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A review by booksamongstfriends
Mister Magic by Kiersten White
2.0
A lot of talking and not enough showing. This book had so much potential, and I was genuinely excited to dive into it. I mean, you’ve got a creepy ’90s kids' show, an exploration of the Mandela effect, cult-like programming, paranormal elements—so many intriguing ideas that could have made for an amazing read. Unfortunately, the delivery falls flat.
My main issue with this story is that nothing feels shocking—not to the reader and, strangely, not even to the main character, Val. Every time something blatantly obvious happens that signals something sinister is going on, Val just seems numb to it. She goes along with things, even though her questions aren’t being answered and it’s clear that something darker is lurking beneath the surface.
Now, I can partially understand her determination to push forward. She’s desperate to learn more about her past, especially since she’s the only one who seems to have forgotten everything, while the other cast members are eager to reconnect with her and reclaim this part of themselves tied to the show. But as a reader, the lack of depth in these characters makes their actions feel predictable and, honestly, unenjoyable.
I kept reading, hoping something would finally shake me or catch me off guard, but it never did. The story becomes easy to follow when you can already predict where it’s going. Even when we delve into the lore—the invitation back, the revival of the show, and the history of Mister Magic—it all feels disconnected. It failed to hold my interest and made the ending painfully obvious.
The biggest issue for me is that so much of this book could have been improved with better execution. A flashback scene or a deeper dive into what actually happened on the show would have been incredible. Instead, we’re constantly hearing about the show, and it’s clear the cast members have wildly different perspectives on how it affected them compared to Val. But we never see this dynamic play out—we’re just told about it. This is where the “telling instead of showing” problem really drags the story down.
For instance, the house where much of the story takes place has an eerie, off-kilter vibe. Something dramatic clearly happened there, but the depth of those events is never revealed. Instead, the story lays other things out so blatantly that it diminishes any sense of thrill or suspense. It’s obvious every character has secrets—they outright tell you they do, in a way that feels exaggerated and cavalier.
Ultimately, so much of this book relies on implication when it should have let readers experience the suspense and horror for themselves. It feels like a wasted opportunity for such a solid concept.
My main issue with this story is that nothing feels shocking—not to the reader and, strangely, not even to the main character, Val. Every time something blatantly obvious happens that signals something sinister is going on, Val just seems numb to it. She goes along with things, even though her questions aren’t being answered and it’s clear that something darker is lurking beneath the surface.
Now, I can partially understand her determination to push forward. She’s desperate to learn more about her past, especially since she’s the only one who seems to have forgotten everything, while the other cast members are eager to reconnect with her and reclaim this part of themselves tied to the show. But as a reader, the lack of depth in these characters makes their actions feel predictable and, honestly, unenjoyable.
I kept reading, hoping something would finally shake me or catch me off guard, but it never did. The story becomes easy to follow when you can already predict where it’s going. Even when we delve into the lore—the invitation back, the revival of the show, and the history of Mister Magic—it all feels disconnected. It failed to hold my interest and made the ending painfully obvious.
The biggest issue for me is that so much of this book could have been improved with better execution. A flashback scene or a deeper dive into what actually happened on the show would have been incredible. Instead, we’re constantly hearing about the show, and it’s clear the cast members have wildly different perspectives on how it affected them compared to Val. But we never see this dynamic play out—we’re just told about it. This is where the “telling instead of showing” problem really drags the story down.
For instance, the house where much of the story takes place has an eerie, off-kilter vibe. Something dramatic clearly happened there, but the depth of those events is never revealed. Instead, the story lays other things out so blatantly that it diminishes any sense of thrill or suspense. It’s obvious every character has secrets—they outright tell you they do, in a way that feels exaggerated and cavalier.
Ultimately, so much of this book relies on implication when it should have let readers experience the suspense and horror for themselves. It feels like a wasted opportunity for such a solid concept.