Mister Magic
by Kiersten White

Summary
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…
GoodReads Nominee for Favorite Horror 2023
My Review
This was my first time reading an adult novel by this author, but unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. While the psychological mystery had potential, it became too confusing and strange as the story progressed. By the halfway point, I struggled to keep up with the plot, and it just became too bizarre for my taste. This was the first book where I had to look up an explanation afterward because I couldn’t fully grasp what had happened.
The writing was beautifully descriptive, with prose that stood out. However, I struggled to connect with the characters, found the plot boring, and didn’t care for the direction the story took. Additionally, the frequent foul language and the heavily woke sociopolitical themes came across as preachy, which was a huge turnoff for me.
I will try this author again, but I wouldn’t recommend this particular book.
**If you’ve read this book and want an explanation for what happened, read this spoiler from Reddit.