for providing a copy for me to read and review.

OMG. Oh-freaking-Kay... I know it's the very start of April, but I ALREADY feel like this will be one of my favorites of the month, and maybe even the year. I am so thankful to Del Rey/Random House, Kiersten White, and NetGalley for granting me early access to the HORROR OF THE YEAR; I'm calling it now, yall!!!

When a long-running children's TV show called Mister Magic where six friends sit in a circle and play together and overcome battles with the help of their magical friend "Mister Magic" -- comes to a halting stop in the nineties, the whole world is baffled as their primetime mainstay disappears off the air for good, cultivating a cult-following and conspiracy theories for the decades to come, leaving viewers to question what they saw on this legendary final episode.

Thirty years later, a popular podcaster chooses to highlight the show's children, inviting them back to the filming locations to kick off a reunion of sorts. This welcomes back Marcus, Javi, Isaac, Jenny, and Valentina. However, Val hardly remembers a thing because her father "kidnapped" her from the studio, jetting her off to isolation so that he could protect her from an unknown captor. Now with almost all the original showrunners back in Bliss, Utah, eerie things begin to occur, like a migraine-inducing hum, creepily cheerful townspeople, and a devoted love and following of the faceless Mister Magic, whom the OG kids are afraid of naming.

As days pass in the interviewing/podcasting process, Val starts to wonder why she's here and why her father kept her from this life of show business. Was her father onto something, or was this all an elaborate escape for nothing? Time will tell, and with each waking moment, they learn that perhaps Mister Magic wasn't a figment of their imagination, and instead an ages-old supernatural being that powers the whole town's economy... I'll leave it at that, but wow. What an amazing book.

the fact that i am 100% sure this is inspired by the candle cove creepy pasta and i haven’t seen a single review mention candle cove makes me think it’s real, actually

this is? maybe top 5 scariest books i’ve ever read? it also made me cry on the train??

even before knowing this book was an allegory for white’s experience with mormonism (i had some suspicions it wasn’t too subtle) i was SO on board, and after learning how personal it was i was even more on board holy hell

it’s not for everyone but. i’m going to be thinking about this one for a LONG time.

I hate to say it but I did not enjoy Mister Magic and this is the Kiersten White book with an interesting premise that I did not enjoy after Hide.

The premise of a creepy kids show and the reunion that happens years later is great but never used in this book.

I was thrilled to receive a copy of Kiersten White’s Mister Magic not only because the nostalgia horror premise matches vibes of the Public Access TTRPG and is right up my alley but also because I LOVED her book Hide. I am happy to say I was not disappointed.

Content Warnings:
Religious fanaticism/cult (Mormon), child abuse, danger to children, references to homophobia and racism

Also, isn’t this cover amazing!?! Its so eye-catching and intense. If I saw this book in a store and didn’t even know anything about it or the author, I’d probably still grab it just for this cover.

5 Stars for Mister Magic
Kiersten White excels at character driven horror that makes you absolutely certain you know how this book is going to end, throw in a lil twist, and then even when you see the new ending coming you’re on a rush to get there because you can’t wait to see it play out!

I had a hard time putting Mister Magic down. I had to know what was going on. I had to know what Val was forgetting and if these people that had just torn their way into her life and mind were the genuine deal or all part of the darkness. White did a fantastic job with the mystery aspect of this book and making not only the main character but also the reader paranoid of ever character (including the main character herself) but also of every situation -was that really what is going on or is this all in a character’s head?

As for scares, there was one scene in particular that was written so well it felt like I was watching a traditional scare out of a horror movie and the gut wrenching was just as potent. I was practically talking to my e-reader “Don’t look! Don’t look! Its gonna get you!” but still reading, still watching the character look. Excellent writing.

All that said, I did waffle between 4 and 5 stars for this book. I loved it but I do wish it had gone harder with the horror. Instead we get the quieter side of horror with dread, eeriness, and a mystery. These are not bad things but honestly there are only about 2 scenes in the book that were genuinely scary and the rest was more creepy than scary. I decided on 5 because I could tell that this story wasn’t meant to be scare factor horror but rather a frightening commentary and the slow, soft horror of the evangelical death cult that too many people in our country are suffering from.

Recommendation
If you enjoyed Kiersten White’s Hide, you should definitely read Mister Magic for the writing style, a group of friends facing a collective of human monsters with a splash of horrifying magic, and a purpose that carries off the page and into the real world where the real monsters are doing their work daily.

If you enjoyed Mister Magic and you want to be part of something the plays on analog horror, nostalgic and horrifying kids shows, and adults going back to where they grew up to solve a mind-bending mystery, check out Public Access ttrpg. It has all that and more, goes harder than this book with the horror scenes, and is an amazing game all around.

Fun premise, but I found the plot and dialogue to be too straightforward for something that’s supposed to be cloaked in mystery. Everyone says what they mean, Val’s always interprets other characters correctly, people are sad or angry or scared outright. They tell their stories to the literary camera around the campfire, no hiding or complication at all.

I found the most interesting parts were the interview portions and there were so few of those. if the whole book was in that style I think it could have been really interesting and dynamic, but as it is just fell flat for me.

💖📺💖 Mister Magic is truly magical.

Like that first sip of ice cold beer on a hot summer day, that somehow turns into a chug. Or that first bite of a decadent, sweet dessert that's gone before you know it, I couldn't read this book fast enough. I actually had to actively tell myself to slow down and really enjoy the story.

We have these memories of things from childhood, songs where we remember the tune but not all the words. Movies we watched so many times the tape wore out, but haven't thought about since childhood. Those of us still convinced it really was The Berenstein Bears. This book is for you.

Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the longest running classic children's show Mister Magic, five of the last cast members are gathered for a reunion at the filming location in the remote desert of Utah. As they reminisce about the good times, and ruminate on how nothing has ever been as great, things just feel off for Val, and she means to get to the bottom of all the secrets surrounding her past, that she narrowly escaped.

I was hopelessly hooked from page one. I love the premise, the characters (especially Issac 😍), and the bonkers conclusion (which was so magic filled, it was hard to follow). I was such a fan of Kiersten White's writing I immediately purchased Hide, which has been on my WTR list since publication. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who appreciates abstract or genre bending horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this e-ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

What a weird, excellent book. I went in almost blind with little to no idea what was happening and I think that's the best way to read this one! It's not horror...but it is rather terrifying. I loved it for its meditations on parenting, friendship, guilt, and religion. I don't want to say too much for fear of ruining the experience for others, but I continue to enjoy everything Kiersten White does and I will be thinking about this one for awhile.

The Teletubbies. You Can’t Do That On Television. The Bozo Show. Reading Rainbow. The Smurfs. The Snorks. The list of semi-creepy kids shows could go on for ages, but this book is about the creepiest: Mister Magic.

Mister Magic started as a radio show, then became a fixture on television once those became popular. It was a show about kids having fun in their Circle of Friends, with fun life lessons and fun songs interspersed. Though most kids in the ‘80s remember watching it and remember seeing the last episode, there is nothing online about the show - just a few Reddit threads of people asking if they imagined the whole thing and asking why you can’t even find clips on YouTube.

Everyone remembers the last episode, without really remembering it. Mister Magic had a cape, something happened with the cape, a child disappeared, the cameras cut off, and nothing about the show was ever seen again. This show was real, right? This wasn’t mass hysteria - but even the Wikipedia page for the show is full of questions. Some of my favorite parts in the book were online threads and emails regarding the show and if it was all a part of the Mandela Effect.

The show, at the end, had six kids on it:

Marcus, the “token black” who created exciting set designs and artwork
Javi, the kid always cutting up and having to be reminded of the rules
Isaac, the oldest of the group, and the de facto kid in charge
Jenny, always trying her best to follow the rules and act perfectly
Val, the leader of the group who never took “no” for an answer
Kitty, Val’s little sister who disappeared during the final episode

The book is about the group of six (now five), thirty years later. They’ve been invited back to Utah, to do a podcast about the show. People are tired of never knowing what happened, why the show abruptly ended, why you can’t find anything about it online…maybe their appearance on a podcast will give fans closure? Maybe it will even give themselves closure, as all have different memories and traumas about being on the show.

This book is listed as a mystery/thriller, but I read a review for this and it sounded horrific so I decided to give it a try, and wasn’t disappointed; the creep factor is definitely there in this one. I’d label this as more of a horror/fantasy book. There isn’t anything gruesome in it, but the overall vibe of the book is pure fear, and I completely enjoyed it. I’m giving this a solid four stars, and had it not leaned so heavily into fantasy at the end, it probably would be higher. This was such a quirky and creative story!

(Thank you to Del Rey Publishing, Kiersten White, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 1, 2023.)

This was a good read! I enjoyed the story and the characters. The plot was fun and different from what I have read before!

When the castmates are brought back together to record a podcast on the show, they feel like they are back where they belong. Even though Val has no memories before the age of six, she knows these friends and it feels like they belong together. But soon they begin to ask themselves, are they here by choice, or have the been lured into a trap much more sinister than they could ever imagine.

Thoughts: What a TRIP! This book was like if the children who were on Barney were also part of a cult and had the show shut down because someone died. You know. Tale as old as time. This book was abstract and complex and I loved it. Essentially it was talking about the cultish way we follow religion without having flexibility to make mistakes. It’s about forgiving ourselves for being human and giving ourselves grace every day. It used religious trauma as a plotpoint and brought up so many good points about our childhood. It was trippy and nostalgic and I really loved the multimedia aspect as well.

I loved how eerie the house was. It was a sinister character in itself and gave me the creeps. There was a clear message about racism, homophobia, and sexism, but it bothered me that the main characters were all one dimensional and known for a singular character trait without depth. Without reading the author’s note this can be very disappointing and feels one note. I can see how this book could be confusing or disappointing if taken for face value, but as someone who loves the subtext of books, I found it terrifying and creepy and realistic. 4-stars

Wow wow wow!!! I don't want to give away too much about this book, but it is a fascinating exploration of religious trauma, and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for the chance to read this book!

Whew! This book kept me on my toes! I loved the old feel of it, the power of "he" who will not be named and the writing style. I don't want to say too much and give something away but this is a great book!

This is my second book by this author and will definitely be an auto buy for me.

White walked that perfect line, where it was clear what was going on and how the supernatural aspects related to the world we're in, but at the same time I had no idea what would happen. I spent all the time when I wasn't reading thinking about what a creative world she'd built.

Mister magic by kiersten white is about a once Popular slightly creepy children show that no one Remembers how How it got made and the The tragedy that ended it and now adult stars. What I Expected was a strange and creepy fever dream of a story that was Exactly what I got the characters were Unreliable the setting disturbing and god that theme song😱

The premise of this novel was very promising. I love Kiersten White and the idea of a horror centered around a children’s show. However, I have to admit that while there was some thought provoking metaphors between different aspects of the story and religion, I struggled through some of it.

I liked all the characters but there was so much going on that I found it difficult to remember who was who. I also struggled to stay engaged because it felt like the story was stretched out and so confusing that I kept not understanding what the point was. The horror aspect was there though and I did find it eerie at times, which was fun.

Overall, the ending was a nice closure to the story and did leave me feeling ok about it, but I wish it had been more condensed.

A thought-provoking book about lingering religious trauma told through the lens of a supernatural thriller.

Kiersten White has established a pattern in her horror novels, in telling a story through a specific lens that suspends the reader in an impossible state of wanting desperately to know more, and follow what happens next, while frightened to find out what could possibly be behind the answers to all their questions. She does so through a narrator that is just as new to the environment as the reader, in a delicate but compelling balance. Mister Magic is the second book in which she has intricately woven this unique perspective into the perfect plot for such a narrator. A mysterious figure that controls everyone around him, and missing memories from the time shared with him. Around every corner, it’s impossible to guess what will happen next, or what has been happening the entire time. Thoroughly intrigued every step of the way, reading Mister Magic was a wonderful experience, and I can’t recommend it enough.

For me this one was a 2.5 star reading experience, I DNF’d at 88% which is pretty pathetic that I couldn’t even force myself to finish it.

I don’ know how to explain what this was, it was a strange little mish mash of things. It had a very unusual outline & structure that threw me off. I was expecting a mystery thriller about a group of tv childhood stars, & what I wound up getting was some bizarre mystical goings on that I couldn’t quite put my head around. Was it super natural, was it ghosty was it totally normal? Who knows. I was not impressed by any means and couldn’t even make it the end. 2.5 stars being rounded up to 3. Not ansolutely horrible but not good enough to hold my attention.