"Mister Magic" by Kiersten White offers an intriguing premise and nostalgia for fans of classic children's programming, but ultimately fell short for me. While the mystery surrounding the show and its characters drew me in, the execution felt lacking, with pacing issues and underdeveloped characters. The concept of revisiting childhood trauma and secrets held potential, but the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, "Mister Magic" didn't captivate me as much as I had hoped, and I found myself wishing for more depth and complexity in its storytelling.

Fun and quick read! A little heavy-handed in its messaging, but not the worst I've encountered. That's counterbalanced by the likeability of the characters, the format, and the quick pace of the story.

I have tried to finish this book countless times. I mean that literally—I keep picking it up, try to read a few more pages, but cannot make myself care about the characters. Unfortunately, they feel one-dimensional. The story is an excellent concept, and I was thrilled to read it, but similarly to Whit's other horror-leaning book, Hide, the execution didn't work for me. It came across as YA, was primarily showing rather than telling, and was just...boring. Maybe the ending improves things, but I've been trying to read it for nearly a year, and I can't make myself get that far.

This one was creepy. A specific chapter gave me chills and if you have read it, it probably did too (palm IKYK🫣).📺

A group of friends trying to figure out what truly happened the day they were separated and are now back together. Some memories are lost and some remember it all. It gave me It & Stranger Things vibes and I truly enjoyed this adventure and that ending was perfect yet unexpected.📚

This is a book that captivated me from page one. I really enjoyed the cult-like story that wasn’t completely cultish the entire time. The acknowledgment chapter was absolutely fabulous as well and it really added to the story for me.

I received this from NetGalley and it took me much longer to pick it up than I originally planned. By the time I did, I had already ordered a physical copy from Aardvark Book Club and my audiobook copy had come in from the library. So I listened to the audiobook and it added so much to the story. I really enjoyed the audio performance and highly recommend.

Overall this story is one that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. 4.5⭐️

Although I did not like this as much as Hide, it’s still a valid story about cults and personal identity. I like the ending but I was wanting more creepy analog horror with the show. I liked the little mixed media elements of the Wikipedia entries, chatlogs, and news articles.

Very interesting story. Believable characters. I enjoyed the mandala effect theme and children's programming is always a bit creepy. Great job!

A terrifying and sweet novel for fans of Candle Cove and It, Mister Magic is a story about the horrors of childhood and the legacy of trauma.

What an odd book, an odd concept and it's almost a bit like wizard of oz. I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about this book and didn't feel like I truly connected with the characters, which is hard for me.

Mister Magic is it truly a person or an idea? The show has been shut down, but why was the show shut down, what exactly happened 30 years ago. Five of the cast members are reunited to discuss on the podcast the show and what it meant to them.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy.

Culty, creepy, shocking, and sad. Really loved this book gave me IT vibes along with nostalgic fear of child shows. I truly never liked Barney he always scared me.
Would highly recommend

This book really just did not work for me. The first half had me hooked, but the second half got a little confusing. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the ending.

This book fits into my favorite very-specific book taste - "fiction that pretends to be nonfiction." I love a book about famous people that never actually existed or about the history behind an event that didn't take place. Always a great setup for me!
In Mister Magic, child stars come together thirty years after a tragic accident shut down the production of their show. Though they've all been trying to move on from a happiness they've been chasing ever since, they find themselves all at the deserted island filming location. They're finally together again and begin reconnecting. But what actually brought them here?
Such a fun read, will be looking forward to grabbing more by this author. A great idea for a book, and the follow through did not disappoint.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book. I enjoyed the characters and their arcs, and found the plot interesting. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book was phenomenal. I’m a 90s kid and was immediately drawn in.
This books has major nostalgia vibes for me.
There’s so much horror, mystery, and thriller wrapped up in this book, I highly recommend it to any 90s kid.

Mister Magic was so disappointing for me. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, White’s anti-Mormon sentiments after leaving the church that she chose to explore in this book really shone through and overshadowed the horror and plot of this book. She certainly made a statement, just not one I myself appreciate.

I loved this. I used it as a StoryRead buddy read, which means my friend and I were so angry at cliffhanger chapters together. I enjoyed the weird mystery of it all and am so glad that White was able to tell this story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Mister Magic" by Kiersten White is a hauntingly evocative novel that delves into the depths of nostalgia, the fragility of memory, and the enduring power of friendship. White, known for her ability to weave suspense with the supernatural, presents a narrative that is both a dark thriller and a poignant exploration of human connection.

The story revolves around the enigmatic children's show, "Mister Magic" , and its cast, known as the Circle of Friends. Thirty years after a tragic accident ended the show, the surviving cast members are brought back together to the desolate desert filming compound. The reunion is tinged with a sense of foreboding, as the cast confronts their past and the mysterious figure of Mister Magic himself.

White's prose is sharp and immersive, drawing readers into a world where the lines between reality and illusion are blurred. The characters are richly developed, each carrying the weight of their shared history and individual traumas. As they navigate the eerie compound, the tension builds, and the reader is left questioning what is real and what may be a sinister trick of the mind.

The novel is a labyrinth of twists and turns, with elements of horror that are more psychological than gory. This story grips you not just with its mystery, but with its heart. White addresses themes of loss, the search for belonging, and the impact of childhood experiences on adult life with a deft hand.

"Mister Magic" is a compelling tale that will is a reminder of the magic that can be found in friendship and the darkness that can surround us.

This was terrifying & I loved it. If people loved HIDE by White, then this should be an auto-buy for them!

Another menacing page-turner from Kiersten White. Like Hide, I read this compulsively fast but I wanted just a little more OOMPH. It's a great idea -- something evil hidden in the children's shows of your childhood -- and I definitely enjoyed this one, but... I don't know, I think I wanted it to go a little further or something? If you like Kiersten White's other books, you will like this. I did think of Jordan Peele's NOPE while reading, although this isn't as scary as that. And the cover is 10/10 gorgeous.

Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

After reading most of Kiersten White's back catalog, I thought I was ready for her newest novel, "Mister Magic." Reader, I was not ready. "Mister Magic" is horrifying, it is haunting, and it is achingly sad. It is wholly original and will transport readers to a world where magic exists, but everything comes at a price. For the five friends who last starred in the TV show that lends its name to the novel, they had no idea how steep the price of revisiting this piece of their childhood would be.

Thirty years after a final episode that millennial messageboards remember as so horrifying that the entire franchise has been completely shrouded in mystery, for the first time "Mister Magic" is returning to the airwaves in the form of a reunion podcast. The five friends who broke the circle and ended generations of magic for their viewers are returning, not only to reminisce on what they remember from those carefree days but also to (listeners hope) restore the circle and bring the magic forward for another generation.

As the podcast interviews are recorded, and things in the "Mister Magic" house seem to spin wildly out of the friends' control, they are left to wonder if the price of the magic they all took for granted as children is more than any of them can bear to pay as adults. Mister Magic has been alone for over thirty years, and they say he *never* forgets the taste of friendship...

I would suggest "Mister Magic" for fans of Jennifer McMahon, Sarah Gailey, and anyone who has enjoyed the TV show "From." It was a novel that will stick with my long past the closing sentences of this review. Special thanks to NetGalley and to Del Rey publishing for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.