I really wanted to like the concept but unfortunately it just didn’t land with me. The plot just felt too convoluted & the characters felt wayyyyy too immature for being as old as they were. The book read to me as a YA horror novel, I just needed more from it. With all of this being said, I want to respect White's ability to write about their trauma and healing through this.

I genuinely and truly wanted to love this book. I really did.

The cover is amazing, the title itself sounds unsettling and the summary has so much promise. A mystery about a children's show that left no traces once it ended? The kids who used to be in that show reunite as grownups and figure out whatever the heck happened during their childhood? Sign me up.

Unfortunately, this sort of cosmic horror type of mystery didn't really work for me. Don't get me wrong, once you read the author's note so many things about the book make sense. I really applaud Kiersten White for sharing such an important part of herself and I really believe this book is a sort of catharsis which is why it pains me to rate it so low. But I just didn't like it.

We have Fiona, who remembers absolutely nothing about her time during Mister Magic, or her childhood for that matter. And then we've got the Circle of Friends who sort of mold into one character because it feels like they all share the same personality. What bothered me the most about the book is the constant cliffhanger in every single chapter.

Character A: Hey, so I just casually mentioned this that you seemed to forgot

Character B; Oh tell me more please

Character C, dramatically burns themselves on coffee or something because they're absolutely shocked and THAT THING SHALL NOT BE SPOKEN ABOUT: Oh hey comedic relief, let's change the subject

And this happens in almost every single chapter. I love a good mystery as much as the next person but I was left more annoyed than intrigued. The book did pick up about 80% into it, but by then I was so disinterested that I couldn't even pay attention. Like I said, I really wanted to love this but it was just not for me.

I wish I could give this book more than five stars. What a deeply beautiful, tragic, and moving story. I enjoyed every moment of it (as I always do with this author’s stories.) Mister Magic has definitely become my favorite of her bunch of books and this author should be beyond proud of what she has created. I loved how real and raw the emotions of the characters felt and man what an ending! Read this masterpiece!

I usually like trippy horror like this but it had me completely confused and I’m still not sure exactly what was going on. Every character is absurdly weird, or a caricature. it just wasn't for me.

A slam-dunk of a critique against toxic, unquestioning obedience and purity culture in the form of a horror story. Set in Utah in the middle of nowhere, Mister Magic follows the grown stars of a children’s show of the same name as they attend a reunion on their controversial show and its mysterious ending. It is unsettling from the first page and continues through the last.

Not sure how or what to say about this title. It was allegorical and esoteric...but...it also had a "Cabin in the Woods" feel to it on many levels as I was reading it. I enjoyed it and drew lots of LDS connections, that aren't necessarily unique to LDS. It was a very interesting and very different read!

The premise is very different than anything I’ve read before, and certainly than anything I’ve read before, by Kirsten White. This is an author who contains multitudes upon multitudes.

In the entire time I was filled with questions like “what the heck? What is happening?“ but in the best possible way. It wasn’t confusing or convoluted. It was just… Fascinating. And I found myself wanting to know more.

And I will say that my overall feeling of this book is that it is unsettling. That’s definitely by design by White. She wants our characters and us to feel unsettled by what they are finding out about and what they are remembering about their childhood. that feeling is double down on by so many different elements in the story. The desert setting that we end up in is really really deeply unsettling and I found myself wanting to sprint metaphorically away from it. Again, by design.

I have very complicated feelings about the ending. There are a lot of things that I really liked about it and I think it was really well done. But, there are a lot of things I would like to discuss with someone who’s read it. Overall, this novel is really really complicated from a theme perspective, and that’s a positive for me in my reading.

Mister Magic by Kiersten White is a dark and haunting supernatural thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end. Former child stars reunite after thirty years to uncover the tragedy that ended their show, Mister Magic, and to discover the truth about its enigmatic host.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, giving readers a glimpse into the minds of each of the surviving cast members of the show. Each character is well-developed, with their own unique personalities and motivations. As they come together to try and unravel the mystery of Mister Magic, they begin to realize that their memories of the show may not be as reliable as they once thought.

The setting is eerie and atmospheric, with a remote desert filming compound that feels both familiar and foreboding. The lack of surviving video footage and records of the show adds to the sense of mystery and intrigue. White's writing is masterful in its ability to build tension and suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the plot unfolds.

The themes of friendship, belonging, and the search for happiness are woven throughout the story, adding depth and heart to the dark and mysterious plot. The supernatural elements are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, creating a sense of unease and uncertainty that lingers long after the final page.

Overall, Mister Magic is a gripping and haunting read that will appeal to fans of supernatural thrillers and mysteries. Kiersten White has once again proven herself to be a master storyteller, crafting a tale that is both chilling and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.

Honestly, this is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read, and I mean that in the best possible way. I absolutely adored White’s last novel, so when I saw this one I snapped it up (thanks!). I loved the creepy cultish backstory behind the main story. The plot moved along quickly and kept me guessing the entire time. And I loved each of the characters. Just a phenomenal read.

OK, it's official - I'd sign up to read Kiersten White's grocery list at this point... Seriously - I absolutely LOVE the way she tells a story. She has a magnificent ability for crafting characters that have been bowed and bent by life but not broken (never broken, no matter what they think of themselves). She captures the darkness that lies inside of the seemingly light, fluffy, "fun" parts of life (children's imagination, TV, amusement parks) and spins it into taut circles that leave you breathless and horrified and hoping they'll never end.

This is a fabulous tale - and her afterword explaining its origins gives it a whole 'nother spin so make sure to read it) - that drew me in from the first lines and held me by the throat right up until the very last words on the page. White has a phenomenal way with language, capturing the weighty obligations of expectation and love in a manner that never feels preachy yet somehow always teaches huge fundamental lessons about acceptance and realization and the bravery of being true to yourself. And merciful heavens, but is she a master at pinning the dark down and painting it in every shade of black and grey possible!

This was a fascinating story and everything about it was brilliant, from the larger-than-life characters who saw themselves as so small to the pacing that kept me hanging by my fingernails as I flipped pages to the creepiness of it all which meant I couldn't sit in a room with a television by myself until I finished the book... I've loved each of her books that I've read so far and absolutely cannot wait for the next one!

Mister Magic is CREEPY, SUSPENSEFUL and THRILLING in all the best ways. Think of things that give you warm fuzzy feelings: a children’s rhyme, giggles, an open door, an outstretched hand, your favorite childhood TV show. Now turn them on their head so they are eerie and trigger your defenses! That is the experience of reading Mister Magic. And it was great.

I really enjoyed Kiersten White’s writing style. Social media content and email correspondence peppered throughout the novel have you questioning what is real. In fact, White does a phenomenal job of exploring memory, imagination and reality.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I definitely recommend this book and can’t wait to read more by White!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC.

Another deliciously creepy read from Kiersten White!

I’ve always thought kids’ shows were creepy, and FINALLY we get a fun, sinister book capitalizing on that. The relationships between the kids-turned-adults were fantastic, and I loved seeing the characters grow—though I will say, they felt much more like they were in their twenties, rather than nearly forty. But the vibes were fabulous, and I loved all the meta-transcripts. I’d qualify this as more psychological horror than straight-up horror—it’s creepy but not gory (like zero), harrowing but now not over the top. A horror book for people who don’t want straight-up horror but still want that tingle down their spine.

But more than that, Mister Magic has a lot of under-the-surface commentary on cults, legalism, and raising children, and ignoring some of the liberal agenda sneaking in, I really appreciated that thoughtfulness to the story. In the acknowledgments Kiersten says that this book is, in a way, about how she left Mormonism, and man that made it all the more potent.

I think Kiersten’s found her niche with these adult ‘horror’ stories; I highly enjoyed both Hide and this one, and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for blessing me with this arc—it was a fun one!

-A

Mister Magic by Kiersten White is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was swept away! Themes of magic, the supernatural, child abuse, child neglect, religious cults, loss and hope. This was not my typical read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found myself cheering for the characters. The ending is heartbreaking, yet sublime and satisfying. Please read the acknowledgements! It provides insight about this gifted author.

Val doesn't remember much of her childhood. She only knows that her father brought her to the middle of nowhere, made sure they stashed GO bags and never let her watch the television. When her father dies, three men appear at the memorial claiming to know Val because they were all on the same television show as children. Even though Val doesn't remember them, she knows that she KNOWS them. She agrees to accompany them on their trip to record a podcast about their time on the show, but when they arrive, they all begin to realize their memories may not be accurate. Still, they long for times when they were together and protected, and most of them are willing to do anything to go back to the time when Mister Magic was the center of their worlds. They aren't the only ones who want the magic back, and they soon learn how far outside forces are willing to go in order to make them fix the magic they once had as children.

I'm going to start with the characters. Val is the perfect protagonist for this story. Her arc is believable because it's not a giant change, but a shift that's coming the entire time. Her fears, wants, and decisions all align with who she is as character. The side characters are gorgeous. They way they interact with each other reminds me of any friend group going back and forth. I had a special appreciation for Jenny and her development as a character.

This is not a fast novel. If you're looking for something you can fly right through, I'd suggest reserving this one for another time. It takes it's time exploring who these characters were as children and what their time on the show did to them. It's a story that needs to take its time to be affective.

This novel resonated with me because of the lessons I was taught as a child. Looking back as an adult, I understand how harmful some of them were and how they affected me as a human being. One of the many things that MISTER MAGIC gets right is that it is okay to live and love as you see fit. To be imperfect is to be human.

good mystery about a kids and tv show and someone taking the lead and trying to remember the past. Great story about the six friends and their parts in the tv show and using their imaginations.

Mister Magic is that childhood show at the edge of your memories? Bits and pieces vague and strange remain in our thoughts. Did it really even exist? It ended so abruptly. Some say they remember seeing something terrible in the last episode. But it wasn’t broadcast live, was it? The show has gained an online following but no one can find any footage and now there are rumors of a podcast in the works and a potential reboot.

What I love about Kiersten White is her ability to take an interesting premise and subvert it taking it a unique and unexpected direction. This story has its chilling moments taking the reader back to those childhood fears of faintly glowing tv screens in a dark room, isolated locations, dark basements, and the uncanny. But she takes it further. It’s also poignant and hopeful and emotional. I really enjoyed her last book Hide but this hits different. After reading check out the acknowledgments because it gives interesting perspective on the inspiration for the novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I think we've all had those moments of trying to remember things from the fuzzy edges of our childhood memories; picturing the characters we watched on TV so clearly in our minds but not being able to come up with the name of the show or even anything remotely google-able. That's the liminal space in which Mister Magic resides. So many people remember watching Mister Magic as a child, but the existence of the show, supposedly the longest-running show ever, has seemingly been purged from history. Everyone remembers Mister Magic but nobody has any proof. Nobody except, perhaps, the last cast of kids that starred in the show. A reunion podcast for the cast of Mister Magic promises to bring answers.

The main character, Val, having amnesia about her time on the show was an extremely compelling mechanic, forcing us to learn along with her as she tries to figure out what happened to her as a child.

I read this book in 2 days because I just had to know what the hell was going on. I haven't had a book fill me with this sense of suspense and dread in a long time. I would recommend this book to everyone, but I think you'll especially love it if you're a fan of analog horror and long-form creepypastas.

Just FYI, towards the end of this book there are some pretty heavy-handed themes of faith deconstruction. I thought it fit into the book fairly well but I just wanted to include that in my review in case it isn't your thing!

CWs for child abuse, faith deconstruction

This was an interesting read. It was about five adults that were all child stars on a mysterious TV program. Footage of the show doesn’t exist and the characters aren’t able to clearly remember their time on the show. The show was shrouded in mystery and 30 years later they are looking for answers about what happened. I enjoyed this book but felt the pacing was a little slow at times. The plot was also a little hard for me to follow. Overall I enjoyed this book! I felt it was relevant to common themes we see today with some of our beloved child stars now battling trauma and difficulties as adults that have stemmed from their time on tv programs as child stars.

Kiersten White is a fantastically creepy author and Mister Magic is no exception. This book is about Val and her circle of friends who were on the children’s show, Mister Magic. Thirty years after it was shut down, the five surviving cast members have tried to move on from what happened years ago. But what did happen? There is no record of the show Mister Magic anywhere; no producers, scripts, camera people, or record of the show online. What was it about again? And who, or what, was Mister Magic? A puppet? CGI? A man?

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

A big, fat NOPE! Where should I start? There was mystery as to who Mister Magic was and Kitty but no thrill. The story was too slow. It had a lot of info dumps, in fact, the whole ending was an info dump. Along with the lack of thrill there were only a few creepy parts. So, not only was it not a horror book but it wasn't written for adults. The whole thing was totally YA.