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“[A] propulsive, exciting, often genuinely scary, endlessly compelling mystery.”—Terry Miles, author of Rabbits
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: PopSugar, Polygon, Chicago Public Library, CrimeReads
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. . . .
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
August 8, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593606926
- File size: 304008 KB
- Duration: 10:33:20
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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May 22, 2023
Grappling with religious trauma and childhood abuse, this suspenseful tale from White (Hide) calls to mind old-school internet creepypastas. Val leads a quiet life on a ranch with her ailing father. She has no contact with the outside world or memory of her childhood. After her father dies, strange men approach her claiming that, as kids, they were all costars on cult-classic children’s show Mister Magic. Now a podcaster wants to interview them about the show, which ended after a mysterious tragedy, and all the previous cast members are invited. Even as Val slowly comes to terms with the strangeness of her lost childhood, her unexplained memory loss, the secrets kept by her possibly untrustworthy costars, and the marvels made by the theoretically CGI star of the show, Mister Magic himself, all hint at some greater, possibly supernatural conspiracy. Transcripts from fan forums interspersed throughout only enhance the ambiguity surrounding what exactly ended the show—and whether the show ever existed. These questions keep the pages flying on the way to a climax that satisfies even while not delivering typical horror action and gore. Both eerie and surprisingly heartwarming, White’s examination of the perils of nostalgia is sure to win fans. Agent: Michelle Wolfson, Wolfson Literary. -
Rebecca Lowman's narration is captivating! In this novel, "Mister Magic," a fictitious TV series for kids, was suddenly canceled 30 years ago. Now, the five members of its final cast are brought together to record a podcast. Suspiciously, no recordings of the original show exist, and there's no record of who filmed it, but fans still have its haunting kids' songs stuck in their heads even after all these years. Lowman captures the buildup as the cast piece together the tragic events that led to the show's abrupt end. Ominous characters are continually introduced as the plot progresses. Chapters include message board chats evoking the obsession that fans still have with the eerie kids' show. Lowman's performance keeps this fun, creepy thriller entertaining to the end. M.I.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine -
June 10, 2024
A Pandora's box of sugar-coated toxic nostalgia is opened when a podcast revisits the popular 1990s kids' television program Mister Magic. Many children were drawn to the show and desperately wanted to hang out with the charismatic titular magician and his Circle of Friends. The magic couldn't last, though. A tragic accident ended the show's production, and most in the Circle grew up to have less-than-magical adulthoods. The cast reunites 30 years after Mister Magic ended, to be on a podcast dedicated to the show. Val has no memories of those years, but when she reencounters the other cast members, she remembers that her childhood wasn't always magical, and Mister Magic wasn't always benevolent. In this supernatural thriller, White (Hide) once again displays her skills at writing for an ensemble cast, never letting anyone become lost in the shadows. The former members of the Circle are well developed and then dissected before listeners' ears. Narrator Rebecca Lowman provides a convincing portrayal of shell-shocked Val, the only one willing to peek under Mister Magic's cape and unpack what was done to them. VERDICT Fans of Stephen King's It and other stories that dissect precious childhood memories will want to get acquainted with Mister Magic and the Circle.--James Gardner
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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