I always keep it honest and I have to say, I didn’t really like this book. I usually like trippy horror like this but it had me completely confused and I’m still not sure exactly what was going on, lots of things didn’t make any sense at all, and certain things were completely skipped over, and the characters were written very YA even though they’re all pushing 40. A+ for the unique premise but I was certain this was going to be a 1-star read until about the 80% mark when things actually started being revealed.

The author’s note at the end confirmed that it was an allegory for events that White herself experienced, and you can feel that it was a personal and cathartic book for her. I sat with my thoughts for a day after finishing this to fully form a review and I think I’ll settle on a 3-star. although it didn’t work for me personally it’s obvious that this is an important book for White and a topic that I don’t see much of in fiction.

I’m impressed with myself that I guessed that this book was a commentary on Mormonism and Mormon culture even before I read the acknowledgments. There is also a subtle commentary on the trouble youth/teen industry which I thought would be explained more but was left

I really liked the book and loved the commentary, it made it more entertaining for me, almost like a puzzle and it helped me work out some of the supernatural issues and believe them more

Mister Magic is one of my most-anticipated reads of 2023. Kiersten White’s previous novel, Hide, was an unexpected fun horror gem last year, and elevated White to my “will read their new work without question” list.

There’s something about weird TV shows that may or may not exist that just immediately resonates with me. Recent examples include Sarah Pinsker’s short story, Two Truths and a Lie, and the incredible creepypasta Candle Cove. I think it may be because of my age; I was essentially raised by television, so it’s the closest I will get to a believable deity. Anyway, I digress.

Mister Magic is the host of an old kid’s TV show, which was canceled after a tragic on-set accident. But the show doesn’t seem to exist outside of the memories of the viewers, and the child stars of the show. However, nostalgia is strong, and a podcast is bringing together the last “circle of friends” who appeared on the show, for a trip down memory lane. Who was Mister Magic? Why did the show really end, and why did no footage of the show survive?

Surprising no one, I loved this book. I loved Val, our central character, who has absolutely no memory of her time on the show, but seems to be at the center of everything. I loved the dynamics between the circle of friends; their reunion felt incredibly authentic. The lore behind the show was incredible, and so creepy.

One word of warning, prepare yourself for some big emotions. I think this is probably the first time an author’s Acknowledgements have made my cry. To create something beautiful out of trauma is a true gift, and White really lays it all on the line.

Mister Magic is heartfelt horror at its finest. White is an incredible author. Pre-order like your future depends on it!

This is an unusual and gripping story, a twister among twists that reads like a complicated and serene dream...or nightmare.

Kiersten White is the author of the very fabulous and very creepy HIDE. I expected something unusual and she did not disappont!

Mister Magic is a show, a children's show filled with songs and lessons and old child starts. The child stars are adults now and they have all been scared by their experiences with the show. Some have pushed the memories so far down they don't even recall the show itself. It doesn't help that no recordings of this once highly popular show can be found. In the age of the internet this is unheard of and adds to the mystery of who, actually was Mister Magic?

In Mister Magic, it has been 30 years and the cast is gathering again. None of the stars have ever felt part of something or truly belonging since their experience. When they enter the strange 6 story house located in the remote desert they realize that the magic is more powerful then they ever imagined and the house itself might want more from them then they are willing to give. Get ready for a turbulent ride that you need to hold on to with both hands! The author's note at the end is also not to be missed! If you like nostalgia, creepy thrillers and books with podcast this very unusual book is for you! Mister Magic! #RandomHouse #KierstenWhite #MisterMagic

I'm a big fan of Kiersten White, and I really enjoyed her last adult horror/thriller, Hide, so I was really excited for Mister Magic. But unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. Usually when you have a main character who has amnesia or otherwise doesn't know what's going on, the reader typically is privy to extra information. But the social media posts and whatnot that were meant to give me background didn't contain anything useful, so I was as lost as Val for the entirety of the book. The concept was really weird and super scary, but since Val didn't know what was going on, the first 80% or so of the book was very lackluster.
A small thing that got on my nerves was that Val understandably has some resentment towards her father, but once she remembers that he dragged her out and saved her, she doesn't really come to terms with that, especially considering that her father has since died. I would think she'd have more of an inner monologue about how she may have misjudged her father.
I appreciate that White wrote this book in response to her experiences as a Mormon and leaving the Mormon community, and I could definitely see where the inspiration for Mister Magic's lessons came from, and I thought that was very well done.

This book was definitely trippy. Val has no memories from before she was 8, when her father brought her to the ranch where she'd spend the next 30 years. After her father dies, she discovers that she was a child actress on a tv show called "Mister Magic", and they are having a reunion. Though she doesn't remember being on the show, she wants to find out more of her past, and agrees to go to Utah. With all the huge relevance of children's shows on 90s kids, this book is very timely. Reboots are happening, reunions are being filmed. The other kid actors were interesting, and I liked their friendship, even after 30 years apart. This definitely was not what I was expecting, and it was sad at times, but I'm glad I pushed through even though I was a bit confused at first. Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Soo creepy. I love a good cult story and this one played on our love for nostalgia and overhyping memories. One of the author's best works, hands down.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Thank you to Random House/ Ballantine for letting me read Mister Magic early.

After reading Hide and White’s middle grade series, I knew I wanted to read this and i’m still trying to process what I just read?

This book was the epitome of Barney meets Poltergeist with a hint of childhood trauma and friendship and I loved every minute of it. Granted I thought I knew how this was going to end but I was completely wrong and im very glad I was.

4 stars- this book was eerie and trippy. so into it! this book had me hooked all throughout to the very end. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kiersten White’s newest offering, Mister Magic, is a wild roller coaster of a ride that will leave you walking sideways for days if you forget the safety harness before opening the pages. Strap yourselves in, hang on tight, and prepare for high speeds, sudden drops, and daring loops. Things are about to get turbulent.

The Plot: Once upon a time, there was a children’s television show, the longest running series of its kind. After something mysterious happens, the show is canceled. Here’s where things get interesting: everyone and no one remembers the show; meaning that no recordings or scripts exist today, so adults who were once fans of the show have only vague recollections of it. Mostly, they just remember how it made them feel and the lessons they learned from its rules. Fast forward thirty years, and a podcast orchestrates a reunion of the show’s child stars.

We experience the story through Val’s perspective. Val remembers nothing from the first eight years of her life; therefore, she doesn’t remember being on the show at all. When three of her former cast mates unexpectedly show up at her door speaking of the reunion, she is both confused and enticed. In hopes of rediscovering the secrets of her own history, Val decides to travel with them to the gathering, and this—oh yes, THIS—is when plot-rockets blast off and readers are bombarded with all the unsettling weirdness. This is where the magic happens—where the Mister Magic happens!

This book is freaking disorienting. It’s trippier than the trippiest of dreams. We see clippings from chat rooms, etc. from commenters who doubt their own memories. After all, if there is ZERO evidence that this show ever existed, did it? And what about the very last episode: Why do some fans remember seeing the horror of it (and the horror of whatever happened on it) when it never aired on television? Why can’t some viewers remember if the host was a real man or a puppet? Whew, I was even doubting myself for a while: Does this book even exist, and am I really reading it?! One thing is for sure, this book will mess with your mind. And it’s awesome!

The journey to the truth of the past is mystifying and cloaked in darkness, but in the midst of all the strangeness, there is wistfulness in the air. The nostalgic fragrances of childhood permeate the pages. If a story can be both simple and complex, as well as comforting and uncomfortable, it’s this one.

With its mesmerizing plot, dizzying pacing, irresistible characters, and startling revelations, this book is one for readers to pounce on and to get lost in. Take the plunge. Try it for yourselves. It won’t disappoint. It’s incredible!

I really enjoyed the premise of this. For me, this started off very slow, and at times it was hard for me to even get through this. It picks up about halfway through and I could not put it down! The characters were all well developed and I felt like I really got to know and understand them. I also appreciated the "reddit" type threads of fans of "Mister Magic" discussing the show. The cover also helped draw me in. I would recommend this to any suspense fan, but tell them to just keep pushing to about the 45% mark, for things to really pick up.

What a wonderful, darkly magical story! A huge improvement over Hide, another book I've read from this author. The writing here was just so much better, the plot was tighter too. I loved everything about the concept and the execution delivered. Recommended!

Imagine: Barney but more haunted. Maybe he's a cryptid, maybe he stems from religious guilt, maybe he's a ghost. Who knows! Now, what if you had no actual proof that Barney existed? You remember the show, you grew up with it, but there's no evidence it aired. That's what Mister Magic is about. We follow Val whose childhood is a blank space, unaware that she was once one of the stars of the children's show, Mister Magic. As she uncovers her past and reunites with her former castmates, 30 years after tragedy ended the show, she begins to understand just why she may have forgotten. I loved this book. I received Hide as an ARC and I knew I needed to get my hands on Kiersten White's next horror. This book will absolutely grab you and keep you guessing until the last page.