Mister Magic

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Mister Magic by Kiersten White
Narrator: Rebecca Lowman, Kiersten White
Published by Del Rey, Penguin Random House Audio on August 8, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Supernatural
Length: 10 hours 33 minutes
Pages: 304
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
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Who is Mister Magic? Former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show—and discover the secret of its enigmatic host—in this “skin-crawling story of pop culture fandom and ‘90s nostalgia” (Melissa Albert, author of The Hazel Woods) from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide.

“It meets The Stepford Wives in this wildly compelling story that explores whether it’s possible to recapture the magic of childhood.”—Mallory O’Meara, Los Angeles Times bestselling author of The Lady from the Black Lagoon

Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.  

But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has. 

Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since. 

After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap? 

Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . . .

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Val remembers nothing about her life before she turned 8 years old but after her father’s death, she learns that a lot of things happened in the years that she can no longer recall. She was part of a show called Mister Magic that everyone seems to remember but nobody can seem to find a single copy of it anywhere. As Val spends time with the other children (now adults) from the show, she starts to remember some of the things that happened before her father took her away.

The story was rather unique and I was taken by the whole world of Mister Magic. I found myself getting more hooked as I worked my way through this story. I just had to know what was really going on with this weird show and exactly what it was that Val can’t seem to remember. I loved the sense of dread as the story moved toward the final showdown.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Rebecca Lowmen did a fabulous job with the story. I thought that she did a wonderful job of bringing this cast of characters to life. I thought that she added just enough excitement and emotion to her reading. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no problem listening to this book for hours at a time. The author takes over the narration at the end to read the author’s note at the end that explains her motivation for writing this book. I am certain that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a well-done and imaginative story that kept me hooked until the end. I liked that the author shared what was behind this story. I do hope to read more of this author’s work soon.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Del Rey and Penguin Random House Audio.

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