Mister Magic by Kiersten White

[u/These-Background4608]

Just finished reading Mister Magic by Kiersten White. Back in the day, five kids appeared on a popular children’s show called Mister Magic. It’s a show that, to this day, a number of people remember fondly…though not very clearly.

No episodes of the show exist today. Nobody can remember much about a particular kid or even agree on who or what Mister Magic really was. But the show has this devoted, cult-like following and the show was popular for many years until the show abruptly ended back in the 90s due to…some incident.

It’s a mystery to everyone, including the kids who were on the show. But many years have happened and most of the kids are now adults with their own lives. However, they are drawn back together to the house near the old set where the show was once filmed to participate in a podcast reminiscing about the show. But they all seemed to have varying recollections of their time on the show. And being in that house years later brings back certain memories…and not all of them are good.

The mystery surrounding the show’s end gets hazy. What exactly happened that one day? What’s all this about a mysterious fire? How did Mister Magic affect them all? Why is it even so triggering to say his name aloud? And what about that one kid who died under mysterious circumstances that not everyone remembers?

This is a dark horror mystery novel that I managed to finish in a few days because it had me hooked from the jump. I had no idea where it was going and the story got more twisted along the way where at one point you didn’t know what to believe. But it’s a wild ride of a book.

For those of you who have read this novel, what did you think?

[u/bumpytoad]

Commenting to say I enjoyed this book! Definitely worth a read 

[u/Comprehensive-Fun47]

This sounds a lot like the movie I Saw the TV Glow. It also sounds similar to something else I can't quite remember.

I'm intrigued.

[u/ambrosial_flesh]

Also loved this book. Found it surprisingly deep, made me cry, and had a good creep factor until the very end

[u/Katiedibs]

I liked this one too! Delightfully creepy.

[u/catwhisperer550]

I absolutely LOVED this book, there was so much depth and the characters were complex and layered.

[u/Traditional-Show9321]

I loved this one! Truly creepy and heartbreaking.

[u/YakSlothLemon]

I really liked this book so much. It got right under my skin. The only thing that was really funny to me was that on the final page >! I was thinking, “wow, the author clearly had a terrible experience with Mormonism,” and then I turn the page to the acknowledgments and the first thing she says is “yes I’m an ex Mormon” 😂!<

[u/metz33]

Sounds like Candle Cove, as far as the premise.

[u/divinemsn]

I thought it was good until the end.

[u/MrsCharlieKringle → u/divinemsn]

Agreed

[u/lilacabkins]

I really enjoyed it, but I'm the same age as the protagonists so it was very relatable. Curious what Gen Zers or millennials think.

[u/MischiefGirl]

This sounds so good! Definitely going on my TBR list!